Critical Thinking in Critical Times

02/14/2025

From Epoch Times re Deferred Retirement Program—

“About 75,000 federal workers accepted the Trump administration’s retirement buyout offer, allowing them to receive full pay and benefits until Sept. 30 while being exempt from daily attendance rules and layoffs.

The 75,000 figure represents slightly less than four percent of the 2.3 million-person federal civil service workforce, not all of whom were eligible for the buyout offer. On average, 98,669 federal employees retired annually between 2000 and 2023, according to data compiled by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

***

The average federal employee salary is $106,382, according to OPM data. The median average household income for all Americans is $75,149, according to the Census Bureau.”

02/13/2025

I would only add that our teachers as a whole have crippled our youth and our future by failing to educate.

The most recent reports have shown throwing money to a bloated top-heavy tenured bureaucracy focused on themselves rather than students has produced a generation they can't add or read.

An education system that spends more dollars per student than any other nation with student scores at the bottom -!48th in the world.

Embracing indoctrination and not education is a teaching plan for disaster

02/13/2025

Jurassic Park Meets Bureaucratic Lethargy: A Modern Tale and the Beginning of Life in 175 words

Somewhere deep in a biotech lab, scientists are resurrecting woolly mammoths and Tasmanian tigers with DNA wizardry straight out of Jurassic Park. Colossal Biosciences, now valued at a staggering $10.2 billion, has raised another $200 million to bring back creatures last seen when humans were still figuring out fire. (Source: Bloomberg)

Meanwhile, the FDA just got around to banning Red Dye No. 3—thirty years after it was found to cause cancer in rats. (Source: FDA) Apparently, reviving extinct species is easier than removing carcinogens from children’s fruit snacks.

And in another lab, scientists are still scratching their heads over the greatest riddle of all: How did life begin? (Source: Nautilus .com).

Was it information first, or the power to speed up chemical reactions? One might ask the resurrected mammoths for insight—assuming they don’t trample us first.

Three diverse stories in one news cycle from John Ellis News Items. We live in an age where science can bring back the past, but regulation takes decades to catch up with the present.

interesting times… or just a very strange simulation.

02/12/2025

Health News: “Dr. Chips Will See You Now: Are We Sacrificing the Human Touch in Medicine?”

Remember the days when a doctor’s visit meant more than a pixelated face on a screen? Now, with “Dr. Chips” at the helm, our medical consultations have become exercises in data entry and algorithmic outputs. Where's Dr Welby now?

A recent study in JAMA Network Open (October 28, 2024) revealed that combining advanced diagnostic tools with traditional physician methods didn’t significantly improve accuracy. In fact, these tools sometimes outperformed doctors when used alone.

But let’s pause and consider: these systems rely on vast datasets and established guidelines, potentially missing innovative treatments tailored to individual needs. They can’t grasp personal histories, emotional nuances, or the subtle cues a human doctor would.

Many patients have already felt the cold efficiency of telemedicine, where brevity and impersonality often leave much to be desired.

While technology offers impressive support, it shouldn’t replace the irreplaceable—the human touch. Let’s ensure that in our race towards digital healthcare, we don’t leave behind the very heart of medicine: genuine human connection.

02/12/2025

$30 Million Mystery—And a ‘Constitutional Crisis’?

A mysterious $30 million fortune just turned up in a government employee’s bank account. We’re not naming names, but one high-ranking USAID official saw her net worth jump from $6.7M to $30M in just three years—on a $180K salary.

Where’s the accountability? Where’s the oversight? If this were a CEO, the media would be in a frenzy. Instead, the left is calling efforts to root out fraud and waste a constitutional crisis.

Since when did uncovering fraud, waste, and abuse become a threat to democracy? What are they hiding?

Funny how ‘fighting corruption’ is only a priority when it’s not their friends getting rich.

02/11/2025

The Hunt for America’s Boomers

China is hunting our submarines. According to the South China Morning Post, their scientists have refined a method to track the magnetic signatures left by subs as they move through water. The deep, once a place of silent refuge, may soon become a battlefield.

For decades, America’s nuclear deterrent relied on stealth. Ballistic missile submarines—boomers—could disappear into the abyss, ensuring second-strike capability. That advantage is slipping. First, Russia acquired Western machining tech to silence their propellers. Now, China is using magnetism to track subs. If they master it, they can find, follow, and kill.

Imagine a missile fired from land, striking water, morphing into a torpedo, and homing in. Submarines—once the ultimate deterrent—would become prey. The game of nuclear chess would become a game of chicken.

China is an old civilization but a reckless newcomer to power politics. They wield modern weapons with no ethical guardrails. Their ambitions are vast, their methods ruthless. America must counter this threat before the balance shifts for good.

The U.S. must act—now. More funding for countermeasures. More aggressive naval strategy. Tighter restrictions on technology transfers. If our boomers are no longer safe, neither is the world.

