Last night - a turning point?

"In any event, today is another beautiful day in the neighborhood. While most of our cops and NG folks are working extra hours to protect us, we can enjoy the day. However, someone needs to find Jacob Frey in a corner of City Hall, and get him to stop shivering and shaking."

Well, everybody was ready for it. The "Mother of all Battles" in Minnesota. Lord knows our leadership had tried to tiptoe around the tulips during the previous four nights. Play nice with the thugs and punks. Didn't work well. All we ended up getting is one of our famous neighborhoods (from days past), instantly turned into a new area of blight. The bad guys got new TVs' courtesy of Target Stores (and others), and all the citizens got, was their collective butts handed to them.

Yesterday, our feckless Governor decided to try something other than a political solution to fix this mess. Seems he might have heard himself talking, when he told the press, "There are more of them than there are of us." So, he went out and recruited "more of us." We borrowed cops from just about every area of the state. We called up every single National Guard asset we could find. And (for a change), we used strategic thinking, as well as letting our law enforcement, actually do law enforcement.

Compared to the previous four nights, the thugs and the punks got nowhere. Not that they did not try - but at just about every corner, they ran into a wall of blue, green or both. Some even got detained or arrested! Glory be! And with the handful or arrests we had made the first four nights, along with the ones from last night, interesting facts were learned.

We had been told by the powers that be, the rioters (different than the home grown peaceful demonstrators), came from all over the place (outside of Minnesota). These were the hard core, made to hire, rioters. Not only BLM assets from out state, but also Antifa from all over, White Supremacists, Nazis, the Cartels, aliens from Mars, even some rouge cops, who were playing for the other team. It was going to be an out and out invasion by some of the baddest of the bad.

Guess what we found out from the few which had been arrested? Guess where they are from? RIGHT HERE! There are our "peaceful protesters". Well, not really. They are part of the fatherless thugs and punks which were just looking for a chance to raise hell. There were some from parts unknown, but the vast majority of them are homespun.

Where do we go from here? Hopefully, peace will break out for a while. The thugs and punks will stand down, and we can go back to worrying about COVID once again. However, when the trial comes for the officer(s) who are at the center of this entire mess, hold tight. This will be a trial which might even eclipse the Justine Diamond murder. And - if we don't convict at least one of these cops of first degree murder, with maybe a death sentence - it will be back to the races once again.

I know, I know. This was not a first degree murder offense. And we don't have the death penalty in Minnesota. We know that, but the other side is clueless. If it is proven than George Floyd had underlying heart conditions and maybe some drugs in his system at time of death - getting a conviction which will satisfy the masses might be tough. 

In any event, today is another beautiful day in the neighborhood. While most of our cops and NG folks are working extra hours to protect us, we can enjoy the day. However, someone needs to find Jacob Frey in a corner of City Hall, and get him to stop shivering and shaking. Tell him he can safely go home for a while. Maybe also tell him that being the mayor of a big city is more than just a pander fest. Sometimes Jacob, you need to put on your big boy pants and protect the city. Even if it does cost you some votes down the road.   

The Battle for Minnesota

"Stay close to home, and at 6:00, stay hunkered and bunkered. Be locked and loaded. Have a fire extinguisher handy. Have water in your bath tub in case they go after our power plants. The bad guys are emboldened beyond belief right now. Anything can happen. Stay prepared. Stay alert." 

Okay. I am a bit dopey this morning, as I was up most of the night. I could not stop watching the news. It was (and I hate how this word is being over used) - surreal. I watched the presser, which was on at 1:30 am. Walz, Frey and others were present. Giving us the bad news. News I never, ever thought I would hear from an elected official in Minnesota. In so many words, Walz told us our state and city government had lost control. The city belonged to the hoodlums. Fires were burning, goods were being looted, things being destroyed, and terrified citizens huddled in their houses.

To really make matters worse, our Governor then told us that today would be the worst day so far. Tens of thousands of malcontents, from all over the area, who do not give a shit about George Floyd, are coming in for the kill shot. Ground zero could be Minneapolis, it could be St. Paul, Rochester, St. Cloud, Duluth, the burbs, or all of the above. The look on the Governor's face said it all. Then came the words which resonated like a ringing bell. "We are out manned, and out gunned, and tomorrow is really going to be bad."

Walz reminded me of Bruce Willis in the movie Armageddon. When it became evident they could not stop the asteroid, he said, "Tell the world to get ready for some bad news." That is what Walz was trying to do. Get us ready for some bad news.

The President has cleared the Posse Comitatus hurdle, and some battle hardened MP's are ready to come to town to help. The Governor said we will have the biggest law enforcement presence in the state's history today. Literally, all hands on deck. Unlike a couple nights ago, there will be no surrender of precinct headquarters. This will be like a military operation. The good guys will be going up against impossible odds, to take back territory which has been lost this week. Inch by inch, we have to take it back. 

Many of these agitators come from over our border. They came for the easy pickings. Minnesota Nice folks, they have no stomach for a fight. Least wise, that is what they have seen to date. But today might be different. My guess, is we are inches away from Marshall Law. Inches away from our troops getting "shoot to kill" orders for looters and arsonists. Hard to believe it could come to this. But this really is war. It is the Battle for Minnesota, and it is no shit for real.

If you have shopping to do, get it done early. Stay close to home, and at 6:00, stay hunkered and bunkered. Be locked and loaded. Have a fire extinguisher handy. Have water in your bath tub in case they go after our power plants. The bad guys are emboldened beyond belief right now. Anything can happen. Stay prepared. Stay alert. 
     

"New Fallujah" - redux?

"People who because of family history, have voted Democrat for years. Many are now wondering just what they have voted for. Without realizing it, they voted for entropy. And now they have it."  

