Headed to the Big "Red" Apple

Before I leave, a few thoughts.

Can't Go to Target

In a recent interview Elon Musk was asked about venturing out to public places. He admitted he's scaled way back. Says after Charlie Kirk's assassination, he just doesn't feel safe. Said, "one mistake and you're dead." The guy who gave us the electric car, affordable space missions, brought stranded astronauts home, internet to third world countries and devasted areas - with much more to come - is now afraid of getting whacked in America.

Here's What I'm Talkin Bout

Iron Beam - Supposed to be the nuts. Who developed it? Well, of course the most threatened nation on earth. Israel.

Iron Beam uses a laser beam to destroy an airborne target. Whether acting as a stand-alone system or with external cueing as part of an air-defense system, a threat is detected by a surveillance system and tracked by vehicle platforms in order to engage.

The main benefits of using a directed energy weapon over conventional missile interceptors are lower costs per shot, unlimited number of firings, lower operational costs, and less manpower.

Remember the economics of drones?

Don't Look Now

Somalis are at it again. This time in Ohio. Same MO. Docs rubberstamping Medicaid payments to providers based on fake conditions among seniors. For up to $90K per patient. Then getting "a taste" themselves. One whistleblower was told she would be "stoned to death" if she talked.

Stuff We Don't know

As we gradually, but inexorably, regain our energy security, there is much damage to be repaired.

Not only must we subdue inflation due to rising oil prices, we also have to replenish our strategic oil reserves. Turns out Biden, in a desperate attempt to slow down runaway inflation, used up a bunch of our oil reserves. Called the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Let's face it, as energy prices go, so goes inflation. He released millions of barrels of oil from our "rainy day" supply. He forgot to tell us, which is not hard to believe. Except I don't.

It's Not Only Columbia and Harvard.

Aussies must deal with Antisemite terrorists too.

When I think of Aussies I think of a fun loving, jovial people. Shrimp on the barbie, kegs of beer and goodonya. Seems they have their own horrendous struggles with antisemitism.

Forty were gunned down at a Chanukah by the Sea celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney last Friday. Sixteen have died. Bombs were found at restaurants and synagogues.

Apparently Jewish residents and even the Israeli government have been warning about this for a long time. Islamists were allowed to assemble recently outside the Sydney Opera House and chant "Gas the Jews".

Ironic isn't it. A Syrian, who is a legal resident, took down one of the shooters. Apparently nobody had a gun to help out. The shooters fired away for 11-14 minutes without interference.

Remember...those who tweet, those who protest, those who teach or preach this hatred are COMPLICIT.

All the liberals can offer is gun control. The gun didn't decide to mow down the crowd in Australia or the kids at Brown. Mass murderers fall into two camps. Psychotics and idealogues. Stop blaming these senseless slaughters on inanimate objects used far more for self protection as anything else. Deal with the root cause. Some people don't belong on the streets and some not in this country at all.

The New Five Families

In the 60s the Five Families of NY ran the Mafia, not only in the five boroughs but pretty much nationwide. They were always jockeying for supremacy and whacking one another in the process.

Well, a new Five Families has emerged.

There's the San Francisco mob featuring Gavel Pelosi, Cackles Harris and Peacock Newson.

There's the Minnesota mob led by Tim Whitey Walz and Ilhan In-law Omar. There's the NY family comprising 5-Term Schumer, I'll Have a Double Ocasio, Smiley Mamdani and Schemer Jeffries. Then there's the Chicago mob with Double Cheeseburger Pritzker and Rahm Empty Suit Emmanuel. Finally (okay this is a stretch) SC and Kingmaker Clyburn who played a mighty role in putting Naps Biden on the throne.

Pretty soon they'll be going to the mattresses over 2028.

Wildfire State's New Conflagration

It's budget is on fire.

California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) dropped a bombshell: the state is now projected to face an $18 billion deficit in 2026–27, a shortfall $5 billion worse than what lawmakers admitted just months earlier. Even more troubling, the LAO says California is facing structural deficits of $15 to $25 billion every year through at least 2029.

This isn’t a one-off crisis for California. It’s a multiyear budget mess that keeps getting deeper. And this is happening during strong stock-market years when capital-gains tax revenue is already at record levels. Imagine what happens when the market cools or when we hit a mild recession. 

A disaster of this magnitude has multiple causes. But certainly billions spent on safety-net programs for illegal immigrants, homeless and green energy are at the top of the list.

I have a good solution. Let's put the master of ceremonies for this debacle in charge of the whole country.

Chronic Lateness is No Joke

I have long felt that "always being late" is one of life's most annoying foibles. Some people, the same people always seem to be late. Recently I read a whole piece on this not altogether rare phenomenon.