02/08/2025

Trump’s ICE Surge: 18 Days of Arrests Nearly Match Biden’s Year

Biden let illegal immigration spiral out of control. Now, Trump’s ICE is reversing course fast. In just 18 days, ICE arrested 11,000 illegal immigrants, including criminals, forcing the agency to take over four federal prisons. This total nearly equals a third of all ICE arrests in Biden’s final year, proving just how lax enforcement had become. Meanwhile, fearing arrest, illegal migrants are self-deporting in growing numbers—a stark shift from the open-border policies of the last administration.

02/07/2025

This is probably my "most favorite"of favorite songs. I always enjoyed the reflections of life borne within its words, but it was not until recently I learned that I missed the real message that was left hanging at the end.

Life without believing in Jesus is not a life of real contentment.

Today is a trundle of a lifetime with echoes of Ecclesiastes found in a contemporary song by Jimmy Buffet. It is a long one. 700 words. Jimmy Buffet’s song

02/06/2025

Title: Sanctuary Cities, Criminal Aliens, and the Law—Time to Choose

In light of the staggering toll—over 100,000 fentanyl deaths pouring across the southern border—and the early efforts of the Trump administration to deport criminal aliens, you’d think local governments would help protect their communities. Instead, some continue to shield illegal immigrants, including violent offenders.

Take Aurora, Colorado, where the Tren de Aragua gang, originating from Venezuela, has committed multiple crimes. A viral video from August 2024 showed armed gang members attempting a home invasion in an Aurora apartment complex, leading to increased federal attention. 

On Feb. 5, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the DOJ to halt funding to sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce immigration laws. In a memo, she directed the department to review and revoke grants to jurisdictions that block federal enforcement.

Federal law, 8 U.S. Code § 1373, is clear:

“A government entity may not prohibit or restrict officials from sharing information about an individual’s immigration status with federal authorities.”

Yet many cities ignore this law. Bondi warned that DOJ grants will now require compliance with § 1373.

By the way, another statute of interest:

8 U.S. Code § 1324 makes it a crime to knowingly harbor, shield, or transport illegal aliens:

“Any person who knowingly conceals, harbors, or shields an alien shall be fined or imprisoned for up to five years.”

The law is there. The crisis is real. Will cities protect their citizens—or their sanctuary policies?

(Source: Epoch Times)

02/06/2025

Argentina’s President Javier Milei has announced the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing “profound differences” with the U.N. agency. This decision mirrors that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who initiated the U.S. withdrawal from WHO on January 21. Milei’s spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, emphasized disagreements over health management, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and expressed concerns about WHO’s susceptibility to political influence. Adorni stated that Argentina will not permit international organizations to interfere with its sovereignty, especially in matters of health. 

Associated Press

02/04/2025

Iran’s Nuclear Countdown: The Clock Is Ticking. 225 words

For months, intelligence warnings have sounded the alarm that Iran isn’t just inching toward a nuclear weapon; it’s racing for one. New intelligence suggests Tehran is skipping steps, fast-tracking a crude but functional bomb. If true, Iran could have a working weapon in months, not years (NYT).

The urgency isn’t lost on Washington. This intelligence, gathered in the final months of Biden’s presidency, was handed to Trump’s national security team during the transition. Now, Trump has reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign, cutting off Iran’s oil exports and tightening sanctions (Reuters).

Meanwhile, Iran isn’t waiting. Reports indicate Tehran is secretly negotiating with Russia to bolster its nuclear and defense programs. High-level talks between Iranian officials and Moscow suggest Iran is preparing for conflict, not backing down (The Times).

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting today. Official statements are vague, but analysts believe they will be discussing military options. Israel has a history of striking hostile nuclear sites—1981 in Iraq, 2007 in Syria. As Iran approaches the threshold, history suggests Israel won’t hesitate (NY Post).

The question - what is the extent of American support? We do know Israel has upped its intel efforts and have no intention to get caught flat-footed. . . . again.

Iran is not waiting. Especially with their proxies weakened and funds tight. Iran is now responding with military drills, testing air defenses around its nuclear sites. Its economy is crumbling under sanctions, its currency hitting record lows. Meanwhile, European leaders are reconsidering their stance, with whispers of renewed UN sanctions (AP News).

The pieces are moving quickly. The question is no longer if Tehran will act—it’s when.

02/04/2025

This is a Quid Pro Quo we could have used with Iraq, Afganistan, and other nations where we gave them American blood and treasure.

BREAKING: President Trump just announced that he is demanding Ukraine to give its rare earth minerals to the United States as payment for all the aid.

"So we're looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earth and other things."

Imagine if we had been doing this all along. We give them and others our blood and treasure. Spending dollars we do not have and mortgaging our children’s futures with suffocating debt and inflation.

