Highway hypnosis...zzz...

"On the way, my wife and I will continue to look for America. The America which is never reported in the MSM. The America which is made up of normal, red blooded Americans who could give a rat's butt about what is happening in WDC."

Back in the day, when many of us took driver's training, we were warned about "highway hypnosis". Like - most of us had never heard of it. That is because in MN, most of our roads are interesting to drive on. However - not to name names too much, there are states which are as exciting to drive through as watching paint dry. Yesterday, we spent 7 hours driving through one of the worst.

About through Missouri, I told my wife I thought I was coming down with "highway hypnosis". I had a touch of it driving through Iowa, but I was wondering why I was getting it so bad in Missouri. Then it hit me. We were listening to the Q+A session on the Senate impeachment and removal trial. For the love of Mike - this stuff was about as riveting as watching turtles mate! Listening to that, along with the light gray skies, offset by the dark gray landscape of Missouri, was like falling asleep in the arms of Morpheus. 

I turned off the impeachment nonsense, and put on something on the radio which was much more alive. What I did learn from my time listening to the impeachment trial was simply this - nothing. Those who love the President, will continue to love him. Only more so. Those who have hate in their hearts for this man, will continue to do so once the trial and the acquittal is over.

The only two things the House Democrats have done by having this trial is 1) keep the Presidential candidates who are also Senators, from campaigning in Iowa, and 2) take this catastrophically divided nation, and divide it even further. Other than that, this trial has been nothing but a waste of space and time.

There is a rumor going around that many Democrat Senators will vote for dismissal or acquittal just to get this thing over with. Calling witnesses will be the kiss of death. It will not lead to removal - only weeks and weeks more of this slow and painful death of boredom. So it will be interesting to see how today plays out.

My vote is to keep it going. The Republicans have nothing in their campaign chest which is better than having Democrats on display. And the best of the best to have on display is Adam Schiff. He is so bad, I still think he is an undercover agent working for the RNC. No clear thinking Democrat would allow himself or herself, to do the kind of damage to the DNC which Schiff has done.

Me? I am done with Missouri now, headed towards the Sunshine State. On the way, my wife and I will continue to look for America. The America which is never reported in the MSM. The America which is made up of normal, red blooded Americans who could give a rat's butt about what is happening in WDC. So far, we have seen and talked to many of them. And yes - the best is yet to come!

     

A very full plate...

"How is your news plate this week? I dare say overflowing. And who knows? There could be another big shebang this week which will further complicate this very full plate."

Last night, in the middle of all the Kobe coverage, the news crew was trying to do a special event on the upcoming Super Bowl. Oh yes - that thing! Then it dawned on me. Most every year with an ordinary Super Bowl, the news cycle would have started spinning the week after the divisional playoffs. For sure, right after what they now call, the "Pro Bowl". But this week, the news coverage of this Super Bowl, which is supposed to be fantastic, will rank right up there with a bowling tournament in Fargo. Why? Way, way, way too many big stories are filling the news cycle this week.

The third impeachment trial of a President in our nation's history has every right to be the 600 pound gorilla of news this week. Whatever the outcome will be, it will be in the history books. The President's defense team will take the next two days to weave a well crafted defense against the entire charade. But - then we had yesterday late morning. Where one of the finest, most skilled basketball players of our time (along with one of his daughters) was tragically killed in a helicopter accident.

The tributes and upcoming funeral for Kobe Bryant and his daughter will take quite a bit of oxygen out of the news cycle this week. It for sure will eclipse the President's defense team. And as for the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday - what Super Bowl? Oh yes, that pesky little virus in China. That is also taking up some of the current news cycle.

Yesterday, on one of the news shows, there was a smuggled out video from a nurse in Wuhan, China. She said the Chinese government is not forthcoming about the coronavirus. It is much worse than what is being reported. Many more have died than is being reported. It is spreading much faster than what is being reported. All of this is causing some in our government to push for a global health emergency. If there was NOTHING else going on right now, this coronavirus thing would be THE story.

Then there is little old Iowa, trying to get ready for the first caucus in the nation next week. Besides having four of the Democrat candidates tied up in Washington for the impeachment and removal trial the House Democrats insisted we have this week, the coronavirus will make the Iowa caucus event look like it is only a corn eating contest in Iowa. That bad, huh? Yes - that bad.

This week, it you want to unplug from the grid, I don't blame you. It is going to be some kind of week. Way, way too much stimulation from the news. This is what Alvin Tofler warned us about in the early seventies. Future Shock, right here, right now. As humans, we cannot handle this much over selection and over stimulation. 

How is your news plate this week? I dare say overflowing. And who knows? There could be another big shebang this week which will further complicate this very full plate. How about that Pro Bowl? Anybody know who won? Anybody care? Most answers, including mine, are no and no. Now - onward and upward!  

America - what is not to love?

"This country, founded by the bravest of the brave, blessed by God, still has work to do. We must continue to help nations, chained by the evil of tyranny, see and feel what freedom is really like."

Anyone heard of Martin Waldseemuller? Anyone? He coined the term "America" in the 16th century. He did it after another explorer mapped South America's east coast and the Caribbean Sea. What the name originally meant is confusing and murky. But in any event, South America got the name "America" first, followed by it's northern neighbor (us). 

Anyhow - enough history. Today, our country is referred to as America just as much as it is called the United States. That still sticks in the craw of some of the other countries who live in either North or South America. But here are the facts of life. Our country, the United States of America, has redefined the term "America". It is now synonymous with the greatest country on Planet Earth. Maybe the greatest country to ever be on Planet Earth. And we have the honor and privilege to be living here, right now.

