Is all of Canada really on fire?

"Short of just letting these fires burn themselves out of fuel, I am stuck for a solution. Maybe Mother Nature is just telling us to grin and bear it. Or not. Maybe it is time to find some real solutions to this real problem. Just saying..." 

Another weekend coming up, another air quality alert. This morning, one of the local weather guessers (who is probably as sick of all this smoke as the rest of us are), showed a drawing of Canada depicting the fires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He had a couple dozen flames on the map which showed where the biggest fires were. But then he said what the real problem was - if there would be a flame for every fire which was burning in Canada right now, just about the entire map would be a flame. The country of Canada is literally on fire.

This summer, the smoke from the Canadian fires has been pervasive. So much so, my wife's brother who lives in northern Florida has had some smoky days, blamed on the Canadian fires. Bottom line? There is really no place to go to escape this smoke. As much as we blame Canada for these fires (only their national government), the people who live up there are getting much worse of a snootful than we are in the states. Bottom line? These fires for many of us have turned much of the summer into an ick. 

What causes all these fires? Lightning, dry lightning, careless campers, arsonists, and "zombie fires". Wait - what? What is a "zombie fire". It is most common up by the Artic Circle. It is fire in the permafrost which can fester for months in the wintertime and come back to life in the summer. What is the real problem however with Canada? Too many trees, lousy forest management, and too few people. Okay, for my left of center friends - some climate changes also.

Where do we go from here? Wait until just about all of Canada's forests burn to the ground? This is a problem which really flies under the radar in Canada. If that much of the United States was on fire right now, it would be a national emergency. Canada, however, is much more concerned about Trump's tariffs and how to keep half the country from leaving. Such is life.

Maybe Elon Musk could invent giant fans to put on our northern border which would blow that smoke back up north. I know, I know - that is Tom Swift type of thinking. Short of just letting these fires burn themselves out of fuel, I am stuck for a solution. Maybe Mother Nature is just telling us to grin and bear it. Or not. Maybe it is time to find some real solutions to this real problem. Just saying... 

A blessed nation, being a blessing to others

"Who we are, is a kind and generous people. We know we have been blessed by God - the Bible tells us as we are blessed, we are to bless others. Are we perfect? Far from it. But each day, every day is a new day to do better. And our nation does do better most every new day."

Most every year when my wife and I drive up north this time of year, we are stunned and amazed by the amount of maturing or matured crops in the fields. We pass soybean fields which seem to go on forever. Rows tight and neat - so much so, they almost look artificial. And the corn - don't get me started on the corn. Some tasseled, some close to being tasseled. Through the science of the hybrid, much of which is developed at our University of Minnesota, we have drought resistant corn which every year, grows abundantly, only inches apart from the next plant in the row.

It is no secret that we produce enough grains for our country to live on. And much more on top of that. In the past, some of our products which we would like to sell to other nations have been shut out by trade barriers. President Trump has heard the farmers and ranchers of this country complain about that issue for years. This, the current round of trade talks is addressing this issue. We are a generous nation. We want to share our bounty. We want to sell our bounty. With the resolution of some of the bigger trade talks, that can become more of a reality.

Our nation is big, it is generous, and it is blessed. We have much, and we share much. We are not only one of the largest "bread baskets" on Earth, but we are also the engine which drives so much of the emerging technologies amongst nations. To say this is not to be prideful yet can be said with pride and thanksgiving. This nation has been so richly blessed for one very important reason - so we can bless others. 

As much as some have criticized America for not doing enough, what has been done is quite large. In times of trouble, the hotline always seems to be 1-800-America. Of all the humanitarian donors in the world, the United States is constantly number one. Not by a little - by a lot. We sell our excess crops to nations who can afford them and donate excess crops to nations who cannot afford them. 

But we are much more than just being the world's largest grocery store. We are also the world's policeman. When trouble breaks out, the United States, either through its military, or the soft diplomacy of our State Department - is there to help. Our current president has put quite a large imprint on being a peacemaker. He abhors war, and the senseless killings and suffering it brings. He will do what it takes to keep or restore the peace. Why? It is the right thing to do. Peace through strength worked for Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump wants it to work for him also.

Are we the "Ugly American"? Only to those who don't know us. Who we are, is a kind and generous people. We know we have been blessed by God - the Bible tells us as we are blessed, we are to bless others. Are we perfect? Far from it. But each day, every day is a new day to do better. And our nation does do better most every new day.   

  

You can win if you cheat...

 

"If you, Padilla, really want to focus on what ails this country right now, start by fixing all your problems in California. Like crime and homelessness. Your state is a mess. Now that Padilla, is a crying shame." 

Alex Padilla, the often-weepy senator from California who nobody had ever heard of until he was ousted from a Secretary Noem event, has a new idea on immigration. Okay, maybe not that new. Now that his mentor, Joe Biden, has let in millions of undocumented aliens from all over the world, Padilla wants to keep them here. Why? Does he know them? Na, but he knows the way they will vote. They could stack the deck in getting more Democrat voters. And these days, that is vitally important. Why? Without a good message for normal Americans to hold onto, Democrats need SOMETHING in which to get their numbers up. 

What Padilla wants to do is to change the terms of the Immigration Act of 1929. If you are a border jumper, and have been here for the past seven years, lived like Ozzie and Harriet, paid your taxes, you could win the prize - a green card. But wait Padilla - that is not the way we do it in our country! I don't care how much you cry about this one, it is not right! People who have played by the rules, came here the right way, are now going to be short-stopped by the cheaters? Have you gone mad?

First off, the chances of this Immigration Act of 1929 gathering enough support to pass into a bill by a minority party is slim at best. But even if it did (after the mid-terms) make it into a bill which would pass both houses of Congress, it would need to be veto proof. Why is that? Donald Trump does not like cheaters. And this bill would empower cheaters. Secretary Noem had the right plan for illegals. Self-deport and then come in the legal way. Not by cheating, but by merit.

I am so tired of hearing the caterwauling from the left, saying "But we are a nation of immigrants." To that, I reply - we are. My great grandparents were immigrants. Came over from Norway and Germany. You know, the old Ellis Island route. The legal way. America was made great this way. Earn the American Dream. As much as we are a nation of LEGAL immigrants, we have never condoned cheating. 

