(#5112) Still no verified sighting of putin: Ukraine continues killing Russians soldiers at alarming rates

      The major news outlets are not reporting on why putin is "hiding" from the public. I say that is not like putin. He likes the fame and attention so for him to be letting others speak for him even about whether he is dead or not is out of character for him. When the kremlin has to rebut a claim of putin being dead then you can pretty much bet that putin is not able to speak for himself. Whether through death or incapacitation, the silence coming from the brutal dictator putin is deafening. Another question is why is the media not reporting on the possibility that putin no longer exists? Why their silence on this crucial subject? What the fuck is going on?
     I know why the assholes in the kremlin are not allowing for proof of putin being alive because they want to control the narrative whether putin is alive or dead. But the world media? What is their excuse? The kremlin can keep blaming putin if things go horribly wrong with Ukraine while keeping the status quo, instead of being truthful and reorganizing their society. That putin was allowed to destroy the Russian economy and kill off over 125,000 troops so far is irrelevant to their ultimate goal of having Ukraine for themselves. I often on these posts mention how putin's ego was the driving force behind Russia's imperialism but what I am seeing now is that putins ego was not alone. Too many in the power structure of the kremlin are just like putin.
     So instead of thinking that the death of putin would change the dynamics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I am seeing it not having any effect at all. So this invasion is now on Russia, not the cruel brutish tyrant that served as their leader. As putin was a puppet, the kremlin is the monster pulling the strings. Russia is showing itself as a pariah state and what happens to them in retaliation for their dirty deeds is justified and coming. There is no way that the west will allow the kremlin to keep any part of Ukraine whether putin is alive or dead. So the kremlin had better be ready to accept their mantle of shame and loss that their inglorious leader was about to be crowned with.

(#5111) The 14th year of blogging for me is complete with this post.

      President Obama had been sworn into office for his first term 11 days earlier. I started my first blog post on January 31, 2009. It doesn't seem that long ago but time has a way of flying by when things are relatively good. There was a block of time for 4 years when each day was excruciating and that was during the appointed presidency of trump. But like all things bad it finally ended and that was a real lesson for all we Americans excluding the obviously deluded ones. But despite the trump interlude of madness the time spent here on this daily blog has been well worth my time. I don't force myself to do this it is more a compulsion that I enjoy.
     Tomorrow I will start my 15th year of blogging and I look forward to that. What is inescapable for me is my chance to put out there in the ether my take on humanity and what makes us tick. Again, I say we are two main things, compassionate and curious. We care and we wonder about all that is around us. Not all of us exemplify these two characteristics of the human experience but when they are not in our majority of behaviors less desirable traits of humanity arise. Like selfishness, cruelty, and uncaring. These lesser traits of humanity are born from apathy and ego. Two disturbed psychosis that are not to be admired nor emulated.
     This blog began with the idea that if we know who we are then we can adjust how we live to our principles. When we care and wonder, our lives are filled with many good attributes that bring satisfaction to our personal lives even though many problems still persist. Because we know how to live and living as we should live with hope and determination for our world gives us purpose. We are not wasting time on trying to figure out who we are as we know who we are. A species that is limited in time and space within this reality but imbued with gifts of both a physical and mental nature. We are biological probes with reasoning, analyzing and concluding attributes that are stored in our long and short term memories. We are an amazing species and all of us deserve out path to happiness.

(#5110) Still no putin while Ukraine prepares to root out Russia!

      It seems the world media is just as gullible as the right wing media in America. They keep saying putin says this or putin says that but no evidence of putin saying anything is offered. Instead they later elaborate that a spokesman or the kremlin actually made the statement. It is going on 2 weeks now without a verifiable putin sighting but the media is content to dismiss that as unimportant for some reason. I used to hold the media in high regard but nowadays it is too much a tool of the ulterior motive manipulators. until I see or here a confirmed verifiable sighting of putin I will continue to postulate that putin is dead or is in a very bad incapacitated way. In the past putin has not let his persona hide from public view and as he is doing so now can only be seen as second hand proof that he is no longer in charge.
     As the numbers increase for armaments to the Ukrainian front the expectation that a new offensive from Ukraine is imminent. There are also sounds of Russia building up a new offensive but as they are constantly losing large amounts of armaments and personnel the idea that Russia will launch some great force at Ukraine becomes more ludicrous by the day. Yet the mouthpieces from the kremlin continue to spew such nonsense. The battlefields in eastern Ukraine are entrenched and yet the losses are always heavy on the Russian side. This invasion by Russia is doomed and their last death throes of trying to bully their way into a  victory are over.
     Ukraine is done with Russia and its attempts to shout a victory over them instead Ukraine is destroying Russia every day with a thousand knife cuts. Soon Russia will have no more corners to hide behind and when that happens the full weight of the Ukrainian forces will descend on the failed state of Russia and deliver the death blow it so richly deserves. Russia gets no compassion for invading, murdering, and kidnapping the soul of Ukraine. Instead they will be dealt a severe harsh reality of justice so that they understand the consequences of their brutal inhumane behavior. The Russian people will be left with the punishment for not stopping the ego driven putin although he may already be dead.

(#5109) More than 125,000 Russian troops have died in Ukraine.

      Whether Russian army or to a lesser extent, mercenaries, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has become a killing field instead. More than 125,000 Russian military men have met their deaths since February 24, 2022. Few in their right minds could have predicted this since the invasion first began. Yet of the approximate 150,000 amassed troops on the Ukrainian border just prior to invasion less than 25,000 still exist. At the current rate of Russian liquidation on Ukrainian soil another 25,000 soldiers only have a little over a month left to live. Russia is losing this invasion and yet will not stop their attempted invasion. Their parts for war machines are hard to get and their stockpiles are rapidly being depleted.
     On the part of the Ukrainian forces only about a tenth of what the Russian total is dying, about 12,500 Ukrainian soldiers, because they are fighting on home ground and are much more motivated to kill their invaders. With the addition of western arms and the sanctions on Russia the tide has turned toward Ukraine and victory for Ukraine has become the more likely outcome. Nowhere in Ukraine are the Russians advancing with any significance and if anything they are finding their current defensive positions less secure. An onslaught of western tanks and other offensive weapons like artillery and planes are also about to be unleashed on the battlefield so any current position of Russian control will find itself tenuous at best.
     If Russia does not find a way to surrender then death is what awaits them. The western weapons and Ukrainian resolve are not beatable for Russia. If Russia continues this self destruction then come what may. More people will die and although that is heart breaking it is also significant in this way. Russia is removing itself as a feared nation. They are cracking under the jaws of death Ukraine is forcing upon them. As Russia goes down as a tepid superpower there remains now only China and the Chinese leadership seem to be of the same failed logic as the Russians. By the end of this decade there may well be only one superpower left in the world and that being we here in the US along with our strong unwavering allies.

