The end of a most interesting year...

 

"To some, 2026 will be a blur. To others, it will be like a delightful feast, to be enjoyed over and over again. But like it or love it, 2026 is only hours away. The real good news about 2025? We made it to the end without blowing each other up. We now have the chance in 2026 to take a 'do better' and really make this world a better place."     

Wow! It has been a heck of a year for sure! Starting out with Donald J. Trump surviving assassination attempts to become POTUS 47 (after being POTUS 45). In true Trump fashion, he hit the ground running and has not stopped yet. As good as many things have been foisted upon us, there is still some bug-a-boos. Like what? Like, the following things going into 2026.

Affordability - Many have forgotten the old economic axiom about prices - "They go up like a rocket and come down like a feather." After the 20% runup in prices under Biden, and promises of a better economy under Trump, the natives are restless. They want relief NOW. But the "now" thing will have to wait until 2026. Sure, inflation is down, GDP is up and the stock market is at record highs. Because many Americans are still not "feeling it", we will have to wait until 2026, when the BBB really kicks in, to get that "tingle up our legs".

Ukraine - As hard as Trump has tried, this war is still a mess. Putin continues to play Ukraine and NATO like a fiddle in peace negotiations. Putin wants peace as much as most dogs like seeing the vet. Meanwhile, almost on a nightly schedule, Putin sends more drones and missiles into Kyiv to kill innocent civilians. As we sail into 2026, we are coming up on four years of blood and guts and misery to solve NOTHING. Putin should still be tried as a war criminal. Too bad the UN and Hauge are filled with wussies instead of real men.

Gaza - A humanitarian mess. Phase I of the cease fire is over (sort of), and the problems with Phase II are legion in number. If I were a betting man, I would say the carnage in Gaza will continue on for some time. Hamas will never disarm, choosing instead to die with their boots on and guns a blazing. That means the coalition of the willing will unleash the dogs of war (again) and reducing the remaining Hamas fighters to dust. The problem is, many innocent Gazans will go with the guilty. Ever since that October 7th day in Israel, this has been an ugly blot on human history.

Iran - What an interesting country! Here they are, suffering through a drought of Biblical proportions, and Iran wants war with Israel, the US and NATO. Huh? Why? Good question. It seems they still want a nuke and rockets which can deliver nuclear fire. As punishing as the B-2 bomber raid was in 2025, we might need to do a replay in 2026. Trump is done messing with these guys. FAFO will be in play for sure.

There is so much more, but I will stop here. As I have mentioned many times this year, 2025 is only the prep year for the big show, starting in 2026. The next four years will see more changes (in technology) than we have seen in the past century - or longer. The Olympics will happen, we will celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation and much, much more. 

To some, 2026 will be a blur. To others, it will be like a delightful feast, to be enjoyed over and over again. But like it or loath it, 2026 is only hours away. The real good news about 2025? We made it to the end without blowing each other up. We now have the chance in 2026 to take a "do better" and really make this world a better place.     

"Future gazing"

"What is going to happen is no fault of any one person. The future is what it is. We can love it or hate it - but the future is what it is. People that educate themselves, prepare themselves are the ones who will have the best chances of a soft landing. Those who don't will find a different kind of landing." 

I have told this story before (a while back). In 1975, after I graduated from the Carlson School of Management at the "U", I was hired by a defense contractor in Eagan, MN. Never having worked in industry before, I was astonished to find out this company had a "futurist" on staff. Like, what the heck is a futurist? I found out a futurist worked closely with the development teams as well as the marketing staff. The futurist had the responsibility to guide the company so the company would nicely, and with good profit, intersect with the future.

I remember the first time I heard this man speak. It was an "all hands" meeting, held in the company auditorium. He went off script and started talking about where technology was going, other than our product mix. Out of the blue, he started talking about home computers. He said in the near future, just about every home will have at least one home computer. After he said that, I remembered a bit of snickering and laughter in the auditorium. Come on man! We had just come out of the slide rule days! But this futurist was right on the dime. And then some.

Why bring this up now? The other day in the local fish wrap newspaper, was an article about the trials and tribulations of the long term unemployed in this state. How tough it will be to find a new job. Many of the unemployed might be waiting for something to "happen". If so, that will be a bad move. To increase one's chances of finding any kind of sustainable employment from 2026 on, one must look around with different eyes. In other words, do your homework, and find out where the best opportunities are for a career - not just a job.

The good old unskilled jobs which many have been able to fall back on in previous years, will soon disappear. Some earlier than others. Even tech jobs like working on a help desk will soon be automated. Hate talking to a "bot" on the phone? Better get used to it. People to people chats for tech help will soon be gone for good. But what kind of jobs will be safe? Jobs which cannot be done by technology. Like plumbers. Electricians. Painters. But be aware - any job which can be automated - will be automated. Even in the medical field, technology will creep into the workforce.

Where does that leave us as a country? As a world? We need to face facts that not everybody who wants a job will find one. Some will be very short term, if any. The people who are skilled enough to find work in this brave new world, will find work because they are nimble and motivated. With the long term unemployed, fingers will be pointed, and blame will be assigned. But that will all be for naught.

What is going to happen is no fault of any one person. No one political party. The future is what it is. We can love it or hate it - but the future is what it is. People that educate themselves, prepare themselves are the ones who will have the best chances of a soft landing. Those who don't will find a different kind of landing. 

  

Paucity of coverage, prejudice of power

"If nothing else, Tim Walz has really put Minnesota on the map. Every night, the only semi-legit news organization in America has Minnesota corruption as their top story. The alphabet news stations? Crickets. 'Please just make it go away, so we can get back to rainbows and unicorn reporting!' With Fox however, no can do. They will ride this issue into the dust until justice is served."

Some are whispering it. Some are shouting it from the rooftops. Okay - I will also say it. Oh, if only Walz was a Republican. But because Walz is a beloved Democrat in this bastion of Democrat corruption, run by a state newspaper which is (at a minimum) highly partisan, the Somali rape of this state under the tutelage of Tim Walz - is held more secret than capturing a UFO.