Padilla has now had his fifteen minutes of fame. Time to go back and be a "back bencher" in the Senate. We don't need nor want your faux fix on the 1929 immigration law. This country is now spending a ton of taxpayer money to get rid of the border jumpers that Biden let in. If you, Padilla, really want to focus on what ails this country right now, start by fixing all your problems in California. Like crime and homelessness. Your state is a mess. Now that Padilla, is a crying shame.   

Our summer of heat, rain, smoke and deals

"Donald Trump continues to be the grand chess player when it comes to knowing all the aspects of the deal. How so? One of the byproducts of all these new trade agreements is we got there first. Russia and China are now on the outside looking in. Well played President Trump - well played." 

Dizzying. That is the only word I could think of to describe the month of July. And it is not even over as yet. It has been a month of heavy rainstorms, bumper crops, blistering heat, Canadian smoke, as well as witnessing the Art of the Deal. All that and a bag of chips, as the saying goes.

Last night was yet another wave of heavy thunderstorms. It topped of a day of tropical heat and humidity. The Canadian smoke has left us and is now plaguing the cities (like NYC) on the East Coast. Today, more heat and humidity, with a good chance of more storms towards the end of the day. Some forecasters, even put out a dire warning about our atmosphere being set up the right way for a very destructive Derecho this afternoon, with winds topping 80+mph. Let's hope they are wrong. 

But in the midst of all this weather news, our President, the author of the Art of the Deal, continued to reset the trade arena for the United States and our trading partners. All of a sudden, this month, we have new trade agreements with the UK, China, the PI, Indonesia, Japan, and over this weekend, the very important EU. Instead of getting screwed by friend and foe alike, Trump level set the trading arena to much fairer for everyone. When Friday comes, whomever does not come to terms with us, will get a letter saying their tariff will be 30% going forward. It is as simple as that.

Not all things that Donald Trump have turned into a win. He is very frustrated in the lack of peace in Ukraine as well as Gaza. It is not for lack of trying - he has had his very best team (Steve Witkoff) on site time and time again trying for a peace deal. But Putin wants to ride that red horse of war into the dust. He cares not about what his warring has done to Ukraine or his country of Russia. Hard to deal with people like him. And Gaza with Hamas? They refuse to let the remaining hostages go. They know when that happens, the rest of Hamas will be no more than cannon fodder. 

What will August look like? Should be very few deals to be made, as the deadline will have passed. The weather? Hopefully, Mother Nature will have settled down a bit, and the Canadian wildfires will have run out of steam. Meanwhile, more and more oil wells are being dug. More and more AI data centers are being built. More and more tariff dollars are steaming into our newly minted External Revenue Service. 

Donald Trump continues to be the grand chess player when it comes to knowing all the aspects of the deal. How so? One of the byproducts of all these new trade agreements is we got there first. Russia and China are now on the outside looking in. Well played President Trump - well played. 

   

Our national B+E

"We do, however, only have a few ways which are illegal. That is border jumping. Overstaying a visa. Having forged documents. Coming into America that way, and staying here, is a national form of B+E."

As many of us know, the term B+E is a law enforcement term which means "breaking and entering". In other words, if you break into somebody's house, business, garage or car without their permission, you are breaking the law. No discussion, no excuses, no equivocation - you are a law breaker. 

Now let's take that to a much larger scale. Breaking into our country, when you don't have permission to do so. Now we have many ways to come to America using permissive ways - all of them legal. We do, however, only have a few ways which are illegal. That is border jumping. Overstaying a visa. Having forged documents. Coming into America that way, and staying here, is a national form of B+E. 

But hold on Bird! Many of these illegals came in on the invite of President Biden! What say you about that one? I say simply this - Biden's invite, for illegals to jump over the border, was an illegal order (offer). One thing I learned in the Navy was the only order which can be refused is an illegal order. And Biden had no standing to make this offer (order). He played these poor people like patsies. Many spent a life's savings to come here for a ruse. For this alone, Biden should serve time.

Our Alligator Alcatraz in Florida is now housing people and have started flights to send them back to where they came from. Some of the inmates at the facility have been complaining about the food, sleeping conditions and so on. When the Florida governor was asked about this, DeSantis replied, "It is a jail, not a hotel". Enough said, sir!

Here is the bottom line. Even though I have no police record, if I broke into my neighbor's house without his permission, and even if I did not steal anything - I would be a law breaker. When the police came, they would put me in cuffs and take me to jail. I would be charged with B+E, and there would be some kind of punishment. Same goes for our border jumpers. They should not be rewarded for breaking out laws by given amnesty - they should be expelled (deported). 

President Trump is doing the right thing. Joe Biden did the wrong thing. People who are here illegally are doing the wrong thing. The gift horse was offered by Secretary Noem when she came up with the "self deport" program. It was for sure a "get out of jail free card". If people self-deported, they get a free ride home and $1,000. More importantly, if they do it legally, they can come back. However - if they don't self deport and get caught - they can never come back. Case closed.  

  

Exactly, what is the new message?

"Our bench is strong, and our message is clear. Make America Great and Greater Again. Reach for the stars. Democrats? Time to fade quickly into the sunset. You had your chance and blew it. Now it is time for the good guys to take over."  

  

The Democrats, both locally and nationally, are in a frenzy. Why? No message. Well, there is a message, but it is not a very good one. The Woke thing broke, and the DEI thing was a joke. The economy was left in tatters from Biden, as him motto was Orange Man Bad, and so is oil and natural gas. By contrast, the 45th President of these United States (and now the 47th), had a very simple message. America is great, we can make America even greater. Roger that, sir! 

Joe Biden was the gift who kept on giving. He was so bad, so inept, and such a country wrecker, all the MAGA team needed to do was showcase more of Biden-omics and the lunacy which surrounded it. Since Biden and team had so many sycophants, it is hard to find someone to be the new torchbearer. They have all been tainted by stupidity. Trump on the other hand, although far from perfect, has the economy back humming like a Ferrari.

Here is the bottom line, dare I tip my hand to the other side. There simply is no message for Team Blue. Nothing. NADA. Every metric available was minimalized or negated under the term of POTUS 46. America became weak and broken. A joke on the world stage. Now, America is back. Stronger, better, and richer. The haters of Trump still hate him and always will. But people who love Trump and his policies, know we are living in very special and blessed times. This is truly the Golden Age of America.