(#5108) 10 days and still no verifiable sign of putin

      Tick tock. The days are coming off the calendar and no verifiable sighting of the war criminal putin. I have already made my opinion known and that is that putin is dead or very ill, not long for dead. The kremlin will not tell the truth no matter what but if you notice putin has not been issuing any statements first hand instead the kremlin is talking for him. For me that is the tell in all of this. Regardless though the murderous idiots in the kremlin have decided that the invasion of Ukraine is a priority for them. So whether putin is dead or not will not necessarily affect the strategy of Russia.
     I know that my last few posts have been aimed directly at the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia but let me be clear here. Nothing in the world is more important than what the outcome of this invasion will be. Nothing! So the attention given the insurrectionist republicans in the House is of little concern to me. The death and dying in Ukraine far supersedes those fools who are nothing more than a laughingstock to those of us who value democracy more than any other political system. How the outcome in Ukraine is achieved is vital which is why we who never relent on Ukraine defending and reclaiming herself continue to advocate on her behalf.
     Not only are the tanks coming and already arriving in Ukraine, but air support in the shape of fighter jets are also coming. The next 2 months will be critical in how each side prepares for the spring offensives that are surely already being planned for. With superior tanks and air support the Ukrainians will be in position to damage the forces of Russia to a degree that will cripple them for the foreseeable future. Unless of course the war hawks in the kremlin are otherwise persuaded to stop their own bleeding. With nearly 125,000 troops already sacrificed for what amounts to an overall loss of land within Ukraine it may well be that the kremlin will stop the invasion and then recoup what they can to protect the other vulnerable flanks of their borders.

(#5107) Capitalism and corruption keeping America in poverty

      The republican agenda is to help the wealthy keep and increase their wealth. Instead of allowing capitalistic markets compete fairly. So once you become wealthy you had better become a republican if you are a greedy punk! Otherwise be a democrat, who live by the motto of merit for those who earn it. Once you have made your mark in our capitalistic society there should be no advantage or privilege attached that keeps you in the money. Like all good things they end so should the enterprises that are no longer up to date. For example the energy sector and dirty coal as a energy supply. Yet we have politicians who would sell their mothers in order to protect owners of coal.
     New products need to hit the marketplace without being obstructed by old products who are trying to protect their market share. There is always the need to transition from one mode of product to an updated or radically improved one but not at the expense of tanking the new product. Capitalism works when fairness and equality of opportunity are abundant. But it doesn't work when it is manipulated to deny evolving toward smart and intelligent designs. The republican party is one where they have sold their objectivity for a price that forces them to defy logic. When the American electorate is finally tired of the failed rhetoric of division and hate is when our society will prosper beyond belief.
     Until our society is ready to turn from the republican party the messes of division and hatred will continue. We democrats are the only political party that surround our policies as best as possible around fairness and equality of opportunity. There is no selfishness nor selling of principles that underlie our mission. We want a world where there is no poverty, no hunger, no one without medical care and no one without a chance to pursue happiness. After all our nation was founded upon the principles of democracy and if we are to honor our fore parents we must continue to fight the forces of the republican party who would deny democracy to America's citizens.

(#5106) Still no verified sighting of putin

      Okay, even if putin is not dead he is surely hurting from whatever it is that is destroying him from inside. Maybe he is even suffering from his own mixture of toxic plutonium tea. Whatever the final analysis is of his ill health, the fact that he cannot appear in public or is actually already dead is what we all need to know. I know for a fact that the powers in the kremlin will lie their asses off in order to maintain some kind of an advantage so nothing that comes from the kremlin can be believed. As each day ticks off the calendar it is becoming clear that putin is done as leader of Russia whether by death or incapacitation.
     Now I could be wrong like I was with un in North Korea but this isn't that and although similar it is a much larger stage for putin not to be on especially when called out by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy. It is becoming clear also that even if putin is dead the powers in the kremlin want to continue the illegal invasion of Ukraine. The stupid was not just with the ego driven putin it is also an infection shared by the no bravery to be found worms in the kremlin. The people of Russia need to find a way to band together to turn the tables on the warlords in the madhouse kremlin. Meanwhile a reinvigorated offensive is coming from the Ukrainians to push the Russians out of all of Ukraine.
     When that new offensive from Ukraine starts there will be no stopping it. If Russia is smart, which they haven't yet shown they are, they would step back from this invasion and keep their nation intact. Otherwise Ukraine will feel emboldened to move into Russian territory and start liberating current Russian oppressed lands. Other border countries will feel the same and start to attack the wounded Russia as well. There is no good scenario left for Russia as they are losing troops at an alarming rate these last few weeks with 910 being lost just yesterday. The Ukrainian fiasco for putin is no longer his concern as he is nothing if not dead. The kremlin brutes will now be saddled with the grave costs coming down on their heads!
     

(#5105) Yard work today

      Still waiting on whether putin has died or not confirmation. Otherwise nothing much on the Internet is worth waiting around to see develop. So off to my backyard to mow the green stuff growing in different spots all around the yard. Each day I go out and curb my animal's droppings and when the mostly not grass green stuff gets high it makes it hard for me to find them. So cut those down and weed eat the hard to get at places and that will be all for today. The weather is dry for now and now is the time to cut the growth. We are expecting some more wet weather this weekend. How much if at all is still unknown. Yet I am not one to procrastinate so out I go as soon as this blog post is written.
     All my batteries on the yard cutters are charged and ready to go. I have two batteries already charged for every tool so I can replace as needed while charging the dead battery for a third go if needed. I like the battery operated lawn mower and trimmer. They are efficient and powerful enough to do the job around here. I still have my riding lawn mower that is gas operated and likely I will use it some this morning. I have my gas powered Echo weed eater but I don't use that any more. I have an electric blower for leaves but that is not needed since all the leaves have been taken care of this leaf season through the riding lawn mower with the yard sweep attached to the back and a big rake for the difficult to get at uneven elevations in the yard.
     So now it is just green stuff being mowed and trimmed. I will likely only be out in the back yard for about 2 hours or so and that is just enough to wear me out. Ease of function still requires time put in and that isn't bad for the work that will be done. Anyway, this post is mostly written and I will momentarily be out back. When I get back in I will pop a pizza in the oven with added ingredients on top. A reward for my vigilance in keeping the backyard somewhat clean of refuse and animal discharge. 

