I am not big on Wall Street, but, I found this interview interesting.

 He finds Ukraine an important war to fight among other things.

We must move forward with alternative energies.

The EPA is more needed than ever! 

Some of the people most likely to benefit from the change to alternative energies are those seeking "environmental justice" in some of our most polluted neighborhoods. This is not even a decision, it must go forward.

"It is also important to recognize when something is working."

July 3, 2024

By Leslie Sattler

Imagine getting paid $249 billion just for doing the right thing. (click here)

Well, that's what the United States earned over the last few years by increasing its use of renewable energy such as wind and solar power, according to the Guardian.

From 2019 to 2022, America seriously stepped up its renewable energy game. An illuminating study published in Cell Reports Sustainability found that wind and solar generation jumped by a whopping 55%, to the point where it provided about 14% of the country's total electricity needs last year.

That's like removing 71 million gas-guzzling cars from the road each year in terms of the climate-harming pollution that was prevented.

But wait, there's more: By burning way less coal and oil for electricity, we also dramatically improved the nation's air quality.

Key pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are linked to asthma and other health issues, dropped by 1.1 million tons. And all those cleaner skies translated to an estimated $249 billion in public health benefits....

In order to solve the problems that comes with change it is necessary to GO THERE. The greening of the energy sector MUST receive infrastructure investment in order to solve the problems we face with climate.

July 3, 2024

By Alastair Marsh

Green innovators (click here) too advanced for venture capital but not advanced enough for infrastructure investors are falling through the cracks — and time is running out....

The Roberts' Court is not appropriate in its practice of crony politics.

The presidency of the USA is the Executive Branch because it heads up the country's legal enforcement. The legislative branch is elected to address the concerns of the people, they make the laws that the Executive Branch upholds. I sincerely am worried about the focus of some members of the Supreme Court that are seeking to dismantle the federal authority. 

July 2, 2024

By Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee

Over opposition from two conservative justices, (click here) the Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away a challenge that could’ve gutted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

An Ohio-based construction contractor backed by Republican-led states and anti-regulatory interests contended Congress unconstitutionally delegated its legislative powers to the executive branch when it gave such broad authority to the agency, which sets and enforces workplace standards....

That is what the US Congress does, it legislates. If it wanted to change the oversight of the AGENCIES of the USA Presidential Cabinet it could certainly do so. The Cabinet heads the agencies created by Congress. This example of OSHA is extremely concerning. The Supreme Court already gutted the powers of the EPA to write regulations to stem pollution and make American lives healthier and now they are simply moving on to the next victim.

THIS IS NOT THE ROLE OF THE SUPREME COURT in the USA. They are not allowed to destroy legislation demanded by the people to improve their lives. It is no different than Roe v. Wade, it was legal precedent for decades and a radical conservative court came in and destroyed a legal precedent that saved women's lives and gave them control over their reproductive outcomes.

This is an EXTREMELY political court and they are way out of line. Not just a little out of line, but, way out of line. The Supreme Court is not to empower a dictator either. That is exactly what they did in the case of an immunity plea by Trump. It is a lot of nonsense to believe the USA Supreme Court is appropriate in empowering dictatorial rule over the country.

...“The question whether the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s broad authority is consistent with our constitutional structure is undeniably important,” Thomas wrote.

He noted that other conservatives on the Supreme Court — Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh — have over the years expressed an interest in “reconsidering this Court’s approach” to Congress’s delegations of power to federal agencies....

Excuse me? Who do they think they are? The power of this government belongs to the people that elect legislators to act on their behalf. The Supreme Court is unelected and does not have the right to rewrite the USA Constitution.

Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary. Article III, Section I states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it permits Congress to decide how to organize it. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789. This Act created a Supreme Court with six justices. It also established the lower federal court system.

The Supreme Court interprets the law AS WRITTTEN to determine if the FACTS of the case before apply. The best court to address the sincere definition of the Supreme Court was the Burger Court (click here) that was the first court to uphold the INDIVIDUAL rights of Americans as opposed to generalized social engagement. 