Every now and again, it is good to remember who and what we are. We are Americans. We are the people who saved the world in World War I, World War II and the Cold War. We are not a perfect people by far - but we are the ones the world comes calling for when there is any kind of natural or unnatural disaster.

We have become the "policeman" of the world, when the United Nations shirks its charter. Because of our bountiful resources, we feed many in the world, who have nothing. And our economic engine is the one which fuels the rest of the world's economic growth.

I love this land. I love this country. Yes, with all its bumps and bruises which are on display in Washington right now, I even love our system of government. We are truly the great American Experiment. We do have American Exceptionalism. And to a large extent, we are our brother's (and sister's) keeper. 

As Ronald Reagan would say, we are the bright shining city on the hill for all to see. We are the country where hundreds of thousands around the world try to enter every year. Some legally, some not. Our current President also sees the promise of America. When we was running for office in 2015 and 2016, he wanted to make America great again. And once elected, he did. Now he wants to make America greater. And there is no doubt, he will.

The most exciting thing about living in America, is the best is yet to come. This decade, the "Roaring Twenties" as some are calling it, could be the best the world, this country, has ever seen. If you can ignore all the noise and bluster coming out of Washington, and just focus on our fruited plains, our future, the best of the best, is just starting to reveal itself over the horizon.

This country, founded by the bravest of the brave, blessed by God Almighty, still has work to do. We must continue to help nations, who are chained by the evil of tyranny, see and feel what freedom is really like. What a good economy can do for their nation. As has been said many times, from whom much has been given, much is expected.

As good as we have been in the past, there will be more to do in the future. The world is depending on us. That is what America is all about. For those who want to be in America, or live in a country like America, the question remains - America, what is not to love?   

Contagion at the speed of aircraft

"If it were not for the Iowa caucus and the impeachment trial, this story would be getting a much bigger spread. It still might be, if the contagion gets any worse. For years, I have heard some say this country is ripe for a epidemic or a pandemic. Will this be it. Stay tuned."  

Is there anyone who is surprised that the coronavirus is acting like the genie who just escaped from the bottle? Is there anyone surprised, the virus is now in Europe and North America? Anyone surprised how fast this virus can spread worldwide? The answer is simply this - how fast an airliner can fly. In our cosmopolitan, jet setting world, millions of people are on the move most every day - many by air. The chance of catching someone on who might be infected, is basically a shot in the dark, at best. 

So where are we right now? China is nervous. They are quarantining just about everyone. Nobody yet knows if this will be a copy of the SARS virus which killed 774 people in 2003, or the Spanish Flu, which killed almost 5% of the world's population in 2018. We simply don't know. We think it started from a animal to human contact - maybe a snake. Or some think maybe it got out of a lab. 

It seems like every day, the news of contagion in China gets worse. We will soon get a chance to see if all the money we have dumped into the WHO and our CDC, will pay off. Right now, even though this year is very young, this could end up being one of the big stories of the year. Maybe the biggest. That is saying something, considering all the other news which is going on. 

I think for people over 60, common sense should rule the day. Same with folks who have compromised immune systems. Or the very young. Be careful of what you touch. Even shaking hands can contain an element of risk. Wipe your shopping carts with disinfectant wipes. Use hand sanitizer. Wash hands often. Be careful of touching your nose or eyes, unless you know your hands are clean and sanitary. And flying? Many experts compare the air you breathe on an airliner as a "soup of bacteria and viruses".

Most importantly, it is no longer macho to "suck it up" and go to work or play if you are sick. All you will do is infect others. Stay home, get rest, drink fluids. If you don't get better, call your clinic. Don't be offended if they have you wear a mask when you come in. In any event, common sense needs to rule the day.

If it were not for the Iowa caucus and the impeachment trial, this story would be getting a much bigger spread. It still might be, if the contagion gets any worse. For years, I have heard some say this country is ripe for a epidemic or a pandemic. Will this be it. Stay tuned.   

Getting away with, perhaps - murder

"Speaking of being removed from office, one of the cable shows had a Presidential historian on yesterday. He was aghast, that removal is even being considered in this sham trial." 

One of the most profound things our President has said since this impeachment charade began is this - "I am being tried for the crimes they (the Democrats) have committed". Amen to that sir! That is one of the reasons why this entire event which is unfolding in Washington, is such a pile of BS. The Clinton Crime Family, as well as the Biden's - are dirtier than Pig Pen of Peanuts fame.

Many on the Right may not be social justice warriors, but we are real justice warriors. For many years now, we have seen the Clintons skate right out of big trouble. We have seen them fleece the public through their "foundation". We have seen dead bodies (via "suicides") pile up in their wake. And it is not just the Clintons who are dirty - although they are the King Queen of naughty.

Corruption clings to the Democrats like white clings to rice. It is endemic. It is in the former Obama AG's, the upper echelons of the FBI, the DOJ, the IRS, the Kerry's, the Biden's, and the list goes on and on. Speaking of the Bidens, there is a VERY good reason why our President wants to see Hunter Biden on the witness stand during this "trial". Why is that? He is dirty, and guilty as sin. And when this card falls, other cards withing the Biden extended family will start to fall - including Sleepy Joe. Then the contagion will then hit the Kerry's and beyond.

