Reality To Grasp In 2025

 Both the Confederacy AND the Klu Klux Klan....were started by the Democratic Party. 

Yeah....it's hard for some folks to realize.

Also....by 1865, and 1920.....both were put into a lose-lose situation....oddly by Republicans.

Seven Things I Believe Now

 1.  Covid, more or less, became a test of how you accept or deny 'thinking' critically. Some passed....some failed.

2.   Watching 'Life of Brian'.....brings you to thinking critically about reality in 2025.

3.  The more I observe Jasmine Crockett....a college grad and 44 years old....I see her with the maturity level of a 10-year old  kid.

4. I suspect if you tested 1,000 college graduates.....a  decade later....you'd find that 50-percent of them on a IQ test.....would not rise above 85.

5.   Two out of three Americans....if they needed $2,000 for an emergency....data collection shows they don't have the money.  I believe....half of these people are mentally stressed to the point....that they are counting on the gov't, some relative, or church membership to 'save' them.

6.  If you asked most Americans to define a Democracy....the majority would say 'voting' is the only real definition to describe the word.

7.  I don't think any "hard" data exists on inflation, growth, spending, and incomes....for 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024.....from  the Biden crew.

Theater Chatter

 The NY Post wrote up a piece last week...entitled 'Movie theaters are trying everything to bring audiences back.'

Basically, ever since Covid....theaters are in a spiral, and can't get people to show up.

Part of the problem?  I would suggest for the past decade....it's been a crappy production element at play....making movies that you really don't care to view.  There was a period in the mid-70s....where for a year or two...it was crap.  Presently?  We are working on five to six consecutive years of mostly crap.

Another element?  If you were fairly stupid and putting $200-million at risk....making another Marvel 'loser'....you probably will just turn enough to break even.  

Houthi-Chatter

 I sat and read the whole Houthi-attack-discussion via Signal....with the Pentagon big-wig commentary this AM.  So four observations:

1.  Unlike previous administration BS....thoughtful commentary.

2.  Hate to suggest it...but half this stuff could have been written by Grok...Twitter's AI 'thing'.  

3. It seems like everyone is agreed...European Navy support is worthless.

4.  After the initial strike....I don't see a round-two occurring.

Five Things I Now Believe

 1. If you questioned a thousand Americans and brought up Houthi rebels (as in this Signal-Atlantic scandal)....asking folks who are the Houthi...99.99-percent would have no idea.  1-percent would say they are from the Houthi-Land...pointing toward Africa.  Another 1-percent would say it's some neighborhood in NY City.  

2.  People who get all chatty about fascism and remark that they spend an hour a day thinking about such stuff....probably have a mental disorder of some type.

3. It's going to come to a point in mid-2026 (18 months after the fire)....where LA admits they've only approved 1,000 re-build permits (out of 20,000 potential re-builds).  The city will be in the middle of a class-action lawsuit....with 1,000 folks demanding $1-million each for stalling the process.

4.  If you are in the middle of a two-year period at some 5-star PhD program....here on a student visa, and they find you out on protests/demonstrations....boy, you wasted an entire year of your life, for nothing.  You  will never get the visa back, and the money spent will be a joke.

5.  The odds that Signal is a CIA-Mossad project?  I now give it a 40-percent chance.

My Signal Idea

 I've been pondering....opening up a Signal account with a fake name...'Marvin McDougal McBubbles' and getting set up on the Pentagon addressee list....so I can have input to Pentagon and White House decisions.

I've got time since I retired, and readily admit....I might be better prepared for the BS required.

So if you read up on some new CNN scandal and some guy named McBubbles is mentioned....it's me.

Opinion of Seven Personalities

 1.  Gov Gavin Newsom.  He'll talk for 20 minutes, and then you come to realize that 98-percent was pure BS. He's the only guy who suggests to write a study....over a study...about studies....on how to analyze a study.

2. Jasmine Crockett. While 43 years old....she has the maturity level of a 11-year old  kid.

3.  Elon Musk.  Most all billionaires have a collection of cars....a island....a yacht...and seem hellbent on avoiding mentions of their visit to Epstein Isle.  He's the oddball guy....the exception.

4.  Katherine Maher, NPR CEO.  Out of her league,  and  will be unable to keep the  network afloat if funding dissolves.

5. Joe Biden.  I think symptoms of memory loss were notable from 2018. From 2022....he was full-blown 'out'.

6. Ambassador John Stevens....dead, and likely never understood the whole mission...he was supposed to get some missiles 'back', and pay in some way for them.  

7.  Ilhan Omar, House Representative.   Look....there's no doubt that she married her blood-relative (brother)....but this was to get him a Green Card.  Later they divorced. As long as it was just a paper-act and nothing else....just get over the illegality of the act.

Something Else About This Signal-Alex Wang-Michael Waltz-Jeffrey Goldberg 'Scandal'

 Just odd....yesterday...several folks commented that this Pentagon Security Advisor...Waltz....KNOWS Goldberg (leaked to him before).  This unknown status that Waltz proclaims?  Probably BS.

Waltz also has been connected to Romney and McCain in the past (another problem).

It's entirely possible that Waltz set Wang (the junior Exec of his) up for the fall....figuring Wang would get blamed and fired. 

