The Mysterious Lithophones of Vietnam: Descendants of the First Musical Instruments?

Via David

The word ‘lithophone’ is derived from two Greek words, ‘lithos’ and ‘phone’. The first can be translated as ‘stone’, whilst the second means ‘sound’. Therefore, a lithophone may be said to be a ‘sound-making stone’. Today, this word is used to denote a type of musical instrument made of stones. Lithophones have been discovered in different parts of the world, including Vietnam.

Researchers have said that lithophones were played between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago.
Generally speaking, a lithophone consists of several stone slabs of varying sizes. As these stones are struck, different tones are produced. Therefore, a lithophone may be considered to be a percussion instrument, and it has often been compared to a xylophone.

More @ Ancient Origins

Speaker Paul Ryan Is on the CHOPPING BLOCK – Check Out His Likely Replacement…

Via Mike

Things aren’t looking good for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan after he bungled the Obamacare replacement bill.

House Republicans are now openly discussing replacing the “crippled speaker.”

Ryan failed to replace Obamacare in the House that HE RUNS. He also repeatedly promised the public that the replacement plan would pass — which it did not. He also mislead President Trump every step of the way.

In the wake of this massive failure, Republicans are openly having a dialogue about replacing Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House. Many are concerned that Ryan isn’t taking into consideration the best interest of President Trump or the Republican Party.

“This is another example of the staff not serving the president well and the weakness of the Paul Ryan speakership,” a source close to President Trump told Breitbart News. “This calls into question once again the speaker’s commitment to supporting Donald Trump and his agenda.”

“Speaker Ryan proved today that he does not have the best interests of the President at heart,” said another source close to the president. “He sold out the president and showed his word can be taken with a grain of salt. There is only one course of action that should be taken to move past this catastrophe and that is the swift removal of Paul Ryan from the speakership.”

More @ Donald Trump News

Christian v Patriot

 

"I know, sir, how well it becomes a freeman and a Christian to forget and forgive. As individuals professing a holy religion, it is our bounden duty to forgive injuries done us as individuals. But when the character of Christian you add the character of patriot, you are in a different situation. Our mild and holy system of religion inculcates an admirable maxim of forbearance. If your enemy smite one cheek, turn the other to him. But you must stop there. You cannot apply this to your country. As members of a social community, this maxim does not apply to you. When you consider injuries done to your country your political duty tells you of vengeance. Forgive as a private man, but never forgive public injuries. Observations of this nature are exceedingly unpleasant, but it is my duty to use them."

—Patrick Henry, Life, Correspondence and Speeches, William Wirt Henry, editor (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891), Vol. II, p. 490

How Democrats Killed Their Populist Soul

Via Frank

Dated

In the 1970s, a new wave of post-Watergate liberals stopped fighting monopoly power. The result is an increasingly dangerous political system.

 t was January 1975, and the Watergate Babies had arrived in Washington looking for blood. The Watergate Babies—as the recently elected Democratic congressmen were known—were young, idealistic liberals who had been swept into office on a promise to clean up government, end the war in Vietnam, and rid the nation’s capital of the kind of corruption and dirty politics the Nixon White House had wrought. Richard Nixon himself had resigned just a few months earlier in August. But the Watergate Babies didn’t just campaign against Nixon; they took on the Democratic establishment, too. Newly elected Representative George Miller of California, then just 29 years old, announced, “We came here to take the Bastille.”

More @ The Atlantic

Russia Prepares For Split With International Banking System

Via Billy

Russia has successfully developed and implemented an alternative should it be excluded from international banking systems, according to a recent report.

As far as western sanctions go, by far Russia's largest vulnerability is in its banking sector, which for better or for worse is tied to the hip with international banking.

If Russia wishes to maintain the status quo, there's not much that can be done about this dependency. But shortly after sanctions were announced in 2014, Moscow set out to prepare for the worst-case scenario: being cut off from the Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system.

More @ Russian Insider

M-44 Cyanide Bomb Kills Dog, Many More Spread Across the U.S.

Via Billy

This is a horrific story of a government action supposedly preventing one problem, but creating a whole new danger.

It killed a cherished family dog. It almost killed a little boy.

It may be in your neighborhood too.

From Conservative Tribune:

Canyon Mansfield, 14, was walking with his family’s dog when he noticed a pipe sticking out of the ground. As soon as he touched the pipe, it released a deadly poison.

“I see this little pipe that looked like a sprinkler sticking out of the ground,” Mansfield told the newspaper. “I go over and touch it. Then it makes a pop sound and it spews orange gas everywhere.”

More @ Young Conservatives

Dem Sen. Kamala Harris: Gorsuch Too Judicial To Be SCOTUS Judge! Ha! :)

Via Billy

Wicked Witch Oh The West!  

During the opening statement of his confirmation hearing, Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch expressed his philosophy on how a good judge reaches decisions::

I’ve ruled for disabled students, for prisoners, for the accused, for workers alleging civil rights violations, and for undocumented immigrants. Sometimes, too, I ruled against such persons. My decisions have never reflected a judgment about the people before me, only a judgment of the law and the facts at issue in each particular case.

