I had a skin cancer (mole) removed from my face several months ago. I had another mole appear on my wrist that had VERY similar characteristics to the one on my face. Rather than doing another round of "get a dermatologist to have it biopsied, and then have it completely removed if cancer is found", I started treating it with ivermectin (horese paste). I put a dab of it on the mole and covered with a bandaide twice a day. I did that for about six weeks. It maintained the red appearance throughout, and I didn't think it was working as hoped, so I stopped the ivermectin and switched to tea tree oil for a few days, again with no apparent change in the appearance. I went back to the ivermectin for another week or so, and then just quit any treatment. Within another week or so, the mole shrank and disappeared by the end of about two weeks. The ivermectin horse paste is only 1.87% ivermectin, so I wonder how effective a higher strength ivermectin paste would be, if it was the reason the mole was knocked out. And now I don't know if the tea tree oil had any effect or not, but I think there are probably many combinations of things out there that could have amazing results, but of course, the establishment medical community would not like those combinations validated, or even talked about. I would be interested in hearing if others here at GAW have used ivermectin horse paste to treat any skin conditions.

Earlier this morning, there was a post that had an audio track that people were trying to decipher. I was getting ready to download the audio for analysis with Audacity, and now I don't see the post. Is the post out there somewhere?

I heard one of the conservatives on a streaming station this morning talking about how politically associated people know that if a house flies an American flag, it may not indicate that a Republican lives there, but it is almost a guarantee a Democrat doesn't. I think there should be a nationwide "Show your flag day", where people who respect our country and believe what it stands for display an American flag outside of wherever they live. It would be awesome to drive around and see all the flags (or where you don't see them :) )

Just saw a segment of the Senate hearing today where our favorite fake Indian Senator was acting all sanctimonious in trying to insinuate that Hegseth has been profiting from insider trading in regard to military actions. Oh how I wish I had an earpiece to Hegseth so he could say something on the order of, "When you were elected Senator, you had a net worth of ___ million dollars. Now your net worth is _____. Can you explain to America how that was possible?"

Did I really hear the TV news reader just report that the shooter was a former National Guard member? (hopefully not) I definitely heard the omission of the shooter's name and other pertinent info. Here are the FACTS:

Old Dominion University shooter Mohamed Jalloh: -Born in Sierra Leone -Became a naturalized US citizen -Radicalized by al-Qaeda -Convicted for providing material support to ISIS -Sentenced to 11 years in prison -Released from prison early under Biden

You leftist hacks are despicable! Have you no conscience or desire to report the truth? Your station even tries to promote the "man-made climate change" hoax by referring to "average temperature" as "normal temperature". You should just stick to sports, where it is difficult to inject your warped, leftist, TDS-infused brains into reporting which team won, although I wouldn't put it past you to report something on the order of "the ______ team was second to last" in a competition of two teams. I hope the pay you all receive for all the misinformation you spew overcomes whatever consciences you may have.

I just finished a trip where I drove to FL from NY, stayed about 10 days, and returned. Wherever I went, wherever I stayed, Hispanics seemed to comprise a large percentage of the people I saw. This was not just the workers in hotels, this was hotel guests, people at tourist attractions, people in various stores, etc., etc., I think the 30 million may be correct for JUST THE FOUR BIDEN YEARS! When the previous 30 years after Reagan are included, I think it must be upwards of 50 million, and of course, you have to include those Hispanics who were legal citizens and their offspring. I wouldn't be surprised if the actual percentage of people in the U.S. right now, of Hispanic descent, is closer to 25%, not the 12 or 13 % reported from census figures. I have no problem with legal immigration of any race (Islam is not a race), especially when they desire to become American, like most past legalHispanic immigrants, but the newest illegal ones are a completely different story.

I hear MSM going wild over the Trump "monkey" X post. It was so blatantly racist that I figured it had to be some kind of code, so I searched the term "monkey" on GAW posts and it's pretty interesting to see how many things relate to "monkey" that were posted/commented on in the past year! Try it yourself!

I asked Grok if Steve Bannon is mentioned in the recently released Epstein files?

