I asked Grok: If the Palestinians did get their wish of controlling all the land “from the river to the sea,” how long would it take for them to turn it from a first world country into a third world country?
By Daniel Alman (aka Dan from Squirrel Hill)
April 25, 2025
Any other AI probably would have accused me to all sorts of racism, bigotry, Islamophobia, etc.
But Grok actually answered my question.
Heh heh heh.
I asked Grok:
If the Palestinians did get their wish of controlling all the land “from the river to the sea,” how long would it take for them to turn it from a first world country into a third world country?
This is the answer that it gave:
Predicting the outcome of such a hypothetical scenario involves many variables and assumptions, making precise timelines speculative. If Palestinians gained control over the entire territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, the trajectory would depend on governance, economic policies, international relations, and internal stability.
Israel currently has a developed economy with a GDP per capita of around $55,000 (2023 data), advanced infrastructure, and a strong tech sector. Transitioning control could disrupt existing systems—ports, airports, tech industries, and trade networks—especially if conflict or mismanagement occurs. Historical examples of rapid governance changes (e.g., post-colonial transitions or regime shifts) suggest declines can happen within a decade if institutions falter, corruption rises, or external support wanes.
Palestinian governance in Gaza and the West Bank offers clues. Gaza, under Hamas since 2007, faces severe economic challenges, with a GDP per capita around $1,200 and reliance on aid, partly due to blockades and conflict. The West Bank, under the Palestinian Authority, has a GDP per capita of about $4,300 but struggles with corruption and restricted autonomy. Scaling these models to a larger, more complex economy like Israel’s could amplify issues if governance isn’t robust.
Factors accelerating decline:
Institutional breakdown: Dismantling Israel’s systems without effective replacements could disrupt services and markets within 1–3 years.
Brain drain: Emigration of skilled professionals could weaken industries like tech and healthcare in 2–5 years.
Conflict or isolation: Loss of trade partners or ongoing violence could stagnate growth, with effects visible in 5–10 years.
Factors mitigating decline:
International aid: Support from allies could sustain infrastructure.
Natural resources: Access to Israel’s assets (e.g., gas fields) could fund development if managed well.
Governance reforms: Effective leadership could maintain or adapt existing systems.
Without stable institutions, investment, and peace, a slide toward “third world” status—marked by low GDP per capita, weak infrastructure, and instability—could begin within 5–10 years and solidify in 20–30 years. However, this assumes no major stabilizing interventions.
Outcomes could vary widely based on leadership and global dynamics.
If you want, I can dig into specific economic or historical parallels for a deeper analysis.
(end of Grok’s answer)
https://x.com/DanielAlmanPGH/status/1915889815624482952
Minneapolis District Attorney Mary Moriarty said she won’t file criminal charges against serial Tesla vandal Dylan Bryan Adams
https://x.com/DanielAlmanPGH/status/1914522906014392507
Suspect in Tesla vandalism spree in Minneapolis to be entered into diversion program and not charged
Police said in case forwarded for charges that 33-year-old state employee did more than $21,000 in damage.
By Paul Walsh
April 22, 2025
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has decided not to file criminal charges against a 33-year-old man accused of inflicting $21,000 in damage to six Teslas in Minneapolis over a few-day span.
Instead, the office will file for Dylan Bryan Adams, of Minneapolis, to be entered into an adult diversion program meant for first-time, low level offenders.
“Our main priorities are to secure restitution for the victims and hold Mr. Adams accountable,” said Hennepin County Attorney’s Office spokesman Daniel Borgertpoepping in a statement. “As a result, we will file for pre-charge diversion to best facilitate both of those goals. This is an approach taken in many property crime cases and helps to ensure the individual keeps their job and can pay restitution, as well as reducing the likelihood of repeat offenses. Criminal prosecution remains a possibility should unlawful behavior continue.”
Adams works for the state Department of Human Services (DHS). A state database says he is a program consultant.
“We are reviewing the matter at this time,” read a statement from DHS sent to the Star Tribune on Monday. “State employees are expected to follow our code of conduct and hold themselves to the highest ethical standards through their words and actions.”
In recent months, people across the country and in the Twin Cities have vandalized Tesla vehicles in protest of Elon Musk, an advisor to President Donald Trump, and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as they significantly cut federal workers and programs.
Adams was arrested and booked into jail Wednesday morning and released Thursday afternoon.
“My client is very remorseful for his actions, and is beginning the process of making sure the victims are made whole financially,” said Adams’ attorney Robert Paule, in an email. “We are grateful for the Hennepin County Attorneys Office exercise of prosecutorial discretion, and apologize to the victims and law enforcement.”
In a statement provided Monday night, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara voiced frustration about Adams not being formally charged.
“The Minneapolis Police Department did its job,” O’Hara said. “It identified and investigated a crime trend, identified, and arrested a suspect, and presented a case file to the Hennepin County Attorney Office for consideration of charges. This case impacted at least six victims and totaled over $20,000 in damages. Any frustration related to the charging decision of the Hennepin County Attorney should be directed solely at her office. Our investigators are always frustrated when the cases they poured their hearts into are declined. In my experience, the victims in these cases often feel the same.”
The estimated damage to the Teslas that Adams allegedly keyed ranged from about $1,600 on one car to $10,370 on another, according to police.
Participants in the county attorney’s diversion program are expected to sign a contract which could include conditions like community service and restitution payments. They are also referred to services such as chemical dependency or mental health resources. Part of the goal with diversion is to reduce costs in the criminal justice system and the number of repeat offenders.
Vandal was walking dog during some incidents
At a news conference last week, police showed car camera videos from four of the incidents. The footage showed a man approaching each vehicle and scraping it with a key. In three of the videos, he was walking a dog. In some of the videos, it appeared the man was writing something on the cars.
Christine Vander Hook, the owner of one of the vandalized Teslas, said she and her husband thought some of the scribbling looked like a failed attempt at a swastika.
