Our "Nice Ocean"

I suppose everyone has an opinion about the meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. I don't want to be too hard on the arrogant little Ukranian leader; after all, he has been in a brutal war with Russia for the past few years. That's bound to take a toll on anyone's equilibrium.

However, there is a limit to how much bad attitude a person can take. I watched the video of the full 49-minute meeting, not just the few-minute clip of the blow-up that has been running on an endless loop. Trump let quite a bit of Zelenskyy's guff slide by. He was more tolerant than many others would have been. Our president reached his saturation point near the very end, when Zelenskyy, in responding to a chide from VP Vance, issued a veiled threat that "you have nice ocean" but would "you will feel" future consequences. 

That lit up President Trump immediately. He admonished the Ukranian president "You don't know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel...." The ensuing dialogue was brief, direct, and harsh. The wheels flew off and the meeting crash-landed. Good. Since "cards" were also a discussion point, Zelenskyy needs to know he's been dealt a new hand.

But let's back up to that smug comment about our "nice ocean." The implication was that we are completely ignorant of war because of our geography. Yes, we actually have two nice oceans. Neither one has kept Americans from dying by the thousands in wars. 

A few questions for the Ukranian president: Did our "nice ocean" protect us from the September 11 terrorist attacks (2,977 dead) and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan (2,459 dead) and Iraq (7,054 dead)?

How many United States service men and women died in World Wars I and II? Added together, the fatal casualties for those two wars approach one-half million American dead. Thousands of our servicemen died in the D-Day invasion operation alone, at the foreign shoreline of our nice ocean. Another 36,000 Americans died in the Korean conflict. And what about the 2,403 US service members dead in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor? I can't even think about the 58,220 US fatalities in the Vietnam war.

It is true that the US has not suffered from ongoing war inside our homeland since The Civil War, 1861-65. Estimates vary, but between 600,000 and 800,000 Americans died fighting in that conflict. But Atlantic or Pacific, "nice oceans" have been beside the point as protection for our countrymen in wartime. Over the past century, Americans have died in faraway wars by the hundreds of thousands. Most American families in every war were marked by loss and tragedy.

So, Mr. Z., I must agree with President Trump: don't tell us how to feel. And stop interrupting a leader who is trying to pass you an ace.

The far side of our "nice ocean" - June 6, 1944

Reporting In

Is it really so outrageous to be required to record your work achievements? The lingering indignation of federal workers at being called upon to actually account for their time is a source of endless entertainment to me. Can they not justify their well-compensated employment--funded by the taxpayers, no less--with a few bullet points?

At almost all of my jobs, a weekly or monthly report of my job activities was required. It went to the department manager, then to the next executive, up to the CEO. In my last position, I was the contact point for all department managers to submit their reports by a certain recurring date. I sent reminders if needed and never missed a deadline. That routine will likely sound like business-as-usual in the real world of most working Americans.

I'm retired now and if asked I can still submit a report of my productivity. Let's see, in the past week I got the car smog checked as required prior to this year's DMV registration, submitted my 2024 tax documents to my CPA, trimmed the shrubs in the back garden, finished the book I was reading, and wrote and posted a blog piece. There, easy! I'm also planning for a family event in April, but that's been an ongoing project and is not confined to one week. (I'll save that one for the quarterly report.)

If you're working, it's really not hard, and it's not an unfair question. Tell us, what the heck are you doing all day? This taxpayer, for one, would like to know.

Save It

Are you having as much fun as I am watching the Democrat hysteria over The Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.)? I find it absolutely hilarious.

So D.O.G.E. will have access to my "sensitive information"? Well, join the club. I'm sure even Beijing has my sensitive information. The IRS, Social Security, Medicare, all of my past employers, all the credit card and insurance companies I've ever worked with, plus all the hackers in the extensive Home Depot, Target, Visa, AT&T, Scripps Healthcare, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breaches know all about me, including my social security number. Let's not forget the doctor's and dentist's offices. Oh yes, the oral surgeon and endodontist have it, too.

The one that bothered me the most was the 2015 breach at OPM. Those data files were compiled for my security clearance and contained information about my entire family, not just me. No one in politics or the media seemed overly concerned about "sensitive information" at the time. As I recall, they all moved on from the story rather promptly.

If it will save the country from bankruptcy and benefit U.S. taxpayers, I say go for it. The overwrought media and Democrat obstructionists are also screaming about the 20-something-year-old D.O.G.E. employees working on the government savings project. It's quite ironic that these are the same people who were captivated by the teenaged Greta Thunberg scoldings a few years ago, as Vice President Vance noted in his recent speech in Europe.

