Archives for category: Ongoing Breakdown of Society

Photo above: USMC Okinawa 1980

Cold War era barracks in the USMC. Nothing fancy, but kept clean. There was a respect for government property and troop welfare. OOD would make a tour to check on things. There was a First Sergeant around somewhere who expected a standard to be maintained. Field day once a week. Maintenance issues were reported. It all seemed to work out OK.

Sept 25, 2023 MOAA

Military Barracks Blasted Over Horrid Living Conditions, Lack of Accountability

“The GAO concluded that leaders at the Pentagon are not only failing to provide oversight — instead choosing to largely punt the issue to the branches — but they also don’t consider it a priority. The result has been bureaucratic finger-pointing, with no one office or leader willing to own the issue.”

This story has been posted by several sources. See them here.

Why TF are vacancies on the Joint Chiefs of Staff being filled with people who are part of this system?

Questions for the uniparty press:

Where is the Sgt Maj for each unit shown in the videos above? Where are the company First Sergeants? Where is the list of COs who have been fired?

Three Years Ago

Bring your family:

Four Years Ago

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces. The Cold War ended in the early 90s. The Pentagon was happy with the All Volunteer Force.

Look what they did with it.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

 

If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

 

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Related:

Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis Update

Never Forget

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Operation Macho Swagger

Anybody fired over this?

Return to a Military Draft?

Homeland Security Is A Scam

Alternative Media

 

The country struggles with:

Cultural Honesty

 

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Tree

Many of us were spending our first Christmas away from home. In those days, If you were old enough to be in the Marines, you were old enough to drink on or off base. We had a shop Christmas party where people wrapped and exchanged bottles of booze.

A guy from California received a small Christmas tree from his Mom back home. The tree came with real pinecones and lights. After unpacking the box and putting the tree together, the lights were plugged in. Now it was time to look sad and lonely and pose for the photo I took. Then off to something else besides thinking of Christmas.

 

One of my favorite things about alternative media is that there is often an open and active comment section.

Earlier today, I posted a blog related to US Armed Forces recruiting:

Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis Update

I found a couple of videos related to this topic.

PBS NewsHour:

“Comments are turned off.”

Hey Uncle Sam- know that information suppression will kill enthusiasm related to enlisting in the US Armed Forces.

People want to live in a free and honest society.

Also-

This video:

From comments:

“LET’S CONSIDER MILITARY RECRUITING AND RETENTION PROBLEMS. You may have heard something about the problems the military is having with recruiting and retention. Well, part of that problem is most Americans don’t know anything about it ….. or care. First, let’s establish that this is a serious issue. Our military needs the appropriate numbers and types of people to do its job protecting the rest of us. The wrong numbers and types of people means we will loose the next war. Additionally, other nations will see our weakness and decide to be extra aggressive, increasing the chance of war. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES OF OUR CURRENT PROBLEMS? Some say it’s because about 75% of America’s youth are not qualified to enter the services. Left unexamined is the fact that this is not a new condition which has never before had a serious effect on recruitment. Some say it’s because the military has gone Woke, and that repels recruits and those already in the services. Military leadership rejects this. But, there is ample proof of its truth. And, it’s military leadership that has caused it. Some say it the economy. Conditions are so good that recruits and existing military are drawn to the civilian market. But, given the state of the current economy, that is a questionable belief….. at best. HOW IS THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM? Standards are being lowered….. Regardless of lowering the ability to fight, current leadership is desperate not to look bad. It seems they would rather loose the next war instead. Bribes are being paid….. Payments of up to $100,000 are being offered to attract recruits and keep existing military. There is an increased reliance on women to fill combat slots….. This may decrease our combat effectiveness. But, it will temporally stop the leadership from looking bad. It is interesting to look at the environment in which the recruitment and retention problems exist. FOR MOST OF THE PAST 75 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN AT WAR (although congress has not declared war as required ……even once). AND, WE HAVEN’T WON ANY OF THEM. All of these conflicts were against inferior adversaries that posed no chance of large scale war that would threaten the continental United States. We went to their countries…..they won…..and we left. Recently, 3 big things have happened. First…. After fighting for 20 years in the middle east, we were kicked out of Afghanistan looking unprofessional and like a bunch of losers. Second….. the US blundered into a proxy war with Russia….. Third, China is becoming more and more aggressive. A war involving Russia and/or China would most likely be similar to WW 2 (at best) and could easily go nuclear and end mankind…..That means all of us would be dead. Many Americans have determined that military leadership, both uniformed and, mostly civilian, has not been up to the task since WW 2. Some even believe the Deep State is pushing us to war for the benefit of the military/industrial complex. PERHAPS OUR MILITARY HISTORY IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS IN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION? What are our leaders NOT doing to address the problem? THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERING A DRAFT While a draft would solve a number of problems, politicians will never vote for it. The 25% of Americas youth who would be susceptible do not want to die and would vote the politicians out of office. Also, the parents and families of the 25% would likewise vote against these politicians. But, the biggest reason the politicians would not bring back the draft is they know a large portion of Americans would then become interested in our foreign affairs and that would drastically limit the politicians ability to send our military into conflicts. This would dry-up the money and influence politicians now have access to. THEY ARE NOT CHANGING HOW WE ADDRESS FOREIGN AFFAIRS Our leaders are also not considering changing our approach of engaging in military interventions around the world. Our history of deciding where to get involved, our goals, our definition of victory, our strategy and tactics have a 75 year record of failure. We don’t seem to know what we are doing ( This is not an opinion. this is historical FACT ). Yet, there is no call to examine what we did and how we can avoid the continuation of our record of failure. Nobody has been held responsible. NOTHING ! Perhaps the gen-Z generation has recognized this and has acted to try and stay alive. WE GET WHAT WE VOTE FOR”

Some truly excellent points here. Well done.

The press, politicians, and some Americans will avoid pointing out the reality of this situation.

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces. The Cold War ended in the early 90s. The Pentagon was happy with the All Volunteer Force.

Look what they did with it.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

Question For The Uniparty Press:

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

Possibly of interest:

Information Suppression – The Press is Weak

Return to a Military Draft?

More here:

Never Forget

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Operation Macho Swagger

Anybody fired over this?

Homeland Security Is A Scam

The country struggles with:

Cultural Honesty

 

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Preview – The Pacific Coast At Ruby Beach

 

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces. The Cold War ended in the early 90s. The Pentagon was happy with the All Volunteer Force.

Look what they did with it.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces in the years ahead?

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

In the news:

Sept 20, 2023 Military Times

Three top military leaders confirmed after Senate deal

Questions For The Uniparty Press:

Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?

Where was the unit Sergeant Major? Where were the company First Sergeants?

Sept 25, 2023 MOAA

Military Barracks Blasted Over Horrid Living Conditions, Lack of Accountability

“The GAO concluded that leaders at the Pentagon are not only failing to provide oversight — instead choosing to largely punt the issue to the branches — but they also don’t consider it a priority. The result has been bureaucratic finger-pointing, with no one office or leader willing to own the issue.”

Why TF are vacancies on the Joint Chiefs of Staff being filled with people who are part of this system?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Reports of poor barracks conditions are not new. Accounts from service members checking into moldy or disgusting barracks rooms crop up on social media regularly.”

This story has been posted by several sources. See them here.

 

August 26, 2023 by  Bracing Views

Integrity Last

W.J. Astore

The Most Fundamental Problem with the U.S. Military

So many lost wars where no senior officers were ever held accountable. Put up, shut up, fuck up, cover up, move up, seems to be the operating manual for success.”

