Joe

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

Interesting statistic. My wife is age 70. Her Medicare premiums plus the premiums for a Medicare supplement policy ( G) now exceed 70% of her Social Security benefit. And for those in the know, 85% of that benefit is also federally taxed.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

@zipjet @DrJStrategy It appears the Federal Reserve exists secondarily to attempt to manipulate the yield curve and primarily to enable massive and excessive Federal Government expenditures.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

I heard the Federal Reserve is to double the purchase of long dated Federal securities. I wonder what they will use to purchase them?

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

@CernBasher Excellent article.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

@xxChessMaster K to g5

[Kevin Bass @kevinnbass]

The Nazis and the Soviets did not kill each other because the Soviets were socialists and the Nazis opposed socialism

They killed each other because they were all socialists and socialists kill each other -- that is what socialists do

Russian Mensheviks and Bolsheviks killed each other

German social democrats, communists, and Nazis killed each other

Nazis killed Nazis

Bolsheviks killed Bolsheviks

Socialists want power -- lust for power is at the core of socialism

Socialists thus always end up killing each other, and themselves

Nazis and Bolsheviks were typical for socialists

They did not kill each other because Soviets were socialists and Nazis were fighting socialism

They killed each other because they were all socialists, and killing is what socialism leads to

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

@zipjet $TGTX. While that may be correct, TGTX management apparently doesn't think so. Non cash comp in first half of 2026 was $47,825,000 a 52.6% increase over the $31,333,000 non cash compensation in the first half of 2025.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

$TGTX. Consistent with the actual results for the 1st half results and the full year projections of management, it appears that the EPS results for the 2nd half should, at least, in aggregate, be equal to $.75. This assumes that the Board can find some moral backbone to limit, not even stop, granting the egregious amounts of stock compensation that has been their past practice.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

$TGTX. It appears TGTX is being quite conservative by projecting 2026 revenue at $950M. Last year the growth in revenue 3rd Q over 2nd Q was 14.6%. 4th Q over 3rd quarter was 19.1%. Just projecting 7% growth Q over Q for the final two quarters gives revenue of $978M. 10% gives $1.0B.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

I don’t think the problem is misreading speed limits. The problem is they pay no attention to them and only follow the speed limits provided by their maps. And in rural Missouri the map speed limits are terrible. They need to follow actual speed limit signs and only use map speed limits when the cameras cannot identify the speed limit on the sign.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

@zipjet $TGTX. Outstanding shares dropped from 160,062K last quarter to 157,282K this quarter.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

@jabrelolar @DonnaAnnleffler $TGTX. From my spreadsheet. And I may be entirely wrong. Like many long term investors, I hope the results are much better than I expect.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

$TGTX. No. We will see Monday, but the last month’s stock price action suggests the shorts know exactly what they are doing. Just as has been the case prior to earnings release for the last x quarters. All the positives have been highlighted ad nauseum so there is little possibility for positive surprise.

[Divinely Designed @DivinelyDesined]

Creationists actually DO believe small changes add up over time.

Evolutionists don't understand the arguments we're making.

They cliam that if we accept MICROevolutionary change, we must also accept MACROevolutionary change.

They like to use the analogy, "It's like saying you can walk a mile, but you can't walk across the country."

This is a stupid analogy.

Their contention is, if we accept small changes happen, what is there stopping these small changes accruing into larger changes over time?

But this is not the argument Creationists are making.

We're not saying there is a specific mechanism that stops changes accruing over time.

Creationists actually DO believe small changes add up over time.

Here is the contention:
Mutations don't add up to create new things.

Mutations destroy, they don't construct.

Mutations add up over time and cause decay in the genome, leading to sickness and overall lower fitness.

The issue is evolution needs to be able to construct entirely new genes, proteins, cell types, organs, limbs, and entire biological systems.

But random mutations can't engineer these systems.

No observed evidence exists anywhere showing how evolution builds new biological systems.

Biological systems have attributes, such as functional information and specified complexity, which has only ever been observed to originate from intelligence.

So the question is not, "What stops mutations from accruing?"

The question is, "What do mutations actually do?"

And the answer is, they destroy. They don't create.

Only intelligence creates.

Life was Divinely Designed.

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

From your comments I assume my 3 main issues are not yet addressed: (1). Potholes, etc; (2) stopping at white line in subdivision exit gates where gate opens inward; and, (3) overriding incorrect map speed limits when the cameras can clearly see the correct posted speed limit (in rural Missouri the map speed limits are atrociously incorrect).

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

@ImShahinyan K to a2

[Joe @Pilot310actuary]

This is the stupidest thing I have read that you have said. The U.S. should have made the change in the 1950s, the decade in which I was born. Now at age 71 I am studying thermodynamics and it frustrates me to have to waste time doing problems in the British system in addition to the system in which all educated people are versant.