What causes it? Well, in most cases, several things - mostly personality driven. Some people are easily distracted, overly optimistic about how long things take and not aware of the impact lateness has on others.

I have always taken lateness as one giant slap in the face. It's like when the tardy party arrives they come with sign pasted to their forehead that reads..."Hah, see? Your time is less important than mine." Many a first encounter or even long time relationship has been harmed, sometimes irreparably, by late arrivals. A habit worth breaking that's for sure. I hate being late. Hate it. Arriving 15 minutes early is a great rule to live by.

Keep track of your own proclivity for late arrivals.

It's Catching

A Trump-style law-and-order conservative clinched Chile’s presidency as violent crime crisis reshapes nation. José Antonio Kast captures 58% of vote on platform centered on security and immigration reform.

In a message that echoes that of U.S. President Donald Trump, Kast has pledged mass deportations of undocumented migrants, expanded policing and the deployment of the military to confront drug trafficking and organized crime. He argues that rising homicides and cartel activity demand extraordinary measures, including deadlines for irregular migrants to leave the country before facing enforced removal.

Enough is enough even in Chile. Remember this was a once Marxist stronghold under Salvador Allende. By the way Trump-like parties are gaining strength throughout Europe.

Even WAPO Claims Chicago has "Lost Its Mind"

Under Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Chicago’s net operating budget increased almost 40 percent between 2019 and 2025, which was subsidized in large part by temporary federal pandemic funding that kept the City financially afloat. The pandemic is over, but many of the programs and personnel positions established during that time remain, thankfully without the benefit of the federal funding that previously supported them.

Deja vu all over again. Wasn't it extended Covid-subsidies that caused the recent shutdown?

Now the looney mayor proposes to increase the tax on the lease of ‘personal property’ like computers, vehicles and software from 11 percent to 14 percent, and to bring back the city's ‘head tax,’ which would result in large employers paying $33 per worker, per month. By making it more expensive to do business or hire workers in the city, wonder how that will work out for Chicago's future economic growth and tax collections.

Get ready NYC.

Here's a Classic Woke Story

Steve Wilks just got fired as Defensive Coordinator of the 3-11 NY Jets - right after his defense have up 40 points versus Jacksonville. Wilks has seen this movie before.

Here's his resume:

• Wilks had a one-year stint as the Arizona Cardinals head coach in 2018.

• He had a one-year stint as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator in 2019.

• He had a one-year stint as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator in 2023.

• And he obviously lasted one season – 14 games to be exact – as the Jets defensive coordinator.

  
  

He's suing the Cardinals for discrimination.

Anybody looking for a short term D Coordinator?

Liar's Do Figger

The old saying...Figures don't lie, but liars figure hits the nail on the head in DC. Remember when Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Mayor Bowser attempted to thwart National Guard Troops in DC by claiming crime statistics showed improvement. Well they were right - the figures did show some improvement. Except the figures were bogus. Boatloads of crimes were misclassified creating a wildly false picture. The Woke police chief put a bounty on any officers unwilling to fudge the stats to protect her butt.

China Nears Fracking

Reports say China is about to launch fracking initiatives on a large scale. Apparently they have proven energy reserves. Now it appears they may soon control their own energy supply. Not good news.

As We Thought

The peace deal between Israel and Hamas appears on the ropes. Hamas leaders said emphatically they will not disarm. They declared ...first we go after the Saturdays (Jews worship on Saturdays) then the Sundays (Christians). Rockets are still being fired into Israel. They always get shot down, but still.

Chinese Fathers

Looking into a story that relates how wealthy Chinese are fathering hundreds of children in the US through surrogates. More to come.

In Closing...Let Us Turn to Thoughts of Peace

So passes another year filled with terrorist acts, hateful protests, vicious politics and deep-seated antipathy toward all with whom we disagree. Even at Christmas our world overflows with unspeakable acts. Just this week, the murder of Jews at a seaside Chanukah celebration in Australia and Students in class at Brown University. Rob Reiner and his wife stabbed to death in their Brentwood, CA home (by his son it seems). The recent multiple stabbings on trains in Charlotte.

Twenty five hundred years ago, God sent his only son to die for the sins of all other men. Think of this. Jesus became man, lived among us, taught us how to love and to live. His reward? We beat him and nailed him to a cross. Even then hatred seethed.

In this holiest of times, if just for a few days, let us shutter this ugly part of our world and reflect on why we have Christmas in the first place. So all mankind will celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus, and his love for us all.

May our thoughts turn to peace. May we each do our best to live in harmony and respect - if only for a few short days.