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WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG IN CALIFORNIA'S LITIGEOUS AND HOSTILE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT?

Business-bullshitI was struck by the length and complexity of El Segundo, California-based Beyond Meat’s caveats in a media release.

Beyond Meat is a leading plant-based meat company “offering a portfolio of revolutionary plant-based meats made from simple ingredients without GMOs, no added hormones or antibiotics, and 0 mg of cholesterol per serving.” A California dream company fighting climate change, obesity, and for vegans everywhere.

Don’t believe a word of what we say, your mileage will vary, and terms and conditions apply…

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements related to the Company’s expectations with respect to its third quarter and full year 2022 revenue outlook, cost-reduction initiatives, expected charges and savings related to its workforce reduction and executive leadership changes, and the timing and success of achieving its cash flow positive targets.

The charges associated with the reduction in force and executive leadership changes may be greater than anticipated, completion of the reduction in force may take longer than anticipated, the Company may be unable to realize the contemplated benefits in connection with the workforce reduction, executive leadership changes and other potential cost-reduction initiatives, and the workforce reduction, executive leadership changes and cost-reduction initiatives may have an adverse impact on the Company’s performance.

Additionally, the Company’s ability to meet its cash flow positive targets is subject to a number of assumptions and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the Company’s ability to reduce costs and achieve positive gross margins; the Company’s ability to meet certain revenue and operating expense targets, which may be subject to factors beyond the Company’s control; and the Company’s ability to monetize inventory and manage working capital.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions and projections regarding financial performance, prospects, future events and future results, including ongoing uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the ultimate duration, magnitude and effects of the pandemic and, in particular, the impact to the foodservice channel, operations and supply chains, growth trends, our international expansion plans, market share, new and existing customers and expense trends, among other matters, and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “outlook,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, not historical fact, and involve certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which or whether, such performance or results will be achieved. Actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events could differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements.

While Beyond Meat believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors and, in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results.