Afghanistan has a treasure trove of rare minerals in the ground, and Iraq has an ocean of oil under its lands. Who has it now, and it will soon find its way to terrorists! The circle of doom keeps rolling back to us v

If lives lost is not a deterrence, then maybe ithey would think twice the risks of suffocating debt and property losses. Just thinking.

02/03/2025

Mexico and US Now Talking
Tariff War on Hold

Markets dropped early Monday but began recovering after Mexico and the U.S. reached a one-month deal to delay tariffs and avoid a trade war. The 25% tariffs on Mexico were set to start Tuesday despite an existing trade deal. Meanwhile, tariffs on Canadian and Chinese goods still seemed set to take effect.

Mexican President knows a little bit about the art of the deal and politics. She responded in kind, bought some time, and now time for serious talks about the border, cartels, drugs, immigration, etc.

Time for a win-win.

As for me, chopping off the heads of the cartel snakes, closing their accounts, and maximum pressure with one full blown attack here on the gangs and in Mexico would be good.

UPDATED

The primary goal of the tariffs is to stop the Fentonyl and the second is work for our mutual benefit Mecico and Canada are now working with us, the that is great. Last I heard illegal crossings are down over 90%, and we are clicking out around 1,000 a day. These two items should be agreeable with the the Democrats. Trade imbalances with our two neighbors may be adjusted a little but nothing earthshaking.

The Panama talks have revived the Monroe Doctrine and begins a reversal of China’s influence and power grab in the Western Hemisphere.

China is now building a deep water port in Peru in the billions. Hopefully, Th free US can do something to avoid a default. This has already happened Sti Lanka Africa where upon default China received a 99 year lease to a strategic port.

China loans them the money to pay Chinese-run construction companies keeping the money in their eco system. And when the country can't pay they have a foothold.

02/03/2025

Tariffs, Terrorists, and Taking Back Control: A Warning
ADDED: Goldman Sachs report on tariffs in comments.

This country boy sees the Trump Tariffs plain and simple - righting wrongs. If not now, when and at what price?

Prices go up, and some call it a hidden tax. But the only goods affected are the ones we choose to buy from nations facing tariffs. Buy American, and there’s no tariff to pay. The real hidden tax is what we’ve been paying for years—cheap foreign goods that undercut our industries, destroy jobs, and make us dependent on nations that do not have our best interests at heart.

For decades, the U.S. allowed Europe to protect its industries with tariffs while we let their products flood our market for free. That imbalance, a leftover from the Marshall Plan, should have ended long ago. China, however, never played by any rules. It built its economy on unfair trade, forced technology transfers, and labor practices that violate basic human rights.

China’s Game: Control Through Trade

China’s goods are cheap for a reason. They exploit forced labor—Uyghur Muslims in work camps and child workers in factories. But it’s not just about cheap products. China plays a long game.
• When developing nations can’t repay their Belt and Road loans, China takes over their ports, power plants, and natural resources.
• Sri Lanka lost Hambantota Port on a 99-year lease when it defaulted.
• Peru’s Chancay Port is now a $3.5 billion Chinese-controlled gateway into South America.
• Chinese companies own energy grids, telecom networks, and infrastructure across Latin America, expanding their influence.

Ports built under Chinese contracts could easily be repurposed for military operations, giving China a strategic foothold close to U.S. shores. This isn’t just bad trade policy—it’s a national security risk.

Fentanyl, Open Borders, and Economic Strain

China’s influence doesn’t stop at trade. It fuels the fentanyl crisis, shipping precursors to Mexican cartels that flood U.S. streets with poison. Mexico and Canada do nothing to stop it. Meanwhile, billions of U.S. dollars sent by illegal immigrants go back to their home countries, disrupting our labor market and suppressing wages. Big corporations benefit—cheap labor keeps profits high while American workers are squeezed.

Asylum fraud isn’t about work—it’s about working the system. Migrants arrive not just for jobs, but for free benefits—housing, healthcare, and entitlements funded by your tax dollars. Crime rises, communities bear the burden, and the cycle continues.

Tariffs: War by Another Means

Carl von Clausewitz said, “War is merely the continuation of policy by other means.” The same can be said for tariffs. They are not conflict; they are a tool to restore balance without bloodshed.

Wall Street panics at a trade war, but short-term losses mean nothing if they secure long-term security, jobs, and economic independence. America cannot remain the world’s marketplace, the world’s piggy bank, or the world’s dumping ground.

The Path Forward

This is not about isolation—it’s about fairness. Trade must be reciprocal. Borders must be secured. Industry must be protected. Americans have a choice: Keep funding the system that exploits them, or take the hit now to reclaim control.

Change can without conflict. But without change, conflict will come.

