Messages

[Fluoride and the brain: Largest US study ever unearths surprise new link]

"Curiouser and curiouser!" Now, this is the first conspiracy theory I remember ever hearing. So, of course, it's a personal favorite. And, like every truly great conspiracy theory, the controversy never ends. And, here's the latest twist:     

Fluoride and the brain: Largest US study ever unearths surprise new link

As per this article:

"In the first US study looking at whether the recommended fluoride levels in drinking water affects brain function, researchers have found that the hot-button mineral has no negative impacts on cognition – and may actually be giving it a boost.

University of Minnesota scientists investigated fluoride exposure and cognitive outcomes in individuals from childhood to middle life, spanning just over 40 years – a first-of-a-kind study for scope and longevity. A subset of 26,820 individuals from the 1980 High School and Beyond cohort study was randomly selected out of the total 58,270 sophomores and seniors surveyed at 1,020 American high schools and were reinterviewed numerous times through 2021.

The researchers then matched this academic data with student location and the fluoridation status in those places, taken from the US Department of Health and Human Service's Fluoridation Census (1967 to 1993). They also sourced US Geological Survey data that characterized fluoride levels in untreated groundwater, measured in 38,105 wells between 1988 and 2017. The team also accounted for the change in fluoridation guidelines, which nearly halved recommended levels in 2015.
 
What they found was that kids who had been exposed to recommended levels of fluoride in drinking water – 0.7 and 1.2 mg/liter between 1962 and 2015, and 0.7 mg/L from 2015 to present – had, on average, higher scores across the board by their final school year. They came out on top in vocabulary, reading and math."
 
So, is it even possible that *gasp * those Commies were right (But, not 'politically right.'), and Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper *gasp* had it wrong?! 'Cause it's now looking like those soulless, radical right-wingers have wanted their supporters to be stupid, as well as toothless, all along.

I love it when a conspiracy theory proliferates. Good Times!

[The universe may be lopsided – new research]

The universe may be lopsided – new research

Well, duh. As Lord Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst himself has taught us " ... the whole Material Universe is exclusive property of the Greco-Roman Goddess of Chaos, Confusion, Strife, Helter-Skelter and Hodge-Podge." So, why would Discordians expect it to be otherwise?

And, although interesting, this isn't the most well written article on the subject, as the acronym "FLRW" acronym should have been explained to mean "Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker," as people unfamiliar with the science of cosmology should not be expected to know that.

Anyway, as per this article:

"The shape of the universe is not something we often think about. But my colleagues and I have published a new study suggests it could be asymmetric or lopsided, meaning not the same in every direction.
 
Should we care about this? Well, today's "standard cosmological model" – which describes the dynamics and structure of the entire cosmos – rests squarely on the assumption that it is isotropic (looks the same in all directions), and homogeneous when averaged on large scales.
 
But several so-called "tensions" – or disagreements in the data – pose challenges to this idea of a uniform universe.

We have just published a paper looking at one of the most significant of these tensions, called the cosmic dipole anomaly. We conclude that the cosmic dipole anomaly poses a serious challenge to the most widely accepted description of the universe, the standard cosmological model (also called the Lambda-CDM model)."

The above referenced published paper is "paywalled," unless you're institutionalized. But, its earlier arXiv version is available here:      Colloquium: The Cosmic Dipole Anomaly

So, the Sacred Confusion Continues!

Hail Eris!

All Hail Discordia!

[Elon Musk Donates $5M to Trump — Weeks After Claiming He's Covering Up Epstein Files Because He's In Them]

I find this to be an interesting move by Elmo the Oligarch:

Elon Musk Donates $5M to Trump — Weeks After Claiming He's Covering Up Epstein Files Because He's In Them

But, what about that "American Party" thingy? Has the party been canceled, or what? And, I see that NASA is still being run by an "acting administrator."

So, I suspect NASA is still on the market, and Elmo just spent $15M to see if he can buy his way back into the Turd Reich.

I almost missed this one, but Elmo the Oligarch has already received an early Christmas gift. Now, he had to pay for it himself, but it's not like the richest person on the face of the Earth couldn't afford it. And, although it did take him longer than expected to get his present, Elmo's additional $ 15M in 'donations' did eventually pay off as follows:

Billionaire Jared Isaacman, an Elon Musk ally, confirmed as Nasa chief

As per this article:

"Trump first announced his intent to nominate Isaacman in December 2024, but he withdrew the nomination in May in the middle of a public feud with Elon Musk, an ally of Isaacman.