And one other observation....this is a situation where I would have asked the seven or so folks....if they wanted to comment....come to the Pentagon at x-time, and I'd have a catered situation lunch or dinner....for 90 minutes in a secure place. Or  you could have had a classified  'Zoom' meeting set (each has such a facility). 

How This 'End' of NPR/Public TV Will Shape Up?

 Within 90 days....the 2026 budget will shape up, and I'll make three predictions:

1.  NPR is given a massive cut....enough to complete 2025, and to provide for a quarter or two of 2026.   At that point....no further gov't funding.

2.  I think NPR could survive via foundations, and a major cutting of management folks.  But I also think the 'hosts'/journalists  core would have to be cut....with probably half the new folks limited  to $60k a year on salary for basic starter pay (1st ten years).   Whether they are interested in this business model? I have no idea.

3.  As for public TV? If they were to stick to education and  culture....leaving the news format out....they might get the funding to survive on.  They probably will argue news/talk is part of their requirement.....thus getting nothing.

From the mid-70s to the early 1990s....I was a regular listener of NPR.  At some point around 2000....I considered more of a propaganda vehicle....than what they were designed for.  

This Signal-Alex Wang-Michael Waltz-Jeffrey Goldberg 'Scandal'

 Six Observations:

1.  First, after reading the first version and updated version of what Goldberg wrote for the Atlantic....saying it was Secret....I came to the conclusion....whoever wrote the first part (suggesting Waltz)....attended a bare basics discussion and attempting to call  it a classified war plan....is like watching 'Gone With The Wind' and  having some idea about how the Civil War will go.  

Yeah, it's bare bones stuff, and if you were the enemy....you'd be shaking your head. It's of zero value.

2.  Wang's involvement? Well....if you read this....he added Jeffrey's fake name/address onto the Signal guest/addressee list.  If you read his background....yeah, he's a rock-solid Biden guy and I'd ask how the Pentagon guys decided keep him on the list.

3.  The purpose of the Signal product? Best that I can see....some folks wanted to talk about priorities. Whoever they thought  Jeff was pretending to be....they assumed he knew something.  Why not address all of this on  Secret LAN system?  That's a total mystery to me, and just an indicator of how lazy they are.

4.  Goldberg doing anyone favors?  Well....no.  

5.  So back to the main topic...at some point in  two or three weeks....there's to be some airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.  There's to be some dead Houthi guys who signed up for something, and got a raw deal.  

6. Finally, this Wang guy?  He's probably got a job search likely going on.

Oh, and do I think this all leads back  to some Mossad players?  Yeah.

This Judge Chatter

 A couple of years ago...I was reading through a commentary that dealt with judicial 'power' being used to create law (avoiding the legislative and executive branches), and the person came to the end to suggest three ending scenarios.  

The end?  Well....this was before Trump came along (2016)....but the idea was that some President would refuse to play along with the 'created' powers of these federal judges (and probably the Supreme Court).

The effect of the scenarios that follow? 

More-or-less....public attention would go down this path....like Superman had lost  his powers, and federal judges came to be just a traveling-circus-show.

By the end of 2025....I suspect even the Supreme Court will be in this lost power situation.  

As for people being confused and saying democracy has 'fallen'? Well...how would you want to make laws....without the House having a say in the matter?

Odd Story

 I sat and watched a Tempe, AZ news piece today.....couple of cops were on a break....at Starbucks....having a coffee (journalist says six).  

Apparently...someone went to  the Starbucks  'boss', and said they felt 'unsafe', wanting the shift-manager to ask them to leave.  Cops took the request, and quietly left.

Word got out, and you ended up with two public situations brewing.

One group, supporting the police....'this is crazy stupid' being the reaction....with corporate Starbucks saying basically the same thing.

Other group....saying they feel 'unsafe' around any police, period.

Analyzing this....it's just odd how people list umpteen different folks as making you feel 'triggered' (unsafe).  I just can't recall something like this in society in 1970s/1980s.

I could see today....folks feeling triggered with Mennonites, guys-in-football-jerseys, trampy-dressed-women, Jehovah's people, or even bald guys.

Numbers Story

 Over the weekend....AOC and Bernie Sanders had a rally...enntitled 'against oligarchy',  So some folks collected cell phone data of the event.

What you can say for a fact....Around  84 percent of folks....had gone to nine or more 'brand' events (mean Kam, Antifa, BLM, pro-Hamas or pro-Palestinian).

Another number fact...roughly one out of three had attended a minimum of twenty 'brand' rallies.

The general number claimed to be there at the event?  Around 30,000....more or less.  

So analyzing the data...if the 30,000 number is true....then at least 25,000 were 'brand' attendees...and in all probability....paid in some fashion to be there.  

Pay scale?  I would imagine busloads of folks...providing a dinner menu ($20) and somewhere around $100 for attendance....the cost factor (without the bus cost) is in the $3.1-million range.  

Who spent the $3.1-million?  Unknown....just a humble guess, it came from USAID payments over the past four years.  

Movie Review: The Electric State (Off Netflix)

 Last week, off Netfli....the 'Electric State' came up (new movie).   

Look, it's marginally a two-star movie...costing $320 million to make.  

The sy-fi script? Crap.

The acting? Marginally acceptable.

I'd advise you....if you need entertainment off Netflix....go look for South Korean productions.