In a speech in Washington, D.C., in January, Musk made a straight-arm gesture that his critics viewed as a Nazi salute.
Vander Hook said she bought her car before Musk assumed his advisory role and had a sticker on her car indicating her family did not support the Trump administration.
The six Teslas were vandalized on different dates in the second half of March, and all but one were located downtown.
Investigators were aided by Teslas’ high-quality cameras, which recorded some of the incidents.
I asked Grok: Please explain how the Beatles’ song “Do You Want to Know a Secret” used chords differently than songs by other pop artists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRQ7ecvU56k
I asked Grok:
Please explain how the Beatles’ song “Do You Want to Know a Secret” used chords differently than songs by other pop artists.
This is the answer that it gave:
The Beatles’ “Do You Want to Know a Secret,” from their 1963 album Please Please Me, stands out for its chord choices and progressions, which differ subtly but significantly from the standard pop songs of the era. Here’s a concise breakdown of how its harmonic structure diverges:
Unusual Key and Modulation:
The song is written in E major, which was less common for pop songs in the early 1960s, where C, G, or A major were more typical due to their simplicity for guitar-based arrangements.
It features a subtle modulation to the relative minor (C# minor) during the bridge, creating a moody contrast. This was less formulaic than the predictable I-IV-V-I progressions dominating many contemporary pop hits by artists like Cliff Richard or The Everly Brothers.
Sophisticated Chord Choices:
The verse uses a I-ii-V-I progression (E-F#m-B7-E), but the inclusion of the F#m (ii minor) adds a touch of melancholy, uncommon in the brighter, major-chord-heavy songs of peers like Buddy Holly.
The bridge introduces a C#7 (V7 of the relative minor), which resolves to F#m, adding a jazzy, almost Broadway-like flavor. This secondary dominant was rare in pop at the time, where simpler diatonic chords were the norm.
Chromatic Movement:
The transition from the verse to the chorus includes a chromatic passing chord (G#7) to move to A major for the chorus. This chromaticism, inspired by Tin Pan Alley and early jazz, gave the song a polished, narrative quality that set it apart from the more straightforward rock ‘n’ roll of contemporaries like The Shadows.
Economy and Restraint:
Unlike many pop songs of the era that relied on repetitive chord loops (e.g., the I-IV-V of “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens), “Do You Want to Know a Secret” uses its chords to support the melody’s intimate, confessional tone. The Beatles avoided overusing dominant seventh chords, which were staples in early rock for driving energy, opting instead for smoother transitions that matched the song’s gentle mood.
Comparison to Other Pop Artists:
Most pop songs by artists like The Four Seasons or Bobby Vee leaned heavily on doo-wop-inspired I-vi-IV-V progressions or basic blues-based I-IV-V structures. These were catchy but harmonically predictable.
The Beatles, influenced by George Martin’s classical and jazz background, incorporated minor chords, secondary dominants, and chromatic passing chords, giving “Do You Want to Know a Secret” a more cinematic and emotionally nuanced feel.
In short, the song’s use of minor chords, chromatic transitions, and modulations to the relative minor gave it a harmonic depth that was ahead of its time, foreshadowing the Beatles’ later experimentation while contrasting with the simpler, more repetitive chord structures of their pop contemporaries.
(end of Grok answer)
Real women would never vandalize the statue of a women’s rights hero and activist. Only a man would do something like that.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkx78zlm4po
Damage to statues investigated after trans protest
By Tony Grew
April 20, 2025
The Met Police is appealing for information after several statues in Parliament Square, including one of women’s votes campaigner Dame Millicent Fawcett, were vandalised during a protest on Saturday.
Transgender campaigners gathered in front of Parliament to protest against the ruling by the Supreme Court on Wednesday that biological sex defines a woman for the purposes of the Equality Act.
The Metropolitan Police said seven statues were damaged and they are investigating the incidents as criminal damage. No arrests have been made.
A statue of former South African prime minister Jan Smuts was graffitied with the words “trans rights are human rights”.
The Met said its officers were in the area policing Parliament Square “but did not witness the criminal damage take place as the area was densely populated with thousands of protestors and it was not reported at the time”.
It confirmed it is investigating the graffiti as criminal damage and has asked anyone with information, footage or pictures to come forward.
The Greater London Authority plans to remove the graffiti but this requires specialist equipment and “we are confident this will be done shortly,”, the Met added.
On Wednesday the Supreme Court ruled that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces if “proportionate”.
The judges unanimously ruled that the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex” rather than “certificated sex”.
Protests against the ruling also took place on Saturday in Reading, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The original 1977 theatrical version of Star Wars is going to be officially shown in a movie theater
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEch4j4KyoU
‘Star Wars’ Version That George Lucas Banned to Screen for First Time in 47 Years
By James Hibberd
April 15, 2025
1977’s ‘Star Wars’ will receive a resurrection screening after being hidden away for decades in favor of tweaked “Special Editions.”
There is an excellent chance you have never seen Star Wars.
Oh, you might think you’ve seen 1977’s Star Wars (now christened Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope). But what you’ve likely actually seen is one of the many altered versions of Star Wars that have been in wide distribution ever since the film’s initial theatrical run.
Writer-director George Lucas famously kept making tweaks and changes to his creation through iterations of “Special Editions.” Many of these changes are somewhat subtle, while others are glaring and, many fans say, distracting, and even embarrassing (perhaps the worst example — the infamously resurrected Han Solo and Jabba the Hutt scene — remains quite cringe, even after an effort was made to improve it). Going over the history of the original Star Wars and its transformation is a bit like watching an episode of Botched, where a desire for a little surgical refreshment evolves into Greedo shooting first, howling dewbacks and Harrison Ford stutter stepping onto Jabba’s tail.
But now there’s a new hope — at least, for some lucky individuals in the U.K.
According to The Telegraph, the British Film Institute’s Film on Film Festival in June will open with a screening of one of the few remaining Technicolor prints that was produced for Star Wars’ initial run. This is, the story reports, the first time the original print has been publicly screened since December 1978 (there have been copies that have made the rounds on home video).
