Six Humble Thoughts

1.  Apparently, Adam Kinzinger says now....that he simply didn’t know helping an illegal immigrant/migrant avoid ICE deportation is a crime (actual felony).

I suspect if you asked 1,000 Americans....more than 30-percent would say the same thing.

Where things went wrong?  Hard to say....maybe schools just went to a goofy list of topics in the 1990s.

2. “Look, we had the most qualified person who'd run for president in the country's history at the top of the ticket. That in itself should have got this thing won.”

Quote by Tim Walz yesterday.

I'll just say....from all candidates (including primaries)...Harris was probably the least capable person for the past sixty years.

3. People aren't as stupid as they used to be....they are more stupid.

4.  What really happens when driverless cars are accepted?  Well....you can drink to excess, and let the car hopefully get you home.

5.  If district judges want 'responsibility'.....let them run for the office of President.  The trouble here....if you line up 1,000 voters and the guy's whole resume....mostly reads of law school, two decades of law practice and a dozen years as judge....I doubt if more than 10-percent of voters would feel he's up for the 'job'.

6.  Finally....I read this week....less than 5-percent of light bulbs sold in America....are MADE in America. 

Where NPR Lost Me

 I was a fairly regular listener to NPR...from the early 90s to around 2005/2006.  Even while stationed overseas....AFN often used their  news segments and re-aired them in the Ramstein region.

So one day....science-Friday came up (their normal Friday show).  This segment dealt with global warming/climate change/global cooling/carbon crap. The expert came up for a 30-minute talk/interview.

Caller came on and challenged the expert....saying solar winds/sun spots could contribute to 'change'.  'NO' was the response from the expert. 'Not possible' came up once or twice....to reassure the public.

Later, I took note of the guy's name and looked up his educational  background.....bachelors in X (related to climate change degree) and masters in Y (related to  climate change degree).  I noted the two colleges....then browsed to see the total catalog of courses offered.

Oddly....neither college offered a course in solar studies.  So I was left to wonder....he probably has no background in solar studies, but why take a 'not possible' position?

Over the weekend, I made the decision....I was finished with NPR. I saw it as a propaganda unit (at best).  

As for what happens to NPR without gov't funding?  I'm pretty sure at least ten Republican Senators will drag this 'dead-horse' out and try to save funding.   But I see it as a failed effort.

NPR, with some foundation help, and commercials....probably will survive....mostly by cutting the expensive staff, and relocating to a midwest state.   Money to keep state stations operational?   That will be the key problem....especially if colleges don't cover the cost factor. If you live in a highly rural state (like Iowa)....then there's likely to only be one single  repeater-station in the whole state....around the capital city.  Streaming?  Yeah, there  will be alot  of that....but the radio-traffic will doom the effort.