Three Humble Observations

 1.  Whats to come of these judge situations and the Trump Administration?

Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution says....judges can hold their office/power....as long as they show "good behavior".

I would speculate toward July....patience will have run out, and compensation/pay will be terminated because of the behavior issue.  At that point, the President will give the Supreme Court one chance to clean up the mess, and they will fail.   Then you will have one-hundred-plus judges working for free.  We'll see how long this can work.

2.  By the end of 2025....the news media  will actively discuss the idea that the Democratic Party is 'broke'.  

What comes in 2026?   At least forty House seats held by the Democrats will likely shift to Republicans, along with six Senate seats.  In  2027, I would suggest at least two groups trying to rebuild the Democratic Party....one to a far-left extreme and one to a moderate degree.   2028?  Building up to be a mess.

3.  Chatter off the internet says (BS maybe)....you can earn $100 if you attend the "Oligarchy Tour" run by Bernie Sanders and AOC.  The tour?  Roughly a 90-minute event, if the chatter is true.   So you could waste 1.5 hours of your time.....earning a $100.   

This Chatter of the Department of Education Ending

 I grew up and finished high school before DoE came to exist (1979).   I guess I was in the lucky group.

Around the late 1980s....I worked around older NCOs who had kids in school, and 'changes' were being discussed.  'Sarge' was disgruntled over various little changes....where the kid didn't 'get' it.  A change in education tactics was taking place, and the teachers were wasting twelve hours....trying to get a simple process across (the old process would have consumed four class-hours).  

In the 90s....these changes started to occur in college environments....where they were getting less-than-average students, and expected to bring them up a notch.  I'd offer the observation....this simply meant colleges were starting to set themselves up as the 11th/12th grade-plus education system (what was not taught in high school...the college would make up the 'loss').

Around 2011, I worked with a guy whose daughter was wrapping up high school....considered highly gifted....and applying for George Mason University.   They accepted her, but required a English and math assessment test.  Failing both....the college required her to take a pre-college course (actually two courses).  Dad had to pay for this and was peeved....why didn't she have the knowledge required for a 12th-grade assessment test.....was the question asked.  I didn't say much but thought....well....she's really not so gifted.

This 'gifted-label' gets tossed around a good bit these days.  I imagine that the majority of gifted folks....are actually less than average.  But it's probably a bad thing to mention this in public.

So while all of this was going on....more fake gifted-teachers completed college, and got jobs in schools across the country.  

I doubt that this was a design or planned-out....but you end up now with most kids probably at the 8th/9th grade level....finishing high school, and colleges wasting 1 to 2 years....teaching 11th/12th grade topics, and most folks wrapping up college at a junior college level.  The cherry on this cake?  You borrow $80,000 in student  loans.....have what is a junior college degree.

Weird Chatter

 Yesterday, I came upon this new update with the Pyramids of Egypt....which you can view off Twitter (here).

The story?  Around three years ago....some PhD guys asked if they could use newly developed advanced radar....for above-ground and below-ground sections of the area of the Pyramids.

Last year....they finished data-collection and about 10 days ago....they laid out this new 'issue'.

Long before any stone was laid down for the Pyramids....there was a digging project.

The depth of this digging?  648 meters (2125 ft, roughly 40-percent of a mile).  One single digging?  Well....NO.  The 'boys' (whoever did the digging)....laid out eight cylindrical 'tubes'...with some kind of coil around each.  But then at the bottom of these 'tubes'....there two 'boxes-or-chambers' staged. Size of each box/chamber?  80 meters in diameter.  Purpose of the box/chamber?  So far, they say it's container....for water.  

The 'coil' part of the story?  Well.....you really don't know the 'use' or 'function', or material used.

Why you needed a container down at half-a-mile, for water?  Unknown....no one even speculates on this engineering marvel.

Answering questions?  No....it just begs more problems.

I would imagine the PhD guys would like to have a digging machine  and go  down 2,125 ft and see what the box-chamber is made of, and if there is water inside.  

The amount of effort to dig to this depth, put eight 'tubes' in and lay two boxes/chambers at that depth....then go and erect the pyramids themselves?  You can go and double the manpower required.

Obvious work of the Pharaoh-crew? No....they dug tunnels for burial sites, but this tube business and double-box/chamber stuff.....way beyond their technology.

Disturbing the Egyptians?  I would suggest the chief committee who oversees tourism/protection....are in a wild meeting situation.  Last year, they pulled in $14-billion from tourism alone.....they don't want something to destroy that gimmick.

So I came to five humble thoughts....

1.  Whoever dug this.....this was not their first such project...they'd obviously done this before (perhaps on a lesser scale) and they had developed this technology after decades of 'use'.

2.  All this burial site stuff?  You can dump that and assume that some Egyptians came upon the site....bluffed the public at that time some legend BS.

3.  The talk so far is that the two boxes/chambers....are simply water containers.  But you can't say this with any reliability.  So digging down....is a necessity.

4.  The pro-Egyptian-Pharaoh could still bluff their way through this....saying the Pharaohs in question are buried in the two chambers at the bottom, and 20-odd years were wasted in just digging the 'hole'.

5.  Finally, there's other pyramids around the world....you reckon that 10-percent of them have a tubes/boxes/chambers?  

The weirdest idea?  Well....at that depth....the chambers would  make a fine bomb-shelter.  Just me saying that though. 

