The Anomoly of February Weather

Once again, Mother Nature has decided to show us that She will decide the next few days of weather across the country and laughs at the "experts" that climate change is the cause. 

Of course, we can all agree that the earth has warmed globally by ONE WHOLE DEGREE since the late nineteenth century; however, if you recall, the earth also experienced a mini-ice age for the previous four hundred or so years. It proves weather is cyclical.

Nevertheless, this weekend will show us who is in charge: the climatologists or Mother Nature!

Yes, in central Florida, it will be sunny, with a mid-February humidity of 55% to 60%, with a minimal chance for rain and a temperature in the mid 80s. Conversely, New York, Long Island and other parts of the Northeast will be subject to a Blizzard Warning, with temperatures in the 20s and maybe the low 30s, with snow accumulations projected from 10 to 24 inches. Or maybe even more.

But, that is February in the winter. Not climate change.

And surprisingly, it is the way Mother Nature heals the earth. The Long Island region is presently experiencing a bit of a drought as the area heads toward its spring growing season. Getting two feet of snow in one wallop will result in approximately four inches of needed water. This will make a huge impact on a drought.

So, for those of you in the Northeast, sit back and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature's last vestiges of winter as the snow falls across the lawns and roads to bring her beauty to the fore. And for the kids who enjoyed the February mid-winter break, you will probably get a bonus day to extend the break, as schools will be closed for at least one more day. If not more.

Soon enough, March will arrive with its own weather anomolies, leaving this weekend snowstorm as a fond memory. And then suddenly, Spring and Summer will be upon us once again.

Just stay safe as Mother Nature shows us all who really is in charge.

The Short-Term Stop Sign On Tariffs

Today, the Supreme Court put up a stop sign on the Trump Tariffs. It was not unexpected by anyone,  including President Trump, who understood the concept of separation of powers as defined by the Constitution.

In fact, the stock markets reacted as if the decision was expected with the ho-hum reaction it received, by not reacting with an explosive buy or sell-off to panic anyone.

DUMBOCRATS, like Hiccup Jeffries and Schmuck Schumer are celebrating the decision as a victory in their opposition to Trump, while not recognizing that he has other options to continue his current focus to drive forward the American economy 

However... Democrats are not seeing an even bigger picture. The opinion gives relief ONLY to companies who filed as plaintiffs in the original suit. 

We all know that Presidents from both parties in the past have utilized tariffs to offset costs by other nations as we import those foreign goods. By Trump utilizing these tariffs, he was able to negotiate better trading outcomes which which had been previously penalizing American consumers.

Now, the Trump Administration and the Congress, with this ruling, will need to find a "middle ground" in order to continue the application of the tariffs. It does ONLY limit the extension of Executive power.

And ironically, while the Democrat left may be celebrating the ruling today because, in the short term it short-stops President Trump's agenda which they despise, ultimately, today's ruling also prevents a future DEMOCRAT President from utilizing tariffs without CONGRESSIONAL consent, as well. So, celebrations may not be a good image for Democrats to take.

Surely, by no means, is the discussion closed. Anyone with any intelligence can see this. In the end, a compromise will be forthcoming which will give guidance to handle tariffs in the future.

And whether it is later today, or next week when President Trump delivers his State of the Union address, you know he will have a lot to say.

Be ready for it.

Why Christians Celebrate Lent

​Today is Ash Wednesday, a day which commences the Lenten season in many Christian faiths. Each denomination interprets how it follows the  next forty days until Holy Thursday, which was the night of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples on the night before Passover.

During this time, Christians will sacrifice a pleasure one enjoys, whether it is meat, ice cream, a sweet, etc (fast), give alms, pray, and are reminded that Jesus did the same for us before He died.

Certainly, there is nothing any of us could do to achieve what was done for us by Him. But it is a worthy gesture of remembrance which we offer in His name to each other.

