The mess in the BWCA (and Canada)

"Pretty soon the climate alarmists will be out blaming the Ford 150 pickup trucks for these fires. It is not the trucks - it is the way we manage our forests. Well, it is too late now for a big chunk of the BWCA. Nature has just managed it for us. And left a trail of smoke, soot, and damage in the aftermath."  

Welcome to the hellscape frequently referred to as Minnesota. And how did we get this way? Mining in the BWCA? Motorboats in the BWCA? The answer is no and no. And yet, walking outside this morning, the air is so thick with smoke that you can almost taste it. The air (if you want to call it as such), is not fit for man nor beast. And what happened? Sabotage by evil people? Careless campers? What? Probably dry lightning - and a mismanaged forest.

I love the purists in the area who defend the no-logging laws we have in the BWCA. The same goes for parts of Canada. "We don't need to manage our forests. Nature will take care of that." And nature does take care of it. By letting it burn. And with the conditions on the ground in the BWCA, this mismanaged forest floor is ripe with fuel for a rip-roaring forest fire. And that is what we have this morning.

60,000 acres of pristine forest have now been burned in the BWCA and the Superior National Forest. That is nature doing her recycling and restoration. The smaller fires in the BWCA have merged into a much bigger fire. How bad is it? One of the fire chiefs said the fire has "gotten into the ground" and we will still have remnants of this fire until the snow falls. BTW - the fire chief also said this 60,000-acre fire is still burning like crazy. And the main fire is still 0% contained at the time of this article.

Is there a lesson to be learned from this mess? Like maybe don't locate YMCA camps in this potential fire zones? Don't allow camping in an area so remote that should it catch fire, getting to safety could be a real problem? How about - just allow reasonable and sensible logging in the BWCA and Superior National Forrest. Or is it better just to lose some of that valuable timber to the vicissitudes of nature. If my vote counted (which it does not), I would choose better forest management practices.

But as we know, there is another side to this issue here. The smoke and ash. According to one of the local weather geeks, last night in Blaine, a new AQI record was set. Unbelievable 535! What can you safely do with an air quality like that? Nothing - no matter how healthy you are. The health experts are telling us to stay inside and do nothing. Thus, all week, with the heat and smoke, we lose a week of summer. Gone. And it is not just here - the smoke goes all the way to New England.

Pretty soon the climate alarmists will be out blaming the Ford 150 pickup trucks for these fires. It is not the trucks - it is the way we manage our forests. Well, it is too late now for a big chunk of the BWCA. Nature has just managed it for us. And left a trail of smoke, soot, and damage in the aftermath.  

Whither - Social Security?

"Many have wondered - how do we fix it? Just when all avenues to fix this gaping hole in Social Security looked way too convoluted, an answer drops right in our laps. Thanks in large part to Taxing Timmy Walz, we found out about fraud."

Ever since I was much younger and in the work a day world, some panic merchant in Washington would be ringing the alarm about Social Security. That is, one group of panic merchants would be running around the Capitol with their hair on fire, and another group would be trying to mollify the masses by lying to them about the solvency of Social Security. Meanwhile, I as well as millions of other workers, went to work, day by day, and had a percentage of our wages withheld and stuffed into this mysterious hole called FICA. 

Some have called Social Security a Ponzi Scheme. Others have called it a lifeline for seniors who have little else to retire on. Now a new group of either truth tellers or panic merchants are sounding the alarm bell (again). If we don't fix Social Security quickly, seniors will have their benefits cut by 20 or 30 percent in 2032. For some seniors, that will be a major inconvenience. For other seniors - it will be a killer.

Mostly due to my age, I have met many seniors over the past few years. Sometimes the issue of retirement money comes up. I have talked to many who are doing just fine, thank you. But I have also talked to others, that based on what they did for a living, Social Security is most of what they get every month. To eliminate it, or even reduce it, would be dangerous and maybe even deadly. 

Here is the long and the short of it (as far as I am concerned). I am tired of every few years hearing about the demise of Social Security. If it is truly broken and running out of money so fast that beneficiaries will soon take a decrement in monthly checks - FIX IT! If it is not running out of money (remember the SS "Strong Box?") then shut up already! Nobody, not even seniors who no longer work, need additional stress by worrying about future benefits.

