The LuLac Edition #5, 027, November 16th, 2023

 TRUMP VETERAN’S DAY SPEECH ECHOES GERMANY OF THE 1930s

Folks remember this: Germany in the1920s and 30s was a Republic and 

HITLER WAS ELECTED

The recent comments made by Trump on Veteran’s Day should be alarming. On the day to remember those who died, (Trump called the war dead “suckers”) Trump talked about his possible second term. He stated during a rally in New Hampshire last weekend, Trump vowed to “root out” groups he characterized as “vermin” who act as “threats from within” the U.S.

“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country,” Trump said while pushing baseless claims of widespread election fraud led by his opponents.

Trump's "vermin" comments are the latest in a series of recent remarks lashing out at political and legal opponents in increasingly violent terms.

President Biden called him out on that.

Biden excoriated Trump’s remarks as language echoing Nazi Germany in the 1930s during a campaign fundraiser in San Francisco on Tuesday night. Nazi propaganda referred to Jewish people as “vermin” who need to be extinguished for plaguing lands, comparing them to rats that spread diseases.

“In just the last few days, Trump has said, if he returns office, he’s gonna go after all those who oppose him and wipe out what he called the vermin, quote, the vermin in America — a specific phrase with a specific meaning,” Biden said.

“It echoes language you heard in Nazi Germany in the '30s. And it isn’t even the first time,” he added. “Trump also recently talked about, quote, the blood of America is being poisoned. The blood of America is being poisoned. Again, it echoes the same phrases used in Nazi Germany.”

Reached for comment Wednesday morning in response to Biden’s criticism of Trump’s remarks, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that “it’s despicable and racist” for Biden “to make that disgusting connection.”

“But I wouldn’t expect him to conduct himself in an honorable manner. He’s clearly suffering from a severe case of Trump derangement syndrome and should get professional help,” he said, adding that “there has been no bigger ally to Israel and the Jewish people than” Trump.

Honorable? Trump? My God Trump has a new set of ass kissers that are way off the mark. With them, ACCUSATION IS CONFESSION.

The Democrats have to STOP their second guessing of Biden’s age and focus on his competency and skills as a leader. They should also dedicate a budget strictly for Fox News TV ads so that viewers there who only see one side see what is really happening in America.

 

CARTWRIGHT LAUDS DOE AND DOD’S INNOVATIVE QUANTUM SPACE TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATION

SAYS NEPA “PRIMED” TO BECOME EPICENTER FOR THE NATION’S QUANTUM SUPPLY CHAIN

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, joined leaders from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD) to announce a first-of-its-kind Quantum & Space Collaboration intended to accelerate the development of quantum technology in space and national defense efforts.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at Wilkes-Barre’s Luzerne Bank Building, owned by Michael Bloxton, co-founder and CEO of Nebula Enterprise, one of the newly formed alliance’s strategic partners.

The public-private joint venture – which also includes hi-tech firms Infleqtion and  Accenture Federal Services – brings together industry leaders in space-based communications, cyber and energy security, intelligence gathering; AI/machine learning; and high-precision data collection. The Collaboration aims to accelerate commercialization and enable new capabilities to further DOE, DoD and NASA mission objectives in the next five years.

Cartwright, in explaining what this new alliance means for Northeast Pennsylvania, lauded the coalition as “just one of the ways we can collaborate to anchor scientific advancement and production know-how in the region to create the jobs and economy of the future.”

"Our region holds the potential to lead the nation’s space economy because of cooperative efforts such as this one between federal agencies, private industry, higher learning institutions, economic development intermediaries and government officials,” Cartwright said.

“Northeast Pennsylvania represents a community ready, willing, and able to make itself the center of the quantum supply chain for our nation. All the ingredients exist in these fertile grounds to execute the vision. The local attitude to get things done and move forward is why we at Nebula and I personally will focus on NEPA,” Bloxton said

“We’re excited to be part of advancing the very latest technologies for Defense and NASA missions. These technologies have broad societal impacts beyond national security, and we consider the Collaboration a steppingstone towards commercializing computing infrastructure that will enable a growing space economy. New applied use cases of technologies such as quantum computing and sensing will also benefit and augment several existing terrestrial industries over time,” Peter Stridh, co-founder at Nebula, said.

Quantum technology explores how matter and energy behave at the level of atoms or subatomic particles and has led to the development of such everyday technologies as lasers, smartphones, GPS satellites and medical devices. Future advances in the field promise to improve space-based navigation, national security and communications.

