Critical Thinking and Reasoning

  [AUGUST 20, 2026 (11:30 AM PDT)] Several stories I have picked-up on this morning which have not peculated into the MSM, critical thinkers, First, while most have been weighing-in on Trump's repeated claims that the Strait of Hormuz was open and tankers flowing through as "delusional," AXIOS has posted this story: US CONDUCTING STEALTH OPERATION TO TRANSPORT OIL THROUGH HORMUZ Under the operation, which has been underway for the last several weeks, 15–20 tankers have entered and exited the strait each night through a southern channel along the coast of Oman.  About 10 million barrels of oil a day — roughly half the pre-war volume — are being transported out of the strait and injected into the global energy market, the officials said. The task force is coordinating with regional Gulf partners. It creates a daily list of ships coming out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Arabian Sea, as well as a list of rented empty tankers that travel from the Arabi...

  [AUGUST 17, 2026 (11:00 AM PDT)] Several stories continue to dominate the news cycle the last few days, critical thinkers, First, we have further photo evidence and emails from navy sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72.) Second, further evidence regarding the draining of the strategic petroleum reserve [SPR]. CNBC: SPR CAVERNS FACE PERMANENT DAMAGE HISTORICALLY LOW LEVELS Third, we now have another story concerning a damaged USN Destroyer, USS Benfold, adrift for 4-days in the South China Sea. The USS Benfold sails in the South China Sea, July 23, 2026, a day before a generator problem left the guided-missile destroyer drfting without power, the Navy said. (Andrew Novak/U.S. Navy) STARS AND STRIPES:  POWER OUTAGE AFFECTED SHIP'S WATER A/C TOILETS GALLEY SERVICE . . . and now this: TRUMP: IF OMAN GETS IN THE WAY WE'LL BOMB THE SH*T OUT OF THEM CNN:  TRUMP THREATENS ALLY WHO IS NEGOTIATING ON OUR BEHALF   That’s because Trump, a president who once warned r...

  [AUGUST 12, 2026 (11:00 PDT)] We have seen a plethora of damaging Covid data, and now further damning evidence regarding Fauci. For years, I have watched statistician Ed Dowd explain the rise in serious illnesses which correspond with multiple Covid shots and boosters. Here is the latest: US BUREAU OF STATISTICS: US DISABILITIES JUMP TO 37 MILLION UP 23% SINCE 2021 The conclusion from the data is straightforward. The timing, the magnitude, the concentration among the previously healthy working age population, and the failure of alternative explanations all point to the COVID vaccine campaign as one of the primary driver of the excess disability. That is the assessment I have maintained as the numbers have updated. Ignoring a sustained, multi-sigma break in a core government survey does not make the break disappear. It only guarantees that the consequences continue to compound while institutions look the other way.     Release of Incriminating Emails Show Fauci Knew of M...

  [AUGUST 9, 2026 (15:30 PDT)] Hey Critical thinkers, just wanted to park a few stories as we head into a new week, CNBC: IRAN SETS TERMS FOR OPENING THE STRAIT AFTER UAE SAYS SHIP WAS TARGETED Got around the paywall by using way-back-machine: . . . I think WSJ: Trump Thought Reopening Strait of Hormuz was Imminent  Iran had Other Plans AH-Ha Still Trying to Paywall My People? How about a cut & paste switcheroo before WSJ can undo: WSJ Barron's MarketWatch IBD WSJ | Buy Side DJIA Futures 54040.00 -0.21% S&P 500 Futures 7769.00 -0.14% Nasdaq Futures 29847.00 0.04% SSE Index 3940.04 1.02% Stoxx 600 660.25 0.31% Crude Oil 78.80 0.79% Brent Crude 84.36 0.97% U.S. 10 Yr 0/32 4.651% Dollar Index 95.92 0.01% Euro 1.1559 -0.0087% Gold 4401.00 0.03% The Wall Street Journal Subscribe Sign In English Edition Print Edition Video Audio Latest Headlines Puzzles More World Business U.S. Politics Economy Tech Markets & Finance Opinion Free Expression Arts Lifestyle Real Estate Per...