...Although the Supreme Court (click here) may hear an appeal on any question of law provided it has jurisdiction, it usually does not hold trials. Instead, the Court's task is to interpret the meaning of a law, to decide whether a law is relevant to a particular set of facts, or to rule on how a law should be applied....

One of the decisions of the Burger Court improved freedom of speech when it provided a clear understanding that prior restraint was not constitutional. 

...In the 1970s, the press was “subjected to a judicial battering that has been more serious and more fundamental, than the assaults that were mounted in more parlous days,” an attorney representing press interests asserted in a 1979 weekly magazine article.

Free to reply to such criticism when he retired from the Court in 1981, Associate Justice Potter Stewart said that the notion that “traditional protections are being ignored or disregarded or destroyed is a completely fallacious thought.”

Controversy over the Vietnam was at a peak when, on June 13, 1971, the New York Times began publishing installments of a secret, illegally obtained document concerning the United States’ conduct of the war. The government saw grave dangers to U.S. security in the publication of what became known as the Pentagon Papers, and sought injunctions to prevent both the Times and the Washington Post from further dissemination of the stolen information. Within two weeks the case reached the Supreme Court, which heard arguments on June 26 and announced its decision on June 30.

Once again, as it has through the years, the Court refused to countenance restraint prior to publication. In a brief decision, the Court observed that any system of prior restraint bears “a heavy presumption against its constitutional validity.” Each Justice filed a separate opinion; there were three dissents. Among the majority, Justice William J. Brennan denounced prior restraint in nearly absolute terms, but he conceded that in wartime there might be a “single, extremely narrow” class of exceptions. The three dissenters emphasized the “almost irresponsibly feverish” speed with which the case was disposed of; according to Justice John M. Harlan, it should have been conducted under full ground rules.

The Pentagon Papers were published and were a journalistic sensation at home and abroad; but the war in Vietnam went on.

Do news reporters have a right to confidentiality of their sources under the First Amendment? They argue that unless they can protect the identity of people who give them information under promises of secrecy, the sources will dry up....

The Burger Court opened society to highways of freedom of the individual. It was right to do so as freedom is a very basic concept of a democracy. When civilized avenues of freedom are opened, the USA economy thrives on inclusiveness and the culture that it brings. Closing down freedoms is anti-Constitutional and detrimental to the USA economy. All one has to do is look to the oppression and neediness of the Red States to realize how true that is.

This is from the Truman Library (click here). It is obvious that the Executive Branch is directly responsible for carrying out the laws through regulation and enforcement. This court is detrimental to the well being of the people of the United States of America.

A PRESIDENT CAN

 . . .make treaties with the approval of the Senate.

veto bills and sign bills.

represent our nation in talks with foreign countries.

enforce the laws that Congress passes.

act as Commander-in-Chief during a war.

call out troops to protect our nation against an attack.

make suggestions about things that should be new laws.

lead his political party.

entertain foreign guests.

recognize foreign countries.

grant pardons.

nominate Cabinet members and Supreme Court Justices and other high officials.

appoint ambassadors.

talk directly to the people about problems.

represent the best interest of all the people

A PRESIDENT CANNOT

 . . .make laws.

declare war.

decide how federal money will be spent.

interpret laws.

choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.

Typical radical Republican that doesn't know what he is talking about, but, say it anyway.

July 1, 2024
By Perry Stein

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (click here) tackled a question in his presidential immunity opinion Monday that Donald Trump’s attorneys didn’t bring before the nation’s highest court: Was special counsel Jack Smith legally appointed?

Thomas joined his fellow conservative justices on a blockbuster majority opinion that expanded the definition of presidential powers and narrowed the scope of Trump’s D.C. election interference trial.

He also wrote a concurring opinion that delved into the separate question of whether Attorney General Merrick Garland violated the Constitution when he appointed Smith in November 2022 to oversee the two federal prosecutions of Trump.

Thomas argued both that the special counsel’s office needs to be established by Congress and that Smith needed to be confirmed by the Senate. He said he tacked on his concurring opinion to the immunity ruling to “highlight another way in which this prosecution may violate our constitutional structure.”...

Clarence Thomas is trying to raise a political firestorm when there is no basis for it.

The Law.

