James L. Paris's Blog, page 72

Gallup: Nearly Half of Americans Believe Abortion to Be ���Morally Wrong���

How many people do you think believe abortion to be wrong?

If your principal sources of news are a part of the so-called mainstream media, the number is likely very small. After all, the popular narrative, or what we are led to believe is the popular narrative, suggests that those with anti-abortion views are in the distinct minority, and are, essentially, dinosaurs���relics from a time long passed.

Except that���s not true.

An item over at NewsBusters.org tells of the results of a recent Gallup Poll on abortion, results that indicate the number of Americans who consider abortion to be ���morally wrong��� is sizable 48 percent.

Nearly half of all Americans; hardly an insignificant number.

Notably, however, the number of Americans who think abortion should be outright illegal is considerably smaller ��� just 20 percent. On that, Frank Newport and Robert Bird, authors of a report on the disparity between the number of people who find a behavior to be morally questionable and the number who think it should be made illegal, say that ���Americans are often more likely to view behaviors as morally wrong than they are to advocate that these behaviors be made illegal.���

The pair goes onto say that although ���many of those sympathetic to an anti-abortion position are demonstrably not sympathetic to a ���total ban��� type of strategy,��� the very same people would likely ���be more sympathetic to efforts to place restrictions on abortion ... which in many ways embodies the strategy groups opposing abortion have taken.���

First things first. To bring about the end of readily-available abortions, people must first find abortion to be morally objectionable, and that seems to be happening, in growing numbers.

It���s something.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr.

Legendary Russian Arms Maker Announces Development of Fully-Automated Combat Robots

Are we really going to be able to say that we lived in the age when autonomous, battlefield combat robots became a reality?

Apparently.

As reported by New Atlas, legendary Russian arms manufacturer Kalashnikov, creator of the AK-47, has announced that it will shortly bring such machines to life, quite literally.

The director of Kalashnikov Group Communications, Sofiya Ivanova, said recently that the company ���will unveil a range of products based on neural networks,��� and that this will take place in the ���imminent future.��� As a matter of fact, ���a fully automated combat module featuring this technology is planned to be demonstrated at the Army-2017 forum,��� said Ivanova.

Let there be no misunderstanding what Kalashnikov is doing. These are not simply drone-type mechanisms entirely beholden to the whims of a human controlling them from a remote location. The application of neural network technology to these robots means they will be able to learn from their battlefield experiences, a classic example of fully-enacted artificial intelligence (AI).

The weaponization of AI has been a concern of many for a long time now. As noted by New Atlas, back in 2015, an array of researchers in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence put their signatures to an open letter addressed to the United Nations, asking that body to ban the development of weaponized AI. It is believed, however, that any kind of formal ban is still many years down the road.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Citing His ���Bad Behavior,��� China Bans Justin Bieber

Although it is certainly fair to accuse China of representing the pot calling the kettle black in this case, it is still worth a mention that pop music mega-star Justin Bieber has been banned from performing in the country because of his ���bad behavior,��� as the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture noted on its official web page.

From the bureau���s website:

���Justin Bieber is a young foreign singer who is talented at singing but also controversial. Therefore, it���s not appropriate to bring in artists who show bad behavior. However, in the process of growing up and improving his words and deeds, he can truly develop into a singer who is beloved of the masses.���

In its reporting on the ban, The Telegraph outlined a bit of Bieber���s history when it comes to some ���bad behavior��� he exhibited within the U.S., including an arrest for drunk driving as well as an odd moment in which he decided the thing to do was to urinate in a bucket while screaming ���F--- Bill Clinton!��� at a portrait of the former president. As for any said ���bad behavior��� in which he previously engaged on Chinese soil, while some of his behavior was a bit curious���he was carried up the Great Wall by his bodyguards, and went skateboarding through Beijing���s streets as he was being chased by his entourage���it���s difficult to see any of it as genuinely troublesome.

Nevertheless, apparently the totality of Bieber���s missteps are too much for Chinese authorities, and so he is now persona non grata in a country that has also seen fit to ban, among others, Lady Gaga for being ���unsuitable.���

All of that said, no word if China is planning to ban any of its own government leaders for presiding over a country with one of the worst human rights records anywhere in the world.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Tunisian Court Bans Wonder Woman over Israeli Star

Wonder Woman has been deemed a problem for Tunisians.

Or, more precisely, the Israeli star of the blockbuster film, Gal Gadot, has been deemed a problem.

In fact, she is such a problem, apparently, that the film has been banned by a Tunisian court from being shown anywhere in the country, according to the Independent.

The court weighed in following a complaint from the Al-Chaab nationalist party in Tunis. Al-Chaab had demanded the film be banned because of a Facebook post made by Gadot back in 2014. The post, which subsequently went viral, was a message of support for the Israeli army during the Gaza war, as well as a condemnation of the militant Palestinian Islamist group Hamas:

���I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children...We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom!���

As some have noticed, Gadot stars as Wonder Woman, as well, in the 2016 Marvel hit Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. So how come there was no problem showing that film?