Some have asked in the past where exactly I thought the swamp was (most asked by my liberal friends). Ladies and gentlemen - it is right here, right in front of our eyes. It is in the House, the Senate, the bowels of many of the departments. Plus - it is in 95% or so of the media. The one person so far, with the balls to go wading into the battle, has been Donald J. Trump. For that, the Democrats want to take that beautiful blond scalp. They would never touch one of their own, no matter how guilty they are. But they sure want to have this innocent President removed from office.

Speaking of being removed from office, one of the cable shows had a Presidential historian on yesterday. He was aghast, that removal is even being considered in this sham trial. Why? First off, NO President has ever been removed before. Secondly, in his opinion, this trial runs contrary to why the Framers put impeachment in the Constitution in the first place. He said the Democrats have been misusing and abusing the reserved powers they have in his trial.

There is it folks. Today is the last day for a while we have to listen to that obnoxious voice of Schiff or that equally annoying voice of Nadler. Tomorrow the good guys have the floor - the President's legal team. As one said yesterday, we know how, when and who to attack, and attack we will with a passion.

Boxers know to always watch out for the counter punch. And there is a whopper going to be delivered tomorrow in this sham trial.   

   

Here is to you, you pernicious, portly, plenitudinous, pile of pious goo!

"All of these Democrats who are 'House Managers' are cut from the same piece of wood. They all are talking off the same script, and making no case, nor no sense." 

I swore I would not watch it, nor listen to it. I failed. I got sucked into the vortex. I watch a bit of it. Just enough to see the "Wadler" from NYC trying to look like he was something big. Something other than the pile of liberal goo he came from in NYC. He may be a big deal in the borough he comes from in NYC - but out here in Greater Minnesota as well as the rest of fly over land, he is just a funny looking little man, with a huge chip on his shoulder.

All of these Democrats who are "House Managers", are cut from the same piece of wood. They all are talking off the same script, and making no case, nor no sense. Here is the bottom line to which they all need to deal with - their House brothers and sisters have already sunk their boat. How so? By PUBLICLY stating (even at the end of the inaugural), that "Trumps impeachment may now begin." Huh? Impeachment before a crime?

The reason there is no case for this "impeachment", is there has never been any case for what this President has done. However - if it were not for the Ukraine, the dimwits in the House would have ginned up something else. And because of this crusade against this President, the country is now being put through a legislative hell. The Senate is tied up, listen to morons like Schiff, Nadler, et al, pontificate nonsense. Over, and over, and over again. No case - just hours upon hours of diatribe.

The funniest (if you can see any humor in this) thing about this entire charade, is listening to Shifty Schiff. He keeps accusing the President of "cheating", by trying to "unfairly" tilt the next election. He did so by "bribing" the President of the Ukraine, by withholding valuable military assistance, when the Ukraine was at war with our sworn enemy - Russia. Keep in mind the transcript that Trump released does not back ANY of that up. Nor did the new President of the Ukraine. Nor did President Trump. But who cares about the evidence? Full speed ahead of tossing this President out of this office for "cheating".

Was there wrong doing in the Ukraine? Hell yes, there was! But it was done by the Bidens, and many other Democrats who had offspring working for Burisma. That is where the corruption is. All Trump was trying to do, was help Ukraine fix their corruption problem. The fact that part of their corruption oozed into our country (via the Bidens), does not make Trump guilty. This whole trial is wrong for so many reasons.

Bottom line - most honest people know this. We know this. Donald Trump is a different kind of cat. He is NOT a politician. He is a businessman. He is a fixer. He is a no nonsense type of man. AND - he is a patriot who wants to fix what is broken in Washington. That includes wading knee deep into the swamp, looking for the drain plug. For that - he is a hated man. Hated by the Democrats, the media, the establishment (including some Republicans).

The regular people however, love this man. He is just what the doctor ordered to fix the broken in this country. To throw this innocent man out of office for doing nothing but succeed in making this country greater, will not sit well with the citizens and patriots in this country. That is not a warning. That is not a threat. That is reality.

Moore's Law - ripped up - again...

"EUV is not a pipe dream. It is the shiny new penny, worldwide. It is something we will all have to get used to. I am excited about this future. Most all of the knowledge of mankind will be at our fingertips. The excuse for being ignorant this decade? There will be none."       

Back in the 1980's, one of the technology companies I worked for, was the former Control Data. In the day, it was all that and a bag of chips (literally), when it came to being high tech. In fact, Control Data made its own chips in a multi-layer facility which was close to the campus. It was big stuff back then, and Control Data actually had to invest in some Sun Systems CAD/CAM units to facilitate the production. Compared to today, Control Data's multi-layer chips were like Fred Flintstone's car next to a Ferrari. 

Last night I saw a YouTube video about Intel's new offering in the chip market. It utilizes the latest and greatest chip technology. It will not put Intel on top of the heap however - it will just allow them to keep up with the Jones's. And who are the Jones's? China, South Korea and so forth. Chip technology today is not for the weak of heart - nor for the light of wallet. Bu to get to the "golden rainbow" of chip technology, means to almost re-write Moore's Law.

This new technology is called Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. To work in this field today, you would have to get used to dressing for either a Level 10 or a Level 1 clean room every day. But the little bit of Intel's technology which was shown last night (most of it is highly proprietary), was something out of Star Wars. Lasers, nanotechnology, special polymers - all to make the coveted 7 nm chip. How small is 7 nm (nano meters)? One nm is one billionth of a meter. So the 7 nm chip would be seven billionths of a meter. That is 7/100,000 as thick as a piece of paper.

