What in the world is happening to America??

 

"Back in the old Star Trek days, when Captain Kirk was confronted with things which were too bizarre to contend with, he would yell into his communicator, "Scotty, beam me up!" I too, am about at that point. What is keeping me from doing what Captain Kirk would do? I don't have a communicator, so I am stuck down here."

What is the world is happening here? What is going on with the formerly Democrat Party? Yesterday, I penned an article about John Fetterman. About how disgusted and confused he is with his party. Yes, he is still a Democrat. But he is a Democrat from yesteryear. In no way does he fit in with the fruits and nuts from the "new" Socialist Democrats. Yikes!

Yesterday, during the new May Day event, the union folks from yesteryear seemed to be missing. Who was there? If you opened the nut ball cabinet, every flavor from "a" to "zed" was on display. All protesting. Protesting what? Money. We should not have too much money. Power. They don't like the fact that Orange Man is in power. War. We should have just allowed Iran to build nukes and continue to terrorize the Middle East. Anything else? Oh yes - an entire smorgasbord of gripes and bitches.

The new Democrat candidate who will be facing off against Susan Collins up in Maine, comes to us straight out of a novel. He is version of the new Socialist Democrats with a Nazi tattoo on his chest. Wait - what? I thought Nazis were bad. It was not that long ago Elon Musk was called a Nazi for building Tesla cars. What up with that?

First a point of clarification. I lived in Maine for almost two years while in the service. Got to know the people quite well. The Maine of 1971 and 1972 are NOTHING like this Democrat candidate for Senate. He is Zolan and AOC all rolled into one person. What has happened to America? What has happened to Maine. While I am at it, what in the Sam Hill has happened to Minnesota? Again, yikes!

Yesterday, dark money, much of which was supplied by billionaires (who for some reason, hate this country which made them rich), put on quite a show. Young skulls full of mush, where allowed to skip school, grab a protest sign (some of which had some very bad words on them), and march (as Abby Hoffman would say), "just for the hell of it". What was accomplished yesterday? Exactly the same thing which was accomplished during the "No Kings" events. No school, and a chance to act like a complete butt head, along with other butt heads.

Back in the old Star Trek days, when Captain Kirk was confronted with things which were too bizarre to contend with, he would yell into his communicator, "Scotty, beam me up!" I too, am about at that point. What is keeping me from doing what Captain Kirk would do? I don't have a communicator, so I am stuck down here.

  

The metamorphosis of Senator Fetterman

 

How about the rest of Washington's Democrats? No chance for anything with them. They have all been wired for madness and anarchy. Fetterman has not. He is our one great hope going forward. Are we thankful for John Fetterman? Each and every day. 

Having a stroke is deadly serious business. My wife just lost a cousin at age 77 to a stroke. When somebody has a stroke, they can come out disabled and different. Some, like my wife's cousin, don't come out at all. They die. Once in a great, great while, somebody has a stroke and comes out better. That is what happened to Senator John Fetterman. Instead of a stroke being either fatal or career ending, Fetterman's stoke was a catharsis and a metamorphosis. In other words, when he came back to us, he turned out to be the most cogent, the most logical, the most reasonable senator in Washington. 

For example, the Democrats just passed a bill which funds the entire DHS - except for ICE and parts of CBP. Trump signed it into law, so that most of Homeland Security can get paid. That being said, the president was still upset that entire DHS was not fully funded. And according to the new DHS Secretary, it will still take months to get his department back to normal. According to Fetterman, this partial shutdown of our government accomplished NOTHING. He is the only Democrat who voted for this bill, even though it was only partial. (My words) - this shut down was much sound and fury, signifying NOTHING.

Many look at John Fetterman these days with simple amazement. How in the world, could this guy who came out of nowhere, flipped a seat in the Senate, have a near death stroke, and now end up being the most common sensical person in blue Washington. Some of remember the days when some bully would threaten somebody with clenched fist and say, "Maybe I will knock some sense into you." In reality, taking a beating never ended up being positive for the victim. But for Fetterman, to have a serious stroke which "knocked some sense into him" - is one for the medical books.

