The convention debacle

"Next up of interest, will be the primary. Hopefully, MNGOP breaks the mold and sticks totally by endorsed candidates. Then on to the general election. I hold little hope to turn this graft filled state red. Why? Most of the minions vote like fools. Prove it? Mark Dayton followed by Tim Walz. I rest my case."     

What a mess. Both the DFL and MNGOP conventions were held this past weekend. The DFL was a nothing burger, as it was just the same set of jokers, some in different positions. The only drama which could have been worth the price of admission, would have been if Angie Craig had "manned up" and attended the convention to try and score the endorsement. But no - she deferred to the primary, where for the Democrats, it will be more good money after bad.

Now if the Republicans were smart and not wussies like they have been in the past, they would tattoo this entire fraud mess on Ellison (why he was endorsed is a mystery for the ages), Flanigan (she and Walz are two peas in a pod), and Amy (impossible for her to be clean on the fraud thing). In my way of thinking, with the clown car the DFL has put together to run (ruin) this state, it is a treasure trove of opportunity to expose them. But the modus operandi of Republicans is "go gentle, be gentle". Hey MNGOP - how about no more Mr. (or Mrs.) Nice Guy?

Then there is the Republicans. What a [blank} show! First off, I really question the choice for the GOP to run for senate. Why? He kind of came out of left field. Meaning? Name recognition. My choice was Michele Trafoya. Why? I may differ with her on some of her positions, but I thought she was the most electable. Again, name recognition. Some might say, "But Bird - are you going soft on your convictions?" Nope - but a wise person once told me, you can't govern if you don't win. The Republicans have left many highly qualified people sitting on the bench as they were un-electable in this state. 

Mr. Qualls. Nice man, nice resume, man of God. But is he electable? Is he too nice? Will he be able to go toe to toe with Amy and call her out on her {blank}? Why was my choice, Lisa? She had experience in the arena. She was the Speaker of the House. She held the line on the unconstitutional gun grabber bill. And - name recognition. And not that this should matter (but it does to Democrats), Lisa is a black woman. That was a whole lot of checks in her favor in my book. I know, I know - Kendall is a black man. And that counts also. But I keep going back to name recognition.

Next up of interest, will be the primary. Hopefully, MNGOP breaks the mold and sticks totally by endorsed candidates. Then on to the general election. I hold little hope to turn this graft filled state red. Why? Most of the minions vote like fools. Prove it? Mark Dayton followed by Tim Walz. I rest my case.     

Coming in June - The great disclosure, or the grand deception?

"Will I see the Stephen Spielberg film next month? Maybe - when it becomes free on streaming. Will I believe it? No more than I believed ET or Close Encounters.  But when the grand deception comes, things will look nothing like a movie with special effects. Things will look as real as they can get. Why? Because a lie shined up to look like truth, is still a lie."  

Oh boy - this will be one for the ages. Spielberg's movie breaks on June 12th. Many think it will be the precursor the total disclosure. You know, the golden nugget. Total disclosure of aliens. No more fuzzy pictures or antidotal evidence of ET. Now it is predicted that the government will tell all and show all. Crashed crafts, dead non-human bodies. And when that happens, it will be the greatest discovery ever. It will shake our belief systems down to their very foundations. Why? Not only will it show we are not alone, but we will also know that "others" in the universe are far superior to us.

Or not. More and more Christians are starting to think that the greatest event since the birth of Christ might be part of eschatology - study of the end times. As such, 2,000 years ago, Christ warned his followers of the great deception which will come right before his return. But why use the UFO/UAP thing as the great deception? To shake people's faith. To sow doubt. To cause confusion. 

Many think that these "beings" are not aliens from another planet. They are really fallen angels which have taken on the form of "beings". All part of the deception. But many would not believe these "beings" were evil. They were in fact, from another planet or another dimension.

Taking a step back to think about this, could anything these days be more convincing or distracting? Could anything shake many people of weak faith than total disclosure? Maybe an alien ship landing at the White House? 

I believe we are heading into some very unsettling days. People who are not firmly planted in their Christian faith will be vulnerable. Some will think that crafts which have been spotted in the skies are the true "Chariots of the gods". Like I said - very unsettling times are coming.

Will I see the Stephen Spielberg film next month? Maybe - when it becomes free on streaming. Will I believe it? No more than I believed ET or Close Encounters.  But when the grand deception comes, things will look nothing like a movie with special effects. Things will look as real as they can get. Why? Because a lie shined up to look like truth, is still a lie.  

I would rather have a RINO over any of today's Democrats

"Most of today's Democrats are nothing like the Democrats of old. They are mean, vulgar, and dangerous. RINOs may be soft on their convictions, but they are far from dangerous."

I never thought I would be saying this. But I just did. Please, before the hate mail starts, let me explain. I have little to no respect for most RINOs. They are nothing but a throwback to when the only difference between most Republicans and Democrats was a shade of grey. Most of today's Democrats are nothing like the Democrats of old. They are mean, vulgar, and dangerous. RINOs may be soft on their convictions, but they are far from dangerous.

James Carville was on the tube the other day. This old man from the south, has the vilest potty mouth on him when talking about others. And when he talks about our president, his tone goes from vile to dangerous. I played back what his diatribe was all about. Not that I wanted to hear his invective all over again, but I wanted to watch his face. He was so unhinged, so uncontrolled, his face looked almost demonic. It was as if all common goodness had been drained out of his soul. 

Back to RINOs for a second. Let me use this as an example. I like Michele Tafoya. But - many of my contemporaries think she has some RINO tendencies. Like - maybe she is pro-choice. Here is my opinion on that matter. I am very much pro-life. If a pro-choice candidate was running against a pro-life candidate, I would be for the life candidate 100% of the time. That is with one exception. When I look at the two very flawed candidates on the Democrat side (who are pro-choice and even worse), Michele Tafoya looks pretty good. In fact, Michele might be the only Republican who can return at least one senate seat to the red color.

However, there is a rub. I almost hate to bring this up, but I must. Even if we could get a Republican senator, and (God willing) a Republican Governor, the damage might be too deep to salvage this state. The Floyd thing really screwed us up royally. And all Walz, Ellison and Frey did was pour gas on that fire. Then the fraud crapola. This state is a quicksand of fraud. And with the number of angry Democrats out there, and the massive amount if fraud remaining, I doubt if even having Republican state offices could clean house. 