Yesterday, I put a post out saying Minneapolis is starting to look like "New Fallujah". This is not my term. I am not that cleaver. I remember that term from Rush saying it about Detroit. You see years ago, Detroit went through something similar to what Minneapolis is going through right now. It went from one of America's greatest cities, to a hollowed out mess. Parts of Detroit were burned out, vandalized, and left to rot. Just visiting Detroit today, takes an act of courage.

Whereas Rush thought Detroit looked more like a Iraqi city which had just gone through a tough battle with our Armed Forces, that is how Minneapolis is looking right now. Minneapolis is a city which is slowly devouring itself. Hollowing itself out. It has way too many takers, and too few makers. Minneapolis has been a powder keg for some time. Many who live in Greater Minnesota, hate to go there. I know I do. When I was a kid I loved the place. Now I can't stand it. It has been a powder keg ready to explode. And this week, it did.

Not only are the forces of evil destroying Minneapolis, the contagion is spreading quickly. The rioters are hitting St. Paul, Rosedale, and points north. All Target Stores in the metro area are now closed - until further notice. Buses and trains are shut down until Sunday night.

If you are stuck in South Minneapolis, you are now living in a food desert. Since the Target and Cub stores have been neutralized, places for people to get their meds have been reduced to almost zero. South Minneapolis is becoming hollowed out. Self devoured. And all city leaders can do, is sit around and wonder what the hell just happened.

Some think what is happening right now is straight from Alinsky's book, Rules for Radicals. It might be. I do know this however - just about everyone I have talked to since this mayhem started, believe there is a "puppet master" behind all of it. The only question is - who is it? Soros? Maybe. Antifa? Maybe. BLM? Probably. Whomever it is, the damage already done has been extensive. Not just to property, but also to confidence in city and state leadership. If you get in trouble right now in Minneapolis, help is not coming. The first responders in that city have been neutralized and paralyzed. We are on the verge of "every man (or woman) for him or herself".

For those around the world who are witnessing this, I really don't know how to explain it. We are suppose to be in the middle of the most serious pandemic this world has seen for quite a while. Instead, the City of Lakes is turning into the City of Fire. Even with 500 members of the National Guard being called up to act as nothing more than logistic support, we need more - much more. Like, maybe a waiver from the Posse Comitatus Act. But to get a waiver from that act, we would need Congress to authorize it. Good luck getting Ms. Nancy to do anything right now.

Where do we go from here. Lord only knows. A city committed to suicide might be tough to talk off the ledge. Meanwhile, there are thousands of innocent people still living there. People who because of family history, have voted Democrat for years. Many are now wondering just what they have voted for. Without realizing it, they voted for entropy. And now they have it.  

The mess in Minneapolis

"Somehow, we will get past this. Then we can get back to worrying about rebuilding our economy the flinch from COVID caused. Oh yes - lost in the shuffle is our first space launch in 10 years. That is the news I am the most interested in."

Oh boy. We have stepped in it now. It takes a lot to knock COVID off the front page of the local and national press. But we did it. As if this city did not have enough on its plate. COVID, shattered economy, sub-standard education system. And now this. Many of us have seen this script before. White cops taking a person of color into custody - and then something happens. The person of color dies, and then all hell breaks out. Fires, looting, injuries, gunshots, you name it. 

Watching the news this morning, was nothing short of jaw dropping. Take an area, which has been plagued by gangs, drugs and crime - and then destroy a big chunk of it. If a EF4 tornado had dropped out of the sky over Lake Street, I doubt if the damage could have been much worse. The Target Store, which I have been have shopped at, is totally looted. Like, there is NOTHING left in that store. And who will pay for that? A brand new apartment building, a month away from completion - burned to the ground. In an area where housing is sorely needed.

It is estimated that over 50 businesses have been vandalized or destroyed in the area by the 3rd Precinct. Some will be rebuilt, some never will be. I would be surprised if the Target which was looted will be open this year. Maybe it will never re-open. Food stores were vandalized. In an areas which has been called a "food desert" in the past, making much needed food items more scarce to buy - makes no sense.

Another demonstration is planned for 5 pm today by the Government Center. Because the National Guard has been called out, hopefully things will be more peaceful. As with most big, blue metro areas, the police are often looked upon as pariahs. Being a cop in a large city, a city fraught with heavy crime, run by cop hating socialists, must be the toughest job in the world. That being said, most cops are good people, and do a good job with the "protect and serve" thing. But once in a while, some cops will not be good people. And will not "protect and serve" in the manner they were hired to do. 

The blood lust for these four cops, who were present when George Floyd died, is palpable. However in this country, we have due process. It is very possible (or probable) that one or more of these officers will be charged. They have already been fired. However, if they are charged without having the proper evidence, chances are they will not be convicted in a court of law. What am I saying? This will play out. The truth will come out. Charges, if appropriate, will be made. If the evidence is there, they will be convicted. Then somehow, life needs to return to normal. Right now, we are in anything but normal.

Who are the puppet masters behind this mayhem? Some say Black Lives Matter. Others say Antifa. Maybe it is George Soros' money. In any event, there are dark forces which love to see this absolute chaos played out in our great country. And having a Boy Mayor who does not know his ass from a six pack of beer does not help matters. Having a pussy for Governor does not help either. This state is awash in entropy, and now it is showing. South Minneapolis just happens to be at ground zero.

Somehow, we will get past this. Then we can get back to worrying about rebuilding our economy from the flinch COVID caused. Oh yes - lost in the shuffle is our first space launch in 10 years. That is the news I am the most interested in. One final thing - if you have a carry permit, now might be the time to start to carry. Just saying...  

