Ten Piece Nuggets-Random

Posted on March 22, 2022March 22, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

One of our short order cooks(staffers) decided to take an unannounced 7 day trip to Florida last week. Regrettably, this left us short-handed, and BBR went dark for the week.

However, our chef is back. And in short order we’ve got some ready-to-consume nuggets below. They’re filled with facts, opinions, and some spicy satire sauce as you like them.

Having not flown in a quick three years, we learned quickly when we did that some things don’t change. Does the TSA work for the government, or do they work for us? The correct answer is us. We are the government. We pay them to work for us. Rude, indifferent, commanding, demanding, disorganized, and sloppy are words that come to mind to describe the power-tripping men and women in the blue unis. It’s a thankless job and because of how they perform it no one will say thanks.
It’s a special treat to hear one of them barking to the minions waiting in line the commands about what to do and not do. They are hard to understand to begin with, but the monotone delivery is even less effective from behind one of those temporary light blue masks. There are so many ways to more effectively communicate than this rabbit hole that we’ve jumped down for the last 20 years.
Did you know that the legislative branch of our federal government is the only branch that creates federal law? It is. And, it hasn’t made wearing a mask in airports nor on airplanes a law. Good sheep we are as we are herded on and off the aluminum tubes. “Be sure to put your mask back in place between bites and sips” might be the dumbest utterance on a plane ever. And, that’s saying something. The “mandate” is extended and in place till 4/18, and no one knows why.
By 4/18 we likely will have scared ourselves back into the covid corner again. The subvariant omicron BA.2 has been classified as a “variant of concern” according to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It’s either more or less transmissible than the last one, going to get you more or less ill as the booster does or does not help. The CDC will let you know what it thinks after the wave has passed and they’ve followed the science.
That’s the same CDC that says now that it accidentally inflated children’s COVID death numbers in “coding logic error.” Terrible! Maybe it wasn’t a coding logic error, but an error in logic to make you want to jab your child? The UK will be ready for BA.2. Around 5 million people are eligible for an additional COVID jab in England, with fifth jabs hinted at as Britain rolls out its ‘Spring Booster’ campaign.
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid is not the first government official to hint at the possibility of a fourth and a fifth vaccination(that’s not a vaccination), however. The good doctor Anthony Fauci said this past weekend, “We may need to boost again. That’s entirely conceivable. But before we make that decision about another boost, we want to determine clearly what the durability of protection is of that regular boost, that third shot that we’re talking about.” Third, fourth, fifth. Who’s counting? The WHO is counting. So is Pfizer’s CFO.
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) said Monday on MSNBC that at the Senate hearing today for Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, he “felt the emotion flowing through me from ancestors and generations that made this day possible.” And, that sounds good. He then went on to say, “Biden said it’s about time we reach deep into the well of quality and genius and talent and create credentials for black women and show she’s like Jackie Robinson, except probably overqualified.” Did Cory Booker ever crack a history book? Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas are curious.
When 81 million of us voted for student loan forgiveness did we realize that we also were voting for $6/gallon of gas and WWIII?
What are we doing foreign policy-wise with Ukraine anyway? The country was and is corrupt. They’re non-NATO. Why do we have to stick our nose in every global dust-up? Russia is wrong to attack a sovereign nation. We told them as much. We’ve sanctioned them. We’ve frozen assets. Enough. We don’t need to send money or planes and certainly not troops. Send us some of the Ukrainian refugees and we’ll look after them with free food, blankets, medicine, and masks, plenty of masks. And, as a reminder that’s free to them, money to you.
Like airplanes, time flies when you’re having this much fun. If you don’t take our word for it at least take VP Kamala Harris’ word for it. She spoke to the passage of time four times in 30 seconds yesterday. Click on the link, open the video, and lose thirty seconds of your life that you’ll never get back. Say what? Harris has had a difficult time retaining employees in her communications department. At the beginning of 2022, her communications team was undergoing a second political reset before she had served even one year in office, the Washington Post reported. Say what?

Ten Piece Nuggets-Random.

Posted on March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

You want them, we have them. Ten delivered to your virtual door this AM.