There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements made herein including, but not limited to, the effects of global outbreaks of pandemics or contagious diseases or fear of such outbreaks (such as COVID-19), including on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, including on our supply chain, the demand for our products, our product and channel mix, labor needs at the Company as well as in the supply chain and at customers, the timing and level of retail purchasing, the timing and level of foodservice purchasing, our manufacturing and co-manufacturing facilities and operations, our inventory levels, our ability to expand and produce in new geographic markets or the timing of such expansion efforts, the pace and success of new product introductions, the timing of new foodservice launches, and on overall economic conditions and consumer confidence and spending levels; the impact of uncertainty in our domestic and international supply chain, including labor shortages and disruption and shipping delays and disruption; a resurgence of COVID-19 and the impact of variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 which could slow, halt or reverse the reopening process, or result in the reinstatement of social distancing measures, business closures, restrictions on operations, quarantines, lockdowns and travel bans; the impact of uncertainty as a result of doing business in China and Europe; government or employer mandates requiring certain behaviors from employees due to COVID-19, including COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which could result in employee attrition at the Company, suppliers and customers as well as difficulty securing future labor and supply needs; the impact of adverse and uncertain economic and political conditions in the U.S. and international markets; the volatility of capital markets and other macroeconomic factors, including due to geopolitical tensions or the outbreak of hostilities or war; our ability to effectively manage our growth in the U.S. and abroad; our ability to streamline operations and improve cost efficiencies, which could result in the contraction of our business and the implementation of significant cost cutting measures; our ability to identify and execute cost-down initiatives intended to achieve price parity with animal protein; the success of operations conducted by joint ventures, such as the Planet Partnership, LLC with PepsiCo, Inc., where we share ownership and management of a company with one or more parties who may not have the same goals, strategies or priorities as we do and where we do not receive all of the financial benefit; the effects of increased competition from our market competitors and new market entrants; changes in the retail landscape, including the timing and level of trade and promotion discounts, our ability to grow market share and increase household penetration, repeat purchases, buying rates (amount spent per buyer) and purchase frequency, and our ability to maintain and increase sales velocity of our products; changes in the foodservice landscape, including the timing and level of marketing and other financial incentives to assist in the promotion of our products, our ability to grow market share and attract and retain new foodservice customers or retain existing foodservice customers, and our ability to introduce and sustain offering of our products on menus; the timing and success of distribution expansion and new product introductions in increasing revenues and market share; the timing and success of strategic partnership launches and limited time offerings resulting in permanent menu items; our estimates of the size of market opportunities and ability to accurately forecast market growth; our ability to effectively expand or optimize our manufacturing and production capacity, including effectively managing capacity for specific products with shifts in demand; risks associated with underutilization of capacity which could give rise to termination fees to exit certain supply chain arrangements and/or the write-off of certain equipment; our ability to sell our inventory in a timely manner requiring us to sell our products through liquidation channels at lower prices, write-down or write off obsolete inventory, or increase inventory reserves; our ability to accurately forecast our future results of operations, including fluctuations in demand for our products and any increased competition; our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products and manage our inventory, including the impact of customer orders ahead of holidays and shelf reset activities, and supply chain and labor disruptions; our operational effectiveness and ability to fulfill orders in full and on time; variations in product selling prices and costs, and the mix of products sold; our ability to successfully enter new geographic markets, manage our international expansion and comply with any applicable laws and regulations, including risks associated with doing business in foreign countries, substantial investments in our manufacturing operations in China and the Netherlands, and our ability to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other anti-corruption laws; the effects of global outbreaks of pandemics or contagious diseases or fear of such outbreaks, such as COVID-19; the success of our marketing initiatives and the ability to grow brand awareness, maintain, protect and enhance our brand, attract and retain new customers and grow our market share; our ability to attract, maintain and effectively expand our relationships with key strategic foodservice partners; our ability to attract and retain our suppliers, distributors, co-manufacturers and customers; our ability to procure sufficient high-quality raw materials at competitive prices to manufacture our products, especially those impacted by the conflict in the Ukraine or problems in the global supply chain exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdowns in China; the availability of pea and other protein that meets our standards; our ability to diversify the protein sources used for our products; our ability to differentiate and continuously create innovative products, respond to competitive innovation and achieve speed-to-market; our ability to successfully execute our strategic initiatives; the volatility associated with ingredient, packaging, transportation and other input costs; the impact of inflation and rising interest rates across the economy, including higher food, grocery, raw materials, transportation, energy, labor and fuel costs; reduced consumer confidence and consumer spending, including spending to purchase our products, and negative trends in consumer purchasing patterns due to consumers’ disposable income, credit availability, debt levels and inflation; real or perceived quality or health issues with our products or other issues that adversely affect our brand and reputation; our ability to accurately predict consumer taste preferences, trends and demand and successfully innovate, introduce and commercialize new products and improve existing products, including in new geographic markets; significant disruption in, or breach in security of our information technology systems and resultant interruptions in service and any related impact on our reputation, including related to data privacy; the ability of our transportation providers to ship and deliver our products in a timely and cost effective manner; management and key personnel changes, the attraction and retention of qualified employees and key personnel, and our ability to maintain our company culture; the effects of organizational changes including a reduction-in-force and realignment of reporting structures; risks related to use of a professional employer organization to administer human resources, payroll and employee benefits functions for certain of our international employees or use of certain third party service providers for the performance of several business operations including payroll and human capital management services; the effects of natural or man-made catastrophic or severe weather events particularly involving our or any of our co-manufacturers’ manufacturing facilities or our suppliers’ facilities; the impact of marketing campaigns aimed at generating negative publicity regarding our products, brand and the plant-based industry category; the effectiveness of our internal controls; accounting estimates based on judgment and assumptions that may differ from actual results; the requirements of being a public company and effects of increased administration costs related to compliance and reporting obligations; our significant indebtedness and ability to pay such indebtedness; risks related to our debt, including limitations on our cash flow from operations and our ability to satisfy our obligations under the convertible senior notes; our ability to raise the funds necessary to repurchase the convertible senior notes for cash, under certain circumstances, or to pay any cash amounts due upon conversion; provisions in the indenture governing the convertible senior notes delaying or preventing an otherwise beneficial takeover of us; any adverse impact on our reported financial condition and results from the accounting methods for the convertible senior notes; estimates of our expenses, future revenues, capital expenditures, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; our ability to meet our obligations under our campus innovation and headquarters lease, the timing of occupancy and completion of the build-out of our space, cost overruns, delays and the impact of COVID-19 on our space demands; our ability to meet our obligations under leases for our corporate offices, manufacturing facilities and warehouses; changes in laws and government regulation affecting our business, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission governmental regulation, and state, local and foreign regulation; new or pending legislation, or changes in laws, regulations or policies of governmental agencies or regulators, both in the U.S. and abroad, affecting plant-based meat, the labeling or naming of our products, or our brand name or logo; the failure of acquisitions and other investments to be efficiently integrated and produce the results we anticipate; risks inherent in investment in real estate; the financial condition of, and our relationships with our suppliers, co-manufacturers, distributors, retailers and foodservice customers, and their future decisions regarding their relationships with us; our ability and the ability of our suppliers and co-manufacturers to comply with food safety, environmental or other laws and regulations; seasonality, including increased levels of purchasing by customers ahead of holidays, customer shelf reset activity and the timing of product restocking by our retail customers; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity needs and service our indebtedness and our ability to access capital markets upon favorable terms, including due to rising interest rates; economic conditions and the impact on consumer spending; the impact of increased scrutiny from stakeholders, institutional investors and governmental bodies on environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices, including expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting, diligence and disclosure on ESG matters; the outcomes of legal or administrative proceedings, or new legal or administrative proceedings filed against us; our, our suppliers’ and our co-manufacturers’ ability to protect our proprietary technology, intellectual property and trade secrets adequately; the impact of tariffs and trade wars; the impact of changes in tax laws; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; and the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on March 2, 2022, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 2, 2022 filed with the SEC on August 11, 2022, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2022 to be filed with the SEC, as well as other factors described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. Beyond Meat undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

