MAYA RUINS AND STAR WARS
This is Temple IV at the ancient Mayan capital of Tikal, now in northern Guatemala. It was from the top of Temple IV that the shot in the original 1977 Star Wars movie was filmed of the Millennium Falcon landing (at 44 seconds) near jungle temples (Temples II and III) at the Rebel Base on the moon of Yavin 4.
Built in 740 AD, at 230 feet it is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in all the Americas. While Tikal’s earliest buildings date to the 4th century BC, it was from 300 to 800 AD that Tikal flourished as one of the Mayan Empires most powerful kingdoms.
Then decline set in, with drought, deforestation, overpopulation, and constant warfare with rival kingdoms. With Tikal abandoned by the end of the 900s, it remained covered by rainforest jungle for over a thousand years. American archaeologists began excavations in the 1950s. Today with its major temples restored, Tikal is the most impressive example you can visit of Mayan civilization. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #118 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
PLATONIC CONSERVATIVES
Plato 427-347 BC
[This Monday’s Archive, “Platonic Conservatives,” was originally published on October 1, 2003. To what extent do you think it applies to those conservatives today who are rooting for the dollar and the American economy to crash, for Russian barbarism to win and Western Civilization to lose? They were among us twenty years ago – are they among us for the same reasons today? Your thoughts, please!]
TTP, October 1, 2003
There is an organization of conservatives which has met in private thrice annually since 1981. As a member for over 20 years, I am obliged not to mention its name or membership. Suffice it to say that virtually every major conservative figure in America belongs.Its meetings are the only place where all the leaders of the entire conservative movement can get together to socialize and strategize. During the Reagan Presidency, the organization played a principal role in creating popular support for the “Reagan Doctrine” which successfully eliminated the Soviet Union.
My wife and I have formed many close friendships with its members and always look forward to attending its meetings. Having just returned from its latest at the end of September, I regret having to report to you that it was the most disappointing in two decades.
THE NATURAL INFINITY POOL OF SOCOTRA
National Geographic calls the remote island of Socotra off the coast of Yemen in the Indian Ocean “the most alien-looking place on our planet,” because of its incredibly weird and bizarre plant life like the Dragon’s Blood Tree.
Yet it is safely far away from anarchic Yemen, peaceful and serene in its isolation. And it contains places of mesmerizing beauty – like this natural infinity pool on a cliff edge high above the ocean in full view. Socotra is spectacularly exotic, like nowhere else in our world. It is truly life-memorable to experience it. Wheeler Expeditions was there in the Spring of 2014 – and we’ll be there again in the Spring of ’23. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #129 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
BIDEN VOWS TO ELIMINATE ALL JUNK FEES EXCEPT THE ‘10% FOR THE BIG GUY’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of his administration's top priority, President Joe Biden has vowed to eliminate all junk fees, though he clarified that his customary "10% for the Big Guy" fee will remain in place for all bribes and kickbacks.
"Listen here, folks," Biden slurred as the announcement was made, "We're going to get rid of all these junk fees! The biggest problem facing the American people every day is being gouged by hotel and resort junk fees. I'm telling these places charging junk fees — stop it!"
When asked by a reporter if the reduction of fees includes waiving the "10% for the Big Guy" fee, Biden was quick to clarify. "Absolutely not," he said. "My fee will stay in effect for all illegal transactions. Weakening national security and doing favors for foreign interests comes at a price, and that includes 10% for the Big Guy. Nargonnindargit!"
Questions have arisen about whether there are more important issues facing the nation than junk fees. "I'm having trouble buying groceries for my family," said frustrated citizen Phil Brooks. "Going on a vacation or staying in a hotel isn't even an option at this point. What do I care about junk fees?"
The administration remains committed to making this the centerpiece of its platform. "The President knows all Americans are focused on junk fees," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who is a woman of color who is also a lesbian. "He will not stop until junk fees are a thing of the past, no matter how many other horrible things happen in the country."
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – RETRACING HANNIBAL OVER THE ALPS WITH ELEPHANTS
September 1979 – my Hannibal Expedition took two elephants over the same pass Hannibal used in 218 BC across the Alps to attack Rome. There is only one pass that fits the contemporary descriptions of both Greek historian Polybius and Roman historian Livy: The Col du Clapier on what is now the French-Italian border.
Unrecognized as Hannibal’s Pass in 1979, it is still a roadless trail today crossed only on foot or mountain bike. But since our expedition, there are now signs proclaiming it La Route d’Hannibal, and even a life-size statue of an elephant at the French village of Bramans where the track over the pass begins.
The photo you see is us climbing high above Bramans (I’m the one in front with the red backpack). It took us five days to carefully guide our elephants (from an Italian circus) over Clapier and down to the Italian village of Susa. First time in 2,197 years and never repeated 41 years since.
Hannibal’s crossing the Alps with elephants is one of the most epic events of world history. To retrace it yourself with elephants is to make that famous history a part of your life in the most uniquely powerful way. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #15 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
HALF-FULL REPORT 06/16/23
You all know that I once worked for Ronald Reagan, and now often wonder what he would say about this Woke State supporting Ukraine while destroying their own country – and about some conservatives rooting for Russian Nazi barbarism to win and America Western Civilization to lose. Everyday, you see in places like ZeroHedge rooting for the destruction of the dollar and ruination of the US economy while cheering Russia on.