How was that for a starter? Meanwhile, as some young YouTube guy blows the lid off of another source of fraud (the education one), Walz's second in command is all dressed up like a Somali to show solidarity with the guilty rather than doing what she was elected to do - protect the Minnesota taxpayers. 

Walz has only said one thing which was close to the truth as of late. The weight of the federal government is focusing in on him. If Biden was still president, that would not be true. But because we have an administration who took the oath of office and adheres to the principals therein - Walz is now under the federal microscope. How bad could this get for this carpetbagger from Nebraska? Jail time bad. 

The last thing we need right now is for Walz to do the perp walk and then end up with Governor Flanigan. Good grief! She is more of a panderer than he is! We need the DOJ to come into Minnesota and vacuum up every Democrat who even knows how to spell fraud. And for the Somalis who committed these crimes? Jail and/or deportation. But without the NGOs and local paper agreeing the guilty should be held accountable, justice might not as blind as we would hope.

If nothing else, Tim Walz has really put Minnesota on the map. Every night, the only semi-legit news organization in America has Minnesota corruption as their top story. The alphabet news stations? Crickets. "Please just make it go away, so we can get back to rainbows and unicorn reporting!" With Fox News however, no can do. They will ride this issue into the dust until justice is served.

   

ROK on baby, ROK on!

 

"What am I saying? Should push ever come to shove, we have some very good friends in the Indo-Pacific. What would I tell the South Koreans? ROK on baby, ROK on! You are doing very well, we are proud of you, and happy to call you our friends and allies!"  

Ever tossed and turned in bed all night, worrying about South Korea? Well - don't. South Korea is doing just fine, thank you. An interesting thing happens to a country when in the early 1950's it was almost wiped out, and ever since then has been living in the shadow of three generations of nut balls to the north. South Korea, better known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), has not only learned how to survive, but also to thrive.

It gives me great solace as an American, as a retired vet, that in these turbulent times in the Indo-Pacific, we have two allies who are way ahead of the curve in providing for their own defense against thugs like China and North Korea. Those two allies are Japan and South Korea. Who is doing better between Japan and ROK? It depends on which part - overall, they are both doing excellent.

One of the things that both have excelled at is developing more self-sufficiency. In other words, besides getting some of our best stuff to defend themselves, they are also developing and manufacturing some of the best new armament in the world. Good stuff, impressive stuff. For example, the tanks which the ROKs are manufacturing are absolute world class. So much so, other countries want to buy them. And the ROKs are also manufacturing their own 6th generation stealth fighter jet. 

But just a word about Japan, as this is typical on how the sharp minds in Japan work. The US has been working on a rail gun for a long time. How long? I remember it when I worked on the Electrothermal Gun at BAE many years ago. In any event, we could not get it to scale down and work the right way. So, we scrapped it. The Japanese however, offered to pick it up and play with it a while. Before long, they figured out the bug-a-boos with it. Where is it now? Working, and ready to be put on ships. Now that the Japanese have figured out the secret sauce, we want back in.

China, Russia and North Korea better sit up and take notice. Every week, we, along with our allies, get stronger and more prepared. I have been to Japan; I have lived in Japan. I have a deep respect for the Japanese people. I have not been to South Korea (although many ROK pilots trained at Kadena AFB when I was in Okinawa), but I have heard very good things about the South Koreans also. 

What am I saying? Should push ever come to shove, we have some very good friends in the Indo-Pacific. What would I tell the South Koreans? ROK on baby, ROK on! You are doing very well, we are proud of you, and happy to call you our friends and allies!  

Our new war on Nigeria's Muslims

"What is happening in Nigeria will be good to keep up on. Will Muslim dogma relegate this developing country back to tribalism? Will the US get involved in a centuries old religious war in Africa? Like I said, we might have to keep an eye on this one. Oh, and by the way - China has interests over there also. Now it really gets interesting."     

Did you know that on Christmas Day we bombed a country we don't usually bomb? A country in Africa which is smaller than the US but has about 2/3 of our population. Nigeria - a country in Africa which is one of the most civilized. That is - except for the tribal Muslims, part of whom are in the ISIS group, who love to kill Christians. With half the population of Nigeria (236,000,000) being Muslim, many times this genocide on Christians goes either unnoticed or unreported.

When the Trump administration had confronted the Nigerian government with the facts of this Christian genocide, the response was tepid at best. "Oh, we have genocide by groups on both our Christians and Muslim populations". To that, I say "horsefeathers". But through some arm twisting by our country, the Muslim government allowed us to conduct a Christmas Day strike on some ISIS terror camps. Was that enough to fix the problem, or only the first step? 

Christians have been persecuted since the days Christ walked on Earth. In fact, He predicted his followers would be hated. But today, in the year 2025, when the news cycle exposes many of these religious atrocities, this 8th century behavior will not be tolerated. Donald Trump decided to show ISIS what our Tomahawk missiles will do to bad guys who deserve retribution.

Here is the irony about Nigeria. This is a textbook example of a developing country in Africa whose Muslim population is at war with the calendar. Like what? 8th century customs butted up against 21st century realities. With GDP averaging between 6 and 8 percent since 2000, good things are in the offing for Nigeria. But ethnic and religious extremists still hack each other up with machetes in the back country. Where being a Christian could be a death sentence by Muslims who have an ISIS leaning. 

What can Trump do to stop this carnage? Do we have enough bombs in our inventory to grind the bad guys into dust? Do we have the will to do so? Will the government of Nigeria allow us to do so? Or is this just the way it is? Is this going to be the Crusades all over again? What about the UN? What do they say? Crickets, as usual.

What is happening in Nigeria will be good to keep up on. Will Muslim dogma relegate this developing country back to tribalism? Will the US get involved in a centuries old religious war in Africa? Like I said, we might have to keep an eye on this one. Oh, and by the way - China has interests over there also. Now it really gets interesting.     