This brings forth memories of the late great George Carlin, life’s observer and a comedic master of the poetry of the spoken word.

It’s all bullshit folks – crap designed to make you believe they are competent and have thought things through.

Let me sum it up in a few lines.

  1. Let the buyer beware
  2. Shit happens
  3. Don’t blame us, we told you to bend down, it was coming.

Bottom line…

We are so screwed.

-- Steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


IS UKRAINE RUNNING OVER AMERICA?

Flag-ukraine-tank

The globalists and the progressive communist democrats are using Ukraine to rape the U.S. Treasury and pouring billions of unaccountable dollars into the abyss where they are used to pay off the military-industrial complex by selling war materiel to Ukraine and supporting the Ukraine economy – including government worker pensions.

Nothing to see here. No corruption. Move along…

Ukraine Aid Is 2.6 Percent of Omnibus Spending Bill

The help we’ve given Ukrainians to repel the Russian invasion of their country is not a major source of our fiscal woes.

There’s plenty to criticize in the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill. The 4,155-page bill was released around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, and passed the Senate on Thursday afternoon. This type of legislative sausage-making has been common for years, but it’s also an unserious way to govern. And for a budget hawk, the top-line $1.7 trillion figure would be troubling even if the bill were being passed through regular order.

[OCS: Everyone who purports to represent their respective constituencies and voted for this bill without reading or understandings its provisions should be censured. With a special penalty for the 18 Senators who gutted the GOP’s ability to use the House to cut wasteful spending. The GOP asswipes are Blunt, Boozman, Capito, Collins, Cornyn, Cotton, Graham, Inhofe, McConnell, Moran, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Rounds, Shelby, Thune, Wicker, Young. I am surprised that Tom Cotton is on the list as he is slated to lead some of the critical GOP Committee work.]

But that top-line figure also demonstrates that aid to Ukraine is not a major reason the United States is saddled with $31 trillion of debt. The omnibus includes $45 billion in spending broadly intended to help repel the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That’s real money, but it also amounts to only 2.6 percent of the entire package. And if you add it to the other Ukraine aid passed since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February, you get a total of around $100 billion — or about 2.5 percent of total annual federal spending. <Source>

Where is the debate?

Before sending $100 billion to a corrupt foreign entity, shouldn’t someone be asking the tough questions?

(1)  Was this conflict created by our CIA and Department of State, which has a history of meddling in Ukraine as proven by documentary evidence and sworn testimony as a byproduct of the Trump impeachment hoax?

(2)  Is this aid weakening the United States military and depleting our stockpiles, putting us at risk in low-level conflicts?

(3)  Cost/benefit analysis of analyzing and degrading non-nuclear, tactical Russian Forces to weaken an opponent seeking expansion in nearby lands?

(4)  Is this aid leading to a Russian escalation and a Russia-Iran, Russia-Saudi alliance?

(5)  What is the impact of conflict on a war effort dependent on global supply chain economics?

(6)  How does this conflict impact our enemy, the  Communist Chinese, who are churning out expensive components for our war effort?

(7)  How vulnerable is the U.S. to the increasing capabilities of North Korea, Iran, and possibly Pakistan-supplied terrorists?

(8)  Is it morally defensible to assist other nations while our senior citizens and others suffer at home from escalated prices brought about by the government’s profligate spending?

(9)  Is an incompetent/corrupt administration creating a more significant global power vacuum that increases the influence of U.S. enemies?

(10)  What is the endpoint and how will it be implemented?

(11)  And what to do with Ukrainian immigrants seeking asylum.

Bottom line…

In my view, we have financed the destruction of one-half of Russia's non-nuclear fighting forces and arms without a significant loss of American lives. Seems like a great deal to me -- but that does not mean that these matters should not be discussed and our investment should be protected from corruption, both foreign and domestic. Then there is also the issue of the Russians building back their military better. 

How are the feckless Republicans less corrupt on fiscal issues than the progressive communist democrats?

Do the Obamacons that run Biden's foreign policy know what they are doing?

We are so screwed.