 

Life wasn’t meant to change after the big Saddam Hussein & Osama bin Laden takedowns.

Sept 25, 2023 Military Times

US military captures key Islamic State militant during helicopter raid

“The U.S. has approximately 900 troops in Syria focused on countering the remnants of the Islamic State group, which had held a wide swath of Syria until 2019.”

Away From The Barracks and the Recruiter’s Office – What Does The Federal Government Do Well?

Sept 22. 2023 Air Force Times

GAO blasts contractor-led F-35 maintenance as costly, slow

“But the F-35′s availability has lagged for years, and if a war broke out today, many fighters would be unavailable to fight. In March 2023, GAO said, the mission-capable rate for all F-35s was at 55%. That’s well below the 70% mission-capable goal the Air Force has for its F-35As, and the 75% goal for the Navy and Marine Corps’ F-35B and F-35C variants.”

Some Americans may be asking:

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

Just the other day:

Predicting F-35 Information Suppression

Always love the comment section:

From comments:

“Sending soldiers to war based on lies and then treating them like shit when they return hurts recruitment.”

“You wanna know why people don’t enlist? Drive through the city and tell me how many signs you see that say “homeless vet, please help.” Tell me how many pharmacies stopped accepting Tricare. Tell me how often uncle Jim can’t be with the family for the 4th of July because fireworks make him freak out. And they pay you worse than a janitor! To guard a parking lot for a government that hates you! It’s not worth it!”

“I was a Marine for nearly a decade. I would never have joined if I knew what the country would turn into. The US is no longer worth defending. I moved out of the US permanently for an Asian country that has some dignity and self-respect.
Edit: BTW, I don’t believe it is the problems you’ve stated. People want to fight for things they believe in, and, like me, they’ve lost faith in the country and have no desire to join”

“I currently serve right now as a reservist. They are throwing money at new recruits, but for people who are already in, and for veterans, there is very little being done to keep us. Reenlistment bonuses are not great unless you have special forces or other high profile experience, and all veterans and currently serving know how difficult it is to get the benefits we are promised. I’ve been in for sixteen years and if it weren’t for being close to retirement pension eligibility in a few years, I would get out.”

“one of the biggest issues imo is the fact that people who get out tell their friends and family to never join, word of mouth is much more powerful than any marketing campaign”

“I was going to enlist in the army after high school. My parents, uncle and grandpa recommended me not to go in the army, yet, go into the airforce. They also said that they already fought so we won’t have to fight. They advised if I were to join the military that it should be in the purpose of defending our homeland, instead of some other crappy country that can care less about the US.”

“Growing up at the height of 9/11 and the Early War years as a kid right outside Fort Hood Army base. Patriotic fervor was in full swing. “Support The Troops” ribbons. Endless School art projects that entailed making American flags for newspaper stories. We wrote letters and sent mail to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, they would write back etc. I used to think Military Service was of the highest honor. But over the years the disturbing stories kept filtering in. Soldiers that had deployed to combat 5 times. Soldiers that got “Stop-Lossed” (Forcefully having their contract extended after trying to process out) An epidemic of suicide and nightmare disability process. The Iraq-Afghanistan Wars have truly decimated the prestige and image of the Service. The new generation has spent their entire lives seeing a generation of service men and women get brutalized by two wars and an indifferent government. I understand that on some level this has always been the case. But the “War On Terror” has been a unique beast entirely in screw-ups.”

There are more than 1,800 comments posted with the video above. I’ll stop here.

PBS NewsHour:

“Comments are turned off.”

Hey Uncle Sam- know that information suppression will kill enthusiasm related to enlisting in the US Armed Forces.

People want to live in a free and honest society.

Information Suppression – The Press is Weak

The Draft

Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we believe that a return to the draft is total political fantasy. Below, we will go into some of the reasons why, but not much is new if you’re one of the many readers who have been closely following the blog at any time since the catastrophic military failure of 911. Still wondering if anyone was fired over that.

National Guard

Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

These families have stories to tell and they’re not all positive. Will their stories support a draft?

Return to a Military Draft?

 

More here:

Never Forget

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Candidate (Fill in last name)

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Operation Macho Swagger

Anybody fired over this?

Homeland Security Is A Scam

The country struggles with:

Cultural Honesty

 

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Something from the last century

 

Yesterday, somebody posted:

Where were you? along with a photo of a peaceful/standing twin towers.

My response:

With my GF in Kingston. Had already done some time in uniform. Took me several years to become skeptical and see that the federal government and the press had lost credibility.

Today:

My feeling is that a man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment. That was maybe the best of America in my lifetime.

Growing Up In The Cold War Era

Things were up and running in the 80s and 90s

 

Later in the day:

“What I remember most about 9/11 is the way America was unified the day after. During uncontrollable times we controlled our response. Race, Gender and Political Party were equally irrelevant.”

“We focused on loving each other, how did we get so segregated? We never would have made it this far if we embraced division on September the 12th. We are where we are because we got here TOGETHER let’s embrace love yet again.”

“God Bless The USA.”

My response:

Good Stuff

Let’s keep that and add a free and independent press that will ask questions/rock the boat, no matter who is in office.

The mainstream press provides news coverage that favors government agencies, departments and policies.

Information Suppression – The Press is Weak

For sure, the last couple decades have been a lesser version of life in the USA. Both major parties have taken turns in power.

My simple request for the world: Just Be Honest

A more positive look at life:

Coastal Favorites

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Extinct ferry at Kingston

 


Many interesting comments are posted with the video above.

The Oak Bay Starfish take:

Trump came on the scene because Americans grew tired of standard politicians. Biden is a standard politician.

Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we are not part of the majority that controls politics at any level of government. Decades of voting indicates that more voting will not change this.

Living in a free and honest society is a priority. I don’t think our major political parties are about this. During long election seasons, there is very little news reporting and discussion about what the major parties stand for or believe in.

The DNC has hated Trump before during and after. People used to make fun of his hair or make cracks about his wife. The DNC has been a huge and successful political party. Clinton’s, Obamas, etc. Disagree with their policies, but they have been effective speakers and successful politicians. This formerly successful organization delivers Biden and VP Kamala Harris as their answer to Trump?

I am OK with Trump as a protest towards standard politicians, the uniparty and the ongoing breakdown of American society. The uniparty sucks ass with their wasteful and ineffective Dept. of Defense and Homeland Security spending.

Homeland Security Is A Scam

Trump is better at the border. Cartels remain in business no mater who is in the White House. The US Dept. of Homeland Security was created in the aftermath of 911. Is there any President since that time who was able to keep cartel product from arriving all over the US?

Pre-Biden:

Cartel Moves 180 Kilograms Of Meth From Mexico To Canada by Rail

The Canadian Press

Police find meth smuggled into Canada through new Ford cars built in Mexico

“Police say they have busted an alleged drug smuggling operation where methamphetamine was being hidden in new cars built in Mexico that were then transported by rail to Canada.”

“Ontario Provincial Police say employees at four Ford dealerships discovered the drugs stashed within spare tires that didn’t match the cars.”

“Police say they found 180 kilograms of meth during the investigation.”

No CBP/GWOT inspection of rail shipments entering the US?

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for doing time/risking your ass in Iraq and Afghanistan, working to keep a post 911 USA safe & secure.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

State-run media update:

Jun 3, 2020 DEA NewYork

Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units!

Nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units?

Surely, a free and independent press will step up and ask for clarification on this wild CBP claim.

Hey newspeople, how did 2,224 pounds of meth tied to the Sinaloa cartel enter Riverside County, if nothing gets past @CBP’s K9 units?

Why is there a deadly fentanyl problem in Eastern Washington if nothing gets past CBP social media posts?

