Presidential Trivia

Historical Factoid - 

There is also one less serious example of a president being arrested. 

A Washington, D.C., police officer arrested Ulysses S. Grant in 1872 for speeding in his horse and buggy before letting him go.

Friday Music

Composed and originally recorded by San Franciscan doo-wop artist Bobby Freeman this song quickly rose to the number 5 position on the pop charts and number 2  on the R&B chart.  It was 1958 and Freeman was only 17 years of age. 

In 1965 the version covered by the Beach boys rose to number 12 and a 1972 cover by Bette Midler reached 17. 

Hot damn - music was sure good back in the day.

It's a fun tune - covered here by the mighty Fendertones.....

Emergency Services

 When you have a powerful thirst, who you gonna call.....?

Great Lakes Economics

Further evidence of the arrival of spring is the clearing of ice from the sea lanes, the end of winter layup and refit and the departure of the Winter Fleet from the port of Sturgeon Bay.

 

At great peril of advancing my nerdishness I marvel at the beauty and economic efficiency of these big lakers as they ply their trade on the largest body of freshwater lakes on the planet.

 

If you were my client this recovering financial guy would share that every year more than 260 million metric tons of raw materials such as coal, iron ore, agricultural products and manufactured goods are transported on the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Seaway System.

In one single shipping season the Great Lakes-Seaway system generates $77.4 billion ($100 billion CAD) of economic activity and 238,000 jobs in the US and Canada.

 

That, my friends, is a big freaking deal.

 

There’s a great deal of trickle-down happening too for all of the direct and tangential businesses that are engaged with Great Lakes shipping trade.

 

Consider this:

 

Great Lakes-Seaway shipping is 14 percent more fuel efficient than rail and nearly 600 percent more fuel efficient than trucking.

 

A laker can move one ton of cargo 607 miles on one gallon of fuel. That is more more efficient, with fewer emissions and a cleaner environmental footprint, than an EV and all of its nasty carbon manufacturing inputs and batteries.

 

Raising a toast to another season of moving bulk cargo from here to there at the breathtaking pace of 15 miles per hour.

 

Learn more about what's on tap for 2023 here.

March Night Sky

This evening, if the skies are clear, you've have an opportunity to view something that won't occur for another 17 years.  A rare alignment of five of the planets!  

Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Mars will be visible together, lined-up in the early night sky.

The timing of this event is crucial with the best time for viewing immediately following sunset and no more than 45 minutes after sundown.  This is because Jupiter and Mercury will dip below the horizon in short order.

You'll want to have a clear view of the western horizon. Jupiter will be closest to the horizon and easy to spot because it is so bright.  Mercury will be close by and visible with the naked eye.  a bit higher up will be Venus.  It will be accompanied by Uranus located a bit higher still.  Even higher and closest to the crescent moon will be Mars.

To be certain of your planet spotting grab a pair of binoculars for your viewing pleasure.

Fingers-crossed for clear skies.

The Confessional

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl."

The priest asks, "Is that you, little Joey Pagano?"

"Yes, Father, it is."

"And who was the girl you were with?"

"I can't tell you, Father. I don't want to ruin her reputation."

"Well, Joey, I'm sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?"

"I cannot say."

"Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?"

"I'll never tell."

"Was it Nina Capelli?"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot name her."

"Was it Cathy Piriano?"

"My lips are sealed."

"Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?"

"Please, Father! I cannot tell you."

The priest sighs in frustration. "You're very tight lipped, and I admire that. But you've sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy now for 4 months. Now you go and behave yourself."

Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and whispers, "What'd you get?"

"Four months vacation and five good leads"

 

Sunday Epiphany?

Recently, someone over at The Bulwark (in response to a question of mine) smacked me upside the head.  I believe her intent was to bring me to my senses so I could figure it out.

She said...

To Trump supporters, the people who don't support Trump are not real Americans at all.  

Once the Trump intellectuals declared that Trump's great virtue is loving America more unapologetically than all of his detractors, then everything he does must be interpreted as an expression of pure patriotism.  

Failure to accept this as gospel invites ostracism.  Even if you are a family member or friend - Trump says you hate America.

Between you and me that seem a bit extreme.  And as I shall share in the next paragraphs not altogether true.  Nevertheless, it would appear to be a very real phenomenon.  