Musk, one of Trump's largest political donors and the chief executive of SpaceX, had been a regular presence in the Oval Office alongside Trump, but they had a bitter falling out over government spending.

Within days, Trump withdrew Isaacman's nomination, citing a "thorough review of prior associations".

In November, the president re-upped Isaacman's nomination. During a confirmation hearing earlier this month, Isaacman said he embraces Trump's mission to mine the moon. In the current space battle, countries are racing to exploit the lunar surface."

Now, as I've written above, Elmo has little interest in going back to the Moon. To him, that's just another 'been-there-done-that' project. Establishing a self-sustaining colony on Mars is his real wet dream. So, now it remains to be seen whether or not his boy Isaacman continues as is with NASA's latest Moon missions, or begins diverting resources in the service of his 'ally' Elmo.

["Civilization has evolved to where I need two electronic devices to use one."]

"Civilization has evolved to where I need two electronic devices to use one."

This thought occurs to me every time I attempt to use my desktop computer to log in to an online financial, or medical account, and am informed I have to make one (1) of the following three (3) choices:

1. I first need to receive and input a verification code, that will be sent to me via text message on a predesignated cell phone.

2. I first need to receive and input a verification code, that will be sent to me via automated voice message on a predesignated landline telephone.

3. I first need to place a telephone call to an actual human being, who just might answer the phone, be kind enough to attempt to help me, and be knowledgeable enough to actually grant me access to my very own online account(s).

This is not what I expected "progress" to be, back in the day.

[Demented Trump Horrifies The Nation By Telling Stories About Melania Trump's Underwear]

You can't make up stuff like this:

Demented Trump Horrifies The Nation By Telling Stories About Melania Trump's Underwear

Trump showed why the White House limited his public events as he decided to tell the audience stories about Melania Trump's underwear during a speech that was supposed to be about the economy.

As per this article:

"This is what Trump said in North Carolina whie complaining about his golf club being searched for classified documents that he had stolen and refused to return:

 They went into my wife's closet, and I'll say this number one it's is very bad, but it sounds a little strange. They looked at her drawers.
You have drawer, and then you have drawer. They looked at both. And she's a very meticulous person. You know, like these people just like she'd fit into your group very well. She'd be very happy with her, but everything is perfect. Her undergarments so, and this sometimes referred to as panties are folded, perfect wrapped."

There's no doubt money can now buy a U.S. presidency. Twice. But, money can't buy class.

[Erika Kirk Makes Awkward Flub On-Stage — And People Think It's The Ultimate Freudian Slip]

It looks like there's yet another 'Not Ready for Prime Time Player' auditioning for a high-profile, highly paid position within the Republicult™:   

Erika Kirk Makes Awkward Flub On-Stage — And People Think It's The Ultimate Freudian Slip

As per this article:

"Erika Kirk had an ironic slip of the tongue during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest this weekend.

While presenting the inaugural Charlie Kirk Courage Award to Utah Valley University student Caleb Chilcutt on Saturday, the right-wing activist's widow got tongue-tied and said: "Despite the devastating loss of Charlie Kirk, my incredible husband at UVU, Caleb has persisted with the same grift."

After trying to correct herself, Kirk said "gift" and then finally got to the word "grit.""

I'm not a psychoanalyst, but it sure looks like a Freudian Slip to me. She got it right the first time. But, it doesn't matter, as it's not like the Republicult™ has high standards, or anything.

[Women who say they were tricked into servitude for Opus Dei to meet in Argentina]

I knew I'd find something sinister about these guys before too long:

Women who say they were tricked into servitude for Opus Dei to meet in Argentina

Pope said to have urged organisers to hold conference after 43 women alleged they were exploited as minors by Catholic group

As per this article:

"Buenos Aires will on Tuesday host the first-ever international gathering of former Opus Dei members who say they were tricked and trafficked into domestic servitude as minors – allegations that have drawn scrutiny of the powerful, secretive Catholic group. Pope Leo XIV privately urged organisers to convene the conference, the Guardian has learned.

Forty-three women in Argentina say they were lured to Opus Dei schools as children and teenagers under promises of receiving an education. Instead, they say they were forced into working up to 12-hour days, cooking and cleaning for the elite male members, without pay.

They say they faced extreme levels of control, with their letters censored, family visits discouraged, and the reading of anything other than children's books or religious texts banned. When the women eventually escaped, they say they were left without money, clothes or qualifications."

Well ... that does sound like something a powerful, secret, cult-like society might do. But, all snark aside, it does sound like the government of Argentina is taking the women's testimonies seriously. 