28 U.S. Code § 515 - Authority for legal proceedings; (click here) commission, oath, and salary for special attorneys

(a) The Attorney General or any other officer of the Department of Justice, or any attorney specially appointed by the Attorney General under law, may, when specifically directed by the Attorney General, conduct any kind of legal proceeding, civil or criminal, including grand jury proceedings and proceedings before committing magistrate judges, which United States attorneys are authorized by law to conduct, whether or not he is a resident of the district in which the proceeding is brought.

(b) Each attorney specially retained under authority of the Department of Justice shall be commissioned as special assistant to the Attorney General or special attorney, and shall take the oath required by law. Foreign counsel employed in special cases are not required to take the oath. The Attorney General shall fix the annual salary of a special assistant or special attorney.

Thomas is especially afraid of John (Jack) Luman Smith (click here) because Jack Smith has spent a good part of his career investigating and prosecuting corruption. Jack Smith has served approximately 14 years in chasing down corruption in the Public Integrity Section of the US Department of Justice. He knows what he is doing and can run rings around Clarence for all his knowledge of corruption, it's investigation and prosecution.

ORDER NO. 5559-2022 (click here)

APPOINTMENT OF JOHN L. SMITH AS SPECIAL COUNSEL

By virtue of the authority vested in the Attorney General, including 28 U.S.C. §§ 509, 510, 515, and 533, in order to discharge my responsibility to provide supervision and management of the Department of Justice, and to ensure a full and thorough investigation of certain matters, I hereby order as follows: 

(a) John L. Smith is appointed to serve as Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice....

The Republicans always like to complain how the Executive Branch is breaking the law because all such Special Counsels have to be confirmed by the USA Senate. To begin, that point is mute because Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would have no problem finding the votes for Jack Smith. The law clearly states the Attorney General is granted the power to assign a Special Prosecutor to the case of Donald John Trump.

If the US Senate was involved it would be contrary to the statute of law that currently exists. THE LAW states clearly the Attorney General needs to do his job and do it well. This complaint by Clarence is still yet another attempt to attack the Executive Branch. It is all political and an attempt to assist Trump in his campaign.

Trump was OUT OF OFFICE when the classified documents were STOLEN from the American people!

...After Jan. 20, 2021: (click here) Some boxes brought from the White House are stored on a stage in one of Mar-a-Lago’s gilded ballrooms. A photo in the indictment shows boxes stacked on a stage....

Thomas is always warning about danger in cases that are politically advantageous to the right wing politically. Ready? He is always backing up Ginny.

Thomas was not happy the Supreme Court declined to hear arguments against an assault weapons ban in Illinois.

...In a separate opinion, (click here) Justice Clarence Thomas appeared keen to uproot future bans, urging the court to take up another such case on the basis that some semiautomatic guns, such as the AR-15, are among the most popular weapons in the nation, thereby claiming that more guidance is needed to delineate which weapons are “dangerous” and “unusual.” He further called the Seventh Circuit’s decision to uphold the state ban, which stemmed from a landmark 2008 Supreme Court decision that ruled that military grade weapons such as M-16 rifles are not protected under the Second Amendment, as “nonsensical.”...

The danger as Clarence see it, is that the AR-15 is not dangerous and unusual because IT IS POPULAR and a great MARKETING tool. Jack Smith should be Special Council to investigate Clarence. 

But, that is really some of the most moronic logic I have ever heard. I mean, come on now. This is a Supreme Court associate justice stating the reason a lower court should have overturned a ban is because the semi-automatic weapon is popular. Clarence conveniently threw out the idea an AR-15 is dangerous. It's popularity makes is safe. That is definitely moron level thinking. Sorry, it just is.

Then it all it's wisdom the Supreme Court again attacked the Executive Branch for regulating bump stocks.

The U.S. Supreme Court (click here) has ruled that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives exceeded its authority in 2019 when it classified bump stocks as machine guns....

The ATF falls under the Executive Branch of the USA Government, specifically the Department of Justice.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) was established as a separate component within the Department of Justice pursuant to Title XI of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, on January 17, 2003.

The ATF was legislated it's powers. So, regulating bump stocks that turn a semi-automatic weapon in an automatic weapons was definitely within it's LEGISLATED authority.

