Is this a war which makes sense?

Unfettered gangs to the south; runaway socialism to the north. And here we are, pickle in the middle. Time to humble yourself Mark Carney. Come to the White House with hat in hand. Trump will forgive and forget so long as you change your ways. Trust me Carney - you really need to change your ways.

No - I am not talking about the war with Iran. That war does make sense, as we are looking to broker a long-term peace in the Middle East. As most know, a long-term peace is not possible if Iran is not reigned in, and more importantly - kept from making nuclear bombs. Rather, I am talking about our cold war with our cold neighbor, Canada. How have we gone from brotherly love to sibling rivalry? 

I will give my take on what is going on with Canada. They have become mired, knee deep mired, in the goo of socialism and wokeness. When Biden was in charge, the US gave the impression to Justin Trudeau were on the same path. The were ripping us on tariffs, but Joe did not care. We just stumbled along, as good old Uncle Sugar. Their defense spending and posture was anemic, but who cares? They had us to take care of them.

Then Donald Trump won our election. On the way to MAGA, Donald Trump had to be the truth teller to some of our friends. Sometimes the truth hurts. He did it with Europe, he did it with Mexico, and he did it with Canada. With Canada, he told both Trudeau and Carney that Canada was acting more like one of our states than a sovereign country. He joked with both of them; we might as well make Canada our 51st state. Both Trudeau and Carney pouted. Now we are in a cold war. 

If Carney had his druthers, he would pull Canada up by the roots and relocate it to Europe. Why? Canada would fit right in with the other socialist experiments in Europe. Oh - Carney would also leave Alberta here as a punishment. Alberta is much too liberty minded for the Ottawa crowd. That would be fine, as Alberta has already told Carney they want out. Alberta will take their magnificent beauty and oil resources and then become our 51st state. 

Trump has taken it on as a personal vendetta to square away the problems in our hemisphere. It is part Monroe Doctrine, and part of the "might makes right" thing. We are the world's greatest superpower, and we demand that our friends offer liberty and to their citizens as well as fairness to their trading partners. What Donald Trump had told Canada was and is true - they need us more than we need them. Canada needs to learn to play nice with us, or their weather could get a whole lot colder.

Unfettered gangs to the south; runaway socialism to the north. And here we are, pickle in the middle. Time to humble yourself Mark Carney. Come to the White House with hat in hand. Trump will forgive and forget so long as you change your ways. Trust me Carney - you really need to change your ways.

   

Our new four-letter word!

"If your kids start saying the words "data center", please don't wash their mouths out with soap. Soon, we will all grow up and realize that "data center" is not a bad thing to say. In fact, having lots of data centers all over the place, juicing up our AI research is really a good thing. A very good thing indeed."   

In this lousy world of invective, slang and foul mouth anything, it is not comforting to find out we have a brand-new four-letter word on the horizon. It is a word many of us have used for years. While at IBM, I used it many times a day. Only back then, it was an acceptable word to use. Today - not so much. But first I need to clarify. The word standing on its own, might still be okay to use. But to use it in conjunction with the word "center" - is toxic. You guessed it - DATA CENTER. The new term which should never be used in public.

All of a sudden, building a new data center has become very, very hard. Lots of NIMBY going on. And mostly in blue states or blue cities - they want nothing to do with a new, job producing data center. But wait - are not data centers more and more important these days? Let's explore that just a bit.

AI and data centers are like two peas in a pod. If we want to win the race for AI against China, we need to have big, bigger, and biggest data centers around. Do they take water to run? Yup. Do they take a lot of electricity to run? Yup, again. But do they product jobs? Yes - for now. 

Right now, we have about 4,000 data centers in the US. That is a remarkable number. But to meet the demands of AI, it is estimated that we need an additional 3,000 more. But AI is only part of the picture. We need data centers for the internet. We need data centers for everything we do on our computers. If all of a sudden, every data center went dark, we would be in a world of hurt. It would be, like going back to the stone ages. Why do I say that? We are a data driven world. It is now in our bloodstream - our DNA. To lose access to data, would put us into a cultural shock.