Lessons Learned?

"Since chance favors a prepared mind, it is time to do that with ours. No more getting blind sided. No more flinch. We need to use hard empirical evidence to prepare for any waves which might follow. If none come - good. Then we can use that knowledge to be prepared for the next virus to come out of China." 

One of the President's medical advisors (right now, I can't remember which one), recently said that when the next wave of COVID - 19 comes to visit, we should be "over prepared". I guess that contrasts with getting caught flat footed like we did with this one. Now I am not being critical (except for the CCP not telling the world anything), nor am I blaming (except for the CCP), but we are lucky to be as well off as we are right now. That being said, there are many, many questions left to be answered - and quickly.

Questions like - what the hell happened in New York City? How did that area become the number one hot-spot in the world? Why not Tokyo? Why not Seoul? Why not Beijing? New York City is not the largest city in the world (it is the 9th or 10th largest), and yet it has galloped ahead of the other mega-cities in the world. Japan, which has Tokyo (the largest city in the world), has less than 1,000 deaths in the entire country. New York City just by itself, has almost 21,000 deaths. Why?

Closer to home, our biggest lesson learned will come from how to keep our most vulnerable safe. In other words, the elders in our long term care (LTC) facilities - or, nursing homes. With our state death toll approaching 900, we still have 81% of those deaths happening in our LTC facilities. If the CCP had come clean with the world, on how easily this disease was spread, many of those in LTC facilities who became infected, might not have been. In a perfect world, where none of those 81% who died in LTC facilities, did in fact survive, our state death toll would be under 200. For a state of 5,700,000, that is a fairly low number.

Many other questions should be addressed. Masks. Do they work or not? Everyone who is paying attention, know that cloth masks do not protect you. Supposedly they only protect those around you should you sneeze, cough, or even talk. Some are now saying that face shields work better than masks. And are less obstructive to one's breathing. And what about N-95 masks for the health professionals? Do they filter out 100% of the spores, or only 95% of them? In other words, can you still get COVID if you are wearing a N-95 mask?

We have to learn from this first wave, and learn fast. China will be of no help, so the free people of the planet need to share information with each other on what they learned. I am particularly interested in how countries like Japan, South Korea, and India, all have numbers so much lower than ours. Especially the New York City metroplex. Is it our diet? Our genes? What is it?

This COVID - 19 has been a kick in the gut for us. Way too many people died. Way too many people became sickened. Way too much damage to our economy. Now we need to get up, dust ourselves off, and "learn some things". I am in total agreement that before any more waves of COVID visit us, we need to be "over-prepared". Like way "over-prepared". 

Since chance favors a prepared mind, it is time to do that with ours. No more getting blind sided. No more flinch. We need to use hard empirical evidence to prepare for any waves which might follow. If none come - good. Then we can use our knowledge to be prepared for the next virus to come out of China. 

Spore Wars

"We need to find a way to beat these things until they don't wiggle anymore. We can't live this way. We have some of the smartest people in the world living here. We need to find the silver bullet for not only COVID - 19, but also any other virus which comes along." 

Anyone else getting tired of hearing the term "COVID"? I sure am. Almost to the point I want to wretch when I hear it mentioned. I can't listen to any local or national news, read any newsprint, watch news on TV - without hearing about COVID. It is changing our lives daily. Ruining lives. And the nexus between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and COVID are extraordinary. I can't think of one without thinking of the other.

Last month, the Economist penned an article called Spore Wars. It was a fearful article for sure. It was about some rogue country (or maybe even not rogue) becoming emboldened by the devastation that COVID - 19 has wrought on the world, and developing another spore, similar to COVID - 19, but not exact. It could happen. We would be in the soup all over again. Putting together a virus lab like Wuhan would not be that hard to do - especially if a country had help from a nefarious, and silent partner (hello, CCP).

A virus expert was on the news this morning. His message was also somewhat bleak. This current wave of COVID - 19? Get used to it. He said as this virus mutates, we could be getting wave after wave of some kind of unwelcome spores in our land. Causing disease, death and mayhem. So that gets us back to the spot we were contemplating a couple months ago. How do we stop these spores from ruining our lives? From ruining our progress as a people? In other words, as our President said, how do we go to war with these spores? Defeat them for once and for all?

I for one (and I am sure there are legions upon legions who feel the same), and tired of playing "duck and cover" with these spores. I am tired of treating others like they have leprosy - and being treated as the same. I am tired of social distancing, washing my hands until they bleed, and wearing a mask in stores. I am tired of missing church. Tired of not watching baseball in the spring and summer. And I am tired of watching the greatest economy in the world, come to almost a screeching halt. 

Spore wars? My feeling is whatever it takes. We need to find a way to beat these things until they don't wiggle anymore. We can't live this way. We have some of the smartest people in the world living here. We need to find the silver bullet for not only COVID - 19, but also any other virus which comes along. And we need to do it sooner, rather than later.

For those who gave all...

"To those countless men and women who died to keep us free, free to enjoy weekends such as this, we thank you. More than that - we remember you. Your bravery, your dedication, your sacrifice. Rest in peace brave Americans - a grateful country salutes you. Now and forever." 

Memorial Day. A day to remember. A day to celebrate? Like the Fourth of July? Not really. It is a day to remember the brave young men, and in recent times, also the brave young women, who went into foreign lands to fight for freedom. Not just to preserve our freedom, but to fight for the freedom of others. In our past, there have been legions of patriots who answered that call. Some never returned. Because evil and tyranny still stalk our land, there will be more in the future who will also need to answer that call. Sadly, some of those will not return either.