Fetterman has been asked many times, why not just become a Republican? His answer is always the same - "I can't because I am still a Democrat." And he is - just not a Democrat from the current makeup. He is a living anachronism. His version of being a Democrat died out decades ago. Long before they became progressives, socialists, or worse. In other words, Fetterman fits into today's Democrat Party like a round peg in a square hole. He is a thorn in the side for Washington's Democrats, and I love it!

How about the rest of Washington's Democrats? No chance for anything with them. They have all been wired for madness and anarchy. Fetterman has not. He is our one great hope going forward. Are we thankful for John Fetterman? Each and every day. 

 

  

Hats off to the NEA! Job well done!

 

"Ever wonder why private schools and home schooling have taken off like rocket ships? All you need do is watch the news tonight, to see all our kids, freshly indoctrinated, out in the streets learning nothing. Heck, at this rate they might as well go to the "Learing Center" instead."

I often wonder, where in the world would we be without our teacher unions? Always looking out for the kiddos, to make sure they are growing up to be good little social activists. But wait - what about the test scores? I thought the test scores in many government schools were declining. Ya - so what? The important part of going to school is to learn that 1) Orange Man bad, 2) ICE agents are Nazis, and 3) working and making money is a curse.

Once upon a time, teachers were allowed to teach. Then somebody got the bright idea they should unionize. Bad idea. As soon as the NEA got established and the Commie ideas started to flow, our government schools went from excellent to average. Then as time went on, the average went to below average. And now they are on the precipice of going down to very poor.

But who cares? Take today for example. A day off for the kiddos in many school districts. Why? To take it to the streets. Carry protest signs the teachers helped them make. But what about the parents? If the kiddos are off, I suppose many parents need to be off also. So what? The movement does not anybody working, shopping, or going to school. We do after all, need to send a message to the Orange Man. He bad. 

I can almost see the writing on the wall. This May Day celebration (kids marching with and next to the Commies), we should do it again next year! Call it the Resist Day! Now we are talking. Forget about learning reading, writing and arithmetic. If we can teach our kiddos how to protest, hate Republicans, and disrespect the Bible and Constitution, that is good enough. What we are seeing right now, live and in color, is our tax dollars at work.

Ever wonder why private schools and home schooling have taken off like rocket ships? All you need do is watch the news tonight, to see all our kids, freshly indoctrinated, out in the streets learning nothing. Heck, at this rate they might as well go to the "Learing Center" instead. BTW - did I forget to mention that the teacher unions and the Democrats are two peas in a pod? Well, they are.    

Our national sacrifice of paying for high gas prices

Here is the bottom line. We need to finish the job. Rather than blow the rest of Iran into kingdom come, Trump decided to allow simple economics to run its course. Even if Iran capitulates, it will take a long, long time for things to return to normal in Iran. For us? Normal will come in a few weeks or a couple of months.

Ever play a game of chicken when you were younger? The who is going to blink first game. Yes, I know. Many times, it was a foolish game in which somebody could have gotten hurt - maybe hurt bad. But that was then and this is now. We don't play chicken anymore - or do we?

Don't look now, but our war with Iran has turned into a global war of chicken. In other words, who is going to squeal first. Iran, who is about to lose their entire oil industry, or the western world (including us) who are getting smacked with Biden style high gas prices. All because Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz and the US has led a blockade of Iranian ports. But here is the rub - Iran's wells are still pumping and the ability to store that oil is running short. When everything in Iran is filled up, the Iranian wells will stop pumping. And that could ruin them for future production.

BTW - Iran knows that. They know they are gambling with their future. Their hope is that the price of oil will blow past $120/barrel, and race towards $200/barrel. Then the west (particularly the Americans) will squeal like stuck pigs and demand that we stop this war and accept Iran's terms for peace. That would mean allowing Iran to continue on with their nuclear research. That would mean, maybe Iran gets a nuclear bomb sooner rather than later. That would mean, another North Korea type of nuclear power in the world. Not good.