[Brent Money @brentmoney]

“We are NOT a Christian nation!”
“Separation of church and state!”
“Benjamin Franklin was a deist!”

On this date, June 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin delivered his famous “Prayer Speech” at the Constitutional Convention.

This is the one where Franklin, amid deadlocks and frustrations in the Convention, implored the delegates to begin sessions with prayer, acknowledging human limitations and seeking divine assistance. Here is the full transcript (from James Madison’s notes and standard historical sources, with minor spelling normalizations for readability):

Mr. President:
The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other—our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.—Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and byword down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move—that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.

[Robert A. J. Gagnon @RobertAJGagnon1]

Bill Kristol, 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧 (𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐯 𝟏𝟗:𝟑𝟑-𝟑𝟒) 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 "𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮" 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭.

"Foreigners [including the 𝘯𝘦𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘳, 𝘯𝘰𝘬𝘳𝘪, 𝘻𝘢𝘳] had few rights in ancient Israel (Exod 12:43; Deut 15:2-3; 17:15; 23:20), in contrast to the sojourner (𝘨𝘦𝘳), who ... was subject to and protected by the law (e.g., Exod 12:19, 48ff.; Num 9:14; Deut 31:12)" (𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘋𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 2:478).

See further James K. Hoffmeier's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘴 (Crossway, 2009; Hoffmeier is an OT professor emeritus from Trinity U International). According to Hoffmeier:

//𝘡𝘢𝘳 and 𝘯𝘦𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘳 indeed refer to foreigners or visitors, people passing through a foreign land. But 𝘨𝘦𝘳 or the verb 𝘨𝘸𝘳, which together occur more than 160 times in the OT, refer to foreign residents who live in another land with the permission of a host.

//A good example of this is found in Genesis when Joseph asks permission of pharaoh for his family to move to Egypt (Gen. 45:16-18). When they arrived, the brothers asked pharaoh if they could sojourn in the land (Gen. 47:1-4), and Pharaoh allotted them a section of the land of Goshen or Rameses (Gen. 47:5-7).

//The law is clear that 𝘨𝘦𝘳 is not to be oppressed, but to receive equal justice, and have access to the social support system of ancient Israel…. The 𝘨𝘦𝘳 in Israelite society, for instance, could receive social benefits such as the right to glean in the fields (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22) and they could receive resources from the tithes (Deuteronomy 26:12-13). In legal matters, “there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before Yahweh. One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you” (Numbers 15:15-16). In the area of employment, the 𝘨𝘦𝘳 and citizen were to be paid alike (Deuteronomy 24:14-15). In all these cases, no such provision is extended to the 𝘯𝘦𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘳 or 𝘻𝘢𝘳….

//It is well known that within Israelite society, money was not to be lent with interest, but one could loan at interest to a foreigner (𝘯𝘦𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘳). These passages from the Law make plain that aliens or strangers received all the benefits and protection of a citizen, whereas the foreigner (𝘯𝘦𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘳) did not. It is wrong, therefore, to confuse these two categories of foreigners and then to use passages regarding the 𝘨𝘦𝘳 as if they were relevant to illegal immigrants of today.//

//And there was a provision for religious inclusion (of the 𝘨𝘦𝘳), but they were also obligated to live in accordance with the laws just like the Israelites…. In a sense, the 𝘨𝘦𝘳 were not just aliens to whom social and legal protections were offered, but were also considered converts, and thus could participate in the religious life of the community, e.g. celebrate Passover (Exodus 12:13) and observe Yom Kippur, the day of atonement (Leviticus 16:29-30). They were, moreover, expected to keep dietary and holiness laws (Leviticus 17:8-9 & 10-12).//

// The mistake of some well-meaning Christians [and Jews] is to apply the biblical laws for the ger to illegal aliens in America even though they do not fit the biblical legal and social definition.//

If you are in the US illegally, which is a criminal violation, the honorable thing to do would be to return to your country and apply to become a citizen of the United States through legal channels, including, if need be, application for asylum.

The US government has a right as a sovereign nation to determine how many people, properly vetted, may be allowed in the country on an annual basis. We already naturalize a half million or more new citizens each year. It is not as if the US is not already a generous nation in taking in many from around the world.

There is absolutely no verse in Scripture that requires us as a nation to let in not only the hundreds of thousands each year through legal channels but also everybody in the world who wants to sneak into this country illegally--all the more so in the era of the welfare state that guarantees those in it a minimum income, food and housing welfare subsidies, and medical care.

We simply can't take in the over 800 million people around the world who live in *extreme* poverty. And those whom we should least take in are those who show disrespect for our laws from the get-go by entering illegally.