Ready? Here is the proof of the moronic Roberts' court.

...But prohibitions will remain intact in states like Illinois that have banned bump stocks through legislative action....

So, what the Roberts' court did was to say that the federal legislated authority is pre-empted by a state's legislative authority. The bump stock works the same in Illinois as it does in Texas. But, in Texas when the south rises again and Trump gives the executive order to kill all undocumented immigrants it will be easier and will require less law enforcement in case they are attacked by a mob of "illegals."

That is utter stupidity and has absolutely nothing to do with States' Rights.

Here is another one that Clarence wanted to do for Ginny.

July 2, 2024
By Katherine Fung

...On Tuesday, (click here) the Court decided to not hear the case of John Doe v. Snap, Inc. Two conservative justices on the bench, however, disagreed, saying they would have granted the petition, which would have allowed the Court to "address whether social-media platforms—some of the largest and most powerful companies in the world—can be held responsible for their own misconduct."...

...In the lawsuit against Snapchat's parent company, lawyers for an unnamed 15-year-old Texas teen allege that the boy's science teacher groomed him using the platform. The suit also claims that certain Snapchat features, including disappearing messages, enable abuse by predators while encouraging users to lie about their age and that Snapchat should be liable for its defective design.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to hear the case in December, affirming a 2022 decision from a federal trial judge in Houston, who dismissed the case under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Section 230 protects internet publishers from liability for third-party speech created by users....

..."In the platforms' world, they are fully responsible for their websites when it results in constitutional protections, but the moment that responsibility could lead to liability, they can disclaim any obligations and enjoy greater protections from suit than nearly any other industry," he said. "The Court should consider if this state of affairs is what §230 demands."...

This is a case whereby the parents of the child are suing an internet company that allowed seduction of their child by a teacher. This is an attempt to treat internet companies as if they were as responsible as the tobacco companies in allowing this activity to occur. Now, I am confident the information on the platform was provided to legal authorities to charge and convict the pedophile. But, can the platform be held responsible for it's users abuse of policy that probably exists in that such activity is prohibited and can result in the loss of access to their platform.

So, there is poor, ole' Clarence trying to decide how best to pander to Ginny and her soccer moms, when he voted for absolute freedom of internet companies.

Moody v. NetChoice, LLC (click here) is a case that was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States on July 1, 2024, during the court's October 2023-2024 term. The case was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on February 26, 2024....

...The outcome: In a ruling for both Moody v. NetChoice, LLC and NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton, the Supreme Court unanimously vacated and remanded the judgements of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton. The Court held that neither the Fifth Circuit nor the Eleventh Circuit conducted a proper analysis of the facial First Amendment challenges to Florida and Texas laws that regulate large internet platforms.

Now, there is no getting around how Clarence uses "hot topics" to attempt to carry out apologetic politics for right wing support. Clarence can't have it both ways. He cannot on one hand be sympathetic to parents appalled and wanting to sue an internet company to obtain control of the issue, while stating how dangerous it is for the Supreme Court to have not taken his issue and turn around and vote for unmitigated freedom and authority to internet companies.

These are only two cases when Clarence takes the "political capital of a case" and turns it into political fodder for the public while ruling in completely opposite directions from his political sympathetic path. Clarence has a very bad ethics problem and there are a lot of reasons to doubt the expertise of the Roberts' court as it clearly leans into politics with their decisions and not real life.

This is nothing but pure harassment and typical harassment of the Biden/Harris team.

"Cringeworthy?" There is nothing cringeworthy about it. I think it is a really cute interaction between the two women and congratulations to both for standing up for democracy and the freedom of expression.

They can't go anywhere and have a good time with the public or in this case with a black woman entertainer without the political right wing jumping into action to defame Vice President Harris.

Just another Trump Curveball.

July 2, 2024

By Laura Jarrett, Adam Reiss and Alana Satlin

The Orange Man asleep.

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's New York criminal trial (click here) on Tuesday approved a delay of the former president's sentencing after his lawyers asked for more time to argue the Supreme Court's immunity decision's calls for a new trial....

Thank you, Judge Merchan and the prosecution team of District Attorney Bragg for allowing time for both sides of the charges to file appropriate papers.