Well, as Anthony Sargon, a Lebanese-American who runs a comic book store in Beirut, Lebanon, notes:

���It���s because she���s the main star of this film, it freaked some people out.���

Evidently.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Joe Biden Charging Hundreds of Dollars to Those Wanting a Signed Copy of His New Book

Want a signed copy of former vice president Joe Biden���s latest book? Then you���d better plan on making a withdrawal from your retirement plan.

As reported by The Washington Times, it seems that Biden, still one of the most recognizable figureheads of what is ostensibly the party of the people, is being decidedly un-egalitarian in the manner in which he dispenses signed copies of his latest book, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, due out in November. The book centers on the death of Biden���s son Beau, as well as the process he went through in deciding not to run for president in 2016.

As far as handing out signed copies of his book, Biden has opted for a system where only those willing to fork over $400-plus for a ticketed, VIP meet-and-greet with the former VP will be able to receive a copy with his inscription. VIP package tickets for Biden���s November 14 event in Washington, DC are going for $448, while VIP tickets for his meet-and-greet at Lincoln Center in New York City are $446.50.

If you don���t want a signed copy of the book? You can attend these shindigs for much less ��� for example, the Lincoln Center affair is making available non-autographed book tickets for $76.

76 bucks, and you can���t score a signed copy of Joe Biden���s latest book; what���s the Democratic Party coming to?

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

8 Easy Ways To Cut $800 From Your Monthly Bills

Over many years we have written hundreds of articles of countless ways to save money. A reader asked me the other day to give them a quick list of the fastest easiest ways to cut monthly expenses. I thought this would be a great idea for one of those 'list' articles that seems to be so popular online. Also, a simple way for people to sit down and have a list in front of them of what budget cuts are the easiest to make and will likely yield the most results. Consider this your list of 'low hanging fruit' to start with in your pursuit of less monthly outflow.

1. Raise Auto Insurance Deductibles

Simply increase your auto insurance deductible to $1,000 and save 30% or more on a typical policy.

2. Homeowner's Insurance

The same idea here as with auto insurance. Call your insurance provider and discuss how much you would save with a $1,000 or even higher deductible on your homeowner's policy.

3. Home Phone

Many people still feel the need to have a landline for their home. In many U.S.  cities, this can cost you more than $50 monthly. An option I have used for my years is the OOMA Internet phone. For a one time cost of about $100 you can get a free landline for life. It has all of the features you need in a home phone (including 911 location services) and you can even keep your same phone number (and the quality, in my experience, is equal to or better than a landline).

4. Cell Phones

Get out of expensive contract plans that offer free and discounted phones and use a prepaid cell plan. You can now get plans from a variety of providers that offer unlimited calling, text, and data, for under $40 monthly. I use Virgin Mobile and have the same quality of service and coverage I had with a large traditional cell phone provider I dropped nearly four years ago.

5. Cable TV

Well, if you are a regular reader you know how I feel about expensive Cable TV. Replace cable TV with a streaming package and save over $100 monthly. Best Streaming Alternatives To Cable TV And How to Drop Cable TV - Click Here.

6. Credit Cards

If you are carrying balances on high interest rate cards, there is simply no reason to. Even if you don't have perfect credit, you can find mid to low interest rate cards that you can transfer your balances to. Low interest transfer balance options - click here.

7. Utility Bill

A few quick and easy things here. First, a programmable WiFi thermostat can save you big money. Why heat cool your home when you are not there? and Secondly, lower the temperature on your hot water heater (120 degrees is more than sufficient) and add a layer of insulation around the tank with a so called 'hot water heater' blanket. Lastly, consider replacing your standard shower heads with a 'low flow' option. You can still get a great shower with much less water using these kinds of specially designed shower heads. Remember, showers take much less water than baths, and if you employ a low flow shower head, you will be saving even more on your water bill.

8. Health Insurance

High deductibles also apply here, but an even better option is to get away from traditional health insurance completely and go with a Christian medical sharing option. I am saving about $500 monthly with just this one idea alone. 

Helping you make the most of God���s money!

James L. Paris 
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com 
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice 
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Backed By Trump, ICE Chief Prepares to Deploy Agents to Sanctuary Cities

In a recent interview, Thomas D. Homan, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), made it clear the era of Trump has ushered in a new era in immigration control, as well.

As reported by the Washington Examiner, Homan, speaking from his office, said that ���you can like President Trump, not like him, like his policies, not like his policies, but one thing no one can argue with is the effect they've had.���

The director made particular mention of key numbers as proof of the Trump Effect: Illegal border crossings down 70 percent; arrests inside the U.S. up 40 percent; and demands made of local authorities by federal agents for jailed illegals up a whopping 80 percent.

