The housing problem

"Is Biden-omics going to cause another major reset on housing prices? Where millions will suddenly find themselves 'under water'? We will have to wait and see."

John and Mindy bought their very comfortable three-bedroom rambler about ten years ago. It is small, but the price was right, and they got a good deal on their mortgage rate. When the rates were at their lowest, they refinanced and got a 2.7% 30-year mortgage. They were in great shape - that is, until John's business unit moved to the other side of town. They then decided, it would be a good idea to move about 25 miles closer to where John worked.

Flash forward to Biden-omics. Joe Biden became president and had a friendly Congress. He starts spending money like a mind numbed moron. He took the fine economy that Trump had built and destroyed it. Pretty soon, all that spending led to inflation. Inflation, which had been barely a squeak during Trump, now was roaring once again. Soon the Fed stepped in and jacked up interest rates. Next thing you know, we once again have mortgage rates hovering around 8 percent.

Back to John and Mindy. After some house hunting, they found a few houses which fit their needs. But holy smokes! That inflation thing brought on by Biden-omics sure juiced up the prices! What was a $300,000 house just a few years ago, was now selling for $500,000. But the real shock came when they decided to talk to a realtor.

The first meeting with the realtor was a cold slap of reality. Not only were "they out of the game" for a half million-dollar split home on 1.5 acres of land, but the best interest rate also they could get was 6.9%. Sadly, the realization of their situation started to sink in. They needed to stay where they are, and have John take a huge commute through city traffic every day. Just like that, thanks to Joe Biden, they were stuck.

Right now, real estate is a mess. Commercial real estate has scads of vacant buildings. Why? That is another Biden/Democrat mess. Nobody wants to work downtown anymore, due to crime. The Democrats have de-funded the police, and any crook who gets caught, is set free by a Soros funded DA. Result - most major cities have a dystopian look to them. Welcome to three years of Biden-omics and Biden policies. 

Housing? We have a lot of people just like John and Mindy who are "stuck". By the way - if you are feeling pretty good about your paid-up house, have you thought who is going to buy it? All those appreciated dollars now have your house worth a pretty penny. And now with an interest rate of 6.9% finding a prospective buyer, good luck on that one! 

Is Biden-omics going to cause another major reset on housing prices? Where millions will suddenly find themselves "under water"? We will have to wait and see. Maybe everyone just needs to sit tight until next year when we get a normal president who can reverse all this Biden nonsense. In other words, sit tight and keep your fingers crossed. 

 

  

Guilty and guiltier

"Guilty and guiltier. Sleazy and sleazier. The Bidens. The whole family (expect Navy) makes me queasy. Some on the left feel the same about Trump. But at least, Trump got stuff done."

This is a pair to draw to. The Bidens. Dad (Joe the "Big Guy") is going through an impeachment inquiry, and Hunter (the crackhead), is under subpoena to be disposed by the House. First Hunter - he shows up at the Senate, has a blistering presser on how bad the "MAGA" Republicans are, and then blows off his date with the House. Then we have the "Big Guy". Now that the impeachment inquiry is going on, he blasted the MAGA Republican House for "not doing the people's business" - you know, like Joe does. In any event, the ball is now starting to roll. 

What will come out of all of this? Option One: Hunter gets pardoned by the "Big Guy", and the myth of two tiers of justice becomes a cold hard fact. Option Two: Hunter does not testify before the House, and then is held in contempt. Fines and maybe some jail time follows. Option Three: Hunter is tried for tax evasion, and even the great and powerful Abbe Lowell cannot save him from jail time. In any event, the poor grandchild (child of Hunter's) named Navy, will continue to suffer having Biden as a family name. Why? Dad and grandad are both sleaze artists.

What about Joe? Will he be impeached? Probably not. Nowhere near enough votes. That is, unless something very damning comes out of the inquiry. Then, maybe. But leaving impeachment aside, Joe will be exposed for what he is. A phony. A crook. A liar. Then what do we do with an 81-year-old man who is corrupt and forgetful? Get rid of him via the 25th Amendment? Doubtful. For reasons most normal humans do not understand, Biden still has his loyalists. And they will stick with him through thick and thin.