What should be do about the state Democrats? If you know one, please invite him or her to church with you. Tell them the love of Christ can help eliminate much if not all of that inner rage and hatred. All that hate Democrats have today is hurting the country. All that rage they have is bad for their health. How so? Hate is like battery acid in the heart. Do them and our state a big favor, and take them to church this Sunday.

   

Is this a war which makes sense?

Unfettered gangs to the south; runaway socialism to the north. And here we are, pickle in the middle. Time to humble yourself Mark Carney. Come to the White House with hat in hand. Trump will forgive and forget so long as you change your ways. Trust me Carney - you really need to change your ways.

No - I am not talking about the war with Iran. That war does make sense, as we are looking to broker a long-term peace in the Middle East. As most know, a long-term peace is not possible if Iran is not reigned in, and more importantly - kept from making nuclear bombs. Rather, I am talking about our cold war with our cold neighbor, Canada. How have we gone from brotherly love to sibling rivalry? 

I will give my take on what is going on with Canada. They have become mired, knee deep mired, in the goo of socialism and wokeness. When Biden was in charge, the US gave the impression to Justin Trudeau were on the same path. The were ripping us on tariffs, but Joe did not care. We just stumbled along, as good old Uncle Sugar. Their defense spending and posture was anemic, but who cares? They had us to take care of them.

Then Donald Trump won our election. On the way to MAGA, Donald Trump had to be the truth teller to some of our friends. Sometimes the truth hurts. He did it with Europe, he did it with Mexico, and he did it with Canada. With Canada, he told both Trudeau and Carney that Canada was acting more like one of our states than a sovereign country. He joked with both of them; we might as well make Canada our 51st state. Both Trudeau and Carney pouted. Now we are in a cold war. 

If Carney had his druthers, he would pull Canada up by the roots and relocate it to Europe. Why? Canada would fit right in with the other socialist experiments in Europe. Oh - Carney would also leave Alberta here as a punishment. Alberta is much too liberty minded for the Ottawa crowd. That would be fine, as Alberta has already told Carney they want out. Alberta will take their magnificent beauty and oil resources and then become our 51st state. 

Trump has taken it on as a personal vendetta to square away the problems in our hemisphere. It is part Monroe Doctrine, and part of the "might makes right" thing. We are the world's greatest superpower, and we demand that our friends offer liberty and to their citizens as well as fairness to their trading partners. What Donald Trump had told Canada was and is true - they need us more than we need them. Canada needs to learn to play nice with us, or their weather could get a whole lot colder.

Unfettered gangs to the south; runaway socialism to the north. And here we are, pickle in the middle. Time to humble yourself Mark Carney. Come to the White House with hat in hand. Trump will forgive and forget so long as you change your ways. Trust me Carney - you really need to change your ways.

   

Our new four-letter word!

"If your kids start saying the words "data center", please don't wash their mouths out with soap. Soon, we will all grow up and realize that "data center" is not a bad thing to say. In fact, having lots of data centers all over the place, juicing up our AI research is really a good thing. A very good thing indeed."   

In this lousy world of invective, slang and foul mouth anything, it is not comforting to find out we have a brand-new four-letter word on the horizon. It is a word many of us have used for years. While at IBM, I used it many times a day. Only back then, it was an acceptable word to use. Today - not so much. But first I need to clarify. The word standing on its own, might still be okay to use. But to use it in conjunction with the word "center" - is toxic. You guessed it - DATA CENTER. The new term which should never be used in public.

All of a sudden, building a new data center has become very, very hard. Lots of NIMBY going on. And mostly in blue states or blue cities - they want nothing to do with a new, job producing data center. But wait - are not data centers more and more important these days? Let's explore that just a bit.

AI and data centers are like two peas in a pod. If we want to win the race for AI against China, we need to have big, bigger, and biggest data centers around. Do they take water to run? Yup. Do they take a lot of electricity to run? Yup, again. But do they product jobs? Yes - for now. 

Right now, we have about 4,000 data centers in the US. That is a remarkable number. But to meet the demands of AI, it is estimated that we need an additional 3,000 more. But AI is only part of the picture. We need data centers for the internet. We need data centers for everything we do on our computers. If all of a sudden, every data center went dark, we would be in a world of hurt. It would be, like going back to the stone ages. Why do I say that? We are a data driven world. It is now in our bloodstream - our DNA. To lose access to data, would put us into a cultural shock.

Here is the long and the short of it. We can hate data centers with every fiber in our bodies. But the powers that be (government and industry) have mandated that data centers will happen. We will end up with 7,000 (or more) data centers in America. We will develop new sources of power to keep them humming along. The water issue might be a different story, especially for the centers built down in the desert southwest. But we will figure that one out also.

If your kids start saying the words "data center", please don't wash their mouths out with soap. Soon, we will all grow up and realize that "data center" is not a bad thing to say. In fact, having lots of data centers all over the place, juicing up our AI research is really a good thing. A very good thing indeed.   

  

Controlling the skies - and beyond

"What is the point? Buckle up and hold on tight. Things are about to get very, very exciting in the space race. Wait - what about the upcoming Disclosure? How does that fit into the mix? So far, the 'leaked' videos have been a big, fat nothing burger."

Some might have snickered during Donald Trump's first term when he established the Space Force. Like, what for? Here is what for. Just like having a strong Air Force (and ours is the best in the world) is important to control the skies, having an experienced Space Force is important to maintain dominance in the vast area beyond the skies. And because Trump established the Space Force during his first term, it is up and running and doing great things during his current term.

But here is where we have the great divide. Whereas the Guardians of the Space Force are to protect and defend our interests in space, NASA and SpaceX are on a terror right now to populate the Moon and Mars. How so? Artemis II was a shot in the arm for NASA. Now all eyes are on Artemius III (and beyond) as well as the first nuclear powered spaceship (which might be ready by 2028). 

And SpaceX? I have penned many articles about Elon Musk so this will not come as a surprise observation. Everything Elon does is bigger than big. After the last test launch of his current version of his Starship, Elon's vision is fixed squarely on the future. How so? First off, he wants his Starships to be not only transit ships but also can be used at shelters once they have landed on Mars or the Moon. Once landed, they will be gently tipped on their side and then buried under material (like regolith) found on Mars or the Moon. Also, the Starship can be used as cut down version of a space station.

But here is where the BIG THINKING comes in. By the 2030's Elon wants to launch up to 10,000 Starships every year! Whoa - what? And why? For duty in low Earth orbit, bringing material to the Moon, to Mars, and maybe beyond. This would be launching about one per hour for a year. Where is Elon going to manufacture all these Starships? In Texas. His factory is about half the size of Texas (not really) - bit it is huge. 