This period of reflection is not unheard by Jews or Muslims either. The forty-day Jewish period of reflection is dedicated to introspection, repentance (teshuvah), and reconciliation, honoring the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai seeking forgiveness for the Golden Calf.

The number forty holds significant spiritual weight in Islam, often representing a period of transition, purification and transformation. While specific rituals for a forty-day period are frequently cultural rather than strictly mandated by the Qur'an or Sunnah, several practices and beliefs revolve around this timeframe.

Forty is a highly significant, symbolic number in several religions besides the Abrahamic faiths. Hinduism, Zoroastorism and others also recognize this measure of time as it is generally representing a period of testing, trial, probation, or transformation. It often signifies a necessary transition, such as the forty days or years required for purification or preparing for a new beginning. 

While these periods may fall at other times in the calendar for the many faiths which exist in our human lives, it is important to remember that is a human construct to dedicate time for reflection. 

In Christendom, this period ends with a remembrance of the Crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, and celebration of His Resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday. 

So, as we begin the Lenten season, we should reflect on how we can be a better person during the next year, being kinder to others less fortunate, and how we can dedicate ourselves to goals which may seem out of reach, but can be achieved with some extra effort. It really is not all that difficult.

After all... as many people seem to say as they challenge us, "What would Jesus do?"

The Stupidity of a Democrat Socialist Darling

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“Better to sit there with your mouth shut and look stupid, than open it to remove all doubt.”

Sometimes, these old adages seem to come to the surface at just the right  time. Too bad Alexandra Ocascio-Cortez was absent when this was taught both in high school AND in college. 

But maybe, she was there and she didn’t understand that concept, as easy as most other students. Maybe, she is just dumb and likes the sound of her own voice.

Who knows? She certainly doesn’t sound smart; does she?

This weekend, she essentially proved these points with the interviews in which she participated when she showed off her best "Kacklin' Kammie" with the word salad she spoke when asked about her views on the possibility of China invading Taiwan. Apparently, she must have thought that China was going to tie one on.

Then, she showed how "smart" she was when asked about the US' recent incursion into Venezuela to capture the narco-terrorist, Maduro. She proceeded to criticize the US policy of invading countries in South America BELOW the equator. She showed that geography was not her strong point since Ecuador is south of Venezuela and is named for the country ON the equator.

But the best was when when she tried to show up SecState Rubio when in his speech, he mentioned that Spain introduced cowboys to the Western Hemisphere in Mexico. She must have forgotten or did not know the Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez brought horses and the Spanish language when he landed there. And words like lasso, rodeo, corral, ranchero (cowboy) originate. Oh, and to show that someone with her last name was so inconsequential to American and Western history,

For shame!

Hey, Sandy... perhaps you would be best served by avoiding these tough questions next time and instead, let someone else answer while you fix the drinks.

Maybe, you have just signaled "last call" on your political career by showing how dumb and stupid you really are,. And take the whole Democrat Socialist movement with you.

You have showed how void your brain is of anything meaningful for the last time.

Random February Musings

Looking at the calendar this morning, it was shocking to see that February was halfway done; where did the month go??

It seems that with tomorrow being Valentine's Day, we looked forward to Monday being Presidents Day, Tuesday as Fat Tuesday and suddenly, Ash Wedneday and Lent are upon us.

Can Spring be far behind?

Next Friday and Saturday, the first pitches of Spring Training will be thrown, giving us the hope for a new baseball season. All teams start off even-Steven, which all fans of their teams have hope for a better season than 2025.

All positive thoughts fill our souls, even as we recognize that today is Friday the Thirteenth. For many, people consider today as unlucky; in Italian culture, Friday the 13th is generally not considered unlucky, and the number thirteen itself is often seen as lucky. Better to think this way, yes?

February 13th is a special day for pop-culture holiday for celebrating Galentine's Day female friendships, and also for Black Love Day, National Cheddar Day, and World Radio Day, offering various ways to appreciate friends, love (platonic or romantic), and the media we consume before Valentine's Day.  

