A Theology Test For Easter Weekend

What better way to get people- even blog readers-  to focus on Easter Weekend than a Theology exam?  And not any old basic exam but one prepared by the Jesuits at Loyola University, New Orleans.

Below, a 1964  final exam from a Loyola University 1st year course. Can't figure out an answer to the question? Enter the question in Google AI mode and be amazed at the comprehensive nature of the response. Then pack the answer away for future reference.

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1. Estimate the percentage of the Qumran scrolls that are copies of books of the Bible. Of which proto-canonical books were there copies or fragments? Of which deutero-canonical books? Define each type of book, making clear any unfamiliar terms.

2. WHY are the Qumran scrolls of such great importance? Why would it be erroneous to conclude that these scrolls provide us with the original reading of the New Testament books?

3.What aids did biblical scholars already possess toward reconstructing the original reading of the Old Testament books? How have the discoveries at Qumran enhanced the value of the Septuagint translation as a reliable aid for reconstructing the original reading of the Old Testament that appears in the scrolls?

4. How (not how much) have the Qumran scrolls contributed to our knowledge of the history of Judaism? What caution(s) must we keep in mind when reconstructing Israelite history from these scrolls?

5. Three fourths of the Dead Sea Scrolls are writings composed by the Essenes themselves, treating their religious views and way of life. What have we learned from them about the Essenes' beliefs to do with the "angel of light" and the "angel of darkness"? What have we learned about their beliefs concerning the Messiah?

6. Discuss the moral views and practices of the Qumran sectarians as they might have impacted their texts-scrolls. Give at least two specific examples and expand on them at length, including likely copyist errors.

7. Half the original manuscript witness sources, including a Bodmer papyrus and Beza's Codex, omit the last line (accorded to Jesus) from Luke 23:33-34. What does this omission convey concerning the textual tradition of this sentence? What general caution does this provide concerning exegesis for the synoptic gospels in general?

8. Some Protestant biblical scholars used to hold that St. John's Gospel could not possibly have been written by a Jewish Christian living at the time of Christ. They asserted it was more likely written in the 2nd or 3rd century A.D., because of the terminology and ideas in St. John's Gospel reflecting an abstract dualistic theology (e.g. emphasizing the conflict between light and darkness).

Explain how the Qumran documents smashed this theory. Why would Jesus (as reported in his speeches in St. John's Gospel) have used such terminology and ideas?

9.  Discuss fully the new insight for interpreting the 'Epistle to the Hebrews' which we get from the Qumran scrolls.

10. The word "mystery" (Greek 'musterion': 'what is known only to the initiated') occurs twenty seven times in the official New Testament and almost all these occurrences demonstrate the "secret infrastructure of a nascent cult". Further, a careful reading of the Pauline Epistles, and Gospels (supplemented by modern documentary discoveries- such as at Qumran) shows Christianity began as a mystery religion, replete with initiations, secrets and multiple levels of indoctrination.

The 'mystagogoue' element is also very evident in passages such as 1 Cor. 2:6 ff.

Explain the nature of a "mystery religion". Do you concur that Christianity - from the scriptural elements, passages noted- qualifies as such? Why or why not? If the negative, provide an alternative exegesis to make sense of 1 Cor. 2:6 ff.

Revisiting Elliptic Curves and Their Rational Points

 

                      Example of an elliptic curve under study for rational points

       Example 2 of an elliptic curve. Can you identify its rational points?


In an earlier post from 2010 , e.g.

http://brane-space.blogspot.com/2010/04/looking-at-groups.html


I noted the definition for an Abelian group, in respect of the commutative property i.e. Only if there exist elements a, b Î G such that (a · b) = (b · a), then G is said to be an Abelian Group.   According to Mordell ('On the rational solutions of the indeterminate equation of the third and fourth degrees', Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical society, Vol. 21 (1922), 179),

The set E(Q) of rational points of an elliptic curve E defined over Q (the set of rational numbers) forms a finitely generated Abelian group such that:

E(Q) = Z^r  ⊕ E(Q)tor

for some non-negative integer r and finite Abelian group E(Q)tor.  Where  'tor' denotes the torsion subgroup.