-- Steve

Mchny


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


ARE THE PROGRESSIVES FORCING YOU TO ACCEPT AND CELEBRATE SOMEONE ELSE'S REALITY?

There comes a time when you wonder about the direction of humanity with the increasing feminization of men and the transformation of women into men…

There is little doubt in my mind that the progressive communist democrats are pushing their woke nonsense to further erode or destroy the traditional cultural values which have thus advanced humanity over the centuries,

I will never see J&B Scotch whiskey in the same light… 

Grandpa wears makeup in a viral 3-minute J&B Whisky Christmas commercial with a “woke” message.

According to Úrsula Mejía-Melgar, Diageo’s marketing director for Southern Europe, “At J&B, we want everyone to feel free to celebrate at Christmas, to give visibility to a reality that thousands of people in the LGBTQ+ community face in seeking a safe space to be their true selves during the holiday season.”

Why are the progressives attempting to “normalize” what many regard as a mental illness? Could it be that the progressives are trying to create another class distinction that can be exploited to empower them to assert their authority in court to punish their enemies, to fundraise for progressive causes, and, most importantly, to further erode or destroy the traditional cultural values which have advanced humanity?

Who is the scientific arbiter who will describe and decide if Gender Dysphoria is a disorder needing treatment or a display of neurodiversity to be accepted and celebrated?

As for now, the definition of Gender Dysphoria is described in the DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision), which serves as a “gold standard” guidebook for psychiatric issues.

The DSM-5-TR (Text Revision) defines gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults as a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and their assigned gender, lasting at least 6 months, as manifested by at least two of the following:

  • A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or in young adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics)
  • A strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s experienced/expressed gender (or in young adolescents, a desire to prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex characteristics)
  • A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender
  • A strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
  • A strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
  • A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

In order to meet criteria for the diagnosis, the condition must also be associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

The DSM-5-TR defines gender dysphoria in children as a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, lasting at least 6 months, as manifested by at least six of the following (one of which must be the first criterion):

  • A strong desire to be of the other gender or an insistence that one is the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
  • In boys (assigned gender), a strong preference for cross-dressing or simulating female attire; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong preference for wearing only typical masculine clothing and a strong resistance to the wearing of typical feminine clothing
  • A strong preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe play or fantasy play
  • A strong preference for the toys, games or activities stereotypically used or engaged in by the other gender
  • A strong preference for playmates of the other gender
  • In boys (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically masculine toys, games, and activities and a strong avoidance of rough-and-tumble play; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically feminine toys, games, and activities
  • A strong dislike of one’s sexual anatomy
  • A strong desire for the physical sex characteristics that match one’s experienced gender

As with the diagnostic criteria for adolescents and adults, the condition must also be associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Bottom line…

My sympathy is with any individual that is distressed over their present circumstances.

What I am concerned with is that a segment of our society, the progressive communist democrats, is attempting to “groom” children to accept the normalcy of gender fluidity at a young age where the process of self-discovery is taking place. Trying to stage manage the development of children into a political process. Attempting to exploit the "girls are icky" phase to create homosexuals or the "I want to play with the boys" phase to create transgendered women.

We are so screwed up when we inject socio-sexual politics into our classrooms.

-- Steve

For those who may be in distress – “988” -- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


HOUSE MEMBERS NEED TO BE EXPELLED FOR EGREGIOUS VIOLATION

The release of former President Trump's tax returns is a two-edged sword...

1040

There is no doubt in my mind that Democrat members of the House Ways and Means Committee should be censured and expelled for violating their legislative and oversight responsibilities regarding the proposed public release of Donald Trump’s tax records.

  • Richard Neal
  • Lloyd Doggett
  • Mike Thompson
  • John Larson
  • Earl Blumenauer
  • Ron Kind
  • Bill Pascrell
  • Danny Davis
  • Linda Sánchez
  • Brian Higgins
  • Terri Sewell
  • Suzan DelBene
  • Judy Chu
  • Gwen Moore
  • Daniel Kildee
  • Brendan Boyle
  • Donald Beyer
  • Dwight Evans
  • Bradley Schneider
  • Thomas Suozzi
  • Jimmy Panetta
  • Stephanie Murphy
  • Jimmy Gomez
  • Steven Horsford
  • Stacey Plaskett

Absolutely no legislative purpose can be served at this late date, especially as the Committee’s leadership will be replaced on January 3, 2023. The Committee’s work does not require public disclosure of subpoenaed documents.

The documents were obtained under subpoena to further the Committee’s legislative and oversight responsibilities and evaluate the Internal Revenue Service’s mandatory audit program. It appears this was a false and misleading pretext for political advantage and to interfere with an upcoming presidential election.