People of vision, people of courage

"In just over a week, all the planning and preparation which happened in 2025, goes into practice in 2026. The fruits of the labor, or the vision, of the planning, will be ripe for the picking. Why did the American people want Donald Trump as our torch bearer? As our vision caster? As our leader? Hang on tight - we are about to find out." 

Just saw (at Christmas time no less), that a democrat influencer was calling on his peeps to do some harm to our president. The hatred runs deep with some on the left. But why wish him harm? Because Donald J. Trump is a man of vision. In fact, he was a man of vision during his first term, but now his vision is broader and deeper. Plus, he is a man of deep courage. He knows there are scads of nut balls out there, some of which would do him harm, but his commitment to God and country runs deeper than any trepidation he might have.

But it is not just Trump, even though he is the master and owner of our vision quest. It is the people who work for him in his cabinet. His advisors. The red state governors who support him. Some (not all) of the folks in Congress who ratify by legislation, his visions and plans. These are people of great courage, as the headwinds can be very strong. Some have been called every name in the book, and then some. Some have received death threats. But they soldier on. Fearless and committed, they just soldier on.

Each day, every day, when they lace up their shoes to come to work for the people of this country, they effect some modicum of change. Good change, positive change - change which will make MAGA come true. But to be on the front line of this battle is not for the weak kneed or timid. Trump's change agents get yelled at and harassed when they dine out with their families. They (and their families) get doxed. Some, for their own safety, need to sneak around like they have some something wrong, when in reality, the changes they are helping to forge, are doing things right.

One might ask, why are there so many enemies of the state right now? People who want to do evil things to other citizens of this country. The enemies of the state cannot disagree without being disagreeable. Or violent. Or as we found out when Trump was campaigning, even deadly? Like I said earlier, the people who support Trump and his vision for this country, are aware of the dangers which lie on our path. But the cause is worth the risk. It is tragic it needs to be that way, but in our fractured country, in 2025, it is what it is.

In just over a week, all the planning and preparation which happened in 2025, goes into practice in 2026. The fruits of the labor, or the vision, of the planning, will be ripe for the picking. Why did the American people want Donald Trump as our torch bearer? As our vision caster? As our leader? Hang on tight - we are about to find out. 

   

Rebuilding the hemisphere, brick by brick

 

"If you hate Donald Trump, I am sure he has you tied up in knots by now. If you love the way Trump is rebuilding our hemisphere at the same time fixing what Biden broke in our country, this is a joyful event. It is a master class on how to govern." 

Call it what you like. The Monroe Doctrine. The "Donroe" Doctrine. Or the Trump Doctrine. Little by little, brick by brick, Donald Trump is changing the landscape - and may I add, changing it for the better. Why does this need to be done? Because after eight years of "lead from behind" Barrack Obama, and four years of "asleep at the wheel" Biden, our neighborhood became polluted. Polluted with drugs, gangs, and unwanted commie interlopers. And now the tide is turning.

Some like Rossie O'Donnel don't like it - to they left the country. They liked the USA being a doormat and an ATM bank for the world. But most of us became sick of it. Users and graft left unfettered, resulted in a failed state like Minnesota is right now. Trump did not want that for our country. He knew to have a better country, a more prosperous country, he needed to clean up the neighborhood at the same time. And he is doing that right now.

He is also ensuring that Europe is stronger so the US can step back a bit over there. So far, so good. Except for the Muslim problem which the Euro zone needs to fix, NATO is in great shape over there. We still have their backs if push comes to shove, but we can still take a step back. 

What is on the menu over here? Venezuela for starters. Maduro needs to go, and the rightful president needs to be sworn in. When Maduro goes, so goes his cartel. Speaking of cartels, the Mexican cartels are next. We need a strong, drug free, and crime free Mexico. Trump will ensure that will happen. Brick by brick, that will happen.

What about Greenland and Canada? Are they still on the menu? Absolutely. Will we make Canada our 51st state? That was a Trump joke. But we still want Greenland. Stay tuned on that one. That being said, we still need to have Canada sharpen their game. Carney may not want to admit it right now, but Canada is a mess. Just ask Alberta. A different kind of mess than Mexico, but still a mess.

If you hate Donald Trump, I am sure he has you tied up in knots by now. If you love the way Trump is rebuilding our hemisphere at the same time fixing what Biden broke in our country, this is a joyful event. It is a master class on how to govern. 

This is my Christmas present - and I know it is the present for millions of others in this great country. Trump the fixer, Trump the builder, Trump the patriot is doing his thing. And when he does his thing, our things get a whole lot better!

  

 

Behold! Our new class of battleships!

"If anybody can get this thing unstuck, it is Donald J. Trump. The thought of having two brand new battleships, afloat and ready to go before Trump's term is up - brings a smile to my face. In his first term, Trump gave us the Space Force. In this term, he is giving us the Golden Fleet of Battleships. Proud to be an American? I sure am!"

To say this old Navy guy is excited after yesterday's news would be quite the understatement! Holy cow! I have been waiting for this for a long, long time. Ever since Desert Storm. To me, our old battlewagons belong on the front lines of battle - not as museum pieces. Why is that? Dang near unsinkable. With solid steel sides ranging from 6" to 12", they were about as safe and safe can get. But now the battlewagons of yesteryear are way too dated to join the fight. Trump's solution? Bring on the Golden Age of Battleships! Brand new from the keel upward!

They will be called the Trump Class. The lead ship will be the USS Defiant (BB1). Nuclear powered, and bristling with state-of-the-art weapons which exist today, and ready for the weapons which will exist tomorrow. We have scrapped the idea of having a new Frigate class called the Constellation Class. We will keep the two that are in construction and forget the rest. Why? Cost and schedule.

The Commander-in-Chief as ready to wade into our weapon procurement snafu. No more sky-high overruns. No more schedule extensions which go out to the edge of the horizon. No more half empty shelves for munitions. Trump is calling together all our defense production gurus for a bit of a scolding. For example, this new battleship class, of which there will be two built initially, Trump wants done in 2 1/2 years with zero, zip, nada cost or schedule overruns. In other words, the entire defense industry needs a giant "do better".