What is the point? Buckle up and hold on tight. Things are about to get very, very exciting in the space race. Wait - what about the upcoming Disclosure? How does that fit into the mix? So far, the "leaked" videos have been a big, fat nothing burger. But what NASA and Elon are doing, is anything but a nothing burger. And keep in mind, China, India and the EU are also in the space race. Exciting times are in the offing...

 

Could California turn red? Minnesota also?

"If California elects Hilton in November, I will party hardy until the sun comes up. But if we elect a red governor and/or a red senator in Minnesota this November, I will do a jig on my front lawn, sore foot and all!" 

Don't look now, but Steve Hilton, a very recent US citizen from the UK, is leading the pack in California. Wait - what? California is the land of fruits and nuts. There is no way on this planet that California could ever vote normal again! Those days went out with Governor Reagan. But hold on cupcake - not so fast. It seems the best campaign ad for Republicans in California is Gavin Newsome. Why? Because California has gone from the Golden State to the state where nothing works right, and a tank of gasoline cost more than a house payment.

But hold on for a minute! Isn't Steve Hilton that guy who was on Fox News for a while? Why would he make a good governor over people like Katie Porter? For starters, Hilton is not a potty mouth with a temper like Porter is. Next, even though he is a recent citizen to this country, I have heard him speak of our history. I dare say he knows more of our true history than most Americans do. Nothing woke nor false about Steve Hilton. He loves this country dearly and wants to help put California back on track.

But it is Minnesota where the real battleground will be this election. All indications are that Mike Lindell will be the Republican nominee. Of course, his competition will be the salad queen with a mean steak - famous Amy. And in the Senate race, could it be possible that Michele Tafoya could emerge as our first Republican senator in just short of forever? Truthfully - I have said this for months now. With the trainwreck and dumpster fire that the Democrats have hoisted upon this state, we should be able run just about anybody - and win. Whomever would vote for any Democrat after the ongoing fraud mess, should have his or her head examined!

I (like many of us) have met Mike Lindell. Is he electable? I think so - especially is he gets Trump's endorsement. Some think he is a loon for the way he pursued the fraud issue after the 2020 election. I think there might not have been fire where Lindell was digging, but there sure was a lot of smoke. Will history prove Trump and Lindell right, that there was fraud and cheating in the 2020 election? Maybe to probably. Will it change anything? Nope. Except the fact we need the Save America Act passed - NOW! 

If California elects Hilton in November, I will party hardy until the sun comes up. But if we elect a red governor and/or a red senator in Minnesota this November, I will do a jig on my front lawn, sore foot and all! 

  

Getting it right

 

"As the expression goes, 'All gave some, but some gave all'. And that is what tomorrow is all about. We do what we do on Memorial Day, because of those who gave all. It is the day we honor them. We live in the home of the free, because of the brave."  

As a young lad growing up, I was blessed to be living across the street from Victory Memorial Drive. For us kids in the area, the drive served as a de facto playground for most of the year. The trees which were planted alongside grave markers (no graves - just the markers), were to honor the fallen. Originally from the Great War (WWI), and then also for World War II.

It was a great place to grow up. I lived in Robbinsdale, and right across the street where Victory Drive was located - was Minneapolis. Like I said, the drive was our de facto playground. In the summer, it was baseball. The trees acted like bases for us. Not perfect, but very convenient compared to riding our bikes down to a real baseball diamond. And in the fall - it was football. Lots and lots of pick-up football games played there.

But one day, one very special day every year, the flags came out and the Auxiliary showed up for a very solemn ceremony to honor our fallen. And it was also loud, as the Auxiliary would do a 21-gun salute on different parts of the Drive. The big ceremony, however, always culminated at the end of the Drive, by the flagpole. My dad, a WWII vet, would ensure that his kids knew the history and significance of that day in May. 

When I came home from overseas from my first duty assignment in the Navy, I was hoping to make it home by Memorial Day. As much as that day meant to me as a youth, it meant something deeper to me after serving overseas. Why? Two reasons really - the first was Viet Nam. It was a war in which most of us knew one or more young men who gave it all for their country.

And second, was where I was stationed on Okinawa. The base I lived on was one of the main assault beaches from WWII. It was a place where many young men, about my age, died in the service of their country. To be stationed there for a year and a half was very sobering.

Why call this article "getting it right"? It has taken a while, but more and more people are now getting it. Armed Forces Day is to honor the people currently serving in our Armed Forces. Veteran's Day is for those who have served and then came home. But Memorial Day is only for the fallen. Not those currently serving, and not those who have served and returned. It is for those who never came home.

As the expression goes, "All gave some, but some gave all". And that is what tomorrow is all about. We do what we do on Memorial Day, because of those who gave all. It is the day we honor them. We live in the home of the free, because of the brave.  

   

Is Minnesota good or bad to live in?

"This would not be an article by the Bird without a closing curmudgeon type of remark. After putting up with my love fest of things which really work well in this state, what is my biggest heartburn? The politics. I loathe the prairie populist type of politics that Garrison Kellior hoisted upon this state." 

Now that - is a very good question! Is Minnesota a good place to live in, or has it seen it better days. I know, I know - I could write a novelette on how the massive fraud has dimmed this state's reputation. Or how the single party rule of the Democrats has taken this state down the funnel of socialism. Or how the Floyd incident has destroyed the concept of law and order in the Twin Cities. But I have addressed these things before, so I wanted to take another slant on this question this morning. And no - I have not been drinking the blue Kool Aide!

Some know and some don't that this weekend I had an unexpected medical procedure. So why bring that up? As much as I crab about many of the things which could be better in this state, I will NEVER complain about the skills and knowledge of our medical community. In my opinion, Minnesota is second to none when it comes to getting good medical care. If I could pick one thing which would stand out heads and tails above anything else - it would be simply that. If you get sick or need to get fixed - this is the place to be.

Next thing which is good (very good, really), is the state park system in Minnesota. From the history, to accessibility, to the care and feeding there of - our state park system is a model for the rest of the nation to follow. A few years ago, shortly after my wife and I retired, we joined the Passport Club. What is that? A journey to all of the seventy some parks in the state. The journey took us far and wide in this state - many of the parks delighted us and amazed us. Very few (if any), disappointed us. Once we finished visiting all of the parks (and had the stickers to prove it), we received an engraved plaque to hang on a wall. As I pen this, it is mounted by the chair I sit in.