These chips exist today, only not by Intel. Intel plans to have the market stocked with its chips by mid 2021. Then the game really starts to change. Is this finally it? Working with material which is barely larger than a strand of human DNA? Not quite. Intel's group of wizards are already working on the next big thing. I am still trying to get my head wrapped around the EUV technology. This new technology is suppose to be even bigger and faster.

This is part of what will make the Roaring Twenties, roar. Small, fast chips will be a big part of our brave new world of AI, 5g and so forth. Once this technology becomes common and affordable, it will make our smart phones nothing less than brilliant. In our pockets, we will be be carrying around miniature computers which will be able to do just about anything, anytime and anywhere. With 5g alone, our current smartphones will be 100 times faster. With the new phones containing the new chips - who knows how fast 5g will drive them.

EUV is not a pipe dream. It is the shiny new penny, worldwide. It is something we will all have to get used to. I am excited about this future. Most all of the knowledge of mankind will be at our fingertips. The excuse for being ignorant this decade? There will be none.       

Living in the land of right now

"I do however, have a problem with kids being off of school. For them, they could give a rat's behind about MLK. It is just a day to sit inside and play video games. My solution? Take the day off of regular curriculum, and focus totally on what this man stood for."

I am going start out by quoting Clint Eastwood from one of his western movies. This week will be the good, the bad and the ugly. The good is today. Today we are supposed to be remembering an American icon. It is Martin Lutheran King Day. Yes, even though he had some bumps and warts, I am a MLK history fan. Even though the black community has adopted MLK as their hero, he really was an American hero. His famous quote to judge someone "not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character" should he etched in every schoolroom in America.

Now the bad. This week, as well as many weeks to follow, will be filled with unnecessary nonsense. The impeachment (removal) trial for our 45th President. It will suck all the oxygen out of the air. Nothing else will matter (sorry Amy, Sleepy Joe, Bernie, et al), but this trial will be the shiny new penny in Washington. Even though we just went through one of these trials with Slick Willie, because this President beat St. Hillary in 2016, he must also endure. Most of us would rather have a root canal than watch this bluster.

Now for the ugly - and I mean real ugly. If you think this President is going take this lying down, think again. He has a "dream team" of defenders who should impress even the most skeptical. Tomorrow when the fireworks start, they are really going to start in earnest. How do I know? Witnesses. Whereas Leader McConnell wants a "quickie", and then acquittal, "Shifty Schiff" and the rest of the Clown Car want a parade of THEIR witnesses only. The President's team on the other hand, will ask Justice Roberts for a dismissal on the first day. Why? The "charges" are unconstitutional. Bogus. So this trial could be over in a day, or take months.

If Roberts does not agree with dismissal, and Roberts agrees to let the Clown Car call witnesses, then the ugly really starts. Trump's team and the Republican Senators want their witnesses also. If that happens, say goodbye to Sleepy Joe. He and his kid will be exposed as the frauds they are. Plus - some legal experts think if witnesses are involved on both sides, the bickering and wrangling amongst the Senators will stretch this trial out to the horizon. By the time the election rolls around, the citizens will be so sick of everyone involved, they might want to fire the whole crowd - and then elect a Prime Minister and a Parliament instead.

Why do I say this is living in the land of right now? Because it is. This is ground zero for history. The territory we are on right now is totally uncharted . We do know that the Democrats have already changed history for future Presidents. In the future, not liking a President for any reason, will rise to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors". Who knows? Maybe even treason.

So right now, we are at the meeting of the roads. The nexus. It is only Justice Roberts who can pull us off the cliff. How? Immediate dismissal. And after the dismissal, a stern and tough lashing, as well as warning for the Democrats. Don't you dare put this country through this bullshit again!

One final word about the "good". I have no problem with government facilities being shut down today in recognition of this great American. I do however, have a problem with kids being off of school. For them, they could give a rat's behind about MLK. It is just a day to sit inside and play video games. My solution? Schools should take the day off of regular curriculum, and then focus totally on what this man stood for. Hint: It is not the pablum we heard coming out of Obama and Holder. Martin Luther King had it right. Learning about this, is how we should honor this great man on this day.    

It's a grand old flag...

"Democrats - what has happened to you? How can you eschew things which are so sacred in this country? How did it happen? Your fellow country men and women are inviting you back into our great tent."

Really? Is it? Then why in the Sam Hill has not the American Flag been shown at the 2019 and 2020 Democrat Presidential debates? Are they ashamed of it? Are they afraid it will offend immigrants, who they so desperately want to vote for them? What gives? The flag, the Constitution, the Holy Bible, the Cross, God, none of them seem to welcome anymore in the confines of the socialists and progressives. Why? Is it they all represent some kind of authority? Or do the Democrats see them just as divisiveness. Right now, it appears the Democrats are sticking with secular humanism, and are going to ride that pony all the way into the sunset.

Somebody posted on social media, a picture of a county board or city managers in another city or county, calling a meeting to order. The Democrats had recently voted that they did not have to stand for, nor recite the Pledge. The non-Democrats did stand and recite, however. Could this have been fake news? Sure could have been. But it fit the M.O. for how Democrats have been leaning as late. For that reason alone, this story might have legs.

One might ask the question then, if today's Democrats somehow gained control of the House, Senate and White House, what would that portend for the country? As I said in my article yesterday, one has to look no further than Virginia. That state might be the canary in the coal mine for what could happen to this great nation.

It was not that many years ago, should Democrats win control of government, at the end of their tenure, the government would be returned to the Republicans in mostly good working order. No longer. The next time we allow the Democrats, the socialists, the progressives to take control of our federal government, the damage might be irreversible. We could go from a Godly country with law and order, to a Godless country in less than ten years. 