Here is the long and the short of it. We can hate data centers with every fiber in our bodies. But the powers that be (government and industry) have mandated that data centers will happen. We will end up with 7,000 (or more) data centers in America. We will develop new sources of power to keep them humming along. The water issue might be a different story, especially for the centers built down in the desert southwest. But we will figure that one out also.

If your kids start saying the words "data center", please don't wash their mouths out with soap. Soon, we will all grow up and realize that "data center" is not a bad thing to say. In fact, having lots of data centers all over the place, juicing up our AI research is really a good thing. A very good thing indeed.   

  

Controlling the skies - and beyond

"What is the point? Buckle up and hold on tight. Things are about to get very, very exciting in the space race. Wait - what about the upcoming Disclosure? How does that fit into the mix? So far, the 'leaked' videos have been a big, fat nothing burger."

Some might have snickered during Donald Trump's first term when he established the Space Force. Like, what for? Here is what for. Just like having a strong Air Force (and ours is the best in the world) is important to control the skies, having an experienced Space Force is important to maintain dominance in the vast area beyond the skies. And because Trump established the Space Force during his first term, it is up and running and doing great things during his current term.

But here is where we have the great divide. Whereas the Guardians of the Space Force are to protect and defend our interests in space, NASA and SpaceX are on a terror right now to populate the Moon and Mars. How so? Artemis II was a shot in the arm for NASA. Now all eyes are on Artemius III (and beyond) as well as the first nuclear powered spaceship (which might be ready by 2028). 

And SpaceX? I have penned many articles about Elon Musk so this will not come as a surprise observation. Everything Elon does is bigger than big. After the last test launch of his current version of his Starship, Elon's vision is fixed squarely on the future. How so? First off, he wants his Starships to be not only transit ships but also can be used at shelters once they have landed on Mars or the Moon. Once landed, they will be gently tipped on their side and then buried under material (like regolith) found on Mars or the Moon. Also, the Starship can be used as cut down version of a space station.

But here is where the BIG THINKING comes in. By the 2030's Elon wants to launch up to 10,000 Starships every year! Whoa - what? And why? For duty in low Earth orbit, bringing material to the Moon, to Mars, and maybe beyond. This would be launching about one per hour for a year. Where is Elon going to manufacture all these Starships? In Texas. His factory is about half the size of Texas (not really) - bit it is huge. 

What is the point? Buckle up and hold on tight. Things are about to get very, very exciting in the space race. Wait - what about the upcoming Disclosure? How does that fit into the mix? So far, the "leaked" videos have been a big, fat nothing burger. But what NASA and Elon are doing, is anything but a nothing burger. And keep in mind, China, India and the EU are also in the space race. Exciting times are in the offing...

 

Could California turn red? Minnesota also?

"If California elects Hilton in November, I will party hardy until the sun comes up. But if we elect a red governor and/or a red senator in Minnesota this November, I will do a jig on my front lawn, sore foot and all!" 

Don't look now, but Steve Hilton, a very recent US citizen from the UK, is leading the pack in California. Wait - what? California is the land of fruits and nuts. There is no way on this planet that California could ever vote normal again! Those days went out with Governor Reagan. But hold on cupcake - not so fast. It seems the best campaign ad for Republicans in California is Gavin Newsome. Why? Because California has gone from the Golden State to the state where nothing works right, and a tank of gasoline cost more than a house payment.

But hold on for a minute! Isn't Steve Hilton that guy who was on Fox News for a while? Why would he make a good governor over people like Katie Porter? For starters, Hilton is not a potty mouth with a temper like Porter is. Next, even though he is a recent citizen to this country, I have heard him speak of our history. I dare say he knows more of our true history than most Americans do. Nothing woke nor false about Steve Hilton. He loves this country dearly and wants to help put California back on track.