Finally (and this will sound trite to some) - our roadside stops to rest in. It was not until my wife hit the highways and byways of this great nation that we witnessed some very inferior highway rest stops. Heck, we thought all rest stops looked and felt like the ones in Minnesota. We were wrong. We have the best in the nation - hands down.

This would not be an article by the Bird without a closing curmudgeon type of remark. After putting up with my love fest of things which really work well in this state, what is my biggest heartburn? The politics. I loathe the prairie populist type of politics that Garrison Kellior hoisted upon this state. 

How so? In my lifetime, this state has gone from a 50/50 bar (politically) to a rotting candy bar loaded with fruits and nuts. And that one thing, that "aw crap" thing - can wipe out all the good things which I just said about this state. And that is my story, sad but true.   

 

 

A real Jurassic Park coming soon???

"Then the age-old question comes up - just because we can do something, should we? I know we are not on the top of the food chain on this planet right now, but if we start making 40-foot dinos with lots of teeth, we could tumble down a few more pegs."

Okay - this must be a joke - right? What do you mean we are going to try and make "de-extinction" a real thing? And how is this even possible? Using Amber like Michael Crinton suggested in his now famous book Jurassic Park? Or is it using some substitute cells which are just close enough to fool nature? Where is a good place to try? A T-Rex perhaps? Or maybe something a bit easier - like the Dodo Bird.

Well then, a Dodo Bird it is. A Texas company, called Colossal Biosciences, is going to try to use a Nicobar Pigeon (a close living relative of the Dodo Bird), to try and tweak the DNA just enough to bring back this relic from the past. But wait - what if this works? What if we can bring back something which is extinct? Does that open the door for other dearly departed critters?Like Dinos? Or maybe some Wooly Mammoths? 

"Oh, what a world" (said the Wicked Witch as she melted in the Wizard of Oz). In ten years, we could have millions of Tesla humanoid robots, walking around town, with their primary objective to clean up all the dino poo which is on the sidewalks. Or speaking of the good Wizard, how about making some flying monkeys? Once you open up Pandora's Box in mixing up some new or former DNA, where does that lead us? Heck, who wants to see a science fiction movie, when all you need do is go out into your front yard.

I think what is happening with this entire field of DNA engineering and gene splicing, is science fiction will so soon start looking like science. Then the age-old question comes up - just because we can do something, should we? I know we are not on the top of the food chain on this planet right now, but if we start making 40-foot dinos with lots of teeth, we could tumble down a few more pegs. I have seen enough of the Jurassic sequels and spin-offs to know this does not always end up well for mankind.

In any event, keep an eye on Texas to see what they are cooking up. In fact, keep an eye on the skies to see if you spot anything which looks a tad like a Dodo Bird. Me? I will be hiding in my bunker, thank you very much!   

Judgement Day

 

"Oh, sinner (wo)man, where you going to run to? Oh, sinner (wo)man where you going to run to? Oh, sinner (wo)man, where you going to run to - oh, on that day..."

Sinnerman

Nina Simone

This is it. Today is the day. As the old saying goes, "the chickens have come home to roost." Today at 9am (CDT), Aimee Bock will make the short drive from Sherburne County jail to the federal building in Minneapolis. There, she will learn her sentence. Rumor has it the feds are going to ask for 50 years. At Aimee's age, that would probably be a life sentence. Aimee's defense team, however, thinks that 3 years would be more appropriate. Why? (In their words) - Aimee was only one of many who knew about or carried out this massive fraud. Who were the others? To save her skin, Aimee might be getting ready to sing like a songbird.

And (this may or may not be a coincidence), later in the morning the AG, HUD Secretary and Dr. Oz will be arriving in town to announce a HUGE new fraud investigation in Minnesota. Could it be that Walz, Ellison and Omar will be fingered as part of this Feeding the Future mess? As one news talking head recently said, the governor and AG in MN are either dirty or dumb. And Omar? Her district is right in the middle of the epicenter of this mess.

For those who have been waiting for the "ship to hit the sand", today might be that day. I, like many others of my ilk, would love to see heads roll. Lots and lots of heads. This fraud (from what we have been told), was so broad, so pervasive, the laundry list of the guilty could be long and legendary. And from what Nick Shirley has said in the past, Minnesota might only be the tip of the iceberg. But why Minnesota? Perception of "Minnesota Nice" made for easy marks. Maybe we should change that moniker from "Minnesota Nice" to "Minnesota Naive". 

Minnesota really does need to clean house. At one time, we could look over at Illinois and snicker. After generations of corrupt Democrat government, the entire state was for sale. In our more pious moments, we would think that could NEVER happen in Minnesota. Well, it did. In fact, we have knocked Chicago right off the front page when it comes to government corruption. Lucky us.

If Kamala had won the election, would this massive crime ever have seen the light of day? I doubt it. It would have been one bunch; all bunch for the dirty dozen. But Kamala did not win. And even though the inmates are running the asylum in Minnesota state government, we have a new sheriff in town (that is - in Washington). And as Bob Dylan would sign about, "A hard rain is going to fall."

Judgement Day. It is here for at least Aimee Bock. Maybe more will fall before all is said and done. Oh, sinner (wo)man, where you going to run to? Good question. Maybe only to prison.   

There is hope for Great Britian!

"A nuclear Iran would be a nightmare. The IRGC has shown its strips and spots many times. They are bad news. They will try to bully the region using their nukes as cudgels. No, NATO needed to, and still needs to, back the US in bringing a lasting peace to the Middle East. That is what friends and allies are for."

I will admit it. I was willing and able to write off one of our longest held allies. Why? The UK of today compared to the UK I did business with thirty years ago, are not nearly the same. In fact, the recent pictures I have seen of London, look nothing like the London of yesteryear. What happened?

First off, unfettered immigration. A loss of British culture to be replaced of something very strange, at times very evil. Plus, there was this slide towards a more Euro form of socialism. All that became too much, too much, too much for their former besties across the pond. And then when Keir Starmer rejected our request to use Diego Garcia to land and refuel our bombers at in support of the Iran War - that was the last straw.

But wait - there is hope for the citizens of Great Britian after all! It seems there is a ground swell of revised patriotism with many on them. So much so, many have taken to the streets with their Union Jacks in hand. It is as if the light bulb can come back on. Their beloved London started looking like something from a faraway land, with far away customs. That plus they did not like the way their Prime Minister was treating a close ally. But what about the King? How does he feel? Not the same as the Prime Minister. The King is still on very good terms with the US of A.