This is because Lucas’ tweaks to the print began with the very first theatrical rerelease of Star Wars in 1981. The studio has since only permitted the screening of various Special Editions. BFI had to negotiate with Disney and Lucasfilm for the rights for a back-to-back screening on the festival’s opening night. This particular BFI print has been stored for four decades at a temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve its quality, so it should look rather pristine.
Lucas, over the years, has been rather firm about not screening the original and, when asked in 2004 by the Associated Press why he doesn’t simply release the original version along with the Special Editions, rather grumpily shot back, “The Special Edition, that’s the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it’s on VHS, if anybody wants it. I’m not going to spend the — we’re talking millions of dollars here — the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn’t really exist anymore. It’s like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I’m sorry you saw a half-completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be. I’m the one who has to take responsibility for it. I’m the one who has to have everybody throw rocks at me all the time, so at least if they’re going to throw rocks at me, they’re going to throw rocks at me for something I love rather than something I think is not very good, or at least something I think is not finished.”
Since tickets for the BFI screening will be snatched up faster than you can say “maclunkey,” one can only hope (since rebellions are built on hope) that the screening’s reception spurs Disney and Lucasfilm to consider letting fans get to see some U.S. screenings as well.
Fake hate crime alert! A 46-year-old therapist named Natasha Cohen drew a swastika on a brick, and put it on top of a Tesla that was parked in front of a Jewish school in Brooklyn. She also dumped trash on the car.
Cops nab woman who trashed Tesla Cybertruck parked outside Brooklyn yeshiva
Surveillance footage images of a woman who vandalized a Tesla Cybertruck in Brooklyn.
By Thomas Tracy
April 12, 2025
Detectives have arrested a 46-year-old woman recorded dumping trash on a Tesla Cybertruck parked on a Brooklyn sidewalk in an apparent swipe against the company’s controversial CEO Elon Musk, cops said Saturday.
Natasha Cohen, who lives around the block from where the vandalism took place, is also accused of leaving a brick with a swastika drawn on it atop the Tesla outside a yeshiva on Ditmas Ave. near Ocean Parkway in Kensington at about 5:50 p.m. on Monday.
Hate Crimes detectives arrested Cohen on Friday evening, charging her with aggravated harassment and criminal mischief, as well as aggravated harassment and criminal mischief as hate crimes since a swastika, the symbol of the Nazi party, was left at the scene.
It was not immediately disclosed how detectives identified Cohen as the vandal. Her arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court was pending.
If one is convicted of a hate crime, they could be sentenced to more prison time than the standard charge calls for.
Monday’s vandalism was the fourth time in a month someone has vandalized a Tesla found parked on a New York City street in opposition to Musk and his role as head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency under President Trump, NYPD officials said.
The 38-year-old owner of the Tesla Cybertruck had left his electric vehicle on a sidewalk parking spot outside the Yeshiva next to a pile of garbage bags.
A few moments later, Cohen, riding a Razor kick scooter, rolled up on the Tesla, emptied one of the garbage bag’s contents onto its roof and hood and then etched a swastika on a brick, which she placed on the car.
Cohen, who was wearing a pink hooded jacket, blue jeans and black rainboots, rode off before the owner returned to the car.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force investigated the incident and released surveillance images of a suspect in the hopes someone would recognize her.
Last month, on March 27, two men approached a Tesla parked on Monroe St. near Patchen Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant around 1 a.m. and etched the word “Nazis” and a swastika on its side, marring a 2-inch-by-2-inch section of the passenger side door.
The Tesla came equipped with a surveillance camera, which caught the vandalism, cops said.
In an unrelated incident a few hours later, in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, a 39-year-old man approached his Tesla parked near the corner of Hawthorne St. and Rogers Ave. and learned someone slapped a sticker on the driver’s side bumper.
The sticker had a swastika and the word “Musk” on it, police said.
On March 6, a masked duo spray-painted a red swastika on a Tesla Cybertruck they found parked near the corner of Rivington and Chrystie Sts. on the Lower East Side, police said.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the other three incidents. No arrests have been made.
Anti-Trump administration protesters have zeroed in on Tesla electric vehicles since Musk began chain-sawing federal government spending and agency staffing as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
Critics quickly likened Musk to a Nazi after he was recorded giving what some considered to be a Nazi salute during an event for Trump last November.
However, the vandalism of Teslas with swastikas and “Nazi” scrawls has raised the question of whether these incidents are actually hate crimes or not. Musk has said he definitely feels they are.
Last month, nine people were arrested during a nonviolent “Pull the Plug on Elon Musk” protest at a Tesla dealership in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Similar protests have erupted across the country.
On the more extreme end, some Tesla vehicles and charging stations have been the target of violence and arson attacks. Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, recently branded these incidents “domestic terrorism,” vowing to throw the perpetrators “behind bars.”
I asked Grok to explain the meaning of the lyrics of the 1966 song “Past, Present and Future” by the Shangri-Las, because I wasn’t sure if the song was about rape. Grok isn’t sure either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulSZo9EAYVw
I asked Grok:
Please explain the meaning of these song lyrics. Thank you.
Past, Present and Future by The Shangri-LasLyrics
[Verse 1]
(Past)
Past, well now let me tell you about the past
The past is filled with silent joys and broken toys
Laughing girls and teasing boys
Was I ever in love? I called it love—I mean, it felt like love
There were moments when, well, there were moments when…
[Verse 2]
(Present)
Go out with you? Why not
Do I like to dance? Of course
Take a walk along the beach tonight? I’d love to
But don’t try to touch me, don’t try to touch me
‘Cause that will never happen again
Shall we dance?[Instrumental]
[Verse 3]
(Future)
Tomorrow? well tomorrows a long way off
Maybe someday I’ll have somebody’s hand
Maybe somewhere someone will understand
You know I used to sing—a-tisket, a-tasket, a green and yellow basket
I’m all packed up and I’m on my way and I’m gonna fall in love
But at the moment it doesn’t look good
At the moment it will never happen again
I don’t think it will ever happen again
(end of my question)
(beginning of Grok’s answer)
The lyrics of “Past, Present and Future” by The Shangri-Las, written in 1966, explore a young woman’s emotional journey through time, reflecting on love, loss, and guarded hope. The song is structured in three verses, each corresponding to a different temporal perspective—past, present, and future—and conveys a narrative of romantic disillusionment. Below is an analysis of the lyrics’ meaning, drawing on their emotional tone, themes, and narrative progression.