However, as a former employee of the defense contracting industry, I do need to say this. Government - heal thyselves also. Part of the problem of staying on schedule and within budget is the nine zillion rules and regulations which need to be followed - many of them unnecessary. Cut the crap, cut the red tape and then the industry will have a fighting chance to clean things up. If we keep the morass of rules and regulations as is, it will be an uphill battle. 

If anybody can get this thing unstuck, it is Donald J. Trump. The thought of having two brand new battleships, afloat and ready to go before Trump's term is up - brings a smile to my face. In his first term, Trump gave us the Space Force. In this term, he is giving us the Golden Fleet of Battleships. Proud to be an American? I sure am!

     

Baddies will always be baddies...

 

"Getting the new (and rightful) government in Venezuela would be huge win for the good guys. And the baddies? Go be bad someplace else. This is our hemisphere. This is the new Monroe Doctrine."  

Ever since I was in high school, I have noticed this. Good guys seemed to flock together. And by the same token, so did bad guys (also known as baddies). It is the same today. Oil is leaving Venezuela to be part of the Russian sanctioned oil, or to go to Iran. Wait - what? Iran? I thought we took care of them. We did. With our B-2 bombers. But even though Theran has run out of water and that country is in a world of hurt, they are spending scarce resources on reconstituting their ballistic missiles.

Israel is well aware of this. As are we. In fact, Israel is so worried, Netanyahu is coming to Washington later this month to have talks will Trump. It is anticipated that the talks will be about a number of things, but what to do about Iran might be at the top of the list. In fact, after we bombed Iran's underground nuke facilities, we gave ourselves the option of bombing Iran again should they misbehave.

Any oil which comes out of Venezuela and is headed for sale to help Russia - only prolongs the war effort in Ukraine. We have already taken over two illicit vessels coming out of Venezuela (flying false flags), and on the news this morning, it was reported that we were in chase of a third ship. When we commandeer these ships, it not only hurts Putin's war effort, but also starves Maduro. 

How long can this go on before push comes to shove in the Caribbean? My sense is not too long. Either a hot war will break out with the Venezuelan Navy, or Maduro would step down. Then the rightful winner of the last election could be sworn in. That is the best possible scenario. Have a hot war would not be good, but it would not last long. We have Maduro way, way overmatched with our forces down there. The Venezuelan Navy would not stand a chance.

Once Maduro leaves, the other baddies will also be forced to leave Venezuela. This is high stakes poker, even for Trump. But this is an important gambit. It is all related - Russia, Iran and our war on drugs. Getting the new (and rightful) government in Venezuela would be huge win for the good guys. And the baddies? Go be bad someplace else. This is our hemisphere. This is the new Monroe Doctrine.  

 

 

  

The shortest day, the longest night - and Donald Trump

 

"Winter Solstice. Enjoy this break in the action. We will have Christmas, New Year's and then start the long cold month of January. But that is when things will start to heat up (politically). If you thought the White House moved at warp speed in 2025, just wait until 2026."

Around ten o'clock this morning, when many are still in church, the Earth will hit a speed bump. Winter Solstice will happen. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. Now, for the next two weeks or so, the days will stop getting shorter. Then, on January 6th, the days will slowly, very slowly, start getting longer. Slowly at first, and then faster. Soon, the first signs of spring will appear. And we will be knee deep in the second year of the second term of Donald Trump.

As many of us know, President Trump is a pragmatist. A realist. He knows the odds are stacked against him in keeping the House and/or Senate after the midterms. I am sure his Chief of Staff knows this also. That being said, Trump and team are going to fight like crazy to be an outlier to history. To be one of those rare administrations who can stay in control after midterms. And how do I think he is going to do that? Back to phenology for a minute. 

By the time we are at Summer Solstice in June, the politicking for the midterms will be in full swing. It is of the highest importance that come June, the economy will need no explanation like it needs right now. People need to feel it. In everything they do, they need to feel better off. Gas prices at their highest need to be $2.50. Why not $2.00? I heard an energy expert saying that when oil gets too cheap, some of the marginal wells stop producing. Not worth it. Less oil, the price comes back up towards $2.50/gal. My opinion? I can live well with $2.50/gal gasoline.

But here is the rat in the woodpile for Trump. Insurance. Home insurance is going through the roof (so to speak) in certain parts of the country. Better solutions are needed quickly. But the real stinker is health insurance. Trump and the Republicans had better have a fix for the failed Obamacare insurance and do it quick. Why? Even though Trump and any other Republican had NOTHING to do with Obamacare, they are stuck owning it now. If we don't come up with a better solution and do it very, very soon - Obamacare will be Trump's Waterloo.

Other than insurance, the metrics on the economy should continue to look good. Tariffs will continue to be adjusted to keep the cost of food coming down. The economy will continue to evolve as jobs come back onshore, and other jobs go away due to AI and robotics. GDP should be strong, and the stock market should continue to be in the stratosphere. But all that will be for naught if the fix for this insurance thing remains at large. 

Winter Solstice. Enjoy this break in the action. We will have Christmas, New Year's and then start the long cold month of January. But that is when things will start to heat up (politically). If you thought the White House moved at warp speed in 2025, just wait until 2026. Why? If history repeats, 2026 might be the last year where Trump can get stuff done in an unfettered manner. Sit down, hold on, and get ready for a much higher warp speed than we had this year. 

 

The still, be still, and await

 

"Time to be still. Time to wait and prepare. Time to wish everyone far and wide, the merriest of Christmases. Why? As the Christmas song goes, 'Christmas comes but once a year'." 

Ever talk to friends and marvel at how fast December goes? It is like December has jet packs on its feet, and then when January comes, it is we are reduced to slow motion. Why is that? Especially this year, when Thanksgiving was right on top of December 1st. I have some thoughts if you don't mind me sharing.

The Still - ever notice on a winter's night, when the snow is gently falling, everything is still. That is, unless there is some brutal northwest wind which is an unwelcomed visitor. But sans any wind, it is like everything has been put on pause. The air is crisp, the ground is bright white, and ambient light makes the nighttime almost as bright as day. But it is the silence that I notice the most. It is like nature itself, is reminding us to be still. Just for a while - be still.

