The Four Things That Really Matter

In post-modern America there is a concern over "unity" and "diversity". Signs that said "United We Stand" were posted everywhere after the 9-11 disaster. Similarly, "Black Lives Matter" signage has appeared, more of an appeal to diversity than an encouragement of unity.

The fact is that there is indeed a general unity of opinion on four things, the four things that really matter to practically all Americans. Ranked in order of their importance they are: comfort, convenience, entertainment and security.

Comfort is the most important thing in the life of all Americans. The man-made environment created for them begins with the necessity of comfort. The temperature in homes, offices, schools and businesses must be somewhere between 67 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the relative humidity, regardless of the outside temperature. Automobiles, airplanes and trains have similar requirements. Lighting must be at the desired level and ambient sound must not be objectionable. The Goldilocks syndrome. No one would disagree with this. The population is united in this feeling.

Convenience is the spur to the recent changes in retailing and other business relationships. Internet access eliminates many trips to the library or even the corner store. Pizza is delivered to the front door. Amazon will ship the customer a copy of the latest Tom Clancy book via a simple computer transaction. Utility bills can be paid in the same way. Should an actual in-person visit be needed to make an exchange, receive a service or perform one, it's mandatory that a place to park the automobile be as close as possible to the front door of the destination. There is unity in this desire.

Entertainment is next on the list of American necessities. Being afflicted with boredom, or even lack of sensory stimulation at a certain level, can't be accepted. This has become more and more important as devices that are able to combat boredom have become more commonplace. Where in bygone days people carried "pocket books", volumes meant to be portable mental stimulation, miniature radios and recording devices; and now smart phones are everywhere. Even in situations that are  entertainment, like a sporting event, lulls in the action are filled with more entertainment; music, giant scoreboard visuals, etc. There can't be any time that's not filled with some kind of stimuli.

The fourth requirement is security. This can range from discouraging a missile attack from somewhere near the Ural Mountains to prevention of bicycle theft or safety in Halloween trick-or-treating. Aspects of life that all Americans favor.

So, the country is united in at least these desires. What about the divisive parts of life? The ideas that inspire disunity are the ones that aren't meaningful on a personal level. For instance, lately there's been much discussion about where transgender people fit in. Chances are the average man of the cul-de-sac has experienced perhaps only a few minutes of Ru Paul while working his way through the 350 channels. Most men would have a difficult time telling an unattractive women from a sissy guy.

 
Ru Paul, actually a guy.

Another controversial subject is AGW or now more often "climate change". While there will be storms, droughts and other weather events in the near future just as there always has been, nobody alive today will be able to point to evidence of anthropogenically caused climate change during their own lifetime. Yet, since no real evidence exists opinions can run a gamut. It produces disunity. People seem to enjoy arguing about it though the argument can't be settled at this time in any meaningful way and if it could would have no discernible effect on anyone's life.

The latest foofarole to strike the American fancy is the disrespect shown to the Star-spangled Banner by black football players during the national anthem ceremony before NFL football games. Why the flag should be displayed and the anthem played at the commencement of a rodeo, hockey game or soccer match is very much a mystery. And, as controversial as this subject has been lately, the varying opinions on it and the behavior of the witnesses are in reality of no consequence to anyone. Everybody knows that a red, white and blue striped flag with stars on it represents the US.

There are other controversial ideas that might create dissension; the gold standard, income tax, a guaranteed income, illegal immigration and ethanol in motor fuel, for instance. These are however, abstract areas of thought. A temperature of 82 in the office or a parking space 2 blocks from the front door are genuine issues.

 

 

Which Is The Invasive Species?

A Chinook, or King Salmon

 

Zebra mussels

This article tells us that there are issues with the viability of the economically significant king salmon fishery in the Great Lakes because of invasive species such as the zebra and quagga mussels and their effect on the salmon food supply, the alewife.

The story also points out that the king salmon themselves, a specie native to the Pacific, were introduced to the Great Lakes about 50 years ago. It seems that those aggressive fish are invasive themselves, although their arrival was the result of conscious human effort, rather than the accidental distribution of mussel larva through dumping of ship ballast.  In any event, both salmon and mussels have an effect on other organisms in the Great Lakes ecosystem, the alewives, themselves, for instance. The salmon are OK because they support a sport fishing industry, the mussels plug up water intakes. The ultimate value of an animal is directly related to its positive or negative relationship to humans. Mosquitoes are bad, pandas are good.