Consider this true story:  An acquaintance of mine I've come to know in my current affairs class is a solid Trump supporter.  As solid a believer as I've met.  She's a good person.  Smart.  Engaging. Pleasant and fun to carry-on a conversation.  We agree on more than appears on the surface.  Yet when it comes down to facts v. some conspiracy theories (which cuts both ways) we part company.  Nevertheless, she can carry-on a conversation with someone of a completely opposite point of view and not lose her composure.  

She and I spent most of a day together this winter - just the two of us -  touring historic Belgian chapels in Door, Kewaunee and Brown Counties.  Old chapels do not inspire cognitive dissonance - but we share an appreciation of mutual respect for differing political beliefs.

In our conversations she confessed to me her profound sorrow that her own family has largely renounced her as a consequence of her political views.  Even restricting her contact with her grandchildren.  To my view this is a situation both terrible to the extreme and exceedingly sad.  If I were treated like that I'd be disconsolate.  Without getting into details I shared that I experienced a similar event a year ago.  I've been on the receiving end of the treatment described in my Bulwark back-and-forth. 

That's the worst of it for me.  Most times, I can sense when I'm skating too close to the sun and seek a wider orbit.  Conflict is not conducive to friendship. 

We both commiserated in our mutual cancellations.  Although between you and me her situation is nastier than anything I have had a brush-with.  Be that as it may, it would appear this phenomenon cuts both ways.

What is of interest to me is that in its extremis, someone who is center right, neoconservative, or conservative but Never Trump can be canceled.  You do not have to be a raving liberal, merely viewed as unamerican.  Unworthy.  Or maybe it's all misconstrued as a consequence of lack-of or misinformation, strong-willed personalities, or something else. 

If anyone can further shed light on this I'm all ears.

Meanwhile, class has reconvened.  Perhaps Joan and I can meet one day afterward over coffee or lunch to discuss the subject of redemption.

Hers and mine....  _________________________________________________________________________ 

There is a population of conservatives, Republicans, center-right individuals and independent-minded voters who place a high value on facts and the truth. Marginalized because they refuse to embrace baseless conspiracy theories or demonstrate sufficient fealty and obeisance to the former guy - exile is their cross to bear.

Wile E Coyote

I was chatting with a friend earlier this month about the uptick in coyote sightings here at The Platz over the last couple of years.

My hypothesis is this is a consequence pf either den habitat or prey (food) resources.  A reasonable conclusion is likely a combination of both.  Consider this.

Following the logging operation performed in 2021 there is considerable slash (limbs, bark, smaller logs and random woody debris) left laying on the forest floor.

After a couple of winters it is noticeably breaking-down and slowing returning to the earth.  Nevertheless, it does provide den cover for coyotes.  But more importantly considerable cover for the critters that coyotes prey-upon; namely small mammals and rodents.

More cover = higher populations of prey (food resources).  Thusly, healthier (better-fed) coyotes and larger numbers of them.

Log it and they will come....

Friday Music

If you're old like me sometimes you have to indulge yourself of those memorable things from the years you came of age.

For instance golden age of travel by airliner when you weren't squeezed into a pressurized aluminum tube like sardines in a can....

1971 American Airlines

And while the Mad Men of nowadays would unlikely proffer this as your ad campaign; there was some alluring sex appeal to cheap air travel....

1973 Delta Airlines

And there was the music.

From my personal Top Ten list of tunes this song was composed by Wayne Carson and recorded by the Box Tops in 1967.  The Letter was the group's first and biggest hit.  It rose to number one in the United States and Canada and made the Top Ten in any number of other countries. 

It holds a place at number 372 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time....

Extra Living Space

At long last we've implemented a permanent solution to that portion of the porch that had seasonally been screened.

Last year the screens and doors that were installed in the spring and stored-away in the fall finally reached the end of their useful life.  No longer capable of keeping the bugs out and unworthy of repair were not even installed.

They were basically trash.

Now there is this.

Aluminum screens, windows and doors permanently installed.  Weather proof, bug proof, critter proof and capable of virtual year-round use - by Suncomfort Sunrooms.

The futon mattress can now remain on the bed frame.

A decorative piece of area rug can be deployed.

Nice furniture can be purchased.

A space heater will make it toasty-comfy during the shoulder seasons.

Guest bedroom for entertainment purposes.