Back in 1969, when I was in cryptology school in Pensacola, twice a month (on paydays), the CPO who taught our class, would meet us at Shaky's Pizza after class. There we would drink cheap 3.2 beer, eat peanuts and pizza, and most importantly - sing patriotic songs with the player piano. Oh, it was a grand time for sure! I still remember it as if it were yesterday. 

My favorite song we would sing was You're a Grand Old Flag. The refrain went something like this:

You're a grand old flag

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave

You are the emblem of

the land I love

The home of the free and the brave

Every heart beats true

for the red, white and blue

Where there's never a boast or a brag

But should old acquaintance be forgot

Keep your eye on that grand old flag...

Democrats - what has happened to you? How can you eschew things which are so sacred in this country? How did it happen? Your fellow country men and women are inviting you back into our great tent. The one where there is a huge, and beautiful American flag flying outside of it.  

   

Battleground: Virginia!

"I have had it with both abortionists and gun grabbers. Neither have a place at this table called America. How we got here is beyond me. All I know is this - Virginia right now is closer to Nazi Germany than it is to our Republic, post Revolutionary War."

It was bound to happen somewhere. Might was well be in Virginia. The birthplace of George Washington. Withing spitting distance of our capitol. A state which until recently, was always considered to be "normal". Not any longer. Not since the election which brought us Ralph Northam. This man, who is a pediatric neurologist by trade, a former Army Officer in the Medical Corps, somehow took a wrong turn off the turnpike. In other words, he is now a member of loony toons.

Now if you looked at Northam's resume, you would think he would be rock solid on right to life and Second Amendment issues. He is after all, a children's doctor. And an Army vet. But no - he is as wacky as a professor of Humanities at Berkeley. Not only is he pro abortion, he is pro abortion into the forth trimester (infanticide). If that is not bad enough, Northam also wants to trash the Second Amendment and go gun grabbing. Why? Beats me. I suppose since he is a Democrat and currently has a Democrat legislature in Virginia, he can do as he pleases. With or without the Constitution.

Well, northern Virginia may be loaded with socialists and snow flakes, but rural Virginia is not! This state, the center of so many pivotal Civil War battles, is about to become ground zero for the first battle of the next civil war. This is not exaggeration or histrionics. The citizens and patriots in Virginia are deadly serious. Plus - they know their history and their Constitution. Take my guns? From my cold dead fingers!

Ladies and gentlemen living in Free America. We need to pay attention to what is happening in Virginia. Just like we need to pay attention to what the socialists and progressives running for President are saying. Virginia is the canary in the coal mine. What is happening in Virginia can and will happen in other states. Gun grabbers are now embolden by the hard left turn of the Democrats. Now is their chance. Northam is just one of many petty dictators who are willing and ready to stomp on your rights. Our Founders could foresee people like Ralph Northam. That is exactly why the Second Amendment exists, and worded such that it is.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of innocent Americans are being killed by killers who think it is legal and moral to do so. It is only legal as we had corrupt judges saying it would be so. IT WILL ALWAYS BE IMMORAL!! I guess life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness only applies in the mind of Ralph Northam if you are older than one years old. Any tiny American before that age, is fair game for dismemberment and sale to the highest bidder.

I have had it with both abortionists and gun grabbers. Neither have a place at this table called America. How we got here is beyond me. All I know is this - Virginia right now is closer to Nazi Germany than it is to our Republic, post Revolutionary War. Think about that for a minute. The Nazis killed innocent citizens, including babies, and confiscated guns. Our young republic after the Revolutionary War, did neither.  



   

Life - so they say...

"To quote from the musical Hair, from many decades ago - 'What a piece of work is man'. Amen to that! And we might add, what a piece of work is each and every plant and animal on planet Earth."

Yesterday, when it was bone chilling cold, I went out to the back garage with some more cracked corn for the critters. As I was leaving the garage, I looked out at the somewhat desolate landscape, which is now our back yard. It was teaming with animals. Small birds, large birds (turkeys), deer, red squirrels, gray squirrels and so forth. As I came back into the house, it gave me pause to think.

Our astronomers are working 24 X 7 (and then some), to try and find life on any of the planets in our solar system, as well as planets beyond our solar system. We listen for radio signals via our SETI program. We look at meteors which have come to Earth to see if any contain fossils of ANYTHING that lived elsewhere. So far? Zip, na-da, nothing.

But Earth is different. Scientists now believe there might be 8.1 million different species of life on planet Earth. Plus - once the oceans are fully explored, that number could go up. But for some reason, we take this cornucopia of life for granted on our planet. When we see or explore other planets which are totally void of life, we should cherish each and every life form which exists on this planet.

But we don't. In fact, the life form which is at the top of the list, the only one which can logically think and reason, has really taken it tough from the rest of us. Many already know that since 1973 in the United States, we have killed over 50,000,000 unborn babies. But it gets worse. Worldwide since 1980, we have killed over 1.5 billion unborn babies! That is enough to inhabit a planet.

As my deep thinking continued, I thought about what it takes to create life. It is so complicated, so intricate, we can't. We are learning how to imitate life, but we cannot create it. Only God can create souls in mankind, and we will never be able to master that craft. 

What is the point in all this thinking on a very cold day? We are blessed to live on this planet. We live here by purpose, by design of God. It is not by accident. Every creature which has been created, has some purpose. Some we know, some we might never know. Every life is special - especially human life. 