Verse 1: Past
Past, well now let me tell you about the past / The past is filled with silent joys and broken toys / Laughing girls and teasing boys / Was I ever in love? I called it love—I mean, it felt like love / There were moments when, well, there were moments when…
This verse reflects on the narrator’s past, likely her adolescence, with a bittersweet tone. The “past” is depicted as a mix of innocent happiness (“silent joys”) and disappointments (“broken toys”). The imagery of “laughing girls and teasing boys” evokes youthful flirtations and carefree moments, but the mention of “broken toys” suggests that these experiences were fleeting or tainted by heartbreak.
The narrator questions whether she was truly in love, saying, “I called it love—I mean, it felt like love.” This hesitation reveals uncertainty, as if she’s reevaluating what she once believed was love. The trailing-off phrase, “there were moments when…,” implies an unfinished thought, perhaps alluding to a specific romantic experience that left a lasting impact—possibly one of betrayal or loss. The ambiguity suggests she’s reluctant to dwell on painful memories.
Verse 2: Present
Go out with you? Why not / Do I like to dance? Of course / Take a walk along the beach tonight? I’d love to / But don’t try to touch me, don’t try to touch me / ‘Cause that will never happen again / Shall we dance?
In the present, the narrator appears open to socializing—she agrees to go out, dance, and walk on the beach. Her responses (“Why not,” “Of course,” “I’d love to”) are casual and agreeable, suggesting a desire to move forward and enjoy life. However, this openness is sharply contrasted by her firm boundary: “But don’t try to touch me, don’t try to touch me / ‘Cause that will never happen again.”
This line reveals emotional trauma from a past romantic experience, likely involving physical or emotional violation, that has left her guarded. The repetition of “don’t try to touch me” emphasizes her need to protect herself from intimacy, indicating that she’s not ready to trust again. The phrase “that will never happen again” could refer to both the act of being touched and the vulnerability of falling in love. Yet, her invitation to “shall we dance?” suggests a conflicted desire to remain socially engaged while keeping her emotional distance.
The conversational tone of this verse, as if she’s responding to a suitor, makes it feel immediate and personal, highlighting her attempt to balance normalcy with self-preservation.
Verse 3: Future
Tomorrow? well tomorrows a long way off / Maybe someday I’ll have somebody’s hand / Maybe somewhere someone will understand / You know I used to sing—a-tisket, a-tasket, a green and yellow basket / I’m all packed up and I’m on my way and I’m gonna fall in love / But at the moment it doesn’t look good / At the moment it will never happen again / I don’t think it will ever happen again
The final verse looks to the future with a mix of faint hope and deep pessimism. The narrator distances herself from the future (“tomorrow’s a long way off”), indicating she’s not ready to plan or dream too far ahead. Her tentative hope is expressed in “maybe someday I’ll have somebody’s hand” and “maybe somewhere someone will understand,” suggesting a longing for a supportive, empathetic partner who respects her boundaries. However, these hopes are framed as distant possibilities, not certainties.
The reference to the nursery rhyme “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” (“a green and yellow basket”) evokes childhood innocence and simpler times, contrasting with her current emotional state. The line “I’m all packed up and I’m on my way and I’m gonna fall in love” feels like an attempt to convince herself of a brighter future, but it’s immediately undercut by her admission: “But at the moment it doesn’t look good.” This oscillation between optimism and despair culminates in the repeated refrain, “At the moment it will never happen again / I don’t think it will ever happen again,” which echoes the present verse but with greater finality. The shift from “it will never” to “I don’t think it will ever” softens the statement slightly, hinting at a sliver of openness to change, but her dominant feeling is one of resignation.
Overall Themes and Interpretation
The song traces the narrator’s emotional arc from nostalgic reflection to cautious engagement with the present and, finally, to a future clouded by doubt. The central theme is the lingering impact of romantic trauma—likely a betrayal or harmful relationship—that has shattered the narrator’s trust in love. Her past love, whether real or perceived, has left her wary, and this wariness shapes her present interactions and future outlook.
The structure of the song, dividing time into past, present, and future, mirrors the way trauma fragments one’s sense of self across time. The past is idealized yet painful, the present is a performance of normalcy with strict boundaries, and the future is uncertain, tinged with both hope and fear. The repetition of “it will never happen again” serves as a mantra of self-protection, but its slight variations across verses suggest an internal struggle between healing and despair.
Musically, the Shangri-Las’ dramatic delivery, combined with the song’s spoken-word style and orchestral backing, amplifies the emotional weight of the lyrics. The instrumental break between the present and future verses acts as a moment of reflection, allowing the listener to absorb the narrator’s pain before her final, resigned musings.
Possible Context
While the lyrics don’t explicitly state the cause of the narrator’s trauma, the emphasis on physical boundaries (“don’t try to touch me”) and the finality of “never again” suggest a deeply personal violation, possibly romantic or physical in nature. In the context of the 1960s, when the song was released, societal expectations often pressured young women to pursue love and marriage, making the narrator’s rejection of intimacy a bold statement of agency. The Shangri-Las were known for their “teen tragedy” songs, and this track fits that mold, blending melodrama with raw vulnerability.