Referring to Border Patrol and ICE agents, Homan said, ���Now they have meaning to their jobs. What this president has done is taken the handcuffs off of law enforcement officers who are charged with enforcing immigration laws.���

A significant priority for Homan will be a crackdown on sanctuary cities and the undocumented immigrants hiding therein. Expressing his frustration with the very concept of sanctuary cities, Homan declared, ���In the America I grew up in, cities didn���t shield people who violated the law.���
Homan says he���s been given the green light to hire 10,000 new agents, and plans to use a large number of them to penetrate sanctuary cities.

���The president recognizes that you���ve got to have a true interior enforcement strategy to make it uncomfortable for them,��� he said.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Fear of Stock Market Can Cost Individuals Millions

While few dispute the stock market is due ��� overdue ��� for a significant pullback, most agree that a presence in the stock market, over the long term, is a smart idea for those seeking to generate a sizable retirement account by the time they stop working altogether.

Unfortunately, many young adults just don���t see it that way. A big reason for that has to do with the fact that many of their earliest adult memories of the markets are replete with recollections of great volatility and little in the way of positive performance���highlighted, of course, by the market meltdown of 2008.

Their response? To keep away from the stock market altogether and stick solely with savings accounts, and an article posted over at CNBC details just what a bad idea that is.

The folks at the personal finance website NerdWallet have learned, via their 2016 survey on financial health, that over 60 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 34 were using savings accounts to sock away money for retirement. They also learned that the cost of saving that way is enormous.
Relying on historical averages of market returns for their analysis, NerdWallet determined that a 25-year-old who makes the average annual income for that age (a little over $40,000), saves 15 percent of their salary, receives annual raises of 3.7 percent, works until age 65, and allocates all of the money into stocks would have $4.57 million accumulated by retirement.

Pretty impressive.

Traveling the savings account route to retirement? Not nearly as impressive.

According to NerdWallet, the individuals fitting their sample profile who rely exclusively on a savings account as the repository of their contributions will end up with about $3.3 million less when they retire.

���The opportunity cost of leaving a sum that large on the table could be a bigger risk to Millennials than stock market volatility,��� say the authors of the NerdWallet study.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Scholars Say Frequent Citation of ���White, Heteronormative Males��� in Academia Must End ��

Those rotten, white, heterosexual males are at it again.

In addition to all of the other, egregious offenses they���ve committed, it seems that now they���re guilty of having their work cited too frequently in academia.

An article over at The Christian Post highlights a piece appearing in the June edition of Gender, Place & Culture journal that makes the case against significant citations of white male scholars because said citations promote ���white heteromasculinity.���

The authors of the article, Professor Carrie Mott of Rutgers University and Professor Daniel Cockayne of Ontario, Canada���s University of Waterloo, write that ���citational practices can be a tool for either the reification of, or resistance to, unethical hierarchies of knowledge production.���

Wow.

The pair are geography professors, and write in terms of what they see as citation bias within their field.

The Christian Post notes that Mott spoke recently to the website Campus Reform to explain why she feels this to be such an important issue.

���When it is predominantly white, heteronormative males who are cited, this means that the views and knowledge that are represented do not reflect the experience of people from other backgrounds,��� she said.

���When scholars continue to cite only white men on a given topic, they ignore the broader diversity of voices and researchers that are also doing important work on that topic.���

Interestingly, National Review took it upon itself to punch holes in the foundational logic conveyed by Mott and Cockayne by pointing out a simple truth:

Two-thirds of American geography professors are men.

���You cannot argue���that it doesn't make perfect logical sense that male geologists would be cited more often than female geologists, given the fact that there are more male than female geologists,��� notes the National Review.

And THERE it is!

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Maine Now Offering Tuition Breaks to Illegal Immigrants

Despite what some would say was a mandate established in the last election to crack down on illegal immigration in the U.S., many states and cities have decided to enact policies further accommodative of undocumented immigrants.

One of those is Maine. According to a report by the Bangor Daily News, undocumented students in Maine can now avail themselves of in-state tuition breaks amounting to an average of $12,000 per student.

19-year-old Fernando Martinez is a beneficiary of Maine���s financial benevolence toward illegal students. As these young people are still presently unable to apply for federal student aid, Martinez is thankful for the opportunities to benefit from tuition breaks made available by states like Maine.

���This is such a great thing,��� he said. ���It only makes sense ��� there are so many kids who would love to get this.���

 Why, yes���there probably are a lot of kids who would like to receive a nice tuition windfall such as the one being offered by Maine to undocumented students.

The University of Maine System, the state���s network of public schools of higher education, do not consider immigration status when weighing admissions decisions, according to the Daily News, but still ask for the relevant information for the purpose of determining eligibility for financial aid.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large