Paging Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci, please call your exchange. Wouldn’t right now be a great time for a thorough review of the data (comorbidities, race, age, gender, vaxxed v not, etc.) that led to the science? With covid either paused or past, it sure would. Questions we have a few. We’d like to know more about that science we followed.
Paging NY Mayor Eric Adams. Mr. Adams, please call your exchange. How does Kyrie Irving get to sit in the stands maskless but can’t play in his NBA game for the hometown Nets yesterday? It must be that elusive data that led to the science. Kevin Durant differs. “It’s ridiculous,” Durant said of Irving’s situation. “I don’t get it. It just feels like at this point now somebody’s trying to make a statement or a point to flex their authority.” Durant is quite accurate shooting from three-point land and calling out fantasy land.
And how about flying? The federal mask mandate that was supposed to end on 3/18 has been pushed back to 4/18. Why? Maybe the WH press secretary knows? When asked why airports and airlines should maintain mask mandates even if the cities in which they’re located have abandoned them, White House press secretary Jen Psaki answered that air travelers aren’t “static,” meaning lacking in movement. Ah. Sounds like a bunch of static, meaning crackling or hissing noises on a telecommunications system, if you ask us. The only one lacking in movement is the CDC, behind the curve like it’s been for two years.
Speaking of the CDC, this year’s flu shot hit your arm but missed the mark in prevention. When you guess strains nine months out, you win some and you lose some. A CDC spokesperson over the weekend opined that the shot might have lessened the severity of this year’s flu if you got it, but wasn’t sure if it did. Does any of this sound familiar?
Saturday, March 12 was Detransition Awareness Day. People who quit the trans ideology recognize that they cannot “transition” to the opposite sex, and so they “detransition” from the ideology. This comes smack in the middle of Women’s History Month which might confuse just about everybody involved we suppose.
Doesn’t it seem like every time you hear that Ukraine and Russia are entering talks another city is bombed? Putin isn’t at peace when he hears the words “ceasefire.” And about these biological labs?
Jen Psaki proudly announced from her pulpit Friday that we are wrecking the Russian economy. One wise guy on Twitter stated the opinion, ” That’s two economies wrecked in 12 months.” Short. True. Brilliant. Sad.
Republicans from sea to shining sea are ripe with optimism that a red wave is coming to both houses of Congress this fall. Then Mitch Mcconnell threw water on the party. He stated last week that if the GOP regains control of the Senate that he would be the majority leader all over again. Two things. One, McConnell isn’t a leader. Two, a wise man wrote us and said that every Republican running for Senate this fall should have to go on record if they would vote for McConnell if they gained office.
What’s to celebrate if it’s more of the same? The number one problem facing Republicans is that they fail to realize that their party isn’t any happier with most of them and their actions as they are with the Dems. Sad state of affairs.
And finally, Jussie Smollett’s sister, actress Jurnee Smollett, is calling for Cook County to “#FreeJussie” following her brother’s sentencing of 150 days of incarceration on Thursday, telling her followers they should advocate for his release because of disparate incarceration between black and white Americans even if they believe he is guilty. Jurnee is quite a trip, almost like a journey.
Lagniappe. Isn’t it odd that the inflation we once called transitory is now blamed on Putin? Point the finger at Russia, Russia, Russia. People always buy it.

If you’re on Spring Break enjoy. If you’re not, get to work. And remember today, 3/14, is pi day. That’s roughly 3.14159265359 if you’re counting.

The Sky Is Falling

Posted on March 10, 2022March 10, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

Know why Chicken Little crossed the road?

We’ll give you a hint. It’s the same reason why John Kerry flew to Houston this week and spewed out all of those carbon emissions behind his plane.

It was to tell the uninformed that “the sky is falling, the sky is falling!”

President Biden’s climate czar, John Kerry, said that while the Ukraine refugee crisis is a “problem” amid Russia’s invasion, it pales in comparison to the wave of migration that will come if climate change is not addressed.

“We’re already seeing climate refugees around the world,” he said. “If you think migration has been a problem in Europe in the Syrian War or even from what we see now, wait until you see 100 million people for whom the entire food production capacity has collapsed.” Climate refugees, who knew? See the sky really is falling.

And as fictional character Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City would say, “and just like that” the great reset has revved up its political engines.

President Biden told reporters Tuesday that he “can’t do much” about rising gas prices and blamed the situation on Russia’s war against Ukraine. But, what we can do is send out the machine that the Democratic Party is and preach climate change.

Wise politicians always say, “you never want to let a crisis go to waste.” And, unlike the Republicans, the Democrats all come to roost behind a common cause like the wise owls that they are.