My suggestion.....dig a hole to  where you can put a tour 'module' in a separate pit....200 ft away, then dig a hall to the two chambers.  Offer tourist a chance to enter...paying $300 a visit.  

Rogan's Topic

 I sat this morning and looked over commentary yesterday VP-candidate (2024) Tim Walz.....who  talked about Kamala Harris not being on Joe Rogan's podcast.

Basically, he said he didn't  think it would have changed much.....if she had shown up.

My belief?  

I think she would  have written an iron-clad rule....a interview with Joe, and not to last more than 25-to-30 minutes, with a list of 25 potential questions pre-approved. 

For those who haven't viewed Rogan's show....he doesn't do interviews....he has conversations.  Typically, these go on for two hours, and most approach three hours.

Harris?  She has a serious phobia of long talks, and stresses out. 

If she had attempted the format of Rogan's show....it would have been dismal results, and made her look foolish.

But looking back....if you had George Bush on Rogan's show....same results....Bush would have looked like an idiot.  Hillary Clinton?  Probably the same way.  McCain, Obama?  Same way.   

I imagine Reagan might have sat there for four hours chatting away....same for Jimmy Carter.

It's just odd how  we still engage on this topic, and wonder....what could have happened?

Ten General Rules I Live By

 1.  If someone seems whacko and full-up crazy....I don't give them time to explain things to me or detail their childhood, or their relationship to the second wife, or the month they spent in some Peruvian jungle, or their experiences with drugs/alcohol.

2.  Generally, the more technology you throw into something....the less likely I'm thrilled to buy it.

3.  There is always a plan-B roaming around in my head.

4.  If there appears to be at least a foot of flood-water on the road.....I'm reversing and returning to my starting point.

5. If a story is overly complicated and requires five minutes to tell....you probably will lose me at the end of two minutes.

6.   Focus upon things you can control.  If you can't control x-number of things....avoid them.

7.  Don't be stupid and promise 3,000 things....promise only what you can deliver.

8.  Any resort that offers up a package of all-inclusive 'drinks' (like cocktails)....usually gives you something of low-content alcohol.  So always bring a flask along on such trips, and 'reload' your drink with the flask.

9.  If some 'deal' seems overly complicated (taking 10 minutes to explain)....probably should be a deal to avoid.

10.  If you've met someone at the airport, lounge, or city park....who seems to be wanting to drag you into a conversation on Covid....it's probably like a PTSD-thing and they feel either guilty, or stupid.  Give them five minutes of your patience....then retreat/leave.  

Humble Observations Over Taking Panama Canal (Militarily)

 I was stationed in Panama for 3 years (mid-80s)....so I have a fair amount of insight  to the country and the canal.

First, all the way through the last 70-odd years of US operations of the canal....Panamanians felt it made profit, and they should share in the profit.  To be blunt, the incoming fee for transit....if you added up the normal yearly costs....it paid for operations, period.  There was never a profit.  Added on.....Congress gave the canal tens of millions yearly....to cover upgrades.  

Second, since the US left.....ALL of the base properties (Army, Navy and Air Force) have been in a re-use situation.  So trying to put 10,000 to 20,000 US troops in the region again....requires a ton of new infrastructure....figure $30-billion minimum.

Third, if you really wanted to throw a 'curve'  into the mix.....offer up statehood, and US citizenship to Panamanians (population, 4.5-million).  I would imagine over 75-percent of the public would see it as favorable.

Fourth, to fix the water-problem for the canal operation.....you will have to enlarge Lake Gatun....figure at least 25-percent larger than now.  Environmentalists freaking out?  Oh yeah.

Fifth and final....back in 2017.....they figured around 25,000 Americans permanently living in Panama.  Currently, with the crazy expansion in Chiriquí region (NW)....there's probably around 80k to 90k Americans in the country.  At the pace of things....by 2035....I would imagine over 200,000 Americans being there.

Chief draw for the Americans?  One season weather (really the rainy season and the dry season), low crime, low stress, and cost of living.

Rotator Cuff Story

 Back around Xmas of 2023....I had a shoulder issue.   After four weeks, I went to the Air Force clinic at Ramstein.  Basically....I could not raise my arm above a certain level, and it hurt like 'hell'.  Getting a restful night of sleep?  Zero possibility.

AF Doc didn't think it was a rotator cuff injury but didn't really test things. I get pain killers.

Month passes....no improvement. I go to a German doctor (Tricare covers), and he has no idea....but sends me onto a catscan situation.  Technician views the scan....we talk.

He says 'yep'....rotator cuff injury.  I wanted to avoid surgery (typically recommended).   He says....go to your local gym 'geek', and get advice on weights/stretching.

'Karl' (my German gym tech) takes me to one single machine, and tells me 3 ways of using it with my shoulder.  

It's a rough year, but I am probably 90-percent recovered and have 90-percent use of the shoulder. 

Financial Piece Worth Viewing

Worth viewing on bank spiral approaching.

My View of Ramadan

 Back around 2015....I ended up in a German language class (maybe 18 folks).  Of that...maybe seven were Islamic men (Syria, Iraq, Tunisia).  Four of us were either American, Asian, or African. Rest were Islamic women.

So we came to this period of time for Ramadan.  About the 2nd day of this....I could see four things developing. 

