25 July 2016

Update no.762

Update from the Heartland
No.762
18.7.16 – 24.7.16
To all,

            We had a rather historic event out here on the Great Plains of Kansas a week ago.  A restored Boeing B-29 Superfortress named ‘Doc’ flew for the first time in 60 years this week in Wichita, Kansas, after 16 years of restoration effort.
B-29 Superfortress ‘Doc’
Image credit: Brett Schauf (Visual Media Group) for Doc’s Friends
The whole restoration effort has been extraordinary in so many ways from recovery of the remnants of the aircraft from the bone yard to air under the wheels.  They have more work to complete the return to full flight status.  The team expects to maintain the aircraft as a flying time capsule to a day gone bye.

            We also had another dramatic engineering achievement this week, when SpaceX completed another successful Falcon 9 launch, shortly after midnight, and then nailed another first stage booster return landing near the launch site.  Well done!
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Arc & 1st Stage Booster Return
Image credit: Michael Seeley
Impressive all the way around!  SpaceX is making this complex and difficult task appear almost routine, as they should.

            The follow-up news items:
-- We also had a flurry of related news this week regarding the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 investigation [638, 691, 711, 716].  The Australian search team announced they are near the end of their sea floor search in the effort to find the remains of the aircraft, after the aircraft disappeared on 8.March.2014.
“Search For Malaysian MH370 Aircraft To Be Suspended – The plane, with 239 aboard, disappeared in March 2014”
by Rozanna Latiff – Reuters
Huffington Post
Published: 07/22/2016 04:38 am 04:38:31
Numerous bits and pieces loosely linked back to MH370 have turned up at various sites on the east coast of Africa.  While few of the parts have had definitive part and serial numbers to unequivocally link the bits back to MH370.  The characteristics of the fragments are tantalizingly similar.  The Indian Ocean current drift models add circumstantial evidence to suggest the fragments are from MH370, derived from facts we do have.  Further, for reasons not specified, the FBI’s analysis of the pilot’s computer simulator hard drive reportedly contained elements of a rehearsed route quite similar to the documented evidence of the aircraft’s track that night.  Perhaps this flurry of information is intended to encourage extension of the sea floor search.

            So it is, so it shall be . . . iacta alea est (the die is cast).  Caesar has crossed the River Rubicon.  The coronation is complete.  The Republican presumptive nominee has now become the Republican Party nominee and candidate.  Another step has been taken in the process of filling out the dance card for the fall election.  The next step occurs next week, and the last one in the following week after that.
            I struggled with how to express my opinion regarding his acceptance speech and the spectacle of this week’s events in Cleveland, Ohio.  I made several attempts to capture my impressions, but ultimately I erased them all.  One sentence in all the words coming from the Republican National Convention seems to summarize my opinion quite well – “I alone can fix it.” (Donald John Trump; Thursday, 21.July.2016)  Those five words gave me a chill quite akin to another dictator, who flourished 80 years ago.
            At the end of the day, I only offer a contrasting historical comparison.  Take the doom and gloom, very dark image painted by the Republican nominee with another man thrust into a truly, far darker, more ominous situation on 10.May.1940.  I urge you to listen to the two speeches back to back, several times, if you will.  I believe you will see my point.
Donald John Trump, 21.July.2016:
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, 13.May.1940:
            The term “America First” appeared numerous times in his speech.  It is not a novel or new term.  A group known as “America First” appeared in 1939, with the genuine and adamant objective of American isolationism.  So, when I hear the Republican nominee spout “America First,” I immediately image on the isolationist movement in the United States that tried desperately to convince Americans to ignore reality.
            The Republican nominee declared the Republican National Convention was the most “love-filled convention” in history.  Yet, his speech was the most negative, doom & gloom speech I have heard in a long time, perhaps in my entire lifetime.  One more validation that we all need a decoder-ring to translate whatever language he is using.  He seems to use English, but his meaning is monumentally different from my understanding of what the words he chooses actually mean.
            I will say in conclusion that Ivanka Marie Trump, second child and oldest daughter of The Donald and his first of three wives, Ivana, offered an exceptional introductory speech for her father.  She sounded more like a Democratic Party candidate than a Republican scion, but she was poised, polished and metered in her delivery.  Well done, Ivanka.