Some interpretations, based on fan discussions and cultural analyses (e.g., posts found on X), speculate that the song could reflect a response to a specific event, like a failed relationship or even abuse, though no definitive evidence ties the lyrics to a real-life incident. Others view it as a universal story of disillusionment, resonating with anyone who has faced romantic heartbreak.
Conclusion
“Past, Present and Future” is a poignant exploration of a young woman grappling with the aftermath of a painful romantic experience. The lyrics convey her nostalgia for a simpler past, her guarded approach to the present, and her conflicted hopes for the future. Through its temporal structure and emotional depth, the song captures the universal struggle to heal from heartbreak while maintaining hope for love, even when it feels out of reach. The narrator’s voice—vulnerable yet resolute—makes the song a timeless reflection on resilience and self-protection.
(end of Grok’s answer)
It’s so obvious that the M, S, 1, and 3 were not part of the original photograph.
https://x.com/DanielAlmanPGH/status/1913460922472874426
Judge Nathaniel Welte, who was appointed by Tim Walz, released a drunk driving, unlicenced, illegal immigrant driver, who crahsed head on into two innocent people, without requiring him to pay any bail.
https://x.com/GrageDustin/status/1913251187152797874
Teens survive head-on crash with drunk, wrong-way driver who presented ID from Guatemala
The convicted felon was driving without a valid license. His public defender indicated in court that he does not speak English or Spanish. Inquiries about his immigration status have yielded little information.
By Jenna Gloeb
April 18, 2025
Two Minnesota teenagers are lucky to be alive after a convicted felon allegedly drove drunk the wrong way and crashed head-on into their SUV.
The crash happened April 11 on Highway 71 in Wadena County.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 46-year-old Francisco Castro Lorenzo was traveling southbound in the northbound lane near mile marker 251 when he struck the teens’ vehicle.
A 16-year-old girl from Menahga and her 16-year-old male passenger from Sebeka were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids with non-life threatening injuries.
According to a criminal complaint, Castro Lorenzo appeared “intoxicated and confused” when officers arrived on the scene around 10:12 p.m. When he exited the vehicle, “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was coming from his person.” The complaint says officers had difficulty understanding what Castro Lorenzo was saying because of a “language barrier as well as slurred speech,” but he admitted to having “too much” to drink.
“The officer asked Defendant (Castro Lorenzo) for his identification and he provided an ID from Guatemala which, identified him as ‘Castro Lorenzo Francisco’. Defendant asked if he could urinate on the side of the road and the officer told him to have a seat on the ground. Defendant did not listen and walked into the ditch and relieved himself,” the complaint says.
The victims of the crash told police that they were traveling north on Highway 71 when Castro Lorenzo’s vehicle “swerved into their lane and the two vehicles collided.” A witness told police that she observed Castro Lorenzo’s vehicle “traveling south bound in the north bound lane.”
According to the complaint, Castro Lorenzo “possessed a Guatemalan passport and identification card and there were some issues with Defendant’s actual name.”
“Officer White advised that he would contact the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency in attempt for them to assist with providing information on Defendant’s Identity. Border Patrol – Grand Forks dispatch center, advised they would assist with having an Agent get into contact with officers to assist in identifying Defendant,” the complaint states.
Blood alcohol more than twice the legal limit
In court earlier this week, prosecutors stated that Castro Lorenzo had a blood alcohol content of 0.16—double the legal limit.
Castro Lorenzo—who was on felony probation out of Otter Tail County at the time of the crash—is now facing charges of third-degree DWI, criminal vehicular operation, and driving without a valid license, according to court records. The complaint states he “does not have a driver’s license.”
During his first court appearance, his public defender indicated that Castro Lorenzo does not speak English or Spanish, but instead speaks Quiché—a Mayan language still spoken in parts of Guatemala. The court was advised that a Quiché-speaking translator would be needed for future hearings.
Released on no bond
The state argued that Castro Lorenzo—a convicted felon—posed a “flight risk,” saying he had no ties to Wadena County, no driver’s license, and his only form of identification was from a foreign country.
Prosecutors also said there was probable cause that his blood alcohol content was above 0.16, more than twice the legal limit. They asked for his conditional release to be set at $500 bail/$5,000 bond.
Judge Nathaniel Welte—a Walz appointee—released him without posting bail or bond, under conditions that he remain law-abiding and comply with a list of supervision terms, including electronic alcohol monitoring.
Alpha News inquired about Castro Lorenzo’s immigration status, given his stated language and foreign identification. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office said it could not provide that information. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Alpha News it “has no involvement with this individual at this time.”
Unlike Cass, Crow Wing, and Itasca counties, Wadena County has not entered into a cooperation agreement with ICE, according to Sahan Journal.
In 2023, Castro Lorenzo was convicted of felony identity theft.
The incident remains under investigation. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 12 at 1:30 p.m.
I asked Grok: “In the past 10 years in the entire world, as far as you know, how many people were killed by each of the following? Pit bulls. Border collies. Cheetahs.”
I asked Grok: “In the past 10 years in the entire world, as far as you know, how many people were killed by each of the following? Pit bulls. Border collies. Cheetahs. No need for a long explanation. Just the numbers will be fine.”
This is the answer that it gave:
Pit bulls: ~400 (U.S. and Canada only; global data unavailable)
Border collies: 0
Cheetahs: 3
Paramount Plus has censored every episode of the original Star Trek
William Shatner just tweeted the following:
“It’s called Presentism and it was used wreak havoc on history several years ago when statues were torn down, books were banned and things renamed to prove how progressive the world had become. Just listen to my opening monologue on Star Trek TOS on Paramount+. They intentionally garbled it on every episode because I say ‘where no man has gone before’ That’s Presentism at its finest hour.”
I asked Grok: “How much would an iPhone cost if all of the raw materials and ores, mining, refining, extraction, processing, design, programming, manufacturing, assembly, labor, and all other factors were done 100% entirely and exclusively in the United States?”