The possibilities are endless.

March Night Sky

In the Islamic faith the first sighting of the crescent moon signals the beginning of each month in the Muslim lunar calendar.

This month  is significant as it marks the start of Ramadan and a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

If you look to the southwest sky immediately after sunset you might be able to see the very slim crescent moon.  If you cannot spot it; at the same time tomorrow the crescent moon will be a bit larger, brighter and higher in the sky.

Thursday and Friday be sure to look for Venus and the crescent moon immediately following sunset.  

As the moon increases in brightness and rises higher above the horizon it will appear very close to Venue for two nights in a row.  Tomorrow the crescent moon will be immediately below Venus  and on Friday it will be just above.

March Night Sky

More March night sky spotting.  Who knew there were so many opportunities?  This one is a challenge but with dark skies on tap a telescope or pair of binoculars make this doable.

A protoplanet!

A protoplanet is a dwarf planet or a planet in the making. The difference being that it lacks the spherical shape of what we are accustomed-to with adult planets.

Discovered in 1801 this 600-mile-wide rock is the largest object found in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter.

This evening Ceres will be at opposition to Earth and may be viewable with the optical assistance.

Look for it in the southern sky - immediately adjacent to Orion.  Two objects in Taurus that are visible to the naked eye are Aldebaran and the Pleiades star cluster.  Look for Ceres in the  Hyades star cluster.

 

Scratch Your Druid Itch

As the sun grows warmer we notice small signs of life beneath our feet.  First are the crocuses and daffodils, followed by the bluebells and wood anemones. Many of us view these emergent plants as mere greenery.  Druids see life in all living things including springs, creeks, rivers, rocks and stones.  In Druidry all life is sacred.

One of the great mysteries is the Druid's egg.  Life-giving, it is the egg protected by the hare, which is the symbol of Alban Eilir, - the Festival of the Spring Equinox which means The Light Of The Earth.  Christians today celebrate Easter with eggs courtesy of the Easter bunny.

Happy vernal equinox.   

The astronomical arrival of spring is a consequence of the earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits around the sun.  Equinox from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) means the the earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally.  On this date the sun rises exactly due east and set exactly due west with sunlight striking both hemispheres of the earth equally.   Night and day are approximately equal in length. 

As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.

 

It would be premature to pack-away your winter outerwear, return the snow shovels to the shed or plant a garden.  Nevertheless, this is a harbinger of the arrival of astronomical spring for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  

 

The official start time will be today, March 20 at about 4:25 PM CST (give or take). 

Astronomers base season cycles upon the position of the earth in relation to the sun.  The beginning of Astronomical Spring or the Vernal Equinox marks the time when the sun passes directly above the equator.  Meteorological spring is based-upon annual temperature cycles.  Your weatherman will tell your that meteorological spring begins March 1 and goes thru the end of May.

 

No matter how you slice it the days will grow longer, the temperatures warmer and mud season is in full swing.

Kulturkampf - Part II

Patrick J. Buchanan is a conservative author, columnist, commentator and politician.  He was both an advisor and consultant to Presidents, Nixon, Ford and Reagan.  His last public position was White House Communications Director from 1985 to 1987.

Buchanan is a bright guy and singularly prescient as he was among the first to advance the notion that it was the GOP's embrace of free-market economics and global trade policies as responsible for the decline of American manufacturing.  He felt that a relaxed immigration blueprint was responsible for driving-down wages.  As a consequence, Buchanan became a vocal advocate for protectionist trade tariffs and restrictions on foreign immigration.  It was Buchanan who first invoked the phrase: Culture War (Kulturkampf).

Buchanan eschewed the activism, interventionist policies and peace through strength that had become the hallmark of Republican policy-making for the duration of the Cold War.  He was indifferent to growth of the country's debt and restraint over big spending entitlements like social security and Medicare.  He was disdainful of traditional overseas alliances.  And he despised Republican elites.

With the dissolution of the Soviet communist empire, collapse of the Berlin Wall, German reunification, the First Gulf War Buchanan was provoked sufficiently to mount a primary challenge against a sitting Republican President.  He was of the opinion that Bush's meddling in the Middle East and Europe was imperious overreach and came at the expense of working class Americans.

While Buchanan failed in his attempt to oust Bush he succeeded in damaging him sufficiently that Bush lost the 1992 election to Bill Clinton.