A good judge can promise no more than that. And a good judge should guarantee no less. For a judge who likes every outcome he reaches is probably a pretty bad judge, stretching for policy results he prefers rather than those the law compels.

In other words, for Gorsuch, a good judge bases his rulings on the law as it is, not on how he or she wishes it was.

As Senator Chuck Grassley put it ,

“He’s a guy who I think comes to the court every day on the 10th circuit wearing a referee’s jersey – not trying to wear a Broncos versus a Packers jersey – and that’s what you need in a judge.”

Good enough, right?

More @ Young Conservatives

Nunes: Leaks against Trump jeopardize reauthorization of crucial spying powers

Via Billy

Rep. Devin Nunes said Thursday that Republicans' concerns about intelligence leaks targeting President Trump are jeopardizing congressional reauthorization of crucial government surveillance tools.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the National Security Agency to monitor telephone communications and Internet data generated by foreign nationals.

It is valued by national security experts for its ability to scoop up vast sums of information that can be used to spy on American adversaries and identify terror plots. But it can also incidentally scoop up Americans who speak with foreign nationals. Including, potentially, a newly elected president and his associates.

More @ Washington Examiner

House Intelligence Committee Closes Doors to Public for NSA, FBI Testimony: Likely Nunes Believes “Smoking Gun” Forthcoming

Via Billy

The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, abruptly canceled the committee’s open session on Friday, saying that major players within the NSA had requested to testify a second time on anti-Russian surveillance efforts —but would do so only behind closed doors.

Although he says it’s something the public ought to know, Nunes is keeping his information under tighter wraps than a celebrity Snapchat account.

According to Nunes, former National Intelligence Committee director James Clapper, former CIA director John Brennan and former deputy Attorney General Sally Yates have all agreed to provide testimony on whether the Obama Administration was investigating members of Donald Trump’s campaign team for their ties to Russia.

Of course, now that he has the doors closed, Nunes has invited other top figures to re-testify, just in case there was something they didn’t want to say on camera. FBI Director James Comey and NSA director Mike Rogers will be back Friday, it seems, for a second round of testimony.

More @ Heat Street

In 24 States, 50% or More of Babies Born on Medicaid; New Mexico Leads Nation With 72%

Via Billy

In 24 of the nation’s 50 states at least half of the babies born during the latest year on record had their births paid for by Medicaid, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

New Mexico led all states with 72 percent of the babies born there in 2015 having their births covered by Medicaid.

Arkansas ranked second with 67 percent; Louisiana ranked third with 65 percent; and three states—Mississippi, Nevada and Wisconsin—tied for fourth place with 64 percent of babies born there covered by Medicaid.

New Hampshire earned the distinction of having the smallest percentage of babies born on Medicaid. In that state, Medicaid paid for the births of only 27 percent of the babies born in 2015.

Virginia and Utah tied for the next to last position, with 31 percent of the babies born on Medicaid.

More @ CNS

Congressman Mo Brooks won't back off "anything short of shooting them" illegal immigrant threat

Via Billy

"Anything that is lawful, it needs to be done because illegal aliens need to quit taking jobs from American citizens."

 Hispanics nationally are stepping up their criticism, but U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks won't apologize for saying he would "do anything short of shooting them" to keep illegal immigrants out of America.
"I'm not going to back off because these folks want to resort to name-calling," Brooks said Monday.

Brooks spoke after a week in which he was criticized by the head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and two groups of Hispanic Republicans.

More @ AL

Newt Gingrich: Paul Ryan Is At A Turning Point & If This Had Been One of Trump's Hotels There'd be Lots of Personnel Changes

Via Billy

Louie Gohmert: GOP Leadership 'LIED' to Trump About Obamacare Repeal

Via Billy

Poll: Most reject sanctuary cities, say they're unsafe

Via Billy

A majority of voters would oppose having their town declared a "sanctuary" to protect criminal illegal immigrants, with most claiming the areas aren't safe.

The latest Rasmussen Reports survey said that 52 percent oppose the designation of "sanctuary city," while 35 favor it.

And 42 percent said that the areas are "less safe," compared to 17 percent who believe that they are "more safe."

More @ Washington Examiner

NSA Whistleblower: Trump Was Right On Wiretap: NSA Spies on all agencies and the American People

Via Billy

Prosecute the Sanctuary Secessionists

Via Billy

There are now 500 sanctuary cities in the United States, virtually all Democratic, which are pledged not to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security in its efforts to secure our borders, identify terrorists, and deport criminal aliens. California has taken the lead in this pernicious movement and is about to become the first sanctuary state. Moreover, every public California institution of higher learning has declared itself a “sanctuary campus” including the University of California whose president Janet Napolitano is a former Obama appointee to head the Department of Homeland Security itself.