Of all the good things Donald Trump has taught us, it is the promise of daring to dream. To follow your heart. To imagine the best of the best, and how to get there. Whereas Obama, Kerry and Biden wanted to besmirch and denigrate America, and always talk us down, Trump does just the opposite. He is a patriot and true American. Is he perfect? No, but pretty darn good. 

Our message going forward into the midterms is simple to stay the course. The message for 2028 is more of the same, please. Since we can't have Trump again, Donald is helping shape the future for JD Vance or Rubio. Our bench is strong, and our message is clear. Make America Great and Greater Again. Reach for the stars. Democrats? Time to fade quickly into the sunset. You had your chance and blew it. Now it is time for the good guys to take over.  

  

Land of 10,000 frauds?

"This is exactly what happens when you have one party government for decades at a time. No checks and balances. Crime and graft grow like weeds in a garden. When this is mentioned to you, please look interested. Why? The billion or billions stolen are your money. You should be very pissed. I know I am."

The stories of Minnesota are now hitting fast and hard. We seem to have a real crackerjack of a US Attorney on station right now, and he is finding more frauds than we find worms on the sidewalk after a downpour. In fact, Minnesota even has garnered the attention of some national websters and bloggers. Minnesota it seems, is the land of 10,000 frauds. How much so? Maybe a $1B. Maybe even $4B, if we want to go back in time a bit.

Wait a minute! Bird, are you still talking about the Feeding our Future scam? Well, sort of. It seems that was one of many fraud schemes which was perpetrated on the Minnesota taxpayers during the Walz years. In fact, anything which had the word "Medicare" associated with it, was a target for fraud in the great state of Minnesota. But what about Walz and the people he hired to shepherd these programs? Ah - now there is the rub.

Either Walz is as dumb as a box of rocks, or he is crooked. Either way, he should be fired. Fired and maybe tried and convicted. Did I mention that Walz is a Democrat? Did I mention that for reasons which transcend sanity, Walz was picked to run as a vice president this past election? OM Goodness - what a pickle we would have all been in if Kamala had won. Now Walz is back as governor. What should we do with him? Turn a blind eye so he can keep ripping us off?

On of the national bloggers had an interesting observation. Did Walz work in collusion with the Somali network, or was he an independent? Either way, this entire issue is dripping with neglect or just plain crime. Is the DOJ going to become very interested in this issue? They already are. In the near future, a hard rain is going to fall (to quote Bob Dylan). A day of reckoning is coming. Once the extent of the fraud is exposed, Democrats in Minnesota might be as popular as a case of herpes. 

This is exactly what happens when you have one party government for decades at a time. No checks and balances. Crime and graft grow like weeds in a garden. When this is mentioned to you, please look interested. Why? The billion or billions stolen are your money. You should be very pissed. I know I am. 

Feral youth on parade

 

"Someone I once knew said that Minneapolis has more problems than Carter's has pills. And that was before the Floyd incident. What happened during the Floyd riots changed this town forever. Made crime fashionable and acceptable. Gutted the police force. Neutered the cops who remain."

When will this ever end? It was bad before the Floyd incident but now is ten times worse. The city once known as the City of Lakes, now known as the City of Disfunction, has one more burden to carry. Feral youth. And they are on parade right now. Vandalizing cars, parked on the street. Why? Why not - it is after all, something to do. Many of these young perps are raised in homes with no father, and a dysfunctional mother. Knowing right from wrong? No thanks.

To date, about 200 cars have had their windows broken. For what purpose? Is this being done by the established gangs in Minneapolis, or one of the newer and very prolific Somali gangs? I guess it does not matter - the effect is the same. Broken windows, and the cost to repair, some or all of which is borne by the car owner. With a mayor's race in the offing, which candidate will promise to address this growing problem. Jacob Frey? Nope - this is already happening under his watch. Omar Fateh? Please - don't make me laugh.

I am very familiar with the City of Minneapolis. I grew up on the border of Minneapolis, just feet from being a resident. My wife and I lived there for a year right after we were married. My wife and I went to college in Minneapolis, at the main campus of the U of M. I worked downtown, as I had clients there. Yes, I know that town. I have seen it change. Seen it devolve. Seen the rot and crime destroy parts of that town. What was once great and admirable, is now becoming hollowed out and dangerous.

Someone I once knew said that Minneapolis has more problems than Carter's has pills. And that was before the Floyd incident. What happened during the Floyd riots changed this town forever. Made crime fashionable and acceptable. Gutted the police force. Neutered the cops who remain. Put them under liberal decrees which handcuffed them from being the cops this city needed. Then what? Kids shooting kids, and feral youth popping up all over, as prolific as weeds.

Somebody recently asked me if there are any safe places to live (or be) in Minneapolis anymore. With tongue in cheek, I responded either I-35 or I-94, headed out of town as fast as you can drive. Other than that, I don't know of any safe zone in that town. I have said this many times before - most of my friends who live outside of the metro or further outstate, avoid the metro area like it is radioactive. Why borrow trouble? And going into that town is always borrowing trouble.  

 

 

Where in North America, do we go for a sanity check?

"Here is the bottom line. We have no place to go. We need to fix our countries, as going anyplace else in North America is just as bad - maybe worse. Not too many years ago, the problems which plague us now, did not plague us then. We could figure stuff out."

Don't look now, but if you live in North America (like I assume most readers do), it is a hot mess right now, and I mean more than just the temperature. How so? Mexico is at war with itself, as the cartels have become a force to reckon with. There are parts of Mexico which are way beyond dangerous. What is the new President of Mexico doing to turn things around? Pretending everything is just fine, thank you. It is too bad, as Mexico has a lot to offer. But the drugs and corruption are blunting the advantages of living or visiting there.

Well, what about Canada? How is Mark Carney doing in his new job? He has got to be better than Justin Trudeau - right? Maybe. Carney is just as authoritarian as Trudeau was. He is partial to the eastern part of the country, and only uses the western part as an ATM. My words? Not hardly - the words of many who live in the western provinces. Carney also does not know when to make the right kind of deal with Trump. Thus, the trade war is eroding his financial base, and the folks out west are getting ready to bolt. I will give Carney a solid "F" so far in his leadership.