Yes, Steve Bannon is mentioned in the recently released Epstein files.The most recent major release from the U.S. Department of Justice (on or around January 30, 2026) included over 3 million pages of documents, along with videos and images, related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. Multiple credible reports confirm that these files contain extensive references to Bannon, including:Hundreds of friendly text messages and email exchanges between Epstein and Bannon from 2018 and 2019 (during and after Bannon's time in the Trump White House). These discuss politics, travel plans (e.g., Epstein offering his plane to pick up Bannon in Rome), get-togethers over meals, and a planned documentary where Bannon interviewed Epstein to help rehabilitate his image. Gifts, such as Epstein sending Hermes Apple Watches to Bannon and his son in late 2018/early 2019. Photos from Epstein's estate showing Bannon with Epstein (e.g., mirror selfies and other images released by House Oversight Committee Democrats in December 2025). Earlier batches (e.g., from House Oversight Democrats in September 2025) included Epstein's daily schedules referencing scheduled meetings or breakfasts with Bannon (e.g., a February 16, 2019, entry for "7:00am BREAKFAST w/Steve Bannon"). An FBI interview memo (from 2020, released in the recent tranche) where a witness described Bannon's relationship with Epstein but was hesitant to elaborate due to Bannon's connections to powerful people.

These mentions highlight a close social and communicative relationship between Epstein and Bannon in Epstein's final years, including efforts to influence politics or media narratives. However, being mentioned does not imply involvement in Epstein's criminal activities—many named individuals (across political spectrums) appear in contexts like social contacts, without accusations of wrongdoing.Prior Epstein document unseals (e.g., from the Giuffre v. Maxwell case in 2024) did not prominently feature Bannon, but the 2025–2026 releases (from DOJ and congressional oversight) have brought these details to light. No evidence in the files ties Bannon to Epstein's sex trafficking crimes.

I have found that Facebook has become mostly useless in having some dialogue with leftists (they block your posts :) ). However, I started using nextdoor.com for learning about things more local, and surprisingly, have been able to carry on some "conversation" with the leftists. The site has banned/deleted ANY political discussion in the past, but I have been pleased to find that lately that is not happening. The number of people you can reach is limited, since by design, the site is for local events, local issues, etc. However, I think if each of us is able to get through to at least ONE hopeless leftist, we could make a difference. I encourage everyone to join this site and see if you are able to get some truth out to these people.

I was scanning movie options on TV and came across the 1978 "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (a remake of the 1956 movie of the same name) and it occurred to me that what has been happening in our country through the MSM programming of so many is analogous to the alien takeover in those movies. I also wonder if the original was hinting at communist takeover, like what McCarthy was trying to warn people about.

I've never bought the leftist lie that Americans won't do the jobs illegals and other immigrants do because the wages are too low, so I got a little AI assistance to verify the lie, using cantaloupes as an example. What really hit me is how much the immigrant laborers (and U.S. citizens) are being paid to pick! (but perhaps there are much lower "under the table" wages being paid) Here are the results of this analysis:

If we use cantaloupes as the example, how many cantaloupes can be picked per hour by a field worker?

A realistic estimate for how many cantaloupes a field worker can pick per hour comes from commercial U.S. harvest data (primarily California, the main producing state), where crews use conveyor-belt systems to aid efficiency.In typical large-scale operations:A harvest crew of about 21 people (including ~9 dedicated pickers, plus packers, box makers, loaders, etc.) collectively picks and packs 200–300 cartons per hour (often averaging around 250 cartons/hour). Standard cantaloupe cartons hold 9 to 23 melons each, depending on fruit size (commonly around 12–15 on average for mid-size fruit in many 38-pound cartons).

This translates to roughly 2,000–6,000+ individual cantaloupes per hour for the whole crew, but focusing on the pickers:With 9 pickers contributing the bulk of the picking effort in such a crew setup, individual picker productivity often falls in the range of 100–250 cantaloupes per hour per worker (accounting for walking, selecting ripe fruit at "full slip," gently detaching/placing on the belt, and field conditions). More conservative or detailed reports from melon harvest analyses suggest experienced workers average around 150–200 cantaloupes per hour in efficient conveyor-assisted systems.

Factors that influence this rate include:Field density and yield — Higher melon counts per row/acre allow faster picking. Method — Modern "harvest-aid" machines (conveyors moving slowly through rows) boost productivity significantly compared to fully manual bucket-carrying. Worker experience — Piece-rate pay (common in some setups) incentivizes higher output. Conditions — Heat, vine coverage, fruit size/spacing, and pass frequency (fields picked 3–5 times over 1–2 weeks rather than daily).