First, concentration among the Islamic guys drained out quickly in the first hour (5-hour class per day).   For those unaware....Ramadan lasts about four weeks.

Second, as much as the guys were consumed and dedicated.....to refuse drinks (even water)...it was obvious that the women hydrated in some secret fashion...without getting seen.  I'm not blaming anyone or rating out any lady....but it just seemed obvious.  

Third, avoiding 'smokes' is part of the game....so by noon (last hour of class)....this being summer.....they had not smoked in almost 7 hours.  These guys were aggravated and without any patience.

Fourth and final....the key rule of Ramadan.....you are fasting to the extreme...from sun-up to sun-down.  Dehydration? Yeah....I would imagine they were all suffering badly by the 3rd week of this.  

So if you asked me...in a shop or business....this four-week period is a highly dangerous period, and likely older Muslim guys die for the 'cause'.

Q-and-A

 1.  Would I buy a E-car (like a Tesla)?

NO.  I keep seeing these garage fires....where the e-car  was recharging and fire started up.  Here in Germany....I even notice the E-bike fire coverage.....where some gal had her bike in the apartment hallway....recharging, and flames started up.  

Now, if hydrogen (H-cars) come along.....I'll check out the deal.

2.  Who gets the Nobel Peace Prize for Russia-Ukraine?

Well....it wouldn't shock me if they gave it to the Saudis or sitting in the room and talking Ukraine into accepting the initial deal.  They can't possibly give it to Rubio or Trump.

3.  How far has air travel 'fallen'?

Back in the 1980s/1990s....I considered any air travel as special.  It was a uplifting experience.

Around 2007...I had my first 5-star negative experience while.....'stuck' in NYC.  If I count all 3-star and 4-star negative experiences since then....I'm up around 15 crappy experiences.  

On almost every trip I take now....when flying....I have some time devoted to plan-B circumstances....if the flight fails.  I'm supposed to go to Hamburg in 2 weeks.....no flight planned.....just a 3-hour high-speed rail adventure. 

4.  Will  Diddy ever leave prison?

By the time they finish......I suggest that he's going to do well over 50 years of jail-time.

5.  Former First Lady Michelle Obama launching a weekly podcast?  

Yeah.  Keeping her name out there, and possibly running in 2028 (my guess).

6.  How many journalists have a background or knowledge level in economics?

My humble view?  Less than 2-percent.  So when some of them get  to  talking over business or commerce....I tend to mute the talk.

Fake Protests?

 There's supposed to be a anti-Elon and anti-DOGE protest in DC this week, and it came out yesterday.....they could not get enough unpaid protesters to show....so they are paying them.

Going rate in DC?  Forty dollars an hour.  I assume....four to five hours a day....so you could collect $250 per day. 

Who has the cash?  Unknown.  I watched one interview....journalist asking pay-scale, and the response.  (Here)

Three days of pay?  Yeah....by Friday....the guy will have cleared in the range of $750 to $1000.  Reported  to IRS? I doubt it.

Could you make this a profession? Well....you'd have to line up weekly protests.  I guess you could clear $8k a year....if you were hooked up to five or six organizations.

The problem here...CBS,  NPR, and CNN have film-footage from the protest, and act like the fifty-odd folks there  are true-blue protest folks....when really....they were paid.  News value?  Well....I'd say zero.

Five Conspiracy Theories That I'm Starting To Wonder About

 1.Is Epstein dead?  This was the biggest 'help' in decades for Mossad, and they would not allow him to pass on.....so  I suspect a made-up fake-Epstein died in the cell.

2.  Is the real Ghislane Maxwell in a federal pen?  I'm starting to question that she'd be stupid enough to be found in Bradford, NH.  

3.  Tren de Aragua gang members.....I'm beginning to wonder if political donations to various prosecutors/sheriffs....are allowing them to freely 'operate'

4.  I'm beginning to wonder....if 99-percent of Joe Biden's signatures were done by auto-pen....starting from day ONE.  If true....nothing is legit.

5.   I suspect this Crooks-kid (the first Trump shooter)....will eventually lead back to a Ukrainian operative.  Just a wild-crazy thought.

How A NGO Works

 You wake up and decide that you want to make  fantastic sums of money, with no risks.

So you write down a plan to have a sanctuary for elephants...quantity of five (Marcel, Woody,  Helga, Pinky and Wanda).  You write the paperwork to show they are residing in South Africa.   You get a picture of five regular elephants, with some helper-guys.

Then you create a name for the 'charity' ('Greater-Good' is a decent name).  You bundle up $5k as a political donation to some House Democrat.  You tell him that you need a USAID package....mostly for $3-Million in 'loot'. 

In clear conversation....you let him/her know that of the $3-Million.....at least 10-percent of the 'loot' will funnel back to him in Act-Blue donations over the next year.  

You set up a bank account in South Africa.  You put some 'elephant-helper' down as as the chief....paying them for a side-hustle. 

You apply to USAID with the paperwork, and the $3-Million arrives.  You slide $300k toward Act-Blue for your 'sponsor', and you convert the remaining $2.7-Million and turn it into BitCoin....then fly into the Bahamas....converting it into cash.  

If anyone ever asks....just say your five elephants were kidnapped by some tribe, and you spent the money on a elephant-detective.  