And, now that that crime is receiving worldwide attention, perhaps some effort will be devoted to investigating why Opus Dei utilized it's considerable influence in Argentina to encourage the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. It would be interesting to know if there's any truth to the rumors that Opus Dei wanted carte blanche to search the Falkland Islands for shipwrecks from the Knights Templar's attempts to transport artifacts from the Holy Land to a secret place of safe keeping far way from the Old World, or that the Templar's actual secret place of safe keeping is thought, or even known, to be in the Falkland Islands.

[How swearing makes you stronger]

I don't know ... if this is true, I should be one of the strongest people on the planet.

How swearing makes you stronger

As per this article:

"Letting out a swear word in a moment of frustration can feel good. Now, research suggests that it can be good for you, too: Swearing can boost people's physical performance by helping them overcome their inhibitions and push themselves harder on tests of strength and endurance, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

"In many situations, people hold themselves back—consciously or unconsciously—from using their full strength," said study author Richard Stephens, Ph.D., of Keele University in the U.K. "Swearing is an easily available way to help yourself feel focused, confident and less distracted, and 'go for it' a little more.""

Well ... okay. That's probably true. Still, swearing is a habit I wish I had never gotten into in the first place.

[DAMMIT It's Not Alzheimer's! Here's Why It's A Far Worse Nightmare Scenario]

I thought the Secret POSOTUS Alzheimer Conspiracy Theory was a perfectly good "Discordian Worthy" conspiracy theory. But, there's just no pleasing some people:

DAMMIT It's Not Alzheimer's! Here's Why It's A Far Worse Nightmare Scenario
 
You deserve the facts, not conjecture. Alzheimer's diminishes a person. Trump's not diminishing, he's escalating, and you need to know the frightening reason why.

As per this article:

"A serious symptom analysis quickly debunks Alzheimer's.
 
Trump's symptoms are consistent with another, less common but more disruptive and, in his case horrific, disorder — Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). There are a couple of subtypes with important distinctions, but his changes in personality and behavior, along with specific language and physical problems, are consistent with FTD variants."

Now, to be fair, this is also a really good conspiracy theory. And, the bottom line is that the POSOTUS is still brain damaged, and his Turd Reich is still attempting to cover it up.

[The Original Snub]

After realizing I had ignored the importance of the Cypria in both the Epic Cycle, and the story of The Original Snub, I reread what little remains of the epic poem. Then, I further realized I had no memory of some details that affect the timeline of the overall epic, because I had not attached any importance to them.

Now, I'm still tempted to ignore the details that alter the timeline I outlined above. As, in what remains of the Cypria's documentation, Herodotus himself provided a quotation that would allow me to weasel out paying attention to some of those details, as follows:

"Fragment #10 --
Herodotus, ii. 117:
For it is said in the "Cypria" that Alexandrus came with Helen to Ilium from Sparta in three days, enjoying a favourable wind and calm sea."

But, as I have already stated, what remains of the Cypria is a really big deal to Discordians, as those pesky details that contradict my original timeline are written on the same fragment that tells the story of The Original Snub.

So, I'm going to review my timeline, and probably make some corrections that will push back the year of The Original Snub.

Last, it occurred to me that when the ancient poets and playwrights cast the mythical characters for roles in their epics, they really got their money's worth out of them, as they not only expanded upon the character's original roles, they continued making references to those characters throughout their works. And, isn't that exactly what Discordians do when composing our own scriptures? So, following the example of what the ancients did back in their day, what Discordians are doing when composing our own scriptures is all good.

Hail Eris!

All Hail Discordia!

[Trump appointee Bongino leaves FBI after less than a year]

It appears that, after all this time, there will soon be one less well known turd in the Turd Reich's septic tank.

Trump appointee Bongino leaves FBI after less than a year

As per this article:

"As a conservative podcast host, Bongino spread a range of conspiracy theories, including the claim that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen" from Trump.

He was especially vocal about two conspiracy theories – one relating to the Jeffery Epstein sex-trafficking case and another about pipe bombs discovered in Washington on the eve of the January 6, 2021, storming of Capitol Hill.

In his podcast, Bongino had long pushed for reform of the FBI, which he said was needed to uncover the truths he claimed were hidden by the federal government.

On the Epstein case, Bongino had previously challenged the official ruling that Epstein had taken his own life in jail soon after his arrest in 2019. He backtracked on this, however, earlier this year, saying that he now believes sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein killed himself.

As for the pipe bombs placed outside Republican and Democrat headquarters on the eve of the January 6 riots, Bongino said as recently as 2024 that he believed it was an "inside job" that involved a "massive cover-up."