In general,  elliptic curves can be considered in long or short Weierstrass form. For the former, we know an elliptic curve over Q is isomorphic to the projective closure of the zero locus of the equation:

y²  + a1 xy  + a3y =  x³      + a2 x²   +  a4 x + a6

But when defining a nonsingular curve the preceding can be transformed over Q to the short form:

y²  =   x³    +  Ax   +  B


for A, B   Î Q   with non-zero discriminant   D = -16 (4 A³  +   27 B² )

N.B. The non-vanishing of the discriminant ensures the curve is nonsingular.

And we say the elliptic curve given by the short form has height coordinate maximum:

h (E) =   max (4 |A|³ ,   27 B²)

Consider now two examples of elliptic equations with graphs for subsets of the real points shown above.  These are:

1) y²  =   x³     –       x  

And:

2) y²  =   x³     –     x  +  1

For each curve we can apply the short form for the Weierstrass equation. Thus, for (1) we have:    A = -1  and B = 0

Then the discriminant :   D = -16 (4 A³   +  27 B² ) =   -16( 4 (-1)³    + 0) = 64

The height is:  h (E) =   max (4 |A|³ ,   27 B²) =  4 |(-1)|³ , 0   = 4, 0

For (2) we have: A = -1  and B = 1

Then the discriminant :   D = -16 [4 A³   +  27 (1)^2]  =   -16[ 4 (-1)³    + 27]

=   [64 +   27(-16)]  =  [ 64 +   (-432)]  = -368

The height coordinates maximum is:   h (E) =   max (4 |A|³ ,   27 B²) =  4 |(-1)|³     = 4, 27

One peculiarity of such elliptic curves as noted by Ho (Bull. American Math Soc., Jan., 2014, p. 27) is that the elliptic curves occur in two separate domains: the complex points of an elliptic curve make up a one-holed torus, or "genus 1" curve, i.e. like a donut or torus given the genus specifies the number of "holes" or handles. Meanwhile, the real points are smooth curves in R²  with one or two components (compare the graphs shown above)

The "group law" applies, as Ho notes (ibid.) such that the set of solutions in a given field forms a group.

Ho goes on to say that "the group structure on the points of an elliptic curve uses the point 0 at infinity as the identity element and is most easily described geometrically."  Ho gives an example of this which I leave for the energized reader to actually work out using the curve shown in (2). His prescription, which the reader may use as a guide is:

"Construct the line L through any two points P1 and P2 such that they intersect a third point P3, by direct calculation or using Bezout's theorem, e.g. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9zout's_theorem

The vertical line through P3 then intersects another point on the elliptic curve which is the composition P1 + P2 of P1 and P2"

Further elaborating (ibid.):

"In other words the three intersection points P1, P2, and P3 of any line L with the elliptic curve sum to the identity in the group law.(The identity point 0 may be one of these points,  e.g. a vertical line intersects 0, a point P and its negative. Moreover, if P1 and P2 are rational points then the line L has rational slope, so P1 + P2 is also a rational point."

To get the interested math reader started, you may use as point P1 the vertex of the curve shown in (2)

Suggested Problems:

1) Sketch more of the elliptic curve (2) such that the section is shown for:

 x = 4, y = ?   (Complete)

2) Use the short Weierstrass form to generate another elliptic curve and graph it. Then obtain the discriminant and ensure it is non-vanishing. Thence obtain h(E).

Higher Tax Wealth Flight Is Irrational Given We Know Higher Tax Rates Generate Higher Productivity

 

                                 Burgeoning numbers of the Ultra-wealthy (WSJ, 3/28)

"Trump's war is causing unintended problems -- excessive military spending at the expense of most social programs. Considering that Trump, rich politicians, and billionaires rarely pay much (if any) taxes, the rest of us will be footing the bill. Considering the number of hospitals already teetering on the edge, this huge increase in defense is ridiculous -- and all because Trump's delusions and tantrums have led to Congress to allow him start a war to soothe his ego." - WaPo comment

The March 28-29 WSJ Editorial (p. A12): 'The Higher Tax Wealth Flight Continues' ) was eye-opening but did not convert me from my existing position that cutting tax rates for high income people douses productivity. Yet, according to the Journal:

"As Democrats across the country seek to raise income taxes, the IRS on Friday released new data on state income migration that is a reality check on their ambitions. Even after the pandemic high tax states continue to lose tens of billions of dollars in taxable income to low tax states."