(#5104) The west needs to stop pussy footing around in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine!

      I know the west, especially several dependent countries on Russian energy supplies, need to stop trying to thread a miniscule needle eye and just do what needs to be done to help Ukraine reclaim it's territory from the invading Russian  army. There has been almost a year now of time to rework that dependence some of these countries have on Russian supplies yet they are still not unyoked! That yoke is preventing these countries from doing the right thing about supplying Ukraine because of the blackmailing Russia is doing to them. Well get out of the dependence! For the life of me some countries are just incapable of doing the right thing no matter how there rhetoric is being to the contrary.
     With all this fiddle farting fucking around the dependent countries are doing, too many Ukrainian people are being murdered by putin forces! Just stop not doing enough and get off the dependence because Russia is only in partnership with other countries in order to leverage them into their sphere of thinking and acts. Do not associate with a bully who is not interested in law and order nor rules for engagement established through the Geneva Convention. Russia is a terrorist state so any collaborating with them, no matter how indirect, is tantamount to being their accomplice in crime! The Ukrainians need the supplies to do the job of ending this failed Russian invasion and the only thing stopping them is the weakness of their allies.
    It is a weakness of choice and although the dependent countries have opposed Russia with words their deeds are less strident. The west must overcome their own fears for the future and deal with reality now. The Ukrainians should not have to beg for the tools to defeat Russia. One country has to lose so stop wiggle wagging and pick a side then go all in to help toward victory. The United States has done a lot for the Ukrainians but not enough to allow them to break the back of putins Russia. More concerning are the countries in Europe who really can make a quick and powerful difference who are sitting on their hands a bit too much whilst their fearful calculations about their dependence on Russia has gone stagnant for far too long!

(#5103) The drudgery of inequality

     For most people who have ever lived the one great accomplishment of living is to reproduce. Not all agree with this and in fact I am not part of that vast group. However I know, I and those like me, are the exception not the rule. The problem is within a capitalistic system hell bent on an antiquated survival of the fittest mentality is that most are born unequal to a select few. Because of this inequality the chasm between those who can actually afford to bring up children to an enlightened evolution is small and getting smaller. The reason is that with less money spread out among the many the chances of a quality upbringing dissipates. Furthermore the few who are given an enlightened upbringing often find themselves chasing fortune instead of honor.
     Such is the nature of capitalism. It is a functioning formula for merit and intelligence but when the intelligence is not being attained the merit is wasted on less than honorable choices. There is historical evidence of trying to map out the right course for equal enlightenment but the powers that be seem to be less enthused about being principled in that strategy. Instead they point to denigrating arguments that base themselves in condescension and belittling. An air in the nose mentality for those who are not lucky enough to be born into a family that is already well stocked in monetary advantage. Any attempt to socialize programs aimed at a fair starting point for all is debased and mocked.
     If one does not understand the historical pattern of poverty and how it is perpetuated in order for a few to maintain mastery over our democracy then shallow arguments against equality are kin to their tellers. With the rise in racism and misogyny the oppression of those who are not advantaged is again buttressed against a more egalitarian society. Our government, especially and almost exclusively within the republican party, is filled with a want to be master class instead of a servant class. Those who attain power for the sake of their own priorities are not what we need. We need a servant class of leaders who are hell bent on providing a foundation for enlightenment to foster for all.

(#5102) Tick tock

      Still waiting for proof that putin is still alive. His spokesman says he is but that isn't proof. Where is the tyrant murderer? The only way I can accept that he is alive is for him to make a public appearance. Now he has many body doubles so just seeing him from any distance is not enough. He needs to speak and be clearly visible for facial recognition to be confirmed. I can see if he is dead why the powers that be in the kremlin would want to use a hidden dead putin to keep the invasion in Ukraine from coming to a sudden halt. Because if it were known that putin was dead then many would try to stop the invasion and pull Russian troops out of Ukraine.
     If he is still alive then where is he? Is he still breathing but incapacitated? For me if he isn't functioning then that is the same as him being dead as to the power struggle in Russia. The same reasoning for the invasion powers in the kremlin. The secrecy of the Russian power structure is another example of why no country should have a dictator. It has been 2 days since Ukrainian president Zelenskyy broached the subject of whether putin was still alive and we haven't yet to my knowledge seen proof of life. Another 860 Russian troops died yesterday in Ukraine so if putin is dead then maybe the death of young Russian men will begin to stop.
     Whether putin is dead or incapacitated the invasion of Ukraine must end quickly. There is no winning this war with Ukraine as the west will make sure. The only hope for Russia now is for them to unilaterally leave Ukraine and then settle in for a war crimes commission that will begin to set straight the damnable putin and his orders to commit genocide and hideous war crimes as strategies to defeat Ukraine. The clock is ticking and as each second ticks off and no putin then the drum beat of making that known will increase. Either putin is in hiding or he is incapacitated or he is dead. We will know so no more hiding kremlin in order to accomplish your unachievable goal of world domination.