I visited the D.O.G.E. website today. It's quite impressive, even this early in the process. Keep digging, D.O.G.E. Based on the opposition's reaction, you're definitely on the right track. And by the way--thank you.

From the D.O.G.E. website - doge.gov

Sore Losers

Over the course of a 40+ year career, I was laid off from my job four times (or was it five?). So, while I empathize with anyone who has been let go, I find great amusement in reading the reactions of federal workers who suddenly find themselves in the unthinkable position of being unemployed.

News flash to these outraged, newly out-of-work workers: Nobody owes you a living. I've been let go at highly inopportune times, left without income when I was paying a child's tuition, when my husband had cancer, and when I was a newly self-supporting widow. There were no lavish, half-year severance packages for me, either. On one occasion I received one month's severance pay; all other layoffs offered only two weeks' pay. Yet it never occurred to me to carry a placard and march around my former employer's building protesting this cruel and unfair treatment.

There was no time for such self-indulgence after being let go from my job in trying circumstances. Each time I lost my job I sat down and polished my resume, called my network contacts, set up interviews, and got myself re-situated in a new position as soon as I possibly could. I wasn't picky, either. Any job offer that was reasonably comparable to my lost position would do and was accepted promptly.

This was back when five days a week in the office was required. There was no such concept as "remote work." You got yourself into work on time Monday through Friday for at least eight hours each day or you would find yourself job-hunting again quite quickly.

Having recently retired and experienced Medicare glitches, I've had occasions to contact federal workers. I've spent up to three-and-a-quarter hours on telephone hold times. When I did finally reach a live person, there was either a dog barking or a child crying in the background. There was extreme indifference to my issues, and it took three months to find an interested federal employee (who happened to be in the office) who possessed enough work ethic to straighten out the problems in my account.

For the most part, the laid off federal employees had an entitled and unrealistic impression of the working world. A good job is not a birthright; it's a privilege, and it needs to be earned every workday. Put down your protest signs and get busy networking and job-hunting. There is precious little sympathy for you among most American workers. Good luck in the real world.

The Karma Train Arrives

President Trump's endless parade of Executive Orders is tantamount to a continuous supply of Christmas gifts. He is getting so much done in so short a time that the media and the Democrats are both suffering from information whiplash, in addition to mental breakdowns. If the initial furor over USAID put them this far over the edge, they'll all be hospitalized by March.

Currently my favorite entertainment is to watch Democrats and their media minions losing their minds over Trump actually keeping his election promises to the American people. From their hysterical reactions, it appears they never imagined such an outcome was possible.

The favored target of left-wing wrath seems to be Elon Musk, who we are constantly reminded was "not elected." Well, he is part of a new Executive branch of government established by the new president under his executive powers. Musk was part of the promise President Trump campaigned on to cut waste in the federal government and provide transparency to the public. We voters knew this fact, approved of it, and elected Trump decisively. No one seems to object to Elon Musk's waste-trimming except the lefties.

And here's a question for all the screamers against Musk--just who elected Anthony Fauci, who ran our lives and our country into the ground for years during the Covid pandemic under the last administration? There are a couple of big differences. First, Fauci destroyed our nation's way of life and supplanted our personal freedoms; Musk is trying to preserve our national economic health by right-sizing government and saving taxpayer money.

Secondly, anyone who had the courage to speak out against lockdowns, vaccines, closures, social distancing, or face masks during Fauci's reign of Covid terror ended up canceled, fired, and/or arrested. Keep in mind that the only reason protests against Musk are possible is because the First Amendment right to free speech has been restored by Musk himself and President Trump. The irony runs deep.

Democrats and leftie media have gotten used to getting their own way and controlling the show for all of us. Donald Trump is in charge now, with four years of planning and strategizing behind him. His like-minded team works as fast and effectively as he does.

Buckle up. It looks to me like the Democrats' karma train has pulled into the federal government's station, and plenty of grifters are getting caught on the tracks. The meltdowns on the left are glorious to behold.

You Know Not The Day

 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

~ Matthew 25:13

Whenever there is a sudden tragedy, I remember my father would always quote Matthew 25:13 in those situations. He would shake his head and repeat the verse softly, almost as if praying (which he probably was). I find myself doing the same thing every time disaster strikes.

The news of the horrific accident outside Reagan airport tonight is a sobering reminder of our mortality. All the technology in the world cannot prevent human error. Terrible things like plane crashes will still happen to us.

