"The Space Traders" (1992) by Derrick Bell (credited with the development of critical race theory) about aliens coming specifically to America & wanting to trade gold & renewable energy tech for... black Americans and of course the country does it. Great story. You might be familiar with this story, but back in the 90's I was off-world and missed alot for reasons, but that is another story. Off we go...

It begins as alien ships unexpectedly arrive on earth. The aliens have a proposition for the United States.

Their offer:

Quote:Those mammoth vessels carried within their holds treasure of which the United States was in most desperate need: gold, to bail out the almost bankrupt federal, state, and local governments; special chemicals capable of unpolluting the environment, which was becoming daily more toxic, and restoring it to the pristine state it had been before Western explorers set foot on it; and a totally safe nuclear engine and fuel, to relieve the nation's all-but-depleted supply of fossil fuel. In return, the visitors wanted only one thing-and that was to take back to their home star all the African Americans who lived in the United States.

The jaw of every one of the welcoming officials dropped, not a word of the many speeches they had prepared suitable for the occasion. As the Americans stood in stupefied silence, the visitors' leaded emphasized that the proposed trade was for the Americans freely to accept or not, that no force would be used. Neither then nor subsequently did the leader or any other of the visitors, whom anchorpersons on that evening's news shows immediately labeled the "Space Traders," reveal why they wanted only black people or what plans they had for them should the United States be prepared to part with that or any other group of its citizens.

The leader only reiterated to his still-dumbfounded audience that, in exchange for the treasure they had brought, they wanted to take away every American categorized as black on birth certificate or other official identification. The Space Traders said they would wait sixteen days for a response to their offer. That is, on 17 January-the day when in that year the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., was to be observed-they would depart carrying with them every black man, woman, and child in the nation and
leave behind untold treasure. Otherwise, the Space Traders' leader shrugged and glanced around-at the oil slick in the water, at the dead gulls on t he beach, at the thick shadow of smog that obscured the sky on all but the windiest days. Then the visitors walked back over the waves back over the waves and returned to their ships.

Quote:A science fiction anthology series that aired on HBO. It was hosted by Parliament lead singer George Clinton. It also starred Casey Kasem, Robert Guillaume, and Anthony Anderson.

In the tradition of The Twilight Zone, this bizarre, thought-provoking trilogy addresses the destiny of the world's minorities: Part I: A conservative African American politician must choose between his people's survival and appeasing his white colleagues when space aliens propose to share their profound knowledge in exchange for all black people on earth. Part II: The Virgin Mary's appearance in an inner-city housing project forces a Hispanic priest to face the hidden cultural origins of Western religion. Part III: On the dawn of the "Black Revolution," an African American couple discovers who the "real" enemy is.
Cosmic Slop

Just caught this on the local Fox network yesterday. The governor is putting up our tax money to fund this plant and according to Tudor Dixon, the CCP are involved as well as Ferris State University in Big Rapids. I saw a rebuttal from the township on a 9&10 report. They dismissed a couple of Dixon's claims, but never addressed the CCP being here in Michigan.

Quote:Outrage brewing over plans for China-linked battery company in Michigan: 'Don’t want CCP in our small town'

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon blasted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Wednesday for moving forward with plans to allow $715 million dollars of taxpayer money to fund a Chinese Communist Party-linked business in the state. Gotion High tech-Co., a battery company based in Hefei, China, announced its plans last year for a roughly $2.4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Big Rapids, Mich. that would bring an estimated 2,350 jobs to the state, according to a press release from Whitmer’s office. Dixon, however, said a CCP-linked business shouldn’t be allowed to operate in the state and called out Whitmer for allowing the company to come to Michigan.

Many will think the title is a little "out there" yet some of the latest genetic research tends to point that any certain ethically/genetic targeted group can be targeted and done away. The Chinese have the largest data bank on genetic heritage for humans/Americans in the world.. Whatever you want to believe this is interesting IMO.

I know there are some people really into this sort of stuff with regards to out of body experiences and the possibility of a holographic universe so I will post this for them. I am a left hemisphere type person so if I can not touch it, use it in a meaningful way I usually do not devote the time or thoughts into such an endeavor...Maybe my loss but it has served me well in this life IMO.