The bejabbering WSJ editors than lay it on:

"By comparison, all states without an income tax besides Alaska gained income from inter-state migration, including Florida ($20.6 billion).'

Maybe before jumping into this drivel, the WSJ's mavens ought to have inquired why Florida is experiencing significant reverse migration. This after all the wealthy newcomers learned what many of us (former Floridians) knew: the state isn't for everyone - especially if you like efficient public services and hate excessive heat and humidity as well as overpaying for insurance.  Not to mention the bulk of available jobs are low productivity.  

The sad and sobering fact? Rising home and fuel costs, extreme summer heat, high insurance premiums, and, severe traffic congestion are driving a significant "reverse migration" of new residents out of Florida. Data from 2025 indicates more people were leaving Florida than moving in, with many relocating to the Midwest, Colorado, and the Northeast, reversing the pandemic-era boom.

How 'bout them apples, WSJ?

But seriously, if the WSJ editors had their heads less in the clouds of capitalism and more in reality, they might back off from the incessant yen to diss higher tax locations.  Recall here,  all tax cut "job creation" tripe emerged out of  "Supply Side Theory" which was actually invented by one Arthur Laffer, in 1974, when he purportedly drew a curve on a paper napkin at a restaurant, e.g.

 

and announced he'd found a "new theory that generates wealth" while it cuts income (tax). (See, e.g. James Medoff and Andrew Harless, The Indebted Society, 1995, p. 84, 'Let Them Eat Cake'.)

The curve, as Medoff and Harless noted, purported to show the relation between tax rates and revenues. A tax rate of zero naturally produces no revenue. As taxes rise from zero, revenues rise in tandem. But as the rates rise, they discourage the activities being taxed. So at some point, discouragement predominates in the curve. (Laffer showed this with a splash of catsup over the top of his curve, on the napkin.)

In fact, when Medoff and Harless removed the catsup stain from the graph, and looked at actual data, they found (p. 87) that "high tax rates are associated with higher productivity growth" There is a consistent and strong relationship. Moreover this relationship is historical, over decades and hence evidence -based, unlike Bush, Reagan and Romney's "tax cuts create jobs" malarkey! By contrast, for the years when supply side dogma held,  and tax cuts were implemented, productivity retreated by more than 30% and debt exploded- exactly the opposite of what we've been sold.

Based on Medoff and Harless' data, one can offhand predict that within four years of eliminating ALL the Bush - Trump tax cuts (middle class and for the wealthiest) our national productivity will enhance at least 25% and our GDP will actually GROW by 4-5% per year instead of the paltry 1-2% we've been seeing. Removing ALL the tax cuts will also stabilize the tax landscape and remove business uncertainty making corporations (still sitting on nearly $2.4 trillion in capital) invest not only in plant but labor! This labor investment is what will then drive the job creation!

Another aspect concerns the issue of percentage of GDP used for defense. For those who may not have been following all the recent news, the Trumpers have been pushing a number of European - NATO countries to boost military-defense spending.  Many have refused, including Spain's President Pedro Sanchez, because they grasp such a boost would force them to reduce social spending. 

Even here in the U.S. we've known for decades that any increase in Pentagon spending limits the taxes allocated for critical social programs like Medicare, Social Security. Indeed, in a 2002 PBS NOW interview with Bill Moyer, former Pentagon Finance Analyst Chuck Spinney noted every increase of defense spending past a 2 percent of GDP threshold risked the stability of Social Security, Medicare.  In his words, any such increase:

"was nothing less than a war on domestic programs, including Social Security and Medicare".

The so-called European "welfare states" (a term invented by WSJ cowboy capitalists) know this which is why they are not interested in "boosting" defense spending.  

By contrast, the orange buffoon in the WH now wants to increase defense spending by 40 percent -  to $1.5 trillion (WSJ, today 'Trump’s Budget Breakthrough for Defense'). This budget proposal, if passed, would put an even bigger target on Social Security and Medicare. (Especially if Dems don't win back the House to control Trump's militaristic spending insanity.)

