The Train to Nowhere

Image from ALIVE East Bay Magazine

I've lived in California for several decades, but I've never adjusted to the state's profligate spending. Of course, the liberals are in the majority in the state assembly and senate, which perfectly explains the lack of common sense, but let's leave that aside for the moment. California flings money at a multitude of useless projects ranging from the highly impractical to the absolutely ridiculous.

The state's stalled "bullet train" is one financial disaster that fits both descriptions. Despite the complete waste of $77 billion on a project that is now eleven years behind schedule, Jerry "Governor Moonbeam" Brown still insists that California's bullet train is the future of transportation and environmental nirvana.

Just between us, I think he's still high from his last Linda Ronstadt concert.

Think about $77 billion dollars frittered away over the course of more than a decade by the government, with nothing to show the taxpayers for it. The "bullet train to nowhere," as it's called in polite circles, has an imaginative variety of alternate nicknames among the state's residents. I've heard it called the "crazy train," the "cuckoo choo-choo," and the "scam tram," among other monikers not suitable for this blog's editorial standards.

Consider what $77 billion dollars could do if it had been in vested in a real necessity, such as firefighting and drought mitigation. For far less than that mind-boggling sum, there could be more water treatment and desalinization plants built, more firefighting airplanes and helicopters bought, more firefighters hired, trained, and deployed to knock down the recent monster fires that California has been suffering in recent years.

I heard one conservative commentator declare that "drought is a choice." It's an interesting perspective, one that would have benefited California immensely had it been adopted by the state politicians even a few years ago. But, like it or move, California's politicians have us all traveling on the train to nowhere. If they only had a brain.

Old News is No News

Image from Politico

As our president signs legislation

To satisfy pledged obligation

The media news stations

Pursue old allegations

And leave us in newsless starvation.

 

Closing in on History

Congratulations, Trevor Hoffman ~ Hall of Fame Pitcher

A Quiet Triumph

Image: Paramount Pictures

I've always maintained that a script writer never allows a pregnant woman to go unexploited for dramatic purposes, and I think I've been proven correct in every TV show or movie I've ever watched. But never have I seen a pregnant woman used so extensively--and effectively--as Emily Blunt's character in the almost unbearably suspenseful film,  A Quiet Place.

In a post-apocalyptic world, the monsters have arrived yet again. In this incarnation, they are blind but hunt by sound. The creatures are extremely ugly, seemingly indestructible, and incredibly fast when they respond to an inadvertent noise. A Quiet Place is a quiet film that will keep you riveted to the edge of your seat, right from the start.

Directed by John Krasinski, who also stars, the story follows the Abbot family: father Lee, mother Evelyn, and their children, one of whom is deaf. The fact that the entire family is able to communicate fully in sign language no doubt has aided them in their survival. But as is the case in any successful horror movie, things will go wrong for the characters you have come to care about. The tension builds ever upward to the dramatic conclusion. I had a bit of a stiff neck by the time the credits rolled, but it was well worth it.

In a sociological analysis, A Quiet Place could be said to mirror our current national atmosphere, where one wrong sound brings immediate destruction. Just ask Roseanne Barr or the former CEO of Papa John's pizza, to cite two recent examples. But in a more intimate sense, the movie is a simple story of one family's love, resilience, sacrifice, and redemption. Get your bowl of popcorn and watch--quietly.

Hail to a Very Special Chief

Chief Joseph Pfeifer retired today from New York City's fire department. Pfeifer was the first FDNY chief on the scene at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. His firefighter brother, Kevin, was among those killed in the terrorist attack.

Chief Pfeifer had actually been eligible to retire a few days before 9/11 happened. In one interview, Pfeifer said he stayed on active duty so as not to end "on a sad note." His leaving the fire service marks the end of an era and, I hope and pray, the beginning of many joyful years ahead with family and friends.

Chief Pfeifer, a brave, unassuming, and enduring American hero. Godspeed.

Independence Day

Image from The History Cat

The Declaration of Independence of The United States of America

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for
one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected
them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the earth,
the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and
of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions
of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends,
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute
new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their Safety and Happiness.  Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments
long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;
and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed
to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing
the forms to which they are accustomed.  But when a long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce
them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw
off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now
the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated
injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment
of an absolute Tyranny over these States.  To prove this, let Facts
be submitted to a candid world...

[You can read the exhaustive list of grievances against the English king 

within this link to the transcript]

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in 
General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world
 for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority 
of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That
 these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and 
Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the 
British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the 
State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that 
as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, 
conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all 
other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for 
the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection 
of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our 
Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Consequential Choices

"Elections have consequences."

~ President Barack Obama, 2010

Image from FITSNews

Oh yes, President Obama was right about that. Elections certainly do have consequences. Obama went on to crow, "I won." Well, winning tables have a way of turning.

The Supreme Court was the driving force behind untold numbers of American voters deciding in favor of Donald Trump. With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who in his three decades on the high court was an unpredictable and often upsetting swing vote, the appointment of the next justice assumes momentous import. As Marc Theissen wrote today, Trump voters "have just been vindicated."

Here's a link to President Donald Trump's list of 25 potential nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump first compiled the list as a presidential candidate in 2016, has added a few names since, and has stated that he will choose the next justice from among them. Speaking as one of 2016's innumerable "Supreme Court voters," I can say that I'm supremely content.