Not pointing this out because I am a Biden fan, just to document cartel activity prior to Biden entering office.

Lessons Learned?

Anytime there is a plane crash, a loss at sea, or an industrial accident, a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents. A major aircraft manufacturer grounds certain airplanes after mishaps. Time is required to investigate and find out what went wrong.

Any similar effort after a big cartel drug bust inside the US?

The folks who show up and investigate the plane crash don’t spend time congratulating each other. Their work is designed to try and prevent similar future incidents, not promote themselves.

Preventing drugs from entering local communities would kill the chance for various agencies to get publicity for the occasional big drug bust happening in those communities.

Precinct 4 SET detectives conducted the operation with the assistance of other KCSO detectives from contract partners of Shoreline, SeaTac, Maple Valley, Metro, and TAC-30.”

Wonder what was happening at border crossing/port of entry inspections during the 12 months Operation P-22 (to take down just one branch of the cartel activity) took place. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?

Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?

Did the cartel traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?

If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?

Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for months. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.

This time next year- will there be any shortage of cartel product in the Puget Sound area? Has any city, county or state jurisdiction been able to cleanup their drug problem using these methods?

Snohomish 2015

Local law enforcement agencies may benefit when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US:

Seattle media: Heroin busts could finance police construction in Snohomish

Newspeople are good about posting a drug bust press release. Newspeople remain silent when it comes to asking questions about Homeland Security funding and performance.

More here:

Homeland Security Is A Scam

Port Angeles – Cartel Drugs

Lessons Learned?

Maybe a few more decades of undeclared/unwon wars and the freedoms will get better.

The uniparty promotes the idea that The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms. The press plays along by not asking questions.

Why do we speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?

Both major parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Both major parties are good with a land of the free holding pattern where alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18? Are The Joint Chiefs of Staff working to change any of this? Not no, but, Fuck No.

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”


The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

The All Volunteer Force era has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms. This urban legend has run its course. People have seen enough now to know this is no more than a marketing strategy. Uniparty newspeople play along by not asking questions:

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their lawn mower.

Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?

More here:

Consumer Demand Or Government Demand?

Big Uniparty Debate Night

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Consumer demand replaced with government demand

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

The country struggles with:

Cultural Honesty

 


A culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak.

WWII Generation had a modern society up and running. Now this:

Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?

When the experts have had several years to work a problem with public funds and that problem does not seem to improve, newspeople should be asking tough questions.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, and a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security fail to keep cartel product out of WA:

July 25, 2023 The Spokesman-Review

Senator holds fentanyl roundtable as WA becomes overdose epicenter

“…the state had the biggest increase in the nation — more than 21% — in fatal overdoses reported between February 2022 and February 2023.”

“One big reason, explained Robert Hammer, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge of the Pacific Northwest region, is that fentanyl is extraordinarily cheap in Washington. The powerful synthetic opioid sells for as little as 80 cents a pill, about 50 cents cheaper than in California.”

Has Homeland Security funding and performance ever been questioned by any Puget Sound area news outlet, newspaper, or TV newsperson?

Homeland Security is a big uniparty project. The press goes easy here.

Fentanyl Scam – Newspeople Avoid Questions

Elected officials, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians struggle to feed The Troops in Texas

Source: Aug 8, 2023 Military.com

Fort Cavazos Soldiers Have Been Without Proper Access to Food for Months

“The situation at Fort Cavazos, Texas — previously known as Fort Hood— has left some junior enlisted with few options for meals, as top officials on base struggle to juggle logistics while most of its cooks are on deployments, missions or serving field training and other events.”

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, high level DOD civilians and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

US Armed Forces – Recruiting Crisis

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Is it understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this?

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Fort Cavazos – “…dining facilities not having enough Army cooks to run them.”

 

Federal highway rest areas:

Oct. 15, 2021 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Washington closes several rest areas along Interstate 5 indefinitely due to vandalism, trash

“Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced the long-term closure of several rest areas between Everett and the Canadian border this week due to vandalism and ongoing maintenance issues.”

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

 

Related:

Things were up and running in the 80s and 90s

Sequim – Ongoing Breakdown of Society Update – Try This At A State Park & See What Happens

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Random Questions for The Uniparty

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Port Hadlock Transit Center

 

Source: Aug 8, 2023 Military.com

Fort Cavazos Soldiers Have Been Without Proper Access to Food for Months

“The situation at Fort Cavazos, Texas — previously known as Fort Hood — has left some junior enlisted with few options for meals, as top officials on base struggle to juggle logistics while most of its cooks are on deployments, missions or serving field training and other events.”

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, high level DOD civilians and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Reaction Mode

Aug 10, 2023 Killeen Daily Herald

After Military.com article, Fort Cavazos announces more dining facilities opening up

US Armed Forces – Recruiting Crisis

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Is it understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this?

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Related:

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Uniparty No Good For Confidence in US Armed Forces?

Random Questions for The Uniparty

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Symbol of a culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak.

A symbol of elected officials, high level DOD civilians and top Pentagon Generals who are unable to feed the troops at a major military installation in Texas.

Veterans- be sure to encourage all the young people you know to go ahead and enlist now.

 


Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?

Did these forces constantly brag about freedoms while mandating what kind of showerhead must be installed in the bathroom of private homes, and what type of gas can must be purchased for a lawnmower? Did these hostile forces spend $6.3 million in federal cash on a used hotel and prompt the press to ask no questions?

Welcome Home Troops

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Moving Towards A One Size Fits All Society – Climate And Environment

Cultural Honesty

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Unaltered photo taken several years ago at a Puget Sound area farmers market.

 

Thanks for doing time in Iraq and Afghanistan, working to keep a post 911 USA safe & secure.

US-Mexico border update:

Be sure to encourage all the young people you know, to go and enlist for NATO/Ukraine.

The video report above comes to us from alternative media and a presidential candidate outside of the uniparty.

Related:

The Most Interesting People In Politics

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Cultural Honesty

Candidate (Fill in last name)

We were told…

Update – Newspeople Not Asking Questions

 


Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

In a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking questions related to public policy all of the time.

Alternative Media Continues To Ask Questions

Aging RNC approved politician:

4:32 Aging DNC approved politician:

Welcome Home Troops

 

Photo at top of page:

Front page news has been replaced by a weekly grocery store ad. Details here: Ongoing Breakdown of Society

Same local paper:

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

Any questions from newspeople?

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

The Press

Much of what we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Alternative media/bloggers

People who take no public funds, private donations or advertising dollars are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press?

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

More here:

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Cultural Honesty

Update – Newspeople Not Asking Questions

 

July 21, 2023 Capitol Hill Seattle Blog

Large First Hill encampment fire brings explosions and column of flames near Harborview Medical Center — UPDATE

“Multiple explosions were reported as firefighters assessed how best to approach the greenbelt area amid the burning trees and camp areas above the freeway. The fire was reported under control after about 15 minutes.”

More here.

More than a year ago:

April 6, 2022 KING 5 News

Crews have responded to approximately 450 fires at homeless encampments in Seattle

When the experts have had several years to work a problem with public funds and that problem does not seem to improve, newspeople should be asking tough questions.

Sequim – Ongoing Breakdown of Society Update – Try This At A State Park & See What Happens

Drug Addicts Camping on the Sidewalk

Favorite Twitter comment:

I keep saying this but here we are again. It is not going away anytime soon as long as there are BILLIONS of dollars being tossed around and up for grabs by anyone who says they’ll help. It’s become an absolute industry and that industry depends on homelessness continuing.”