One thing I’m quite sure of – that if our greatest president were in the White House today, there would be a Reagan Doctrine for freedom in Ukraine and for doing to Russia what he did to the Soviet Union – and for freedom in America by dismembering the corrupt institutions of woke fascism that are its enemies.
Please take the time to watch President Reagan’s speech more than once – then ask yourself, is there anyone running for president today who could come remotely close to his moral brilliance, clarity, and courage?
Yet, that is perhaps not the right question. For in 1980, we Americans proved worthy of electing such a president. Are we now today? When do normal Americans start taking responsibility for the moral and corrupt degradation of our country? We must prove ourselves worthy of having the president we need before we can have him. It is us to whom Ronald Reagan is giving the solution for saving our country: WE MUST FIGHT!
THE UNKNOWN RIVIERA
In the Mediterranean, experienced travelers know the French Riviera from St. Tropez to Menton, and the Italian Riviera from Ventimiglia to Cinque Terre. There is one Riviera in the Med they may not know – Albania’s. The Med has many beautiful coastlines, and just about all of them have been “discovered” by jet-setters to backpackers. Not yet, however, for Albania from Saranda in the south across from Greece’s Corfu to Vlora across from the tip of Italy’s Boot Heel.
Here you find an abundance of gorgeous coves and pocket beaches tucked away with hardly a soul there. The one pictured above isn’t even named on a map – there’s just a tiny wharf for local fishermen. Yes, the Albanian Riviera is getting discovered, with boutique hotels and nightclubs sprouting up here and there. But as for now, it’s still the Unknown Riviera, gorgeous with so much untouched. You might want to experience it before it’s overrun. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #82 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
SKYE’S LINKS 06/15/23
Unpacking the Corruption
The DOJ appears to protest too much. The war against Trump is taking on an air of panic and desperation never before seen in American politics. Evidence shows that Joe Biden and his family members accepted bribes from the Russian FSB agent running Burisma.
Biden threatened Burisma and its Russian security service handlers with extortion demands, and the Russians likely could not believe their good fortune. They bought Joe Biden and his policy towards oil and gas fracking for relatively small sums. It is not yet known how extensive Biden's influence peddling is, but it must be comprehensive.
Why else would half of the United States government be so afraid of a president from outside the club? "Me think they doth protest too much”
Credibility and authenticity are increasingly valuable in this brave new world of artificial intelligence software The DeSantis campaign made a serious blunder by creating and releasing images of Trump embracing Fauci The error impacted future DeSantis's appeals to integrity; he scored higher than the other candidates before the mistake.
COVID-19 destroyed faith in government and created a long tail of political liability The emphasis on the LGBT show is artificial and propped up by the government. It appears that the LGBT show is not moving the narrative away from COVID-19 as fast as desired, and businesses are becoming worried about brand destruction.
The J6 show has lost severe traction with the public as the government plan to instigate a riot within the Capital is being made public. Capital police, FBI, Park police, and others drove the crowd into the Capital Building. The plan was to trap protestors within the building, where some could be shot and killed. The resulting panic would cause extensive property destruction and serve as a Reichstag Fire, justifying national emergency powers.
The plan failed because partisans in government do not understand the difference between conservatives and liberals. The conservatives herded into the Capital did not become the Antifa-like mob as planned. We have serious problems within the government that must be resolved before America enters its next long-term growth cycle.
They will be resolved.
The mystery of why corporations such as Disney accept brand destruction and stay the woke course can be explained by the relationship between inflation and debt destruction. While suitable for the debtor, inflation is hard on the lender.
History contains examples where banks failed, and central banks began to loan funds directly to businesses. Nazi Germany retooled during the Depression and financed the war through direct lending. The criteria to receive funding was political, as in accepting national socialist dogma, and not based on actual financial performance. The analogy between Nazi doctrine then and Wokism today is uncomfortably close but explains why large companies are attempting to become too woke to fail.
MONGOL NOMADS ARE OBLIVIOUS TO US
These Mongol nomads in the vast grasslands of central Mongolia milking their goats have a way of life unchanged for centuries. All of our concerns, worries and fears that plague us are totally irrelevant to them. They don’t know about them and wouldn’t care if they did.
Spending time with people such as these gives you an invaluably broader perspective of life on our planet. Our concerns, the issues that dominate our headline news, suddenly seem more parochial and far less important. An evening drinking kumiss (Mongol beer, fermented mare’s milk) in their yurts, telling stories, laughing at jokes – you realize how easy it is to relate to them through the core humanity we all have in our souls.
Exploring Mongolia in this way is a priceless adventure. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #9 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
JOE BIDEN SELLS OUT AMERICA
For the past year, the House Oversight Committee, where I serve as chairman, has been investigating the Biden family’s influence peddling schemes that generated millions of dollars for the Biden family. We are following the facts. We need to know whether these deals threaten national security and if President Joe Biden is compromised.
President Biden has repeatedly lied to the American people about his family’s business dealings. Now, Americans are left wondering if Joe Biden was involved with them.