Bullpucky…

WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE VOTES TO RELEASE INVESTIGATION OF THE IRS’S MANDATORY AUDIT PROGRAM UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION

“Ways and Means is entrusted with great responsibilities. Today, the weight of our job is heavy. Congress serves as a check on the Executive Branch, and our Committee is entrusted with oversight of our revenue system. We all come to Ways and Means with the goal of creating a fairer tax code. Because at the root of it all, it is our federal tax system that funds the democracy we all cherish and love.

[OCS: The tax code was created by legislators solely to bilk the public and grant carve-outs, loopholes, and benefits for lobbyist-represented individuals and organizations. Do you mean like the billions being sent to Ukraine and other counties around the world while Americans, especially in the inner cities, continue to suffer?]

“Our voluntary collection relies on the public confidence that our tax laws are applied evenly and justly, regardless of position or power. For four years, the Committee has been reviewing how the IRS enforces the federal tax laws against, and ensures compliance by, a president.

[OCS: Voluntary collection? Yeah, at gunpoint, imprisonment, or asset confiscation. The tax laws have never been applied evenly or fairly.]

A president is no ordinary taxpayer. They hold power and influence unlike any other American. And with great power comes even greater responsibility.

[OCS: If this is true, where is the investigation of the Biden grift?]

“We are only here today because four years ago, our request to learn more about the program under 6103 was denied. This was the first time that this key oversight function was hampered, and our Committee’s jurisdiction was challenged.

“The Committee expected that these mandatory audits were being conducted promptly and in accordance with IRS policies. However, our review found that under the prior Administration the program was dormant. We know now, the first mandatory audit was opened two years into his presidency. On the same day this Committee requested his returns.

“We anticipated the IRS would expand the mandatory audit program to account for the complex nature of the former president’s financial situation yet found no evidence of that. This is a major failure of the IRS under the prior administration, and certainly not what we had hope to find.

But the evidence is clear. Congress must step in. I’ve proposed legislation to put the program above reproach. Ensuring IRS conducts yearly, timely examinations while publicly disclosing certain information.

“Our work has always been to ensure our tax laws are administered fairly and without preference, because at times, even the power of a president can loom too large.”

[OCS: Who are the IRS employees being terminated for the lack of diligence in auditing the President’s returns? It is the U.S. Constitution that defines the power of the President, not Congress.]


Neal’s opening statement is available HERE.

The Committee’s report is available HERE, and JCT’s report (Attachment I) is available HERE.

Neal’s Presidential Tax Filings and Audit Transparency Act of 2022 (Attachment J).

Attachment A, Attachment B, Attachment C, Attachment D, Attachment F, Attachment G, & Attachment H.

Attachment E will be made available on the Committee’s website as soon as possible.

The vote to go into Executive Session was 23-16, and the vote to transmit the documents to the House was 24-16.

Bottom line…

This is an egregious, un-American political stunt that can be used in the future to coerce wealthy or influential individuals into doing the regime’s bidding, like bullying the tech oligarchs into censoring the news while promoting the regime’s narrative.

Democrats have long argued that President Trump’s taxes could provide necessary information about entanglements that could influence his decision-making. At the same time, the House members seem incurious about the tax returns of the Biden crime family and the sale of Biden’s influence to our enemies.

The appropriate remedy if the Committee takes no further action to stop this travesty is the censure and expulsion of Democrat Committee members or, if that is unlikely, removing them from all Committee assignments. In addition, there should be an immediate, detailed release of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s returns, President Biden's returns -- and including “all affiliated businesses.”

It took years for the IRS and New York State auditors to do their work. What are the chances the public will understand the underlying tax issues? It is my understanding that the Democrats want to portray Trump as a grifter worth far less than he claims. So what?

We are so screwed.

-- Steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


IS YOUR ENTERTAINMENT VENUE USING FACIAL RECOGNITION TO TRAP DANGEROUS ATTORNEYS?

We are now living in a surveillance nation that would have shocked even George Orwell, the author of the iconic book 1984.

Scan-x

New York-based entertainment corporation, MSG Entertainment, has apparently been caught using a facial recognition system to scan entertainment venues for perceived threats. – opposing attorneys!

Face Recognition Tech Gets Girl Scout Mom Booted From Rockettes Show — Due to Where She Works

When Kelly Conlon joined her daughter’s Girl Scout troop for a fun outing to see the Rockettes perform their Christmas Spectacular show at Radio City Music Hall in New York, she had no idea she would end up booted from the show once she entered the building.

Security stopped Conlon, NBC New York reported, because she is a New Jersey lawyer. It seems that Madison Square Garden Entertainment has begun using facial recognition technology to identify any visitor to any of its venues—including Radio City Music Hall—who is involved with any law firm that is actively involved in litigation against MSG Entertainment.