(#5101) Russian soldiers dying by the droves

      Over the last 5 days, approximately 4,010 Russian troops have died in Ukraine. The previous 5 day total was approximately 2,880 dead Russian troops dying in Ukraine. Just for some perspective, about one tenth of the Russian total equals the Ukrainian death toll to their troops. By a 10 to 1 margin Russian troops are dying for putin's ego. With nearly a total of 120,000 dead Russian troops just from inside Ukraine the obscene notion that Russia is winning anything there is absurd and closer to insanity than any other probability. With putin relying on sheer numbers as a strategy to overwhelm the Ukrainian homeland, his true reality is that of a Ukrainian buzz saw chewing up his forces at an alarming rate.
     When will the Russian people finally see that their sons are no longer going to have life on Earth as long as putin is leading their country? 120 thousand dead young Russian men has not yet made an impact on the people of Russia to the extent that they cry out, enough! If anything Russia has ceded territory in Ukraine they controlled prior to their murderous invasion on February 24, 2022. The cost of that loss of territory? So far 120,000 dead troops, not counting the injured and surrendered. 3,339 tanks are destroyed or in Ukrainian hands. 6,241 Armored personnel carriers destroyed or captured. 4,903 vehicles and/or fuel tanks destroyed or captured. 564 aircraft/helicopters destroyed or captured. 1,186 tactical UAV systems destroyed or captured. 17 warships destroyed. 2,571 Artillery systems/MLRS destroyed or captured. 220 anti aircraft warfare systems destroyed. 190 various equipment destroyed.
     That is a mighty list of destroyed and captured Russian assets that no longer are available to activate for a loss of territory in Ukraine. Giving up the blood and treasure for less than nothing surely is not a winning strategy for the ego maniacal putin. The strategy of bum rushing his troops into enemy fire is not working for putin but he continues to try. I just can't for the life of me see how the Russian troops keep following orders that will deliver them to a liquidation. There is no sense to it and if it continues the death toll will ultimately become one of the most tragic events in warfare history. It is an abomination to civilized behavior that marching troops to certain death is allowed to continue even to my way of thinking. War is war where death will occur but to throw lives away even grates my soul.

(#5100) I prefer this rumor even though it is a rumor

      You know how rumors are. They often are of a fantastic nature or a flawed one. Either way they are tantalizing for those who are not involved. Especially if the rumor is about a very bad person who is no longer with us. I saw this morning that a rumor is floating that putin is no longer alive. I must be clear here. There are two people on this planet that I can't wait to learn of their expiring. The aforementioned putin and his kiss ass boy trump. The world would be so much better off if these two callous cold blooded scourges were off the planet for good. Now I know there are others out there who are crippling our societies with their selfishness and greed but for the current time those two are the worst.
     Once I saw the rumor of putin being dead it automatically lifted my spirits. Yes, I admit that some who are possibly dead make me feel alive. It is the reality of life that when an oppression has been lifted a sense of relief and hope replace the oppression. The idea that the rumor is true has given me a sense, even if false, that my disdain and abhorrence of putin is real and deep. So even if the rumor is false I still got a bit of a charge out of it. It for me would be a precursor to things to come if I survive past putin or trump. At least my attitude is a happier one this morning no matter what the truth about putin is.
     The beauty of this rumor is that I will be monitoring the rest of the news this morning to see if any confirmation is forthcoming. Of course I will also feel a little let down if this rumor is false but the high I got off of it will still put the letdown above any way I felt prior to hearing the rumor. The reason is that I am starting to think about a post putin world where Ukraine is not under the ego of a deranged human being. Not to say that those in the kremlin who supported putin won't continue with the murderous invasion of Ukraine but at least a change at the top of Russian politics will at least cloud things for the better. I think that anyone would be better than putin and the odds are that if this rumor is true the end of Russian aggression in Ukraine may be a likely result.

(#5099) Good trouble

      Doing the right thing for the right reason is not an assured formula. How long have women been fighting for equal rights with men? How long has racism overcome our best efforts to eradicate it? How long will poverty be tolerated while the wealthy add to their wealth? How long can democracy stand when the insurrectionists are allowed to run the government? So many how long questions we have here in America. It seems that doing the right thing is not welcomed by all. For several decades I have been waiting for people who vote for republicans to rise above them and vote them out. It hasn't happened and each time for a long time I was astonished when they kept voting for republicans.
     Not any more! I expect that no matter how cruel and dishonorable republicans are their voters will tolerate them. Which speaks to why? I get that tradition is a key, because the saying of we have always voted for republicans is often heard as an excuse. Yet shooting oneself and others in the foot shouldn't be a tradition anyone would continue with once it is felt. So trying to know why anyone sees helping people as a bad thing is important to understand. I expect that the old survival of the fittest concept of me first is one reason and possibly hatred for anyone who is not like themselves another reason. But honestly it is inescapable that our lives are so intertwined and that having negativity as a default position is not productive.
     So how do we get to the point where we can illustrate the correctness of humanity? We get into good trouble. We make stands where the point is moral, ethical, and honorable, to care and wonder for our species. We do not let the worst of who we are dictate the path forward for all of us. We stand up to their demagoguery with facts and the truth of things. We get into good trouble as our default position so that any one who sees us knows that we are not the problem and instead we are the solution. Fighting the rest of our lives for what should be the manifest destiny of our species. Good people doing amazing things for all and the existence around us.

(#5098) Buying goods from Russia is fueling the illegal invasion of Ukraine

      There is no way putin can keep sending troops and armaments to Ukraine if not for the help from those foreigners who buy Russian products and services. I know we were an interconnected society previous to Russian aggression in Ukraine but to keep that interconnectedness in the face of the atrocities being committed by Russian strategy is to ally oneself directly with putin. There is no middle ground here. Either you are helping putin continue to murder civilians and do other atrocious harm or you are against him. So if a nation for example had ties to Russia for necessary products, they should be or should have been in search for alternative products from somewhere else. There is no other scenario where they can just let things be and not be held in criminal disgrace.
     Without outside money, Russia cannot sustain itself for very long. It has expenses in keeping its economy running and its people in supplies. Without outside money the Russian economy would soon collapse and any thought to continuing their invasion would be impossible. The only way to stop this madness of putin quickly is to cut off the money. Western sanctions are helping to do just that but rogue countries are bypassing those sanctions. So a penalty for bypassing sanctions must be airtight in implementation. There cannot be any passes for the unethical propping up of putin in order to make a beneficial profit when murder is the cost.
     We in the west need to make them pay who help putin continue to kill innocents. It is a bloody stain on our species that murder is considered just a reasonable cost of doing business. All those who have helped putin without trying to change that help over time, should be adjudged criminally guilty of collusion in the illegalities that Russia's putin is allowing in Ukraine. Every bit of money that is illegally going to putin and every penny that he makes from those who will stubbornly not find alternative supplies for goods that don't include Russia should also be held together in the same criminal frame. Murder is not okay as a cost of doing business despite reasoning that tries to make it so.