Today is not Veteran's Day. That day comes in November. Tomorrow is the day we honor all who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Tomorrow we honor those who are at the end of the saying, "All gave some, some gave all". Many have asked, how much longer this is going to continue? Why is it always us, that needs to fight evil and oppression? It is because the fire of freedom and liberty burns so hot within us. We are Americans. Many in the world look at us as that bright beacon, that city on the hill, of freedom. 

If you want to see what a world without freedom looks like, you need to look no further than Communist China. China, with its rich traditions and heritage, has been hijacked by Communist dictators since 1949. It has become a repressive society, where freedom and liberty are looked upon as crimes against the state, and dealt with harshly. Look at the people of Hong Kong who are now being subjugated. They would give their eye teeth to be free like Americans are. So would the Uighurs, who are rotting in China's "re-education camps", just for practicing their religion.

There are many more examples besides China. Tyranny plays no favorites. Whenever the will to protect freedom and liberty wanes, tyranny is waiting in the wings. All one needs do is look at world history to see that happen - time and time again. After the "Great War" (WW I), the world thought we were done with war for once and for all. But as the years went on, when freedom and liberty started to wane, Adolph Hitler was waiting in the wings. And the world did not take him seriously. Consequently, Hitler led the world into war. And when it was over, over 400,000 brave Americans died to keep this world free.

To those countless men and women who died to keep us free, free to enjoy weekends such as this, we thank you. More than that - we remember you. Your bravery, your dedication, your sacrifice. Rest in peace brave Americans - a grateful country salutes you. Now and forever. 

Joe steps in it (again)...

"For the first time in a long time, we have a 'promises made, promises delivered' President. All Biden is, and always has been, is a promise maker, and a panderer. End of story." 

When our kids were young, and they would say something without thinking about it before hand, my wife and I would call it the "ready, fire, aim" way of talking. As I have aged, my wife has told me I am losing my filter. In other words, I am not at in the elderly "ready, fire, aim", phase as yet, but my wordsmithing, after I decide what to say, is not what it used to be. In other words, I got blunt.

That being said, the self proclaimed "scrapper from Scranton", is really on the slippery slope downward. Not only has he lost his filter, he has lost everything which comes with it. His comment to that gentleman of color, during a routine Q+A event, was a jaw dropper. "You ain't black if you vote for Trump". Of ALL the times the Loony Left has called out our President for being racist (like, shutting down flights from China when the virus started spreading), and here is Joe Biden, telling a black person he is not black if he votes for the party of freedom in the next election.

As usual, after Uncle Joe steps in a pile of excrement, he is very contrite. Or so he says. Right after he realized the egregious nature of what he said, he got in front of a camera and said he misspoke. "I have never taken the African American vote for granted". To that Uncle Joe, we must resound with a roaring, BULLSHIT! You do it all the time! And you have NEVER done one damn thing for that community, except promise two chickens in every pot. And for some reason, unknown to the thinking world, that community keeps voting Democrat. Time after time after time.

Monolithic voting blocks have always been a puzzle to me. There was just an article about the Jewish vote. They are voting Democrat (again). Why? Heaven only knows. Is Trump an anti-Semitic? Not hardly. His daughter Ivanka, married a Jewish man (Jared Kushner) and converted to Judaism. Trumps grandchildren are being raised Jewish. Yet the unthinking class, continues to excoriate Donald Trump for not only being a racist, but also an anti-Semitic. And the goofball Joe Biden gets off scot free. Time and time and time again. 

The Party of Freedom produced Donald Trump. It produced Ronald Reagan. It produced Abraham Lincoln. These men promised ALL Americans nothing except freedom. Freedom from tyranny, freedom from excessive government shackles, and freedom to follow one's dreams. The Party of Death (as it is called today, due to their love affair with abortion), promises nothing but more promises. One party honors God Almighty, and the other party boos God.

If the truth be known, I have thought Biden was a phony since he was in Congress. I thought he was a phony when he was in the Senate. And I REALLY thought he was a phony when he was Vice President. For the first time in a long time, we have a "promises made, promises delivered" President. All Biden is, and always has been, is a promise maker, a deal breaker, and a panderer. End of story.       

Our current COVID whatever...

"Today, we will hear the fate of our State Fair this year. Has not been cancelled since 1946 during the polio pandemic. My guess is it will be cancelled for COVID. I hope I am wrong."

I have been taken to task more than once for using the term "new normal". So I have searched the landscape for what might be more appropriate. Things are different for sure, so I can't say "our current sameness". True, when we get to the other side of this pandemic, things might go back to the way they were. Or not. Some might never return to the same way. Just like the way 9/11 changed some things in our country, so might COVID. Only time will tell.

Here are the changes in the landscape as I see them:

• Work - At long last, telecommuting has become real. Microsoft is the latest company to tell its employees to work at home if they can. Many who walked out the door of their employer two months ago, will never come back. This might be the start of the long anticipated sea change with our employment. Do more with less. Automate. Prepare for jobs which are not even invented as yet. Work might have some very long lasting implications from this pandemic.
• School - Earlier this week, my wife read the new guidelines for kids over the age of 2 attending some kind of school. It was weird. Masks all day long (on a three year old?), no sharing of toys, bring you own lunch, no more water bubblers to drink out of. I can see a huge spike in home schooling on the horizon.
• Air Travel - Okay. This one is going to suck. As if air travel was not inconvenient before, just wait until the new requirements kick in. Wearing masks, infrequent or no beverage service, different rules for using the onboard rest rooms, longer layovers, fewer direct flights, and on, and on, and on. Driving is looking better all the time.
• City Travel - Like to take the bus or the light rail? More rules coming. Masks will be required at all times. Socially distanced seating will be in place. And don't you dare sneeze - you might get beat up by the other passengers.
• Entertainment - Waiting for the new season to start this fall? Don't hold your breath. Get ready for re-runs. Why? Nobody is filming. Anything. Want to go see a local play instead? Good luck with that one. The Guthrie just laid off most of their staff and there are no plays planned. In NYC, Broadway is shut down. Netflix will do well, however.
• Medical - A friend just had his annual physical. It was done over the phone. He had blood drawn at a location, and the results were sent to his doctor. Then it was a short phone interview, and he was done. Elective surgeries are still a question mark, and yesterday I had my teeth cleaned. Let me just say this - a simple cleaning was like being prepped for surgery. Weird.