Great Britian is not the only Euro nation which is waking up to find their good-hearted immigration system has turned into a bit of an invasion. The problem, however, is once the doors are left wide open, and immigration becomes unfettered, it is a hard thing to turn around without much social discord. I mean, just look at our country. The social unrest in Minneapolis alone last winter was bad. And it is not over yet. 

Going forward, we need a strong NATO. That includes you, Canada. We all need to pay our dues (to what we all agreed to) and have each other's backs in time or turmoil. What the US is doing with Iran will make the region (including Europe) safer for everybody. A nuclear Iran would be a nightmare. The IRGC has shown its strips and spots many times. They are bad news. They will try to bully the region using their nukes as cudgels. No, NATO needed to, and still needs to, back the US in bringing a lasting peace to the Middle East. That is what friends and allies are for.

I enjoyed my time in the UK. I liked the people; I liked the culture. I sure hope the good folks in and around London can restore their previous balance. Right now, London is a mess. I would not go back there right now for any reason. I will, however, wish them the best. The people in the UK deserve so much better than what they have right now.        

Our expanding menu...

 

"What should our legacy be? For some of us, planting mustard seeds. Doing something which will outlast us. Something which matters. Why? At the end of the day, sometimes there is more than just the end of the day. There is legacy. And eternal legacy matters the most of all."

Relax folks - this post has nothing to do with food. It does, however, have everything to do with the term "menu". Like in a menu, there are several choices to choose from. Or in the case of life, the menu of things that can go wrong with you. You don't get to choose from the menu - the menu chooses for you. And that is the terrible irony - or as some put it, "this is that thing called life." 

The irony of life's menu is no matter how well you eat, how well you live, how much you exercise, or even how often you go to church - a routine doctor's wellness visit can turn into a life changing event. Diseases on the menu which you may have never heard of, can become an unwelcomed guest into your life. And some things which can go askew in your health, can be fixed by some of our almost mystical doctors who practice medicine in Minnesota. And there are other things on the menu, that all the skill in the world cannot yet touch. Life changing, and yes, in some cases, life ending.

An old adage that the old timers would use from time to time was this - "Life - nobody gets out of here alive." True words. The life expectancy in this country is still 76 years old. For those in my graduating class, those words do not ring hollow. Everybody in the class of "67" is either 76 or 77 years old. Or as we would say in the Navy - "we are in the zone".

Why bring up such a morbid subject on an early spring day? Because many of us are aging. As a real good pastor friend of mine told me recently, "We are in that season of life". Which season? The final season. Now many of us are thinking back on what we have done in our lives, maybe what we should have done differently, or done better. But most important - what we can do that counts with the days we have left. Why? Each year, every year, that menu get longer with more items on it. And more and more of the items are not good.

Since we can't go back into our pasts and correct mistake we might have made, and we can't go into the future since our future is not promised to us, all we can do is live for each day. Make each day count. What should our legacy be? For some of us, planting mustard seeds along our path. We could be doing something which will outlast us. Something which matters. Why? At the end of the day, sometimes there is more than just the end of the day. There is legacy. And eternal legacy is what matters most of all.

Come on India! Time to get engaged!

 

"By the same token, I don't want my kids nor grandies to have to put up with theocratic nut balls in Persia anymore. No nukes for Iran. Period. Finish the job Mr. President. If it gets messy, it will get messy. We are bigger, badder and tougher than Iran. Finish the job." 

Guess what happened a few days ago in the Strait of Hormuz? A ship was sunk. Not just any ship, a ship belonging to India. Wait - I thought both India and Iran were members of BRICS. They are. It is an economic tie rather than a military tie. That being said, it would be similar to the United States sinking another NATO vessel in the Strait. What did India do to retaliate? Nothing. Nada.

India has a navy and a respectable one at that. Not as big as China's but still large. One might ask why India does not send a few ships over to the Strait to unclog that mess. To protect their own shipping. Good question. The same question should be asked of China, who has the world's largest navy right now. A little help, please. After all, most of China's oil comes thru the Strait. 

Meanwhile, as the world waits, Iran has really messed things up in the Strait. How to fix it? Get Iran to agree to no nukes ever. They do that, the congestion in the Strait goes away. But what if they don't agree to that demand? What if they never do? The status quo right now is not good. Some in this country don't want any more war with Iran. Some are turning a blind eye to the dangers of a nuclear Iran. Meanwhile, the price of gas at the pump is almost confiscatory. Some are saying we should pull our troops out of the area and take a laissez-faire attitude towards Iran and its nuclear desires. Then gas can go back to normal.

Here is another twist to the issue, and countries who use the Strait should sit up and take notice. I read something recently which said the IRGC likes being in control of the Strait. Charging a toll in order to use it. Countries they don't like would be refused passage and those they do like could pass (for of course, a fee). The money raised could be used to build up their military and defenses again. It would be like the war never happened.

I guess I fall in the "finish the job" camp rather than the "tuck and run" crowd. I don't like these high gas prices better than anybody else. It cost me almost $100 to fill up my truck the other day. Ouch! By the same token, I don't want my kids nor grandies to have to put up with theocratic nut balls in Persia anymore. No nukes for Iran. Period. Finish the job Mr. President. If it gets messy, it will get messy. We are bigger, badder and tougher than Iran. Finish the job. 

    

China - was it worth it?

"Ever wonder why so many things (weapons in particular) look like ours? Coincidence? Maybe, but probably not. The Chinese are excellent in stealing our IP. This unfettered theft has cost us billions. We know for a fact they do it - even though they deny it. Trust, yet verify? With these guys trust is a four-letter word and not a five-letter word. I studied them for years while in the Navy. As Yoda would say - I trust them not!"

One of the best things which came out of the China delegation last week, was the offer and acceptance for President Xi to visit the White House in late September. Why was that important? Besides the detente issue, it would be a great chance for Trump to hold Xi's feet to the fire on any new trade agreements which were made. No offense to China, but their track record on walking the walk after talking the talk needs some improvement.

One of the things I felt for sure would be a slam dunk agreement on, was China sending part of their new and massive navy over to the Strait of Hormuz to help "unclog the drain". China, who imports most of their oil via the Strait seems to have the most to lose by having a dysfunctional Strait. But nope - no deal on that front. China did agree to buy more of our oil, but we will see if that agreement sticks.