My take? If we are going to impeach Biden, let's impeach him for dereliction of duty for not keeping our borders secure. Both Biden and Mayorkas should walk the plank on this one. And if we really wanted to pile on, I would also charge Biden, Blinken, Sullivan, and Austin for dereliction of duty for happened at Abby Gate while retreating from Afghanistan.

Guilty and guiltier. Sleazy and sleazier. The Bidens. The whole family (expect Navy) makes me queasy. Some on the left feel the same about Trump. But at least, Trump got stuff done. And he kept us safe and out of wars. Having the Bidens in charge of our country, is like having the Soprano's in charge of our banking. Enough said. Full stop.     

As the world keeps turning...

"It will not be outsourcing to China which will steal our jobs - it will be technology. How will things look in 2030? Very different, I am sure."

Each day, every day, the Earth makes one revolution. We have a morning, afternoon, evening and nighttime. Multiply that revolution 365 times or so, and you have the Earth making one full trip around the sun. Spring, summer, fall and winter. Why bring this up? Because each day, more and more things are being invented to make our lives easier. More and more changes are made - and more are coming. Soon, every year will be wildly different from any past year. And in 2023, we are just on the cusp of that big change. In fact, 2023 might be our last "semi-normal" year.

Many years ago, when Alvin Toffler wrote his book Future Shock, he addressed how hard rapid change will be for us. Truthfully, I don't think Toffler had a clue on how much change we would be experiencing by 2023. And as 2023 is getting ready to turn into 2024, major changes are knocking at our door.

I think the biggest change we will see in the new year is how quantum computing is going to change so many things. It is so different than our current computer models, that twenty years ago, if you tried to explain this type of computing to the average person, they would look at you like you were on drugs. It would make no sense. None. But today it does make sense. And it is going to change everything. Especially when it is married up with AI. How much will it change things? Right now, with a handful of qubits. quantum computing can do wonderful and amazing things. More so than regular computing. But by 2030, having a quantum computer with over 100,000 qubits will be quite possible - and it will be able to do what today, is impossible.

Robots. Don't look now, but robots are already starting to take over some of our labor-intensive jobs. The other day, Tesla just rolled out its newest version of its bot. It is called Optimus and is quite an improvement since the first Tesla bot called Optis. Optimus is looking more human and is able to do more human like movements. Disney is also making a small robot and putting some basic AI in it. The point of all this, is robotics which at one time was a "black box" science, is now going to proliferate all over our fruited plain. In fact, it will be hard to find an industry where some kind of robotics is not involved.

Still worried about 5G communications? Don't be, because in six short years, we will have 6G as our norm. As much as 5G is changing things with its super short latency time, 6G will do the same. It will be lightning fast. It is expected to transmit data at speeds up to one terabyte per second. That is a huge improvement over 5G, as 5G was a huge improvement over 4G. Buckle up folks - speed will be the name of the game for the rest of this decade.

One final note. Many of us have noticed how things have changed since the Floyd riots and the pandemic. Fewer and fewer workers. Well - get used to it. It will not be outsourcing to China which will steal our jobs - it will be technology. Our biggest problem might be too much leisure time.

How will things look in 2030? Very different, I am sure. But I am not a futurist, so that is as far as I can go in explaining it.     

Sitting Ducks

"My message to Iran is simple. In a bit over a year, there will be a new sheriff in town. None of your sins will be forgotten nor forgiven. You will pay a dear price for all that you have done to the United States as well as Israel. Just saying. You have been warned."   

Imagine if you will, having a son or daughter serving our country right now. That son or daughter is stationed in the Middle East, serving at one of the many small bases we have in Syria or Iraq. For ninety-two times in the past couple months, the Iranian proxies have been shooting missiles, mortars, or drones at some of our bases. There is basically no defense for these things. It is only by the grace of God that nobody has been killed so far. Some troops, however, have had TBI injuries from the blast concussions. Because there are no real defenses for these incoming munitions, our troops are nothing more than sitting ducks. 

Wait - hold on! Are not our rules of engagement, if we are fired upon, we can return fire? Sure are. Don't we have the "big stick" (USS Ford), as well as the IKE over in the area? Yep. And don't we have two AEGIS destroyers also in the area? Yep, again. And don't we have other land-based air assets also in the area? Yes, yes and yes again. Then what pray tell, is our problem? Why are not we giving these proxies a big taste of our wrath? Answer: We have an 81-year-old squish for a Commander-in-Chief. Seems the guy who "beat the hell out of the racist Corn Pop", is now afraid of his own shadow.