Conlon has never practiced law in New York nor personally been involved in litigation against MSG Entertainment. Instead, she is guilty by association, as an associate for Davis, Saperstein and Solomon, which has spent years tangled up in litigation against a restaurant that NBC reported is “now under the umbrella of MSG Entertainment.”

According to Conlon, she became aware of this supposed conflict of interest when security guards approached her in the Radio City Music Hall lobby just as she passed through the metal detector. Over the speakers, Conlon heard a warning about a woman in a gray scarf, then security confirmed the warning was about her, telling her, “Our recognition picked you up.”

Despite Conlon assuring security that “I’m not an attorney that works on any cases against MSG," she was escorted out. Ars could not immediately reach MSG for comment, but in a statement, MSG said the same thing would’ve happened to any attorney involved in her firm, claiming that her firm had been “notified twice” of MSG’s policy. <Source>

Unfortunately, the system appears to have a more surreptitious use than providing general security, identifying individuals associated with law firms having legal action against the company.

"MSG instituted a straightforward policy that precludes attorneys pursuing active litigation against the Company from attending events at our venues until that litigation has been resolved,” the statement provided to NBC said. “While we understand this policy is disappointing to some, we cannot ignore the fact that litigation creates an inherently adverse environment.” <Source>

However, the practice raises some disturbing questions.

(1)  Where do they proactively obtain facial recognition data to input into their system? Are they using pictures from sex offender databases or criminal registries, or do they purchase data from a third party?

(2)  How do they adequately maintain such a database, and how are errors and misidentifications corrected? 

(3)  Are they using facial recognition data for marketing or other internal purposes?

(4)  Are they selling facial recognition data to the government or third parties?

(5)  How long are video records and facial recognition data maintained?

(6)  Do individuals have a right to determine if they are in the database and see identifiers associated with their picture?

(7)  What is the legal remedy for innocent parties trapped by the company’s ‘big brother” policies?

Bottom line…

We are entering scary times and are being screwed by the politico-technological complex.

-- Steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


SCIENCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS

There comes a time when scholarly thought transcends mere ignorance and crosses the boundary of gross stupidity into hateful, racist ideology.

Physics-light

An unbelievable example of academic bullshittery…

Decolonizing Light: A Project Exploring Ways to Decolonize Physics
by Ingo Salzmann, Louellyn Whit e, Donna Kahérakwas Goodleaf, and Tanja Tajmel

In 2018, the Government of Canada established The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) to support high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research. In that framework, we, as a group of non- Indigenous and Indigenous scholars working in fields as different as Physics, First Peoples Studies, Decolonizing Curriculum and Pedagogy, as well as Science and Technology Studies, united to find common ground to explore the decolonization of physics.

[OCS: What has become of Canada where polite individuals with commonsense have turned into rabid political ideologues advancing an agenda based on economy and culture crippling socialism?

In science, especially physics and its language of mathematics, I was taught and continue to believe that there are only “researchers” who are seeking to understand our environment and its guiding principles through theoretical and experimental exploration. That class characteristics or political ideology associated with the researcher were irrelevant to the exploration of nature.

I was unaware that physics could be colonized, a process by which one power extends its reach to dominate surrounding lands and its peoples. If one really wanted to apply the analogy, it could be said that one group of powerful researchers could dominate scientific theories and thought to the exclusion of funding of other non-conforming research. But that ignores the reality that the entire realm of thought could be upset and overturned by one paper that falsified long-held beliefs  as per the scientific method.]

Here, we outline our motivation, our project rationale and concrete plans underlying our NFRF-funded project Decolonizing Light — Tracing and Countering Colonialism in Contemporary Physics, which we will pursue during the next three years.

Decolonization — Why physics, why light?

The aim of our project is exploring approaches to decolonize physics, of both its narratives and contemporary research.1 We decided to focus on physics, as this discipline plays a special role in the field of science due to its unique scientific authority. Physics is commonly regarded as the “most objective” and the “hardest” science, it fundamentally defines scientific key concepts such as energy, matter, force, light, space and time, for all the other sciences. It is the narrative of physics as objective and as socially independent that constitutes and stabilizes its knowledge authority in relation to all other knowledge systems.

[OCS: How do you honestly decolonize something that was never colonized except by using the trickery of changing definitions in a dishonest Orwellian manner? To allow this travesty is to corrupt and delegitimize science. ]

For our purpose, it is important to understand physics as a social field rather than as “pure knowledge” independent from social values and decisions. Physics is more than the laws that describe and predict natural phenomena: it is the overarching field of work with its societal dimension, its history, and the circumstances and purposes of physical knowledge production.

[OCS: Here, I call bullshit and impugn the malignant motives of the authors. Physics is not a social field, and its findings cannot be socialized and corrupted into a political ideology or agenda.]