(#5097) My mind is willing but my body is tired

      I feel like a ton of bricks landed on me but my mind is ready to go. Such a conundrum. Aging is a real bummer when it comes to how my body is always lagging behind my thoughts. What is real sad is that my younger zest for life is now tempered and would have been perfect had I still been young. I was too zealous in life, almost like my hyper was a degree to much for me growing up. Now my hyper has slowed but my body has nearly become stagnant. I mean I still do some things that I want but not to the degree that I had done when younger. It is almost like a couple of examples I often think about. I wish my wisdom now was with me when I first started out, or my teeth would grow back in when I am old not young.
     Such it is with my body. I wish it had been less hubris at the early ages in order to maintain more of that energy now that I am older. I am only 67 but I feel every hard year of effort I squeezed from it. Most of us do not get to take life easy and still pay the bills. We have had many physically difficult and demanding jobs that wore us down over time. Plus being young we wanted to keep playing sports in various ways that added to the wear and tear of our biological forms. I think I could sleep for at least a week or more given the tiredness I carry with me. My mind is not weary like that but my body sure is. I have spent the last 20 or so years getting used to being tired most of the time as a consequence of getting older. I accept that mentally, but hate the fact of it physically.
     Every day of my life is filled with chores now. I cannot take a day off from anything if things are to be done. Sure I could arrange for someone to tick off the box of known activities I accomplish daily but the unknown ones are not easily scheduled. I am always trouble shooting something around here or in my life so there is no checklist for that. I enjoy being a closer on so many problems that arise but that in itself makes me more indispensable not less. So like this daily blog, for the vast majority of it, it is a daily task. My animals and this household need all and even more than I can give. So the idea that I can sleep in or go away for more than a day is unthinkable. I get up way too early when I am bone weary and do what needs to be done and then if I am lucky I can get a nap or two during the day before I go to sleep way too late. Such is my remedy for now.

(#5096) Still loving the deluge of rain in California

      Here I am in Sacramento California experiencing a deluge of rain this Sunday morning. Good for many reasons the least of which it is a slow day for traffic so fewer accidents because of rain is expected. Plus the drenching of our soil once again to replenish the aquifers, and the rising levels of our lakes and aqueducts to be the result of this welcoming rain. I know many workers are not happy with the rain as it effects their outside livelihoods but they will have to soldier on for the good of our state. Many a year I worked outside in weather far worse in the states of Washington and Alaska. I still got my work done albeit with more difficulty.
     My motto on this rain is keep coming. The more the merrier. It will take a lot more rain than what we have been happily getting to make up for the last decade of more than intermittent drought but this year's rain totals are surprisingly turning the tide on the depressing drought. As I watch the rain pour down like a waterfall I can only think of how much the water basins are rising because of the precious rain. We are well below our normal levels but our levels are rising giving hope to the thought that our water supply this coming year will not be a drastic situation. As well the snow pack in the higher elevations is rising as well. Our mountain runoff in the spring should be healthy and long.
     The things I took for granted when I was young like the seasonal allowances of rain is not like then now. So when we do get an abundance of rain it is like it is a gift. So watching this rain pour from the sky is refreshing and as a side note the continuity of the falling rain has been spelled by a day or so of no rain which allows the creek behind my yard to shrink from its swollen water flow. Keeping it in the creek and not in my backyard due to flooding is perfect. So rain hard for a while, take a little break, and then keep raining hard for a while again. My entertainment budget of zero is being amply filled with natures rain cycle.

(#5095) The republican manifesto of greed and cruelty

      So going after Social Security and Medicare in order to weaken both is now the big priority of the republican party. Instead of caring for the elderly who have paid into the insurance programs the republicans are looking to hurt them, being us. We who are already receiving our benefits are as soon to be a target of republicans as those who are nearing retirement. The youth of our nation are being left out completely by republicans so that when in 30, 40 years when they are eligible to retire the republicans would have them without Social Security and Medicare.
     I honestly cannot say which is more debasing about republicans, their disdain for the elderly or their disregard for the future of our youth. The republican party has become a party of cruel and short sighted individuals who live by the motto of "I got mine so fuck you!" Even though Social Security and Medicare are taxes we pay to support both programs. It is beyond me to understand why people vote for republicans because they commit so many disgusting and disgraceful acts. They are the bottom of the barrel of humanity and represent the worst of what selfishness does to a person.
     They would let many die instead of being caring. They would let many starve instead of feeling. They would deprive life itself if they saw a way to make a buck from it. Who would ever want to be known as a republican? The shame and dishonor associated with them is little felt by them because it would take a moral person to know. They are what can only be described as the dregs of humanity. I am only being fair here because their acts and intentions are not hidden. In fact they flaunt them as worthy of some repute. If ignorance and hate are to be our national identity then the time to either confront them or let them win is upon us. What will we do as a nation? Give into our worst natures and fall from the weight of our own diseased acts or do we fight like all get out to preserve what America has been known to be, a nation of immigrants, who although with some difficulty, always found a way to survive and grow together.

(#5094) Fortune favors the bold

      A Latin proverb that is more true than not. In my own life when I have done something bold and followed it up with my best effort the result was bettered for it. It is like when we seek to do great things and then put our backs to it the opportunities begin to emerge. Others see our effort and for the right reasons want to be part of it. Inspiration is gathered when we try the nearly impossible and show progress. Much like last years breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology. Once the dam breaks on a time changing concept the rest is an avalanche of pursuit. I find also, although not as prominent, are the casting aside of ancient traditions and mores.
     We are not our ancestors who fought for warmth, food and shelter. We have moved beyond those desperate times and are now less dependent upon miracles and pleadings for basic functioning. We have evolved into science and logic to survive and even dream of greater ambitions like space travel and time altering events. Not only do we not need to worry so much on just surviving but now we dream of living longer lives than ever thought possible. All because we are bold and want more than what we currently have as parameters. Our imaginations fuel our drive to create an existence that has more than existing to just live and die.
     Along the way we the many of us have found the courage to be bold. To stick our necks out for something that is greater than ourselves. I always say this, we humans are an amazing species. We have yet to prove that on a more regular basis but we have done so enough to show that it is within all of us to do so. None of us, human beings specifically, are incapable of being bold. It is our heritage. It is our manifest destiny. It is the one thing in life that raises our own estimation of ourselves. Fortune favors the bold is a proverbial statement that when seen after the fact becomes clear as to its authenticity.

(#5093) remember to post Carl!