I do not know about you Guys and Gals but over the last two years every time I hear something about Hunter I ask myself why has there not been serious action heaped upon his head for all the various crimes he has been accused of. Now someone else who has dirt on the Bidens has been arrested and claims his arrest is nothing more than a means to shut him up...?? Wonder when the cameras will malfunction in prison with this case ?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic...ected.html

Quote:Killer eye drops recall: What we know about the contaminated products that have killed three Americans, blinded eight and forced four patients to have their eyeballs surgically removed

• More than 117 million Americans used eyedrops or eyewashes regularly in 2020
  
• The drops have led to infections of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
  
• Three people have died and eight have lost their vision
  

A flurry of US deaths and blindness caused by contaminated eyedrops has caused panic nationwide.
Three Americans have died, eight have suffered vision loss and four people have had to have their eyeballs removed after becoming infected with a rare drug-resistant strain of bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 
The bacteria has been found lurking in EzriCare and Delsam Pharma eyedrops from the Indian manufacturer Global Pharma, which have been recalled while health officials investigate. 
Most patients reported using 10 different brands of artificial tears, but EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free, over-the-counter product, was the brand most commonly reported.
What do we know about the outbreak?


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 68 people in 16 states were diagnosed with infections from the bacteria in EzriCare, which has caused three deaths and eight people losing their vision, and four people who had to have their eyeballs removed


As of March 14, a reported 68 patients in 16 states have been infected with this 'rare strain' of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

So one of my Team Members did the unthinkable a little while back and agreed to a Television interview!

This was recorded in 1966 if I remember correctly ? youtu.be... Dewayne and the Beldettas was the last band I played in before entering the service...cause I wanted to fly.. Dewayne the lead singer died a few years back and Jim our organ player became a PHD professor of music at Okla. University.. Jim could play trumpet, organ, and bass peddle on the B3 organ all at the same time and sound "GOOD!" He did many of our arrangements... We were a large band with a Singer (Dewayne) trumpet player, saxophone, drums, base guitar, lead guitar and organ which back in 66 was rather large. Everyone could play a different instrument besides their primary.. There were times depending on the song we would have 2 Trumpets and two Saxophones playing to make the song sound right... We played everything from top 40 rock to golden oldies... I was making enough to buy top of the line musical equipment and a car and have money left for a girlfriend so I thought I was doing OK.

We did 4 show tunes a night to start a set and one of the show tunes was...... "Lawrence of Arabia" which we always got a standing ovation for our rendition; yes I know Lawrence of Arabia and a rock band but hey it worked.. I remember the fuzz tone and guitar cranked up while I did my best to make ARABIC type sounds which I can still remember getting goose bumps from some of the sounds the amp, fuzz tone, and guitar could make.. On the other hand I hated this song !! youtu.be... but it was a living so.....

I am glad I got out of music as most who stayed in (some very talented) are long dead now for various reasons..

Although making Apple Jack or other liquor with the process of Cold Distillation may be a subject that doesn't belong in the Survival and Sustainability forum, like in my previous threads on wine and beer making, I would put forth that alcohol is fundamental in regard to a number of uses.

Now, putting that aside, I went from my Wild Berry Wine and IPA beer made entirely from scratch from the most basic brewing methods to an apple wine made from deer bait apples. That worked up really well and the alcohol percentage was really good, but the fermented apple smell and taste was barely tolerable or at best an acquired taste for someone who just wants to get drunk.

So I had thought about getting the still out and distilling the near 5 gallons of apple wine when I remembered my first deer hunting experience at a deer camp where my buddy and I were drinking Apple Jack made from hard cider. That's when I was introduced to the cold method of distillation. You freeze the hard cider solid, let it thaw slightly then pour out the alcohol leaving most of the water behind in the jug.

A gallon of my apple wine produced about a shot of high proof alcohol when poured off of the frozen block. After I let it thaw about 15-20 minutes I got about a cup and a half of something more like a strong brandy level of proof. But, what amazed me is that not only did the flavor improve enough to be drinkable, but it retained it's mild carbonation as it was still working a little.

I can see this as being a way to distill oils or aromatics for medicinal uses. Maybe I can extract menthol from mints and wintergreen or oils from medicinal plants. Perhaps flavors can be extracted this way also. I need to look into this more and see what this process can do.