Legal Fees

U.S. District Judge John Tunheim oversaw the case of Stephanie Jenkins vs. Ted Swem. Jenkins was suing Swem for an incident of sexual harassment that had occured in 2011. This article tells us what happened. After a jury verdict found Swem guilty, Justice Tunheim awarded Jenkins a symbolic $1 and ordered Swem to pay court costs of $18,900 and $305,000 in legal fees to Jenkins' attorneys, who had presented a bill for $802,000 for their work on the case.

 

Stephanie Jenkins in 2011.

150 Years Ago Alaska Becomes Part Of The US

From the Fairbanks News-Miner:

It was in August 1867, for example, that Secretary of State William H. Seward, who secured the purchase of Alaska from Russia at a price of $7.2 million, issued his instructions to the man who would become the first overseer of the new U.S. possession, Brig. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau.
Secretary Seward began his Aug. 7, 1867 dispatch to Gen. Rousseau as follows:
“General: You will herewith receive the warrant of the president, under the great seal of the United States, appointing you commissioner on behalf of this government, to receive from a similar officer appointed on behalf of the imperial government of Russia, the territory ceded by that government to the United States, pursuant to the treaty of the 30th of March last.
“On arriving at Sitka, the principal town in the ceded territory, you will receive from the Russian commissioner the formal transfer of that territory, under mutual salutes from artillery, in which the United States will take the lead….”
The secretary continued with detailed instructions on what types of property would come into U.S. possession and what would remain private. He wrote of the holdings of the Greco-Russian church and what the Russian-American Co. would be allowed to do to wind down its operations.
And he concluded with a comment about relations between the U.S. and Russia.
“It is expected that, in the transaction of the important business hereby entrusted to you, it will be borne in mind that, in making the cession of the territory referred to, his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias has been actuated by a desire of giving a signal proof of that friendship for the United States which has characterized his own reign and that of his illustrious predecessors. It is hoped, therefore, that all your intercourse with the Russian commissioner will be friendly, courteous and frank. This department understands from the president that, upon the conclusion of the business with the Russian commissioner, you will have command in the territory, to be exercised under the orders of the war department.”
Gen. Rousseau supplied a quite lengthy report to Secretary Seward dated Dec. 5, 1867, detailing the transfer ceremony — as well as some of his difficulty in reaching Sitka, known as New Archangel, or Novo-Arkhangelsk, under Russian rule, and the bureaucratic work of the transfer itself, such as taking inventory of the holdings in Sitka.
“...We cast anchor in the harbor of New Archangel on the 18th of October, at eleven o’clock a m., where we found the troops and supplies had preceded us several days. The day was bright and beautiful. We landed immediately, and fixed the hour of three and a half o’clock that day for the transfer...
“The command of General Davis, about two hundred and fifty strong, in full uniform, armed and handsomely equipped, were landed about three o’clock, and marched up to the top of the eminence on which stands the governor’s house, where the transfer was to be made. At the same time a company of Russian soldiers were marched to the ground, and took their place upon the left of the flag-staff, from which the Russian flag was then floating. The command of General Davis was formed under his direction on the right. The United States flag to be raised on the occasion was in care of a color guard — a lieutenant, a sergeant and ten men of General Davis’ command...
“...the ceremony was begun by lowering the Russian flag. As it began its descent down the flag staff the battery of the Ossipee, with large nine-inch guns, led off in the salute, peal after peal crashing and re-echoing in the gorges of the surrounding mountains, answered by the Russian water battery (a battery on the wharf) firing alternately...
“The United States flag (the one given to me for that purpose, by your direction, at Washington) was then properly attached and began its ascent, hoisted by my private secretary, George Lovell Rousseau, and again the salutes were fired as before, the Russian water battery leading off. The flag was so hoisted that in the instant it reached its place the report of the last big gun of the Ossipee reverberated from the mountains around. The salutes being completed, Captain Pestchouroff stepped up to me and said: ‘General Rousseau, by authority from his Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, I transfer to the United States the Territory of Alaska,’ and in as few words I acknowledged the acceptance of the transfer, and the ceremony was at an end.”
The U.S. issued a check to Russia on Aug. 1, 1868. The Russians cashed it two weeks later.
Today we celebrate Alaska Day, 150 years as a possession of the United States.
 Information and documents about the 150th anniversary of the Alaska purchase and transfer can be found at the Alaska Historical Society website at this shortened address: http://bit.ly/2zwTwzs. Here is the society’s main website: alaskahistoricalsociety.org
Here is a shortened link to the Library of Congress website about the Alaska purchase: http://bit.ly/2hNC3uE