And then there is the United States. Better known as the land of the Hatfields and the McCoys. A land where politics is like a drink of bitterroot, and acrimony is knitted into every level of politics across the land. Congress has become an organization of scandal and investigations. Why anybody would want to serve in this once austere body is beyond me. We remain a land of great promise, with world class everything. And yet, we can't get along with each other. How bad has it become? We have gone from name calling, to lawfare, to life and death. I have never seen hatred so vile, as I have seen it as of late in this great country.

Well, that is it. There are no more countries to escape to in North America. Each country has a unique set of problems and issues. Do I know the solutions? A way out? Absolutely not! Watching the news these days can give you a peptic ulcer, or hypertension. Saying the wrong thing to a group of people can get you ostracized and shunned. In Canada right now, people in Alberta have already started referring to themselves as our 51st state. And Saskatchewan - those folks are happy to be the 52nd state.

Here is the bottom line. We have no place to go. We need to fix our countries, as going anyplace else in North America is just as bad - maybe worse. Not too many years ago, the problems which plague us now, did not plague us then. We could figure stuff out. We could get along (to a degree). I mean, the fact that Canada is getting ready to split up is nothing less than extraordinary. If you had told a Canadian even 20 years ago that this could happen, they would have thought it to be a very bad joke. Now, in 2026, it could be reality.

Mexico might be the country with the simplest fix. Simple, yet painful. Law and order, from the top down. Maybe even martial law for a while. Either the people run Mexico, or the cartels run it. The United States military is trying to help right now, but all the good people in Mexico need to be resolute. Enough is enough. 

I am not picking on North America. South America has problems also. And corruption. Different issues, same solution. People need to be resolute. Law and order, peace, and understanding. No more insularity. No more tribal politics. No more senseless violence. "Out of many, one", could apply to just about every place, every day. It worked for a while; it can work again.    

Here we go again?

 

"For those of us who live outstate or outside of the Metro Area, all we can do is shake our heads in wonder. How could this change happen so quickly? What ever happened to homegrown mayors in Minneapolis? Jacob Frey was not. He was a Jewish kid from New York who moved here. And Omar Fateh certainly is not from here. I guess the days of having a Swede, German or Pollock who grew up here as mayor - are over."  

My latest edition of Thinking Minnesota came yesterday, with the lead article called Make Minnesota Great Again. It seems almost ironic that just this past weekend, a Somali socialist (and activist) was nominated by a suspicious group to be the next Mayor of Minneapolis. Why do I say suspicious? Jacob Frey used the word "irregular" in how the vote was tallied in this Somali rich sea of voters. Dare I say Jacob meant cheating instead of irregular? In any event, Frey wants a do-over.

Wait - what? Somali's cheating? You mean like with Feeding the Future? Even though there have been some convictions on that MASSIVE fraud, many investigators think it might have only been the tip of the iceberg. And as the Star Tribune reported this morning, three years ago Fateh almost got kicked out of the Minnesota Senate for a murky allegation over a $500,000 taxpayer gift to a Somali broadcast company who endorsed Fateh. Fateh escaped expulsion, but this brother-in-law took the fall on that one - two criminal convictions.

Sorry Mayor Frey, as lurid as this election might have seen to you, the die is cast. There is NO WAY the Somali community is giving up the Minneapolis Mamdani. This is too rich - having a communist run NYC and a socialist (of Somali decent) running Minneapolis at the same time? But wait - what is there was graft, like when (allegedly) Ilhan Omar married her brother? There are all kinds of murky and slimy things which have been alleged about her rise to power. Again, water under the bridge. The die was cast on her years ago. She is now an infamous member of the Squad. 

Barack Obama let in tens of thousands of Somalis, and many of them settled in the Cedar Riverside area of Minneapolis. It forever turned our 5th Congressional District bluer than a Robin's egg. And now that district has set its eyes on the City of Minneapolis. Once that is done, what is next? Governor? Our city, our state, are changing right before our eyes. Those who live in Minneapolis and don't like it, learn to live with it. This is the way it will be for a long time to come.

For those of us who live outstate or outside of the Metro Area, all we can do is shake our heads in wonder. How could this change happen so quickly? What ever happened to homegrown mayors in Minneapolis? Jacob Frey was not. He was a Jewish kid from New York who moved here. And Omar Fateh certainly is not from here. I guess the days of having a Swede, German or Pollock who grew up here as mayor - are over.  

    

Are tariffs working? Are interest rates working?

"I feel badly for Canada (sort of). Mark Carney is getting torn apart by our trade war. For Canada, reciprocal tariffs would have been a very easy fix. But for reasons unknown, they wanted to keep their unfair trade system intact. And while the trade issue is biting Carney on one leg, his other leg is trying to keep half his country from leaving."

If somebody would ask me, as a consumer, how things are going right now, I would say okay. Not great, not poorly, but just okay. Am I disappointed in Trump because things are not sunshine and lollypops all over the horizon? Not a bit - I think he has done Herculean work all things considered. What do I mean? Not to throw stones, but Biden pretty much took us over the cliff. Coming back from that trip into the abyss has not been easy. And Jerome Powell at the Fed? Don't get me started.

Much has been said about Trump's fascination with tariffs. Will they work, or will they tank the economy? So far, so good. Most who have been paying attention know we have come up short on most of our current trade agreements. How can we tell? By the trade deficits we have been running. Trump wanted to reset many of our trade deals so we would not get hosed as badly. Tariffs are a way to get to that reset. Plus - as a bonus, we have already collected over $100B in tariffs. Enough so we actually ran a $27B surplus last month. That ain't nothing!

We keep hearing that some of our trade deals are "close". Good on that! But in the meantime, tariffs will be the Band-Aid to stop the bleeding. But there might be more to these tariffs than meets the eye. Trump does not seem the least bit nervous that some of our bigger trade deals are not closed as yet. Why? Tariff money keeps flowing in. But are these tariffs not inflationary? So far, so good. Inflation has ticked up just a smidge but is still under the prescribed 3%. Truthfully, the inflation under Biden made many of us smarter shoppers. Know the pricing on items which we need, and how and where to shop for them. 

Is there a dark cloud on the horizon? Sure is. That is why Trump has about had it with Jerome Powell. President Trump, like many of us, wonders what team Powell is playing for. The housing industry has issued a "yellow flare" alert. If interest rates don't come down soon, and substantially, we could be headed for a housing slump. For no good reason, whatsoever. If housing starts to slump, it will pull down many other industries with it. Are there warning signs already? Sure is. Housing is in such short supply the average house price is $400,000. Try paying for one of those with a 7% mortgage!