By Daniel Alman (aka Dan from Squirrel Hill)
April 10, 2025
I asked Grok: “How much would an iPhone cost if all of the raw materials and ores, mining, refining, extraction, processing, design, programming, manufacturing, assembly, labor, and all other factors were done 100% entirely and exclusively in the United States?”
This is the answer that it gave:
Estimating the cost of an iPhone if every aspect—raw materials, mining, refining, extraction, processing, design, programming, manufacturing, assembly, labor, and all other factors—were done 100% in the United States is a complex task. It requires considering a wide range of variables, many of which depend on assumptions about supply chain restructuring, labor costs, infrastructure development, and economic feasibility. While precise figures are unavailable due to the speculative nature of such a scenario, I can provide a reasoned estimate based on available data and expert analyses.
Currently, an iPhone’s production cost (bill of materials plus assembly) ranges from approximately $400 to $558, depending on the model (e.g., iPhone 15 Pro Max costs around $558). This reflects manufacturing primarily in China, where labor costs are low (averaging $2–$10/hour), raw materials are sourced globally, and supply chains are optimized for scale and efficiency. Retail prices range from $799 to $1,499, incorporating research and development (R&D), software, marketing, and Apple’s profit margin (typically 60–62%).
Moving all production to the U.S. would significantly increase costs due to several factors:
1) Raw Materials and Mining: iPhones contain about 75 elements, including rare earths (e.g., neodymium, dysprosium), aluminum, gold, and silicon. The U.S. lacks domestic sources for many of these. For instance, China supplies 85% of global rare earths, and there are no bauxite mines for aluminum in the U.S. Establishing new mines and refining facilities would take years and billions in investment, driving up costs. Extracting and processing these materials domestically could increase raw material costs by 2–3 times due to higher environmental regulations, labor costs, and initial capital outlays. Current component costs (around $400–$500) might rise to $800–$1,500.
2) Labor Costs: U.S. manufacturing wages average $22–$30/hour, compared to $2–$10/hour in China. Assembly alone, currently estimated at $4–$10 per unit, could rise to $30–$112 per unit, depending on hours worked (e.g., 7–8 hours at U.S. rates). Total labor costs across mining, refining, and manufacturing could add hundreds more per unit, potentially $200–$500, given the need for skilled workers in a fully domestic supply chain.
3) Manufacturing and Infrastructure: The U.S. lacks the scale and expertise of China’s manufacturing hubs (e.g., Foxconn’s facilities). Building equivalent factories could cost billions, amortized over fewer units initially due to limited capacity. Analysts estimate this could add $50–$100 per unit in overhead. Automation might offset some labor costs, but the upfront investment would still elevate prices.
4) Design and Programming: Apple’s R&D and software development are already U.S.-based, costing billions annually (e.g., $18.75 billion in 2020). These fixed costs, spread across millions of units, wouldn’t change significantly per unit, but any expansion of domestic talent to replace overseas engineering could slightly increase expenses (e.g., 5–10% more, or $10–$20 per unit).
5) Scale and Supply Chain: China’s ecosystem allows for rapid, cost-efficient production (e.g., 500,000 iPhones daily). Replicating this in the U.S. would require decades and massive investment, reducing economies of scale. Some estimates suggest production might drop from hundreds of millions to single-digit millions annually, pushing per-unit costs higher. Extreme scenarios propose costs of $30,000–$100,000 if supply chains collapse and output shrinks drastically, though this assumes near-total inefficiency.
Combining these factors, a realistic middle-ground estimate emerges:
Raw materials and processing: $800–$1,500 (up from $400–$500).
Labor (mining, refining, assembly): $200–$500 (up from $10–$50).
Manufacturing overhead: $50–$100.
Design/programming: $10–$20 increase.
Total production cost: $1,060–$2,120 per unit.
With Apple’s current profit margins (e.g., 60%), retail prices could range from $1,700 to $3,400. However, some analysts suggest costs could climb higher—$2,400–$3,500 per unit—if supply chain inefficiencies persist, pushing retail prices to $4,000 or more. Extreme estimates of $30,000+ arise from scenarios where production scales down dramatically (e.g., to a few million units), but this seems unlikely given Apple’s ability to adapt.
One of the many psychological benefits of not being a crazy, woke, radical leftist
By Daniel Alman (aka Dan from Squirrel Hill)
April 9, 2025
The Passover display at the Greenfield Giant Eagle had Coca-Cola with high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar, which means that it’s not kosher for Passover.
I’m Jewish.
If I was a crazy, woke, radical leftist, I would have gotten very upset, and seen this as a deliberate act of antisemitism by one of the store employees.
But I’m not a crazy, woke, radical leftist.
So I saw it as an honest mistake, and did not get upset.
New York City is allowing a violent serial criminal named Muslim Brunson to assault as many women as he wants.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/soho-bottle-slash-attack-suspect-225200317.html
Soho bottle-slash attack suspect has history of assaults
By Rocco Parascandola, Thomas Tracy, and Ellen Moynihan
April 8, 2025
The homeless man who police say attacked two women in Soho with a glass bottle, viciously slashing one in the throat, has a history of arrests for assault and two felony convictions.
Tuesday afternoon, Muslim Brunson, 46, was awaiting arraignment for the Monday attacks on Megan Berg, a 25-year-old costume designer whose trachea was damaged, and the 29-year-old woman he struck over the head with the bottle near Broome St. and Wooster St. around 3 p.m.
Brunson has five prior arrests dating back to 2019, four of them for assault, police said.
In September 2019, he pushed a 13-year-old male passenger out of a train car and onto the platform at the Van Siclen Ave. subway station in Brownsville, Brooklyn, after snatching the teen’s cell phone, sources said.
Bail was set in that case, but Brunson was later released without bail, and the case was slated to move to mental health court.
After his release, Brunson missed at least one court date and so a bench warrant was issued. He was arrested after the warrant and was jailed from Feb. 2 to July 22, 2021, sources said.
On July 22, 2021, he was convicted of robbery after pleading in mental health court and released pending sentencing.