Be Still - One of my wife's favorite Bible verses comes from Psalms 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God". With the confluence of all the commerciality of the Christmas season, going into the depth of winter via Winter Solstice, gatherings, seasonal parties, football, hockey, etc., etc. - it is often hard to find the time just to be still. To listen for the voice of God. But this is the perfect time of year to slow down - not speed up. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is so very important to heed that well known verse - "Be still and know that I am God". 

Await - Many Christians celebrate a time of advent leading up to the birth of Christ. The word advent means to await and prepare. It was valid during the time of the birth of Jesus, and it is still valid today. Christians celebrate this event which changed the world. Changed everything. It is the most famous day in history when the baby Jesus was born and will remain so until Jesus returns to take his church to Heaven. 

The still, be still, and await. To me those three things sum up the majesty, the mystery, and the wonderment of this time of year. It is hard to believe that next week Christmas will be upon us. But if busyness has taken over your life, there is still time. Time to make time slow down. Time to be still. Time to wait and prepare. Time to wish everyone far and wide, the merriest of Christmases. Why? As the Christmas song goes, "Christmas comes but once a year".    

 

Fraud town, USA

 "'Staggering, industrial-scale fraud' - Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson estimates bogus claims could account for 'half or more' of the $18 billion billed through 14 Medicaid-based programs since 2018."

KSTP Channel Five

"What the Fraud?"

I kind of feel sorry for the US Attorney for Minnesota. Why? His jaw has hit the floor so many times in jaw dropping moments while discovering Minnesota Somali fraud, he might need to see a medical professional to get his jaw realigned. I remember not too long ago, President Trump saying that Minnesota fraud was much higher than $1B - it might be as high as $8M. The left leaning press excoriated him. ""No proof!", or "Typical Trump BS". Based on what Joe Thompson, our US Attorney has recently found out, Trump might have been right. In fact, maybe a touch low.

Does it give anybody solace to listen to the nightly national news and hear we are the laughingstock of the country right now? Our Twin Cities latter-day hippies with the help of NGOs like Lutheran Brotherhood and Catholic Charities have loaded up the Cedar Riverside with so many Somalis, driving through that area is like driving in a town overseas. And what are we finding out about these "newcomers"? Fraud, lots of fraud. Not all Somalis are fraudsters, but a highly disproportionate number of them are.

But don't worry - Mr. Stolen Valor Walz is all over this. As far as the fraud is concerned, he has vowed to prosecute the guilty. Does the guilty include the governor who for years looked the other way? Just asking. And Walz is mortified that some in this state are blaming the Somali community. Walz thinks we should blame the white people instead. Translation = Walz needs the Somali community to carry Minneapolis should he run again. So, there is no way on this green Earth that he will say ONE BAD WORD about any Somalin.

Many patriots have said the same thing over and over again. The thing they hate the most about Minnesota is the taxes. Now we can do one better. Not only do we pay high taxes, but a sizable portion of those taxes are stolen, and maybe sent overseas. Does that make anybody else feel like a chump? I sure do.

I want to see two things. First, lots and lots of people, Somalian or white, doing the perp walk. People need to go to jail for a long, long time. Second, I want our stolen money back. I don't care how Walz does it, but this all on him. Anybody who would vote for this ignorant carpetbagger for a third term should have his or her head examined. Getting rid of Walz is step one in getting our reputation back. We are patriots, not patsies!

ps. I also want our old flag back!

Willow, weep for me...

 

"I know, I know - this sounds like somebody took a long walk off a short pier. But next year, as quantum chips get bigger and faster, there just might be more "spooky" events happening. Will quantum computing change our world? Probably. Will it change how we view physics? It just might. We need to hold on tight and keep an open mind."   

Last year, Google introduced a 105-qubit superconducting quantum computing processor named Willow. Why bring this up a year after testing? Because something happened in testing which falls in line with what Einstein said of about quantum entanglement being "spooky science at a distance". What does that mean? Quantum computing is very new and very unexplored. It means that exploring quantum computing might be like reading the Book of Secrets, opening Pandora's Box, and falling down Alice's rabbit hole, all at the same time.

When the testing commenced in 2024, things were going along just fine. The speed of this new Willow Chip is about (paraphrase) a zillion times faster than a regular computer. As Willow was working on a problem in the lab, all of a sudden, the test stopped. Equipment problems? No - even though the processor needs to be cooled down to almost absolute zero for Willow to operate correctly. Something appeared on the display which was a jaw dropper. Designs which were not supposed to be there. Intelligently created designs, even though nobody on the team created them.

The scientists knew what kind of output which was expected. What showed up was none of them. How strange was this? It would be like going into an echo chamber and yelling "Hello!" and getting a response of "Hi" back. How could that happen? In our world - it couldn't.

It gets stranger. Willow will only work when it is just a smidge warmer than absolute zero. When this unexpected design appeared on the display, the chip warmed up all by itself. Not much, but just enough for it to be weird. Plus, Willow got just a bit brighter. Not supposed to, but it did. Things got so strange in the lab, that three senior scientists, left the testing, never to return.

We are on the cusp of finding out some of our physics which we have held to be infallible, might just need a tune-up. I have read that some of our more reputable scientists think this event might be proof of the "string theory". That we have parallel universes. And the speed of processors like Willow might be a key to unlock the door into another universe. Bottom line? That strange output might have been created by somebody in another universe. 

I know, I know - this sounds like somebody took a long walk off a short pier. But next year, as quantum chips get bigger and faster, there just might be more "spooky" events happening. Will quantum computing change our world? Probably. Will it change how we view physics? It just might. We need to hold on tight and keep an open mind, no matter how strange things might get.   

We demand that DOGE comes back!

 

"It is great having our financial bucket so full going into 2026. It is criminal to have holes in the bucket due to fraud, waste and abuse. Bringing back DOGE could be a huge help in fixing some of those holes."