A Fraud Story

 This AM....I was going through at least 300-odd stories, and this popped-up.

DOGE says....the found this bundle of loans....adding up to $312 million, from the US loans during the COVID pandemic....involving 'kids'.

What did they mean by kids?  Well....11 years old or younger (when the issuance was done).

Who approved this crap?  The Small Business Association (SBA).

How many total?  They figure around 5,600 loans (2020/2021).

Lacking These loans, distributed in 2020 and 2021 amid the global COVID-19 crisis, lacking documentation.

What happens?  I'm guessing 'dad' ('Uncle Elon) will send out some folks, and 'Wanda', 'George', and 'Micky' will end up with a fed guy at the front door.

Kid's age now?  All of  these were 11 or younger......so it's possible that they might only be 12 or 13 years old at this point.

The average here?  Well....'Micky' probably borrowed around $55,000....assuming each was in the same level.

What may have happened?  I would suggest one of three scenarios:

1.  'Micky' has no idea what happened, and his dad submitted the paperwork under 'Micky's' name. In that case.....dad has to cough up the $55k or go off for a year of fed-prison time.

2.  Wanda saw what dad did....to get $200,000 for his business....got up at 2AM, and filled out the same paperwork, and got a check from 'Daddy-Joe' then spent the $55k on Barbie stuff.

3.  Hector (from Nicaragua) got some data....did a fake request, and got the check himself for $55k.  

The worst scenario?  You discover that a whole class of 10-year old kids (twenty-four of them) had this as a class project to just learn how to fill  out forms, and then actually submitted them....each getting $55,000 two months later.

You might want to note.....this is ONLY for people under the age of eleven.  There's a second Elon group....12-to-18....which they are working on, and it could be a bigger deal.

The 20-Percent Story

Over the weekend, I read through a US Army story.....where they did the analysis, and agree....over 2024....they have an issue where 20-percent of recruits signed up and in the Army....end-up leaving/exiting by the  2-year point (way ahead of the contract).

Reason?  They avoided discussing this part of the story....it's  purely a numbers issue and story.

If  I were to speculate?  Since 2020....the Army had to lighten  the standards....to get people to sign up.  So they changed the dynamics.

You could have past drug issues....saying you were cleaned up.  You could have a lesser IQ, and they'd accept that.  You could have fitness issues or serious weight issues....they'd waiver that. 

I read a 'rant' about a year ago....from some Army NCO....where he'd had to paperwork two individuals for release.  One had behavioral issues....not able to work as a team-member (questioning authority).....the other had IQ-type issues (reading and comprehension was below what the Army could handle). The 'rant' touched on the man-hours involved, and that the Army had wasted hundreds of man-hours to get them through boot-camp and some type of occupational training. 

A trend that could harm the Army in the end?  Well....you would think they'd learn from the trend, and go back to recruitment....adding a test or two....to avoid problems.

But this brings me to the non-Army world....where you run a grocery, or handle HR for Wal-Mart, or hire young folks for a tire-shop.  Are you likely getting 20-percent of potential failures as well? 

And if the national trend is to produce 20-percent 'losers'....what does it say about the future of the US, and it's work-force? 

List of Things

 1.  The last Canadian thing I bought?

Some Canadian-produced maple syrup in 2017.  It was overly expensive, and I still have the bottle on the shelf (half-full)....used for only special waffles.

2.  Three movies I can watch over and over?

Along Came Jones, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World, and North By Northwest.

3.  The amount of patience I have to sit in a Baptist church sermon?

About eight minutes worth, 

4.  My trust in watching/believing Fox News?

Over a one-hour period....I probably will hit mute at least five times (minimum of two minutes at a whack).

5.  Times in 2024 that I drunk a Coke-Cola?

Three. Back in 1979.....it would have been in the 400-range.  

6.  My immediate reaction when some political figure turns on a fake southern accent? 

I mute the rest of their talk, and generally distrust the person on a permanent basis.

7.  If I were in charge of day-light savings-time?

I'd end it.  If you have some hankering to keep it....add it to LGTBQ-DLS and let people know that you not only need special pronoun 'help'....but time 'help' as well.

8.  Minutes of Alex Jones prior to 2020 yearly?

Maybe 60 total, per year.  In the past month....maybe 100 minutes per week.

9.  Number of episodes of SWAT I've watched since 2017 (8 seasons)?

One.  Also the number for Baywatch.

10.  My interest in watching NFL games?  

Zero....it's been that way since 2012.

11.  My philosophy over UFOs with flashing lights?

No stupid alien would add disco-lights to his craft.....just more things to break.  So it's a fake UFO.

Something I Noticed

 Wall Street Journal piece....brief, but their 'fact'....somehow, the Biden folks running the FHA mortgage program added a regulation of some type....which gave you as a bad-off home-owner with a loan situation you couldn't pay....'relief'.

So the Trump folks stumbled into this in the past month.

Number of people who should have defaulted and failed?  One-million roughly from day one, to the general end of Covid..

This went on as Covid-help, and as Covid ended....the 'help' continued on.  The figure presently discussed (2025)?  300,000 (more or less).

Broken down state-by-state?  No....and that was something that I think would help people better understand.  I suspect (no evidence)....that it's mostly larger metro-areas where this is noted.