To quote from the musical Hair, from many decades ago - "What a piece of work is man". Amen to that! And we might add, what a piece of work are each and every plant and animal which lives on planet Earth. We are blessed to live here. We are blessed to be alive. We are blessed to look out on God's living room, and see many of the other wonderful species we live with - even on a bitterly cold day. 

Coming: Two months of suck and boredom

"Me? I see two months of Netflix and YouTube coming up. Throw in some reading, blogging and walking on the beach. If that does not work, I will play with my Jerry Nadler beach ball. It can be a beach ball or a punching ball."

Ha! Bet you thought I was going to talk about the weather! No way, Jose! I am talking about the Senate "trial", which more and more pundits now, think will only be a contest of wills. Like, the list of witnesses which the impeachers have in mind, is much different than the list of witnesses the defenders have in mind. What will the compromise be? How will John Roberts rule? Maybe the same way they did it during the Clinton trial. Reading long and boring witness transcripts with no live witnesses. (Yawn...)

People in the know and/or smart people, are all predicting the same thing. A lot of sound and fury signifying nothing - and then acquittal. What will be gained? Nothing. What will be lost? Valuable time. However, the Democrats may not be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, but the President can. Now that Phase I for the China deal is in place, guess what is happening in the Senate before the "trial" starts? The USMCA will be voted on, and then signed by the President. BAM!! The Make America Great Again train goes chugging right along!

Someone, and I can't remember who, said something very profound yesterday. "When the trial starts, I won't be able to bear watching the news." That is the way I have been thinking! It will be worse than watching the news right now - yes, it could actually get worse! Right now, when I see one of those morons from the blue team, get up and pontificate the same babble they have been for months and months now, I am gripped with a combination of anger and revulsion. Before I break something, the TV is off in an instant. When the "trial" starts, the TV will not even go on.

I hope the country has been paying attention to what has been going on. I hope the "Yellow Dog" Democrats have been paying attention. Is this what you want out of our country? Buffoons like Pelosi, Nadler, Schiff, and so forth - running things? They could not find their butt with both hands. We need to vote these people out of our government. We need to do it before it is too late. Before the country ends up in a Virginia like stand off. Yes, it could come to that. There is only so much the patriots and citizens will be able to take.

What is the good news? We still have an adult as President. What is the bad news? The socialists, once the acquittal is announced, will go right back to the feed bin to look for more imaginary charges. Why? Hate. Pure hate. Their hate is so deep, so vile, they will not let this man alone until January of 2025. My only question is this - how long will the American people put up with this? This powder keg resting under our nation, does have a limit before combustion sets in.

Me? I see two months of Netflix and YouTube coming up. Throw in some reading, blogging and walking on the beach. If that does not work, I will play with my Jerry Nadler beach ball. It can be a beach ball or a punching ball. Either one will work, and the size and shape of the ball are already there.  

The magic of fiber optics!

"The decade of the 2020's is going to be exciting for sure in the field of fiber optics. I can't even begin to imagine what this technology will look like in a hundred years. Heck, it is hard to imagine what it will look like in ten years."

Saw an interesting YouTube the other night on fiber optics and holograms. But more on that later. I just did a bit of research on fiber optics as I will admit, I did not know a lot about how they came about. Seems they have been toyed with for over a hundred years or so. In fact, Alexander Graham Bell invented something called a photo-phone (using a crude form of light cables) in 1880. But he also was working on the telephone at the same time, and since the telephone was more reliable, he focused on that invention.

The person who gets the credit however, for the invention of the fiber optic cable, is a man of Indian decent. And he did it in 1956. Some think this invention was one of the things which changed the world in the 20th century. The more I have learned about fiber optics, I agree. For without fiber optics, there would be no internet. No email. Our phone system would be a mess. No, fiber optics has propelled us into the information age, and we are just getting started.

The future of fiber optics is brighter than bright. (Hint: If you are a young engineer, this would be a GREAT field to get into right now.) The evolving field of 5g communications is married to having an extensive fiber optic system, like peanut butter is to jelly in a kid's sandwich. New fiber optic cabling is either being laid or is planned on being laid under all the oceans. The speed, the security, the capacity of fiber optics, leaves all other methods of communications in the dust. And the new stuff is really amazing. 

Back to holograms for a minute. And what this has to do with fiber optics? Many of us have watch science fiction movies where holograms are common. Guess what? They exist today. Mostly in the labs. Soon, very soon, they will be "go to market" ready. What does all that mean? Phone calls may become video calls, with the image of whom you are talking to, projected in 3D form in front of your eyes. Some TV shows and movies will be in 3D, and special glasses will not be required. By 2030, 3D will be more common than uncommon.

The next step for fiber optics is higher density. Companies are already working on ways to pack more capability into smaller fiber optic packages. Fiber optics will be used extensively in the medical field. Plus, we will be putting fiber optics in more and more devices we use. Bottom line? If we really want computing and communications to operate at the "speed of light", we need more "light" in devices. Yes, that includes our home computers. Some day, in the not too distant future, our laptops and tablets might really operate at the speed of light, rather than at the speed of turtles. 

The decade of the 2020's is going to be exciting for sure in the field of fiber optics. I can't even begin to imagine what this technology will look like in a hundred years. Heck, it is hard to imagine what it will look like in ten years. But it is here, it is growing, and it soon will be in everything. Now that we are in the "Roaring Twenties", fiber optics is part of what will allow this decade to "roar".   

A blue sea of useful idiots...