Big money spending ensures problem will not go way? Love this take.

Homeland Security Scam

Americans pay billions of dollars every 12 months for a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security.

Special ID cards make it virtually impossible for those who wish to do harm or violate U.S. laws to move heroin into the Puget Sound area:

Office of Biometric Identity Management Identification Services

Drug traffickers continue to say FU to passports, enhanced driver’s licenses & all other post-911 efforts designed to keep terrorists out of the US.

Does more DHS spending result in any shortage of cartel product anywhere in the US?

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

What a Scam

Cartels respond to General Milley by moving more product into the US:

MAY 10, 2023 CBS News

“The Sinoloa cartel is responsible for a significant portion of illicit fentanyl trafficked into the United States, and has operated since the 1980s. The organization increased its power and influence in the early 2000s, and has since become one of the largest drug trafficking operations in Mexico, OFAC said. The cartel also traffics heroin and methamphetamine in multi-ton quantities, the agency said.”

US Dept. of Defense – Recruiting Crisis

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

Secretary Wormuth,

Will sending the National Guard, active, reserve and IRR forces to support NATO/Ukraine stimulate new enlistments over at the recruiting office?

Related:

Bad Habits

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Newspeople Remain Silent

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Schmoozy Made For TV Interview – Recruiting Crisis

The People of Kentucky

Over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office

OK to question the GWOT?

 

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Whidbey – Driftwood County Park

Original use of photo, from 2015:

Welcome Sportsmen!

 

City wants to clean up. ACLU has concerns.

In the news:

June 30, 2023 The Daily World

City of Aberdeen wants to clean up downtown; addresses ACLU letter

I support the city on this.

Related:

Things were up and running in the 80s and 90s

Sequim – Ongoing Breakdown of Society Update – Try This At A State Park & See What Happens

 

Newspeople refuse to report on results of past gun control measures.

Everett updates here.

Seattle updates here.

Tacoma updates here.

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

In a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking questions related to public policy all of the time.

 

WA voters approved enhanced background checks back in 2014.

The new requirements have had time to take hold.

Did the new requirements reduce gun crimes?

Has there been time for newspeople to ask questions?

Washington Universal Background Checks for Gun Purchases, Initiative 594 (2014)

“Furthermore, the initiative rendered it illegal to hand off a firearm to people outside a person’s immediate family, though exceptions were mentioned, including situations in which people are at a shooting range or hunting.”

Has any gun control measure or public policy effort improved the situation over the past 20 years?

What works? What fails?

Newspeople remain silent.

 

Possibly of interest:

Back in 2020, we posted:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Recent updates:

Americans pay billions of dollars every 12 months for a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security.

Has a wasteful and ineffective US Dept. of Homeland Security reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

Update – Newspeople Not Asking Questions

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Newspeople Remain Silent

 

Did Al-Qaeda craft a list of formerly legal weapons and set deadlines for prohibition of future sales? Will General Motors and Budweiser be eliminating products due to drunk driving?

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

 

July 05, 2023 Cliff Mass Weather Blog

Some of the Worst Air Quality in the World over Puget Sound: Blame Fireworks

 

Related:

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

Cultural Honesty

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

South Carolina National Guard to Africa – Zero Questions from Newspeople

“Their commitment to protecting our freedom…”

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Independence Day Has Lost Its Meaning

 

TV newspeople have moved away from asking basic public policy questions. Regular people go out to do it and it becomes a controversy:

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Libbey Beach

 


Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.

Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?

Was it Saddam Hussein who made a move to sign off on federal law prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20?

Related:

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Cultural Honesty

Independence Day Has Lost Its Meaning

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Our buyers inspect and select only the leanest cuts of meat for the grill – Camping at Seal Rock

 


Remember folks, the best beers may require the least advertising.

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment. Today, the country is starving for some sort of positive cause to get behind.

Elaborate, made for TV beer ads and a US Dept. of Defense that seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars will have to do.

Never Forget-

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

Was anybody fired over this?

A special marketing tribute to a catastrophic military failure:

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Related:

Cultural Changes

Just give it a few years…

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

Weak Minded Culture Avoids Questions

Cultural Honesty

 

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.

Veterans Day Nonsense

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Anacortes – Working Waterfront

 

A view from the right:

To me, the most interesting people in politics are the people who are willing to question their chosen political party.

A video from Jimmy Dore, a progressive Democrat:

From W.J. Astore, a progressive Democrat:

Posted on June 19, 2023 by wjastore

God Save the Queen, Man
W.J. Astore

Joe Biden goes off script and off the rails

“I’m not making fun of Joe Biden. I just want to restate what the consensus used to be: that being President of the United States is extremely demanding. It requires physical stamina and, even more importantly, mental acuity and clarity.”

Today

Does drug reform mean yielding the right of way to those who want to camp on the sidewalk?

60s and 70s

Rock bands and celebrities had access to hard drugs in the 60s and 70s. They were not camping on the sidewalk.

Today

Massing US Border Patrol agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca fails to keep fentanyl out of Clallam County.

Port Angeles Drug War – Fentanyl

 

Americans pay billions of dollars every 12 months for a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security.

The US Dept. of Homeland Security “stops an average of 7 known or suspected terrorists a day – 50 a week- trying to come to our country.”

Question for TV newspeople:

With such an impressive handle on US Dept. of Homeland Security performance- why do cartels continue to move product into all 50 states?

All 50 states?

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

Would the DEA be out of work if a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states?

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine-why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal prohibition of marijuana?

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

The constitution requires a formal declaration of war.

The Dept. of Defense has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars since DOD was established way back in 1949.

Possibly of interest:

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

A Free and Honest Society?

Cultural Honesty

TV News Version of Patriotism

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Years ago – having a beer at a now extinct restaurant in Port Townsend.

 

Life seemed more simple. The WWII generation set up a modern society that seemed to be working pretty well. Still room for improvement, but mostly, things seemed to be up and running.

 

Random thoughts:

Does drug reform mean yielding the right of way to those who want to camp on the sidewalk?

Rock bands and celebrities had access to hard drugs in the 60s and 70s. They were not camping on the sidewalk.

 

June 15 2023 Gary Galles

Call Rent Control What It Really Is: Theft

“In other words, rent control guarantees that current renters in a municipality can vote themselves huge benefits out of the outnumbered owners’ pockets.”

 

In the news:

Dec 23rd 2020 KOMO News

Gov. Inslee extends state’s eviction moratorium

“Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has again extended the state’s eviction moratorium, this time through the end of March.”

Killing incentives to maintain apartment complexes and homes for rent. Killing incentives to pay rent on time. Killing incentives to be a good tenant.

Love to see newspeople ask:

Have any arrangements been made to cover property owner’s costs for mortgages, taxes, repairs, maintenance, water, trash pickup, sewer, insurance, etc.

Who pays to have the apartment complex dumpster emptied if the property manager cannot collect rent?

Killing Incentives in WA

I do not want to live in a residential neighborhood where junk cars are moved in next door after the property is purchased. Local code says the junk cars can not be there. County will not act to remove junk cars. What is the answer? The video above seems to be OK with whatever the property owner wants to do with their place.

COVID seems to be over, but fast food places can not hire enough people to keep the lobby open, even in busy areas. I do not understand why this is the case. Help wanted signs seem to be up for various types of jobs, not just minimum wage openings.

Ongoing Breakdown of Society

June 20, 2023 The Seattle Times

WA ferry service on several routes won’t return to normal this year

 

June 23, 2023 KING TV News Video

Assaults, harassment cause crackdown in Edmonds ferry line

 

Not sure if these are still closed. Not a great way to honor the WWII generation.