Fixing this?  No one has interviewed the Trump folks on how this is going to evolve now.

Things I Now Believe Will Occur

 1.  November 2026....Minimum of 20 seats in the House flip to Republicans.  

2.  California....will find for the rest of 2025....no effort to cover fire losses with fed-money.  Trump will deny them funds until they agree to clean up voting registration and agree to some ID requirement to vote.

3.  We eventually learn that the total manpower (civilians and military) for Ukraine, lost in the war.....total over 600,000.  We will also learn that one-million Ukrainians living outside of the country.....have no desire to return..

4.  China will pursue 'selling' over 100 freighters to a Panama company....to avoid additional fees established by Trump for 'docking' at US ports.  We will eventually learn that while the CEO is an existing person....the seven board members are all non-existent.

5.  At  the end of twelve months of 'duty'....Marco Rubio is noted as the second most accomplished Secretary of State....in US history.

6.  Hunter Biden is arrested and charged-up (fresh and different charges).  The Biden-pardon goes to the Supreme Court....where by the summer of 2026...it's determined that it's non-functional.  At the conclusion of Hunter's case.....he's given a two-year prison sentence.  Trump pardons Hunter on the 30th day....if he admits all the cash flow to rest of the Bidens.

7.  This DOGE check that is often mentioned in the news?  Talked about at $5,000 a adult?  In the end....toward November (Xmas-season)....the check will end up being around $4,000.  It's more of a gift toward the Christmas season.

8.  Some California grocery stores start limiting customer entry by the end of 2025....to only customers with a active credit card. If you shop-lift....they will stop you at the door....charge your card, and add a $100 handling fee for 'lifting'. 

9.  At least 3,000 products will be identified as 'made in Mexico'....when in reality....they are made in China, and shipped with the 'M-I-M' stamp on the product.  

10.  The number two Trump-assassination guy will be shown to have made almost 100-percent of his income over a 4-year period....from Ukraine.  The organization paying him? I predict it will be related in some fashion as a USAID organization (charity-based).  None of this will make sense, unless you regard USAID as a friendly-criminal-front.  

Something To Ponder Upon

Columbia University went and did a pretty serious study....coming to this conclusion: ONE-HUNDRED-PERCENT of all teenage school shooters in 52 years were on an SSRI antidepressant medication.

Not 99-percent or 95-percent, or 90-percent.....ALL were on prescribed medication.

Path to violent behavior?  Yeah.  Homicidal thoughts?  Yeah.

Anything to occur now?   I doubt it.

Could Alberta (Canada) Become a 51st State?

 Well....there's a delegation of Alberta folks (non-governmental) who are visiting DC today, and talking over things.

To size up Alberta?  It's 2.7 times the size of Oregon, with a population of 3.6-million people.

Better positioned Canada province in terms of the economy?  Yeah.

Some US rule to allow entry?  No.  You'd have to have a Alberta vote....probably more than 70-percent of people....to get this even openly discussed.  Canadian gov't allowing them to leave?  I doubt that. 

But it's simply another sign that folks are fed up.

The 'Audio-Visual-Club' Story

 So....there in the late 1960s...at Bitburg Air Base (Germany).....someone noted that it was nearly impossible to get color TVs at the BX (AAFES).  To be honest, there were a lot of electronic gear that simply wasn't sold by the BX.

So....someone approached the Wing Commander and suggested that he allow the base recreational folks run a 'club'....audio-visual in design....to sell new gadgets.  He signed off, and in a matter of weeks....they had a demo-area set up and a couple of civilian spouses were sales-people.

Based on who is telling the story....in a matter of a couple of months....the BX  'boss' felt it was unfair competition (the base recreational fund was getting the profits....not the BX).  The wing commander didn't care....folks were happy, and consumers were getting what they wanted. 

The BX empire in Europe then went to the Air Force Headquarters and the four-star.   Again....it was unfair competition.  The general.....as the story goes....asked the BX why they couldn't sell the same gear....at  the same competitive price.  

By this point....most all air bases in Europe had a audio-visual club going on.

The BX  folks?  Well....they went into competition and tried to match wits.  It was almost like you had a bunch of 50-year old guys in management who could not recognize the era developing.   

So by mid-1970s....if you walked into a Ramstein, or Rhein Main....audio-visual  shop....you noted that they had a real LP section....a camera section....tons of stereo gear.  The BX folks....always 3 or 4 steps behind.

In 1978, as I arrived....I found the audio-visual shop at Rhein Main to be an interesting place.  Over a two-year period....I probably bought fifty albums. 

By the mid-1990s....the BX finally reached a point where they had the right people and the trend was in their favor.  The audio-visual clubs began to fade.

It reached a point in the mid-90s....in the vault I worked....that we engaged for about an hour about the competition fall-out, basic economics, and how the BX lagged so badly.

As long as you exist as a sole-source 'player'.....you don't care about competition, or developing new trends.  In the 30 years that the audio-visual clubs  existed....I don't think they had a real 'big-guy' strategy on trends....whatever came next, was simply accepted (they moved on).  The BX folks?  They couldn't maneuver that way.  If they did see a trend....it took a full-year to re-think the strategy....get orders in, and reach a new stage of competition.

As the BX maturity level evolved, and they erased the competition situation with audio-visual....another new era evolved....internet purchasing (Wal-Mart, Pennys, Amazon, etc).  