...“The People of the State of New York (click here) allege that Donald J. Trump repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Manhattan is home to the country’s most significant business market. We cannot allow New York businesses to manipulate their records to cover up criminal conduct. As the Statement of Facts describes, the trail of money and lies exposes a pattern that, the People allege, violates one of New York’s basic and fundamental business laws. As this office has done time and time again, we today uphold our solemn responsibility to ensure that everyone stands equal before the law.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, from August 2015 to December 2017, TRUMP orchestrated his “catch and kill” scheme through a series of payments that he then concealed through months of false business entries....

Everyone in the USA is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A bail bond system exists to provide incentive for those charged to stay in touch with the courts and show up for the proceedings of a trial. The more dangerous the crimes, the more likely the person being charged will have a higher bond to discourage any time outside of the jail to continue a criminal activity and/or endanger the public.

Donald John Trump went through Due Process and was found guilty of not just one crime, but, 34 crimes.

...Trump announced his candidacy on June 16, 2015. (click here) He accepted the Republican nomination in July of 2016. On November 8, 2016, Trump was elected President. He was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017....

Now, the Roberts' Court had decided an Former American President is exempt from wrongdoing and the courts should consider any former president "presumed" exempt until found to be not exempt. This new ruling by a corrupt court needs to be applied now to current statutes that exist in the states and find out how to sort through evidence to find if it applies or it doesn't apply and whether a convicted former president has to stand trial again or have the charges vacated.

It may be a matter of process, but, Judge Merchan has set the sentencing for September for the drama to play out and a clear decision made as to Trump's exemption from a trial and jury verdict of guilty 34 times. It isn't an easy task, but, I think District Attorney Bragg and Judge Merchan are up to it. Additionally, these people still needed continued support in the way of body guards and whatever protections were in place to protect them. Considering the new status of the findings of the jury, Judge Merchan and the prosecution team may want to return protections to the witnesses as they may be needed again.

Trump's exempt status only begins on January 20, 2017 and none of the charges are related to official duties of the office.

In support of President Joe Biden

I think there is a better than 50 percent chance President Biden’s debate performance has been misinterpreted by those that want him to be feeble and “losing it.”

In looking at the debate I see a president with a stuttering handicap and not someone with cognitive issues. Joe knew the topics and the facts, but, his verbal expression was a bit halting at times. I find it interesting that it is his family that is rallying around him and in criticism of his staff. They know Joe on a personal basis better than anyone else and I think they can speak to his stuttering disability better than anybody else.

In a video following the debate, immediately following the debate, his message and speech was mostly clear with some acknowledgment to his age. He was asking the American people to continue to contribute to his campaign and that of his fellow democrats. A man with a cognitive disorder would not be able to do that. The cognitive disorder doesn’t disappear just because he is alone in a room with a camera.

What I believe occurred was that Trump was talking fast and throwing one lie after another  to the audience. President Biden didn’t know where to start and when he was formulating his statements he was also realizing his stuttering disability was acting up as well. 

I think what resulted on a couple of occasions was a word soup of what his stuttering would allow while entire grammatically correct statements were lost in the pauses everyone believed was an age related cognitive decline. I don’t believe it was. Yes, President Biden had a poor debate performance, but, he is not cognitively deteriorated or deteriorating.

At this point I think the Democratic Party and supporters need to ask for professional interpretation rather than a rush to judgement.

A cognitive deterioration as being discussed does not turn on and off like a light switch. Either there are brain issues or there aren’t. This would be a physical deterioration of the brain, not just age related changes if any at all. Yes, there is some help with medication, but, the medication would result in a steady state of being, not emotional fits and starts. So, I think a lot of the discussion surrounding Biden in this debate, which he requested for  his own reasons, is inappropriate and short sighted.

Being completely honest, what I see in the debate is a president with a stuttering disability while cognitively wanting to address all the lies Trump was stating without remorse and frequently.

To prove how stupid the Robert’s Court actually is,…

…this is “The New Source Review.”

(Click here)

All anyone can do now is watch it rise.