I feel badly for Canada (sort of). Mark Carney is getting torn apart by our trade war. For Canada, reciprocal tariffs would have been a very easy fix. But for reasons unknown, they wanted to keep their unfair trade system intact. And while the trade issue is biting Carney on one leg, his other leg is trying to keep half his country from leaving. Why? Canada's authoritarianism and socialism has run its course with the western provinces. Sad but true.

I know, I know - I did not mention the effects of the BBB (Big Beautiful Bill). It will take a while for this thing to catch hold. By the end of the year, we should all be able to see how this bill affects us individually as well as the country. Until then, let's all just hang on and enjoy the ride.    

Almost extinct - normal Republicans in Minneapolis

"As Bob Dylan would sing, 'The times, they are a changing'. Boy is that ever true. With the impending political change coming, will Minneapolis be governable or ungovernable? Will businesses continue to flee elsewhere? Will the police be 'defunded' again?"

The city which Mary Tyler Moore made famous. And then the city which George Floyd made infamous. And now, since Republicans in Minneapolis have gone the way of the Dodo Bird, Minneapolis will be known for having a Muslim Mayor. A Somali Muslim Mayor. The Mill City, replete with such a rich history, has now been ceded. It already has Muslim calls to prayer broadcasted all over the city. What is next? I shudder to think.

It gets worse. New York City is also going to get a huge wakeup call. Again, this is a city like Minneapolis - it is almost devoid of Republicans. When that happens, a guy like Zohran Mamdani happens. New York City, the largest city in our country, the home of Wall Street, is going to have a Communist Muslim for mayor. And our second largest city, has a devout socialist for a mayor - Karen Bass. Yet another city, where Republicans have all but disappeared.

What is it? Why are not cities like Minneapolis, New York City and Los Angeles home to more Republicans? Is it that old term, "White Flight"? Maybe - but it is deeper than that. It is unchecked crime, out of control taxes, urban decay, and insular neighborhoods. It is everything that big cities should not be. Thus, as in Minnesota, people gravitate towards a safer and more affordable area to live in and raise kids in. Hello, outstate Minnesota. And that was before we had commies and socialists trying to run the cities. 

Minneapolis is about to take a huge step backwards. The minions who still live there may not yet realize it, but harder and harsher times are in the offing. Where do Omar Fateh's loyalties lie? Here in Minneapolis, or in Northern Africa. We already know where Ilhan Omar's loyalty lies.

As Bob Dylan would sing, "The times, they are a changing". Boy is that ever true. With the impending political change coming, will Minneapolis be governable or ungovernable? Will businesses continue to flee elsewhere? Will the police be "defunded" again? Are there any businesses who will gain from this seismic shift in politics? Maybe U-Haul. Other than that, I have no clue.   

The great divide hits Canada!

"Whatever happens up in western Canada, be it their own country, or becoming a part of ours - I am pulling for them. Why? Free people love free people. Most of the folks in western Canada are like us looking in a mirror. When the split comes, we say, welcome to freedom folks, welcome to freedom."   

It is a well-known fact that for mostly political reasons, the red states and the blue states in this great republic of ours get along as well as the Hatfields and the McCoys. Really? Why? How did this happen? We have gone from bad under Clinton, to neutral under Bush (43), to very bad under Obama, too horrible under Trump (45), to way, way beyond horrible under Biden, to absolute toxic under Trump (47). And to set the record straight, things we not good under Bush (43) - they were just statically bad. That is how we got here.

One might think that our neighbors to the north would look south (towards us) and give a loud, "tsk, tsk"! But now - it seems that Canada has their own kettle of fish to deal with right now. Because of similar blue state/red state dust ups (only in Canada it is red province/ blue province) Canada actually has deeper divisions than we do. And these divisions are about to rupture the country of Canada - wide open.

Who is the ringleader behind this insurrection up in Canada? Alberta. They have had it. For decades now, Ottawa has treated Alberta like a child. Only with this child, the parent is stealing all their money as well. Well, Alberta (in mass) has had it. And when Saskatchewan witnessed what was going on, they agreed - they have had it also. And to a lesser degree, British Columbia. In any event, legal documents are being prepared so that next year (get ready for this one), a new country might appear to the north of us - the Republic of Western Canada. 

But wait! What about the rest of Canada? Don't they rely on the western provinces for money? Yes, they do. And that is too darn bad they have treated their western brothers so bad in the past. Now the socialists in Eastern Canada can practice their evil craft amongst themselves. And the new free land of Western Canada, can live like free people once again.

But is there another way out? Yes, but still very unpopular with the socialist in the east. That would be becoming the 51st state in our country. Most of us would love it. Why? The folks in western Canada are citizens and patriots. Most all the serfs and subjects live in the east - the free folks live in the west. Plus, there is oil up there! They would fit in well with our newly founded "Drill, baby drill" commerce.

Whatever happens up in western Canada, be it their own country, or becoming a part of ours - I am pulling for them. Why? Free people love free people. Most of the folks in western Canada are like us looking in a mirror. When the split comes, we say, "welcome to freedom folks, welcome to freedom."   

   

Clawing back some sanity

 

"The best news about this first very modest claw back? We were told it would be the first of many. It legitimized DOGE. Made DOGE a way of the future. Biden's cronies were dumping cash out the door by the shovel load just before Trump took over. I want those dollars back also."

I like this new term I have learned about fiscal government. If some money was allocated, and then found to be foolish or a mistake, it can be "clawed back". In other words, taken back. Last night, it was the House of Representatives turn. Monies which the administration wanted "unfunded", about $9B worth, was voted on. It barely passed, as it barely passed in the Senate. But as the saying goes, a pass is a pass. Now it is onto the president's desk for signature.

What are two of the more contentious items which were clawed back? The ones which made the Democrats caterwaul like wounded banshees? First off, the one which most conservatives love to hate. Public radio - better known as taxpayer funded DFL Pravda. For years, the question has gone up, as to why us folks who know what Public Radio really does and stands for, why we have to pay for it out of the public troth. Each year it got funded, it was like nails on the blackboard to many of us.