Does any of this sound familiar?  

I thought so.

It is a classic clash between paleoconservatives and neoconservatives.  

Kulturkampf is not some dusty 19th century event.  It was in 1991 that Pat Buchanan first spoke the words:   

We will put America first.

Three decades later the rest became history.....

Family Business

There's Always That One Sibling That Doesn't Want To Go Into The Family Business...

 

 

Good Eats

We’ve been fishing around the freezers to deplete our ostentatious hoard of food. 

This morning’s spelunking yielded a package of Marchant’s pork cutlets. Exceedingly affordable. 

Following a further beating of the meat there was this. 

The revenge of Jägerschnitzel mit Spätzle……

Patron Saint

The Feast Day of Saint Patrick has taken-on more significance for me since we traveled and visited the Old Sod of my ancestors November, 2019. 

Kilfenora - Ireland

Unless you are oblivious it is obvious that the Republic of Ireland is most assuredly a bastion of the Roman Catholic tradition of the Christian faith.  And I suppose more than a few visitors are left with the impression that Ireland is - in some official capacity - a Catholic country.  While Catholics significantly outnumber all other faith traditions in Ireland, there is no reference to Catholicism in the Irish Constitution.  Ireland is officially a secular state and tolerates all belief systems.  Of course, on my visit not even once did I spy a Protestant church.  But I digress. 

Getting back to the Feast Day the story of Ireland’s Patron Saint persists and you readers are likely wondering if St. Patrick really did chase the snakes out of Ireland.  Or is that tale just a bunch of blarney?        

According to the tale way back in the fifth century the legendary priest raised his staff and banished the reptiles into the seas surrounding the Emerald Isle.  Save for those in captivity it is true that Ireland has no snakes.  But this current condition has less to do with religious tradition and more to do with geologic history and events dating many millennia ago.  Following the retreat of the last glaciers some 15,000 years ago Ireland was devoid of snakes.  Surrounded by icy waters to this very day snakes cannot swim or find their way there and as a consequence Ireland remains snake-free.         

That’s too bad because if my recreational DNA test is to be believed I am becoming more Irish with every passing year.  And I have a particular fondness for snakes. The bigger the better.

Like this dandy five foot long Western Fox Snake.  I also like a good saint when I see one and St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish.         

Patrick was born of aristocratic blood in Britain probably around the year 390.  The legend says that he was not particularly religious.  At age 16 he was kidnapped into slavery was forced into life as a sheepherder in Ireland.  It is held that it was during this time that he found God and became a believer.         

As the story goes he began hearing voices and the voices instructed him to flee.  Which he did.  Patrick eventually found his way back to Britain and his family.  Alas, the voices returned commanding him to return to Ireland.  He was ordained a priest, went back to Ireland and spent the balance of a rather difficult life converting the pagan Celts to Christianity.  He died on March 17, 461 and was promptly forgotten.      

Nevertheless, over many years faithful conviction and belief in the story of Patrick grew.  And he grew ever larger after his death than he did in real life.  Hundreds of years after the fact he was honored as Ireland’s patron saint.         

So on March 17th we gather to pay homage to this saint who - ostensibly - banished the snakes from Ireland.  It is said that on this one day of the year everyone is Irish.          

Since I have real Irish blood coursing through my veins I intend to raise a glass of Guinness and toast my ancestors and Saint Patrick.  I will ignore the part about the sketchy British and Western European connection.         

Speaking of Guinness - according to the Guinness people somewhere around 5.5 million pints of Guinness stout are consumed world-wide each and every day.  On St. Patrick’s Day this will grow to 13 million pints.      

Drink responsibly people.         

Sláinte!

Rare Predator

Weasels get a bad rap.  Oftentimes, co-opted as a pejorative term for a scoundrel or rogue.  I think it's a pretty cool critter inasmuch as I've never captured an image on a trail camera before.  I checked.  This is a first.  Mink, yes.  This fella, nope.  I've saw one on a rock pile during a late December bow hunt years ago but alas, no photographic evidence until this.

Meet Mustela Frenata - the long-tailed weasel.

click on image for a closer look

Appearing here in all white winter coat.  Brown in the summer months with an identifying field mark in the form of a black-tipped tail year-round.  This species is larger than the short-tailed weasel and the least weasel (lacks a black-tipped tail).  Smaller than a mink who does not sport a white coat in the winter.