Without conveyor aids or in smaller/manual operations, rates can drop to 50–100 per hour or lower.For context, this is demanding physical work in hot conditions, and crews aim to maintain quality (only picking ripe fruit) while avoiding damage.If you're asking for a specific scenario (e.g., small farm vs. commercial, manual vs. mechanized aid), more details would help refine the estimate!

Based on that, and the hourly wage migrant workers are paid, what is the "Picking cost" for a single cantaloupe

To calculate the picking cost (labor cost specifically for harvesting/picking one cantaloupe), we can use data from typical large-scale California operations (the primary U.S. source for commercial cantaloupes), combining realistic worker productivity with current wage rates for migrant/field workers.Key Data PointsProductivity per picker: As discussed earlier, experienced workers in conveyor-assisted crews typically pick 150–200 cantaloupes per hour (midpoint ~175 for a balanced estimate; some reports suggest 100–250 depending on conditions, but 150–200 is common in efficient setups). Hourly wage for migrant/field workers (mostly H-2A or similar in CA melon harvest):Direct hires or base rates: Around $17–$20 per hour in recent years (e.g., ~$19–$20 reported for crop workers in CA). For H-2A (common for seasonal migrant labor): Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) in California is $19.97 per hour (as of 2025 data). Employer total cost often higher ($20–$25+ including payroll taxes/overhead), but for worker pay-focused "picking cost," we use the wage paid ($20/hour as a rounded 2025–2026 figure for migrant harvest crews).

Calculation for Picking Cost per CantaloupeUsing the midpoint productivity of 175 cantaloupes per hour and $20 per hour wage:Labor cost per hour ÷ melons per hour = cost per melon $20 ÷ 175 ≈ $0.114 (or about 11–12 cents per cantaloupe).

Range based on variability:At lower end (150 melons/hour): $20 ÷ 150 = ~$0.133 (13 cents). At higher end (200 melons/hour): $20 ÷ 200 = $0.10 (10 cents).

So, the picking labor cost is typically 10–13 cents per single cantaloupe in modern, efficient commercial harvests.Important NotesThis is picking labor only (the worker selecting/detaching/placing ripe fruit). Full harvest costs (including packing, loading, grading, supervision, equipment like conveyors, and crew overhead) are higher—often $0.40–$1.50 per carton (with cartons holding 9–23 melons, translating to roughly 5–15 cents per melon or more for the entire harvest step, per older budgets and reports). Many operations use piece-rate pay (e.g., per carton or load), but effective hourly earnings still align with ~$17–$20+ to meet minimums/AEWR. Older budgets (e.g., Georgia/Texas) show harvest/marketing ~$0.41 per fruit in some cases, but that's total (not just picking) and for smaller/less efficient ops. Costs rise with slower manual methods (no conveyor) or poor conditions, potentially doubling the per-melon labor figure.

This keeps U.S. fresh cantaloupes affordable at retail despite labor intensity—harvest labor is a small fraction of the final price. If you have a specific region, year, or wage figure in mind, I can refine this!

Break down full harvest costs

Labor costs for strawberries

There is discussion going on that if only American citizens were to pick fruit like cantaloupes, the price of the fruit would rise significantly. However, your data indicates that field workers could be paid twice what they are paid now, and the additional cost per cantaloupe would be less than 25 cents. Since cantaloupes in stores cost around $3 each, adding an additional 25 cents would seem to be pretty insignificant, and this is based on doubling the field labor wages, which obviously wouldn't be required as an incentive to have Americans do the work.

Your point is well-taken and aligns with economic analyses on this topic. The discussion often exaggerates the impact of shifting to a U.S.-citizen-only workforce (which would likely require higher wages to attract domestic workers for demanding seasonal field jobs), but the math shows the retail price effect would be relatively modest for items like cantaloupes.Retail Price ContextCurrent U.S. retail prices for whole fresh cantaloupes typically range from about $2.50 to $3.50 each (often around $2.97 at major chains like Walmart, with variations by season, size, and location; some reports show averages closer to $3 or slightly higher in off-season periods). Wholesale prices are lower (e.g., around $1–$2 per kg or per carton equivalents), reflecting the farm-to-retail spread where growers capture a smaller share.Labor Cost Impact BreakdownUsing our earlier cantaloupe-specific estimate:Picking labor cost per melon: 10–13 cents at current wages ($20/hour effective for migrant/H-2A crews, with 150–200 melons/hour productivity). If wages doubled to ~$40/hour (a substantial increase to potentially draw more American workers, far beyond typical incentives), the picking cost per melon would roughly double to 20–26 cents.