There are more, but I will stop here. Today, we will hear the fate of our State Fair this year. Has not been cancelled since 1946 during the polio pandemic. My guess is it will be cancelled for COVID. I hope I am wrong.    

Our Cowardly Lion (or pussy)

"The LCMS (Missouri Synod Lutherans) and the Catholics have already told Timid Timmy (as nice as church going folks can say it) - to shove it. They are going to start up services again, regardless of what he has told them." 

When I was on Jeff Johnson's team, we all knew that Walz (if elected) would be a disaster for this state. How much of disaster, we did not know at that time. Now we do. This refugee from Nebraska, has no clue about Minnesotans. Probably did not have any clue about Nebraskans either - that is how he ended up here. But how he is handling this pandemic in Minnesota is beyond the pale, even for him. Having him as our Governor after putting up with eight years of Goofy, is cruel and unusual punishment for the citizens of Minnesota.

Tim the goal post changer, always starts off my telling us that his first job is keeping us as safe as possible. Really? Tell that to our fine citizens, who have been blessed enough to live a long life. Who right now, find themselves in care facilities. A section of our population which has been brutalized by this virus. We have had so many people die in our care facilities, we lead the nation in the percentage who have died in LTC. We even lead New York. A state where families are now suing Cuomo for negligence. We should do the same to Timmy the Timid.

Then to tell our restaurant owners, they can finally "open up" for fine dining on the tables or grass outside. Because this leach of public money has never really worked for a private industry, he does not understand profit and loss. He has no clue how to make the bottom line. Restaurants cannot make it this way. Period. Even with 50 people eating outside. Plus, many restaurants are not equipped with outdoor eating. Many of our small businesses, especially restaurants, are on life support. This parsimonious gesture on the part of Timid Timmy did nothing for them. But it sure did a lot for the border towns in South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The LCMS (Missouri Synod Lutherans) and the Catholics have already told Timid Timmy (as nice as church going folks can say it) - to shove it. They are going to start up services again, regardless of what he has told them. AND - they will sing to the top of their lungs. Timid Timmy only wants 10 people per church service, with no singing. Hey Tim - this is not Little House on the Prairie. We have large and vibrant churches here, not tiny ones the size of one room school houses. I know you think the out-staters who live in Greater Minnesota, are nothing but dolts who live with rocks and cows, but we are not. We are the real deal. Citizens, not subjects. So send in the National Guard if you want you tyrant, but the people are going back to church.

By the way, Gavin Newsom has gone so far "to the wacky" in California, even out there a large group of citizens want him recalled. We can do the same to you Timmy. My only fear in doing so, the minions down in Cedar Riverside would install another tyrant to replace you. Myself? I would like Jeff Johnson recalled from private life and sworn in as Governor. Right now, we need a guy with brains and guts - not the Cowardly Lion (or pussy). 

Summertime vs the Pandemic

"Am I ready for those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer? Oh yes I am. All of us should be. the days of this pandemic have been wearing on us. To come right from winter and then into the pandemic has really sucked. Time for fun now. Time for summer."

Today, we are just hours away from people experiencing the first holiday of the summer session. For many, Memorial Day IS the start of summer. Even though school has been over for the kiddos for a while now, and one out of five are still in search for what happened to their job, Memorial Day is the start of the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Everything is going to be great, except for, well you know - the pandemic.

Actually, the pandemic can be the wet blanket which will spread over our summer fun. Or, we can ignore it and take our chances. Or, we can try to experience as much as a "normal" summer as possible, while still being careful. Our family is going to try for the third option. We wait too long in Minnesota, put up with too many dark, cold and lifeless days, to just write a summer off.

We got an email yesterday from Delta Airlines. Telling us about summer travel, for those who feel it is time once again to venture onto an airplane. Since the pandemic began, few industries have taken a bigger "hit" than the airline industry. Travel has been way down - like 5% of what it should be. So Delta is offering this - no aisle seats (oh, do I wish that had come years ago!), only 60% capacity, and everyone needs to wear a face mask. Now the trick will be so see how many are ready to sit in a no fun airplane for three hours, which might look more like a hospital ward than the ads of old.

Our family is contemplating a trip out west this summer. But then comes the next hurdle. The next bridge of trust. We would need to stay in motels, since our family long ago outgrew camping. There always has been suspicions on how "clean" your motel room really is (never use the black light test - you might vomit!), but today, we also need to be concerned about something which is still invisible. And can kill. So when we check into a motel or hotel, we need to cross that bridge of trust. When they say the rooms have been sanitized to prevent COVID - 19, we will need to believe them.

Anyway - I digress. This summer will be wonderful for many of us. For those brave enough, it could be a summer similar to many in our pasts. Memorable and fun. For those who believe the panic merchants on the boob tube every day, or our state government, it might be better to stay huddled in your basement. However, remember this. Even with a lot of things shut down, there are many things to do right here in the five state region. Fun things - summer things. Many so close, they can easily turn into day trips.