We have all heard the stories about how Reagan and Trump responded to bad guys. Not a pretty sight to be on the receiving end of our power. On the other side of the coin, we have heard how Bill Clinton bombed an aspirin factory (just to be safe), or how Obama would "write a nasty letter" if we were attacked. But this Joe Biden takes the cake. The bullies can smell his weakness and fear and continue to kick sand in our faces because of it.

But what will happen, God forbid, if these proxies get lucky on one of their strikes? They get a direct hit on a base and kill some of our troops? What will Mr. Biden do then? We can bomb these proxies all day long, and Iran just laughs. They don't care. Iran will just find some more proxies to do their dirty work. What would I do if I were Commander-in-Chief? I would send a salvo of Tomahawk Missile from our AEGIS Destroyers over to Iran. I would take out one of their major terminals located at one of their ports. The message to Iran would be - if you do it again, we will take out the rest of your terminals, and your ports. And we can go up from there.

Will Biden do that? Not a chance. Way, way too scared. Besides, he is fighting his war against the weather and MAGA Republicans. Oh - and white supremacists also. But Iran? That scares Biden half to death. 

My message to Iran is simple. In a bit over a year, there will be a new sheriff in town. None of your sins will be forgotten nor forgiven. You will pay a dear price for all that you have done to the United States as well as Israel. Just saying. You have been warned.   

The gambit which just might work

"'Without borders, a country is no longer a country.' Boy oh boy - how many times have we heard that as of late? We need our country back. We need strong leadership. America is too young and too strong to wither away. Is help on the way? I sure hope so. This gambit must work!"  

This is just like playing some high stakes poker. Only there are many parties involved in the outcome. Who are the players? Biden. The Congress. Ukraine. Mayorkas. Israel. Millions of illegal aliens. Rather than just sitting back and taking it, rather than putting Mayorkas up in front of the House or Senate and watch him smirk, the Congress has decided to play some high stakes poker instead. Either there is an immediate course correction with our out-of-control border, or no more funding for Ukraine or Israel. With a record number of illegals coming over the border something needed to be done - ASAP.

This is the issue. With broken borders, we can't have all these unidentified people coming into the country. And every normal person who lives in this country, knows why Biden is turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the massive problem. The reason has been the same for years. Grant mass amnesty, which will increase the amount of Democrat voters by seven or eight figures. The fact this evil ploy has left this nation very vulnerable to terrorism, is just a cost of doing business for the Democrats.

What really jacked up the conversation, was Director Wray leaving the reservation (so to speak). He said he had never seen so many "warning lights" blinking red. Let me put it another way - the FBI thinks the open southern border has put our country in a clear and present danger. Period. Full stop. To fix this mess, is going to take lots of money and a ton of national will. It will mean deporting millions back to where they came from. But first we will need to find them.

Back to the gambit. Each funding bill has a rider on it which addresses border security. If Ukraine and Israel don't get another penny due to the remiss of the administration - so, be it. The Euro Zone can take care of Ukraine, and Israel has already told us they will go it alone if need be.  The IDF might have to use munitions which are not as accurate, but that is the way the city (or cookie) crumbles. Using our ultra-accurate munitions will save Gazan lives, but maybe the administration does not care about that. For the long game, losing Gazan lives might be another cost of business in order to get more Democrat voters. 

Biden will agree to more funding for the border if he can hire more border agents who will do nothing but be nannies. Practice catch and release. Clear thinking citizens want no part of that charade. We want the border secure, and most of the illegals scooped up and returned. One border expert thinks that 9 out of 10 of the asylum seekers have no case. Zero. They are just playing us. 

It is too bad it had to come to this. Much of why we are here is the intransigence of Mayorkas and company. Mayorkas is a traitor and should be treated as such. A patriot would have refused the illegal orders coming from the White House and quit on the spot. After Mayorkas is impeached, he needs to be held accountable for his high crimes and misdemeanors. As should Biden.