"Solution? VOTE! Not only vote, but contribute. Help out. Mailers, phone banks, door to door visits. There are more of us than there are of them. But if half our people stay home because they think this election is "in the bag", we could lose the day."

Hard to believe that November is coming up so fast. One might be tempted to think, "So what? With how good things are going right now, re-election is in the bag." And it should be. But there is a random variable which is counter intuitive to us winning. It is called blue voters. Lots and lots of blue voters. Uninformed blue voters. Useful idiot blue voters. Felons, illegals, dead people, frauds, you name it. The Democrat Party is going to throw everything at this election, save the kitchen sink. Why? They can't win on the issues. So they will try and win the old fashioned way - by cheating.

It really is astonishing when I hear some of the socialists in Congress. They sound just like many folks in urban areas, when they discuss politics. They are uninformed, ignorant, and selfish. Not what is best for the country - what is best for them. It is the polar opposite of what JFK talked about. And because they are ignorant, and many are generational useful idiots, logic escapes them. They would vote for a ham sandwich if it was on the blue ticket. And they are lead by the people who want to run (and ruin) the country. Schiff, Nadler, Waters, Farticus, Pelosi, Biden - the list goes on to the horizon.

Last night, I saw a ray of hope. During the championship game, right before the colors and anthem, POTUS and FLOTUS arrived and were introduced. This packed Superdome, packed with mostly college kids, erupted in cheers. Not jeers, but cheers. Then the chants of "USA, USA" could be heard. Maybe even a "Four more years!" could be heard. Why? These are normal people, people who are paying attention. And for them, this President is loved. The people KNOW what he has done for this country. They appreciate it. They want more of it. They can see that America is great and greater again.

Tonight is the final Democrat debate. It is where six of the remaining socialists/progressives will tell the American people how bad things really are in the country. That the Trump recovery is only for the rich people. The "real" people in whoville, are still suffering. They can't make ends meet. It is only by socialism, where everything is free, that this "blue sea of useful idiots can make it". How in the world did these people get this way? Who knows. Lousy educations for starters. But whatever, this thinking is toxic for a free country.

A pundit was on one of the news shows last night. He was warning the citizens and patriots about this growing blue sea of useful idiots. He was warning if their numbers grew large enough, and if too many patriots took this election for granted, the Democrats could actually capture the White House. Yes, as hard as it is to believe, one of the misfits who will be on stage tonight, could end up being President.

Solution? VOTE! Not only vote, but contribute. Help out. Mailers, phone banks, door to door visits. There are more of us than there are of them. But if half our people stay home because they think this election is "in the bag", we could lose the day. And if we lose the day, we lose the country. If that happens, there will be no one to blame but ourselves.  

A tale of the two drones....

"I have said this before, and it bears repeating. The Air Force needs to shoot one of these drones down without destroying it. Then we can get some clues to their origin."

An update on the drone(s) stories. Yes, we have two different drone stories we are following right now. The first is the real interesting one. It is an update on the mystery drones which have been plaguing areas of the west since late last year. The other is the exact opposite in being interesting. It is the drone of the US Congress. Yes, that be Nancy Pelosi. The woman who can drone on for hours about absolutely nothing.

First an update on the drone in Congress. The other week I actually had to unfriend someone. Why? She said two things which qualified her for the FB trashcan. To start with, she advocated for abortion rights on one of my threads. That in itself is a no-no. But then, with regards to Nancy Pelosi, she defended her. Said the Speaker was "highly accomplished". That sealed the deal. I hit the FB flush lever and she was gone.

In any event, the drone of Congress might, just might, send over the articles of impeachment today. I am sorry - was that yawning I just heard? Probably was. She has droned on for months now about this sham impeachment. On the news this morning, one of the pundits said that probably nine times as many people in this country care more about the break up of the royal family, than care about this sham impeachment. But who really cares? The drone of Congress will continue to drone on about this issue until we are all bored out of our skulls.

Now for the interesting drone story - the drones out west. Yes, they are still out there. A few days ago, a medical helicopter on a emergency run, had a close call with one. At about 700 feet in altitude. A special plane has been dispatched to look for these drones, to try and figure out who they belong to, and what their purpose is. Here is what I find unsettling. We have drones flying around our airspace, with no (we assume) authorization to do so. We don't have a clue right now who they belong to. In these days of living in the War on Terror, I find that unsettling. Not that they belong to terrorists, but as of right now, we have no clue WHO they belong to.

I have said this before, and it bears repeating. The Air Force needs to shoot one of these drones down without destroying it. Then we can get some clues to their origin. We owe that to all Americans, especially the ones living out west who have been putting up with these things for weeks on end now. In any event, that mystery continues to live on.

Even though the western drones continue to play peek-a-boo with us, the drone of Congress is more than happy to drone on in front of us, 24 X 7. This week, I expect to see her face, and hear her shaky voice on media quite a bit. That by itself is enough to drive me to watch re-runs of McHale's Navy instead of the news. More on both these drone events later. Or not. 

Can Iran come back to us?

"I see Iran being ripe for revolution right now. Anything we can do to help the rebellion would be great. Rather than us cutting the head off the snake, it would be so much better for the people of Iran to take back their own country."

Just over 40 years ago, the wheels came off the country of Iran. Why? Maybe part of it was the Shah's fault. Living too large while the rest of the country did not. Maybe part of it was the university's fault by teaching false history. In any event, the country decided to cast off its love for the 20th century, adopt a theocracy, and venture back into the 8th century. It seems that even though hidden well from the world press, there is an undercurrent of dissent in Iran. Seems many of the folks with long memories, plus some of the young ones with no memories, want Iran put back the way it once was.

