Look! Squirrel!

I was reading an article about the student loan forgiveness attempt to buy votes; and the Supreme Court review of the litigation due to the executive order. The comments were revealing, and wandered into the tit-for-tat between the different age group of the commenters. Older retired people would comment on how they worked, never went to college, and don't think it's fair. Younger people would declare Social Security should end, and those that paid for decades into the system deserved the loss because it was all their fault.  

Baby boomers was used often as a derogatory description. At one time, the older generation was respected, but newer generations have many that despise the fact they have to work for a long time to reach the same point that the boomers finally reached. They want to blame the generation for where we are, while never realizing Social Security would be in a very good position, if the government wasn't given it to those that are basically gaming the system, and contributed very little, if any, to the supposed trust fund. They would rather see the generation that paid for their lives for around decades suffer, while never realizing their attitude guarantees their older years will be miserable if they continue their beliefs. 

It was interesting to read the comments, but more than anything else, the comments should have been directed at the huge waste, like Ukraine. Too many don't realize the tactics lead to division, which removes focused citizenry to solve the problems by demanding fiscal responsibility. If everyone would just stop looking for the squirrel, concentrate on the best solutions, and ignore the efforts to divide the country, the results would be astounding. 

The Ohio Train Wreck

 I've been reading some of the reports on the train derailment in Ohio. At this point, everyone is pointing fingers, but I haven't seen anything about it could have just been an accident. 

I worked for years in, and out, of different rail car repair facilities. It was always interesting, and I learned a few things. One thing that caught my attention was a conversation with an inbound inspector at one of the facilities. They explained how the railroad companies didn't like dangerous cars, paid attention to any that were not incompliance, or needed repair, and would leave any they didn't like on a side track. Worse case situations demanded the cars were either repaired by a "mini shop", or placed on a flat car for a haul to a facility. If they felt a facility wasn't releasing safe cars, they could, and would, spike their switch. This was a serious matter, since no cars were allowed on their tracks until a problem was solved. This included any sections of rail they felt were unsafe. 

Rail cars are owned by a multitude of different companies, and people. Individuals may own only one, and companies, or trusts, may own hundreds. All must meet requirements, and the rail companies don't like to get on the wrong side of AAR standards. The consequences are too expensive, and since all rails are owned by private concerns, there isn't a barrier to litigation like with the government.

So, accidents do happen. Ignoring the consequences, trying to assign blame to put feathers in a cap, trying to punish someone for an act of God, or trying to profit from an accident isn't good. Bearings wear, and fail, on rail cars. The rails can crack, or move, due to expansion and contraction. Nothing is perfect, and accidents can happen. The dangerous materials transported are usually well contained, safely being transported, and are never released during derailments. This one was a terrible one, and if there is any blame to be made, it's in the feckless way state, and federal, officials failed to address the immediate problems. 

Carter is in Hospice

I remember the Jimmy Carter years. The economy sucked, the Middle East was sent in turmoil by his actions, we had gas rationing, and the absurd idea of 55 mph was the best speed limit for the Nirvana theorized by the ecofreaks of the time made traveling tedious. It was the culmination of a corrupt media, crooked politics, extreme ignorance, and an experiment in civics that was destined to fail. 

So, he's in hospice. His final time on this planet is now at hand, and while I don't wish him any suffering, I can't think of anything good to write about him. 

A Touch of Spring

 Yesterday, it was at freezing in the morning. Today, it's pushing 80 degrees, it's forecast to be this way for days, and my nephew is making the first pass with the lawnmower. It won't be long before I'll pull out the weed killer, regain the edges around the yard, and Summer will rear its ugly head. 

This year, I'll spend even more time applying sun block, avoiding the middle of the day heat, and keeping my fingers crossed in the hope I'll need no more Moh's surgeries. 

Here We Go Again

Officially, the U.S. is accusing Russia of "crimes against humanity". It's the old standby when the military industrial complex needs some revenue to pay off more Pentagon officials and realize a profit. It usually brings the ignorant into thinking we need to spend billions punishing the supposed perpetrators, when the entire problem can be resolved with a few arrests of the U.S. criminals involved in the subterfuge. 

So, here we go again. We send the young off to get their asses blown off, make room for the millions of aliens slinking into the United States, and the costs of everything will become obscene so trillions can be plundered from the private sector. Amazingly enough, the vast majority of U.S. citizens are too ignorant to realize they're being played as dupes, but as P.T. Barnum said: "There's a sucker born every minute".

The Way I See It

The Russia/Ukraine conflict is nothing but a big turf war between gangs. The main players, who are never exposed or reported on, understood NATO would be more than insulting Russia by allowing Ukraine to join their gang, but were being leveraged by Russia's independence without their control. They knew the only way to possible keep their control was to stir the pot, cause a war, try to cripple Russia, and hope the all out world war would keep them in power. 

So far, it looks like the turf war is not going as expected. Russia is trudging along, the NATO countries are finding their incompetence is glaringly apparent, and the other gang (China) is out to claim some more turf. So, what happens? In the long run, those in power that are never exposed or reported on, will get richer, the media will continue to report only what they're told to report, millions will die from outright war or poverty, and the world will continue to turn. 

Meanwhile, in the United States, most of the citizens will not even notice how much of their wealth disappeared, their liberties removed, and those in power that are never exposed or reported on are still calling the shots. The highest officials are buffoons, the military leaders are brown nosing traitors, and politicians, as usual, are nothing but word-merchant puppets hoping to get rich while supposedly representing their constituents. 

I Didn't Watch

From what I'm reading, Biden showed the thousands that actually watched the address last night he is a demented, old, lying sack of crap politician. That, and the annual statement by the President still didn't state anything resembling fact, the nation is beyond broke, the invasion is in full force, billions are being wasted daily in foreign countries that spit on our flag, the economy sucks, and our military is being run by those that need to watch for the stop lights on the asses they kiss. Otherwise, it's another day in the United States.

Bleh!

More of the Same

Today was may biannual trip to my dermatologist. As usual, the "barnacles" (seborrheic keratosis) required cryogenic treatment. He removed about a dozen, which means freezing them with liquid nitrogen, which is applied with a device similar to a pen. For those that have never had this done, it's not pleasant. One or two is bad enough, but when it gets to the dozens, thinking about the next visit isn't a pleasant thought. 

One area required a biopsy, which I'm thinking will probably come back as basil cell; and require another trip to the surgeon for a Moh's Procedure. My original dermatologist (who I basically fired) made a stab at removing the area years ago without the microscopic examination of the area to verify the cancer was removed. Otherwise, he left some cells around the perimeter of the area he removed, and they will continue to slowly spread. 

Other than that, it's been a quiet, dreary day. That required a short nap, which led to me awakening to the wonderful aroma of my wife cooking a spaghetti. It was beyond good, and there's plenty to enjoy tomorrow. Any left after that will be frozen for a future day. 

The news sucks as usual. It could be better if they announced John Kerry, after being convicted of treason, was executed at dawn. 

We'll Dodge The Worst of It

Just a few hundred miles away, the temperature is just right for the rain to freeze, and the forecast accumulations are up to a third of an inch. That's the amount to break huge limbs off pines, destroy live oaks, and bring much of the electric lines to the ground. I feel for those getting the weather, since we've had the same in the past, and it took weeks for things to be repaired. 

We've had temperatures in the low forties, plenty of light rain, or drizzle, and generally miserable weather. It's supposed to last until tomorrow afternoon after a band of heavier showers pass through. If it doesn't last long, our road won't flood, and we won't have to wait for the water to recede.