We don't know when it's our day to go. Always be ready.

Eternal rest grant to them, Oh Lord...

Planning a Party

As the country grows accustomed to drinking from the firehose of constant news exploding from the Trump White House, one item really caught my attention: President Trump's plans to celebrate the USA's 250th birthday.

Although it was rendered unrecognizable through bad policies in the past five years, at its core the United States is an amazing place to live. Americans know that, and they know President Trump knows it--hence his decisive election victory. Trump is making a huge effort to correct our course. 

It's long past time when we as a nation should feel good about ourselves again. A 250-year-old republic deserves to be celebrated. I, for one, am ready to party.

Oh, Yes!

 Give thanks that God is merciful. Welcome back, President Trump!

Donald J. Trump ~ 45th and 47th President of the USA

Fuel to the Flames

Anyone outside of California who wants to understand what victims of the wildfires are facing should listen to Hugh Hewitt's podcast today. Hewitt was a land-use lawyer for decades in Southern California, and about 16 minutes into today's Highly Concentrated Hugh, he gives a thoroughly detailed, chilling outline of the vast bureaucratic nightmare awaiting each and every resident who tries to rebuild their home. 

This morning we're learning that the Pacific Palisades reservoir was "offline and empty." Hmm. Could that be a contributing factor to empty fire hydrants? And by the way, where are our new reservoirs, approved by California voters in Proposition 1, the Water, Quality Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014? Nowhere to be found. Maybe the funds needed to be diverted to the free drug kits California is supplying to the addicts living (and defecating) on the streets.

Not to be overlooked are California's environmental regulation strangleholds on clearing overgrown brush, vegetation, and forests. Even England has recognized that screwup.

As mentioned in the last post, there are many reasons that contribute to why this massive conflagration happened. The rage of Los Angeles citizens against the governmental powers that be is already strong. The dismissive buck-passing of politicians and city officials is fanning residents' ire as fiercely as a high wind to the worst wildfire. The destruction is so overwhelming that public outrage will be such that maybe, just maybe, this time the top tier politicians and officials will be held responsible. Nothing will ever change in California until that happens.

The Los Angeles Wildfires rage on - January 10, 2025

Fired Up

The immense devastation wrought by the Los Angeles wildfires this week is almost incomprehensible. Even one familiar with the affected areas has trouble visualizing the destruction.

There are many factors contributing to these infernos flaring the way they did. Unusually high winds, extremely low humidity, vegetation as dry as tinder due to a half year without any significant rainfall. Add in large, densely populated zones with limited routes in and out of neighborhoods and you have quite a recipe for fiery disaster. But there are other, more staggering reasons why Los Angeles is burning; there is human error.

Four dams were destroyed this year in California. I'm happy for the now free-swimming salmon, but very sad for the thousands of human fire victims. I'm no expert, but in hindsight it appears that releasing "billions of gallons of water" to maintain a certain level in a reservoir is overlooking a better solution: maybe build additional reservoirs to hold the excess water, which will certainly be needed? Oh well, what do I know.

Gavin Newsom is passing the buck to local governments on the subject of waterless fire hydrants, reported by firefighters. Excuse me, but you are the governor. Adequate water supply to major California cities--especially in fire emergencies--should have been on your checklist.

It's worth mentioning that $17.6 million was cut from the Los Angeles Fire Department budget this year. Smart move, Mayor Bass. Hope you enjoyed your trip to Africa.

Other excuses being tossed out by various Los Angeles officials are infuriating. You geniuses should know that air support might not be possible in Santa Ana winds. If you need to adjust water supplies and pressure, do it. If you don't have enough hydrants to handle a wildfire, add them. If more access roads are needed, build them. Too bad about the hit to DEI training, illegal immigrant gift cards, and homeless housing budgets, but do it. It's your job. 

The favored talking point about climate change does not fit this disaster. I've lived in SoCal since 1979, and the fires erupt every year when the Santa Ana winds blow. During my early years in the state, they were called "brush fires" because that's what they usually were--chaparral burning on undeveloped land. After the area exploded with housing development, the description changed to "wildfires." Now there is a lot more fuel in the form of homes and businesses of all kinds, in addition to millions more people to protect. Aging infrastructure just won't do.

One would think our brilliant California politicians might be able to figure all this out in advance. One would be wrong. There will be a rough road to recovery ahead. Stay strong, Los Angeles. 

Pacific Palisades fire - January 7, 2025