Many have wondered - how do we fix it? Just when all avenues to fix this "gaping hole" in Social Security looked way too convoluted, an answer drops right in our laps. Thanks in large part to Taxing Timmy Walz, we found out about fraud. With all the fraud we have in Minnesota and beyond, we can reclaim (or claw back) so much money, we can fix that gaping hole. Heck - we might even have enough to give seniors a decent raise in benefits.  

Is this whole UFO for real? Or what?

"Okay - I know this all the mumbo jumbo that we have all been hearing for a long, long time. We need answers. The fact that we have somethings zipping around (over) our sovereign territory, that even our F-22 jets can't even keep up with, is disconcerting. And why are they drawn to our nuclear plants or military bases? Does that mean they are really Russian or Chinese? And all those drones last winter, over many of our skies. What was that all about?"

Did you hear? Another tranche of UFO files has recently been released. Did I see some of them? I did, as did many others. Okay - I will say it. So far, these have been a big fat nothing burger. The UFOs doing the ariel dance over our Capitol in 1952 were more stunning than what has been released. Here is what I thought this entire disclosure thing was going to be about. Proof of an alien. Not some dead thing which could have been put together by a special effects artist. A live alien, landing on the White House lawn, and saying something like - "We are here." So far - no luck.

Wait - what? What about all those decades of people (some very reputable) seeing "somethings" in our skies? What about all these "things" that our astronauts have seen from space capsules or while serving on the ISS? What did Hamlet tell Horatio? "There are more things in heaven and earth". And ergo, Shakespeare might have hit upon the answer to some or all of these "things" we have all been seeing. Maybe they are fallen angels or demons. Or maybe they are us, time traveling back from the future. Or if you really want to go out on a limb - interdimensional beings.

Okay - I know this all the mumbo jumbo that we have all been hearing for a long, long time. We need answers. The fact that we have somethings zipping around (over) our sovereign territory, that even our F-22 jets can't even keep up with, is disconcerting. And why are they drawn to our nuclear plants or military bases? Does that mean they are really Russian or Chinese? And all those drones last winter, over many of our skies. What was that all about?

Some think that maybe the answer lies in our oceans. That hidden within the 70% water we have on this planet, is another species. "Something" is down there and has been tracked at speeds approaching 200mph. Again, it is not us, as our best subs can only go a fraction of that speed.

My final thought on this matter is simply this (and this is for our government) - put up or shut up. If you don't know anything, just tell us so. However, if you do have immutable proof of aliens - show us. We CAN handle the truth. Until that happens, as the old expression goes, "I am not going to pay it no never mind!" 

Time to take this southwest water thing serious

"Our national theme of water, water, everywhere, is running out of steam. People in my neck of the woods can watch this unfold with a dispassionate interest. But for those living in Phoenix or Las Vegas, this crisis is about as real and real can get."

By now some have heard or read about the Hail Mary some scientists want to do with the Colorado River. Drain Lake Powell to save Lake Meade. Say what? As a lad, my dad took the family out west to visit some of the wonderful sites the west had to offer. One place that my dad was keenly interested in was the Glen Canyon Dam. Why? There were using some the equipment which was made at the plant my dad worked at. The Glen Canyon Dam was the start of Lake Powell. Back then, both Lake Powell and Lake Meade made sense for a fast-growing part of the great desert southwest.

Now, the Colorado River is starting to give up its flow. Too many sub-normal years of snowfall in the Rockies. The problem is, the Colorado is a one trick pony for supplying the desert southwest with much needed water. Then the ugly question begs to be asked - what if the Colorado River is no more? What does Pheonix do? Las Vegas? Tucson? Dozens of other communities? We need to come up with a Plan "B", and quickly. If Mother Nature gives up on giving us the necessary hydration, then what or who will?

All we need to do is look to the Middle East. An area of the world where water is not a luxury - water is life. With some countries in the Middle East being mostly desert, relying on rainfall is a non-starter. So, they looked towards the sea, and desalination of that endless supply of water. So far, so good. And now we really need to do the same. The only question is simply this - are we too late? 