            I have railed against the Republican nominee for many of his statements during the primary phase of this silly season.  One in particular continues to haunt me: “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters.”    Yet, I am left with the nagging question, what is the difference between the Republican nominee and the Democratic presumptive nominee?  She thumbed her nose at We, the People; the security of this Grand Republic; and, to decent, law-abiding citizens when she unilaterally decided her eMail convenience was far more important than the law, than commonsense, than basic logic and reasoning.  People who ‘GAF-off’ her terrible decision simply do not understand the necessity to protect classified material, and the reality that her words alone (unmarked) as Secretary of State were by definition classified.  Further, when she decided to mix her personal and professional eMail messages, she truly and properly forfeited her right to privacy in her communications.  FBI Director Comey was excessively lenient with his recommendation, when he declared her actions were “extremely careless” [760].  Careless, indeed!  Her thumbing her nose at us is no different from Trump’s horrific statement.  And, as I have previously stated, her tragically lame excuse that her eMails were not “marked” classified is an out-right insult to all of us who have served this Grand Republic and done our part to protect classified material, but actually her excuse is a blatant offense to ALL of We, the People.  So, to answer my question, there is NO difference; they are both arrogant, narcissistic, self-centered, disrespectful ‘ass-holes,’ and I do not say that in a positive manner, meaning no disrespect to the noble anus.

            The new mobile application Pokémon Go . . . a new and quite effective means to cull the herd.

            The Democratic presumptive nominee chose Senator Timothy Michael ‘Tim’ Kaine of Virginia, 58, to be her running mate – a refreshing change, actually.  He publicly stated he personally was against abortion and the death penalty, and yet professionally he supported a woman’s right to choose and would defend the law as it is.  I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with anyone making moral choices for themselves or their families.  Where my objection springs full throat occurs when someone seeks to impose their moral choices, values, beliefs on me or anyone else. 

            By the way, I must say the Democratic presumptive nominee’s recent political advertisement with the children watching video clips of the Republican candidate delivering some of his more disgusting remarks during the primary phase of this silly season is perhaps the most effective political commercial I have ever seen.  The commercial captures my perspective precisely.  Our children are watching.

            News from the economic front:
-- The European Central Bank (ECB) decided to hold all of its interest rates unchanged and indicated they anticipate key interest rates to remain at present or lower levels for an extended period of time.  ECB President Mario Draghi voiced concerns about assessing the impact on growth prospects for the European Union after the Brexit vote [758].  The ECB also stated their monthly €80B (US$88B) bond-purchase program would run at least until March 2017, or beyond if necessary to achieve its inflation goal.