This is decades of enforcement in order to stem pollution that effects citizens lives. This is the LEGISLATION that the EPA is supposed to respect and bring about the end of pollution that affects citizens lives. 

THIS WAS LEGISLATED by those elected by the people in the second branch of government. The Roberts Court is a politically, corrupt, plutocratic nightmare that practices “legislating from the bench.” The recent ruling by the six conservative morons dissolved this legislation and the decades practice of it in stere decisis/legal precedent. 

What does anyone think the EPA is going to do now? Sure, sure the new source review will continue, but, so what? The results of the New Source Review is supposed address the issue and rein in polluters. Now? With what? This is the LEGISLATION. There is nothing left for Congress to do, except, write another statute for the Robert’s court to destroy again? THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LEGISLATION AS IT EXISTED! 

So, all those folks out there that want to

end pollution and PFAs; Good Luck!

If coups are now legal…

…we should throw out all the Republicans from office!

Campaigning by anyone is not an official act. Trumps speech on the Ellipse was a personal act of vengeance having lost the election.

A president of the United States of America cannot official order the end to anyone’s life. If that were possible Biden could now get rid of Trump as a candidate.

Presidential order #55555555555555 Assassinate Donald John Trump as he is a danger to the national security of the USA

There is no absolute immunity as president of this country. The Rule of Law still stands as does Due Process.

There will never be a gallows for innocent people.

Assassination of innocent people is something that works for Putin as he ordered the death of Alexei Navalny a political opponent. Such heinous treatment of people does not exist in democracies. 

The president of this country still needs to maintain good moral character and carry out the his/her responsibilities within the legal framework of the USA.

I don’t know what the Supreme Court is thinking but it seems obvious that they are not very smart people.

Trump’s prosecutions need to go forward for the jury to convict.

(Click here)

The Robert’s court chronically confuses politics with governance. The issue with Trump’s interference in official proceedings to install a new president is a personal issue NOT a presidential power.

The president ONLY has immunity from acts of governance such as a military strike, but, plotting a coup is not an official act of a president and that is what Trump has to argue in a court of law in front of a jury. 

The court hearings regarding his interference in free and fair elections is a crime. If Trump’s defense is that a coup is an official act of a president then he is guilty of more than election interference and instead admits to treason of the USA Constitution of the United States of America.

Trump is a hostile entity with the borders of the USA. A President is supposed to maintain domestic peace and tranquility. Treasoning the USA Constitution during am official proceedings of Congress to carry out a coup is a criminal act. There is no place in the law of this country that legalizes a coup against the people.

A president is sworn into office to honor and uphold the USA Constitution. Trump has violated his oath.

The state bar associations should review the legal standing of the justices willing to allow a coup of an elected president. When violating the public trust is found their licenses must be removed.

Misinformation about “Bear Spray.”

(Click here)

I have reviewed the use of bear spray once before on this blog. Since the National Park Service has recently issued caution in regard to our national parks and bears I believed it would be best to review this issue.

The link above is a YouTube video that shows exactly the best stance to use if there is a bear throttling toward a person. However, what is not mentioned is the fact bears can travel very fast. Scientists list their speed at 30 mph, but, there have been reports of 35 mph. Why is that important? Because while bear spray is very effective the bear(s) can be upon a person before being able to deploy the spray. Also a person when frightened tends to be flustered rather than organized. For the person(s) heading into the wilderness or wilderness area (including national parks) be well practiced both in deploying the bear spray and maintaining confidence to be accurate and effective.

If entering a national park for pleasure, exercise, adventure, or enjoyment please check the National Park Service website and read about the park before arriving to it. 

(Click here)

Enter the national park of interest into the search 🔍 icon. Then ask it to search and it will go to the national park of interest home page.

The description will discuss the wildlife at the park and the best way to enjoy viewing them.

Below is a brand of bear spray that is very popular.

This particular spray is a 2 percent concentration. It is noted this can be purchased at Home Depot. Home Depot even adds an attractive offer to discount the purchase if the consumer is interested. 

I have not researched the concentration’s effectiveness, but, there should be a consumer report somewhere that discusses the concentration needed. The US EPA does not test bear or mountain lion spray for effectiveness.

