Harvard Sues For The Right To Discriminate And Still Get Paid

So what is Harvard objecting to exactly>

The letter to Harvard that is conditioning federal funding on the University complying with the demands in the letter can be read here - Letter to Harvard.

Take a moment to read it.

There's really nothing in the demands in the letter that a reasonable person would find objectionable - Harvard needs to end a pattern of discrimination and hire faculty and administration and intake students based on merit alone; end a tolerance for antisemitism and related threats and vilenceeat the University; build up tolerance and viewpoint diversity in higher education; and actually reform and enforce current student disciplinary rules.

Harvard is apparently fighting in order to be allowed to keep on discriminating, not hiring on merit,  and tolerating antisemitism and student disruptions on campus - and to continue to receive Federal funds while doing so.

Quite a noble hill for Harvard to die on, but they can do themselves.

Harvard of course claims it is its first amendment right to make its own rules.  As a private institution it can - and indeed the Federal Government is not saying it cannot.

Instead, it is stating - correctly - that the Federal Government is allowed to condition funds on adherence to federal policy objectives.

For Harvard to be able to claim that the Federal Government cannot condition spending on adoption of certain policies and conditions in return for the funds is ludicrous and  goes against quite established constitutional law.

If Harvard wishes to continue its actions, all it needs to do is forgo Federal funding and then it can be as discriminatory and non-compliant with Federal guidelines as it may wish. 

But instead, Harvard is suing to have its cake and eat it too.

One should note well that Harvard, the Left, and progressives in general didn't make a peep when the Obama administration sent out his "Dear Colleagues" letter to Colleges to change their procedures on Title IX matters -- to reduce the due process due to the accused in such matters -- and "disparate impact on racial groups" in disciplinary actions -- or else.

Harvard's case should be dismissed and Harvard should be required to make the choice everyone else must make when deciding to accept Federal Government funding - accept the strings that come with the dollars, or forgo the dollars.

Happy Compost Your Girlfriend Day

It should not need to be said, but to be clear, this blog does not condone nor advocate composting your romantic interest. 

If it's reached the point where it is clearly absolutely not working out, don't try to bury your problems, just say goodbye, get on with your life, and handle it like a rational adult.

The co-founder of Earth Day didn't quite figure that part out. 

NBC News: Earth Day co-founder killed, composted girlfriend - NBC News

Ira Einhorn was on stage hosting the first Earth Day event at the Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on April 22, 1970. Seven years later, police raided his closet and found the "composted" body of his ex-girlfriend inside a trunk.

That's taking recycling way too far, and one would think in this day and age having that on your record would have you disowned by the Left rather than being celebrated.

However, his tactic of extorting corporations to pay his organization and in return be free from harassment has been copied and adopted as a model shakedown tactic by multiple leftist groups over time.

Ira Einhorn died in a US prison in April 2020, after having fled the country after the murder to Sweden and then France before being extradited back to the USA in 2001.  

There's no word on whether his remains were composted after his demise, but it would have been appropriate.

Michigan Becoming More Bear-able

The Detroit News:  More black bears seen in Lower Michigan. Here's how to avoid them, DNR says

Black bears are expanding their territory in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and as they roam about, state officials say the best way for residents and bears to both stay safe is to ensure they can't find a reliable snack in their human neighbor's backyard. 

Indeed, do not feed the bears.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources gives some advice for what to do if you encounter a Bear, but a key effective tool is not mentioned for some reason:

If someone does encounter a black bear, the DNR said, they should not play dead (that will only work on a grizzly) and they should not run away (that can trigger the animal's chase response).

Instead, stand your ground, back away only when the bear stops its approach and make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump, state officials suggested. One can also yell at the bear loudly and always provide a clear, unobstructed escape route for the bear.

If the bear makes contact with you, fight back, the DNR advises, by hitting, kicking and using anything available like a knife, sticks, rocks, binoculars or a backpack.

 I'd recommend using something that is a lot more effective than a knife, sticks, rock, binoculars or a backpack if you're being attacked by a bear. Funny how they don't list the far more effective tool as an option.  

Flying: 3 Up And 3 Down

3 up and 3 down is either the end of an inning, or enough takeoffs and landings to be current to carry passengers.

So I did 6.

It was a beautiful day to fly today, with a negligible crosswind of 10 knots from 060-080 using Runway 9L. A nice cool and sunny day with great performance from the Archer. 

I did touch-n-goes rather than full stop landings.

I was the only one in the pattern so I had no delays. and could get the touch-n-goes in quickly. 

 Tower on occasion had me extend my upwind for spacing for other arriving aircraft which was fine.  Kinda neat to know why he would extend based on the other radio traffic.

The first pattern wasn't perfect, but I got it dialed in more and more with each pattern.  I soon had it right where I wanted it performance-wise and soon was right on the numbers.

It was great to shake the rust off and get back in the air.

That's 6 landings and 0.7 to start off the flying season.

If At First You Don't Succeed, Tee Up To Fail Again

Apparently, there is a little-known progressive group, run by a convicted sex offender, who had announced a prior economic boycott on February 28 that fizzled and had no measurable effect.

So now they've announced a second attempt at it with Boycott 2.0 to be held on Good Friday.

The Detroit Free Press: Economic Blackout 2.0 boycott dates set for this weekend

Clearly, they are getting closer to days when people are not typically shopping. 

I suggest for Boycott 3.0 to be set for April 31st. The assured lack of any shopping activity will certainly show 'em, and thus be a great success.

When Prosecuting Someone For Mortgage Fraud

It's generally best not to be doing it yourself.

 NY AG Letitia James (D), who was elected on the promise of "Getting Trump" and who prosecuted President Trump for alleged mortgage fraud for allegedly overstating the value of his properties in securing a loan (which was paid back in full), now faces prosecution for mortgage fraud in connection with a house she bought in Virginia.

CBS News: New York Attorney General Letitia James accused of possible mortgage fraud

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been referred for federal criminal prosecution for alleged mortgage fraud related to a Virginia home and a New York property.

William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), wrote a letter obtained by CBS News New York to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi alleging that James "has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire government backed assistance and loans and more favorable loan terms."
Details of the allegations

Pulte alleges James may have falsified her residence status at a home in Norfolk, Virginia, to get a better mortgage rate.

According to Pulte, in 2023 James granted Shamice Thompson-Hairston power of attorney to make the Norfolk property, purchased in August of that year, her "principal residence," despite James actually living and serving as attorney general in New York at the time.

But wait, there's more: 

Pulte also alleges James bought a five-family property in Brooklyn in 2001 with a loan that is only available for homes with four units or less.

"Spanning the last two decades, Ms. James has consistently misrepresented the same property as only having four units in both building permit applications and numerous mortgage documents and applications," Pulte wrote. "It appears that Ms. James may have listed the Brooklyn, NY property as four units instead of five units in order to meet the conforming loan requirements, and thus receive better interest rates."

But wait, there's even more!:

It's also alleged James and her father signed mortgage documents in 1983 stating they were husband and wife.

"Ms. James, for both properties listed above, appears to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms," Pulte concluded, adding that it could lead to charges such as wire fraud, mail fraud and bank fraud, along with making false statement to a financial institution. 

Talk about keeping the fraud in the family.

Not a good look when you made your bones prosecuting someone who you allege did something you yourself have done, apparently on multiple occasions.

Worse for Ms. James, she's allegedly  committed federal crimes with her acts of mortgage fraud, and she defrauded federal government lenders as well,  so she can't count of the New York state judiciary to help her out. 

Bring popcorn, this should get good.

PA Arsonist Is A Mentally-Deranged Leftist

So, a bit of an updated for those who leapt to conclusions and claimed the scum who broke in and set fire to Governor's Shapiro's mansion was "MAGA".

Well, as it turns out, not so much.

Instead, he's apparently the run-of-the-mill, mentally ill, Leftist.

A Pro-Palestinian, run-of-the-mill, mentally ill, Leftist:

NBC: Arson suspect angry with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro over Palestinian stance, search warrants say

The man accused of setting fire to Pennsylvania's executive mansion early Sunday dialed 911 after the attack and suggested he was upset by Gov. Josh Shapiro's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to newly released search warrants.

       . . .

But Balmer's mother said she was concerned about his mental health in recent days, and told The Associated Press on Monday that he was not taking his medication and that "nobody would help" when she called authorities last week. 

Yep, and a further piece of evidence, in addition to his joining the parade of a long list of leftists going forth and burning things they disagree with,  helps point to his progressive pedigree:

As noted in the Daily Wire: Arsonist Arrested For Attack On Josh Shapiro Hated Israel, 911 Call Reveals

Balmer’s storage unit in Swatara Township reportedly had stickers of South American Marxist revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara inside a toolbox.

I daresay damn few MAGA types have Che Guevara stickers. Che is after all, the darling of the progressive left, and certainly not the right.

Yeah, so those who jumped to conclusions and proclaimed this was a "MAGA"  attack may need to do a correction. 

In short, burning other's peoples things is wrong. Burning other people's houses while they are in them is wrong.  Leftists apparently have forgotten this lesson yet again.

Scammers Take Their Toll

Gotten texts saying you owe a toll?  It's almost 100% going to be a scam. I've gotten quite a few such texts, allegedly from states that I have never even driven through.  Yes, not only is the cake a lie, but the text is a scam.

Especially so if they claim you owe for a toll in Michigan.

That's because Michigan doesn't have any toll roads.  As in none, zero, nada.

The Detroit News: Scammers run toll scheme with imposter government website, MDOT says

Government agencies are not going to send you a text saying you owe a toll.   

Nor do governments want payments in gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers.

Your best course of action is to not click on any links in the text, and immediately delete the message and mark it as junk when you do so.

Update:  Talk about timing! A few hours after I posted this I got the following text:

Yes, it is very, very fake.