That was thing one. Thing two should be aggravating to all of us - but it is not. US Aid dollars, given to countries which hate us. Trust me, there are many countries who would rather walk all over us than say good morning to us. And yet, we give them money, year after year, trying to keep them from fomenting bad things in their neighborhoods. NEWS FLASH: It is not working. They still cause trouble, and they still hate us. What a waste of taxpayer dollars!

To me, clawing back these dollars made good sense. Very few things the federal government does makes good sense to me. With a national debt reaching the stratosphere, any dollar which can be returned to the treasury is a good thing. Just like any dollar coming into our newly minted External Revenue Service, via tariffs, is also a good thing. More money, less debt. What is there not to love?

The best news about this first very modest claw back? We were told it would be the first of many. It legitimized DOGE. Made DOGE a way of the future. Biden's cronies were dumping cash out the door by the shovel load just before Trump took over. I want those dollars back also. Many were going for the Green New Scam. Good on Trump, good on us. That is what is called the common good (in my book).

    

Gliding over the prairie deluxe!

"The politics in this state may have taken a long walk off a short pier, and some of the people (deep in the metro area) may be a bit off in their thinking, but the beauty of this state endures."

Please bear with me. Just for a minute, I am about to get a bit melancholy about the state of this state. Then I will blather on about the uniqueness and beauty of the same state. Here we go:

Minnesota is an odd state for sure these days. On one hand, it is one of the most beautiful and fetching states in the union. But on the other hand, we seem to collect some of the biggest weirdos and prairie populists in the country. I mean, I remember when this state was populated by Ozzie and Harriet families. Father knows best types. Now - for some reason, we make Meathead from All in the Family look normal. Almost conservative. It is for the nut ball politics we have developed, and the Walz type politicians we inherited that I grieve for this state. It might never be normal again.

Now for my blather. I will retell a story from the past. While working at FMC, I had a competitor (and very good friend) who worked for Lockheed Martin. He and I were supposed to travel to Aberdeen, South Dakota to attend a program review. Normally, I would meet him at the airport, and he and I would take a "puddle jumper" out to South Dakota together. But this time was different.

It was mid-summer, and he asked if we could rent a car and drive out there instead. I was puzzled, so I asked why. He told me he did not get the chance to see Americana much in Baltimore. He loved the Minnesota and South Dakota area, and he wanted to see it, mile by mile, all the way to Aberdeen. He told me how lucky I was to live here. So, we set out from the airport, to see and experience this special part of America.

I still remember that trip. Many stops, lots of conversation. It was a drop-dead gorgeous day, and we enjoyed every minute of it. He was simply amazed at our non-stop fields of corn, beans and other crops. I think about that special trip out to Aberdeen every time my wife and I drive up to our camper. We drive past fields of corn so vast; it is almost like gliding over them. It is like living in a Norman Rockwell painting, where Rockwell tried so hard to capture the beauty of America.

Then, after driving through fields of corn which seem to go on forever, the landscape suddenly changes. Now, you have entered Minnesota woodlands. Deciduous trees and then evergreens. Rivers, hills and then some more prairie. Then out of nowhere, the lakes start to appear. Many, many lakes, or all shapes and sizes. It is a sight I never get tired of seeing.

The politics in this state may have taken a long walk off a short pier, and some of the people (deep in the metro area) may be a bit off in their thinking, but the beauty of this state endures. I witness the same splendor and beauty my parents and grandparents witnessed many decades ago. And God willing, my kids, my grandies (and beyond) will also witness it, for decades and decades yet to come.   

 

The great AI conundrum

"Who will win the race? Will it be China? Will it be the United States? Or will it be demons yet to be created in the haze of supercharged bits and bytes? Stay tuned if you dare - the race is happening right now."    

About this entire AI thing. Are you confused? I sure am. Yesterday, there was a big shindig in Pittsburg. All kinds of tech savvy folks were involved. President Trump was there. Why? Trump wants to make Pittsburg ground zero for AI incubators. Lots and lots of data farms. Lots of chip manufacturers. And because of that - lots and lots of power will be needed. But Pennsylvania is a good place to located if you need lots of power. The fossil fuels under the surface, along with the new "mini" nukes, will fit in nicely with AI development.

But what are we doing here? Is this a dance with the devil? Or are we all doing something which will really help mankind? China and the USA are in the footrace of their lives. What is the prize? To be the premiere AI manufacturer and guru in the world. And the implications for what that could do to the defense market are nothing short of enormous. In other words, which ever country masters AI first, will have a huge leg up on being the world's next superpower.

But wait - there is a catch. There is always a catch. Many tech gurus are strongly advising us we need to have guardrails in our research. Some kind of fail safe. Why? We are diving into the great unknown. Maybe opening up Pandora's Box. We are developing something which may or will be smarter than us. Think differently than us. Maybe decide that this new world of AI does not need us. And what if we can't "pull the plug" at that time? The end of mankind and the beginning of a robot world? This outcome is what keeps many AI developers up at night.

But if those thoughts are only histrionics and not fact based, AI is poised to catapult us into a world which none can imagine. AI, especially teamed up with quantum computing, could take us places we could only dream of. With AI entering the realm of AGI and leaving behind basic AI, the possibilities will be almost endless. And then in 2030, when ASI is obtained - that is when we will either master AI, or it will master us. 

In any event, the band plays on. We will travel down this road together, racing against time and each other. The grand prize may be the most golden of all fleeces. Or it may only be a pyrrhic victory, with out-of-control technologies becoming our masters. 

Who will win the race? Will it be China? Will it be the United States? Or will it be demons yet to be created in the haze of supercharged bits and bytes? Stay tuned if you dare - the race is happening right now.    

Who left the door open?

 

"It is time to reanimate Judge Roy Bean. Any Democrat who will doxx a law enforcement officer, throw rocks or bricks at their cars, or fire a weapon near them or at them - need to be locked up with the key being lost forever." 

By now, most clear-thinking citizens and patriots know what the scheme was. Let into our country anybody in the world who wanted to come. No vetting, no questions asked. Along with the waves of people who snuck into our country, also came drugs (including fentanyl), human trafficking (including child trafficking), and some very nasty gang members. But who cares? The plan was to give most of them amnesty and then make dependable Democrat voters out of them. No secret - we could all see through that flimsy facade.