A nocturnal animal it is active throughout the year.  Primary prey are mice and voles; however, it will take down a rabbit and climb a tree to snag a squirrel.  Weasels also dine on insects and bird eggs during the warmer months.  A busy predator this critter consumes one-quarter to almost half of its body weight on a daily basis.  Having dined on larger prey the leftovers are cached for later consumption.

Breeding season is summertime with fertilized eggs implanted for later development. Four to eight kits are birthed once a year in spring.

If you want to use a euphemism to describe a scallywag; don't impugn the reputation of my pal and totally cool predator by referring to the jerk as a weasel.

Door County Basics

 

IEI General Contractors, Inc.

Door County's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Emergency Services (EMS) are located on 14th Avenue adjacent to the County Fairgrounds in Sturgeon Bay.  If you pay a visit you will note that it is indeed a slick repurposing of a much older building.

Constructed of native dolostone blocks and engineered wooden roof trusses if you cast your gaze upwards the structure still sports an overhead crane.

IEI General Contractors, Inc.

This is a consequence of the building's pedigree.  From 1934 to 2004 this was the main shop for the Door County Highway Department.

When the highway department moved to new quarters on Duluth Avenue in 2004 the building sat mostly vacant or was utilized for storage.  The county Board of Supervisors contemplated alternately demolishing or repurposing the structure.  When it became apparent that County EMS had outgrown their leased facility the board initiated discussions with outside consultants in 2015 the costs of repurposing a structure that they already owned.

Plans were eventually drawn-up to remodel the building and locate the county's Senior Center in one part of the building along with offices for an Aging and Disability Resource Center.  30,000 of additional space adjacent would be upgraded for garaging ambulances and provide living space for on-duty paramedics along with offices for County Emergency Services Department.

Work began in 2016 with EMS moving into the facility in 2017 followed by the grand opening of the ADRC in January of 2018.

IEI General Contractors, Inc. has a nice collection of photos and a story about the project on their home page.

IEI General Contractors, Inc.

March Night Sky

This is going to sound  like an oxymoron but a window of darkness opens this month.

Beginning this evening the March Worm Moon will reach its last quarter-phase.  Because the moon does not rise until after midnight our night sky is going to be particularly dark through the New Moon Next Tuesday, March 20.

Seven heavenly nights of darkness!  Little if any light pollution is a real bonus for us stargazers.

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions.

Talking Turkey

You cannot get too many wild turkeys wandering around the joint.

Judging from the number of longbeards showing-up on the trail cameras combined with an over-all mild winter I have a feeling that spring turkey hunting might be pretty good.

Gobblers are cheap... 

 

Sunday Afternoon Economics

Happy Spring people.

I figured I'd wait until afternoon to bring-up the tedious subject of budget economics and allow you some nap time to regain the hour of sleep that you were deprived-of last evening.

And to share with you the absurdity of balanced budget talk.

Here is what we know about the two likely candidates for the White House in 2024.  Both Biden and Trump have declared that Social Security and Medicare are off limits.  Defense spending too.

The 800 pound gorilla is the equivalent of a sacred cow.  Hands-off.  The most precious of primates.

If you recall the first chart from my March 5 post and you want to balance the budget like all of the careless talk in Washington nowadays then you have to do this.....

Source: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Note: Interest payments on the federal debt are not shown. The New York Times

Of course, this presumes no additional revenue sources.

See how easy it is?

Have a terrific day.

Spring Forward

If you’re like me this semiannual switch between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time is maddening.  Today I lost an hour of sleep and in November after I set my clock back an hour I’ll still get out of bed in the dark to turn the coffee on.  At the end of the day I’ll pour myself a glass of Merlot in the dark.  This resetting of the clocks is messing with my circadian rhythms.

Daylight Saving Time is associated with the Western world as most countries outside Europe and North America don't observe the ritual. 

Courtesy of CNN research the notion of Daylight Saving Time has a curious pedigree.

1784 - The idea of daylight saving is first conceived by Benjamin Franklin.

1914-1918 - Britain goes on DLS during World War I.

March 19, 1918 - The Standard Time Act establishes time zones and daylight saving. Daylight saving is repealed in 1919, but continues to be recognized in certain areas of the United States.