Word count: 500 | Reading time: ~2 min

02/02/2025

Health Diabetes

Neuropathy is a common condition worldwide, but there are natural ways to help manage pain and improve quality of life.

02/01/2025

Here We Go Again: TB and Polio Making a Comeback | 215 words

With infectious diseases resurging in the U.S., it’s time for leadership that prioritizes public health over politics. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now awaiting Senate confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services, has long fought for safe, transparent, and effective vaccines—not against vaccines themselves. He has called for removing harmful toxins like mercury and aluminum from vaccines and ensuring that food additives, dyes, and chemicals linked to health issues are eliminated from the American diet. His leadership could restore trust in public health by prioritizing scientific integrity and consumer safety over corporate interests.

Kansas is now experiencing the largest tuberculosis outbreak in its history, with 66 active cases and 79 latent infections reported in the Kansas City metro area since 2024. Meanwhile, polio—once eradicated—has resurfaced in wastewater samples in major cities.

These outbreaks are warning signs. As migration increases from regions where these diseases remain common, outdated policies and lax screening threaten public health. The U.S. used to lead the world in disease prevention. Now, we’re watching long-gone diseases return.

We need leadership that demands accountability, prioritizes consumer health, and ensures that both vaccines and food meet the highest safety standards. RFK Jr. is one of the few willing to take that stand.

Sources: cjonline.com, indexmundi.com

Word count: 215 | Reading time: ~1 min

IndexMundi is a data portal that gathers facts and statistics from multiple sources and turns them into easy to use visuals.

01/31/2025

California Burns, and You Pay the Price - 450 words

You thought California’s wildfires were a distant problem. Maybe you sent prayers, maybe a few dollars to a charity. The rest? That was for taxpayers and the Department of Government Expenses to figure out—maybe cut some waste and tighten the purse strings.

But you know the insurance underwriters saw all this coming since many, if not most/all, packed up and left years ago, knowing what should have been obvious - Homes built in fire-prone woods, fueled by dry brush and Santa Ana winds, were ticking time bombs.

When rates shot up, people went uninsured. And for those who remained insured (if they did not leave already), the losses piled up. Policies vanished. The hills and beaches were filled with un-insureds, and a disaster was waiting to happen.

And the winds and the fires came, just like every season. California, however, still refused to manage its forests and refused to clear the tinder. They even shut down reservoirs for a fish whose population never increased.

And now, here’s the kicker—it’s not just their problem anymore.

I should have seen the writing on the wall when our homeowners association in Kentucky lost its insurer. No wildfires here. No hurricanes. Just a quiet, safe neighborhood. And yet, we scrambled for new coverage at a higher cost.

Then I read The Wall Street Journal article shared in News Items by John Ellis. Turns out, that rising insurance costs aren’t just hitting disaster zones. They’re creeping across the country like a slow-moving cancer. Why? Because insurers spread the risk outside the areas at risk. That multimillion-dollar beachfront home? That mansion tucked in a wildfire corridor? When disaster hits, their losses get passed on—to you.

A Harvard Business School study confirmed it: Insurance rates in stable areas are climbing to offset reckless development elsewhere. The responsible are subsidizing the risk-takers. And Californians, ever the first in line for a handout, still expect the rest of the nation to foot the bill.

And now the government is making it worse.

John Ellis, in his latest news roundup, pulled together three stories that show just how deep this rabbit hole goes:

FEMA’s Fumbling – FEMA is already stretched thin from past disasters and is now tapping into borrowed money to keep up with payouts. [Source: The Washington Post]

Insurance Exodus Continues – More insurers are pulling out of California and Florida, citing impossible regulations and massive losses. [Source: Financial Times]

The New Insurance Tax? – With state-level insurance pools failing, some lawmakers are floating the idea of a federal insurance fund—translation: a nationwide tax to bail out bad policies. [Source: Bloomberg]

It’s happening. The people who chose to live in paradise, in fire zones and floodplains, are about to get their safety net—funded by the rest of us.

Time will tell, but one thing is clear—California needs to grow up.

01/30/2025

Print, Spend, Inflate, Repeat—Washington’s Masterclass in Economic Su***de

No surprises here. We’re stuck in a financial death spiral—printing dollars we don’t have, spending beyond our means, driving up interest rates we can’t afford, and then printing even more to cover the tab. Rinse, repeat, collapse.

And guess what? The cost of borrowing isn’t just squeezing homeowners and car buyers. Uncle Sam is feeling it too. According to the Congressional Budget Office, interest payments on government debt have skyrocketed from 1.2% of GDP in 2015 to an estimated 3.2% in 2025. That’s $952 billion—more than the entire Defense Department’s budget.

Brilliant fiscal strategy. Spending money we don’t have, raising interest rates we can’t afford, and solving it by… printing more money. Heck of a way to run a country.

Hope Trump can overcome the terrible hand dealt him by the Clueless Joe Biden.