            Comments and contributions from Update no.761:
“You say below that Trump is morally unfit ... in a statement about Pence you say he IMPOSES his moral values ... which "morals" do you actually find acceptable Cap ..  would like to know !!??.. Will be fun when you no longer use the term presumptive nominee!”
My reply:
            Good Q actually.  I shall answer your query this way.
            First, since the Republican presumptive nominee is the central topic, I shall say I place a lot of weight on humility.  I can see no evidence he even has a clue what the word means, set aside displaying even a smidgen of humility in his public life.  But, hey, that’s just me.
            Now, in this instance [Update no.761], the moral choice I find paramount is respect for others.  Morality is what guides our lives . . . when no one is watching.  ‘Mike’ Pence clearly believes to his core that it is his moral responsibility to impose his moral values on every citizen; that is bad enough for residents of Indiana, but he has been chosen to be a candidate for vice president of the United States.  That makes his politics, his conduct, important to me, to all of us.  I respect his absolute right to make moral choices for himself.  He has absolutely no right to disrespect my moral choices or yours.  His mentality, and he is not alone, is exactly what brought us the insanity and violation of our fundamental rights in the so-called war on drugs, abstinence only, the death by a thousand cuts efforts to erode a woman’s fundamental right to choose what she does with her body, and the myriad of other morality laws that have no place in a free society.  I could go on, but this shall have to suffice for now.
            Re: presumptive nominee.  The day of your fun is just a few days away.  He shall soon be the Republican candidate.  And, if he is elected in November, his title will change to President Trump, and I shall do my level best to respect the office he may be elected to hold.  Likewise, as I have done with every president, I shall praise what I think he does correctly and criticize what I think he does wrong.
 . . . a follow-up comment:
“Something deep inside tells me you will have more praise than criticism!!”
 . . . my follow-up reply:
            For the sake of this Grand Republic, I hope you are correct.

Comment to the Blog:
“The Nice attack provides another twist on the terrorist concept. Nobody will be banning trucks. That would bring society to a halt. Next move?
“I will forgive Justice Ginsburg for her comments on Donald Trump. It's difficult for most sane people to avoid criticizing him.
“Note on U.S. politics: I just watched a CBS segment where Frank Luntz (prominent pollster known for working for the Republicans) conducted a large focus group. Mr. Trump was not popular, but neither was Senator Clinton. Luntz got a nearly unanimous agreement to the notion that people do not want to vote for ‘the lesser of two evils,’ combined with the factor that neither candidate is addressing the concerns of ordinary people.
“I see this as an opportunity for the Green Party and for the Libertarians. Either of them can capitalize on Americans' understanding that our political system has gone wrong. Unlike in past centuries, life can change very quickly due to the Internet. (Think Pokémon Go, the game that came out less than a week ago and is already a cultural phenomenon.) The speed of communication has risen dramatically with shrunken costs and easier targeting of particular voter groups, as demonstrated by Bernie Sanders and by Mr. Trump himself. (Trump's campaign runs largely on crass, racist, but attention-getting Twitter messages.) If (presumably) Gary Johnson for the Libertarians or Dr. Jill Stein of the Greens can raise enough funds quickly enough by using Sanders' methods for a campaigns centered on Internet messages, things could get very interesting very quickly.”
 . . . my response to the Blog:
            Re: Nice.  Indeed, and there will be many more moves before this is over.  They are attacking the most basic elements of western civilization: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, freedom of religion, and freedom to live our lives by the choices we make.  The war goes on!
            Re: Ginsburg.  She proved herself a far bigger person than the Republican presumptive nominee, but that is not a revelation.
            Re: U.S. politics.  Good observations . . . respectfully, I think the Democratic presumptive nominee is closer to the “concerns of ordinary people” than the Republican presumptive nominee will ever be.  But hey, that’s just me.
            Re: communications & politics.  Equally good observations.  The broad, general dissatisfaction within the population makes this election quite unpredictable, and yes, the opening for the Libertarian and Green candidates is quite real.  The primary question is, can they get their message to enough people?  Although the Republican presumptive nominee will become the Republican candidate this week and the Democratic presumptive nominee will become the Democratic candidate next week, the only actual candidate today is Gary Johnson for the Libertarian Party.
            We shall see.
 . . . follow-up comment:
“If Trump is the Republican nominee, that opens a gap someone could drive a truck through. Trump has his loyalists, but a solid majority of Americans are horrified by him. I have been reading an Associated Press story via CTV (Canadian TV) about Dr. Stein. She made the most of it when Bernie Sanders gave up and said he ‘supports’ Senator Clinton. (Sanders still has a campaign, to be really correct.) I've never been sure Trump actually wanted to be President, but I'm sure he's destroying the Republican Party. This could wind up being between the Democrats and the Green Party.”
URL for referenced article:
“Who's Jill Stein? Googlers are asking, and the answer is: Clinton's new problem”
by Alexander Panetta
Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, July 13, 2016 6:51PM EDT
 . . . my follow-up response:
           May very well be.  I am a long way from that point at the moment.  Yet, I will confess, both Johnson and Stein appear better on multiple levels than either the Democrat or Republican presumptive nominees.