Also, it goes without too much saying, that Iran's entire economy is on the robes. Not just in one metric, but in all of them. On the other hand, in America, the land of "first world" problems, many are starting to squeal like pigs over gas prices being in the $4/gal and up region. Even knowing that in a couple of weeks Iran might bend to the pressure of losing their oil production and give up their enriched uranium. But we are pansies. We are not like the sacrificial Americans from World War II. We want our low gas prices back to we can play with our jet skis and pull our RVs.

Here is the bottom line. We need to finish the job. Rather than blow the rest of Iran into kingdom come, Trump decided to allow simple economics to run its course. Even if Iran capitulates, it will take a long, long time for things to return to normal in Iran. For us? Normal will come in a few weeks or a couple of months. Then our gas prices will be back where we want them, and Iran will have ridded themselves of the menace of the IRGC. If we can just tough it out for a bit longer, it will be a happy ending for all.   

  

The Minneapolis flag

 

"It is amazing on how much Minneapolis has changed in the past two decades. It really went into hyper-change during the Floyd debacle. That is when lawlessness replaced the lawful as the new group norm. Their battle flag? The new blue goo flag, of course."

One of the Minneapolis minions wrote an editorial in the local fish wrap paper this morning. About the "clueless" rural types who are dragging this state into a "two flag" environment. This liberal was very huffy about this issue. (In his words) - "This is settled law, so get used to it!" Actually, it is not settled law, as I did not vote for it. My vote was nullified. Since I have been told at least 100,000 times that we now live in a democracy, I get to vote on every issue, every time. That is after all, what a democracy is.

Anyhow, enough about this squabbling about why we now have this Somali flag. I have a better idea. Since the out-state folks hate it, and the minions in Minneapolis love it, just make it the Minneapolis flag. The folks who live in Minneapolis have no time for the liberty loving patriots who live out-state, so they can just ignore us. Let us keep the former "racist" flag. I always have been fine with our former real flag, and the new one (called the blue goo flag) is good for only fish wrap (or worse).

I have said this before, flags are symbols. When I see our former flag, it reminds me of how Minnesota used to be before the minions in the Twin Cities drank the progressive and socialist Kool aide. When I look at the new blue goo flag, all I can see is the theft and graft the "newcomers" have visited upon our land - as well as Tim Walz and Jacob Frey who let them. Truthfully, this new flag makes me feel like I am going to wretch. As much as I love our national flag, is exactly how much I detest this blue goo flag which now flies over the city of Minneapolis.

It is amazing on how much Minneapolis has changed in the past two decades. It really went into hyper-change during the Floyd debacle. That is when lawlessness replaced the lawful as the new group norm. Their battle flag? The new blue goo flag, of course. Every time there is a riot in the streets of Minneapolis over the federal government trying (without a speck of help from the local LEOs), to get rid of lawbreakers, out come the rioters, hoisting their new blue goo battle flags. Makes me sick.

Some in Minneapolis are not satisfied with having a bifurcated state. Nope - not good enough. They want their own country. Wait - what? Yep - the country of Minneapolis. There Walz can rule as a dictator for years on end. And the rule of law in this new country? Nada. There will be none. Soon, no more businesses either. Just a bunch of lawless progressives. Ta-ta kiddos. Have fun in your new country!

   

Eye (on the) Robot

 

"Starting in July, it will either be I Robot (like the movie), or eye (on the) robot, as Optimus comes off the assembly line one after another. Wondering about the future? It is now here. Get ready to start seeing robots all over the place. As soon as I find out they can either make an omelette or clean toilets, I am buying one for the house!"  

Earlier this year, Tesla finished stripping down and repurposing two Tesla automobile assembly lines. In other words, the models of Tesla cars made on these lines will no longer be made. Instead, starting in July of this year, full production will start of the Optimus, Generation III robot. No more talking about it - no more second guessing - it will happen. This will be the "launch" year, and in 2027, it will be full out production, all year long.