This adds ~10–13 cents extra per cantaloupe beyond current levels (or up to ~25 cents in a high-end scenario if including some crew overhead). On a $3 retail cantaloupe, that's an increase of 3–8% (or ~8% at the upper end).Even broader USDA and economic studies on labor-intensive fresh fruits/vegetables (including melons) support this scale:Harvest labor (not just picking, but full harvest steps) often represents 20–40% of on-farm production costs for melons/vegetables, but the farm share of the final retail price is typically 10–30% (lower for many fresh produce items due to packing, transport, distribution, and retail margins). A significant wage hike (e.g., 40% across farm labor) might translate to only a few percent increase in retail prices for fresh produce overall, per analyses like those from the Economic Policy Institute and USDA ERS. For example, one estimate suggested a 40% farm labor pay increase could add ~4% to fresh fruit/vegetable retail spending. Studies on rising labor costs (e.g., from tightening markets or policy changes) show growers often offset much of it via productivity gains, mechanization (like conveyor aids), or higher output prices, without dramatic retail spikes.

Why the Perceived Impact Feels "Significant" in DiscussionsClaims of major price surges often stem from:Focusing on total production costs (where labor can be 30–40% on-farm) without accounting for the diluted farm-to-retail markup. Scenarios assuming no supply response (e.g., reduced planting or imports filling gaps). Broader fresh produce categories where some items (e.g., berries or certain greens) have higher labor intensity and lower retail dilution.

For cantaloupes specifically, with efficient conveyor systems and the U.S. already relying heavily on seasonal migrant labor (often H-2A), a shift to higher-paid domestic workers would add a small per-unit cost—likely well under 25 cents extra per melon in realistic scenarios (e.g., 50–100% wage premium, not double). This equates to pennies on the dollar at checkout, not a doubling of prices.In short, you're correct: the additional cost would be insignificant in the context of a $3 cantaloupe, and far from prohibitive. The bigger challenges for domestic labor participation tend to be the physical demands, seasonality, rural locations, and competition from other jobs—rather than wage levels alone being the sole barrier. If policies aimed to incentivize American workers (e.g., via targeted training or benefits), the retail fruit price hit would remain minimal.

A massive solar flare event is happening, with a prediction of impressive northern lights tonight, possibly as far south as Alabama. These events are known to cause problems for electronic communications, but a total blackout is not likely. However, such an event would be an excellent excuse for an orchestrated blackout to occur, to allow a lot of things to happen without radio, television, telephone, or internet "interference" in whatever operations might be happening. :)

It makes total sense. The "organic" protests against ICE before the shooting were organized by entities who want to maintain the status quo of illegals in the U.S., for a multiple of reasons, but the main being census numbers and votes. The media piled on, working up the impressionable people to become more outraged, to the point of doing something stupid like trying to run over an ICE officer. Now they have not just the "masked men kidnapping people off the streets" propaganda, but the shooting of "an innocent mother", further outraging the minions. It will be a small miracle if no other protesters are killed, but this shows how worried the deep state and other players are about the minimization of illegal voting and padding of census numbers. Remember that the new census is just 4 years away.

What are your thoughts?

I use a social media platform called "nextdoor.com". If you are not familiar with it, it's like facebook, except it's not based on who you know, but anyone within a general geographic area (and even posts from anywhere will show up, but mostly from your area) can post things and comment to them. It's a great place to see how the "normies" think and react. (a down side is there are moderators or bots who remove any comments they really don't like, or links to sites they don't want people to know about) Right now, they are all talking about how bad the current flu is. I would love to see the correlation between severity of this flu versus covid shot status. Of course, you can't even begin to educate them in regard to the covid shots. Until their favorite MSM "health expert" shouts at them with the data, they will continue in their ignorance (and even then, they would probably not believe what they are being told, even though they claim to "trust the science")

Based on the latest publicly available information from the December 2025 Epstein file releases by the DOJ (under the Epstein Files Transparency Act), as well as prior court documents, news reports, and investigations, it's unlikely that most "big names" associated with Jeffrey Epstein's Little St. James island (often called "Epstein Island") will face consequences beyond public shame, reputational damage, or professional setbacks for mere proven attendance. Attendance alone isn't a crime—any escalation would require evidence of direct involvement in Epstein's sex trafficking or abuse, which the releases and related probes have not uncovered for uncharged third parties. Here's a breakdown of the key points:Current Status of Information and ReleasesThe DOJ released over 13,000 files on December 19, 2025, including documents from 2005-2019 investigations, photos, emails, and address books. However, the release was partial, heavily redacted (e.g., to protect 1,200 victims and relatives), and excluded thousands more files due to privacy concerns, ongoing probes, or sensitive material. Lawmakers like Reps. Ro Khanna (D) and Thomas Massie (R) have criticized it as incomplete, threatening contempt or impeachment proceedings against DOJ officials if not fully addressed soon.

nytimes.com +2

No "client list" or blackmail evidence emerged, aligning with a July 2025 DOJ memo stating no credible grounds for investigating uncharged individuals.

en.wikipedia.org +1

Photos and mentions confirm associations (e.g., flights, visits, or social events) but repeatedly emphasize that presence doesn't imply wrongdoing.

usatoday.com +1

Victims and advocates (e.g., Maria Farmer, whose 1996 FBI complaint about Epstein was ignored) continue pushing for accountability, including lawsuits against the government for investigative failures, but no new criminal cases against prominent figures have been announced.

nbcnews.com +1

Examples of Big Names and Their ConsequencesProven island attendance (via flight logs, photos, or testimony) has been documented for several high-profile individuals, but outcomes vary inconsistently—often tied to broader allegations rather than attendance per se. Most have faced only shame or scrutiny, with a few exceptions:Prince Andrew (Duke of York, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor): This is the clearest case of consequences beyond shame. In October-November 2025, King Charles III formally stripped him of his prince title, Duke of York honorific, and evicted him from Royal Lodge due to ongoing Epstein ties, including island visits and a settled 2022 civil lawsuit with accuser Virginia Giuffre (who alleged sexual abuse; Andrew denied it but paid a reported $16 million settlement). He lost military affiliations, patronages, and public funding earlier, but the 2025 actions mark a permanent fall from royal status. No criminal charges, though U.S. lawmakers have called for him to testify.

pbs.org +3

Bill Clinton: Flight logs and new photos show multiple island visits and Epstein plane trips (e.g., for Clinton Foundation work in 2002-2003), plus emails and hot tub/swimming scenes with Ghislaine Maxwell. He's faced intense public backlash and media scrutiny, but no evidence of wrongdoing in the releases. No legal actions; his spokesperson has reiterated he cut ties in 2005 and never visited the island for illicit purposes.

usatoday.com +2

Donald Trump: Mentioned in emails (e.g., Epstein calling him the "dog that hasn't barked" regarding time with a redacted victim) and photos (e.g., with Epstein, Melania, and Maxwell), plus address books. His pre-2004 friendship is well-documented, but the releases add little new. No wrongdoing implied, and DOJ officials (including his administration) affirm no investigative grounds. He's faced public criticism but no professional or legal fallout beyond that.

en.wikipedia.org +3

Other Notables (e.g., Ehud Barak, Bill Gates, Larry Summers, Woody Allen): Barak (frequent visitor/correspondent) remains active in public life despite scrutiny. Gates (post-2008 meetings) has seen no career impact. Summers was socially sidelined (e.g., out of Harvard circles). Allen dined with Epstein but faces no repercussions. Overall, as one analysis notes, Epstein's vast network makes widespread "cancellation" impractical—most endure temporary shame but rebound.

theguardian.com +1

Why Not Worse Consequences?Lack of Evidence: The DOJ and prior probes (e.g., FBI, SDNY) found no basis for criminal charges against third parties, focusing on Epstein and Maxwell (convicted in 2021, serving 20 years). Civil suits (e.g., against banks like JPMorgan, settled for $365 million) have targeted enablers, but not island attendees directly.

nbcnews.com +1

Statute of Limitations and Plea Deals: Epstein's 2008 non-prosecution agreement shielded some associates, and many allegations are time-barred. Political/Practical Factors: Releases under Trump's administration faced accusations of suppression (e.g., redactions favoring "politically exposed" figures), but bipartisan pressure may lead to more disclosures by year-end. Victims' lawyers claim the FBI holds evidence on ~20 accused men, but nothing has materialized yet.

nbcnews.com +1

In summary, while Prince Andrew's 2025 demotion shows attendance can lead to severe institutional fallout when tied to allegations, the pattern for others is limited to shame or soft exclusions. Future releases or lawsuits could change this, but as of now, criminal prosecutions seem improbable without breakthrough evidence. The saga highlights systemic investigative lapses more than individual accountability for big names.