How is the trust level with China these days? You mean, the China which flew a spy balloon over the entire United States when Biden was president? Here was where a picture was worth a thousand words. Every single person who received ANY small gift or token from the Chinese, had to surrender such prior to getting on board Air Force One on the ride home. The message? We trust you as far as we can throw you China. We know they would plant a bug on AF One if they had the chance.

The farmers in the Midwest are particularly interested to see how this new soybean deal is going to work out. Why? The Midwest farmers don't want to be left at the alter again (so to speak), if China reneges on buying our soybeans. We grow a high-quality soybean, and it would so very nice to have access to that huge Chinese market. But as we know, politics and geo-political issues can ruin the best laid plans.

Ever wonder why so many things (weapons in particular) look like ours? Coincidence? Maybe, but probably not. The Chinese are excellent in stealing our IP. This unfettered theft has cost us billions. We know for a fact they do it - even though they deny it. Trust, yet verify? With these guys trust is a four-letter word and not a five-letter word. I studied them for years while in the Navy. As Yoda would say - "I trust them not!"

  

 

(More) chaos at the Capital

 

"Truthfully - what is happening in St. Paul right now is not a good look for this state. And oh, how we need a good look from time to time. Why? Because right now, our governor, our obscene new state flag, our city government all are painted with the same blue brush."

Well, this is it. The weekend of sine die. Or as they would say in the cartoon world - "That's all folks". Were there some good things which came out of this session. I guess maybe. Like some temporary tax relieve on property taxes and wheelage taxes. Unlike Trump who wanted to make our tax relief permanent so we could count on it from year to year, the best this group could cobble together was "temporary".

What did I really want to see? A no nonsense, bipartisan bill giving us a fraud commission with some real teeth in it. But no - the Democrats were much more interested in neutering ICE. Not the mutts downtown who were causing all the mayhem - only ICE. And then out of the clear blue sky, the gun grabbers reappeared. And somehow, they got a nasty unconstitutional bill passed in the Senate (by only one vote). 

All of a sudden, the good, the bad and the ugly which happened during the session has been eclipsed by this silly bill. And here is where the confusion set in. The Speaker said she would bring a school safety bill up for a vote should the Senate pass one. However - the provisions for a school safety bill had nothing to do with gun grabbing. Nada. But the Democrats, who love to take the guns away from law abiding citizens, cobbled some language into this school safety bill which made it unacceptable to the Speaker.

So, then what? The Democrats, who always love to put on a good show, started to swear and yell at the Republicans. Some threats were (allegedly) made. A sit in protest developed. Thus, for the final weekend of the session, we are going to get theater instead of legislation. Oh, joy.

I have ranted about this before. We the people, have forgotten how to govern. How to practice good governance. Our forgetfulness has infected the federal level, the state level, and also the local level. Truthfully - what is happening in St. Paul right now is not a good look for this state. And oh, how we need a good look from time to time. Why? Because right now, our governor, our obscene new state flag, our city government all are painted with the same blue brush. And that blue brush is called fraud. Unfettered fraud, committed mostly by the "newcomers".

   

Market metrics

"Love him or not, Donald Trump has changed our economy. He is changing the world. Actually, he is restoring a world order which has been absent for many decades. His tariffs would have worked quite well for this country. But I guess pointy headed and liberal lower court judges knew better. SMH..."

Holy smokes! Did you see the DJIA yesterday? Over 50,000 once again. Wait - why? Are we not teetering on the edge of a recession (or worse)? Because of that silly war with Iran and having the Strait of Hormuz blocked? Maybe some countries might be on the verge, but not ours. Sure, our gas prices are temporarily through the roof. And steaks still cost an arm and a leg. But many of the other economic metrics are looking very good. What does that mean? Compared to prior days of gas shortages, this time we have a surplus. We are in good shape.

But why then, did the market go up yesterday? Hope. This time we are hoping that China keeps their word on what was promised. For example, for the home folks here in Minnesota, China promised to buy more soybeans. That would be huge, as some of NATO members are not buying much of anything we are making or growing. And by the way - a note to Canada and some northwestern Euro NATO countries - stop the pout and get back to the way things were in the past. While some NATO countries are drowning in socialism and Islamic mania, the United States is in great shape.

The question begs now to be asked - why are we being dissed by the global elites in Europe? Is it just Donald Trump? Actually, it is. Unlike Joe Biden and Obama who invited Europe to walk all over us, Donald Trump does something quite interesting. He holds people and countries accountable. He was warned Europe about unfettered immigration. They blew him off. And now some Euro nations have a big, big problem. And Trump was relentless in shaming NATO for not paying their agreed to share of their dues. For some nations, that worked. For others, they pouted.

I have said in the past and it bears repeating. Our three biggest (and by far and away, not the only) allies are Israel, Japan and Poland. I would bet the house on any of them to have our backs every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Many of the other NATO states have grown to be soft and tepid. Is it possible for our friendships to once again renew? Sure, but it is up to them. They need to get their immigration and economic house in order first.

Love him or not, Donald Trump has changed our economy. He is changing the world. Actually, he is restoring a world order which has been absent for many decades. His tariffs would have worked quite well for this country. But I guess pointy headed and liberal lower court judges knew better. SMH...

 

A man of peace; A man of war

 

"What would I like to see once we fix the Iran problem. Finish some unfinished business from Trump's first term. What is that? North Korea. This would be a major win for Donald Trump if he could fix the Hermit Kingdom. There was a relationship for a brief period of time between Trump and Kim Jong-um. I will never forget their meeting at the Korean DMZ." 

As President Trump Arrived in China yesterday, he indeed looked much more like the President of the Board of Peace than the War Hawk we have recently seen deal with Iran. Truthfully, I like this president much more. He is comfortable in his own skin when it comes to making new and exciting deals. His War Hawk image is not as smooth. Probably because it goes against his grain. He has bent over backwards trying to get Iran to accept a mutually good deal. Because of Iran's refusal to deal at the table, when this China summit is over, the War Hawk president might need to re-appear.

I watched the state dinner than President Xi put on for the US delegation this morning. It was quite the shindig. And the toasts? It was like both countries were long lost friends rather than advisories or competitors. Now to be fair, Donald Trump has said for years that he and Xi are friends. Maybe they are. And in any relationship, trust is paramount to making a good deal. And to show that trust was in the offing, Trump brought the best and brightest CEOs with him. Are they ready to be a part of any deals to be made? Absolutely!