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

 

 

 

 

 

Photo- New Day at Port Hadlock

 

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Back in 2020, we posted:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Time for an update. Here are several more recent examples where the press seems to avoid asking questions. In some cases, these may be topics we mentioned in our 2020 post.

GWOT Rolls On

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA need National Guard services in Africa, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

South Carolina National Guard to Africa – Zero Questions from Newspeople

Ocean Shores, WA

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Related:

Room For Improvement – 98569

Federal Cash For The Coast – 98569

Penn Cove Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall 

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

More here:

Penn Cove Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall – Zero Questions From Newspeople

A Giant US Dept. of Homeland Security

Americans pay billions of dollars every 12 months for a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security.

The US Dept. of Homeland Security “stops an average of 7 known or suspected terrorists a day – 50 a week- trying to come to our country.”

Question for TV newspeople:

With such an impressive handle on US Dept. of Homeland Security performance- why do cartels continue to move product into all 50 states?

All 50 states?

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

Would the DEA be out of work if a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states?

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

Whidbey/Oak Harbor update:

June 16, 2023 Whidbey News-Times

High-speed chase through Oak Harbor ends with a crash

“…man caught smoking fentanyl in the Oak Harbor Walmart parking lot…”

“At 7:55 p.m. Tuesday, a caller at the Walmart reported to police that two people in a white Honda appeared to be using drugs. An Oak Harbor officer noted in his report that police are aware that the parking lot is a common place for people to abuse illegal substances.”

Back in 2014:

April 18, 2014 Whidbey News-Times

New patrol boat to help with Puget Sound security

“Island County secured a $225,000 grant to purchase a new all-weather patrol vessel. Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”

Federal grant money goes to “…gain a better grasp on cross border activity and to prevent illegal crossings.”

“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”

Took a look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.

Questions for newspeople:

Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound fentanyl?

Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?

Newspeople remain silent.

More here:

War on Terror Update

Possibly of interest:

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Hostile Forces in Distant Lands

The Press

Much of what we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:

 

 

 

 

 

Photo at top of page-

Several months back, out at North Jetty

 

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

A weak-minded culture avoids asking questions.

American Soldiers Did Not Die Defending Our Freedom
by Jacob G. Hornberger
May 27, 2014

Decades of undeclared wars to defend American rights and freedoms?

Why do many Americans avoid questioning this idea?

Jacob G. Hornberger:

“…it is a testament to the power of state to indoctrinate the citizenry.”

National Guard

How did Nebraska freedoms get over to East Africa?

In the news:

Apr 17, 2023 Lincoln Journal Star

National Guard unit bound for East Africa gets send-off at Memorial Stadium

“There hasn’t been a more dangerous time in our world in decades,” Ricketts said, alluding to US rivalries with China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. “Our soldiers will be out there protecting our freedoms.”

Thanks for sending the National Guard to distant lands for our freedoms.

Recruiting Crisis

March 28, 2023 WCAX-TV

Vt. National Guard confronts recruitment crisis

“…the lowest number of total Vermont National Guard members in recent years. The shortage is worst in the Army Guard…”

Vt. National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Greg Knight:

From my perspective, it’s a matter of marketing,” Knight said. “I think there’s a perception out there that the military is the last best option. …That’s a false narrative. …There’s still folks that remain uninformed about what it is the Guard is and what the Guard does.”

General Knight,

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Young people and their parents and grandparents may take a dim view on all this.

The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.

A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.

In recent years, the National Guard has been sent to Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

General Knight,

Are any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

General Knight tells us that people are uninformed about what the National Guard is and what it does.

What the National Guard does:

Africa

April 15, 2023 KOCO

More than 1,000 National Guard members attend deployment ceremony

Task Force Tomahawk heads to Fort Bliss in Texas for one more round of training before going to Africa for “security operations.”

Europe

April 5, 2023 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas Guardsmen leave on yearlong mission to train Ukrainian forces

NATO peace-keeping mission in Kosovo:

April 27, 2023 Fort Worth FOX 4

Send off held in Fort Worth for Texas Army National Guard members heading to Europe

Not specific to Armed Forces recruiting, but you get the idea:

 

Related:

Cultural Honesty

Just Be Honest

Misinformation and Militarized Freedom Nonsense

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam

How did Rhode Island freedoms get over to the Middle East?

Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis

Schmoozy Interview With The General – Recruiting Crisis

Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays

Memorial Day- long weekend/BBQ guilt trips

 

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.

Back in 1969, your lawn mower was probably manufactured in some location like Indiana, Ohio, or Michigan. It ran on plain old gas. You kept the gas in a plain old gas can. You did so safely. The mower lasted a long time. It was made to be serviced and maintained.

At 9:50 in the video below, Taryl, explains the amount of labor required to get a modern mower running again.

Welcome Home Troops

Many interesting comments posted with the video above.

We went shopping today in the Aberdeen/Hoquiam area. Outside one of the stores on our route, I was surprised to see the front page of the local paper in a newspaper vending machine outside the business:

Click image once or twice to show detail.

Front page news has been replaced by a weekly grocery store ad. The business location where we were is not in the ad above.

From the newspaper web site today:


Yes, that is the front page for today. Looks like that format is in place once each week. Something like junk mail, instead of news.

But, it’s your fault Mr. Blogger. You must support newspapers if you want them to keep you informed?

Newspeople have stopped asking questions.

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel.

Any questions from newspeople?

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Months later, has anyone seen any informative news articles on this?

Love to see newspeople show some initiative and curiosity in asking questions.

What we get today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

People who take no public funds, advertising dollars, or private donations are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press?

I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.

Various Puget Sound area newspapers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.

Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections

Today’s American culture is truly weak in terms of newspeople asking questions:

Politicians, Puget Sound Press, and Earth Day

Less enthusiastic about voting & following the news for these reasons.

Related:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Moving Towards A One Size Fits All Society – Climate And Environment

Cultural Honesty

 

Old Man Blog category:

Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s.

Original Old Man Blog here: https://oldmanblogdotcom.wordpress.com

New updates here: https://oakbaystarfish.com/category/old-man-blog/

 

Everyone needs their own social worker.

In the news:

March 22, 2023 Sequim Gazette

Church, merchants seek solutions for downtown nuisance concerns

Sequim Police Chief Sheri Crain talks with a crowd at the Sequim Business Merchants Meeting on March 15. She encouraged people to call police if they see something suspicious. “We’re not going to turn into Seattle because I want you to call everyday,” she said. “And every time we’ll go. Every time social services people will go. That’s how we’re trying to keep our community safe.”

WWII Generation had a modern society up and running. Now this:

“There’s a lot of case law [that] we can’t remove people because they’re just sitting there; or because they smell bad; or because they talk to themselves.”

“So we really work with our partners to help folks find housing, services and meet their needs.”

“A host of concerns, mostly about a few individuals in Seal Street Park or outside Calvary Chapel Sequim, have led business owners to call police. Some of their calls included reports of loitering, shouting, littering, items being thrown at them and customers, being threatened, and/or intimidating actions, such as being purposefully blocked from their vehicles.”

“There’s been some very freaky stuff,” said Caitlyn Knapple, owner of Pacific Mist books, in an interview.

Repeat calls to police by the same business. Social worker approach not working:

Another new business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said she has been escorted to her car by a police officer about 10 times in the last eight months after closing up for the day.”

While some actions may be illegal, Crain said the issues people face aren’t easy problems.

What I hear a lot is we’re gonna turn into Seattle,” she said. “We’re not going to turn into Seattle because I want you to call everyday. And every time we’ll go.”