Had Enough

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much done with television news. Aside from natural disasters, I find the content of all the alphabet network news programs completely unwatchable. I may watch my local news on odd nights to check weather and sports, but other than that, you can tune me out.

I don't read newspapers anymore, either. For a long time now, the internet is my primary source for news, especially the website Real Clear Politics. It's got a ton of content from all sides, plus an increasing number of video clips from various news outlets. (It has too many pop-up ads now, but that's the world we live in). I also have my favorite talk radio commentators. Both internet and radio have been favorite go-to news sources for years, but now they are my two connections to current events.

The television coverage of President Trump is too hateful, dishonest, emotional, even profane. The past week in particular has been fraught with incoherent, hysterical hand-wringing over illegal immigration. Where did the media's sudden, touching concern for "the children" come from? It came from many facts quite disconcerting to progressives, some of which are:

1. Trump's rising approval ratings
2. A successful summit with North Korea
3. Plummeting unemployment statistics / Rising job numbers 
4. An economic boom unseen for decades
5. The contents of the IG report showing the rampant corruption in government entities prior to Trump's election.

Positive news of anything Trump must be squashed, hence the liberal caterwauling over illegal immigration. But I don't think the president is worried; the more he is attacked, the better he does his job. And he is learning fast. If I may address the mighty MSM: Did it ever occur to you that he might be jacking with you? How about that enthusiastic rally he held in Minnesota the other night?

Melania Trump

Oh, and news flash on Melania Trump: she wore that "don't care" jacket deliberately, fools. She knew you'd run off in that direction immediately, like the pack of salivating jackals you are. You are now too busy criticizing her choice of wardrobe to realize the message was meant for you. Who are the ones acting stupid now?

Continuing our conversation, Mr. & Ms. Media: there are three memes you really need to work on if you, by some random stretch of the imagination, want to get them accurate:

The president's job is to enforce the law.
On Inauguration Day, the president swears an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution. You can look it up. That's what President Trump is doing on illegal immigration. Just because you have a constitutional right to speak any idiot phrase that pops into your pea-brain does not remove his responsibility. Try dealing with that fact.

It's like the days of slavery, children being separated from parents.
Was it like slavery when it happened under Barack Obama? Of course not. And by the way, the U.S. did not invent slavery. As evil as it is, it has been practiced throughout the annals of human history right up to today. Let's ask this question--how many countries besides ours have fought a long and bloody war to end slavery? Go do your research on that one, media bright lights. I'll wait...

"Nazi Germany"
You've jumped the shark with this one. I hardly know where to start, but let's begin with what a dishonor this is to the murdered millions who tried desperately to leave Germany but couldn't. So tell me, how many of the thousands breaking the law trying to enter the US have been shot, hanged, starved to death, mutilated, tortured, gassed, and incinerated? If we are so similar to Nazi Germany, if we are that cruel and monstrous, so evil and wrong, why are countless illegal immigrants rushing our borders trying to get IN? Does that question make too much sense for you to answer? Apparently so.

I know the liberals are in frantic need of the illegitimate votes such an unfettered influx of unknown aliens would bring to the United States, but please stop lying about it. The photo of the crying tot was a nice try, but it's been totally discredited. The 2016 election proved that Americans are paying close attention to our borders, and while we are sympathetic to the plight of those beating down our nation's doors, we don't want the lawlessness to continue. We know by your nonsensical "news" coverage that you're not having it. You won't accept our decision. And that's why people like me have had enough and no longer pay the slightest bit of attention to you.

Father's Day

Only a Dad

After 31 years, I still miss my Dad. Always will.

By Edgar Albert Guest

Only a dad, with a tired face,

Coming home from the daily race,

Bringing little of gold or fame,

To show how well he has played the game,

But glad in his heart that his own rejoice

To see him come, and to hear his voice.

Only a dad, with a brood of four,

One of ten million men or more.

Plodding along in the daily strife,

Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,

With never a whimper of pain or hate,

For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,

Merely one of the surging crowd

Toiling, striving from day to day,

Facing whatever may come his way,

Silent, whenever the harsh condemn,

And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad, but he gives his all

To smooth the way for his children small,

Doing, with courage stern and grim,

The deeds that his father did for him.

This is the line that for him I pen,

Only a dad, but the best of men.

Inaccessible Communication

Leaving aside all the global drama for a moment, I thought I'd share this link from an editing website. Apparently there are now "Accessibility Terms" to use in writing and editing to avoid offending anyone.

Descriptions are becoming quite verbose, it seems. For example, you shouldn't say "blind person." It needs to be "person with visual impairment." Rather than the succinct word "mute," now the term is "person who is unable to speak."

My favorite accessibility term is "person without disabilities." It's terribly gauche to say "normal" or "able-bodied" nowadays. So in going to great lengths to avoid defining people by their disability, the politically correct powers-that-be have seen fit to define "healthy" people as "people without disabilities." While "a person with a hearing impairment" cannot be termed "deaf," we hale and hearty folks are defined by our lack of disabilities. Makes perfect sense, yes?

Words exist for a reason--to communicate. Words like "blind" and "deaf," which relay vivid meaning and instantaneous comprehension in a one-syllable sound, are now considered unacceptable. Or perhaps I should say, "word no longer used to communicate reality due to the possibility of offending delicate sensibilities." Yes, that's better. Clear as mud.