The misfit wackjob recently has gone so far as to say the government ought to stop funding Medicare as well as childcare across the board, to focus on his war of choice with Iran. Oblivious to the fact he will only obliterate more taxpayer dollars that can help millions afford healthcare (as well as childcare and senior care) instead. 

Trump says government should stop funding Medicare, daycare to focus on war

Trump, like too many of his ilk, believe any tax money for public services is wasted, or "welfare". When in fact the Preamble to the Constitution itself notes that "promotes the General welfare" is one of the core purposes.  NOT military welfare or Dotard welfare!

In a Nov. 10, 2025 post I exposed how Oprah herself was as brainwashed about the value of higher taxes to support public services, or what constitutes "socialism" in this country'

This was in one episode of her eponymous show when she raised the misbegotten fear of socialism and the welfare state taking hold in the U.S., earning a robust response from two Danish citizens, e.g.:

Oprah got perfect response from Danish woman about their social welfare state PRESCIENT!

As Oprah rambled on about "socialism" with a fearful expression, the two Danish woman on Skype quickly informed her:

 "We think of it as being civilized. As taking care of each other...the elderly, the sick."   

The Danes had clearly exposed Oprah's brainwashing - and Oprah is not a dumb American.  But this same brainwashing is endemic in too many other Americans as well, infected with the rugged individualist bunkum.

The Danes response ties directly into higher taxation as opposed to tax cuts. Because democratic socialist nations use higher taxation - across the board not just on the rich - to make available the funding for public services whether education (free) or medical, or child care.  

In other words, their citizens - unlike too many Americans- understand you don't get something for nothing. Want free education, including up to college, free health care like in Canada, free child care like in Norway? Then you need to be willing to pay the higher taxes to fund them.  This is summed up in the highlight box below - from the exchange with the Danes:

So high taxation, often linked to socialism in this country, is really about having a civilized nation than a barbaric, i.e. 'dog eat dog' nation. Nor is this un-American. It was Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. who first said:

"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society."

Which was intended to justify taxation as investment in public goods. There is no reason why this cannot be implemented here in the US of A given the latest WSJ article (March 28-29, p. 2A): 'Gains by the Superrich Alter the Economy', noting:

"The number of Americans worth tens of millions  of dollars has boomed in the past few decades thanks to a rising stock market, lucrative private investments, and swelling valuations for small and midsize businesses."

But most Americans have not benefited for whatever reason. (I.e. "The wealthiest 10 percent account for 50% of consumer spending") Most can still not afford to buy a first home, far less a 2nd or 3rd, nor can they afford child care, or college. It is past time to share that wealth - via taxation on the "superrich" segment - as I am sure Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. would advocate too.

See Also:

Armed Forces | Economic Policy

Trump’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Make US Weaker

by William Hartung | April 4, 2026 - 4:49am | permalink

It has been reported that the Pentagon on Friday will release a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 of almost $1.5 trillion, with approximately $1.15 trillion in discretionary spending contained in the department’s regular annual budget and an additional $350 billion dependent on Congress including it in a separate budget reconciliation bill.

Whatever vehicles the administration chooses to promote this huge increase, it will be doubling down on a failed budgetary and national security strategy. If passed as requested, $1.5 trillion in Pentagon spending—in a single year–will make America weaker by underwriting a misguided strategy, funding outmoded weapons programs, and crowding out other essential public investments.

The current war in the Middle East is a case study in the ineffectiveness of an overreliance on military force in seeking to make America or the world a safer place. In his first term, President Trump abandoned a multilateral agreement that was effectively blocking Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon. Six years later, in his second term, the president initially justified his disastrous intervention against Iran as being motivated by fears of that very same program.

» article continues...

And:

A day in the life of a child-free Coloradan — and the child care that makes it possible

Excerpt:

Due to availability or cost, 91,590 Colorado children can’t access child care — nearly one-quarter of all kids under 5 — and 40,000 parents report having made career changes to accommodate a lack of care. When they can get it, families pay, on average, $15,000 per child each year to place their kids in licensed facilities. Single parents can spend nearly half their take-home pay finding somewhere safe for their children to be during the day.

Brane Space: New Polls Show Most 'Muricans Don't Want To Pay For A Decent Health Care System

And:

All You Need To Know About The 'Big, Beautiful Abomination' - And Why It Must Be Slain In The House

And:

   

• "America's Debt Disease" - Blame Huge Tax Cuts And Defense Spending...