 

Tesla Service Centers

In the US there are currently 70 Tesla Service Centers in 25 states. If you live in Havre, Montana the closest service center to you will be in Salt Lake City, 683 miles away.

2017 National Sports Center Track Cycling All-Star Team

The state fair has come and gone, there's no more brats in the refrigerator and the wild turkey chicks are just as big as their mothers. Summer, and the track cycling season in the Twin Cities, has come to a close for another year. It's time for the subjective selection of the most impressive riders for 2017.

Nikki Munvez, has made steady progress as she's moved up the ranks of the ladies peloton. She not only outpointed most of the local competition but was also the winner of the lady's division of the National Cycle Courier contest in Milwaukee.

Junior rider Peter Moore made his presence felt on multiple fronts. Generally a winner at the NSC Velodrome he was also a star at the 2017 USA Cycling Elite Juniors Track Nationals in Carson, CA , July 31-Aug 5, winning gold in Jr. Men's Individual Pursuit, Sprint and Points race as well as a silver in the time trial.

Minneapolis firefighter Dan Casper is a familiar sight leading the pack across the finish line at NSC Velodrome endurance events and this year was no exception. A consistent performer at both the national and international master's competitions, Dan is a reigning world's masters champion in the individual pursuit, scratch race and team pursuit along with NSC Velodrome rider Tim Mulrooney.

Fuerza rider Anna Schmitz has determinedly worked her way up through the competition and is now a leader in the women's peloton.

Erin Porter grinds her way to victory on a regular basis in the Cat. 4 women's contests. She won't be Cat. 4 for long.

Fan favorite Cat. 3 racer Lionel Space annually makes his way to the NSC Velodrome from Phoenix and teaches some lessons to the kids for a couple of weeks.

 Swaziland native, Macalester College alum and Medtronic employee Mandla Shongwe has quickly taken to track cycling and become a force in the Cat 4 ranks.

Category 3 Tacocat rider Risa Hustad races sled dogs around Ely, MN when there's too much snow for track cycling.

Lady's track rider of the year for 2016 and 2017 Anya Malarski sits down to a big meal after a race like all competitive cyclists.

Strong man Andy Keough moved up to Cat 1/2 this season and put serious pressure on the men's peloton.

Men's track rider of the year is all-around riding star Brandon Krawcyzk.

Clayton Shepard put the hurt on the competition both locally and at the 2017 Masters Track Cycling World Championships in Los Angeles, winning two gold medals in his division.

Sprinter Linsey Hamilton has been an all-star for a long time and remains one to this day.

The Guy That Caught The Homer

Sunday night at Dodger Stadium the division play-off game between the Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs ended with a walk-off three run home run by Dodger third baseman Justin Turner. As explained in this account the ball was caught by a fan who has made a habit of snaring consequential long fly balls. Keith Hupp's hobby is attending Dodger games with his baseball glove in hopes of catching dingers.


There might be a certain amount of human interest in this story but more significant are the circumstances of Mr. Hupp himself.

 "Hupp, 54, retired from the South Gate Police Department in 2013 after attaining the rank of captain. He lives in San Gabriel, the city where he was born and raised."

This well-fed former public employee retired at age 50. No doubt he has more profitable things to do than watch soap operas during normal working hours but we don't how he actually spends his time. We do know, however, that if things work out the taxpayers of some region of California are going to be on the hook for his retirement benefits for perhaps 30 years or more. It's obvious why California has fiscal problems. According to this site the lucky Mr. Hupp's annual pension is $152,625.72. For you blue collar folks that translates to $73.38 per hour, based on a 40 hour week. 