Tesla and Elon have been betting the farm on many things as of late, and Optimus is only one of them. His goal always has been to make a humanoid robot with state-of-the-art mobility and dexterity, yet affordable. He wants them ready to go for companies who want cheap and reliable labor, as well as households who would like somebody (or something) who could help with inside and outside chores.

How much does Elon think robots will find a niche in America as well as other places in the world? Enough so that this year, he is planning on building 10,000 of them by the end of the year. But next year - hold on to your hats. Elon is planning on making 10,000,000 Optimus Gen III robots! And by the way, Telsa will not be the only company joining the fray next year. Boston Dynamics as well as some other American companies will be in the chase. Oh - and don't forget China. They are also in the hunt.

My question when I heard the 10,000,000 number for Optimus units in 2027, was simply this - is there enough demand? Or will there soon be a fire sale on robots as so many are stacked up in inventory. Actually, knowing how much technology has been incorporated into these robots, I am amazed you can buy one for under $50,000. They have batteries which will go for 12 hours, tons of AI, and hands which almost mimic the dexterity of human hands.

I think I might have told this story before. While at FMC, I worked in the technology group for a while. One project I was on was to build a robotic hand which imitated human dexterity. FMC was teamed up with General Atomics, a company in Utah and Stanford. The complexity of this hand which was under development was awe inspiring. That was back in the early 1990's. The fact we are now building the entire robot, is not surprising at all to me. 

Starting in July, it will either be I Robot (like the movie), or "eye (on the) robot", as Optimus comes off the assembly line one after another. Wondering about the future? It is now here. Get ready to start seeing robots all over the place. As soon as I find out they can either make an omelette or clean toilets, I am buying one for the house!  

Water from nowhere, needs to go everywhere

 

"It seems a shame that living on a water planet such as ours, we should still suffer droughts. We have the expertise, we have the resources, we have the will to fix this. But we are still living in yesterday." 

Don't look now, but slightly over half of the country is in some kind of water shortage. How could that happen? Welcome to the age where potable water is becoming more valuable than oil or gold. Wait - we have plenty of water here. Just look at the Great Lakes. Yes, we can look at the Great Lakes, who have enormous amounts of water remaining. But that water is finite. Just like the water in our great aquifers. Finite and going down. Between industry and personal use, we use a whole lot of water. Too much, actually.

But hold on - are we not considered to be the water planet? Sure, we are. But most of the water on this big, blue marble is non-potable. There are major metro cities in the desert southwest who are living in the brink. The Colorado River, which has been our lifeline to the desert southwest for just about forever - is dying. And as it dies, do does Lake Powell. So does Lake Meade. And there is no "plan B" - when the water runs out from Lake Meade, right now there is no other place for Las Vegas, Pheonix and Tucson to get water. And Lake Meade is just feet away from "dead pool".

But there is hope. Not right now, but in the near future if we chase it. For example, Israel who has arid and desert land has decided to try and do something good with their Negev Desert. In the desert, they drilled deep, very deep, until they hit some prehistoric water. Because it was so deep, the water was warm to hot due to its geothermal nature. It also was salty. Too warm and salty to be potable - too warm and salty to use on vegetation. But they did find out it was perfect for raising certain types of tropical fish. Thus, Israel is now raising and harvesting tropical fish to eat and to sell to Europe.

But we need water for our crops. We need water to drink. Our ground water is shrinking, and our rivers and streams are iffy at best these days. Currently, scientists at MIT have come up with screens and filters which even in very dry climates, can harvest some water just by using air. Not much - maybe a gallon a day for a small set up. But it is a start.

We also need to capture more rain runoff, rather than just let it go. We have the technology to capture it, and we should. It is fresh water, so it would not need to be desalinated like ocean water. And speaking of which, we are way behind the curve in getting more desalination plants built. We have thousands of miles of coastline in which to build them.

It seems a shame that living on a water planet such as ours, we should still suffer droughts. We have the expertise, we have the resources, we have the will to fix this. Rainfall is only one way to get needed moisture. But we need to stop living in yesterday. Rather than farmers using drip irrigation, we are still using massive sprinkling systems in the heat of the day. Not smart. We can do better. We need to do better. We are running out of time.