Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency fired around 280 staffers and reassigned around 175 others — on Earth Day. How appropriate.
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Actor Jimmy Stewart was rejected by the military after he was drafted—he was too thin. As a show of patriotism, Stewart went on a weight-gaining diet, hoping to reverse the decision. He was accepted by the Army Air Corps (the Air Force was not a separate branch yet) — after making weight and served in WWII with distinction. Provided by FactRetriever.com – He became a pilot of a B-24, in the 8th Army Air Corps, the same kind of plane and unit my Dad was in as a bombardier. My family sent Mom and Dad to a 40th reunion in England, where he was based (Wendling, England — 392nd Bomber Group). Stewart was there and met everyone who attended, as they walked in the door to the main event.
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The CEOs of Walmart, Target and Home Depot reportedly told the president, in the Oval Office that supply chains could freeze and prompt stores’ shelves to go barren if he doesn’t reign in on his sharp tariff plans, and meddling with the Federal Reserve. – Well, Trump is not a “real” businessman, so, we’ll see.
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Didja know dept.: That horseback archery is really a thing?
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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) plans to launch hearings into “what actually happened” in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack, adding another conspiracy theory to his portfolio. – Wait, I know! It was the same FBI agents who started the J6 riot! And staged the moon landing! And pretended to be dead children in the Sandy Hook school shooting!
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Requests from Arkansas for tornado relief were rejected. Trump administration said severity of disaster didn’t warrant federal response. Trump wants to eliminate FEMA. Wait, lessee. Let me check if Arkansas went for Trump – yup, all three times! See what you get, Arkansas? (And why don’t we spell that “Arkansaw?”
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According to Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service: Rather than a successful efficiency operation, Stier argued the DOGE effort has been wasteful. He argued that the firing of IRS employees at tax time will cost the government hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue this year — more than the entire federal payroll. – Yeah, but won’t that help the rich cheat on their taxes, and isn’t that a good thing? Wait . . .
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As an example of either stupidity, or viciousness: The wife of a Maryland man who was deported to El Salvador by mistake said she and her family were forced to move to a safe house after the Department of Homeland Security exposed her address on its official X account.
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And this: With hurricane season just weeks away, about 20% of FEMA’s permanent full-time staff – roughly 1,000 workers – are expected to take a voluntary buyout as part of the latest staff reduction effort from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to several sources briefed on the looming departures. – Which in my mind, makes it even more probable and ironic that a hurricane will hit Mar-a-Lago this year!
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Something I still believe: A rising tide lifts all boats. I know this is true literally, but figuratively it means helping the poor and working poor also helps the rest of us. Or, as I like to say: “We all do better when we all do better.”
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And the rich are not necessarily the “job creators.” Most jobs are created when people have money to spend.
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Didja Know Dept.: Parts of the Great Wall of China were surrounded by defensive moats, which were either filled with water or left as ditches. Provided by FactRetriever.com
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Justice Department Cuts Grants For Crime Victims At DOGE’s Behest – Huffpost.
Among the hundreds of programs cut, according to a partial list obtained by Reuters, were: grants that supported crime victims; hotlines used by crime victims; grants to fight human trafficking; programs to curb juvenile delinquency and safeguard incarcerated youth; and funding for state-run hate-crime reporting.
Well, it must be the victims’ own fault, right? Just like it is Ukraine’s fault that Russia had to invade it!
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Don’t worry, ladies – Trump has your back.* Or: The Women’s Health Initiative announced that the Trump administration is cutting its funding. Its regional research centers will close in September. The main research center’s future also remains uncertain after January of next year. The funding, in totality, amounts to a mere $10 million annually. (And $10 million is less than half of what U.S. taxpayers have reportedly spent for Trump’s golf trips in these first three months of his term.)
*Not.
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In baseball: Most series are three games, and most players will say that the goal is to win 2 out of 3. Right now, there are only two teams out of 30 that are winning at 66% or higher.
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In the Still Can’t Believe it Dept.: LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned a Nevada Republican politician who was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she used money meant for a statue honoring a slain police officer for personal costs, including plastic surgery. She had been facing the possibility of decades in prison. – What happened to “back the blue?” Oh, wait, I know, we got rid of that on J6.
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In the You Could’ve Guessed This Dept.: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that Trump’s agenda will reduce the poorest Americans’ incomes by 10%, while the top 1% of Americans get an additional $25,500 in income.
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And it continues in college sport$, especially football: The construction of a college football roster has changed dramatically in the past several years thanks to the introduction of NIL deals that serve as de facto salaries and a federal court order that allows players to transfer with almost no restrictions. – ESPN. Some of the “NIL salaries” are $50,000 or more. Why do they even pretend to go to class? Many college players now have agents!
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After Fred Astaire’s first screen test, the memo said: “Can’t act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” Astair kept that paper in a frame above his fireplace.
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You’ve all heard the phrase “batten down the hatches,” but I am likely the only person you know who has ever really battened down a hatch. When I was a cadet, I sailed on an old ship that still used that method to cover hatches on the main deck. You put large, heavy boards on beams that crossed the opening, then stretched canvas (sometimes more than one layer) over that. Finally, along all sides of the hatch were angular metal braces. You had triangular shaped pieces of wood (battens) and hammered them so the canvas was tight, waterproof (hopefully) and would not come off in a storm. It was tough, dangerous work on the hatch covers, and I remember being glad I would become an officer and not have to make a living doing that (using a “hurdy-gurdy” was another sailor deck device that brought that same feeling – which I will explain another time).
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Saturday: Rainy, windy and chilly. Rotten. Well, I guess the plants like it. We are thawing out some homemade chili we had stashed in the freezer. I suppose it’s comfort food? Good day to stay indoors and do laundry and watch baseball (first pitch is 5:10 today).
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All take care,
Kevin
Blog: If I understand this 
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