Am I ready for those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer? Oh, yes I am. All of us should be. The days of this pandemic have been wearing on us. To come right from winter and then into the pandemic has really sucked. Time for fun now. Time for summer. Time to get ready for Memorial Day weekend.  

Jobs lost forever...

"There will be good news to come out of this pandemic. The news will not all be grim. But to make our recovery work, we must all reach deep within ourselves and find that hidden 'change agent'." 

I will say one thing for this "flinch" we have done due to the pandemic. We have accelerated the long predicted employment change, foretold by the futurists. If you are at home right now, in a laid off, fired or furloughed status, and if your job was not highly technical or "essential", buckle up. Your time at home might end up being longer than what you anticipated.

First off, no offense to the employee, but your boss might be looking at this event as a very good reason to automate. Why? Besides being the wave of the future, an automated asset will not need to have his or her temperature taken every morning when they come into work. And automated asset can work longer than 8 hours a day, or 40 hours a week. An automated asset does not need benefits, breaks, vacations and so forth. And, bottom line - an automated asset is cheaper for the employer to use.

So where does that leave the individual, whose job suddenly evaporated? Now is the time to remember that 85% of all jobs which will exist in 2030, do not exist in 2020. Jobs which should have gone bye-bye years ago, might just go bye-bye this summer. And then what? Where does that leave a person who needs to work? Needs to pay bills, rent, eat? With all the other balls that are being juggled by the government right now, this is another one. And it is a big one.

Even with our new found push for "made in America" and "get the hell out of China", the jobs coming back on-shore will not be the panacea. In fact, to compete with the sweat labor pricing we were getting out of items made in China, we will need to build a better mousetrap here at home. By the way - this change to a more automated workforce is not uniquely American. Has not been for a while. All developed or developing countries are either doing it or considering it. Why? Better quality, with a more dependable and cost effective work force. Sorry unions - find another gig. This is the wave of the future.

This change will not only affect the lightly skilled, or blue collar jobs. Teachers - get ready for your big change. What you saw this spring with "distance learning" is only the tip of the iceberg. Not just for high school, but post high school as well. The mantra will be to better educate our youth, at a much smaller cost. To get them ready for the 85% of the jobs which do not yet exist, we need to adapt our education system to accommodate that need. Big challenge? Oh, yes.

Don't get me wrong - this change was going to happen this decade. Most futurists I have read up on, have predicted it. It is necessary. But having this pandemic in the first part of the first year of the decade, has now put this job change on the fast track. The wizards of smart who live in and run this country, know that time is not on their side. Why not? Nobody wants to go back to a Jimmy Carter type unemployment rate.

There will be good news to come out of this pandemic. The news will not all be grim. But to make our recovery work, we must all reach deep within ourselves and find that hidden "change agent". If we don't, the coming changes will be torturous. And we will not return to the greatness we had just a few months ago. 

The virtual class of 2020

"Now for the Class of 2020. We, the generations that preceded you, feel bad for you. However, you will be the first to graduate and venture out into this new landscape. That makes you trailblazers of sorts."

Heads up boys and girls! You are about to graduate (sort of). Sorry about the prom which never happened, and the senior skip day which never ended - but it is time to go. Go out into this topsy turvy world, and try to either get into a closed down college, of find a job in a land where 1 out of 5 folks have just been laid off. But don't worry about your graduation ceremony - we will give you a yard sign which honors you, and then maybe you can Zoom with 150 of your closest friends.

Do I think the class of 2020 got a raw deal? Do I think a bear poops in the woods? Of course they got a raw deal. Just like the 20% of the work force who got laid off, fired or "furloughed" got a raw deal. Actually, the country got a raw deal - thanks to the Wuhan or CCP virus. But we are done crying over spilled milk. We are trying to move on - adapt. And kids, you kids from the Class of 2020 - you need to do the same. Some are saying this is the new normal, others are saying it is not. Whatever it is, we need to go on. One step at a time.

Dr. Tom Frieden, the former head of the CDC, was on the news yesterday. His take on this virus was about as crystal clear as many of us have. When asked if things will get better this summer, he said, "It might." When asked if the dreaded second wave was coming next fall and winter, he said, "It might". He did say this however. As little as we know about this virus, we do know it is ten times deadlier than the flu, and ten times easier to catch. When asked about Project Warp Speed, and if it would be our panacea, his opinion was, "This is a good thing to do". Will it work? His answer was, "We hope so. But we have to choice but to try it."

Every time I hear stuff like what Frieden said, I want to go over to Wuhan, and kick some of those Chicom virologists in their junk. And I mean kick them hard! Remember, all this pain, all this suffering, all this death, all this inconvenience, all these missed opportunities - are the fault of the Chicoms. Not a bat, not nature, not happenstance - it was the negligence of the Chicoms. 

Now for the Class of 2020. We, the generations that preceded you, feel bad for you. However, you will be the first to graduate and venture out into this new landscape. That makes you trailblazers of sorts. This is the world the Chicoms have broken, and it will be up to your generation to help fix it. I know, I know - this is not fair. You got screwed. Just remember who it was who did the screwing. Never forget that. 

As for the rest of us, the ones older than the Class of 2020 - we will work with you, side by side. We will work to fix the broken, and to live our lives as best we can, while still be stalked by this virus which could either be real bad, or just sort of bad. We do know it is bad enough to put 315,000 people in their graves (worldwide) just this year. And about 1/3 of those deaths are Americans. This is why we all have to fix what is broken. 

"Light-headed" in Illinois

"Walz, Evers, Whitmer, Pritzker, Lightfoot - DEMOCRATS all. And all are clueless tyrants. If we want to get a handle on running these states well again, and fighting the good fight against COVID - 19, we need to clean house."