While awaiting sentencing, Brunson committed a felony assault, slamming a woman’s head into a subway pole aboard a Brooklyn-bound No. 4 train near the Fulton St. station on July 4, 2022, fracturing the victim’s cheekbone and an orbital bone, sources said.
Upon his arrest on July 6, 2022, he assaulted a cop, the sources added.
Brunson was again jailed until Dec. 7, 2022, when he pleaded guilty to attempted assault and was convicted of the 4 train attack, receiving a 364-day sentence, to run concurrently with the one-to-three-year sentence he received for the robbery case.
In late December 2022, Brunson was moved to the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, according to state records, and paroled in August 2023.
A public lewdness arrest followed in January 2024, but that case is sealed, sources said.
Brunson, who police sources say is mentally ill, completed probation in February 2024.
Berg, an Arizona native, was scouting out boutiques in Soho to buy clothing and fabrics for an upcoming theater project when Brunson allegedly attacked her.
Moments earlier, Brunson had assaulted a 29-year-old woman at the same corner, smashing the glass bottle over her head before stabbing Berg, police said.
Berg’s husband and mother flew to New York to be with the Off-Broadway costumer at Bellevue Hospital after she underwent surgery.
“We’re all in shock,” Berg’s mother told the Daily News Tuesday. “She loved [New York City]. It was her dream to be a costume designer and she was working in the field she loved.”
“He hit her in the trachea,” she added. “We don’t know [the extent of the damage].”
A security guard who works at a sunglasses store near the scene of the incident heard Berg screaming and ran to her aid.
“I applied pressure on her neck,” the security guard said. “Girls came to help with a tissue. A guy pulled over [and] he had tissues. We tried to apply as much pressure as we can.”
Clean energy exec, ex-federal worker charged with defacing Tesla vehicles
Original: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/04/04/tesla-vandalism-arrests-dc/
Archive: https://archive.ph/Bk29L
Clean energy exec, ex-federal worker charged with defacing Tesla vehicles
The charges come as authorities have promised swift action in response to a string of attacks on Tesla dealerships, charging stations and vehicles.
By Peter Hermann
April 4, 2025
A former federal government employee and his wife, an executive at a clean energy nonprofit, have been charged with defacing several Tesla vehicles in and around the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Northeast Washington, according to D.C. police, who are investigating the incidents as possible hate crimes.
Justin Fisher, 49, surrendered to authorities Tuesday and was charged with eight counts of defacing private property, police said in a statement. His wife, Emily Fisher, 50, turned herself in to police the next day and was charged with five counts of the same offense, the statement says.
The Fishers, who live in the Capitol Hill area, issued a joint statement through their separate attorneys, Carrie Crumbaugh Love and Joseph Scrofano, saying the couple are longtime residents of the District who “voluntarily come forward and cooperated” with D.C. police.
“Our understanding is that the allegations in this case involve non-violent and non-destructive conduct that resulted in no property damage,” the statement says. “We trust that the government and the court system will treat our clients with fairness and proportionality. We look forward to ensuring their constitutional rights are upheld in accordance with the rule of law.”
Police said various phrases deriding Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla founder who is now leading the charge to purge the federal workforce, were scrawled on car windows in March, including one belonging to a teacher at her elementary school.
“Go Doge I support Musk killing the dept of Education,” police said the teacher found written on her car. “I love Musk and hate the Fed Gov’t,” was found written on another. Police said one owner found “Ask me about my support of Nazis” on his rear windshield.
Police said there were six incidents in all, and that one vehicle was vandalized twice on separate occasions. Two Teslas were vandalized on adjacent blocks. The charges filed this week expand on the number of incidents that police initially reported last month. Many of the vehicles that police said were vandalized were located three to 10 blocks from where the Fishers live.
Authorities said the Fishers were charged with citations ordering them to appear in court at a date to be determined. People charged this way with misdemeanor offenses are released after processing and are not taken to the D.C. jail or to arraignment court.
The maximum penalty for defacing private property in the District is a $5,000 fine and up to a year in jail. Prosecutors have not filed hate-crime charges, which would increase the penalties. Prosecutors must prove that a person was motivated by prejudice to secure a conviction in a bias-related crime.
The charges in the District come as authorities across the nation have promised swift action in response to a string of attacks on Tesla dealerships, charging stations and vehicles. Those incidents include bullets fired into a dealership in Oregon and an arson attack involving molotov cocktails that burned vehicles at a repair shop in Las Vegas.
The FBI said that it has formed a task force to investigate “the increase in violent activity toward Tesla.” In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel called the attacks “domestic terrorism” and said that “those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.”
Emily Fisher is listed in a biography posted on the website of the nonprofit Smart Electric Power Alliance as its chief strategy officer. The bio also lists her as co-chair of the executive board of City Year D.C., a public service program that supports city schools through AmeriCorps.
Representatives of the nonprofit and City Year D.C. did not return emails seeking comment. Emily Fisher’s attorney declined to comment on her client’s status with those organizations. The bio also says she previously worked as a Foreign Service officer at embassies in Bangkok and Bogotá.
Justin Fisher worked for nearly 15 years as a statistician with the Government Accountability Office before leaving in 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is now listed as a consultant who has traveled worldwide assisting agencies and nongovernmental organizations with statistical and data analysis, including damage and economic impact studies after disasters in third-world countries.
33-year-old Robert Antherton has now been ARRESTED for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving after he allegedly boxed in and beat a woman driving a Tesla in Arizona. If convicted, Antherton could face up to 20 years in prison.
https://x.com/matt_vanswol/status/1906696170421862889
https://azfreenews.com/2025/04/man-arrested-for-assault-of-tesla-driver-near-flagstaff/
Man Arrested For Assault Of Tesla Driver Near Flagstaff
April 1, 2025
A man has been arrested in the viral assault of a Tesla driver near Flagstaff.
Police named the arrested individual as 33-year-old Robert Artherton of Flagstaff. According to a statement from the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD), Artherton was arrested via a criminal citation for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving in the “road rage incident that escalated into a violent encounter.”