Another contribution:
“Re the ‘Notorious RBG’s’ comments – true she shouldn’t have made the comments, and she later said as much.  But amazingly, USSC justices aren’t bound by the same rules as other judges.  That said, they should be measured in public and semi-public comments, as well as actions.  But that ship left the pier a long time ago.  Justice Scalia had gone on hunting trips with Cheney when cases were in the hopper that should have caused him not to go on a social outing with Cheney. Alioto has made comments at events that were as a bad or worse.  And Thomas’ wife is very involved politically, notably in some cases that should require him to at least recuse himself.  In the 1880’s, a USSC judge ran for president without resigning…he lost of course.”
My reply:
            Good points and observations.  Sad that it is true . . . that the rules apply to everyone except the folks at the top.
            Actually, Charles Evan Hughes – 1916; I do believe.

One last contribution for this week’s edition:
“Unless since I was on the bench there has been a change in the judicial code of conduct, almost uniform from state to state on the subject and presumably applicable to her, I believe Ginsburg has not only violated ‘an unwritten principle of judicial conduct’ but specific written prohibitions against publicly expressing an opinion on a pending political matter.  However, I accept her expression of human contrition with the understanding that she should hereafter recuse herself from all matters involving conservative vs. liberal issues.  Nahhh, just kidding.”
My response:
            LOL.  As pointed out by another contributor, apparently the judicial code of conduct does not apply to Supreme Court justices.
            She made a mistake.  She professed her regret.  We move on.

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap                 :-)

18 July 2016

Update no.761

Update from the Heartland
No.761
11.7.16 – 17.7.16
To all,

            The follow-up news items:
-- An international tribunal in The Hague ruled that the so-called “nine-dash” claim by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) [567, 574, 580, 589, 624/7, 649/50, 724/5, 731] has no basis in law and contravenes a United Nations convention on maritime law.  The tribunal also decided that China is not entitled to an exclusive economic zone surrounding any one of the islands they have claimed by unilateral, squatter’s rights.  The “nine-dash” line is a loose, expansive line drawn on a map, literally defined by nine (9) dashes that encompass virtually the entire South China Sea.  The Hague ruling could intensify Chinese efforts to establish its control of the South China Sea by force.  I ask: what is different from what Hitler did before World War II and Stalin did after World War II, and what the PRC is trying to do now?  I suspect there will be blood before this is settled.

            Congratulations go to Theresa Mary May née Brasier, who succeeded David Cameron as The Queen’s first minister of the United Kingdom.  She has a daunting task ahead of her, but certainly not as serious as Winston Churchill faced on 10.May.1940.  Godspeed and following winds, Prime Minister May.

            The Republican presumptive nominee selected Governor Michael Richard ‘Mike’ Pence of Indiana, 57, to be his vice presidential running mate, a few days before the opening of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.  Pence is probably a good choice from the perspective of the presumptive nominee.  Not that it matters a hoot to anyone, but I am not a fan of Mike Pence.  The last thing we need in this Grand Republic is another self-righteous, sanctimonious ideologue, who believes it is his God-given right to impose his moral values, his moral choices and deny the fundamental right of freedom of choice to every citizen in the nation.  Nope, no thanks!

            CNN broadcast a Town Hall Meeting from New York with Speaker of the House Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.  To my knowledge, the CNN event was unprecedented in American politics, at least to date (since many elements are quite unique about this rendition of the silly season).  I do not recall any other speaker being given that national (international) stage during a presidential campaign.  Also, the event reinforced my impression of Ryan.  He is perhaps the most articulate, poised and measured politician in the Republican field.  I do not always agree with his political positions, but he is good in handling unscripted public political events.  I need to see more of his performance as Speaker to solidify my opinion of him.

            Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg deviated from tradition when she publicly criticized the Republican presumptive nominee this week.  To be blunt and direct, she was flat wrong to criticize the Republican presumptive nominee, although personally, I think she was spot on correct in her observations.  However, I believe she was absolutely wrong in her public statement.  She violated an unwritten principle of judicial conduct.  Further, whether she likes it or not, she carries the mantle of a Supreme Court justice, and thus, she represents the Supreme Court of the United States.  In that capacity, like a military officer, she does not enjoy the freedom of speech that we, ordinary citizens, enjoy in our culture.  Later, Ginsburg publicly stated she regretted her remarks . . . not quite an apology but close enough.

            France endured yet another horrific attack; this time in Nice on the Riviera – la Côte d’Azur.  One man drove a rented refrigerator truck along the coast road, crowded with spectators for the Bastille Day celebratory fireworks display – equivalent to the 4th of July in the United States.  The driver was eventually shot and killed by security forces, but not before 84 were killed, 202 injured (52 of which remain in critical condition).  Ten children are among the dead, along with at least two Americans – a father & son on holiday, joining our French cousins in their national celebration.  The attacker was identified as a 31-year-old French citizen of Tunisian heritage.  ISIL claimed responsibility, although the available public evidence, so far, suggests the man turned to radical jihadism to justify his intended criminal action.

            News from the economic front:
-- The Bank of England held its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.5%.  Bank officials cited myriad signs the British economy is slowing amid the uncertainty triggered by the Brexit vote.  They decided to wait until August, to implement any new support measures deemed necessary.   They wanted more data and better insights into the economy's health. They still expect to launch fresh stimulus measures on multiple fronts next month, as the economy stumbles under Britons' decision to exit the European Union.  Sterling surged against the dollar after the announcement to trade 1.7% higher on the day.

            Comments and contributions from Update no.760:
“Regarding women in the military, check this out.  The female Feldwebel is the loader on a German Bundeswehr panzerkampfwagon Leopard II.  The shells are about 60 pounds.  If the German panzers put women into a Leo Zwei, we can.  My son thinks tanks would be a good fit for woman soldiers.  And in a recent NATO competition, the German tanks finished number one- over American and Brit tanks.”
URL:
My response:
            Interesting.  My German is a little rusty, but the message is clear.
            I will pass it along.
 . . . follow-up comment:
“Should have noted, a Feldwebel is the equivalent of a SSgt.”
 . . . my follow-up response:
            I actually knew that one, but I doubt everyone will, so I shall add it to this week’s Update.

Another contribution:
“For what reason ??? Mrs Bill Clinton held an office in the highest government of America while committing crimes .. what has Trump done that treasonous ??? 
“to be president, so where does that leave us?  
“The best choice is left ... Trump ... never be too proud to make the right decision Cap ...
“Re: ‘Even Donald Trump, never the sharpest tool in the shed,’
But close to the sharpest ... with the right people on his staff, wonders can be made ...”
My reply:
            Re: treasonous.  I have not used that term with respect to the Republican presumptive nominee.  I believe the term at issue is: morally unfit.  I stand by my statement.
            Re: best choice.  We do not have all the candidates determined, as yet.  I shall make my choice in a few months.
            Re: sharpest.  The beauty of this Grand Republic is free choice.  I respect your right to choose.