1945-1966 - There is no federal law regarding Daylight Saving Time.

1966 - The Uniform Time Act of 1966 establishes the system of uniform Daylight Saving Time throughout the United States. The dates are the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. States can exempt themselves from participation.

1974-1975 - Congress extends DLS in order to save energy during the energy crisis.

1986-2006 - Daylight Saving Time begins on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October.

August 8, 2005 - President George W. Bush signs the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. Part of the act will extend Daylight Saving Time starting in 2007, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Last year the Sunshine State decided they had enough of this nonsense and by overwhelming margins the Florida House of Representatives and Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act and Governor Rick Scott signed it into law.  It will become effective if Congress changes the federal law.  

 

Senator Marco Rubio introduced The Sunshine Protection act of 2019 which would make permanent daylight saving time for all time zones.   President Trump implied support for it  and nothing came of it.  Last year the White House declined to say if President Biden supported permanent daylight savings time. Sheesh.

As for making Daylight Savings Time permanent there is evidence that the frequency of heart attack and stroke increases around the ritual resetting of clocks twice a year.  Benefits of Daylight Savings Time enhance public safety, make better economic sense and may improve our mental health.  Proponents of Daylight Saving Time argue that most people appreciate an increase in daylight hours after coming home from work.  

Speaking for myself - I like the notion of longer, lighter evenings, better health and a happier more prosperous United States.   

Make it permanent. 

Under The Knife

 Combined Blepharoplasty and Internal Levator Resection

AKA - Reconstructive surgery to correct the impact of a lifetime of sun, wind and gravity on the eyelids.  It has progressed to the point of vision impairment.

Before

Immediately following surgery

Day Two

Day Three

Day Five

 

Day Twelve

Friday Music

Composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney this song was also the title of the fifth studio album cut by The Beatles.  Released in 1965, of the fourteen songs recorded seven of them also happened to be featured in a film of the same name.  

Album, film, single.

The album was a Grammy nominee in 1966 - the very first time a rock band was recognized in this category.  In 2020 the album was awarded a ranking of 266 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  It's also certified platinum.

That's quite an accomplishment - memorable are the single in this post, the songs Ticket to Ride and Yesterday - coincidentally the most covered song in history.

Help!..... 

Save a Life

Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid used as an analgesic.  Combined with other drugs it is also incorporated in anesthesia.  As a pharmaceutical it is exceedingly useful when supervised by medical professionals.

It is also used by recreational drug users - frequently mixed with cocaine and heroin.  The cartels that manufacture illegal drugs for this market will also lace the same, and additional drugs, with fentanyl to enhance its effects.

Dangerous stuff as either way the probability of a fatal overdose is enhanced.

 

 

Local service organizations are working to supply Narcan (Naloxone) to local school districts in case of an overdose.  This drug can counteract an overdose from opioids, including fentanyl, and keeping it on hand could mean the difference between life and death.  

Participating pharmacists in Wisconsin can supply Narcan, without a prescription, to anyone at risk of overdose including family, friends and anyone else who may witness an opioid overdose.

Antler Drop

Half rack buck beginning of the month.

Likely more out there too.

Gonna keep a sharp eye-out for more pics on the trail cams and shed antlers in the snow....

Retribution

At CPAC last weekend Donald Trump issued a ginormous smack down of establishment Republicans and neocons that could teach professional wrestling a thing or two.

With you on my side, we will demolish the deep state.  We will expel the warmongers.  We will drive out the globalists, we will cast out the communists.  We will throw off the political class that hates our country.  

When we started this journey, a journey there has never been before, we had a Republican Party that was ruled by freaks, neocons, globalists, open borders zealots and fools.  But we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush.

Donald Trump promised that with him in the White House the Republican Party will never go back to a party that wants to give unlimited money to fight endless wars while seeking to cut social security and veterans benefits.

Well, there you have it.  A return to past grievances, a promise to deliver a welcome embrace of the 800 pound gorilla along with a hefty dose of retribution on top.

There's the party platform in a nutshell. 

Composite / Photos: GettyImages

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

There is a population of conservatives, Republicans, center-right individuals and independent-minded voters who place a high value on facts and the truth. Marginalized because they refuse to embrace baseless conspiracy theories or demonstrate sufficient fealty and obeisance to the former guy - exile is their cross to bear.