Iran's theocratic leadership decided long ago, their calling card would be state sponsored terrorism. And they have done it well. Too well. So well in fact, their military got a bit trigger happy using some Russian made surface to air missiles, right after the missile attack on some Iraqi bases housing Americans. Even though this missile attack did not hurt or kill any Americans, they did shoot down an Ukraine airliner shortly after takeoff. It was loaded with innocent passengers. Not only were 63 Canadians killed in the crash of this plane, but also a dozen or so students from the university. 

I know, I know - accidents happen. It happened with us, when the USS Vincennes accidentally shot down a Iranian passenger jet in 1988. We did a mea culpa to the Iranians, and paid the families of the victims compensation. But this was different. It certainly was different to the students in Iran. This corrupt government of theirs, who is giving them nothing but misery right now due to the sanctions imposed by the United States and a few other bold other countries, killed innocent Iranian students. For many in Iran, enough is enough!

For patriots in this country, for lovers of freedom and liberty world wide, the past few months have been exhilarating. Why? Look at the young people in Hong Kong. By definition, Chinese residents. They want NO PART of the corrupt government in China. They want freedom. They want freedom the United States way. Why else would they be carrying our flags and singing our anthem while protesting? And now Iran. With the protests of freedom loving young people in that country, a ray of hope has appeared. 

What does this tell us? The jack booted theocracy in Iran, and the jack booted communist dictatorship in China does not sit well with many. One of the reasons Ronald Reagan thought it was important for the world see us as the "shining city on the hill", is for freedom to be seen for what it is. There is no reason for any people to be subjugated to an oppressive government. Why? All men (and women), are born free. Someone just has to take that freedom away from them. Or, as in many cases, that freedom is surrendered by a people to a heartless and ruthless government. 

Those who are anti-Second Amendment, pay attention - this part is for you. When we look over the world, as well as looking back in history, most brutal dictatorships start out by "un-evening" the odds. And the best way to do that, is to disarm the public. Our Founders knew that would always be the case. That is why the Second Amendment was put in our founding documents. That is why it is the ONLY article which has the caveat, "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED".

I see Iran being ripe for revolution right now. Anything we can do to help the rebellion would be great. Rather than us cutting the head off the snake, it would be so much better for the people to take back their own country. A free Iran would take the temperature in the Middle East down about a hundred degrees. The world needs that. We need that. And Iran needs that.    

  

Life in Wonderland - or is it Oz?

"This did not happen over night. It happened because America took its eye off the ball. It happened in the school systems, the colleges, the city halls. Soon, the contagion of socialism and ignorance had spread across the land, and it started looking for a warm and moist place to grow and fester. It then found the Democrat Party. And that is how we got to where we are today."

I would like to go back in time, maybe just a few decades, and catch the proverbial "man on the street". I would describe what is going on today in our world/country. After a short while, he would want my head examined. Why? First off, what is happening today makes no sense. None, what so ever.

I would tell him, we are probably going to start an impeachment trial next week, on a President who has committed no crime. A President who is trying to stare down Iran as well as other bad actors, so we don't have to fire any missiles or bullets in anger at them. A President who has brought us the greatest economy in perhaps - forever.

What we should be doing for Donald Trump, rather than putting him on trial in the Senate, is prepping Mount Rushmore for another head. This man is a leader like no other we have had. Yes, I am throwing Ronald Reagan in the mix - and I loved the Gipper!

The "man in the street" from a few decades ago would ask me why we are doing what we are doing. I would explain to him that the country is fractured. The last President we had really did a number on us. Democrats are no longer democrats. They have morphed into socialists, and one of the leading candidates for President (on the Democrat side) is a 100% socialist. At that point in time, the "man in the street" will wonder if I escaped from Wonderland or Oz. That type of thing CANNOT happen in the United States of America! At that point in time, I really tell him the bad news.

First the good news. The President and Vice President we have right now are excellent. If we re-elect them, we can have them for four more years. But there is another side to this coin. And it is very bad news. The number three person in succession to the White House, is still the Speaker of the House. And in 2020, we have a doozie. She is old, vicious, and could not put a sentence together if her life depended on it. SHE is the one driving the train on having our innocent President impeached. If for some reason, she ever gained control of this country, we, as well as our fantastic economy would be doomed. She may not be a socialist like Bernie is, but very close to it.

By now, the "man in the street" is ready to jump off a building. In his mind he is thinking, "This cannot be our future!". But it can be sir - and it is. Right now the country is on the verge of a "hot" civil war. We have been in a "cold" civil war since Barack Obama took our country in a very bad direction, and further divided us six ways from Sunday.

I would then tell the "man in the street" this, and this one is really going to hurt. It is your fault this happened. As he looks at me with saucer eyes and a wide open mouth, I would continue - "This did not happen over night. It happened because America took its eye off the ball. It happened in the school systems, the colleges, the city halls. Soon, the contagion of socialism and ignorance had spread across the land, and it started looking for a warm and moist place to grow and fester. It then found the Democrat Party. And that is how we got to where we are today."

2020 is the year we can beat back this contagion. We can escape from Wonderland and Oz. We can elect grown ups who have grown up beliefs to run this  country, and send the socialists scurrying. Unfortunately, the "man in the street" from decades ago, can't do anything. Time has passed him by. But we can. Our future is in our hands. We need to take back the country. Now.