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap                 :-)

11 July 2016

Update no.760

Update from the Heartland
No.760
4.7.16 – 10.7.16
To all,

            Despite the grim news, I will boldly say the really big news this week has to be the orbital insertion of the Juno spacecraft at Jupiter.  At 20:53 [U] PDT (23:53 [R] EDT), Monday, the 4th of July, the Juno spacecraft completed a 35-minute main engine burn to slow down for orbital insertion around Jupiter – a monumental achievement of engineering and physics.  While we enjoyed the Independence Day fireworks around the lake, NASA accomplished one helluva astronomical feat . . . they say the accomplishment was equivalent to smacking a golf ball in New York City and sinking a hole-in-one in Los Angeles – a specific, pre-determined, golf hole cup.  A final orbital adjustment engine burn is planned for 19.October.2016.  The spacecraft will probe the atmosphere, as much of the interior as its instruments will enable, and study the various moons of Jupiter.  I eagerly await the scientific product of the Juno mission.

            The follow-up news items:
-- I watched a goodly portion of FBI Director James Comey’s public statement regarding the agency’s investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of her private server for official and private eMail communications [737].  Director Comey pronounced, “Although we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information, there is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.”  Comey also concluded, “There is evidence to support a conclusion that any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position, or in the position of those government employees with whom she was corresponding about these matters, should have known that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation.”  Of all the things I have read and written about this issue, I must admit that James Taranto summed the whole affair up the best.
“Laws Are for Little People – Comey delivers an indictment but won’t seek one.”
by James Taranto
Wall Street Journal
Published: July 5, 2016 2:17 p.m. ET
That really says it all.  The arrogance of the divine right of kings – laws, ethics and morality do not apply to them.  The only question left . . . will we allow her to get away with this . . . all of this?  Attorney General Lynch closed the investigation.  Yes, James Taranto said it spot on correct.  Full stop!  I am proud to be one of the Little People, and I shall abide the law.  Likewise, I shall condemn those who place themselves above the law, and I shall vote for whomever best represents the principles of this Grand Republic and the values important to me.
-- An opinion from the Continent:
“Why Britain walked out”
by Serge Halimi
Le Monde diplomatique
Published: July 2016
Serge Halimi may not speak for France or Europeans, however he does provide an interesting and insightful opinion regarding the British Brexit vote [758/9].  His last paragraph has broader meaning and value.  The protests expressed in the British vote cannot be dismissed solely as populism or xenophobia. And it is not by further reducing national sovereignty, in favour of a federal Europe almost nobody wants, that our politically discredited elites will assuage the popular anger unleashed in the UK — and rising elsewhere.”  Our process has been more protracted; however, the outcome may well be the same.  The story continues.

            I will insert here an appropriate Blog opinion offered by Patrick Buchanan, whom I find to be rather out there on most topics these days; however, this opinion did strike me at this particular moment.
“Is Hillary Morally Unfit to Be President?”
by Patrick J. Buchanan
Published: Thursday - July 7, 2016 at 10:29 pm
Given the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back,’ concluding event (noted above) this week, I would answer Patrick’s question, yes, she is.  I am compelled to add that if Hillary is morally unfit to be president, then the Republican presumptive nominee is far more morally unfit to be president, so where does that leave us?

