Ten Random Thoughts

 1.  This BS statement that the US/NATO will pursue getting Ukraine within their NATO structure?

First, it would have to be approved by all members of NATO.  I don't see Turkey or Hungary agreeing so it's a BS topic.

But adding to it....if I were Russia, I'd say you were now on the enemy list and send out 5,000 special forces personnel to crap up dams, railways, bridges, and nuke power plants....to send a message.

2.  This prosecutor character (Wade) out of Georgia seems to be in more trouble with the ex-wife, and being dragged back into court....over failure to pay bills.  

3.  This idea of naming Dulles Airport (Virginia) after Trump?  Well.....it got brought up this week in the House.

Here's the thing....if you asked 10,000 Americans where Dulles was located....95-percent would have no idea. While a major airport....it's also a unknown airport.

4.   Just odd...Fed still hinting of a rate cut by the end of 2024.  If you listen to business and banking folks....a quarter-point does NOTHING.  Even a half-point....does NOTHING.  So the Fed chatter?  Just BS?

5.  Just odd in Maryland, they keep talking about a tax hike in the state, and keep wondering why Republican interest for the Senate race is so high.

6.  Highest crime rate in NYC....in 20 years?  And the mayor says it's just a perception problem.  For the record, 386 murders in NYC for 2023.

7.  There's chatter going on in the Texas border region that the cartels are seeking intelligence on all the Sheriffs of the region....either to blackmail, or counter through intimidation.  

8.  These 5-star vacations that Biden went on....paid for by wealthy folks?  Well....he was supposed to....by law....report the cost to the gov't.  He skipped that....saying either he forgot, or that it was to be reported....sooner or later.

9.  You just keep looking for people and groups to unify under President Biden, and it seems like they walked off and don't feel unified.

10.  This Bird-Flu BS?  You better start to prepare for Covid II.  

Real World

 I gazed at the short story out of NYC, and was left to imagine the moment when the TSA guy hit the 'crown-jewels' of the translady, and how he showed his apology.

He could utter....'sorry, maam'.  He could have offered some ice to resolve the pain.  He could have offered some sympathy.

But it's an interesting scene....security checkpoint and some lady half-bent-over and sobbing and you passing by.....probably thinking the lady's aunt died or her husband left for the FEDEX-delivery-lady.  The reality is....her balls got whacked.

Doom Story

 

I paused over this story....over several sites this AM.  

"100 times worse than Covid."

The trouble here....after dealing with Covid and the political/economic affects, I'd say around sixty-percent of the country won't participate in another Covid-like experience.

Economically?  The nation is already in a dangerous recession situation, and if you invented another 2-year Covid-episode....it'd finish off probably two-third's of the banks in the nation.

Would you want Joe Biden steering this mess?  Probably not.

Just shaking my head....this won't work a second time.

TB

 Well....it's a curious development.  I'm guessing state authorities are talking to the Fed and asking for advice....with nothing being said or offered in terms of help.

If there are 55 just in Chicago, I'd guess in NYC....it's close to 200.  Across the US....it's probably in the 3,000 range.

As you bunk up a hundred guys/gals in some gym or open warehouse.....it'll just spread around.

In five years?  You probably will know at least one neighbor who got TB somewhere.  Funny how we thought we got rid of it.

Gen Z Problem

 

I sat and pondered over this item today.

Basically, Gen-Z people have a particular problem....when you (the non-Gen-Z'er) converse and say something (maybe 4 lines)....they pause over what you said and try to interpret the words and meaning.

They also try to establish if you said something harsh, critical or negative.  

It would be like some chimpanzee trying to review your actions as friendly or hostile, but having no clear ability to grasp much beyond you showing your teeth or offering them a banana.

So imagine yourself in a position where there's a 6-minute talk between you and the Gen-Z 'kid', and you see at least eight different facial expressions indicating they are reacting in some way in a frightened or negative way.  The 6-minute talk?  Well....it might have been about restocking the paper trays for the copy machines throughout the company floor, or ensuring the horses get fed by 4 PM.

Yeah, this is crazy stuff to realize, but it begs the question....how will they survive in the adult world?

Three Things

 1.  I noticed over the weekend...someone brought up a receipt issue from a fast-food burger place (Carls Jr).  They were asking at the clerk's point....if you were eating there or leaving with the food (bagging required). 

Once you established bagging required....they charged you 10-cents.  I assume for the paper-bag.

Yeah, this is how bad this whole dining out thing has gotten.

Would I pay for the 10-cents?  No.   I'd probably just carry some re-useable bag with me and throw the food in it.

Over a year?  Well....if everyone did that....like the Pizza Hut folks charging me 20-cents for the box, or BK charging 10-cents for the bag, or the donut-folks charging me 10-cents there.....I might go throw away $10 a year....for what was free before.

2.  Ten percent of society is probably walking around and wanting to share how their childhood and ancestral trauma fell apart (20 years ago) and is now responsible for their repressed guilt and rage. Other than talking continuously about it....consuming drugs and alcohol, there's not much hope for them ever being 'fruitful'.

3.  There's a bill (draft currently) floating around Vermont right where...if passed....it would mandate that libraries would not provide a listing of your kid's reading material, from age 12 on.

I sat and pondered over it.  As a kid in rural Alabama...using the county library...I can remember them having zero lists.  They just knew the books you had out currently.  

Having parents monitor your reading material?  Is this how far we've gone in the past forty-odd years? Would it be necessary....only because the library started a kinky-sex section and having bondage novels for 14-year old kids?

This is how weird things have become.

At the current pace of things...I expect some 14-year olds to openly challenge marriage laws and get minimum age requirements tossed out. 

That Bridge

 

In the past week, I've probably spent 4 hours watching/reading over the Baltimore bridge that was 'hit' and collapsed.  

It is a fascinating thing....how many ships came in and out of the port over the past thirty years....never once collapsing the bridge. 

As for the clearing time?  I have no doubt that the damaged portions will be removed within sixty days (being clear by mid-June).

But as for the construction phase?  Yeah, environmentalists will step in and various lobby groups....to ensure it's only built by black construction companies (likely hiring 90-percent illegals to perform the work).  

I don't think the opening ceremony will be until 2033 (earliest).  Adding to this....some group will emerge and demand that a statue be on the end of the new bridge to hone the half-dozen migrant pot-hole crew members.  

Billions?  Without any doubt, this will exceed two billion easily.  

The funny thing?  I'll predict some Chinese company comes up and says they can rebuild it in 18 months, with various past projects as evidence.  But to accomplish this....they will ask for permission to bring in 10,000 visa-approved Chinese folks to handle the work.  That's my prediction.