Around the 2008 era....you could guess that 50-percent of Germany-bound GI's were ordering and picking up via the post-office.  The BX had lost another competition battle.  

Retread TV Show Chatter

 I read today....Netflix intends to do 'remakes' of 3 1960s shows: 'Time Tunnel', 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea', and 'Land of the Giants'.

By early 2026....all three will start to show up.

So....from 'TT'....I've seen all thirty episodes.....one time only....from 1966, and I was addicted.  

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea....of the 110 episodes....I've probably watched forty of them.

Land of the Giants?  Of the 51 episodes....I've probably seen half of them.

Why bring these back?  I suspect they are running short of ideas.

My thoughts?  Well....I could see all three brought back....maybe eight episodes each, and maybe even lasting a 2nd season.  If you asked on my hokey-index....Land of the Giants never made  sense.

But I'd like to see Dark Shadows, and Planet of the Apes (the TV show) brought back.  

The 'Show'

 As a kid...I grew up in a time when local pro-wrestling on the TV every Saturday afternoon, and I tended to watch.  

In my later years (the Air Force era of 1981-1984)....I got cable TV in the barracks, and would watch Texas/Louisiana-based wrestling.  

It was always a simple theme....good guys versus bad guys.  

You needed a theatrical show....as realistic as possible.  The weirder the character (like the Great Kubaki, Andre the Giant, or Junk Yard Dog)......the more charged-up you got.

I look at the Trump era....as bringing in all these weird elements,  and  turning it into a evening show.....where you walk in....get through supper....open a beer, and turn on the TV to find out what Rubio has done today, or what Vance dumped on some poor CNN journalist, or what Kash said to the dimwitted MSNBC moderator.   Trump?   He's got a white board in the back of the 'stage' and  writing a whole week's worth of attention-items.....to keep you thrilled.

The Democrats?  Well....they've never encountered something like this.  There was the eight years of Obama, but they were mostly attempting this at one-quarter speed....throwing two or three highlights out each week.  Trump's crew?  They have probably sixteen highlights a day going on.

Appealing to black voters?  I can guarantee you....each evening....they are curious about what Elon has done....if Trump bashed Senator 'Pocahontas'.....if Vance has whooped Ukraine's Zelensky once again,  or if that Kash-guy has laid out the JFK-killing.

Democrats trying to get another theme or message?  It might take five years to figure out a strategy and counter this mess.  

Humble View of Trump's State Of The Union Speech

Five observations:

1.   If you were a media 'unit' (a news guy, a podcaster, a newspaper)....the speech wasn't for you.

2.  The content/theme?  It was for the farmer who'd lost respect Washington DC politics.  It was for the lumber sales guy who needed some dose optimism.  It was for the nurse who'd pulled a 16-hour shift and heavily disgruntled about bureaucracy in America.   It was for the hotel clerk who needed some morale-booster.  

3.  For the Democratic machine.....you need to find a theme/message/brand to deliver into the public that has nothing to do with anti-Trump-chatter.  You need to clear your agenda of present-day, and start preparing for a massive vote-problem in November of 2026.

4. At this point....no one remembers Joe Biden....he's ancient history.

5.  Social Security needs to confirm the dead people problem, and if 100,000 non-existent people are getting a check from them. Hint, there's a national ID card coming in six months....via Social Security, and you will have to present some real evidence of your ID.

My Snacko Era

 In my final couple of years in the Air Force....I volunteered to be the vault 'snacko'...meaning a duty to stock a refrigerator and sell sodas/snacks.  This was a group of 40 folks who were my 'customers'.

I developed this tactic of knowing the commissary system...where discounted items (sometimes one-third off) were offered. By the sixth month of operation....I was easily making $180 to $200 in profit on a monthly basis. At the end of each month...I'd run a free burger grill operation..

So one day at the base quickie-mart....at Ramstein...I turned the corner and here was a pallet of 'Michael Jackson Mystery Drink'.  

Basically....a heavy caffeine tea 'juice' was the wording on the BX card.

They were offering a case for 32-cents a can. I figured....what the hell, and bought a case for the snacko operation.

 Thirty days into the mystery drink episode....zero had been bought.

I decided one day to open a can...taste....and walk around with the can in my hand.  Taste? Just a crappy ultra-sweet tea.

The case sat there for most of a year.   I sold a total of two cans out of that experience.  

The end came....expiration date on the cans.  I popped the top of the remaining cans and dumped all of them....for a loss. 

Humble View of the Zelensky 'Visit'/Screw-Up

 Five observations:

1.  All of this  was talked over back on Monday (Rubio comment).  It was clear then....you arrive....friendly chat....sign the rare minerals understanding...no US participation in the ground situation or peace force....no entry into NATO.  

Zelensky flies in....has breakfast with some Senators,  and seems pepped-up to get a  alternate deal at the White House.  Takes about 15 minutes for Rubio to realize  the guy has a totally different plan.

2.  I don't think Trump will meet face-to-face with the guy again.

3.  Lot of chatter in Ukraine....impeachment chatter.  I kinda doubt that Zelensky is President by the end of March.

4.  Europe worried?  Well....they have no cards to play anymore.

5.  The war is over....it may require a month to clear out the fronts....but it's got no more possible thrills.