            A relevant thread from another conversation deserved recognition in this humble forum:
“Many Americans won't care about this critical topic, while attending their all-you-can-eat hotdog contests today on July 4th.”
>> >
>> > Darren
>> >
 “A transgender military is not funny and is not okay”
by Peter Heck
Published: July 4, 2016
 . . . to which I replied:
            Folks have got to grow up and get over themselves . . . most folks in the military are NOT infantrymen; and when it comes to killing, all I care about is how well they do their job.
 . . . with follow-up comment:
> Hello Cap,
> 
“So you're forecasting a chick with a dick might become the best marksman that the Army has?  LOL.”
 . . . and my follow-up response:
On 7/5/2016 05:16, cap@parlier.com wrote:
Darren,
Well, actually, one of the most successful snipers in history was Lieutenant Lyudmila Mykhailivna Pavlichenko, who was awarded a Hero of the Soviet Union gold star (equivalent to the U.S. Medal of Honor or British Victoria Cross), for her accomplishments in killing Germans.  Her performance as a skilled rifle shooter was matched by only a handful of shooters and had absolutely nothing to do with the genitalia between her legs or how she peed.  Let's focus on performance.  So, yes, a transgender person may well become the best sharpshooter in the Army or any other service.  It is all about skill . . . none of the social factors matter to performance.
 . . . followed by another comment:
“In all due respect, you are describing a real woman, who was satisfied with her gender (not confused/psychotic), and not a woman who had a dick or a woman who was once a man.  There is a big difference Cap, I beg to ask you to consider this. I dated a cop, she is on Coronado PD and has won awards for being one of their best marksman (excuse me, markswoman), she is not gender confused and not wanting to be a man.  My politically incorrect theory is those that are gender confused, have no business in our military or police, they have mental issues and for our SecDef Ash Carter to be partnering with them and pandering to them, and appeasing to their victim-hood, is to me: APPALLING, and a total disgrace to those that have fought for our country and lost lives, limbs, or sacrificed something else.  All this political correctness to appease a vast minority, is gonna get us sucker punched by those that are much more stable and capable, and I am at a point I think we just might deserve it.  
I bet my opinion is shared by the vast majority of Americans, but few are unwilling to state the truth or their opinion when it might upset the PC norms, being programmed into us.  Many people I know cannot speak the truth because their emails (work accounts) are warehoused and mined, or they work for the GOV, or they don't want to apply for a job and be denied over an un-PC view.  Maybe we should be sticking up for those freedoms instead of trannies in military or trannies getting restrooms built for them, or giving them rights that allow perverts to go into opposite sex restrooms with kids in them.  This programming the masses to except an especially small minority and change our ways and minds, is non-sense.”
 . . . to which a third party added:
“Whoop-de-doo. An outsider’s view.”
 . . . to which the originator responded:
Subject:  Re: A transgender military is not funny and is not okay
From:  "Darren"
Date:  Wed, July 6, 2016 2:59 am
To:  undisclosed-recipients:;
“Maybe, but my grandfather was a major in the USMC.  And one of my best neighbor/friends was a D.I. in the USMC.  My great uncle was the president of a country in the Americas, a West Point graduate, does that count?  And I meant ‘accept’ not ‘except’ in my last paragraph below [above].”
 . . . along with my response:
            We can compare credentials, if you wish.  I’ll stack mine to anyone.
            Non-heterosexual citizens have lived among us and served in the military for millennia.  We have  just never been aware of their sexuality.
            Most assignments in the military do not involve combat . . . potential, yes, but at the end of the day, it boils down to performance . . . not genitalia, gender identity, or any other of the social factors.  It is ALL about performance.
            Respectfully, your statement that transgender individuals have mental issues is flat wrong.  Mental illness is not exclusive to any one or combination of social factors.  The military has had to filter out mental illness in recruitment and service for as long as there has been a military.  Let us not generalized the affliction of a few to the characteristics of a whole segment of our community.
            This has nothing to do with political correctness.  It is simply focusing on what matters – performance.  I began my military service in a time when skin pigmentation was a disqualifying or categorizing characteristic.  While we have not entirely overcome racism in the military, we have made monumental improvements over the early days of my service.  We will overcome this particular stigma as well.
            Again, this is about performance, not genitalia, gender identity, social factors, or political correctness – performance, performance, performance!

            Why is it that some citizens think they can defy instructions from law enforcement officers or resist arrest, and expect a good outcome?  Resisting arrest is a threat in more ways than one, and is most likely going to precipitate a violent response.  If the police are doing something wrong, or illegal, or just unfair, use the established process to deal with it.  Do NOT resist or defy law enforcement officers.  I could go on, but it all boils down to respect. 