And:

• Americans Need to Get Over Their Tax Aversion!

Solution to Mensa Circle With Analytic Geometry Problem

 

The general equation of a circle is:

 (x - a) ² -  (y - b) ² =  r ²

^{Where (a, b) denotes the coordinate of the center, and r is the radius. See e.g.}

• Seen 'Hidden Figures'? Here's A Look At Analytic Geometry.

^{For the circle in the problem, defined by:}

(x - 132) ² -  (y - 132) ² = 24, 649  

The center is at:  (132, 132)  and the radius is:

Ö 24, 649   =    157

Then:  AO =  157

But the horizontal distance from A to O (see reconstructed diagram) is 132.

By the Pythagorean theorem:

(Vertical distance from A to O)^{2    + (132) 2 =   (157) 2}     = 7, 225

Then:  Vertical distance from A to O  =   Ö 7, 225  =  85

Now,  <ACM  and  < ACN  are inscribed angles with both =  p/4  radians

The inscribed angle theorem states:

An inscribed angle is equal to one half the central angle that intercepts the same arc.

Therefore:  <ACM  =  ½  < AOM

And:  <ACN = ½  < AOM   +   < AOM

=  <AON  =    p/2  radians

NM is a diameter (in the reconstructed circle) since <AON and <AOM are on opposite sides of  AO  and < AOM + < AON =  p   radians

NM is perpendicular to AO, since < AOM and < AON are p/2  radians relative to AO.

Then:  The slope of AC =  85/ 132

The slope of NM =  132/ 85

M coordinates are: (132 + 85, 132 + 132) = (217, 264)

N coordinates are: (132 - 85, 132 - 132) = (47, 0)

Christian Nationalist Warmongers Schooled By Pope Leo That Their Prayers for Holy War Are "Rejected By God"

 

Pope Leo consoles child after delivering Palm Sunday anti war sermon

Pope Leo XIV on Palm Sunday wasn't having any of Pete Hegseth's pro-war payer blather when he delivered his sermon.  The Pope made it clear God was not on the side of the white nationalist warmongers inhabiting the Trump administration as they wage their illegal war and hope for outside benediction.

Recall Hegseth, an unqualified termite that Pentagon insiders have dubbed "the dumbo McNamara' , spouted in an interview with CBS News’s “60 Minutes”  that "God" was on the side of the U.S. aggressors and warmongers, yapping:

“The providence of our almighty God is there protecting those troops, and we’re committed to this mission.”

But Pope Leo XIV during a Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square,  had different ideas backed up by actual theology. Indeed, Leo delivered an unusually forceful condemnation of war as the conflict with Iran entered its second month. Speaking to tens of thousands of worshippers, the pontiff said Jesus cannot be used to justify violence and cited a biblical passage saying "God will not listen to prayers from those whose hands are full of blood.”

The pope did not name specific political leaders but has steadily sharpened his criticism of Trump's war in recent weeks, repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire. He also lamented that Christians in the Middle East were suffering the consequences of what he described as an “atrocious” conflict and warned that some may not be able to fully observe Easter.

Leo's words in his sermon were words even a bozo like Pete Hegseth could grasp:

"Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”

Leo emphasized that Jesus rejected violence even at the moment of his arrest, referencing a biblical account in which Christ rebuked a follower for drawing a sword.

“He did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war"  adding that "Jesus instead revealed a God who “always rejects violence.”

Can Hegseth, Trump and their war monger evangelicals pining for Armageddon understand that? I doubt it. In fact, in one of his demented Trash Social posts early Monday, Trump himself proved he wasn't on the side of a deity - Christian or other - so all those prayers mean no more than an ounce of lickspittle. Specifically, Trump, aka Hitler Junior, wrote :

“If for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched,’”

But as NY Times national security columnist W.J. Hennigan observed ('America is Abandoning Morality'):

"Trump’s ultimatum is a contemptible departure from the restraint that most wartime presidents have strived for. The bombing campaign Mr. Trump described holds the potential to affect millions of Iranian civilians, inflicting long-term consequences on their access to water, electricity and other necessities. Such an attack order should never be given — in public or private.