Here is the long and the short of it. Years past, when dryness was the name of the game in a growing season, we could take the easy way out. Irrigation. That worked fine until we had too many straws going down into our huge aquifers. Even our largest aquifer (the Ogallala), which sits over parts of our nation's "breadbasket", has its limits. If we are not careful, soon that great aquifer will suffer the same fate as Lake Meade or Lake Powell.

To save our desert southwest, to keep it from reverting back to just a dry, dusty (unlivable) desert, we need a Manhattan type of engineering effort to bring in water - lots and lots of water - and quickly. This effort would be expensive and huge. Hint: other parts of the country will not be keen on the desert southwest taking their water. No - this new water needs to come from the ocean. And the permitting for desalination plant(s) need to be fast tracked through Congress and the Administration.

Our national theme of water, water, everywhere, is running out of steam. People in my neck of the woods can watch this unfold with a dispassionate interest. But for those living in Phoenix or Las Vegas, this crisis is about as real and real can get.   

Riddle me this...

 

"One more thing. Nigeria. The killing of Christians. By Muslims. Do you know that in the past six years, 30,000 Christians have been killed by Muslims in Nigeria alone? Churches burned, and men, women and children killed. I know Trump is really ticked off about this. How about showing the murdering Muslims in Nigeria how effectively our Delta Force or Seal Team Six operates? Riddle me this - why do we put up with this carnage?"

Did you see the blatant travesty which happened at some Somali week celebrations in MN? It was bad enough that these immigrants were flying their version of the new Minnesota flag, but to fly our national flag, the flag so many had fought for and died for - upside down? Riddle me this - why in the world do we put up with this ingratitude? They come here, many on some kind of government assistance, and then thank us by flying our flag upside down? If this is really the way they feel, it is time to leave. Like, now.

Now that I am on this rant, riddle me this one also. Why in the world are we still messing around with Iran? Over the last 47 years, they have chanted "Death to America" about 8 billion times. How do you negotiate with somebody who wants you and your family dead? And now, Israel has uncovered a real time plot to kill our President. Why do we put up with these people? Time to show them what real shock and awe is like.

Okay - put all the chanting aside. Sticks and stones. What about all the Marines who were killed in the barracks bombing as well as the Khobar Towers bombing years ago? We know that was Iran being the puppet master. And even more modern day - what about the 30 or so Americans who were killed or captured during the terror attack on Israel? How about some payback? Every one of these IRGC thugs in Iran have blood on their hands. Directly, of through their proxies.

One more thing. Nigeria. The killing of Christians. By Muslims. Do you know that in the past six years, 30,000 Christians have been killed by Muslims in Nigeria alone? Churches burned, and men, women and children killed. I know Trump is really ticked off about this. How about showing the murdering Muslims in Nigeria how effectively our Delta Force or Seal Team Six operates? Riddle me this - why do we put up with this carnage? 

There is an old saying in the Navy. Time to kick ass and take names. Maybe we as a nation need to do that also. I am tired of seeing all of this injustice. Time to square this circle. 

 

The Minnesota Primary - any surprises expected?

"Meanwhile, more of the normals will leave this state for the freer confines of Texas, Florida, Tennessee and beyond. Wait - are you telling us that our votes will not count this year? They will - sort of. All part of living in this gulag."   

One month and one day away. The Minnesota Primary. Will there be hard feelings once it is over? Count on it. Why? This might be the final breathing of an endorsement system whose time has come and gone. Now please don't get me wrong - I would be happy with any of the fine folks who were endorsed by MNGOP. But - can any of them win in a general election? In this state? Where blue has been the fashionable color for decades now?

I recently have read some Las Vegas type betting polls. They were endorsed candidate vs. endorsed candidate. In other words, Peggy Flanigan for Senate and Famous Amy for Governor. Kendall did horrible against Amy. Adam did horrible against Peggy. Now factor in the polling which has been done in the state. It is a real horse race between Flanigan and Craig for the DFL nod for the open senate seat. And on the republican side, Adam is way, way behind Michelle Tafoya. And on the MNGOP side for governor, Qualls is in third place behind Demuth and Mr. Pillow.

There may be a war in the Democrat Party between the Socialists and regular Democrats, but in MNGOP the war is between the purists and those who want to win. Guess what? The number of folks on the "I really want to win" side of the ledger keeps growing. That is the good news. The bad news is going up against the Minnesota Monolith (The DFL) - might be bridge too far this year.

