February ?, 25

Very sunny today with warmer temps. I can see some grass popping up in the snowy lawns. I just finished a bit of embroidery and almost completed one of the corners in the tablecloth. It is a Saturday so we are taking a break from the usual TV offerings and watching the Premier League games. The Manchester United vs. Everton game just finished with a 2-2 tie. So far, 23 minutes in, the Ipswich-Tottenham game stands at 1-0 in favor of Tottenham. Ooops. Score went to 2-1 in Tottenham's favor.

Well, King Donald I has started cleaning house at the Pentagon. I noticed he is rapidly making the world safe for white men. He plans to replace the head of the Joint Chiefs, the second black man to hold the post, with a white man. And he has dismissed the first woman to lead the navy. Earlier they fired the first woman to head the coast guard in as brutal and humiliating way possible--giving her three hours to vacate her quarters while she was out of town on official business.

Ruben Bolling has a very apt cartoon I found by way of THE CONTRARIAN.

25****************************************************************

Another sunny day and the temps are definitely climbing. I think I missed a couple of days here. There simply isn't much to comment on that I haven't already written about.

Well, it seems we are now on the Russian side with "our" president unable to acknowledge Putin is a dictator and "our" representative at the UN refusing to vote for any proposals that criticize Putin. Hell--the "secretary of Defense" on weekend news shows couldn't even come out an acknowledge that Russia started the current iteration of the war. According to Hegseth "it's complicated." The newly elected chancellor of Germany has said that his country will increase defense spending AND will look at options that don't include the U.S.

The spectacle of politicians of both parties going home and being confronted with boos and jeers from their constituents at town hall meetings. A couple of commentators made a some good observations. First, though it was good to see the pushback at the local level all too many were angry because of the protestors were unhappy because of the hit they or their local area was taking. When it became personal they suddenly are taking notice. I remember a popular observation during the past recessions: it is a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it is a depression when you lose yours. Second, some noticed how the main focus seems to be on Musk's activities.. They want the elected officials to "do your job." They are hoping that the Senate and/or House would take back its right to determine spending. But this ignores the fact that Musk wields the powers Trump ceded to him. Musk it the lightening rod deflecting criticism from Trump and Trump protects Musk.