But after the FBI arrested a man with no evident connection to the federal government earlier this month, Bongino again backtracked on his previous claims."

Now, I can't get too excited about this. As, I don't know if this is a case of the Turd Reich threatening to give itself an enema to encourage a self-flush, or a completely voluntary self-flush. But, as this particular turd was only a co-deputy director, a highly unusual position within the FBI, we may not need to worry about him being replaced by someone even more vile, and incompetent. So, there's that.

[What to know from Susie Wiles' interviews with 'Vanity Fair,' according to the writer]

In spite of the title, I don't know what the current White House Chief of Staff is up to with this stunt:

What to know from Susie Wiles' interviews with 'Vanity Fair,' according to the writer

As per this article:

"In Whipple's reporting, Wiles doled out criticism for multiple colleagues in and around the White House – including saying Attorney General Pam Bondi "completely whiffed" on her handling of the Epstein files, and calling Vice President J.D. Vance a "conspiracy theorist," among other characterizations. Whipple's profile showed Wiles was equally blunt about her boss, describing President Donald Trump as having "an alcoholic's personality," a characterization Trump, who does not drink, later echoed himself to another news outlet, saying, "She's right. I do have an obsessive and addictive personality."

I mean, there ain't no way in hell a seasoned political operative like Susie Wiles would have thought that anything she said to an actual journalist would be kept 'off the record.' So, my first thought was that Wiles' simply intends this series of interviews to be another distraction from the Turd Reich's many other more serious scandals. But, my next thought is, why bother, given the massive number of vile, incompetent characters in the ensemble cast of this 'Merican reality TV show?

[now]

Now, I'm no expert, and there's very little in any record of that wild ride of a a wedding to indicate when it happened, but there's some clues and Discordian-style leaps of logic we can make to get closer to an ideal time for the holiday.

First- we know that the wedding took place on an "auspicious day"

Second- we know Peleus was Thessalian, so that narrows down our good days

I'm slowly working my way through your "Discordian-style leaps of logic." But, I believe you are definitely on solid ground using the Thessalian Calendar.

Not only was Peleus Thessalian, the wedding ceremony and wedding feast were held on Mount Olympus. Now, Mount Olympus may now be on the border between the regions of Greek Macedonia and Thessaly, but Macedonia didn't even exist during the Trojan War. So, being the nearest Greeks to Mount Olympus, it stands to reason that the Thessalians would have, out of respect and reverence, not to mention fear, readily adapted the Olympian Calendar for their own use. To put it another way, why reinvent the wheel? So, there's simply no good reason why the Olympian Calendar and the Thessalian Calendar would not be the same, identical calendar.

Our primary scripture, the Principia Discordia does not mention the location of the marriage and wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis.

But, according to the few fragments that still remain of the Cypria, the fifth title of the Epic Cycle, the marriage and wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis took place on Mount Pelion in Thessaly, rather than on Mount Olympus. Still, the logic for believing the Olympian Calendar and Thessalian Calendar are identical applies to either venue.

I'm making this correction because, in general, I like to stick to the facts when writing about the  happenings in the Epic Cycle, unless the 'facts' are ambiguous, or I really don't want to be burdened with sticking to a particular 'minor fact,' or other. However, the Cypria is special, as I believe it to be the only title in the entire Epic Cycle that clearly tells us mortals the origin of The Original Snub.

[Trump levels political attack on Rob Reiner in inflammatory post after his killing]

Trump levels political attack on Rob Reiner in inflammatory post after his killing

If Turdsley had any class at all, the POSOTUS wouldn't have posted a goddamn thing about Rob Riener and his wife's unfortunate murders. Further, he could have easily exhibited a modicum of class by simply lamenting the apparent senselessness of his political enemy's death.

But, Turdsley can't even fake it. It's not who, or what he is.

[More redistricting bad news for Republicans: Texas may not net five GOP seats like they planned]

Sometimes things just don't work out the way you planned:

More redistricting bad news for Republicans: Texas may not net five GOP seats like they planned

As per this article:

"The Republican plans to pick off five Democratic-held congressional seats in Texas once seemed like a sure thing. Not anymore.
 
President Donald Trump's flagging approval ratings, particularly among Latinos, and strong Democratic performance in this year's special elections have changed both parties' assumptions. Now, the cushion the Texas GOP drew into its new map – Trump won every Republican-favored district by 10 points or more a year ago – seems like it might be too small."

A lot can, and will happen between now and the November 4th, 2026 midterm elections. But, the Greedy Oligarchy Party (GOP) has to be concerned right now about how their Texas redistricting plan is actually going to work out for them.