His proposal, if acted upon, would almost certainly amount to a war crime."

Hennigan goes on after quoting a Professor Robert Goldman in The War Crimes Research Office at American University:

"This glorification of carnage has been echoed in the White House’s social media channels, which in recent weeks have published a series of stomach-churning propaganda clips that feature real footage of airstrikes in Iran cut with cartoons and scenes from video games and movies — all edited to guitar lick-laden soundtracks. War may appear super cool to Trump administration staffers who watch it from 6,000 miles away through a pop-culture viewfinder, but the rest of us should examine the human reality — and cost — of combat."

 Trump’s criminal -infested White House, meanwhile, pushed back Monday after Pope Leo XIV made his Palm Sunday remarks, with bimbo press secretary Karoline Leavitt defending the warmonger Hegseth’s use of prayer in reference to U.S. military operations.

The semi-educated blonde airhead actually spouted:

“Our nation was a nation founded 250 years ago almost on Judeo-Christian values. And we have seen presidents, the leaders of the Department of War, and our troops go to prayer during the most turbulent times in our nations history, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members overseas.”

Totally wrong on all counts given this nation was founded on the basis of Deism not Judeo-Christian theism. Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli makes this clear::

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries"

Karoline probably can't understand that so let me explain. Our nation's founders, like Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison were Deists, not orthodox Christians. In the Deist view an innominate, impersonal Intelligence created the cosmos - but then detached from it - so there's no further involvement.  If detached it can have no enmity against other religions or their laws etc. as the Treaty of Tripoli notes.

If Karoline needs a simplified analogy, the Deist God is analogous to an intelligent child who makes a toy with a gear wheel, winds it up and releases it. The toy has the ability to move after being wound up and released. Thus, the child makes the toy, winds it up, releases it down the sidewalk, then walks away never to glance at it or its final outcome, destination.

We know nearly all the Founders -  the actual authors of the Constitution - were hard core Deists, not  Christians. The Pope's message was timely given that leaders on all sides of the Iran war have tried to use religion to justify their unconscionable actions. Chief among these is frat boy white supremacist Pete Hegseth. Who actually invoked a white nationalist end time extremist form of Christianity to try to paint the U.S. as a "Christian nation" trying to vanquish all its evil foes with military might. E.g. Hegseth: "Please Lord, let all OUR weapons find their mark!"

But if Leo's message is on target, all the military might summoned by the Trump traitors, pedos and warmongers will not make a dent in the ongoing conflict, especially if Hitler Jr. commits war crimes.

 See also any or all of these Youtube videos:

Trump has 'no idea' what he’s gotten into on Iran | David Cay Johnston

“America Walked Into a Strategic Trap — And Now It Can’t Escape Prof Jiang Analysis”

THIS WAR IS TURNING INTO AMERICA’S NIGHTMARE. | Prof. John Mearsheimer

Professor Pape: Iran Is 'VIETNAM ON STEROIDS'

Mayhap, Petey wants to rethink his prayers.

See Also: 

Trump Administration

Pete Hegseth’s Holy War

by Paul Josephson | March 21, 2026 - 5:08am | permalink

Pete Hegseth is carrying out a Holy War at the Pentagon and abroad. He has rightly come under fire for incompetent leadership and mediocre management of the Iran war. The war was a mistake in the first place, both because Iran did not pose an immediate threat to US interests, and because President Donald Trump assumed a rapid victory and regime change would secure oil for the US and its allies for decades to come. But motivated by Christian Nationalism, fueled by angry masculinity, and blinded by ideological certainty, Hegseth’s crusade was doomed to failure from the start. Within the Pentagon, the battle against “woke” ideas and diversity has shaken leadership and hurt morale.

On the international front, Hegseth’s religious conviction about the immorality of Iran’s Islamic leadership led him to the conclusion that his god would protect the US in any war. Yet devoid of real goals and plans, motivated by ignorance about Iranian society, and discarding the intelligence community’s dire warnings about the chances of failure, Hegseth pushed on. The US now finds itself in a long-term war waged by an angry Fox journalist, not a competent secretary of defense.

» article continues...

Kudos To Bill Maher For Sharing Reality of Aliens - UFOs On HBO Real Time

                                    Bill Maher on Real Time: "Aliens are real"

                                   'GO Fast' UAP released by Defense Dept.