The question now needs to be asked - by whose authority, were these people let in? We do have laws on the books how to LEGALLY come into this country. Who countermanded those laws? Should that person be found and tried for treason? Or something? Or are we just going to let bygones be bygones. Since Joe Biden did not know if it was Friday of Monday half the time, my vote for the guilty party would be DHS Secretary Mayorkas. He was as dirty as mud on this one.

But that was yesterday, and now we need to talk about today. Treasonous Democrats, who stand in the way of law enforcement when they are trying to remove illegals from our country. Each and every Democrat who impedes law enforcement from enforcing the laws which Congress fomented, should be arrested. If they are office holders, they should be impeached or recalled. What is going on now is terrible. Every time an ICE agent tries to apprehend a person WHO SHOULD NOT BE HERE, the civil disobedience which follows is unforgivable. It makes our country look unhinged and ungovernable. 

This "prize" the Democrats hatched under Biden, of letting in millions of illegals, is one in which today's Democrats are not letting go of. They will do anything to keep the illegals (who will someday become Democrat voters), in the country. How hard will they fight for them? Up to and including a civil war. Don't think so? Watch the news on any night. Our big blue cities are nothing but battle grounds now, with the battles being between law and disorder, or good and evil.

Trying not to be too partisan when I say this, only factual. Democrats let the illegals into this country; Democrats are trying to keep law enforcement from removing them. It is time to reanimate Judge Roy Bean. Any Democrat who will doxx a law enforcement officer, throw rocks or bricks at their cars, or fire a weapon near them or at them - need to be locked up with the key being lost forever. 

Any Democrat who is not satisfied with that solution, can go live with Rosie in Ireland. Why? America is the home of the free and the brave - and the lawful. End of story.       

And we can't even agree on a flag...

"Like I said, with all that divides us, this new flag is a prime example. You can't force the people to like something they don't. And please don't say that elections have consequences. In case you have not noticed of late, Minnesota, along with our Rocks and Cows governor, are the laughingstock of America."  

I knew that this state was seriously divided. It has been a long time coming, but the division is here. It is no longer just blue state and red state. It is metro and outstate. It is certain parts of Northern Africa taking over certain parts of Minneapolis. But a new state flag? Like, what was wrong with the one we had? No matter - as part of the Democrats "Great Reset", and their love for the Somali visitors, we have a new flag which looks quite a bit like the Somali flag. Most of the Democrats love it, most of the Republicans want the old flag back.

It would have interesting, that instead of the coup d'etat we had in the 2023 legislature, the flag thing would have been brought up for a vote. Like, the first question would have been, whose idea was it to have a new flag? What is wrong with the old one? Maybe many of the citizens and patriots who live in this Democrat controlled state, like our normal flag. And to have the new flag look so much like Somalia's flag, is way, way beyond okay. Many think it is an outrage.

I find it interesting that some people in outstate don't want the new flag flying in their town. The old flag is just fine, thank you. One person was quoted as saying he lives in Minnesota, not Somalia. I guess to some, the new flag went over like a case of bad gas in church. In protest, the old flag continues to fly up north. Going up north as we often do, seeing the new Somali flag is rare - seeing the more common Minnesota flag is normal. 

Maybe when we ever get a normal legislature again, this flag issue can be addressed. Maybe voted on by the people who live in this state. Until that happens, flying this new flag will be a no-no with many of us. Why? We live in the United States of America, not Africa. And we live in Minnesota, not Somalia.

Like I said, with all that divides us, this new flag is a prime example. You can't force the people to like something they don't. And please don't say that elections have consequences. In case you have not noticed of late, Minnesota, along with our Rocks and Cows governor, are the laughingstock of America.  

I want to live in America

"This land is the land it is due to many who have come before us. They paid for this land with blood, sweat and sometimes tears. But they knew it was worth it. The only caveat one of our more famous ancestors warned us about, was the fragility of this great Republic."

As the song goes from the musical West Side Story, "I want to live in America". Actually, to be precise, I want to live in the United States of America. Always have, always will. Many who have traveled internationally will tell you the same thing. It is nice to be away and see new things - but coming home to the good old US of A, is indeed something special. I have been offshore while serving in the Navy, on business travel, and on personal travel. Coming home to the United States was ALWAYS good. 

Our home country of the United States is indeed special. It is the great American Experiment, which has turned out pretty darned good. We are a land rich with opportunity and loaded with resources. We have drop dead beautiful landscapes to see, and miles and miles of open road in which to see them. I could blather on and on about how much I love this great country, but I will try and restrain myself a bit.

I have told this story before. I worked with a British gentleman when I was on a project north of London. Actually, it was in Nottingham, close to the Sherwood Forest. Anyhow, one day this gentleman and I were chatting about how beautiful his country of England was. He agreed, but replied, "You Yanks really have it good, however. I often times visit the states while on holiday, rent a car and just drive." Puzzled at this response, I asked where he would drive to. What he visited. He went on, "It does not matter where I drive. You just have so much land, and so much to see. In the UK, if you drive too far in any direction, you run into the sea. That is the problem with living on an island. In America, you can just drive and drive and drive."

He was right. In our great country, you can do things, be things and see things. The opportunities presented to all of us are unlimited. Why did we have 20 million people sneaking into our country the past four years and zero people trying to sneak out? For the opportunities. Living in these United States is the grand prize. Other places in the world are good, some very good. But the United States of America is great. It is exceptional. We are blessed beyond measure to live here.

This land is the land it is due to many who have come before us. They paid for this land with blood, sweat and sometimes tears. But they knew it was worth it. The only caveat one of our more famous ancestors warned us about, was the fragility of this great Republic. Ben Franklin said, "It is a Republic, if you can keep it." And that is our task. Each and every one of us. Don't take this country for granted. Don't put things on auto pilot. Each generation has the responsibility to guide and protect our country. To keep this Republic just as it is.

"America, America, God shed his grace on thee..." Oh, those words from America the Beautiful. Yes, God does shed His grace on us. Dare we never forget that. We are richly blessed to live here. Each day, every day, we are richly blessed to live here. Amen to that!   

That cool, crisp, clean Canadian air - where art thou?

"I have fond memories of going through some hot sticky days in July, and then the weatherman would tell us a Canadian front was going to give us relief. All of a sudden, we would go from Florida to Canada. The change in our air was stunning and welcomed. Now when we get a blast of Canadian air in the summertime, you can see it, smell it, and sometimes taste it."