I was going to finish up how our neighbors are doing in these COVID days with addressing Michigan, but I just could not resist taking a trip to Illinois. No offense to Iowa and North Dakota - I have not forgotten you. But how you are doing as compared to Minnesota and Michigan is, well, really not that newsworthy. In other words, those two states are doing as well as can be expected. But Illinois, with DEMOCRAT Governor Pritzker and Lori "Lightheaded" Lightfoot, the DEMOCRAT Mayor of Chicago, are a pair to draw to.

First off, I am not going to mention that Illinois is going bankrupt. Nor that Cook County is the corruption county of America. Nor that Chicago has turned into nothing more than a drug infested shooting gallery, with a sky high death toll. Covered all these topics before, many, many times. But I would like to see how the DEMOCRAT Governor and the DEMOCRAT Mayor of Chicago are handling this COVID - 19 crisis.

Illinois with just under 13M residents, has over 90,000 confirmed cases of COVID with over 4,100 deaths. How does that compare to Minnesota, who by the way, is doing lousy so far? Minnesota, with 45% of the population of Illinois, has 15,000 confirmed cases and 700 deaths. 

But now we come to Lori "Lightheaded" Lightfoot. How is Chicago doing? Chicago has about a third of the reported COVID cases in Illinois with just over 2,500 deaths. That is worse than the Twin Cities of Minnesota (by a long shot), but better than the 20,000 deaths in NYC (by a long shot).

That being said, and with all these stats, why am I focused on the DEMOCRAT Mayor of Chicago? Because she is clueless. Reckless and clueless. Last weekend, was a typical week for violence in Chicago. 64 shot and wounded, with 10 killed. So what was "Lightheaded" the most concerned about? Social distancing in Chicago, while Illinois suffers through Pritzker's endless shutdown.

So, how is that shutdown working Governor? Chicago is paying way too much attention to it, while the carnage continues. The "Lightheaded" Mayor of Chicago has proven time and time again, she has NO control over the crime in the largest city in Illinois. The state is still going belly up, and Cook County is the biggest reason for it. So, the recipe for Illinois has been simply this - spend money like crazy with revenue drying up, let Chicago continue to rip itself apart with drug and gun violence, and watch the COVID death toll be one of the largest in the Midwest.

Walz, Evers, Whitmer, Pritzker, Lightfoot - DEMOCRATS all. And all are clueless tyrants. If we want to get a handle on running these states well again, and fighting the good fight against COVID - 19, we need to clean house. Get rid of the tyrants running these fine states. Elect normal adults who understand liberty and freedom.

A famous quote attributed to Ben Franklin is, "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety". Man oh man - have we seen this quote come true this year! The blue tyrants running some of our midwestern states have stripped their citizens of much of their liberty, and yet the virus keeps winning the day. What then am I saying? Once again - elections have consequences. Remember that in November.     

Michigan's Queen of Mean

"The American people elect leaders to lead them - not control them. And Gretchen Whitmer - you are the worst of the worst. Shame on your pettiness. You really are the Queen of Mean"

When I was a youngish lad, my Dad had a favorite expression. He would use it when he say someone who looked real nasty. He would say, "Son - that is one mean looking sucker!" Most often, it was my experience when someone looked mean and nasty, they usually were. Once in a while it was not the case - but most times, it was.

Whenever I see or hear Gretchen Whitmer (DEMOCRAT) Governor of Michigan on the news, I either think of what my Dad would say, or I would think of the Wicked Witch of the West. This woman is beyond the pale (or in the case of the Wicked Witch - the pail!). What she did to that poor older gentleman, that 77 year old barber who was just trying to survive, was out and out tyranny. But tyranny seems to be Gretchen's middle name these days. 

Karl Manke needed to keep cutting hair to get some revenue to survive. That is all. Plus, his loyal customers for decades, needed hair trims. So Karl ignored the fiat order of this Queen of Mean, and kept cutting hair. He was warned to stop, but he kept on cutting. Then this tyrannical dictator did the unthinkable - she revoked his licence. The license to cut hair he had for just about forever.

Karl said (paraphrase), "Fine. Keep your license. I am going to keep cutting my customer's hair." Then the almighty state of Michigan, under the direction of the Governor threatened to fine him $1,000, and one year in jail PER HAIRCUT! The Queen of Mean wonders why citizens come to the state capitol to protest armed to the teeth. Gretchen! Read your history books! American History! Patriots and citizens DO NOT tolerate tyranny. We have fought wars to eliminate tyranny. We certainly are not going to put up with it from you!

Like Minnesota, whatever Michigan is doing is the wrong thing. Michigan is way, way out of control in fighting this virus. The state is locked down tighter than a drum, and yet they have 50,000 confirmed cases, and over 4,800 deaths. For a state less than twice the population of Wisconsin, Michigan has about 10 times as many COVID deaths. What the what? That makes no sense what-so-ever. 

Some have taken me out to the woodshed for pointing out that red states (for the most part) have much better COVID numbers than blue states. Maybe I won't do that anymore. Instead, I will point out that states run by tyrants (for the most part) have much worst COVID numbers than states run by freedom loving Governors. How so? South Dakota with a freedom loving woman running that state, has 1% of the COVID deaths than Michigan, run by a tyrannical woman. Go figure. 

What I have tried to point out the past few days, is turning your state into a gulag does not help in reducing down the number of COVID cases or deaths. All it does is make a tough situation even tougher. The American people elect leaders to lead them - not control them. And Gretchen Whitmer - you are the worst of the worst. Shame on your pettiness. You really are the Queen of Mean.  

The Wisconsin Party!