Fraud, waste and abuse. Three terms I have heard mentioned ever since I started working. I remember one time many years ago, some guru I was listening to at work explaining the gravity of fraud, waste and abuse. He said it consumes as much as 20% of an organization's assets. In other words, if you wanted to give a jolt to the p/l statement of your organization, just focus on reducing fraud, waste and abuse.

Guess who the worst at detecting fraud, waste and abuse is? If you guessed the government, any level of government, you would win the prize. Minnesota is the state which is in focus right now. Why? We invited the Somalis into our state, to live with us, and now we found out they have stolen our silverware. And I mean LOTS of silverware. We are finding out this fraud, this abuse also exists in other states. Bottom line? Due to our PC culture, mostly exhibited by the latter-day hippies, we have allowed ourselves to be fleeced, and fleeced well.

We need to bring back DOGE. We need DOGE involved in every facet of government. Rumor has it that one of the main reasons Musk threw in the towel and left government is the amount of fraud that his group was uncovering. He wanted to wade into that fraud with pickaxe, and he was told to only use a small shovel. For Musk the CEO - that response was crap. Since he was not going to be allowed to fix the problem the Elon Musk way - he quit. And ever since Musk left, DOGE has fizzled out.

I think it is great that so many Americans will get some tax relief from the BBB starting next month. It is about time! I also like that tariffs have brought in so much money into our ERS (External Revenue Service). Finally, I think Trump being able to bring almost $20T in new investment into our country this year will pay huge dividends in the future. It is great having our financial bucket so full going into 2026. It is criminal to have holes in the bucket due to fraud, waste and abuse. Bringing back DOGE could be a huge help in fixing some of those holes.

Right after Trump was sworn in, the subject I heard mentioned the most was DOGE. Why? People loved it. It worked. I can still work. The Democrats hated it, but I don't give a rat's behind. The citizens and patriots loved it. Bring it back President Trump - please bring it back. We demand it. 

   

Our immigration quagmire

"In closing, here are the ingredients to this quagmire. Congress wrote our immigration laws. Homan and crew, as good LEOs, are following the law. Many of the latter-day hippies hate this law and want it ignored. Big blue city mayors and big blue state governors also want this law ignored."

What a mess. I will admit that as a citizen, I am not happy with our illegal immigration problem. And to be truthful, we have put our ICE LEOs in a real predicament. First and foremost, is ICE doing the right thing? Yes, they are following the law. But to find the illegals, with zero help from the local LEOs, blue mayors and blue governors - sometimes is a bridge too far. Right now, it is a quagmire, and every day it seems to get worse.

Some think the worst thing that Biden did to us was spending money like a drunken sailor, which led to our inflation and interest rate problems. I respectfully disagree. I think the worst thing he did was to open our borders for four long years. This allowed the cartels to stash people, drugs, gangs, trafficked youth and so forth, all over our country. And now to ask ICE, with zero help from the lefties to find, detain and deport - is hard beyond hard.

This, more than any other issue, is a problem in search of a solution. Why? It is ripping some neighborhoods apart. It is making our brave men and women of ICE and Border Patrol look like thugs instead of the honest LEOs they are. In a perfect world, we would get everybody together to agree this is a problem which needs fixing. However, when a large percentage of those on the other side of the aisle think that what Biden did was cool and just, then we are back to this standoff we find ourselves in. 

To top everything off, there are rumors flying around that Trump is not happy with the speed of the deportations. So much so, the rumors are that he might replace Noem with somebody closer in style to Tom Homan. Why? Homan is a cut and dry type of guy. If you came here legally - you stay. If you came here illegally - you go. Even if you are an Eagle Scout, if you came here the wrong way - you go.

Why is Homan so literal? He is a lifelong cop, and he follows the law. Kristi Noem also follows the law, but she does not have jet packs on her shoes like Homan does. In closing, here are the ingredients to this quagmire. Congress wrote our immigration laws. Homan and crew, as good LEOs, are following the law. Many of the latter-day hippies hate this law and want it ignored. Big blue city mayors and big blue state governors also want this law ignored. Oil and water. Night and day. This mess will be with us for years to come.  

Step one - stop electing nut balls!

Bottom line? We have a nut ball problem in this country and also this world. So long as we have nut balls electing nut balls, we will keep on keeping on. And that is not a good thing. 

It is almost as if many people inside this country as well as outside this country have a death wish for personal safety. How so? I had the chance to listen to the Prime Minister of Australia yesterday on a news presser. The subject was the massacre of Jewish people on Bondi Beach in Sydney. Who did it, and why? Again, for the umpteenth time - Muslims. Why? Who knows. They just hate Jewish people.

Anyhow, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has been bending over backwards for Muslims and the radicals in Gaza, refused to address the real problem behind the killing of innocent Jews in his country. Rather than say Australia has a Muslim problem, which allowed some misfits to use a gathering of Jews on Bondi Beach as target practice, Albanese said Australia just needs better gun control. Really? This guy sounds like a good candidate to be a mayor in one of our big, blue cities.

Now, I have been to Sydney. I have been to Bondi Beach. It is a beautiful venue, and good location for a celebration. To celebrate the opening of the Hanukkah season there makes sense. To turn it into a shooting gallery, where many were killed or wounded simple for the crime of living out their faith - is beyond obscene.

Then we have my favorite Euro atheist, Keir Starmer This Prime Minister of the UK said yesterday the biggest problem we have in the world right now is the far right. Uh, excuse me Mr. Prime Minister - have you seen what is happening in London as of late? With your unfettered open border policy? You have a real mess sir, and it is not due to your "far right" hatred.

Of course, in our country we have our own collection of nut balls. Newson from California. Hochul from New York. Whitmer of Michigan. Hobbs of Arizona. Kotek of Oregon. Pritzker of Illinois. And of course, our own prized nut ball - Tim Walz. None of these Democrats have the sense to come in out of the rain. Nor do they have the guts to call out evil, when evil is active in the states they govern.

Bottom line? We have a nut ball problem in this country and also this world. So long as we have nut balls electing nut balls, we will keep on keeping on. And that is not a good thing. 

       

Power from the people!