This is the most massive movement of sedition (sic) since the Civil War and is the centerpiece of the so-called “resistance” – itself a form of sedition in a democracy - that Democrats have mobilized against the Trump administration. With its proposed budget, the Trump administration has taken the first step in dealing with this internal threat to American security by withdrawing federal funding for criminal municipalities and counties which are in open defiance of federal law. De-funding is a good first step but is not enough to counter-act the serious threat that the sanctuary movement poses to our nation’s security in the midst of the global war that Islamists have declared on us. What is needed is the prosecution of the criminal officials leading this movement. The Department of Justice needs to investigate and indict the mayors of these municipalities and the derelict presidents and chancellors of sanctuary campuses.

More @ Front Page

Why I Just Don't Care About the London Attack

Via John

Before you accuse me of being cold, heartless, evil, or a psychopath, understand the point of this post is one akin to the Serenity Prayer.  A very important philosophical epiphany many people never realize, but should as it is vital to their psychological well being and mental health.  It is one of accepting reality and not getting worked up in the world of theory.  And the London attacks, like previous and any future terrorist attacks, are/will continue to make my point until the point in time something is actually done about Islamic terror.  And I strongly suggest you set aside emotions, politics, and even your own sense of self-survival to clearly see and hear the point I'm trying to make.

First, "What is it this time?"

Be it the Nice attack in France.
The bombing in Germany's market square.
The Boston marathon bombing.
The Cologne sexual assault party.
The Orlando gay night club shooting.
Or
The hotel bombing in Mumbai.

It's very apparent that nothing new is going to happen.  The media will immediately rush to say it wasn't confirmed that it was a Muslim who did this.  Then, when it's discovered it was, they will rush out to say Muslims fear a backlash in their communities before the bodies get cold.  There will be furor on the internet on the right demanding we "do something about this."  And people on the left will rush to say it's racism to point out the attacks came from Muslims.

But in the end NOTHING different will happen.

NOTHING.

More @ Captain Capitalism

President Trump vs. Speaker Ryan: 38 Executive Actions to A Paltry 6 Bills Signed into Law

Via Billy

With the Obamacare bill being pulled by President Trump yesterday due to lack of votes, Speaker Ryan’s House has little or nothing to show for itself since the President’s Inauguration on January 20th.  Compared to President Trump, Paul Ryan’s House of Representatives looks stagnant!   

The President has signed 38 game changing executive actions to six rather insignificant pieces of legislation signed into law since the President’s inauguration. 

Today, Ryan’s Republicans tried to scrape up the votes to pass a highly unpopular healthcare bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.  Eventually President Trump stepped in to pull the bill due to lack of votes.

President Trump is implementing all he can for Americans who struggle daily with financial challenges due to Obamacare and a burdensome federal tax regime.  However Speaker Ryan’s Republican House continues to work at a snail’s pace with little or no successful legislation to brag about to date.  After eight years of Obama and seven years since Obamacare was first introduced, Speaker Ryan’s Congress could not put together a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare that all Republicans would sign into law.

More @ The Gateway Pundit

Sasse Asks Gorsuch: What If We Didn't Have a Bill of Rights?

Via Carl

Pence: Democrats’ victory on health care ‘won’t last long’

Via Billy

Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday that congressional Democrats won’t be able to savor very long the survival of Obamacare, after Trump administration and House Republican leaders lost a bid to repeal and replace the law.

“Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democrats, actually said yesterday was a victory for the American people,” Mr. Pence told an audience in Charleston, West Virginia. “That victory won’t last very long.

We will end the Obamacare nightmare and give the American people the health care they deserve.

More @ Washington Times

Jeanine Pirro: "Paul Ryan needs to step down as speaker of the House"

Via Billy

"Paul Ryan needs to step down as speaker of the House," said Jeanine Pirro, host of the eponymous "Justice with Judge Jeanine," to start a live show at 9 p.m. She said Ryan "failed to deliver" on his repeal-and-replace bill.

Pirro said it was her personal opinion that the onus of the failed health care bill effort was not on Trump, who she said had preferred to pursue tax reform first but still went along supporting the healthcare bill. Rather it was Ryan that wanted the healthcare bill first and subsequently "blew it."

More @ Washington Examiner

Sen. Rand Paul: GOP can do tax reform, Obamacare repeal simultaneously

Via Billy

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., isn't ready to give up yet on repealing and replacing Obamacare after the House GOP pulled the American Health Care Act from a vote on Friday, despite President Trump's insisting that his administration is moving on to tax reform.

"I think legislators can walk and chew gum hopefully at the same time, so why don't we do both? Why don't we set up a special committee," Paul told Fox News fill-in host Eric Bolling on "The O'Reilly Factor" Friday evening.

Paul, who was an ally to the House Freedom Caucus in their holdout over the Obamacare replacement bill, said the Trump administration should host the group, as well as House and Senate leadership at the White House and begin a "continuing conversation" about overturning the Affordable Care Act. Trump had met with members of the HFC multiple times during the past few days in the run-up to the expected vote.

More @ Washington Examiner