Welcome to the decade of the 2020's. Our brave new world. What has changed? Quite a bit actually. Some good, some bad. One of the things which has changed (which is horrible), is losing parts of our long-awaited summer to lousy Canadian air. Wait - what? Most of us grew up longing for that cool blast of super clean Canadian air. What happened to it? Where is the heck is it?

Here we are, just starting another one of our valuable weekends in the middle of summer, and we are in a serious air alert. While the air is supposed to be bad in the Twin Cities, it is supposed to be horrible in northern Minnesota. If you have any kind of a heart or lung issue, you are strongly advised to stay indoors. Or if you are elderly. And this stretch of bad air will last until Monday morning. Well - there goes another weekend. Having bad air is ten times worse than having a washout weekend. 

I don't remember these bad air days when I was younger. And I mean not that long ago younger. Now, it is getting more common than uncommon. And please - don't give me that climate hoax stuff - this goes deeper than that. Is it arson by some bad actors who are trying to do bad things to Canada and the US? Is it the liberal forestry management system that Justin Trudeau implemented? To have this come on so suddenly, during the last decade or so, is beyond a mystery. Meanwhile, we in the north central states, take it in the shorts.

How bad can it get? We have had days where we, in Minnesota, have had the worst air in the country. Actually, some of the worst air in the world. Minnesota, the state once known for clean air, now has to have part of its population sitting indoors due to yet another bad air alert. And what is anybody doing about this? Nada. That is, except warning us to stay inside. Until this bad air mass can drift southward and punish another state.

I have fond memories of going through some hot sticky days in July, and then the weatherman would tell us a Canadian front was going to give us needed relief. All of a sudden, our air would go from Florida to Canada. The change in our air was stunning and welcomed. Now when we get a blast of Canadian air in the summertime, you can see it, smell it, and sometimes taste it. SMH.

Yes, I yearn for those days of cleaner air. I miss the old Canada I once knew. Maybe Trump is right - we need to manage Canada. They should be a 51st state. They sure are failing at running their own country. In fact, instead of running it, they are ruining it. 

Behold - the Drone King!

 

And Zelenskyy the Drone King? He is now looking to sell some of his drones to his allies to raise cash. Who would have thought this war would have come to this.      

When the history of the Ukraine War is written many years from now, there will be much to write. For example, Putin the war criminal could take up the first 2/3 of the book. How this former KGB agent did so many things wrong to both the citizens of Ukraine as well as his own people. How and why the feckless United Nations could not stop him from doing so. But there is a bigger story to be told. One which has no match in human history. Putin, the megalomaniac despot does have others like him in the annals of history. But the other story does not.

In 2022, when the Russian Army surrounded parts of Ukraine and looked ready to pounce, Ukraine was just an agriculture country. It had some technology, and a small and modest army. As the saying goes, they were just a bunch of farmers and accountants trying to live their lives. 

But then Russia did pounce. Putin thought this would be so lopsided, that a week or less would be all it took. March into Kyiv, replace the government with a Russian puppet, and mission accomplished. Easy peasy. But this small army from Ukraine instantly grew. Farmers and peasants took up arms. Some using hunting rifles and shotguns. With guts and ire, they stood their ground. To this day, the great and powerful Russian Army still has not taken Kyiv.

But here is the part which is so very interesting. Being starved for the right kind of weaponry to fight the well-armed Russians, the Ukrainians got creative. They used drones which before the war, were used as toys. They started small and the drones they had were used for surveillance only. Then mostly in basements, these drones were modified to carry small munitions. As the month's past, and their drone technology improved, they had more lethal and better drones. All of a sudden, the Russians did not know how to counter these things. Many more Russians started to die because of them.

Flash forward to today. Last year at this time, Ukraine was building as astonishing 20,000 drones per month. Somehow, this year, Ukraine was able to increase production by 900%. Ukraine is now producing 200,000 per month! And many are very sophisticated. Most of them bristle with AI. Because of this war which Ukraine did not ask for, Ukraine has become one of the premiere drone manufacturers in the world. 

How will this war end? Is it a standoff? Does Russia have enough troops to send into this meatgrinder called Ukraine? Trump hates this war. He would have liked it ended yesterday. But Putin loves it. Even though it is costing him most of his Army, he loves it. And Zelenskyy the Drone King? He is now looking to sell some of his drones to his allies to raise cash. Who would have thought this war would have come to this.      

No more Walzing around this issue!

"It is interesting that Minnesota can elect two incompetent governors back-to-back. South Dakota can elect a great governor. North Dakota can elect a great governor. Iowa can elect a great governor. Many states can get the feast of great governors - Minnesota only gets the crumbs." 

The good news is that our governor gets national press almost every day. The bad news is the press is most always bad. Why say that? It is apparent to even the most naïve of voters in Minnesota, that this guy could not govern his way out of a paper bag. Besides a wee bit of stolen valor, this guy is a phony. He is a faux person in so many of the things he has done in his life. But because we have so many uneducated or undereducated morons in this state, he has been elected twice. Amazing.

He has squandered a gargantuan state surplus, leaving the citizens with crumbs. He let the city of Minneapolis burn during the Floyd riots. He turned a blind eye to the record setting graft as some immigrants stole tons of money, and the food it was needed to feed needy children - vanished. And now it is alleged he is trying to stiff the taxpayers, for the expenses of trying to defend going against federal law on transgender and sanctuary issues. He is a first-class fool.

And now the question is simply this - should Walz run for a third term? In most states, he would be laughed across the border. In Minnesota, he might win again. Why? We have a very high percentage of Yellow Dogs and idiots. After seeing Jeff Johnson, the most qualified man EVER to run for governor, get beat by this lacky Tim Walz, most of the few citizens and patriots who still live here, just threw up their hands.

It is interesting that Minnesota can elect two incompetent governors back-to-back. South Dakota can elect a great governor. North Dakota can elect a great governor. Iowa can elect a great governor. Many states can get the feast of great governors - Minnesota only gets the crumbs. 

Many have asked if Minnesota would or could ever change. I used to hope for that. Now I doubt it. Even though hopes springs eternal, in Minnesota, under Tim Walz, we are hopeless. Abandoned. All we can do is watch evil legislation being written and then signed into law by Tim Walz.