There is information floating around the net that bear spray is prohibited in the national parks and that is not accurate. There are some national parks that don’t have these particular wildlife within its borders and such spray could pose a danger if used as a toy in a family campground area. So for those reasons bear spray may be restricted. Again, search the National Park Service website and look for information about the park.

(Click here)

In the link

Immediately above this notation about “Bear Horn” there is a good discussion about bear deterrence and mountain lion deterrence. 

There are good precautions that really should apply to anyone leaving civilization to enjoy the outdoors including traveling in a group rather than alone. Making noise is another effective method to let wildlife know there are people on the land that may normally be their exclusive territory. Large mammals tend to be territorial. Any surprise happening within their territory is going to result in a confrontation. By making noise, including playing a favorite tune or plenty of welcome conversation, it will alert the wildlife and provide time to alter their plans to cross the path of persons within their territory.

Going into the wilderness is not child’s play. Knowing the lay of the land and the wildlife within it is really the best way to enjoy the experience. 

Please, please, when visiting the National Parks FOLLOW the RULES. Those rules are well thought out from research over decades. Those rules, even if they are inconvenient to a picture opportunity or seem over protective and silly, they are not. The rules in the National Parks were written to ensue safety for the tourists and the wildlife. The Park Rangers know what they are doing. They care about the land, the wildlife, and the people that love it as much as they do. 

Know the wilderness and the outcome to a planned experience and enjoy America’s wilderness for the pristine beauty that lies there.

Finally, people that love the country.

(Click here) I think the author sees Trump as a threat and not a president. He thinks Trump won the debate, but, also believes it is enough to motivate a change in a Democratic candidate. I think he really loves the country at the heart of his essay and is looking for someone to vote for who does as well. In this is a bit of a prayer to move the country forward to protect our democracy.

Joe Biden came out of retirement after being Vice President. He ended a destructive Republican in the White House. Can he do it again? He needs to think it through and do what is best for the country.

Joe originally said he would be there for one term. He has to reflect on that statement today.

The Debate

I was reading The Guardian and there were some interesting points made by several commentators. The overall thinking is concern for another Trump presidency, but, the observation was made that while discussing Biden’s performance might be interesting discussion of a chronic gerontocracy in the USA, but, to avoid the discussion of Trump’s fact free answers is a mistake as well.

It was also stated the debate platform was grueling without an audience as well as the raising of President Biden’s strong and successful policies as a point to his governance.

Europe is worried though.

The communists aren’t saying much and certainly nothing friendly.

Israel is busy with the war. There are drones into northern Israel that are forcing Shabbat into bomb shelters. There is an overall feeling that Biden did not do himself any favors and Thomas Friedman’s article in The NY Times is featured asking the Democrats to rescue the race to a better nominee. There is also an editorial I believe that wants the IDF to pre-emptively strike Hezbollah. There is less trouble than more with Hezbollah in Lebanon at the moment. It would be best to dialogue with Nasrallah. He is the closest thing to a head of state for Hezbollah. I always got the feeling Nasrallah was hesitant about a conflict with the IDF. 

Today, internationally, Biden is not popular. 

The path forward is a real decision.

The American people cannot forget it was only 1865 when a civil war ended in this country. Not quite 160 years ago slavery ended. It was far more recent that minority rights came into view, ie: Rosa Parks. By all rights any hatred should be gone in 160 years or 8 generations of Americans, yet it still remains.

Donald John Trump embodies that hatred and promises to carry it forward. The American Civil War and the fight for individual rights AND safety is not over.

Trump uses fear to stir people’s alertness and then proceeds to carry out an agenda of violence to achieve an end to the fear HE CREATED.

The American people must center themselves on civil inclusiveness without fear of THE OTHER.

This is a democracy above all else. Our children and grandchildren are to CONTINUE to inherit the freedom hard fought for on the battlefield as well as the labors of previous generations that struggled domestically to maintain an openness to opportunity that is the birth right of every American.

We are witnessing an open assault against the Rule of Law, including stare desis as never before witnessed by this Supreme Court. 

The fight for freedom and equality is not over. Our freedoms need to be better secured when hanging in the balance of a politically active Supreme Court. This 2024 election can be pivotal or it can be a steady path forward to freedom and democracy.