      It is not as if I am busy or too preoccupied with doing as little as possible. It is that I am just not remembering. I even left the tab open so I could help my memory but I never did sit down at my computer after initially leaving it early yesterday morning. If I had I would have seen the open tab and acted accordingly. No excuses because this really is all voluntary anyway and for the most part an exercise on my part to do what is very difficult as it is. To write everyday somewhere above 250 words on a subject that I come up with that is either important to me or is some current or random thought crossing my mind.
     I usually write about politics but have chosen to stay away from that since the republican party has been able to gerrymander their way into the House majority. It grieves me to know that the American electorate is aware of the republican unfair and unjust ploy yet still chose to vote for them. Not only that they insurrected our Capitol and are not being shunned or banned from office. It really sickens me to think that our electorate is as selfish and brutish as the republican party now undeniably represents. So politics for me right now is like crud I would wish to wipe from my shoes. Our Presidency and Senate are the only good saving graces at the moment on the federal level and the uptick in democratic leadership in states is also encouraging but the failed republican party is damaging us from within the House.
     So trying to be relevant about a subject that strays from my wheelhouse of politics is not as simple as I would have hoped. I sit here in my chair at my desk and often draw a blank about a subject that has my motivation stirred. So here I am trying to make relevant my inability to remember to post every day when it does occur. Which by the way has been more frequent lately than in the last 13 almost 14 years. Yes, January 31 will be 14 straight years of this for me with only a handful of missed, albeit made up for the next day, postings. I think I will set up another fail safe act for every day that gives me a reminder to check off so that I don't just rely on my memory.

(#5092) I am feeling a bit anxious about my dog Billy's surgery this morning

      My Billy, 12 1/2 year old long haired Chihuahua is about to go under for 2 teeth to be removed plus a benign mass on his right cheek that he scratched open. There is another mass on his leg that I will ask the Doc to remove as well since he will be under anesthesia already. A lot of things happening all at once for Billy and it has me a bit anxious. When our pets get older it is harder to think of them not being with us and this is one of those times for me. I know in my mind that he will be fine but there is always the chance that he won't come back after I drop him off. It has happened to me before with 2 of my other pets, but those were under more dire circumstances. This is not that so he should be fine.
     Should be but no guarantees. I don't know about other people but I suspect it is the same, my pets are like children if I had any. I would do most anything to make sure they are safe and healthy. So the anxiety I am feeling is probably appropriate for the moment. Just talking about it here is helping me accept whatever outcome avails itself. I am about 40 minutes from leaving with Billy to the veterinarians so the level of anxiety is increasing. I am fine though and although anxious I am very glad that I can afford the rather expensive, for me anyway, surgery. I trust the Doctor to make sure Billy is properly cared for during the surgery experience.
     I don't know if Billy senses my anxiety but for now I don't think so because he is in the bedroom laying on the bad sleeping. I didn't give him his usual breakfast like I always do but he doesn't seem to mind right now. He will be happy to go for a trip in the car because he loves going with me places when I can take him. He is my little buddy who I have had for 10 of those 12 1/2 years. 10 years doesn't seem that long in the big picture but it is a long time for our pets. I can see some aging on Billy from when I first got him from the dog pound but his character and behavior are about the same. I expect after today another 10 years of being together may well be our future.

(#5091) Back to normalcy

 I opened my eyes this morning and looked at the ceiling where the time was projected. It was at that moment that I remembered I was back to having power in the house. We here in the house were without power for almost 2 days but when you have a disruption in your schedule like that it reveals some things. Like even though there was no power I found myself reaching for the light switch most every time I went into a room. It is just mechanical for me and stopping it was not easy. I did laugh at myself for my unconscious movements and tried to remind myself that we have no power in those switches right now.
     I also became aware of how hard it is to sit in the dark with little to do. I am someone who needs to be somewhat active. So doing things helps even if having to have a flashlight with me most of the time. Outside during the day time hours is normal but with the weather being so windy and rainy there were few things I could do other than necessary ones. So eventually I put one of my reclining chairs up against the big window to the front and just sat there looking out into view. One saving aspect here was that my gas supply for the water tanks and the furnace was not interrupted so plenty of hot water and heat for the home, the stove just needed a lighter to get the burners going.
     So getting showers was fine but of course needed to be done in the light of day that was coming through the bathroom window. Having my coffee early in the morning was really missed so that cup this morning was really appreciated. I just plugged in the electric skillet and fried up a couple of eggs and made a pancake. Just because I could. Here I am sitting at my keyboard typing this post whereas the last few days have been anxious for me because I knew I wouldn't be able to make a post for each day the power was out. I got through it after not succumbing to all the thoughts about how I could make a post by going mobile. Enough Carl, relax and let things happen without trying to control them. lol.

(#5090) A big push in Ukraine by Ukraine and Russia

     It seems now that there are two pushes by each country to take control of the Russian invasion. This week will likely decide which nation can grab the mantle of victor. With it's push to take the gateway city of Kreminna and liberate it from the Russian forces, Ukraine is poised to control a vast section of vital Ukrainian territory. On the other hand further south, the Russians are trying a last ditch effort to retake Bakhmut and reestablish a morale building victory in a vital city to Russian ambitions. The defense of both and the offensive of both will play out over the next week.
     If Ukraine can hold its fortified position in and around Bakhmut then the Russians will have thrown their best fighters into loss a that will denigrate their morale instead of bolster it. We will see how the Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut thwarts the Russian all out advance. As to Kreminna, the Russians know that if Kreminna falls their dreams of empire in Ukraine fall as well. From Kreminna the Ukrainians can advance into the rest of their homeland with the upper hand. Russia will be forced to further retreat toward to their own borders. Ukraine is already advancing on Kreminna and if things keep at this pace Kreminna will fall back into Ukrainian hands.
     Russia is making its move on Bakhmut with some success securing some strategic ground and putting the Ukrainian defenses at high alert. It seems that the two battles will be eternally linked in deciding the outcome of this horrific putin invasion. My money is on Ukraine because when it comes to fighters on the ground the Ukrainians have shown that fighting on Ukrainian soil to save the nation of Ukraine inspires them to heights of focus that the Russians can only dream to experience. This week, by the end of next Sunday should go a long way toward deciding this invasions outcome. Again, Ukraine is fighting for their lives and the Russians are fighting for putins ego. Bet as you will!