Wait - what? After this trainwreck of a year or two the DFL has had with all this unanswered fraud stuff? They should be roadkill, laying in the ditch, just waiting for MNGOP to dispose of the carcass. Here is the long and the short of it. Who really cares about all this reported fraud? MNGOP and the normals care. Many of the Democrats look at the fraud issue as an inconvenience, and not a killer. Bottom line? The Democrats will keep voting for the same clown car over and over and over again. Get ready for Governor Amy and Senator Craig.

The primary will come and go and then will start the big hubbub of the general election. Once that is over, the zombies in Minnesota will get more horrible legislation - and just take it. I guess that is the cost of doing business in this authoritarian state.

Meanwhile, more of the normals will leave this state for the freer confines of Texas, Florida, Tennessee and beyond. Wait - are you telling us that our votes will not count this year? They will - sort of. All part of living in this gulag.   

The uncertain future for many of our youth

"Where is a good place to start? Reading skills. I know - hard to believe that in this day of age, only about one out of three fourth graders are proficient in reading. Why? Screen time for one. Also, the reading and writing thing should go hand in hand. Content, style, comprehension - everything. And speech communication is important. Small group communication. I could go on and on. And all this is important BEFORE the technical skills needed to fit into this workplace with has dizzying new skills and technologies developing before our very eyes."

Here is the good news, bad news thing again. And for the young ones - please pay attention. I have addressed this issue before. I continue to do research on it, as I don't want to be labeled as a "panic merchant". But please hear me out. By the end of this decade (and that is about 3 1/2 years from now), many, many of the lower skilled jobs which we know of will be gone. Not gone as is evaporated - gone as far as being available for humans to do. And how many "knowledge" jobs will be gone? Estimates are about 15% of them. And that number is expected to grow as we enter the 2030's.

With Generative AI coming onto the scene (quickly, I may add), part of the jobs being offered will vanish into the land of automation. Work will start to look a whole lot different than anything we have seen before. With the paucity of lower skilled jobs existing in the upcoming marketplace, many futurists are holding onto a wish and a prayer that new "human type" jobs will also be in the offing. But what will these jobs look like? How can our youth train for them when they are currently undefined?

Now I am really going to set off the alarm for dark days ahead for some. In the next 1,000 days or so, our education system needs to redefine itself as teaching the future, and not the past. I know what is being taught these days and how it is being taught. Hint: Not good enough. Generative AI is being developed to "think" as good as, if not better than humans. And then there is also this. With all things being equal, a humanoid robot (and there will be millions by the end of this decade) loaded with AI can work better, longer, cheaper, and more error free than most humans. It will be hard for a young person right out of high school, tech school or college to compete with that. 

We are coming up to a Future Shock which would make Alvin Toffler turn over in his grave. Whereas Toffler was most concerned with the stress of over selection and information overload, today's stressors will be as basic as "how do I fit into this brave new world of automation and AI"? Are we late to the party in prepping our kids for this once uncertain future which is now looking very certain? Years late. We are preparing our kids and grandkids for yesterday's world, when our new world is changing almost daily. 

Where is a good place to start? Reading skills. I know - hard to believe that in this day of age, only about one out of three fourth graders are proficient in reading. Why? Screen time for one. Also, the reading and writing thing should go hand in hand. Teach more and better content, style, comprehension - everything. And speech communication is also important. Small group communication is a must. I could go on and on. And all these are important BEFORE the technical skills needed to fit into this workplace with has dizzying new skills and technologies developing before our very eyes.

Final thought. Each day, every day for the next thousand days, our kids need to be taught the right stuff in schools. No matter the grade. For crying in the beer school districts, please at least teach the basics! When my kids were in school, at dinner time (the nights I was home), I would quiz them on some basic facts (mostly stuff I remembered from high school). The correct answer got them a desert as a prize. They hated it when I did that.

But that is what our schools need to do today. Teach the right stuff and then push and challenge. The "desert" today will not be a bowl of ice cream. It will be getting a job in a new type of market which is still being defined. 

The time is now. The future is very, very close. We have no days to waste.