Every time social services people will go. That’s how we’re trying to keep our community safe.”

“Asked about encampments and recreational vehicles, Crain said if they’re on private property then people should talk to the owner about a possible eviction process.”

Spring Break Weekend

Try this over at the State Park: Skip the reservation and fee for an assigned space. Pick your own spot when you are ready. If anyone asks you to move, tell them you are living in your home. Have the Police Chief and social workers come out and talk to you. Have Park Rangers try to reassign people who paid for a reserved spot months in advance. See if you can be a squatter for weeks at a time.

“If they’re on public property, Hill said, case laws cover them differently.”

“The problem is [the RV or tent] is their home and we can’t evict people from their home,” Crain said. “We have to go through certain processes to evict them.”

“As the RVs or tents are often temporarily in public places, Crain said they’ll either move before it goes far in the process and/or the towing company doesn’t have space or the time to move a vehicle so the process starts over.”

“Crain said they’re continuing to work on solutions for a few errant RVs in the city.”

“They are thorny, ugly, and are not going smoothly,” she said.

“We document pattern behavior and what we’ve done. Eventually you can get around to doing something.”

If you are confronted inside a business- respond with good customer service:

Police Chief:

If confronted inside a business, she said “good customer service will drive them away 95 percent of the time” and simply asking them to leave works too.”

Good people are advised to step aside and yield the right of way to violators. Take down your fence and landscaping plants:

Theresa Rubens, owner of Forage Gifts and Northwest Treasures

“Rubens said with some businesses operating with one employee/owner at a time, she recommends a buddy system, leaving lights on, and removing obstructions, i.e. shrubbery and fencing.”

“With lighting and cameras, Crain said it could help capture a potential crime in action.”

Where are the success stories?

Whatever issues there are in WA, 49 other states have experience with what works and what doesn’t. Go out a pick a few jurisdictions that have had success and go with it. The WWII Generation had success. What were they doing? Seattle has had problems for years, what did they learn from it? How much public money was spent to make improvements in Seattle?

What I see now from various city and county governments is about collecting tax money to pay for affordable housing, converted motels and hotels for housing. Housing Housing Housing. A spaced out and incoherent drug addict is going to get along in what version of housing? Who is the landlord?

Not against public assistance here. When the experts have had several years to work a problem with public funds and that problem does not seem to improve, newspeople should be asking tough questions.

20 years ago, comment sections on local newspaper websites were more open and available to use. Various papers have now eliminated comment sections. Elsewhere on the web, comment sections may be hard to find, eliminated, or more restricted than ever. Bad people might break the rules, so we all face information suppression and restrictions. More in the way of open comment sections might also be an embarrassment to newspeople and elected officials. Government programs that are failing (War in Afghanistan) would invite comments and questions from the public that newspeople and public officials may want to be avoid.

Related:

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

From 2018:

A few towns obviously have people who work together to set priorities and make a positive impression for visitors.

Nice & Tidy

Watching news on TV:

Bad Habits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Symbol of a culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak. A culture that will yield  the right of way to violators while pushing good citizens to the side & collecting big tax money all along the way.

 

The original Old Man Blog

Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s is no longer being updated. We will carry on here.

 

From a blog I posted back in 2018:

Marijuana was commonly available to all at the public high school I attended in the late 70s. People weren’t waiting for ballot initiatives, Governors, Mayors or the Washington state Attorney General to give their blessing.

Honor Roll students sampled it too. Somehow they went on to lead productive lives. Somehow they avoided worst-case scenarios of abuse.

Today- “Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use…”

Medical Marijuana is now at 29 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC

I am 57 years old and the federal government still struggles with marijuana prohibition.

Where are the voters who promote smaller and limited government? Are they the ones who are OK with undeclared/unwon wars that never end? Wars that are explained away as wars for our freedoms?

It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal war on drugs, drug czar, prohibition of marijuana, etc.

 

Even though marijuana was available to high school students in the late 70s, we were not camping on the sidewalks.

Lessons learned:

Famous celebrities had died of drug overdose decades ago. Here are two from 1970.

Were they camping on the sidewalk? People will have strong views and will be divided on ending drug prohibition. Most will probably agree that a modern society should not yield the right of way to those who want to camp on the sidewalk.

Possibly of interest:

Now in my early 60s, I am frequently asked for ID to show that I am 21 when buying beer at major retail establishments here in WA.

Security Theater

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Symbol of a culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak. A culture that will yield  the right of way to violators while pushing good citizens to the side & collecting big tax money all along the way.

 

March 13, 2023 Military Times @MilitaryTimes

White House budget calls for more troops & services hope to add about 12,000 but battling high employment, lower public interest in joining

From comments:

Time for a draft…and time to include women.”

Our take:

Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

It is understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.

Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.

Have newspeople find out:

Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.

 

Back during the Cold War era of the 1980s, the US Armed Forces seemed to be in good shape. Today, DOD struggles with recruiting difficulties. I have my own attitudes about all this.

May 13, 2022 Military.com

Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits

“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”

Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:

Senator Tillis,

Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?

More here:

2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture

 

Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

More here:

Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter

Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.

 

RealClearDefense – We Need a Peace Time Draft

From comments:

“During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the services met their quotas, and that was with people dying and coming home missing limbs. What has changed? Young people see what a failure those wars were. Why fight for a govt that views them as pawns for their political whims and cuts out when all the Generals have been promoted and the companies made billions. Add in the cultural politicization of the military (changing base names and pronouns to name a few) and the pool of eligible people (which is still large) see the military not as honorable service but something to be avoided. Young people see a made up war in Ukraine coming soon as the administration keeps poking the Russians. The left has spent decades demonizing military service, now it is ok? People are smarter than that. A draft is way to avoid fixing the decline in our military and the politicization of its mission/people. Stop the cultural attack on the military ethos, hold accountable someone besides a Marine Major for the failure of the Iran/Iraq wars and stop promoting a war with Russia so Raytheon and Lockeed can make more money. You would see people join. I am a Naval Academy Graduate and served my country for 20 years in various jobs. I would sooner my sons work at a gas station than join today’s military.”

 

What we were thinking in 2012:

No Draft

Related:

Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Thank You For Our Freedom?

Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover

GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023

How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?

Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Possibly of interest:

How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?

Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

About this time of year – Skagit Valley

 

Maybe your son or daughter would be a good candidate for our voluntary participant Youth Challenge Academy. For those “…who have dropped out of school or are not satisfactorily progressing, are unemployed or under employed…”

Youth Challenge Academy Update

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens

“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”

Public Relations Success Story

“Within 24 hours of the brawl, a second melee involving more than two dozen teenagers broke out in one of the barracks and senior military leaders shut down the five-month boot camp in its first week, sending all 170 cadets home and barring them from Fort Gordon for a year.”

Leaders rushing to meet a new enrollment quota last fall skipped their normal vetting process. That led to a failure to properly screen recruits for behavioral and mental health challenges, leaving the program’s small staff with the task of dealing with uncooperative and violent youths who were only later determined to be “high-risk” candidates, the AJC investigation found.”

A five month program:

“Donaldson and other parents said the academy’s administrators had assured them at the Oct. 10 drop-off day that their children would be safe during the five months away from home. Just days after the camp began, parents received an urgent call to return to the Augusta area and pick up their children who came home with stories of violence and trauma.”

“According to interviews and records, dozens of boys from two platoons were drilling on a parade ground when members of one group began taunting the others. Even in the short week, some boys in the platoons had developed an animosity for each other based on rival gang affiliations.”