            Wow!  I read this and I could only think – wow!  This will not go down well in Moscow or at Putin’s dinner table.
“Wary of Russia, Sweden and Finland sit at NATO top table.”
by Gabriela Baczynska
Reuters
Published: Fri Jul 8, 2016 8:54am EDT
I am certain I see this news in a far different light than dear ol’ Volodya.  Neither nation would take a step like this unless they felt seriously threatened [ref: 30.November.1939].  If I was dear ol’ Volodya, I would be asking myself, why do my neighbors feel so threatened?  Perhaps, I should amend my behavior.  Then, again, dear ol’ Volodya is not your average citizen of the world, now is he?

            News from the economic front:
-- The Labor Department reported nonfarm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 287,000 in June – the strongest month of hiring since last October.  The unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in June from 4.7% in May.  Given recent events, we need a longer positive trend.

            Comments and contributions from Update no.759:
Comment to the Blog:
“The lesson from Brexit (and other ‘puzzling’ current events) is that people in general are more aware of government corruption than the Establishment has understood. Much more basic than immigration is the chance to break the stranglehold of banks, corporations and the wealthy on government. The oligarchies here and in the EU have seen declining voter participation as a sign the general public has lost interest in politics. In fact, many lost hope, not awareness. That hope has been revived by signs of weakness and division among the Establishment and by the rise of leaders including Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn. Even Donald Trump, never the sharpest tool in the shed, has seen and used that general opposition to politics as usual, represented by Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and the ‘mainstream’ of the GOP, along with their nominal opposition, at this point Hillary Clinton and Debbie Wasserman Schultz for the Democrats. This election is not about political personalities or parties. It’s about the good of We the People. Let us hope that enough people see through the Donald as readily as we do the Washington Establishment.
“We can blame nearly anyone for the rise of ISIL. The underlying cause is American interventionism, which goes back to the Monroe Doctrine (1823). Certainly Bush the Younger made it worse by treating 9-11 as a political, rather than a criminal, act. Obama, however, has not improved our position. In his defense, I will note that his first Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was notably more hawkish than Obama. For some reason unknown to me, the Republicans picked on a single incident at Benghazi rather than point to her entire record as Secretary of State. Maybe their campaign contributors guided that mistake. Obama has tried to limit our action in Syria, but we’ve seen ‘limited wars’ since Vietnam. No good. We in the U.S. need to mind our own problems for once. We have plenty right here at home.
“We are in complete agreement on Bill Clinton’s visit to Loretta Lynch. It’s hard to believe from that mistake that Bill was a Rhodes Scholar back in the day and is a veteran success in politics.”
My response to the Blog:
            Re: Establishment corruption.  Well, I do not think I can argue with that or even disagree.  Our current crop of representatives (by current, I mean the last several decades worth, and by crop, I mean the Legislative and Executive branches) have not served us well.  So, now, we have rebellion.  I just hope We, the People, do not do anything foolish, out of spite for our anger.  We shall see.
            Re: interventionism.  Not that is important to your point, but the United States has projected power earlier than the Monroe Doctrine, e.g., Barbary Wars (1801 & sub), Commerce Act (9.7.1798) [PL 5-II-068; 1 Stat. 578], French Naval War [1798-1801] and others.  The issue from those early days through today has been and will remain commerce.  This is not to say the United States has not made its share of mistakes.  Yes, we have plenty to do at home.  Yet, free commerce is an essential element of freedom itself.  As I read your words, the impression I am left with is isolationism, in the true spirit of the America Firsters (1939-1941).  There must be a balance point somewhere short of either extreme.
            Re: Bill Clinton’s most recent stunt.  Amen, brother!  I chalk his conduct up to him believing his own drivel – divine right of kings.  Neither of them is stupid, ignorant or unintelligent, but I suspect they do believe they are special and entitled to special treatment, regardless of the law, ethics, or morality.
            At the end of the day, We, the People, will decide their fate in November . . . through the Electoral College in December, of course.  It is up to us to change things.

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap                        :-)