"Yesterday, the party of the year was held in Wisconsin. Tomorrow, it might be held in Minnesota and Michigan. We can only hope."  

Poor old Tony Evers. Thrown to the curb by the people in Wisconsin. The people who elected him. Well actually, it was the Wisconsin Supreme Court who threw Tony to the curb. The court looked at this tyrant and said, "You were elected to work for the people, not visa versa. The fiat powers you tried to infuse in your Stay at Home orders, have got to go." And just like that - Tony went from "King of the hill", to just a spectator. He was a spectator, witnessing the biggest party Wisconsin has thrown since the Packers won their last Super Bowl.

First a few facts about Wisconsin which are germane to this article. Wisconsin's population is 5,800,000 - about 100,000 more than Minnesota. The population of Milwaukee - 600,000. Population of Minneapolis and St. Paul together - 730,000. The two states are very similar in so many things. Both states have tons of lightly populated "out state" territory when you get outside the metros. They are so similar in so many things - that is, except for how COVID - 19 has sickened the two states.

Whereas Minnesota has about 13,500 confirmed cases with 663 deaths from COVID - 19, Wisconsin only has 11,300 confirmed cases with 434 deaths. Minneapolis and St. Paul combined have about 500 of Minnesota's deaths, whereas Milwaukee only has about 250. So, just like in the vast differences between the Dakotas and Minnesota with COVID statistics, why then, the differences between these two states (Minnesota and Wisconsin), which look like twins?

Well, whatever. It has already been firmly alleged that whatever Taxing Timmy has done to fight COVID in Minnesota, it is not the right thing. We have been locked up tighter than a drum since this virus thing started, and still we have higher than average numbers.

In Wisconsin, Tony Evers also thought he was doing the right thing. Only the right thing was not the right thing in the minds of many of his citizens. Wisconsin is not the powder keg Michigan is, but still, the citizens and patriots of Wisconsin had enough. How much so? The ink on the paper from the Wisconsin high court was still drying on the paper when the bars in Wisconsin started to open.

Now what do we have in Wisconsin? In the eyes of the patriots and citizens, we are seeing nothing less than freedom. People choosing to be treated like adults, and not children. Are they risking getting the virus by going to the bar and social distancing 6 inches instead of six feet? Maybe. But it is their choice. That is what freedom is all about.

Tony Evers may be wailing about "chaos and wild, wild west" behavior, but that is only because Tony does not "get it". Take a look around Governor Evers - this is what freedom looks like. And if you had taken American History while in college instead of environmental studies, you would know that our history is replete with explosions of freedom and liberty when tyranny is present.

Are you paying attention to what is going on in Wisconsin Taxing Timmy? How about you Gretchen Whitmer, aka the Queen of Mean? Liberty loving people in Minnesota and Michigan are no different than liberty loving people in Wisconsin. Yesterday, the party of the year was held in Wisconsin. Tomorrow, the next parties might be held in Minnesota and Michigan. We can only hope.  

The Minnesota Miracle - Part 2

"I don't know if our state government has learned much from this first wave of the Wuhan Flu. But the people have. They have learned that our liberties are fragile things, and if we are not careful, they can be taken away in a heartbeat."

I bet some who saw the title of this post might be thinking I was going back into yesteryear. Back in time to talk about the Case Keenum pass to Stephan Diggs in the Saints playoff game. Nope. Not that miracle. What I will address this morning is even more of a miracle. Our blessed emperor, Taxing Timmy Walz, is going to let us out in the yard a bit more. Give us a few more privileges. Even allow some retail shops to open up again (with conditions). I was so happy, I was going out to a bar to celebrate. But - Timmy has them closed for the rest of the month.

Many of the gloom and doom medical gurus think opening up might be a big mistake. Also Dr. Bill Gates, who has transformed from Microsoft CEO, to a globalist, and now to a virologist. Gates thinks the world should stay shut down for months. With all of us hiding in our basements (if we have one). But here is where my confusion comes in.

Dr. (a real doctor) Mike Osterholm of the U of M, said we will continue to be attacked by this virus until 70% or so of us are infected. At that point in time, we will collectively develop "herd immunity", and this virus will start to fade into the history books.

If most of us are going to be infected (and please, don't pin your hopes on a silver bullet vaccine), then let's get it over with. Why play duck and cover with something we can't hide from forever? That is, unless you want to only exist, and not live. Stay hidden in your house for months and months (or longer). Don't get me wrong - if I had my druthers, I would not get this crap. Especially at my age (70). But I do not want to spend my golden years hiding from some invisible enemy. Too much life left to live.

As far as I am concerned, Taxing Timmy has already done enough damage to this state. Of the over 600 souls we have lost, over 80% of them have been in LTC facilities. A whole slew of innocent seniors - gone. All because the state did not have the where-with-all on how to protect our LTC facilities against diseases. In fact, it is so bad in Minnesota, we lead the nation (according to Fox News) in the percentage of fatalities in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Taxing Timmy has also done a real job on many of our small businesses. Quite a few have already thrown in the towel. The cracking sound you hear outside, is the sound of fingernails breaking. Those fingernail belong to owners who are hanging on by their fingernails. When the last fingernail breaks, the business goes belly up - forever.

So what exactly is the Minnesota Miracle? Simply that Walz is allowing us to open up just a smidge. Big whoop. Actually, the fact more businesses have not gone under so far is another miracle. However, many are so deeply wounded, when they do open up, they will be on life support. 

I don't know if our state government has learned much from this first wave of the Wuhan Flu. But the people have. They have learned that our liberties are fragile things, and if we are not careful, they can be taken away in a heartbeat.

Oh, the citizens have also been reminded that elections have consequences. Reminded in a big way.