Ongoing Militarization of American Culture/DOD As Social Workers/Parental Roles Update

“Parents interviewed by the AJC said recruiters and administrators promised their kids would receive counseling, mentoring and job skills in a safe setting. They were not told some cadets had violent behavioral problems, past legal troubles, and gang affiliations.”

“…no mention of the program’s failures to screen children properly before the camp. There also was no mention of staffing shortages or other problems identified in a draft of the after-action review obtained by the AJC.”

Were recruiters for real boot camp also responsible for finding people to place in the Youth Challenge Academy?

Seems like those recruiters may have already been busy finding people willing to go to places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?

Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.

Moms and Dads – Ask a recruiter about today’s benefits.

Jan 13, 2023 Military.com

Veterans to Get Free Emergency Care During Suicidal Mental Health Crises

 

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Veterans Day Nonsense – 2022

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

Cultural Honesty

Sports Culture is Honest

 

Years ago, it was understood that some people preferred to smoke. Some preferred to be vegan. Some preferred to eat meat. Some preferred electric cars, some preferred a powerful truck to pull a horse trailer.

A live and let live attitude seems to be fading. Governments at various levels are now in the habit of setting deadlines for new restrictions, bans and mandates.

Smoking bans, plastic bag bans, gun bans, federal toilet regulations, bottled water bans, mandates on what sort of vehicle you may drive.

All this, while we are told that US military operations in distant lands are somehow linked to American rights and freedoms.

One Size Fits All

Federal tax money:

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel results in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job? Seems like free enterprise might be better at moving things along Re: hotel properties.

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

Gas Cans

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

0:20

Probably designed by some bureaucrat that never mowed a yard:

Cars

Gov. Inslee plans to ban gas-powered cars by 2035.

Your Toilet

The Energy Policy Act of 1992, which became law in 1994, mandates a maximum flush volume of 1.6 gallons for toilets manufactured and installed after this date.”

Your Shower Head

“In 1992, a federal mandate limited the amount of water that could flow from a replacement shower head to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). Some state and local governments mandate even lower GPM flow rates than the federal regulation.”

Your Light Bulbs

The Department of Energy has recently set new standards for light bulb manufacturers.”

Plastic Bags

Central authority hands down one size fits all rules for retailers and consumers: Allowed and banned bags

Download an accessible toolkit in one of 17 languages

Your Lawn Mower

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently updated its regulations for emissions from “small spark-ignition engines”—that is, your lawn mower or tractor and other outdoor power equipment.”

Heating Your Home

Washington State Ban on Natural Gas Heating

Central Control Of The Rental Property You Own

They are working on it:

“If approved, a new section would be added to state law that requires all rental housing units within the state to be registered with the Department of Commerce every two years when a tenant occupies it or it is made available for rent.”

“In addition, landlords must pay a registration fee of $70 to register a unit, plus a fee of $15 for each additional unit.”

“In addition, if a landlord does not register the property, they would not be able to legally evict a tenant from the rental.”

“The money raised by registration fees would be used to assist with programs that provide legal representation in evection cases, assist local government with inspections of rentals, or for administrative purposes only.”

Possibly related:

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.


Seems like most people carry a smart phone. These are always improving. They are extremely popular with consumers. An honest demand for products requires no helping hand from the government. No tax incentive, no public relations and promotional campaigns. Let’s go with the free enterprise system. Let’s go with industries that specialize in making people happy.

US federal government:

A man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment.

Since that time, both major parties have taken turns in power and have squandered credibility that would help in the current situation.

We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.

Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

Some may have become skeptical along the way.

Some continue to ask questions:

An old favorite:

Unfortunately, the federal government often gets things wrong. Some may say they have an incentive to do so.

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Response: Large DOD and Homeland Security budgets ever since.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

 

KUOW Aug 10, 2017

A mere 17,000 years ago, a massive glacier the height of five Space Needles covered what is now Seattle and a large part of western Washington.”

Why did it change? Too much gas powered lawn equipment?

Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.

Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.

Honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion.

Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.

Got it.

Newspeople have moved away from asking basic public policy questions.

Our local TV news today is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

 

Cliff Mass Weather Blog

Mar 16, 2023

Serious Climate Misinformation In Seattle Time Headline Article

 

Mar 03, 2022

Misinformation about Sea Level Rise

 

Dec 13, 2022

More Climate Misinformation and Factual Errors in the Seattle Times. Should You Care?

 

Dec 29, 2022

The Origin of Seattle and Tacoma Flooding This Week

 

Photo at top of page:

Occasionally looking for the Coupeville Ferry

Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island-no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.

Also Coupeville:

Love to see newspeople ask:

When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?

Image above: 1/2/2023

Source/Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map

Click image once or twice to show detail.

Background

Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.

Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.

Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.

View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.

 

Coupeville

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing

“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”

“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”

Source: WDFW

 

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

In a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking questions related to public policy all of the time.

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?

Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?

Distance learning idea:

Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls

Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern

 

Related:

A photo tour of Penn Cove here:

Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance

One Size Fits All Society

Goodbye Free Enterprise System

Cultural Honesty

Possibly of interest:

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

 

Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.

Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?

Did opioid lawsuits and a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security reduce access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Newspeople play along by not asking questions.

 

December  15, 2022 The News Tribune

100,000 fentanyl pills and meth seized in huge Eastern WA bust in Tri-Cities

Federal FBI agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep more than 100,000 fentanyl-laced pills and more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Eastern WA:

“Four accused Tri-Cities drug traffickers were arrested this week in one of largest drug busts in Eastern Washington history.”

 

December 27, 2022 Peninsula Daily News

Man sentenced to 7 years for distributing drugs
Smith, 50, had prior arrests in Port Angeles in 2014 and 2021

“Preston Joseph Smith was arrested in December 2021 in Port Angeles on allegations he distributed pound quantities of illegal drugs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

Question for newspeople:

Is Port Angeles CBP staffing and infrastructure at all relevant in keeping heroin and meth from entering the Puget Sound area?

Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound meth or heroin?

Even one time?

Newspeople remain silent.

 

Question for newspeople:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press seem to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

 

December 22, 2022 Daily World

Schools ramping up opioid preparedness

Grays Harbor schools carrying anti-overdose medication and training staff to use it

“Several school districts in Grays Harbor County have been stocking school buildings with naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversal drug, in an effort to protect students during a national opioid epidemic and an increasing prevalence of opioids in the Harbor.”

Opioid-related death rates nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 and are high in rural counties such as Grays Harbor, according to the University of Washington’s Addiction Drug and Alcohol institute.”

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

 

Homeland Security is a scam

Federal DEA agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Norco, California:

Oct 5, 2022 CBS LOS ANGELES

DEA agents make historic drug bust; seize 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine

 

United States Department Of Homeland Security Annual Budget

Every 12 months:

$51.672 billion (FY 2020)

 

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Related-

4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On

Possibly of interest-

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

A symbol of newspeople not asking questions and a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.

Newspeople post this statement as is.

A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.

 

Hotel Properties

December 8, 2022 The Daily World

Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel

$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”

$6.3 million in federal cash for a used hotel results in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job? Seems like free enterprise might be better at moving things along Re: hotel properties.

Love to see newspeople ask: Is there any shortage of lodging facilities in this community?

A better idea for local federal funding:

Quinault Marina & RV Resort

Get the ferry to Westport going again:

“Sadly, the ferry service shut down in 2008, but not due to lack of popularity. While the ferry service had seen closures in previous years, the service would always pick back up and be celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Sadly, after too much sand and silt built up around the Ocean Shores marina, the El Matador was forced to cancel trips across the harbor. What was once a family-friendly boating experience and adventure across the harbor is now relegated to fond memories.”