"In a perfect world, by 2030 will be leading the world in quantum computing. We will also be leading in AI data centers, as most, if not all, of the new data centers will come with a mini nuke onsite. The future AI and quantum will offer us is only there if we pave the road for their development."

Wait, Bird! You got it all wrong (again). It is supposed to be power TO the people. Yes, that is true, in another context. But for this article, I am talking about power, and lots of it. So much power, that until we fix the shortage, power will need to be taken FROM the people. What kind of power? Electric power. More than we have right now, to run our proliferation of data centers.

We have two very exciting and world changing new technologies right now. Both are in development. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the one getting the most press. The other one is quantum computing. AI will be the one which will start to sputter and lose traction the first. Why? AI will need more power than we could ever imagine. Without the necessary power to run the AI data centers, AI will be eclipsed by the developments in quantum computing.

I read an article recently penned by one of the big AI futurists. The author of this article was ringing the panic bell on this issue. Why? AI needs lots and lots of care and feeding to ensure we can keep our slim lead over China. Having a lead in quantum computing and a second-place finish in AI will not cut it. We know what the fix is - and that is power. Failure to address this issue, and to keep going developing AI at warp speed - could very well result in brown outs and black outs. AI will be taking power FROM the people.

Sorry Greta, but windmills and solar will not cut it. China is building coal plants like crazy right now. That is also not a perfect solution. Then what is? Mini nukes. How Trump always talks about this issue is when it really hits home. When the management of a huge AI data center is up and running, they will also be managing a utility. That would be having a mini nuke onsite, powering the facility. Just because we don't have that now does not mean we will not need it in the near future.

In a perfect world, by 2030 will be leading the world in quantum computing. We will also be leading in AI data centers, as most, if not all, of the new data centers will come with a mini nuke onsite. The future AI and quantum will offer us is only there if we "pave the road" for their development. And we now know that energy, especially lots of energy, is the best way to pave that road.  

 

The CDL nightmare

"How long will it be before We all feel safe on our nation's highways again? That question has an unknown answer. With an estimated 50% of all CDL licenses being issued in New York to be improper, this could take a while. Thanks a lot Biden, for another fine mess you have gotten us into!"

Sometimes I wonder if Democrat governors are trying to kill innocent Americans. Why? Because they are making some kind of statement which does not make any sense to me. To show purpose, to show that illegal immigrants who have no driving skill and little to no English skills can qualify to drive an 85,000-pound semi across country, is a showstopper. But that is what is happening.

It sure woke me up from my false sense of security. For many years now, while I am driving in proximity to a semi, I feel at ease. Why? I know the folks who have CDL licenses are the best of the best. So, no worries, mate. Boy, was I ever wrong on that one! With the number of faux CDL drivers on the road these days, our highways have turned into a kill zone.

It did not take long, nor too many fatal accidents for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to be all over this mess. The two biggest offenders are Hochel from New York and Newstrom from California. To make sure that these two bozos are going to follow the law in how to properly license CDL drivers, Duffy could pull to pull some of their federal funding. Meanwhile, LEOs from all over the country are looking for CDL drivers who "No speak no English".

Wait - how long has this been going on? Ever since the Biden nightmare. When the "Boy Mayor", who had zero skills for this job, was appointed to be the Transportation Secretary. Pete Buttigieg was more interested in DEI, and how a man can breast feed a baby than public safety. Pete was all show and no go. And now it is up to Duffy to clean up this mess.

How long will it be before we all feel safe on our nation's highways again? That question has an unknown answer. With an estimated 50% of all CDL licenses being issued in New York to be improper, this could take a while. Meanwhile, driving anywhere using a highway is like "let the buyer beware." Thanks a lot Biden, for another fine mess you have gotten us into!

 

Fraud? Maybe not just in Minnesota!

"Fellow Americans, fellow Minnesotans - face facts. If we don't fix this fraud, it will fix us. We need to find the guilty, prosecute them, deport them, fine them. This is so unfair to the straight shooters in our communities. Get rid of the fraudsters, and let's get back to MAGA. To this request I say please and thank you."  

Oh boy. It is not just that EVERY SINGLE NIGHT we hear about the fraudsters in Minnesota. It seems this fraud thing is all over the country. True, much of it is the Somalian communities. But we also found out from the short life span of DOGE that fraud is everywhere. Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, you name the government program, and fraud is there.

The other evening there was a congressman from another state being interviewed about the fraud in Minnesota. His response to the first question was jaw dropping. When asked how it is possible that we could have this much undetected fraud in Minnesota, he responded by saying that with our dozens and dozens of major federal welfare programs, many overlapping others, it is easy for a fraudster to get lost in the noise. In other words, fraud is not rare - it is endemic.

This morning in the news, some local government person from Ohio said they have suspected fraud in that state's Somali population also. Her words - "What is happening in Minnesota might only be the tip of the iceberg." Seems as if we are hearing that expression quite a bit as of late, when we are discussing Somali fraud.

Now for my rant. We need to bring DOGE back. Why? It was excellent in uncovering fraud. With the size of our welfare state, if 20% of the benefits go to fraudsters, that is a huge number! We can't just turn the other way or do like that BS artist Walz does and deny it. Here is the plain truth. We are awash in frauds, and people from Somali whom we trusted, quickly figured out how to crack the safe. And now that they have been outed, we are the "racists" for calling them on this crime.

Fellow Americans, fellow Minnesotans - face facts. If we don't fix this fraud, it will fix us. We need to find the guilty, prosecute them, deport them, fine them. This is so unfair to the straight shooters in our communities. Get rid of the fraudsters, and let's get back to MAGA. To this request I say please and thank you.  

Need a job?

"I have done quite a bit of reading on this the past few months. No matter how many folks blow sunshine at you about the job market, here are the facts that I have discovered. The job market will never be the same again."

Interesting article in the news this morning. About how hard it is to find a job. It is hard for people who have college degrees. It is even harder for those who do not. This might be the start of when the job market starts to curve inward. Wait - don't we keep hearing about all the jobs that President Trump is going to bring back into the country? And he will. But - some of those factory jobs which are coming back might already be filled by machines instead of a human.