(#5089) Make up post for electrical outlet yesterday

     Yesterday I couldn't write a blog post on my page because the night before the power went out. We had winds up to 70 miles an hour and we here in the Sacramento Valley are not used to such wind force. Well as you can imagine many trees and fences were blown about contacting power lines and generally making a mess of the electrical grid. Our local service provider SMUD, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, a non profit electrical utility here in the city of Sacramento had it's hands full. 300,000 accounts were affected by this storm and getting everyone their lights back on was a Herculean chore. We were expecting our power to be out for at least another 3 or 4 days. Yet earlier this evening our lights powered back on.
     I can tell you that it wasn't just the power to our homes that was a major problem. The old growth Oak trees that didn't withstand the forceful winds also took a hit. Many streets were impassible all over the city with many of those trees taking out power poles. But what I saw yesterday and today was uplifting. The people came out of their homes and got dirty trying to clean up their little section of the mess. Even I was out doing whatever I could yesterday and today to make it safe out there for those who had to be out. This morning I even got to be a voluntary traffic control man who guided traffic up the road to a detour around a large Pine tree the was laying across Del Paso Blvd.
     It only took the city work crew an hour to clear the mighty tree from the road and clear up all the debris so that traffic could continue. Since I have nothing much to do when it is dark outside so I sit in my recliner chair that I have put at the front window so I can see out into the night. So when the people across the street suddenly had their string of holiday lights come to life I immediately perked up, geared up, and went outside to Del Paso Blvd. There I saw a SMUD work crew working a on a power pole and then within minutes I looked back at my house and the lights were on. All of us standing out in the cold on this dark evening spontaneously broke out into a clapped filled Woohoo outburst. Good stuff my friends. :)

(#5088) What calamity lies ahead in the House

      Now that this latest fiasco of republicanism has ended in the house what lies ahead? Surely not governing as we saw with the 15 votes to eventually elect a dismal character as republican majority leader. Instead of negotiating with democrats to do a compromised agenda over the next 2 years the republicans ramrodded a coalition with their extreme right wing flank that at best will not destroy them and at worst will. My money is on the worst case scenario. At this point we don't know yet what concessions the weakling mccarthy appropriated to his unruly right wing but we do know it had to be substantial.
     So over the next 2 years we will see the most garish led House since I don't know when. The lowlife mccarthy will have to have democratic votes to get anything passed in the next 2 years and for that to happen he will have to bypass his own right wing. If he can that is, because we don't know the extent of his compromises. Surely though the idea that anything meaningful for the American people being offered by republicans in the House over the next 2 years is moot. There will be nothing other than investigations and wasted House floor time. I also expect a massive amount of absurd floor speeches that aim at accusing democrats of everything under the sun that is wrong with America.
     The saving grace here is that most of the important necessary work to keep the government open and the debt ceiling work is done for a while. So our nation will be able to survive for the next little while. the House controls the money we spend for keeping government functioning so when we are at the place of needing the House to hold up it's obligations to our society is when we will see the real test of how bad this republican majority in the House plays out. In the meantime I hope that some current House seats will come open due to criminal probes so that special elections can then reverse the republican majority. Wishful thinking at this point but it really is all I have to cling to until 2024.

(#5087) In the last 16 days nearly 11,000 young Russian soldiers have been killed inside Ukraine

      The death toll for Russia of it's armed forces reached 110,250 since the beginning of the invasion putin instigated without provocation. Murderer putin wanted to take Ukraine under its influence and power but Ukraine said no and here we are. With 110 thousand young Russian soldiers dead with at least that many who are wounded and maimed. So close to a quarter million Russian youth have been ravaged by this ego driven illegal invasion of putins. That number is astronomical. Consider again that "only" 58 thousand Americans soldiers died in Vietnam over a 10 year period. This Russian invasion of Ukraine by putin is not even a year old yet.
     There is no way Russia can sustain these kind of casualties. Russia is said to have had 1 million active duty soldiers with another 2 million in reserve. But think of it this way, not all of those soldiers are combat soldiers, many are support personnel for the actual fighters of which there are far fewer today than in February 2022 when putin first invaded Ukraine. With most of the elite Russian forces having been killed off the remainder of troops for the invasion are less experienced and more afraid of dying knowing what they know now. Which is why so many of the Russian troops left in Ukraine are surrendering instead of being cannon fodder for the inept Russian leadership.
     Russia continues to call up its reserves but these reserves are not capable of fighting the experienced and motivated Ukrainian forces. More shedding of Russian blood onto the Ukrainian ground is expected and in larger quantities. More young Russian soldiers will be liquidated and still putin sees himself as invincible. It is sad to watch from afar the devastation being wrought on the Ukrainian people but just as much it is difficult seeing the madman putin send his youngsters into certain death. The Russian people are an embarrassment for giving into their dictator without stopping him with every cell in their bodies. They allow putin to kill off their offspring without a demand that he stop that can be heard anywhere!

(#5086) I haven't watched the House vote for it's speaker

      On facebook I see that there is not a speaker elected yet after 7 votes and counting have been taken. Desperate kevin mccarthy is trying to get the job but he cannot get the required 218 to lead the House. All 212 democrats have voted for Hakeem Jeffries and the republicans with their current 121 votes are unable to get to 218 on anyone. The real problem here for republicans is that mccarthy will not stop trying to get the posting and each time he tries he keeps coming up short. 7 times now and who knows how many more times he will keep trying. He said in the beginning that he would keep forcing a vote with him as leader until the small cabal of opponents to him relent.
     That doesn't sound encouraging when after 7 votes he hasn't won. Yet again today they are voting with him on the ballot. I won't watch the shit show because for one I despise the insurrectionist republican party with every fiber of my being and secondly, the idea of watching a train wreck doesn't satisfy any need I have. So as I scroll the news feed on facebook I get the current state of affairs as many of my friends there are fascinated by the ineptitude that republicans are plainly willing to show the world. I am not a vindictive person so I again don't want to spend any time as entertainment watching the brazen idiocy coming from the republican party.
     I assume something will break eventually and at that time I will be satisfied to learn the results. All I know is that if republicans had not gerrymandered the hell out of federal districts the republican party would not now be the small majority in the House. So all of it in that chamber of Congress is a bit of a nightmare and that nightmare is showing itself in its inability to even begin the 118th Congress. I hope that those who voted for republican House members can see the effect of their vote as it is they who supplied us with a most inept republican party. Elections matter and republican voters deserve as much blame for this current fiasco as the republican members of the House!