Being an advocate and voice for UFO reality (as in actual alien craft) is not easy, as the late Carl Sagan knew. Which was why he held up sharing his acknowledgment of that reality (with Northwestern Astronomy professor J. Allen Hynek) until very late in his career.

Unlike Sagan, Bill Maher is a comedian so there's no chance of him - or very little - of losing funding, and he'd likely laugh off any snark from deniers and critics.

But still, he had to display some nerve in his Real Time episode Friday,

New Rule: The Disclosure Moment | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

sharing with viewers that it was now time for a 'come to Jesus' (at least in scientific terms) UFO-Alien moment. He based his acceptance, after years of agnostic stance, on the growing number of credible sightings by military personnel (such as seasoned Navy pilots) and intelligence officials, who have said openly alien life is already likely on Earth and having its way in our skies.  As Maher put it:

"My opinion changes when the information changes," 

Adding:

"Yes, there was a time when the only actual contact we heard about aliens was from rural people who had been abducted and anally probed,. But you don't hear about that anymore. Why? My guess is the aliens gathered all the information they needed about us … [and] now they seem to be in a different phase. 

They seem to want to be spotted. Why else for this constant ‘playing peek-a-boo’ with our military? And it's serious people [saying this] now."

And of course there was the documentary with dozens of officials, intel specialists, scientists from last year:

The Age of Disclosure - Official Trailer | IMDb

Maher then showed the infamous video of a Hellfire missile clearly fired at a UAP but bouncing off it like a rubber ball, e.g.

HELLFIRE MISSILE BOUNCES OFF MYSTERIOUS ORB IN STUNNING UAP FOOTAGE SHOWN TO CONGRESS

This is related to a post I had made previously:

Brane Space: Reaper Drone Video Released At House Oversight Hearing Again Proves UAP Are REAL Craft Not Optical Illusions

Maher then pointed to reports from military pilots and government officials who have described encountering unidentified objects exhibiting capabilities far beyond known technology, saying:

"They keep seeing things move through air and ocean in ways that defy our physics. Military pilots who say, ‘Yeah, I saw something doing Mach 10, and then it stopped on a dime and disappeared,.  That's not a drone. That's not something from another country. Even Elon is like, 'Not me.

Maher, for emphasis:

"It’s not weirdos and beardos saying this," he said. "It’s guys with buzz cuts and security clearances who are spilling the tea, and politicians who you don't think are crazy people."

Maher noted that Congress has already held historic hearings on unidentified aerial phenomena, noting how seriously the government is now treating sightings it still cannot explain.  See again, an earlier blog post:

Brane Space: Military Vets' Testimony At UAP -UFO Hearing Disclose "Non-human" Craft U.S. Is Unable To Counter Or Disable

Maher again, on the govt suppression basis:

"The government's official public line is, 'We don't know what these things are.'" he said. "But, in private, what they say is, 'No, seriously, we don't know what these things are, but they didn't leak from a lab in China."

Incredibly, Maher will still likely take lots of flak from the deniers, despite the fact the late Cornell planetary scientist Carl Sagan eventually saw the  light decades ago. Sagan  - once a debunker of the idea of real UFOs, aliens -  did finally come around to accepting the validity in a one-on-one with Northwestern University astronomer J. Allen Hynek, e.g.

https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=76926

Excerpt:  "The pillar of modern space science Dr. Carl Sagan revealed to Dr. J. Allen Hynek, that he knew UFOs were real but could not talk publicly about the matter and possibly risk the loss of academic funding."

See Also: 

• WSJ: Pentagon Disinformation Fueled America's UFO Mythology? More Codswallop for Snookered Journalists...

And:

Age of Disclosure director Dan Farah gets dead serious about UFOs with Bill Maher - Psicoactivo #672

And:

What The Pentagon Prelim UFO Report Isn't Saying: 'The Aliens Are Here, We Just Don't Want To Admit It."

And:

• 3

  

  UFO reports demand greater transparency, lawmakers say
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And:

UFO SECRET FILES, DRONE SWARMS AND NUCLEAR-LINKED SIGHTINGS STUN EXPERTS IN 2025

And:

Congressman describes secret UFO videos: "Defies logic"