Americas should not lose their footing in their understanding of their steadfast belief in their Constitution and the Rule of Law and benevolent leadership void of an agenda of violence and hatred.

It is a political court.

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The Robert’s Court doesn’t care about the people, only words and a far right interpretation of the words. They never really granted the legal standing of mifepristone, they only ruled the parties involved had no standing to make their claim. Mifepristone will be outlawed if Trump is elected. 

The same thing with the January 6th rioter. He was there physically in the Capitol and participated in a riot that disrupted official proceedings. How is that not an issue for prosecution ? They don’t care about the country, only their politics. 

The Supreme Court is beginning to define anarchy within the borders of this country. It is going to be interesting to watch them turn this land into a theocracy when it approves of the mandatory teaching of the Bible. That will end the rights of any difference, diversity, free thinkers, or invention if everything has to be defined within the definition of Christianity. There is a hatred of freedom in the right wing in the USA. They want a white Christian man conformity. It is going to be bad.

The American people need to get this right, otherwise, by the time they realize what is happening it will be too late.

NASA needs to send a reentry vehicle.

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I am sure NASA is checking for rocket fired at space satellite to determine how this happened. The Boeing ship isn’t flight worthy and astronauts have to return to Earth. Boeing’s ship can return to Earth without the astronauts.

What the heck is going on with Russia? Something similar occurred when the Soviet Union broke up. Their astronauts were in space a long time until there was someone at the helm again.

Trump is a criminal and plans to stay that way.

Trump has no plan for climate except to let it get worse. I think he pandered to Big Oil money when he stammered a bit, “…the liquid gold under our feet, oil and gas…” Trump is a plutocrat transfixed on money and how to get it no matter the degree of crime involved. It is the way he ran his business and it is his world view.

This debate was before the conventions.

Trump is politically agile, but, a liar that INTENDS the people of the USA harm.

Biden is Biden. He is steadfast and honest, but, his aged appearance and inability to appear youthful is a problem for him. The last thing he wants is to lose this democracy. He will do the right thing for the country. Debating isn’t his strong suit, but, his love for this country is. I think his stuttering got the best of him tonight.

Trump will never agree to a two country outcome with Israel and Palestine. 

He said, “We’ll see.” That means no and he turned to talk about great trade deals with Europe. He is a snake oil salesman.

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(Click here) The wealth gap between Black Americans and Caucasian Americans is a ratio of at least $1 vs. $100. Making choices to work is not simple and they often will stay home because of the cost of childcare. 

Trump has no plan for SSI, only Republican rhetoric (click here) Economic growth under Biden has been significant while the solvency of SSI has not improved. There is no Republican plan that will work. 

A significant amount of inflation is due to ocean shipping costs which escalated uncontrollably during the pandemic. They improved under Biden but are once again an issue became of the violence in the Middle East, the Houthis, Iranians, and the Suez Canal. 

Trump is a snake oil salesman. He is attempting to create his own reality.

Biden is straying from the subject at hand. 

Late term abortion was and is illegal.

The ban Trump instituted was due to the pandemic. It was no longer relevant when it expired.

“We need to get them out of the country and fast…” It is spelled I.C.E. rounding up the undocumented. Trump uses fear to exaggerate the topic into a reality that does not exist so he can institute extremist policies.

Russia is having a great deal of internal violence. It is not due to Ukraine attacks. Putin is having a difficult time with internal peace as well as attempting to destroy Ukraine.

Afghanistan today is attempting to build a tourist economy. I wouldn’t go, but, some countries are interested. It used to be a haven for conservationists.

Money, money, money. The reason Trump is attractive to plutocrats. Biden is asking all the million-billionaires to pay 20 percent. He will never get there vote.

This is what my phone looks like. If this is what goes on within our voting system it will be a disaster.

Don’t expect good behavior from Trump.

I fully expect Trump to make a scene every time he has an open microphone. 

To be clear, a thug like Trump doesn’t deserve to be on any debate stage. His rallies reflect who he is politically.

I have no doubt he will be an enormous disappointment to most everyone that tuned in with an open mind to hear about the issues.