I Wrote This in 2013

I was reviewing some older posts, when I came across the following. It was true then, and current revelations prove it wasn't just my ramblings.

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Remembering Our Enemies

Back during the Cold War, the subterfuge, espionage and outright military actions were a constant reminder we had political systems overseas without our best interests at heart. There was no doubt there was an effort to remove the United States as a world power.

Now? I think people forgot, or were never taught, the former Soviet Union and Communist China furnished weapons, advisers and even troops to kill U.S. soldiers on the battlefield. Also, there's an unfounded belief, with the end of the Soviet Union and trading with China, they're both now members of the good guy club.

So, we now have too many people too ignorant to realize the dangers the U.S. faces when two powerful adversaries are allowed to influence our politics and economies. That worries me, especially with the current gaffes and stumbling policies of the current administration. When even the political leaders are nearly as clueless as the most ignorant of their constituents, the recipe for disaster is almost complete.

Olympic Loss of Ratings

According to news reports (I won't link any, they're on Drudge and most news sites) NBC ratings are down for the Olympics, and to make things worse, the obvious lack of professional behavior is making the network appear in unfavorable light.

My reaction? Good. I've detested the alphabet networks for decades, and letting them tumble into the grist mill of tabloid garbage is only fair for one of the networks that hid news under the guise of professional standards.

May all the alphabet networks go the way of the dinosaur. They have no useful purpose any longer, and those paying for advertisement will always have other outlets. They've only been the useful tools of traitorous people and foreign meddlers. Their demise will only help the United States.

So, What's the Solution?

The talking heads are wound up again this morning; just like yesterday and the day before. They're analyzing, pontificating, theorizing, rehashing information, interviewing anyone they can, and turning the actions of a young loser into a sensation for ratings.

I'm tired of this. With the knee jerk reactions by the ignorant added to the mix, news for the last two days is a constant source of aggravation. The entire event of the shooting in Florida can be factually reported in a few paragraphs, yet there is no relief from the media circus.

If the media didn't make these events such a star studded show, those with the propensity to do such things wouldn't find the attention they desperately want. With the exposure, they know they'll be in the limelight for decades and receive a legacy, which they would never have without their terrible actions.

I heard many talking heads giving their opinions on what needs to be done. The opinions range from gun control to armed security roaming the halls of schools. While most probably have good intentions, I doubt many have even the tiniest grasp on what is really wrong, since they're a big part of the problem.

If people want their schools to be safer, they need to have firearm training as an elective class. That, allowing teachers concealed carry without restrictions, and a simple system of security like all petrochemical facilities. The extra security may be a minor inconvenience for parents, but it would remove the ability of former students, or students with removed security passes, access to the school.

From my vantage point, schools are like fenced in sheep pens with open gates. Predators have full access, and the sheep are defenseless. It doesn't need to be this way, and those thinking the federal government should arrive at the solution are as ignorant as the sheep in the pen.

Infrastructure Sleight of Hand

Back in the eighties, there were many grants for infrastructure upgrades in local communities. The money spent was tremendous, and the result was an improved infrastructure. There was a problem. Since I can only use local entities for reference, I can't write the problem was nationwide, but I have a feeling it was.

The repairs were incomplete. In reality, the extra funds only provided a "band-aid", and the significant problems behind failing infrastructures continued. The problems are now compounded by falling tax revenues, unfunded pensions, bureaucracy, unqualified employees, and the ignorance of the taxpayers.

So, we're here again, with Washington pushing for huge amounts of money to repair the infrastructures. I haven't seen the proposals, but if they're the same, it's more good money thrown after bad. Band-aids won't fix the poor use of taxpayer money and ignorant taxpayers.

Weather Change

Locally, as the winter weather gives to spring weather, we have days where the warm air is a welcome relief from cold, damp conditions, and days where the cold returns for a short time. It plays havoc on sinuses and leads to some interesting observations.

Yesterday, robins filled the yard. With rain, and warm air, insects were emerging. Included were earthworms escaping the water, and the feast continued all day. The robins will soon leave, and only a few will stay for the coming summer.

Today, unusual visitors visited. Usually miles to the south, I'm guessing the heavy rain yesterday, and bitter cold a few weeks ago, led to a reduction in food at their usual habitat by the coast. A cold front came during the night, and this morning I found the visitors. The visitors? Boat Tail Grackles.

Boat tails are usually found near the coast. They closely resemble the great tail grackle, but are smaller, and the tail of the male is noticeably different. Their behavior is similar, and their calls are almost identical, but it's obvious they rarely cohabitate the same locations.

The crackles are helping our chickens with their morning scatter of feed. I'll have to add more during the day, since the flock of grackles is fairly large, and it's obvious they are hungry. They'll move on during the day, and tomorrow there might not be any to be found.