Tomorrow, when Air Force One takes off, there will be a strong afterglow of friendship and success. But then it is back to reality. What is waiting in the wings? His two biggest obstacles to peace and tranquility. Iran, and Congressional Democrats. As much as I hate to see my brother and sisters in arms go back into harm's way, it might be time to unzip the velvet off the brick. Enough of messing around with the time wasters who reside within this IRGC. Time to unleash the dogs of war. The innocent citizens who live in Iran are still getting executed by the scoundrels who are in control of Iran. Time to fix this mess. 

What would I like to see once we fix the Iran problem. Finish some unfinished business from Trump's first term. What is that? North Korea. This would be a major win for Donald Trump if he could fix the Hermit Kingdom. There was a relationship for a brief period of time between Trump and Kim Jong-um. I will never forget their meeting at the Korean DMZ. That was historic, really historic. Time to finish that unfinished business.

Love him or not, Donald Trump has been excellent in forging new and important relationships. And yes, some old relationships (like Canada and some Euro countries), need to have a kick in the rear-end to wake them up. Nothing personal - friends just don't let friends turn socialist nor become Islamic.

"Make new friends, but keep the old, as some are silver and the others are gold." Wise words, except when some of our old friends have gone from gold to fool's gold. Too harsh? Sorry.   

    

Boring? Maybe not.

 

"I have said this for a long time now. Elon Musk, although quirky, fascinates me. I love how he thinks; how he visions. In Elon's world, in a decade or two from now, Earth, the Moon, Mars and the Asteroid Belt will look much different. Somewhere down the road, all the things which Elon is working on right now will come together."

Who in the world would name a company - any company, The Boring Company. I mean, that would take guts (or stupidity). Elon Musk did. I guess it all makes sense if you are manufacturing machines which bore holes in the Earth. Okay - hold on for a second. When all of Elon's businesses are stacked up against each other, where is the common purpose? It is as if Elon is all over the map in making stuff. Maybe, or maybe not.

A couple of years ago, I read an article about why in the world Elon would sink time and money into making machines which do nothing but drill holes in the Earth. But here is where the method in the madness starts to show itself. Elon's desire is to have the circumference of a Boring Machine match the circumference of one of a Starship. Why? To take a Boring Machine to Mars and maybe the Moon. Why? To make either place livable, some of the hubs need to be underground. Elon could see a labyrinth of tunnels connecting different hub locations on either Mars and/or the Moon.

But there is something else. Applications on Earth. Remember, Elon does not make anything just for the heck of it. He most always has a vision. Right now, his vision is to replace roads and bridges in Texas with an underground system of travel tubes. Why? Congestion for a starter. No more traffic jams. Pollution next. Much, much cleaner. And finally, speed. Being in a vacuum tube, cars and trucks (using special devices which would transport them) could travel (safely) between 100 and 200 mph. Sure - and what year would that pipedream start? It has already started.

I have said this for a long time now. Elon Musk, although quirky, fascinates me. I love how he thinks; how he visions. In Elon's world, in a decade or two from now, Earth, the Moon, Mars and the Asteroid Belt will look much different. Somewhere down the road, all the things which Elon is working on right now will come together. Make total sense. Will there be more things coming down the road? Sure will. His Giga press for example, will change the way we manufacture cars. Less parts and faster throughput. Optimus humanoid robots will be in many factories and in some houses. Worldwide internet and cellular communication will be available at a cheap price thanks to Starlink. 

Currently, Elon is on Trump's trip to China. Elon is one of many of our CEOs going on this trip. Why Elon? First off, he is a phenom. Period. China knows all about Elon Musk. Next, it there is a deal to be had on this trip, both the president and Elon Musk would be able to sniff it out. And whatever deal it is, it will be good for both China and the US. Who knows - maybe even some Boring Machines might be in the mix. 

The oil headache

"Meanwhile, the average folks in the United States are also dazed and confused about what is going on here. We know how to do 'shock and awe'. We have already crippled Iran. They have nothing to stop us. Time for the bad guys to pack it in. Time for us to get back to a normal summer." 

Last evening, there was a presentation on YouTube which explained how the price of oil is determined. We all know the constipation at the Strait of Hormuz is causing a real problem with supply getting to consumers (in some parts of the world). But here in America, we are drilling like crazy, and have more oil than anybody else in the world. In fact, only 2% of our imported oil comes through the Strait. If that is the case, why in the Sam Hill are we paying Euro type prices for our oil? The show finished, and I sat in my chair dazed and confused.

One of the things from the show last night which did stick however, was the number $50/barrel. If the price of oil (worldwide) goes below $50/barrel, many oil investors (like here for example), will not drill any new wells. Not worth it. But with the price of oil hovering around $100/barrel, the oil companies are doing what the President hoped they would do - DRILL, BABY, DRILL!

As far as energy is concerned, we now have an embarrassment of riches. If not for world market oil pricing, we would be in great shape. And we will be in great shape once the Strait of Hormuz is finally opened. But right now, with vacation season upon us, paying anywhere from $4.50/gal to $5.00/gal is becoming a sad reality. 

General Keane (whom I respect) has a strong opinion what to do now. And I agree with him. Finish the job with Iran. Accept the fact that we are being played by Iran. They are playing for time, that is it. They want to keep the enriched uranium. We say no. Israel says no. Meanwhile, hundreds of ships just sit in the Persian Gulf, doing nothing. Much of our fleet is in the area, doing nothing. Finish the job Mr. President. Our troops are rearmed and rested after this "pause". Let's do it!

Meanwhile, the average folks in the United States are also dazed and confused about what is going on here. We know how to do "shock and awe". We have already crippled Iran. They have nothing to stop us. Time for the bad guys to pack it in. Time for us to get back to a normal summer. 

 

The death of governance

 

"We have exhausted the yelling, the screaming, the swearing, the accusations, the blah, blah, blah. If those don't work to get your opponent to surrender to your views, I shudder to think what is next."

I have discussed this issue many times before. Our great country, born and reared on being a constitutional republic (NOT a democracy), ready to celebrate a 250-year birthday, is starting to come apart at the seams. Come on Bird! Enough of this drama queen stuff! A bit of discussion and debate is good for any society! Those are true words. But we have passed that intersection of calm and civil debate. Now we are in a total rumble, with anything goes. So much so, almost half on the left have decreed that violence against the other side is "acceptable".