"Without borders, a country is no longer a country." Boy oh boy - how many times have we heard that as of late? We need our country back. We need strong leadership. America is too young and too strong to wither away. Is help on the way? I sure hope so. This gambit must work!  

 

The magic of Christmas

"So, what is the magic of Christmas? It is a lot of things. Many wonderful things which only come but once a year. But it also marks a time which there will now be hope for the hopeless, life for the lifeless, and love for the unloved."

What is it about Christmas? It is that time of year when friends seek out friends, family always seems to get along better, and our hearts grow (as said in Grinch) - to ten times their size. It is, as the saying goes, the most wonderful time of the year.

Those who are faith based, find a special joy in the Christmas celebrations. Even those who are not faith based, find a different kind of joy during this season. Houses are decorated, some have lights on the outside of their houses, many have presents under a decorated tree, and for the first time in many months, Christmas music is allowed to fill the house.

Last night we had some friends over for a early Christmas get together. It was some friends we have not seen for a while. As much as we like getting together with these folks, there was something even more special in getting together during this time of year. We had some holiday Hors d'Oeuvres, had a nice fire in the hearth (almost too much of a fire!), listened to Christmas music, and caught up with a whole lot of conversation. It was a wonderful evening.

But I would be remiss if I did not mention the reason for the season. After coming to know the Lord, I could not imagine what celebrating Christmas would be like without the Christ in Christmas. There would still be (what some call), the Santa Clause magic. But without the wonder in the manger, and how it would change the world, a Santa Christmas alone, would ring hollow. 

When the Old Testament ended, and the prophets were done foretelling of the coming of the Emanual (God is with us), the world went into a 400-year waiting period. For 400 years, the faithful waited for the birth of this baby who would change our world, change everything - forever. And then that one December night, in a little obscure town in the Middle East - it happened. The Christ child was born. 

So, what is the magic of Christmas? It is a lot of things. Many wonderful things which only come but once a year. But it also marks a time which there will now be hope for the hopeless, life for the lifeless, and love for the unloved.

That dark and lonely night in December so many years ago, our world changed. That is the real magic of Christmas. The hope, the joy, the wonder. Emanual has come - and for that alone, I wish a Merry Christmas to all!    

   

Is Newsome the guy?

Even though Gavin has nice hair and is very slick, you can't outrun your reputation. And Gavin's reputation is California. Not enough lipstick to put on that pig, to make California look good. 

Even some on the Republican side of the street are impressed with how Gavin Newsom handles himself in front of a camera. He is glib, he is at ease. And he can spin a very good yarn. One minor problem however - most of what he spouts are lies. In fact, somebody on our side said Newsom reminds him of Bill Clinton. How so? Both are "incredibly good liars".

I had put in my blog article yesterday, that more and more on the left are having serious reservations about Uncle Joe. At 81, he is not a good 81. He is (as one on the left said), a "dead man walking". Besides all of which, there were two explosions in Bidenville yesterday. The first was the southern border. The new "ground zero" in Arizona. Another record of illegals. And what are we going to do with six million or so new folks who have no skills nor no English skills? Good question. Biden wants to make them all citizens so they can vote Democrat. I know what Trump wants to do - deport them all (those who are here without a valid reason).

The other explosion heard was Hunter. Even Abbe Lowell cannot save him now. He is in deep, deep do-do. Even if he is not sentenced prior to the end of his dad's term, The stink and stench of Hunter will permeate everything related to Joe Biden. There is no amount of cleaning, legal wrangling, or sophistic blather which will change that. 

By the way, as an aside, what happened with Hunter is rich irony. How many times have we heard Biden excoriate people who cheat on their taxes? So much so, Biden wanted to add almost 100,000 new souls into the IRS. And now we find out that Hunter is one of the biggest tax cheats in the country. And (we don't know this as yet) - Biden might also have nibbled on his tax statements. Like all these "loan repayments". Stay tuned on this one! 

Compared to the Biden rats' nest, Newsom is looking better and better all the time. Not to us, but to the loony left. So, what if Gavin cheated during the pandemic by going to the French Laundry. Let bygones be bygones. Even though Gavin has nice hair and is very slick, you can't outrun your reputation. And Gavin's reputation is California. Not enough lipstick to put on that pig, to make California look good.