A current example to be examined through a decolonizing lens is the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Mauna Kea mountain. Apart from its spiritual significance — in Hawaiian cosmology, Mauna Kea is the origin place of the Hawaiian people — the mountain is ecologically fragile.

Let us ask, what are the decision processes behind such projects?

How are such projects impacting Indigenous realities?

What are the values behind these decisions?

Whose values are privileged?

Decolonizing physics means to train and educate students to ask these questions and to examine them from diverse perspectives. This approach includes research of our own world views, as scientists. To identify “cultivated ignorance”, we will study scientists’ knowledge of and experiences with colonialism, and investigate textbooks and physics curricula, with which we hope to identify relevant blind spots and fill them with critical knowledge.

[OCS: Unbelievable! The first question that needs to be asked is simple – Is this the best site to observe the phenomena being studied, free from extraneous external electromagnetic influences? Secondarily, Is this site accessible and cost-effective to build, maintain, and operate such a facility? While a discussion about the cultural sensibilities surrounding the project’s siting may be desirable, there is no need to empower radical environmentalists and social justice warriors to exploit the issue in the media, run to the courts to stop the project using pre-arranged settlement agreements between activists in the government and activists on the ground, or to extract money or anything else of value from the research community.]

Read more (if you want to brave the academic bafflegab of the corrupt communist bullshitters)

 Bottom line…

In an era where academic freedom is conditioned or restrained by political ideology, I believe it is time to defund those institutions, projects, and principal investigators who churn out meaningless, self-serving academic nonsense as if it somehow advances the understanding of our universe.

I am not calling for censorship but the redirection of precious research funds into more productive avenues of inquiry. I am calling for the curtailment of activists that cut deals with other activists in the government to halt critical projects.

Even communists need non-ideological physics and mathematics to function.

We are so screwed when the progressive communist democrats attempt to empower themselves by injecting their corrupt and malignant ideology into man’s everyday affairs.

-- Steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE AWAY FREE LAPTOPS

Taking the next step after the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol has submitted criminal referrals to the Democrat-corrupted Department of Justice in their pathetic attempt to cockblock Donald Trump from a 2024 presidential run, President Joseph Biden, in “coordination” with big technology companies, has announced that the Biden Administration will be giving away free regime-approved laptops.

BIDEN-GIVEAWAY

To benefit from this great offer, you have to do absolutely nothing – they know where you are and will drop your new computer off wherever you may be through the miracle of real-time tracking.

Bottom line...

The progressive communist democrats had only sharpened the two-edged sword when they attempted to use this illegitimately constituted committee to thwart the protections guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution by criminalizing dissent and other political practices. 

The truth is that challenging an election is not an "obstruction of an official proceeding" but political maneuvering of which the Democrats are provably guilty. 

An "insurrection" has a particular meaning under the law, and the charge of "efforts to incite, assist, or aid or comfort an insurrection." does not fit Trump's actions despite Democrat caterwauling. 

"Conspiracy to make a false statement" can be found in almost every discussion among the leadership of the Democrat Party and all of their cadre of useful idiots. 

As for "conspiracy to defraud the United States," this is the entire modus operandi of the Democrat Party.

Pre-impeachment hoax #3 is another “nothing-burger” except in the legacy and social media where it drives audience-generated revenue.

Just asking -- Why can’t liar, leaker Adam Schiff, the Bolshevik of Burbank, be charged similarly?

We are so screwed.

-- Steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


REST IN PEACE "P2"

Unfortunately, the iconic mountain lion known as “P2” had to be put down for health reasons.

P2-rip

I am fortunate to live near where the mountain lions roam free and can occasionally be seen near major roads. To help preserve the mountain lions that roam nearby in the Santa Monica Mountains, Caltrans is constructing a freeway land bridge over the 101 Freeway so animals can roam freely without being struck by vehicles.

Animal-crossing-mountain-lion-3227671083

Bottom line…

With all the corruption and crap in California, it remains one of the greatest places on Earth to live.

-- Steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS


THE CALIFORNIA DIET: ELIMINATING FAST FOODS BY FIAT

Pissed off big time…

Just drove through a local fast-food restaurant and dropped $41.12. Drugs are now cheaper than food.

Burger

Once again, the progressive communist democrats who govern California with the fist of a union-driven single party have illustrated the not-so-golden picture of California’s hostile business climate …

It seems California’s politicians are willing to overlook the overwhelming adverse effects of minimum wage laws on workers, businesses, and the overall economy of California.