At some point in time, our government has gone from a debate society into a blood match. The vitriol, the invective, the out and out rudeness, should make the FCC rate CSPAN either an "R" or "NC-17" to warn young viewers away. Who are the biggest offenders? I would love to say only one or two. But the number has grown from a few into legions. My most unfavorite right now is Cory Booker. When he spews hate, his eyes start to grow and glow, and his countenance becomes almost malevolent.

And the language used today, by both sides, is beyond the pale. However, when it comes to "F Bombs" or taking the Lord's name in vain, the Dems are way ahead in that footrace. Again, for this stuff to be shown on network news, un-censored, is a blot on all of us. The networks who do "bleep" out the bad words, so much is redacted that one can hardly follow the train of thought (if there ever was one).

When I look back at recent history (I will use my adulthood as measure), the coarseness of our discussions in ANY form of government has gone from okay too bad too very bad too intolerable. And not on any one subject - ALL subjects get the same vitriol. The two political sides cannot even discuss the weather outside without getting in some kind of peeing contest. How is that even possible? Somebody, please tell me.

What is the next natural step? Going back to having duels like Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton? How about an MMA type of cage match? (I would bet on us, as we have Markwayne Mullin, a former MMA stud, on our side.) We have exhausted the yelling, the screaming, the swearing, the accusations, the blah, blah, blah. If those don't work to get your opponent to surrender to your views, I shudder to think what is next.

One final word. A major medical institution in Minneapolis is about to close its doors due to years and years of mismanagement (it is run by city Democrats). The MN House and Senate cannot even agree on the correct way to rescue this needed hospital. Why not? Too obsessed with taking the mask off of ICE agents. Putting a leash on ICE so they can't do their jobs. The rest of the state's business including the rescue of this hospital? As they say on the blue team - "F**K It!"   

    

 

A day made just for mothers

 

"Serving and honoring mothers on this day is special and important. It was not until I was stationed overseas that I realized how much I missed my mom. How much she did for me. How much she supported and elevated me."

My mother had a love/hate relationship with Mother's Day. She would hate it when her birthday (early in May), would land on the same day as Mother's Day. Two of her favorite days becoming one. For mom, it was like having a birthday on December 25th. What she hated almost as much, was fishing opener. When it happened on Mother's Day. When I would sneak away on this hallowed day for fisherman and try to make it back before the sun set on Sunday, so I could wish my mom a happy Mother's Day. Let's just say she was not a fan of opener.

But most of the time, I was able to take my wife, our kids, my dad, and most importantly - my mom out for a Mother's Day brunch. That she dearly loved. My dad - always would put up kind of a tepid argument with me. "You really should not have to take out son. I can pay for my own. This is Mother's Day, and not my day." We had that same discussion every year - and every year he lost the argument. I would conclude it by saying, "This is your freebee dad, it is my pleasure to treat the family today. We will do something just for you next month on Father's Day".

When my mother was alive, Mother's Day gave me the chance to honor her and my wife on the same day. I never got tired of it. When my dad passed, it became even more important to me to honor my mom and to dote over her on that day. After my mother passed a few years later, my kids were old enough (and established enough) to take their mother out for that special day. I became what I always teased my own dad about - a freeloader on Mother's Day. The joy of being with my family on special days such as this, helped to mollify the hole in my heart from missing my folks.

Today my eldest daughter has made reservations late morning at a local venue which serves a Mother's Day brunch. I will be with my bride, my two kids and two grandies. I will be a wonderful day. Serving and honoring mothers on this day is special and important. It was not until I was stationed overseas that I realized how much I missed my mom. How much she did for me. How much she supported and elevated me. 

I was blessed my mom made it to almost 97. My wife and I were with her most every week in her final years. My mom was content and happy where she lived in her final days. She passed one evening, with an aide holding her hand.

I got the call that mom was leaving, but I got to the residence too late - too late for that final good-bye and I love you. They gave me some time with mom alone in her room. I held her hand and told her she had finished the race strong and done it well. And now - now she lives with Jesus, and I will see her again. Happy Mother's Day mom. I miss you, and I love you. 

From bulletproof to bullet ridden...

"Some of my friends have died much too young. That is when it hit me. The season of being bulletproof is ending for most of us, and the season of becoming 'bullet ridden' with different aliments has started. In other words, the 'menu' of things that go wrong with you expands each and every year."

Every generation goes through it. Now it is our turn. The "Boomers". Those of us who grew up in the sixties. Did crazy stuff. Had fun. Drove fast muscle cars. But - in spite of all that, we always had our eyes on the prize. After high school, learn a good trade. Or went to college to get four (or even more) years of advanced schooling. And to think the entire time we were doing all of that, most of us felt as if we were bulletproof. Invincible. Could do it all, and our good health was something we always took for granted.

Many of us went through life after our schooling or trade learning was complete. Many got married; most bought a house; some had kids. Just like that, we became what our parents were when we were younger. In our 30's and 40's, still bulletproof, although many of us were developing some "kinks in the armor".

Then came the 50's. I was in my late 50's when I discovered I had my first real problem. While putting my shoes on before work one morning, it felt like somebody had stuffed tissues in the toe of one of my shoes. But there was no tissue. That was the start of my first real life disease. I had peripheral neuropathy. It was a disease with no cure. As my doctor said, it would not kill me but slowly disable me. With that, my "bulletproof" demeanor went out the window.

Into my 60's, I retired. I had a good career, so I had no complaints. Since I was still in my bulletproof stage for most of my career, I had many opportunities to do exciting things. But now that I was retired, I started to notice some of my contemporaries were also getting some kind of sickness, injury or disease. Some even died - much too young. That is when it hit me. The season of being bulletproof is ending for most of us, and the season of becoming "bullet ridden" with different aliments has started. In other words, the "menu" of things that go wrong with you expands each and every year.

I remember as a youth seeing a cartoon in the paper called Family Circus. In one episode, a grandmother was giving her young grandchild some sage wisdom. "When I was young and had a pain, it was like a shooting star. It would shine for a short time and then go away. Now I have an entire galaxy of stars which always stay lit." Meaning what? As this grandmother had aged, her number of aches and pains went from one or two into many. As I start to approach 80, I fully understand what she meant.

This morning we are going to the funeral of a good friend who died at 90. From the stories he told, he too, had a youth of doing some wild and crazy things. He also went through a bulletproof season in his life. But towards the end, life became hard for him. But no longer. A man of deep, deep faith, he now lives with Jesus. And his body? He now has his new, heavenly body. One which will never wear out. How do I know? It is God's promise to us who believe.