“This Collaboration has been long in the making and is vital for ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of innovation,” Rima Kasia Oueid, lead/architect for the Quantum Space Collaboration and Senior Commercialization Executive at the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), said in a public statement. “We stand on the brink of a new economic era - one that expands into space, propelled by current and soon-to-be-realized quantum technologies. These advancements are poised to enhance global safety, economic stability and overall human welfare, while also unlocking the potential to discover and efficiently use space resources. This could also create skilled blue- and white-collar jobs of the future to build the supply chain. Our target is to begin space environmental demonstrations using quantum technologies by 2024 and to evaluate use cases and new commercialization opportunities.”

 

WHAT, ME WORRY ABOUT 2024???

The Democrats nationally and the media are doing their usual bed wetting about President Biden’s age and his maybe” foes on the Independent and Democratic side. It is true that a third party candidate may hurt but that’s a discussion for when it happens.

Much has been made about the Bobby Kennedy Junior candidacy. But this booklet for him is now breaking down because there are questionable activities in his past financial dealings. In other words he wasn’t vetted UNTIL NOW. Those last two words are correct. UNTIL NOW. Besides when your brothers, sisters and cousins don’t like you, THAT’S A CLUE!

This election is a long way off and anyone coming after Biden, Manchin for example will have their activities brought to the fore. Trump for all of his faults are known. (We can’t help the Trumpanzees who genuflect in front of him). Biden is a known person too.

Bottom line is this. Let Biden be Biden. That worked once and will work again. He is closing in on year 81 but god dam I wish I was in the same shape as he is at my age.

2024 is starting soon. We wasted too much energy on speculation in 2023.

Enjoy Thanksgiving, enjoy Christmas. Then let’s go get ‘arm in this election with Joe.

 

BIDEN HEEDS CASEY

You will see a letter Bob Casey wrote to President Biden. After the President’s meeting with the Chinese leader, you can see that Joe Biden (as he has done numerous times before) listened and did something about a problem.

FENTANYL

This significant area of collaboration centered on curbing fentanyl production. China agreed to regulate exports of components used to make the opioid, which Biden hopes will decrease drug trafficking in the United States. However, Beijing has made these promises before with little follow-through—both in 2016 with then-U.S. President Barack Obama and in 2018 with then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

CASEY URGES PRESIDENT BIDEN TO CONFRONT CHINESE PRESIDENT ON FENTANYL, HAMAS

CASEY CALLS FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO PUSH PRESIDENT XI ON TWO OF THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES FACING THE UNITED STATES

CASEY: “I URGE YOU…TO ENSURE THAT PRESIDENT XI COMMITS TO MEANINGFUL ACTION TO ADDRESS THE FENTANYL CRISIS.”

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives) 

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter to President Joe Biden as the President prepares to meet tomorrow with Chinese (PRC) President and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping. In the letter, Senator Casey urged the President to ensure the conversation is focused on two of the most pressing challenges currently facing the United States: the fentanyl crisis and the ongoing conflict between Israel and terrorist groups like Hamas.

Casey emphasized the need to confront President Xi about the Chinese government’s role in the ongoing fentanyl crisis, writing, “I urge you not only to ensure that President Xi commits to meaningful action to address the fentanyl crisis, but that he also intends to follow through on his commitments through strict enforcement. Furthermore…I urge you to seek new and alternative ways to hold PRC entities, such as the forensics police institute, accountable for human rights abuses against and the repression of Uyghurs in China.”

Cracking down on international trafficking of fentanyl is a major priority for Senator Casey. The Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act, which declares fentanyl trafficking a nation emergency and imposes tough sanctions on trafficking organizations, was included in the Senate-passed FY24 National Defense Authorization Act. In the letter, Casey also urged the President to sign the bill into law if given the opportunity.

Senator Casey also urged the Administration to raise concerns with President Xi about the Chinese government’s response to Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, writing, “I ask that you impress upon him the importance of denouncing Hamas’ acts of terrorism against Israel and its military tactics of hiding behind civilians in violation of international law. I also urge that you request President Xi to call on Hamas to release its remaining hostages.”

The full text of the letter to President Biden is below and the signed PDF can be found here.

 

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden:

On October 26, I wrote to you as officials from your Administration prepared to meet with People’s Republic of China (PRC) Foreign Minister and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director Wang Yi. In that letter, I requested that those meetings focus on two of the most pressing challenges currently facing the United States: the fentanyl crisis and the ongoing conflict between Israel and terrorist groups like Hamas. As you prepare to meet with PRC President and CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, I urge you to ensure President Xi commits to meaningful action to go after Chinese chemical companies fueling the fentanyl epidemic in our country, and to continue to stress the need for President Xi to denounce Hamas as a terrorist organization and demand the immediate release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas.

As you know, overdose deaths, particularly among young people, are increasing across our Nation due to the ongoing fentanyl crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that, from May 2022 to May 2023, more than 112,000 people died from a drug overdose, including over 78,000 from synthetic opioids other than methadone. This is an increase from the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths reported by the CDC in 2021. As of October 2023, law enforcement agencies have seized over 55 million pills of fentanyl this year and more than 9,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The fentanyl crisis does not discriminate between urban, suburban, and rural parts of our Nation. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, from April 2022 to March 2023, the rate of overdose deaths per 100,000 residents in Philadelphia rose to 89.3, the second-highest in the country. In Allegheny County, 81 percent of all overdose deaths in that span were linked to fentanyl. In rural Huntingdon County, fentanyl was involved in every single overdose death during that time. In Montour County, home to 18,091 residents, the rate of overdose deaths per 100,000 residents reached 82.9.

To stop the flow of fentanyl into American communities, we must stop it at the source. Prior to 2020, China was the primary source for all fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States. At the urging of the United States, the Chinese government imposed stricter regulations in 2019 to try and crack down on the production and sale of fentanyl, but these regulations have merely shifted China’s role in the illicit fentanyl supply chain. Instead of shipping illicit fentanyl directly to the United States, Chinese companies now ship chemicals and ingredients, known as precursors, to Mexico, where they are synthesized into fentanyl and trafficked into the United States by Mexican cartels.

I applaud you and your Administration for the steps that you have taken to address fentanyl precursor trafficking from China, including adding the PRC to the U.S. list of the world’s major illicit drug-producing and drug-transit countries, but we must do more. That is why I was pleased that the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act was included in the Senate-passed FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Among other things, this bill would declare the international trafficking of fentanyl to be a national emergency, and it would enhance current law so that the federal government can better combat illicit opioid supply chains by imposing tough sanctions on transnational organizations, such as those operating in China and Mexico. I will continue to fight to include the FEND Off Fentanyl Act in the final NDAA that comes out of conference, and I urge you to sign it into law if given the opportunity.

Furthermore, I have been encouraged by recent reports of an agreement between the United States and China to crack down on fentanyl trafficking. While I understand that a possible deal is still in the process of being finalized, I encourage you to ensure that any final agreement requires President Xi to take meaningful action against chemical companies in China. As I noted in my October 26 letter, there are many common-sense measures that the PRC could commit to taking to reduce fentanyl trafficking. Among these, the PRC could implement know-your-customer rules to help ensure that PRC chemical companies cannot use a middleman to divert fentanyl precursors to Mexican cartels. It could also enforce stricter labeling requirements for international chemical shipments to help ensure that precursor chemicals are not mislabeled or misdeclared in international trade. President Xi could also commit to greater information sharing and cooperation with United States agencies and international partners regarding the flow of nonscheduled chemicals and precursor chemicals.

Even if President Xi were to agree to every one of these measures in a final deal, however, his commitments would be meaningless without effective enforcement. I urge you not only to ensure that President Xi commits to meaningful action to address the fentanyl crisis, but that he also intends to follow through on his commitments through strict enforcement. Furthermore, if reports are correct and your Administration intends to lift restrictions on the PRC’s Institution of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Public Security in exchange for President Xi’s commitments on combatting fentanyl trafficking, I urge you to seek new and alternative ways to hold PRC entities, such as the forensics police institute, accountable for human rights abuses against and the repression of Uyghurs in China.

The second issue I request that you raise with President Xi is the recent escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Though the Chinese government has reiterated its support for a two-state solution since October 20, it has failed to condemn Hamas’ October 7 slaughter of civilians and taking of hostages. I wholeheartedly agree with your description of the Hamas’ attacks as “pure unadulterated evil” and believe it necessary for China to recognize and condemn that evil—both to acknowledge the suffering of Hamas’ victims and their families, and to enable frank cooperation on a two-state solution after Israel has destroyed Hamas’ military capacity.

On October 14, only a week after Hamas’ slaughter and before Israel could have possibly hoped to reduce Hamas’ terrorist network and tunnels, Foreign Minister Yi stated that, “Israel’s actions have gone beyond the scope of self-defense.” Any country whose citizens are brutally attacked, kidnapped, and murdered should be able to respond in full force against the terrorist perpetrators of such attacks. As you and Chinese leadership have acknowledged, Israel must continue to adhere to international humanitarian law in its engagements; but Hamas’ military tactics of killing civilians and hiding behind hostages clearly violate such law, and China is hypocritical to not say so. To criticize Israel’s defensive response without first criticizing Hamas’ indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent not only discredits China’s ambitions of moral leadership on the global stage, but also plays into Hamas’ strategy to turn the international community against Israel and its right to defend itself.

In conversations with President Xi, I ask that you impress upon him the importance of denouncing Hamas’ acts of terrorism against Israel and its military tactics of hiding behind civilians in violation of international law. I also urge that you request President Xi to call on Hamas to release its remaining hostages.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION INVESTS MILLIONS IN ASTROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY, HELPING THE LEADING SPACE AND ROBOTICS COMPANY EXPAND AND CREATE NEARLY 300 HIGH-TECH JOBS AHEAD OF DECEMBER MOON LAUNCH

SINCE JANUARY, THE SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION HAS FACILITATED OVER $1 BILLION IN NEW PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA – AND THIS LATEST INVESTMENT IS HELPING PENNSYLVANIA INNOVATE AND LEAD AMERICA BACK TO THE MOON. 

Governor Josh Shapro (Photo: LuLac archives)

Continuing to fulfill his pledge to make Pennsylvania a leader in innovation, Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger joined Astrobotic today at the Moonshot Museum on the North Shore to announce the company is expanding in the City of Pittsburgh. The growing company is renovating a new $20 million facility and plans to create 283 new, high-tech jobs and retain 174 employees. Today’s announcement is another example of how the Shapiro Administration is investing in technology and innovation to make Pennsylvania an economic powerhouse that leads in growing industries.

Astrobotic has acquired a five-story, 46,000-square-foot vacant building located at 1106 Reedsdale Street in Pittsburgh. The company will invest in extensive renovations of the property and utilize four of the five floors for expansion space beyond its existing headquarters. Astrobotic will lease a portion of the ground floor to the Keystone Space Collaborative for its Keystone Innovation Center. This center will serve as a programmatic and co-working space for Keystone members and house the AFWERX/SpaceWERX Pittsburgh Hub. The new location will be the site of Astrobotic’s new space campus that is helping to make Pittsburgh a regional and national leader in the industry.

Since January, Governor Shapiro has announced over $1 billion in new private sector investment in Pennsylvania as a direct result of his Administration’s work, positioning the Commonwealth to be a leader in innovation and economic development. In March, Governor Shapiro visited Astrobotic to highlight Pennsylvania’s growing innovation economy and to call for a significant down payment in innovation and economic development ahead of his first Budget Address.

“When I visited Astrobotic back in March, I saw the Peregrine lunar lander that was built by this incredible team of engineers and scientists right here in Pittsburgh – and I’m proud that lander is now ready to launch,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Today, I’m excited to announce that my Administration is investing more than $4 million to support Astrobotic’s work to build a space campus and make Pittsburgh a leader in the growing space industry. My Administration is working hard to help companies like Astrobotic grow and thrive so they can continue to focus on making history – and we’ll continue to invest in their success to ensure the next innovation happens here in Pennsylvania.”

Astrobotic received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $1,981,000 Pennsylvania First grant, a Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan of $2.4 million, Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding, and private bank financing to support the project. Astrobotic has received offers from other states, including Florida and Texas, to relocate, but has chosen to remain in Pennsylvania.

“Astrobotic’s expansion in Pennsylvania is yet another outstanding example of our growing technology sector,” said Secretary Rick Siger. “Pennsylvania — especially here in the Pittsburgh region ― is known worldwide as a hub of robotics, AI, and other innovative industries, fueled by a workforce that is second to none. The Shapiro Administration is thrilled to support Astrobotic’s growth in the Commonwealth.”

Astrobotic was spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2007 by William “Red” Whitaker who is widely regarded as the father of field robotics. The company seeks to make space accessible to the world. The company’s lunar lander, Peregrine, will deliver payloads to the moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits and individuals.

Astrobotic also develops advanced space robotics capabilities such as terrain relative navigation, mobile robotics for lunar surface operations, and reliable computing systems for mission-critical applications. Astrobotic has contracts with a portfolio of companies, but its primary source of major contracts is through NASA. Currently, Astrobotics is constructing the Peregrine Lunar Lander slated for launch in December 2023 that is poised to carry out the first commercial mission to the Moon and be the first American spacecraft to land on the Moon since the Apollo program.

“We’re deeply grateful to the Governor for his support of Astrobotic’s growth plans. We believe Astrobotic’s latest expansion on Reedsale is a clear indicator of new high tech growth in the Commonwealth, particularly in the space industry,” said John Thornton, Astrobotic CEO. “We’re excited to continue working with Governor Shapiro and Sec. Siger to build on Astrobotic’s progress, and make Pennsylvania a nationally recognized center of space and defense innovation.”

“It takes a good partnership between the private and public sector – and it takes a good team that you see, the elected officials right here, in order to make things happen. You have to have a good team that has a vision and a dream to come together to build a new industry in our region,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “That couldn’t happen today if we didn’t have an early holiday gift from the Governor of $4 million to make sure that we can redevelop an old building, turn it into something new with a supply chain that for Western Pennsylvania that will benefit the overall development of our area. That’s what makes job growth great – and that’s what makes this region extraordinary. We continue to come together to build one of the best economies in the nation and land in the United States – and we couldn’t do it if we didn’t have visionaries.”

“Thank you, Governor Shapiro, Secretary Siger, John, and Stefani for including me in today’s out-of-this-world announcement. This kind of partnership with the state is critical for the next phase of job growth here in Allegheny County,” said Allegheny County Executive-Elect Sara Innamorato. “Announcements like today set an excellent precedent on how we can maximize public investment in the private sector to create jobs, accelerate innovation, and build on the collective community vision. With this kind of partnership, we’re effectively building up an entire space economy and its related supply chain. I’m so pleased to have partners like Governor Shapiro and Secretary Siger as we work with local leaders like John and Stefani to lead the business community to help make these visions a reality. This is what the next generation of economic growth in Pittsburgh is going to look like.”

“Allegheny County has long had a history of innovation – it’s in our DNA, and Astrobotic’s work reflects exactly that,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “We’re delighted to see them expand here in the county, and look forward to all they will continue to do to contribute to our local economy, but also expand our horizons to the moon and beyond.”

“On behalf of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, I congratulate Astrobotic on its expansion. This is a testament to the company’s grit, determination and drive for success, which has been evident since its founding in 2007,” said Allegheny Conference CEO Stefani Pashman. “The majority of Pittsburgh’s regional business investment comes from existing businesses, and homegrown companies like Astrobotic showcase a transformative journey from a two-person startup to a thriving enterprise of 200-plus, significantly contributing to the local economy. Astrobotic’s leadership in taking America back to the moon reinforces Pittsburgh’s reputation as a hub for moonshots and ambitious ventures.”

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team (GAT), an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the Governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth’s investments in Astrobotic have helped the Pittsburgh-based company create hundreds of new, high-paying jobs that have enabled Pennsylvania to lead America back to the moon.

The Shapiro Administration will continue to spur job creation, invest in manufacturing innovation, cut red tape for businesses, and provide funding to make the Commonwealth more competitive on a global scale. For more information, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.

 

MEDIA MATTERS 

WALN TV 

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

 This week's guests are Meghan Loftus and Linda Robeson discussing upcoming Thanksgiving events in Scranton.  You'll hear the program Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on The Mothership 1400am; and at 7:30 on 105 The River

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP  

1954

Our 1954 logo.

In Sylacauga, Alabama, an 8.5 pound sulfide meteorite crashes through a roof and hits Mrs. Elizabeth Hodges in her living room after bouncing off her radio, giving her a bad bruise; the first known modern case of a human being hit by a space rock……..– Last confirmed specimen of a Caspian tiger is killed, in the valley of the Sumbar River in the Kopet Dag Mountains of Turkmenistan……Daniel I. Arnon demonstrates in the laboratory the chemical function of photosynthesis in chloroplasts……..Heinz Sielmann makes the pioneering nature documentary about woodpeckers, Zimmerleute des Waldes ("Carpenters of the forest")……… Berman v. Parker (348 U.S. 26): The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the federal slum clearance and urban renewal programs), This landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that interpreted the Takings Clause ("nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation") of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Court voted 8–0[1] to hold that private property could be taken for a public purpose with just compensation. The case laid the foundation for the Court's later important public use cases, Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff, 467 U.S. 229 (1984) and Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005).…………The Dow Jones Industrial Average rises 3.27 points, or 0.86 percent, closing at an all-time high of 382.74. More significantly, this is the first time the Dow has surpassed its peak level, reached just before the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the number one song this week in 1954 was "That's Amore" by Dean Martin.