  • There is no doubt that California’s new minimum wage laws will increase the cost of labor for businesses, leading to higher prices for goods and services, reduced profits for companies, a loss of jobs, and a rise in bankruptcies.
  • Many businesses will choose to reduce their number of employees and the number of hours worked by their existing staff to offset the increased labor costs. Unemployment and reduced wages are the inevitable outcomes of feel-good minimum wage increases set by politicians who are immune from the consequences of their actions.
  • Minimum wage laws will limit the ability of businesses to negotiate wages with individual workers, which can reduce flexibility and potentially lead to serious staffing issues when salaries are compared. Increases for seniority and superior performance are less likely to be voluntarily awarded.
  • Small businesses, such as mom-and-pop restaurants, are disproportionately affected by minimum wage increases, as they have limited margins to absorb the increased labor costs.
  • Minimum wage increases are inflationary as businesses pass on the increased labor costs to consumers through higher prices.
  • Higher labor costs may lead businesses to reduce product quality, training, and advancement opportunities for workers to maintain profitability.
  • Part-time teenagers seeking summer work or temporary employment are forced out of the market by adults competing for the same jobs.

The progressive communist democrats are selling the increased minimum wage as a benefit to the hoard of illegal aliens crossing our Southern border and the benefits of reducing poverty and increasing the purchasing power of low-wage workers to their naïve, entitlement-driven base.

How bad will it be?

It seems that “woke math” supersedes simple arithmetic in California– multiply 40 hours per week times 52 weeks, and you will fund the average worker will work 2080 hours. Now multiply those 2080 hours times the new minimum wage of $15.50, and you will get a total of $32,240 before any benefits such as healthcare, etc. Now please tell me how you justify paying $32,000+ for a burger flipper without grossly inflating the cost of a hamburger.

California Minimum Wage Increases for 2023

Effective January 1, 2023, California employers must meet new minimum wage requirements at the state and local levels. This increase in the minimum wage affects non-exempt employees and the minimum annual salary requirement for overtime-exempt employees.

Increase and Consolidation of the California Minimum Wage

Previously, the State of California employed a two-tiered minimum wage system, requiring employers with 25 or more employees to pay a higher minimum wage than employers with fewer than 25 employees. Beginning on January 1, 2023, all employers, regardless of size, must provide their employees with a minimum wage of not less than $15.50 per hour.

Increase to the Annual Minimum Salary for Overtime-Exempt Employees

California law provides that overtime-exempt employees must receive a salary that is not less than two times the state minimum wage. In light of the new increase to the state minimum wage, effective January 1, 2023, the minimum annual salary for overtime-exempt employees will also increase to $64,480.

A Higher Minimum Wage for Employees Working in “woke” California Cities

Select California cities will raise the minimum wage for non-exempt employees working within city limits. Non-exempt employees working within one of these cities must be paid the local minimum wage when greater than the California state minimum wage. However, overtime-exempt employees working in one of these cities need not be paid more than the California state minimum annual salary of $64,480. 

“Woke” Jurisdiction - Minimum Wage Rate

  • Belmont - $16.75/hour
  • Burlingame - $16.47/hour
  • Cupertino- $17.20/hour
  • Daly City - $16.07/hour
  • East Palo Alto - $16.50/hour
  • El Cerrito - $17.35/hour
  • Foster City - $16.50/hour
  • Half Moon Bay - $16.45/hour
  • Hayward - $16.34/hour (26 or more employees)/$15.50/hour (1-25 employees)
  • Los Altos - $17.20/hour
  • Menlo Park - $16.20/hour
  • Mountain View - $18.15/hour
  • Novato - $16.32/hour (100 or more employees, including people employed outside the city)/$16.07/hour (26-99 employees)/$15.53/hour (1-25 employees)
  • Oakland - $15.97/hour
  • Palo Alto - $17.25/hour
  • Petaluma - $17.06/hour
  • Redwood City - $17.00/hour
  • Richmond - $16.17/hour
  • San Carlos - $16.32/hour
  • San Diego - $16.30/hour
  • South San Francisco $16.70/hour
  • San Jose - $17.00/hour
  • San Leandro (Current $15.00/hour rate expected to increase on 1/1/23, as it will be below the state minimum wage.)
  • San Mateo - $16.75/hour
  • Santa Clara - $17.20/hour
  • Santa Rosa - $17.06/hour
  • Sonoma - $17.00/hour (26 or more employees, including those working outside the city)/$16.00/hour (1-25 employees)
  • Sunnyvale - $17.95/hour
  • West Hollywood - $17.50/hour (50 or more employees)/$17/hour (1-49 employees)

Bottom line…

When will the ignorant, stupid, and “woke” Californians get the message? Our corrupt legislators are wining, dining, and pocket-lining as they kill California’s golden goose to turn California into a Mexican socialist paradise governed by the elites who plunder “We the People,” knowing their union stormtroopers will stuff the ballot boxes if necessary.

We are so screwed.

-- Steve


“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS