This is who we are fighting.
 

Quote:YES, it’s communism we face, and the revolutionary playbook is unfolding right on schedule

Quote:One of the primary ways to psychologically manipulate a nation into accepting communism is to divide people into classes and motivate these groups to prioritize their group identity over their individual freedom.

With individual freedom there comes opportunity, risk and personal responsibility that yields both consequence and reward. Freedom itself is the fairest concept, allowing each person to forge their own path, with various results. But there’s no guarantee of fairness in the result of our decisions, and there’s definitely no equality in the trajectory of our personal reactions, associations and beliefs.

I'm glad to have been invited to this community. ATS is falling apart and I feel like a refugee. 

I spent a lot of time thinking about the course they will be taking. I give them a month, maybe two at most, and all the work I put on that site will disappear forever. I don't wanna make this entirely about ATS. I just think it's important to discuss where I'm coming from and how I wound up here. Though I have a sneaking suspicion that the reasons and circumstances that brought me here are similar to many others who already made the exodus. 

I fully intend to contribute as much here as I did there only more so. I need a place that will really allow creative content.

For those of you who don't know who I am: 

I am a combat veteran, OEF 13-14

I am a husband for the last 15 years and a father for the last 7. 

I am a martial artist with a decent background and a beginner's mindset. Currently focused on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

I am a leader. I believe in leadership through accountability, compassion, and empathy. 

I am a follower. I believe in following leaders who lead with accountability, compassion, and empathy. 

I am on The Path. The Path of personal growth, discipline, and responsibility. 

I am a conservative man. This does not make me inaccessible, rigid, or unchanging. But it does make me cautious in accepting ideas without first placing them through proper filters. 

I am always striving to be better today than I was yesterday and unapologetically seek to be better. 

I am seeking more responsibility not less. 

I am not religious. Nor do I have a right to say that I believe in God. Belief requires truth and action. If I believe in God it isn't enough to say that I do, but I must act as though I do by emulating what God is. I am human and will never achieve this. So therefore I acknowledge God as the creator of the universe and I acknowledge God's authority over it. But I cannot say that I believe in God in accordance with my convictions.  

Sometimes I fail to live up to my own standards. In those moments I require the calibration of others who are sticking with their standards. We all need to be checked. 

I do NOT always subordinate my ego. You'll know when that happens. Everyone does. 

Generally, I'm just another human on God's Earth. I am entitled to nothing but my responsibilities. 

I'm projectvxn. People not on the internet know me as Bryan. Nice to meet you.

Hello and Welcome @"JBurns" 

I'm sure that I've seen you around ATS ?(I'm "Gordi The Drummer" over there.)

Please feel free to wander the forums, browse the threads and clean the toilets.

If you've got any questions - the quickest way to grab our attention is through the Live Shoutbox on the front (main) page (there's usually someone around who can help) alternatively, just drop myself or any of the mods/admins a pm and we'll do our best to help!



G

Hey there @"dbcowboy" 


Thanks for trying out our little site.
You'll know me as "Gordi The Drummer" from the other site, especially from the short story forum (and The Shed?).

The Warmest of Welcomes buddy!

*Before you ask... YES, there is a very deep basement level... just go past the Bar & Grill, turn left at the caretakers closet, down the stairs, knock 6 times and ask for @"BIAD" !!

G

Times change, people change, situations change.

But not me.  Not too much.

Someone mentioned this site and lo and behold!

I was already a member.  From 4 years ago.  My only excuse?

I'm getting old.  Older.

But hello.  ATS looks to be closing up shop and I might need a place to feed my creative muse from time to time.

Hi, come in and have a drink   or smoke   yes we are a Friendly little Family.

You can immediately start a thread or reply to a post, NO, YOU do not have to agree with any of us and guess what,,,, we'll respect YOUR opinion.
Have Fun!


Need help just ask, need a AVATAR just PM BIAD.

Quote:

"I just watched the Democratic leaders of Congress kneel in the halls of Congress for about 9 minutes, for the death of a black man named George Floyd.
I have never seen them kneel for a fallen Police Officer.
I have never seen them kneel for a fallen Soldier.
I NEVER SAW THEM KNEEL FOR THE SOLDIERS THAT HILLARY AND OBAMA LEFT TO DIE IN Benghazi!!
I have never seen them kneel for the thousands of (black and white) babies aborted [murdered] EVERY DAY.
I have never seen them kneel for a murdered white man or woman.
I have not seen them kneel for the thousands of black-on-black murder victims.
I have not seen them kneel for the thousands of elderly people that died in nursing homes due to the Corona Virus.
I have to ask: WHY are Democrats putting the life of George Floyd as more valuable than the lives of everyone else?
In fact, Democrats have put so much value on the life of George Floyd, they have allowed rioting, looting, arson, murder and mayhem in communities Nationwide...
ASK YOURSELF - WHY NOW?"

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1266591/pg1

Quote:It's time to face the harsh reality. This website is quickly approaching a difficult situation. Here are the facts:

For independent sites like ATS, advertising revenue has been dropping across the entire Internet for the past five years. Combined with the recent significant drop in advertising due to the economic fallout of the pandemic, and it's horrible.

The number of visitors blocking what meager revenue is available on ATS continues to climb. We're well above the broader Internet average at more than two-thirds of all visitors blocking ads and other analytics tags.

The blocking of the analytics tags artificially deflates our actual traffic and visitor statistics. Making it impossible to attract a higher-quality ad supplier. Compound that with the reality that the current political climate has made many of our freely-expressed topics "toxic," and it's double horrible. (For example, Google AdSense is not an option for us.)

There are only two options:
1) Find a suitable buyer with the resources to invest in growth.
2) Slowly fade away until revenue can't support hosting.

We don't say this lightly — especially me, who has devoted 12+ years to this endeavor.

I can imagine the long list of ideas our members will suggest. I appreciate your passion and enthusiasm. It's why I did this. However, they would all require time and resources that we don't have.

The best hope for this project's longevity in free expression is for someone with resources to pick up the torch and carry it where we currently cannot. A new torchbearer would be critically important in these times where "free expression" is under attack.


Some contextual history:

We've entertained acquisition deals from a few suitable entities over the past several months. The most recent company was a near-perfect fit. But they are also suddenly facing an uncertain financial future due to the gutting of the online advertising markets.

We cannot find a business broker specializing in websites that are willing to represent a 100% ad revenue model to their buyers (for now).

Marketplaces and auctions such as Flippa are problematic. First, for success, an upfront investment that we don't have is required. Second, confirming the intent and principles of a potential buyer is near-impossible.


What Comes Next

Soon, we will make some type of "this website for sale" indication. From there, we'll see what interest we get. Please trust me in that we will have high standards for any new owner.

The website will continue to run. In the event we begin seriously fading away, there will be a fair warning.

With a heavy heart, thank you for your participation. It's my sincere hope that a new "torchbearer" will come forward, and you all will continue your efforts unabated.

Quote:A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet   pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said,
 "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away."
 The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
 
"Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead," replied the vet.

"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything.   He might just be in a coma or   something."

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left   the room.

He returned a few minutes later with a black   Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement,   the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and   shook his head.

The vet patted the dog on the head and took it   out of the room.

A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately   sniffed the bird from head to foot. 
 The cat sat back on its   haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of  the room.

The vet looked at the woman and said,   "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely,   100% certifiably, a dead duck."

The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a    few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the   bill.
 "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell   me my duck is dead!"

The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you   had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan,   it's now $150.

Happy Birthday President Trump  :

Quote:Floridians mark Trump’s birthday with flotillas, caravans