But it is Minnesota where the real battleground will be this election. All indications are that Mike Lindell will be the Republican nominee. Of course, his competition will be the salad queen with a mean steak - famous Amy. And in the Senate race, could it be possible that Michele Tafoya could emerge as our first Republican senator in just short of forever? Truthfully - I have said this for months now. With the trainwreck and dumpster fire that the Democrats have hoisted upon this state, we should be able run just about anybody - and win. Whomever would vote for any Democrat after the ongoing fraud mess, should have his or her head examined!

I (like many of us) have met Mike Lindell. Is he electable? I think so - especially is he gets Trump's endorsement. Some think he is a loon for the way he pursued the fraud issue after the 2020 election. I think there might not have been fire where Lindell was digging, but there sure was a lot of smoke. Will history prove Trump and Lindell right, that there was fraud and cheating in the 2020 election? Maybe to probably. Will it change anything? Nope. Except the fact we need the Save America Act passed - NOW! 

If California elects Hilton in November, I will party hardy until the sun comes up. But if we elect a red governor and/or a red senator in Minnesota this November, I will do a jig on my front lawn, sore foot and all! 

  

Getting it right

 

"As the expression goes, 'All gave some, but some gave all'. And that is what tomorrow is all about. We do what we do on Memorial Day, because of those who gave all. It is the day we honor them. We live in the home of the free, because of the brave."  

As a young lad growing up, I was blessed to be living across the street from Victory Memorial Drive. For us kids in the area, the drive served as a de facto playground for most of the year. The trees which were planted alongside grave markers (no graves - just the markers), were to honor the fallen. Originally from the Great War (WWI), and then also for World War II.

It was a great place to grow up. I lived in Robbinsdale, and right across the street where Victory Drive was located - was Minneapolis. Like I said, the drive was our de facto playground. In the summer, it was baseball. The trees acted like bases for us. Not perfect, but very convenient compared to riding our bikes down to a real baseball diamond. And in the fall - it was football. Lots and lots of pick-up football games played there.

But one day, one very special day every year, the flags came out and the Auxiliary showed up for a very solemn ceremony to honor our fallen. And it was also loud, as the Auxiliary would do a 21-gun salute on different parts of the Drive. The big ceremony, however, always culminated at the end of the Drive, by the flagpole. My dad, a WWII vet, would ensure that his kids knew the history and significance of that day in May. 

When I came home from overseas from my first duty assignment in the Navy, I was hoping to make it home by Memorial Day. As much as that day meant to me as a youth, it meant something deeper to me after serving overseas. Why? Two reasons really - the first was Viet Nam. It was a war in which most of us knew one or more young men who gave it all for their country.

And second, was where I was stationed on Okinawa. The base I lived on was one of the main assault beaches from WWII. It was a place where many young men, about my age, died in the service of their country. To be stationed there for a year and a half was very sobering.

Why call this article "getting it right"? It has taken a while, but more and more people are now getting it. Armed Forces Day is to honor the people currently serving in our Armed Forces. Veteran's Day is for those who have served and then came home. But Memorial Day is only for the fallen. Not those currently serving, and not those who have served and returned. It is for those who never came home.

As the expression goes, "All gave some, but some gave all". And that is what tomorrow is all about. We do what we do on Memorial Day, because of those who gave all. It is the day we honor them. We live in the home of the free, because of the brave.  

   

Is Minnesota good or bad to live in?

"This would not be an article by the Bird without a closing curmudgeon type of remark. After putting up with my love fest of things which really work well in this state, what is my biggest heartburn? The politics. I loathe the prairie populist type of politics that Garrison Kellior hoisted upon this state." 

Now that - is a very good question! Is Minnesota a good place to live in, or has it seen it better days. I know, I know - I could write a novelette on how the massive fraud has dimmed this state's reputation. Or how the single party rule of the Democrats has taken this state down the funnel of socialism. Or how the Floyd incident has destroyed the concept of law and order in the Twin Cities. But I have addressed these things before, so I wanted to take another slant on this question this morning. And no - I have not been drinking the blue Kool Aide!

Some know and some don't that this weekend I had an unexpected medical procedure. So why bring that up? As much as I crab about many of the things which could be better in this state, I will NEVER complain about the skills and knowledge of our medical community. In my opinion, Minnesota is second to none when it comes to getting good medical care. If I could pick one thing which would stand out heads and tails above anything else - it would be simply that. If you get sick or need to get fixed - this is the place to be.

Next thing which is good (very good, really), is the state park system in Minnesota. From the history, to accessibility, to the care and feeding there of - our state park system is a model for the rest of the nation to follow. A few years ago, shortly after my wife and I retired, we joined the Passport Club. What is that? A journey to all of the seventy some parks in the state. The journey took us far and wide in this state - many of the parks delighted us and amazed us. Very few (if any), disappointed us. Once we finished visiting all of the parks (and had the stickers to prove it), we received an engraved plaque to hang on a wall. As I pen this, it is mounted by the chair I sit in.

Finally (and this will sound trite to some) - our roadside stops to rest in. It was not until my wife hit the highways and byways of this great nation that we witnessed some very inferior highway rest stops. Heck, we thought all rest stops looked and felt like the ones in Minnesota. We were wrong. We have the best in the nation - hands down.

This would not be an article by the Bird without a closing curmudgeon type of remark. After putting up with my love fest of things which really work well in this state, what is my biggest heartburn? The politics. I loathe the prairie populist type of politics that Garrison Kellior hoisted upon this state. 

How so? In my lifetime, this state has gone from a 50/50 bar (politically) to a rotting candy bar loaded with fruits and nuts. And that one thing, that "aw crap" thing - can wipe out all the good things which I just said about this state. And that is my story, sad but true.   

 

 

A real Jurassic Park coming soon???

"Then the age-old question comes up - just because we can do something, should we? I know we are not on the top of the food chain on this planet right now, but if we start making 40-foot dinos with lots of teeth, we could tumble down a few more pegs."

Okay - this must be a joke - right? What do you mean we are going to try and make "de-extinction" a real thing? And how is this even possible? Using Amber like Michael Crinton suggested in his now famous book Jurassic Park? Or is it using some substitute cells which are just close enough to fool nature? Where is a good place to try? A T-Rex perhaps? Or maybe something a bit easier - like the Dodo Bird.

Well then, a Dodo Bird it is. A Texas company, called Colossal Biosciences, is going to try to use a Nicobar Pigeon (a close living relative of the Dodo Bird), to try and tweak the DNA just enough to bring back this relic from the past. But wait - what if this works? What if we can bring back something which is extinct? Does that open the door for other dearly departed critters?Like Dinos? Or maybe some Wooly Mammoths? 

"Oh, what a world" (said the Wicked Witch as she melted in the Wizard of Oz). In ten years, we could have millions of Tesla humanoid robots, walking around town, with their primary objective to clean up all the dino poo which is on the sidewalks. Or speaking of the good Wizard, how about making some flying monkeys? Once you open up Pandora's Box in mixing up some new or former DNA, where does that lead us? Heck, who wants to see a science fiction movie, when all you need do is go out into your front yard.

I think what is happening with this entire field of DNA engineering and gene splicing, is science fiction will so soon start looking like science. Then the age-old question comes up - just because we can do something, should we? I know we are not on the top of the food chain on this planet right now, but if we start making 40-foot dinos with lots of teeth, we could tumble down a few more pegs. I have seen enough of the Jurassic sequels and spin-offs to know this does not always end up well for mankind.

In any event, keep an eye on Texas to see what they are cooking up. In fact, keep an eye on the skies to see if you spot anything which looks a tad like a Dodo Bird. Me? I will be hiding in my bunker, thank you very much!