Rehab of the marina would attract sport fishermen for launching and mooring of boats. Set up a place for fish and chips, a pub with a view, bait and tackle/boating store, a cocktail lounge, restaurant, etc. Use some imagination and get it going.

Work on access to the beach at Damon Point too.

Gas Cans

School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.

If The Troops defend our freedoms, should we ask the Joint Chiefs of Staff to bring back the Free Enterprise System?

0:20

Probably designed by some bureaucrat that never mowed a yard:

Cars

Gov. Inslee plans to ban gas-powered cars by 2035.

Your Toilet

The Energy Policy Act of 1992, which became law in 1994, mandates a maximum flush volume of 1.6 gallons for toilets manufactured and installed after this date.”

Your Shower Head

“In 1992, a federal mandate limited the amount of water that could flow from a replacement shower head to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). Some state and local governments mandate even lower GPM flow rates than the federal regulation.”

Your Light Bulbs

The Department of Energy has recently set new standards for light bulb manufacturers.”

Plastic Bags

Central authority hands down one size fits all rules for retailers and consumers: Allowed and banned bags

Download an accessible toolkit in one of 17 languages

Your Lawn Mower

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently updated its regulations for emissions from “small spark-ignition engines”—that is, your lawn mower or tractor and other outdoor power equipment.”

Your Gasoline

New clean fuels standard in WA: “The program requires fuel suppliers to gradually reduce the amount of carbon emissions in their transportation fuels to 20% below 2017 levels over the next 15 years.”

Heating Your Home

Washington State Ban on Natural Gas Heating

Central Control Of The Rental Property You Own 

They are working on it:

“If approved, a new section would be added to state law that requires all rental housing units within the state to be registered with the Department of Commerce every two years when a tenant occupies it or it is made available for rent.”

“In addition, landlords must pay a registration fee of $70 to register a unit, plus a fee of $15 for each additional unit.”

“In addition, if a landlord does not register the property, they would not be able to legally evict a tenant from the rental.”

“The money raised by registration fees would be used to assist with programs that provide legal representation in evection cases, assist local government with inspections of rentals, or for administrative purposes only.”

Firearms

“Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson will request legislation for a statewide ban on the purchase or transfer of assault-style semiautomatic rifles as part of the latest push by firearms-safety advocates.”

Possibly related:

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?

Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.

Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.


Is the list of things government is not good at bigger than a list of the things government does well?

List of Things the Government is Good At – TV News Avoids Asking Questions

Closed – WA Interstate 5 Rest Areas

More here:

Cultural Honesty

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Okinawa 1980 – The Christmas Tree Story

 

We just watched Daddy’s Home (2015) and Daddy’s Home 2 (2017). Both films include scenes of cars lined up to drop the kids off at school. Much has changed over the past 40 years.

I have no problem with what Moms and Dads want to do. Please don’t tell me it’s a sin to have a disposable plastic water bottle, disposable plastic shopping bag, or an internal combustion vehicle. I promise not to be a litter bug.

In the old days, kids could walk or bike to school. More of the kids were slim and trim back in the 70s when kids had bicycle paper routes after school.

Top generals and politicians have a military recruiting crisis on their hands. They will blame young people who are overweight. They will not blame a DOD brand that is known for decades of undeclared/unwon wars.

When do we get to vote our way out of undeclared/unwon wars?

Okinawa 1980 – The Christmas Tree Story

More here:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

 

Ongoing Breakdown of Society

Again, I have no problem with what Moms and Dads want to do. Re: school busses.

Made for TV job stress update:

Preparing students for the real world:

More job stress:

Scary ride:

School field trip update:

Departure from protocols update:

Cameras are rolling:

 

 

 

 

 

Photo-

Nowhere near the school drop-off lane.

Whidbey Island

 

Americans do not live in a free and honest society.

 

Uvalde School Shooting – Months Later

Sports culture is more open and honest. A bad call from the ref will be seen and reviewed instantly.

October 22, 2022 – ABC 7 Chicago

State trooper who responded to Uvalde school shooting fired amid investigations into police response

“…more than 300 officers from agencies across the state waited more than an hour to breach a door and kill the shooter.”

According to law enforcement doctrine, active shootings require that the first action by officers, no matter their rank, should be to immediately “stop the killing.”

“State troopers outnumbered local law enforcement 2 to 1 outside Robb Elementary, but in the aftermath of the massacre, DPS officials carefully shaped the narrative to cast local authorities as incompetent.”

October 27, 2022 – KABB San Antonio

EXCLUSIVE: New body camera video from Uvalde school tragedy

 

Related:

More Information Is Better – The NFL Knows This

58 magazines and 1,657 rounds of ammunition

 

Ongoing Breakdown of Society – Possibly of interest:

America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis

Cultural Honesty

Bad Habits

 

Photo at top of page:

Platoon 3049, MCRD San Diego

Jun-Sep 1979

On the day this photo was taken, all 50 states were free to set their own minimum drinking age.

Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.

Now in my early 60s, I am frequently asked for ID to show that I am 21 when buying beer at major retail establishments here in WA.

Meanwhile, drug trafficking cartels move product into all 50 states. Cartel drug busts that happen in Hometown, USA involve drugs that were not stopped at the border.

 

Homeland Security is a scam

Federal DEA agents swing into action after federal US Dept. of Homeland Security agents fail to keep 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine from moving past strict post 911/GWOT security protocols at border crossings and ports of entry, then showing up in Norco, California:

Oct 5, 2022 CBS LOS ANGELES

DEA agents make historic drug bust; seize 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine

 

United States Department Of Homeland Security Annual Budget

Every 12 months:

$51.672 billion (FY 2020)

 

Welcome Home Troops

Thanks for risking your ass in Iraq & Afghanistan-working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.

Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:

Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?

Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?

Newspeople remain silent.

April 1, 2020 C-SPAN

WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.

The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.

Both major parties and the press appear to be OK with undeclared/unwon wars.

It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.

Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.

Was It A Fake War On Terror?

 

Love to see newspeople interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:

Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?

Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.

 

If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?

Source: DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program

“There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.”

Look for newspeople to ask zero questions in this area.

 

Port Angeles

Local people find drugs and report to local (not federal) law enforcement authorities. Federal employees create news story and say that federal agents used a K-9 to “seize” the drugs.

Question for CBP:

Why does the news story created by CBP not line up with local reports?

Mainstream newspeople remain silent.

News links and Sheriff’s Dept. Facebook post here:

Port Angeles Border Patrol – Investigation Stalled For 3 Weeks?

Original blog post:

Port Angeles Border Patrol Agents Seize Meth?

 

Small Military Town – Please Be Honest

My take:

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

 

July 27, 2022 – Whidbey News-Times

Sound Off: Navy base is an asset to Whidbey community

By BOB SEVERNS

I’ll never forget how appreciative I was of our military readiness and strength when our country was attacked, on our soil, on Sept. 11, 2001.”

Mayor Severns,

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

“Almost 21 years later, NASWI remains strong and continues to practice flying aircraft in preparation to safeguard our freedom. But the heroes at NASWI in Oak Harbor provide much more than just defending us and our freedom.”

Mayor Severns,

The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system, voting rights, bump stock baninterracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.

American freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

 

Another Mayor in another town:

May 28, 2020 WMAR

Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard

I am honored to do my part to ensure that the citizens of this community and all Americans remain safe and free.”

Several news sources published this quote. View them here.

The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion. Don’t look for any of this discussion to be prompted by newspeople showing initiative or curiosity in asking questions. 

Mayor Day,

While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.

Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?

December 21st 2019 KOMO News

Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide

“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”