And then, finally, in March, we get to do it again. We get s second chance right away!

What a way to look at how quickly time marches on.

What Difference Does It Make?

​Here are four names where their deaths mattered and made a HUGE difference to their families, and in essence, to many people who may not have even known them. Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. 

These men gave their lives to our country, both as dedicated Patriots while they were alive, and as the ultimate sacrificial lambs to an Administration who willfully abandoned them on September 11, 2012.

The President, the Secretary of State, and others of that malevolent Administration claimed their deaths were caused by a video which angered protesters over some perceived slight to the Islam religion. And the lying Lame Stream Media acted as Public Relations agents to sell that lie to the American people. 

And, for the most part, it worked for many years, while Obama was re-elected, Clinton was nominated, Biden fumbled through his “presidency” and these unnecessary deaths were beginning to fade into history.

Until yesterday, when Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro and several others announced  that Zubayar Al-Bakoush, an armed co-conspirator in the 2012 attack,  was charged in an eight-count indictment unsealed today in US District Court on multiple terrorism and murder counts.

“The terrorist attack on our Benghazi Embassy was a dark and tragic day for our nation that robbed us of four American heroes,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Now, thanks to our brave federal agents, one of its alleged key participants will be prosecuted in an American courtroom on American soil. Under President Trump’s leadership, this Department of Justice will never rest in our mission to Make America Safe Again and deliver swift, severe justice to our enemies.”

According to the indictment, Bakoush was a member of Ansar Al Sharia (AAS), an Islamist extremist militia in Benghazi, which had the goal of establishing Sharia law in Libya.

On the evening of September 11, 2012, a group of more than 20 heavily armed men, including Bakoush assembled outside the main gate of the US Special Mission in Benghazi.  They were armed with assault rifles, other firearms, and explosive devices.  At about 9:45 p.m., the group of armed men violently breached the main gate of the Mission. Upon entry, the men fanned out across the Mission complex, setting fires to building within the Mission compound.

The Department of Justice previously charged and convicted two leaders in the Benghazi attack on federal terrorism charges and other offenses. Ahmed Abu Khatallah, aka Ahmed Mukatallah was sentenced in June 2018 to 22 years in prison and resentenced in September 2024 to 28 years in prison. Mustafa al-Imam was sentenced in January 2020 to nearly 20 years.

Apparently, President Trump believes that when you FK Around you eventually Find Out. But, Hillary Clinton told us when this happened, “What difference does it make?” Which is the better policy for protecting America, Friends?

Finally, we are finding the it DOES make a difference. A HUGE ONE! These men did not die in vain.

And our President has proven it does make a difference, too. If only to Never Forget.

The Winter Doldrums Will End

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Today, as this is written, the temperature is 24* with a windchill of 14*. Tonight, it is expected to be pretty cold, too, with windchills below zero. If that weren’t bad enough, this weekend in New York and Long Island, it is expected to reach -15*!

Brrrr. Now THAT IS COLD!!

As we have seen over the last few years, many people have moved to warmer climes to escape the winters  of Long Island and the Northeast. Many have moved to the Sunshine State in this quest, or at least have become snowbirds.

But this winter, Mother Nature played a dirty trick, and showed us all that we can’t outrun the force of weather. Instead, we are relearning that age-old lesson, “You can’t fool Mother Nature.”

No matter how hard we try.

Even in Central Florida, the best it will be is in the low sixties, and overnight temperatures in the thirties. If will gradually warm up, even in colder parts of the country by next Friday.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day. To warm your heart, at least.

A few days later, Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday will kick off the Lenten Season and Spring Training will be upon us. 

Then, we will soon forget how the month started, leaving all the bitterness of winter in our rear view mirrors, and watch as Spring and warmer weather draw closer.

So, take heart, My Friends; it WILL get better. Just remember how tough this winter was when temperatures climb into the 90s in July, and how much you prayed it would warm up in February.

Meanwhile, stay warm and be safe.