Exploring the Harvey Weinstein Mess

Most of the commentary on the revelation that hugely successful movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is a lecher has dwelt on that simple fact. He was able to engage in his swinish conduct because he was a rich and powerful figure in not only the movie industry but also in progressive politics, able to dole out career-enhancing roles and contribute money to favored politicians. He had power over the power-less and the ostensibly powerful both. He delighted in making use of this power in disgusting ways. That's only a part of the story, however. The repulsive wretch could indulge his vices only because others wanted what he had to offer.

Obese, obnoxious, unattractive Harvey Weinstein is 65 years old. His attractive actress and fashion designer wife Georgina Chapman is 41, an age difference of 24 years and not an unusual match in the elevated society of finance and entertainment. It's difficult to believe that if Weinstein had been limo driver for Miramax or a janitor at some sound stage that he and Miss Chapman would have become a couple. The chemistry that brought these two together is obvious to even the slightly cynical. Weinstein acquired a trophy wife and Chapman found access to funding and influence that would advance the interests of her clothing label.

Not to say that there's anything wrong with this. Relationships have been based on those kind of considerations for as long as humans have existed. At the same time, we should realize that women are willing to engage in a relationship with a slob if there's a reward down the line.  See Mrs. Bill Clinton, Huma Abedin, and many others. We don't know what innocent females expected when entering the presence of the bloated cinema genius but we can guess.

Of note is the fact that the reporter who wrote the expose' of Weinstein's misogyny is Ronan Farrow, son of Mia Farrow. Mia Farrow married singing and acting legend Frank Sinatra when she was 21. Sinatra was a handsome, talented and wealthy man but he was also 61 years old at the time.

Another aspect of the Weinstein crisis is the rejection of his $5 million donation for  an endowment for women filmmakers at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Chances are that if Weinstein, probably having well-clogged arteries, had left this mortal coil a couple of months ago his donation would have been cheerfully accepted by the feminine auteurs. Maybe a chair at the university would have been established in his name or, even better, his name might have been emblazoned over the doors of a campus theater. This is the danger of memorializing still-living financial benefactors. They sometimes turn out to be scoundrels.

Even those that seem to be worthy of remembrance at a particular time and place after their demise can sometimes undergo reconsideration in the future. We can't be too careful about whom we honor.

Worried About North Korean Missiles?

Move into this before it's too late. Probably need some water storage and an electrical generator, too.

Does Facebook Equal Radio Liberty?

According to some sources Russian hackers have been successful in thwarting the coronation of Queen Hillary by posting on phony Facebook accounts prior to the 2016 presidential election. These scoundrels did not succeed in penetrating the election process itself, however.

Various influential political figures have called this behavior an "act of war".

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) most recently accused Russia of engaging in warfare.
“I think this attack that we’ve experienced is a form of war, a form of war on our fundamental democratic principles,” Coleman said during a hearing this week at the House Homeland Security Committee.

It's only been in the very recent past that a technological innovation like Facebook could even be used in any kind of campaign, political or otherwise, and  domestic players have been quick to use it and other internet social media to advance their own candidates and causes. That's apparently OK, or at least tolerated for the present.

Like anything else, technological advancements in communication have had effects on international relations. The "Zimmerman Telegram", for instance, was a major factor in the US entry into WWI. German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman had proposed an alliance to the Mexican government that involved the return of areas in the southwest US to Mexico. It was intercepted by the British and its public release produced outrage in the US that culminated in the American entry into the war in April 1917.

In 1949 the US established Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty to broadcast the capitalist/democratic message to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. This service is still provided 68 years later despite many changes in politics, government and technology in what were once the members of the Warsaw Pact. The combined efforts of RFE/RL, financed by the CIA until 1972, are broadcast in 23 different languages to 26 separate countries with a budget of over $108 million and a work force of almost 500 people, headquartered in Prague, the Czech Republic. Iran, Armenia, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been added to the targets of the service.



 

Dramatic Improvement For Muslim Women

You may have gotten the word that some Saudi Arabian women will be allowed to drive automobiles in the near future, maybe a year or so from now. But that's not all the good news for Muslim ladies. It's been the case for many years that Muslim women are not allowed to make the Haj to Mecca unless they are accompanied by close male relatives. Soon women over the age of 45 may be able to make the pilgrimage without their 'mahram' or close male relatives if traveling in groups of four or more, according to the Times of India.