(#5085) Taking care of our pets

      Yesterday I learned my dog Billy needs two teeth removed and some minor surgery on a cyst that he scratched open. A thousand bucks worth of work. I am of limited income so my first reaction was one of a little despair. I always knew in the back of my mind that something concerning my 4 animals would jump up some time and make itself known. So I was not taken aback by the estimation of the work I was just saddened a bit because the cost has a real affect on me. Well I have ways of taking care of the costs and as of this morning began one of those ways. I expect I have done what is needed but a small loan from one of my credit cards is a responsible decision.
     I don't want to wait for other options to emerge because I don't want my Billy to have to be uncomfortable any longer than necessary. This short term loan will be paid off quickly reducing the effect of the decent interest rate I was able to secure. I don't like having to pay for things on credit or with loans but sometimes the unexpected needs a different approach. I love my dog Billy and anything that hurts him hurts me. I have had him for 10 years now since I got him from the dog pound. He was 2 1/2 years old then so he is getting up in age but despite his age he is still a rambunctious long haired Chihuahua rabble rouser. :)
     I will make sure his diet is less difficult to eat with two of his teeth coming out and for about a week he will have to wear a collar to protect himself from his own scratching on his cheek where the cyst was. I have asked around and find that the cost of the surgeries is low compared to what others have experienced. My Veterinarian is a good guy whom I have been with since he first went into business. We have shared some heartache over pets of mine he could not save from debilitating injuries. I think he understands that I don't have a lot of money and that I care about my animals. All in all I expect Billy will be fine soon and for that I am so very grateful.
     

(#5084) No deserves and no guarantees, just do the right thing and do no harm!

      This existence of ours is just what it is. Nothing more and nothing less. We don't get any privilege being in it other than the life we have. Without life we would not be here with the ability to learn and understand this natural environment. So just being alive is all of our starting point and nothing else. One of the great abilities we humans have is to be able to imagine. When we look around ourselves we are marveled at our planet and the skies above us. Where we see the foundation of life here with water, food, shelter, and possibilities we begin to order our lives in ways that enhance our survival. This planet is readily made for housing us and keeping us from much harm.
     Where we begin to move ourselves away from the basics of our existence is when we try to think we are less than our possibilities. We have become a species that now has given itself to an apparition in the form of a god. I say apparition because it is the closest thing to a ghost while also being omnipresent. A figure that has over time become the one and all of who we are. Yet many of us do not succumb to that way of thinking or as has become lack of thinking because we know that reality is not based upon a supernatural being. We are born of ourselves with a limited time and space expiration. We are not children or a creation of an immortal divinity that has no observable presence, yet too many do.
     Yet my fact based opinion is likely the minority of we human beings. Such is the allure of a master who controls our lives. I don't get it myself. I understand the desire for a god in the lives of many but not the need of it. Our human being species will never expand beyond our myths, mores, superstitions, and conspiracy theories if we are not able to shake off the fear that allows for them to exist in the first place. I am fine with coping methods for personal struggles but not as heavenly golden rules and the only way to get to a safe harbor. We are alone on this planet as a byproduct of environment, physics, and biological combining. We exist and know we exist, that is our one claim to an advancement that is not dependent upon mystery to force a definition.
     

(#5083) Doing good Samaritan things beats capitalism for the sake of capitalism

      I am not going to rust nowadays instead I am keeping busy with my house and yard while also doing good deeds for people without. I have tried to lighten my load by doing a whole bunch of nothing but that isn't who I am. I need to be busy doing something of value because that is my choice. Not value to me except the feeling of accomplishment but of value to others to show them that there is still some people in this world who are not in it for capitalism. I don't need much to survive and I live thusly. So when opportunities come where I am in a position to do for others who don't have what few luxuries I have then I jump to attention.
     I wish the wealthy would understand this because they are in a far better position to help people who are without than I am. But if those of us who are not wealthy still find the time to help others then at least we are not like the slacker wealthy who only seem to want to make more money or control lives that are not theirs. They are in the quantity business and those like us are in the quality business. Quality of life is far superior than accumulating quantity. I know I kind of mixed that up a bit but the point is clear enough. So today I was again doing my part to make someone else's life better and in this case helped out another through it. Plus I got a bit of value for all the effort. A win, win, win. It rarely works out that way but when it does the feeling is exceptionally good.
     Money is a means for barter and trade whereas relationships built on happiness and good will are of more value to me. Not all are like me in this instance but that is their hill to climb. No judgement but a lesson to be learned is in the telling of it. One final thought about the Samaritan approach to living is that what is expressed out through giving when possible is an inner reflection of what is inside. There is no chaos nor presumption of ulterior motive. It is raw and real, to help when help is needed is not a strategy nor a future chip for something else. It is done and then forgotten because the next opportunity to help someone is coming down the road and I need to be aware of it.

(#5082) Logic and common sense beat myths, superstitions, and conspiracy theories every time

      Maybe this new year will see the beginning of the end of the hysterical thinking that has myth, superstition, and conspiracy theories at their root. It is my new years hope for our world. When logic and common sense are applied together there is no room in reality for the fantastical out of nowhere. Sure there is much we don't know but if the unknown, when learned, is not run through the process of logic and common sense then it becomes much like the decayed thinking of ancient fear mongering. Just another distraction from enlightenment and the evolution enlightenment provides.
     A world that is devoid of obstacles that are not real is where we need to be. We are not perfect humans nor will we ever be but if we don't at least strive to be then our gift of being amazing is wasted. We will end up as just another species that failed to deliver on the simple ability we have attained. There is no other species observed in this existence that has our human being qualities. We are the top of the evolutionary chain of not only intelligence but adaptability due to our intelligence. Our physical bodies are less structured to withstand the forces of the Universe than other Earthly species' but our minds protect us because we can invent and create tools that elevate our physical abilities.
     There is nothing observable in myths, superstitions, and conspiracy theories that help us through this existence except to maybe console our fears. Yet our fears are not a danger to us unless we stop using logic and common sense. So filtering out the unbelievable and the ridiculous in order to keep logic and common sense as our path forward is all of our greatest priority. The sooner our species accepts our rational place in time and space the sooner we not only conquer our own fears but the sooner we capture our greatest achievements yet to be discovered. The anchors of myth, superstition, and conspiracy theories need to be cut away so that our species can move forward into our manifest destiny.