The FPD statement also stated that conflicting accounts existed as to what led up to the assault and how the incident played out, with witnesses reporting “erratic driving behavior” from both Artherton and the victim, a 61-year-old woman who maintained anonymity in her remarks to the media.
Video evidence showed Artherton drove his Chevrolet Cavalier in front of the Tesla along Route 66, preventing the female driver from continuing forward. Artherton then exited his vehicle in order to approach the driver’s side of the Tesla and reportedly began punching the driver repeatedly. FPD confirmed both drivers sustained minor injuries from the altercation.
“All parties involved allege that the incident was triggered by driving behaviors, honking, and disorderly hand gestures,” stated FPD. “At the time of the investigation no additional details regarding the motives behind the incident were provided.”
The woman told AZ Family she felt she was attacked for her perceived political stance or, at the very minimum, the current perceived political statement of owning a Tesla.
“I didn’t buy my car for a political statement,” said the woman. “I bought my car because it is really fun to drive. My politics have nothing to do with that. I’m ashamed of our society and what they are doing.”
The incident occurred earlier this month. FPD did not confirm whether the assault was a case of apolitical road rage or due to the fact that the woman was driving a Tesla.
Many in the public sphere connected the assault with the ongoing vitriol and violence issued by those opposed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk over his heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh condemned the incident and called for greater responses to the ongoing verbal and physical attacks.
“Unable to come to terms with their historic loss in November, & spurred on by the incendiary anti-Elon rhetoric of the leaders of their party, the radical left has resorted to violence,” said Hamadeh. “This needs to stop before more people are hurt.”
Congressman Eli Crane called the attack “shameful behavior.”
Last week, the FBI announced the creation of a dedicated task force to “crack down on violent Tesla attacks,” including fires set to Tesla vehicles and charging stations. The FBI categorized the attacks as “domestic terrorism.” The FBI is coordinating with the ATF to investigate criminal activity.
FBI Director Kash Patel promised a swift response from his agency.
“This is domestic terrorism,” said Patel. “Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi backed these characterizations earlier this month.
“Anti-Israel protesters block access to McGill University buildings… No arrests were made.”
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/mcgill-anti-israel-protesters
Anti-Israel protesters block access to McGill University buildings, disrupt classes
‘Disrupting classes, harassing students and faculty is not activism, it’s dangerous behaviour that has no place on a Canadian campus’
April 3, 2025
Professors moved classes online and protesters blocked access to classrooms at McGill University this week as a three-day student strike kicked off.
“Anti-Israel protesters are physically blocking access to lecture halls inside the Bronfman building and disrupting classes, preventing fellow students from accessing their right to education,” wrote the pro-Israel advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada on X on Wednesday.
“Protest is a protected right — intimidation is not. No student should have to choose between their safety and their education. Disrupting classes, harassing students and faculty, and hijacking campus spaces is not activism, it’s dangerous behaviour that has no place on a Canadian campus.”
On Thursday, Montreal police were on site to moderate protests and counter-protests.
“Police officers were there to make sure that those two groups (don’t) merge together and commit any criminal acts,” Agent Manuel Coupre told National Post in an interview.
No arrests were made. Police said they arrived around 12:30 p.m., having been made aware that there would be two protests on Thursday. The protesters gathered around 2 p.m., and left around 3:30 p.m, police said.
“We do know that some protesters gathered inside the building, but most of our police operation (was) outside,” Coupre said.
The protest began on Wednesday and will run until Friday. Videos posted online showed protesters wearing masks and keffiyehs, protesting in classrooms and on campus on Wednesday. In an emailed statement, McGill said 20 classes were disrupted, but the majority continued as scheduled.
“(On Thursday), more classes had to be cancelled and some protesters engaged in acts of vandalism. McGill University personnel is at work, to reduce disruptions and facilitate access to classrooms, in collaboration with the Montreal police,” the statement said.
Beginning Friday, access to university buildings will require a student or employee card, McGill said in the statement.
The protest was organized by the Students’ Society of McGill University, which is calling on the university to drop its investments in weapons manufacturers that it says are linked to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Last June, in the face of a protest encampment on school grounds, McGill President Deep Saini announced that the school would explore divestment from all arms manufacturers — regardless of any geopolitical considerations.
Dymetri Taylor, the president of the students’ society, told the Montreal Gazette that protesters targeted lecture halls in multiple buildings.
One video, posted to social media by B’nai Brith Canada, shows a student addressing a lecture hall, telling people that protesters are trying to get students to not attend class, “to show support for Palestine.” The student encourages others to leave.
“We’re going to be making noise outside,” the student says.
Another video shows a female student trying to enter a lecture hall that’s blocked by demonstrators.
“I want to go to class. Stop,” she says. The student pushes past the protesters.
On Wednesday, a form that circulated among students, titled “Report Your Non-Compliant Prof,” asked for class times, room numbers, and screenshots of professors’ messages regarding those teachers who continued to teach during the student strike.
It was shared on Instagram by a former student group, Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR McGill). The group, the Montreal Gazette reported, had previously lost its official status as a university student club.
Angela Campbell, McGill’s associate provost, condemned the form, calling it “totally unethical, unacceptable and damaging to our community,” in an email to students, and describing it as an “intimidation tactic” in violation of McGill’s student code of conduct.
“The form is there as a channel by which students can inform picket organizers of their non-compliant profs,” a representative of SPHR McGill told the Gazette.
Also on Wednesday, protesters and non-student supporters waved Palestinian flags at McGill’s Roddick Gates. At the student union, copies of the student-run newspaper The Tribune carried a front-page headline that read: “Students, you must strike for Palestine. No justice, no class.”
The paper also ran an editorial, which argued, “All undergraduate students should see it as a moral responsibility to strike.”
Last year, McGill was the site of a lengthy standoff between the university and anti-Israel protesters.
Dan from Squirrel Hill's Blog 