One might ask this question - the economy is good, wages are up, why is it so ding dang hard to find a good job these days? One word - uncertainty. If you are employed and bringing home a livable paycheck, count your blessings. If you are on the outside looking in - good luck. It is time to get creative. And not to sound like a Debby Downer, but next year it will be even harder. 

I have done quite a bit of reading on this the past few months. No matter how many folks blow sunshine at you about the job market, here are the facts that I have discovered. The job market will never be the same again. If you have an unskilled job, those jobs will leave first. The some of the white-collar jobs. Why will so many companies want to replace humans with AI driven machines? Cost and dependency. No sick days, no late days, no lunch breaks, no performance issues, and so forth. The do more with less crowd will be dancing in the streets.

Some futurists think we will be coming into an age of guaranteed income. Translation - getting money from the government with no work involved. Just enough money to live on. During the last election season, Andrew Yang proposed everybody getting a Universal Basic Income (UBI). Yang was suggesting $1,000/month - not enough to live on, but enough to help. Net result? Yang got laughed off the stage for this idea. But wait - maybe Yang was just a bit early. Maybe this is the path with many will walk on in the very near future. 

As the job market continues to curve inward, life with those on the outside will continue to be a struggle. It will not just happen in the USA - it will be happening all over the world. By 2040, we will be living in a world without work for the majority of people. Many jobs that the few people who will be working will have, don't even exist right now. Is it going to be strange to enter these unchartered waters? Oh yes, very strange and very scary.  

 

Staying in the fight

"Even if I chose to protest when I was younger, I couldn't. Why? I worked. Had a house to maintain. Had a family to raise. I had better angels telling me what the right path was, and that path WAS NOT fighting against our own LEOs. I understood that we are a nation of LEGAL immigration."

Yesterday, we had another large American city choose a blue mayor. Miami, in red Florida - chose a Democrat over a Trump backed Republican. During her victory speech, one of the things she announced she would do during her term was - wait for it - protect immigrants. If she meant illegal immigrants, chalk up another blue city to ignoring the laws of the US Congress. But who cares anymore? We will now have the latter-day hippies who live in Miami, fighting with ICE.

Time to take a trip in the way forward machine. It is 2028, and the next presidential election is coming up in November. Tom Homan is still the Border Czar, and deportations continue. All over America, latter-day hippies are STILL protesting ICE enforcing the law. And the mayors of large blue cities are also advising their peeps to resist. In other words, the mayors of many big blue cities, are not following the laws of the land. Is there a word for this? How about insurrection.

When you hear the description of some of the baddies that the mayors are protecting from ICE, it is jaw dropping. Why in the world would these insurrectionists protect felons? Why would they want to keep them in their communities? Is this all of a sudden one of those parallel universe things that the scientists are now telling us about? It has to be, because in our universe, THIS KIND OF CRAP DOES NOT HAPPEN!

Why do these mayors and the latter-day hippies stay in the fight? For what gain? Why protect criminals as well as criminal aliens? Do they want total anarchy? Wild, wild west type of crime? What gives? And why, oh why, does the media side with them? ALL-THE-FLIPPING-TIME? 

Even if I chose to protest when I was younger, I couldn't. Why? I worked. Had a house to maintain. Had a family to raise. I had better angels telling me what the right path was, and that path WAS NOT fighting against our own LEOs. I understood that we are a nation of LEGAL immigration. When Biden let in 20 million illegals, the latter-day hippies were nowhere to be found. But now that we have a law-and-order administration, latter-day hippies are as common as fruit flies in a pantry.

During Biden, we had the Floyd riots. Under Trump, we have the ICE riots. Bottom line? Fights, fights, all over the place. Downtown is a great place to be from - that is, far, far from. I rest my case. 

 

 

Affordability and unaffordability

"Just think for a minute with your take home pay. Where gross would only be slightly higher than net. What would happen? For many, the term unaffordability would never again be used. Our economy would take off like a rocket. But the statists in Congress who love to spend our money? Too bad, so sad. Now go suck an egg."    

Did you hear the good news? Gas is now under $3/gal nationwide. Of course, that is an average. I am still seeing some stations in our area that are as high as $3.15/gal. But then again, we are Minnesota. The outlier. Another piece of news is the Fed is having their last meeting today for 2025. Even though Trump has called them every name in the book for not acting quicker, it is only a 50/50 chance that we will get another 1/4 point of relief. Big hairy deal.

What is President correct on? First and most important, is what caused this runup on prices to start with. Joe Biden - or should I say Biden and the autopen. Whatever. The immutable fact on why prices went up an average of 20% when Biden was POTUS was nobody had a clue on how to run the economy. They did, however, know how to ruin the economy. Even with the globalist utopia of almost total offshoring, prices continued to rise. Why? The old economic truism - too much government money chasing too few goods. Throw in the fact the Fed was late to the party. Result - sky high prices coupled with sky high interest rates.

Now that Trump has been in office less than a year, some things have improved. And many have not. Is Trump not aware of the many which have not improved? Keenly aware - and he and his team are working on them. But Biden and his team have broken this finely tuned watch. Trump and his team, even though skilled at putting broken watches back together, know that some parts of the watch, more so than others, take longer to fix. Bottom line? As was said in the TV show Kung Fu, "Patience grasshopper".

Many think that tariffs are the pathogens which are causing our current "unaffordability" crisis. Wrong. Trump is an old-time economist. Pre-income tax thinking. In Trumps way of thinking, tariffs done right could replace the income tax that many of us struggle with. He has mentioned that more than once. Not just lowering the income tax - getting rid of it. I mean, it is not like income tax is tattooed on our foreheads - it has only been with us since 1913. Time for this POS to go bye-bye.

Just think for a minute with your take home pay. Where gross would only be slightly higher than net. What would happen? For many, the term unaffordability would never again be used. Our economy would take off like a rocket. But the statists in Congress who love to spend our money? Too bad, so sad. Now go suck an egg.