Never mind Afghanistan, worthless boosters, late covid tests, the stock market, Ukraine, China, and rampant overall inflation. Change the national narrative.

Specifically, do you want to fix the gas price problem? Go green. Now.

With Kerry running point for Biden, Jen Psaki said yesterday about drilling permits, “what additional permits do they need? I don’t think that they need an embroidered invitation to drill.” Does that sound smug or dismissive? There are 4600 permits to drill pending approval on Biden’s desk as of this AM. Tick tock.

We could ask Saudi to help, but they won’t answer Biden’s calls. How about Venezuela? They’re as bad as they come to humankind but never mind that. Why would we help increase domestic production a day after cutting off Russia?

Maybe if we all just don’t drive for two weeks straight we could flatten the gas demand curve. Follow the science. Like wearing worthless masks what a fracking mess this is.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was ripped by critics Monday after he argued that more Americans should purchase electric vehicles so that they “never have to worry about gas prices again.”

The former South Bend, IN mayor claimed on MSNBC’s “Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart” that families who own electric vehicles would see a “$12,500 discount” in transportation costs.

Conversely, AAA has estimated that owning a new, compact electric vehicle costs about $600 more per year than a gas-powered compact vehicle despite lower fuel and maintenance costs. Never let facts get in the way of a good narrative. And, this estimate is given with the full knowledge that electricity prices would likely climb significantly as demand soars. Never let, well, never mind.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed giving state residents some relief in the form of a tax rebate, as rising energy costs have led to the Golden State having the highest gas prices in the nation. How nice an idea is that? At an average of $5.75 per gallon in Cali the good governor might give you back some of which you shouldn’t need to pay in the first place.

But, he too is against increasing that nasty domestic production. “At a time when we’ve been heating and burning up, one thing we cannot do is repeat the mistakes of the past by embracing polluters, drilling even more oil, which only leads to even more extreme weather, more extreme drought, and more wildfire,” Newsom said. Drilling leads to extreme weather. Again, follow the science.

But the coup de grace was delivered by US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm yesterday in Houston with Czar Kerry at CERAweek (the global energy conference) yesterday. She said, “we are on the cusp of the most important transition that human society has ever seen. And, I hope that we’ll look back on 2022 as the year that the world took giant steps to improve energy security and tackle climate change.”

Fourteen months ago America was producing more gas than it consumed. MORE!

We had all of the security we needed. It was called energy independence.

But, that was so 2020. And, now the script is flipped. And the party in power can follow a script like no other.

Tourniquets No, Transfusions Yes.

Posted on March 8, 2022March 8, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

To us, 100 years seems like a long, long time ago. To historians, it is just the wink of an eyelash. So, the proper perspective is always key. And we need plenty of the proper perspective right now.

Our decade of the 20s in the 21st century is off to quite the rocky start. A century ago, it was quite the opposite.

The Roaring Twenties refers to the decade of the 1920s in Western society and Western culture. It was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the United States and Europe, particularly in major cities. In France they were having so much fun they called it the crazy years. Jazz blossomed, the flapper redefined the modern look for British and American women, and art deco peaked. In the wake of the military mobilization of World War I and the Spanish flu, President Warren G. Harding “brought back normalcy” to the United States.

This period saw the large-scale development and use of automobiles, planes, telephones, films, radio, and electrical appliances in the lives of millions in the Western world.

Nations saw rapid industrial and economic growth, accelerated consumer demand, and introduced significant new trends in lifestyle and culture. Cities rooted for their home teams and filled the new palatial cinemas and gigantic sports stadiums.

And, in many major democratic states, women won the right to vote. Democratic states then v now were very different, but a win is a win. We’re still arguing about the right to vote, but we digress.

Well, where are we now? Where we are is in some stage of the process to bring back normalcy. “What stage,” you ask? “We have no clue,” we answer.

It sure doesn’t feel like we are in some stage of getting back to normal though, does it? It does feel like we are in limbo. Limbo as in, “how low can you go?”

We’re about to find out.

Spanish flu then, covid-19 now.

Economic prosperity returned back then. We were on our way up prior to covid, but now we face supply chain issues and runaway inflation.

Our government in the last 14 months turned quickly, insistent upon meddling in capitalism. What do you need? Whatever it is, it’s free! Except nothing is free, it just creates dependency (isn’t that the end game for some?) and debt.

And, there is the most important one. There was WWI then, and hopefully not WWIII now.

Maybe this Warren G. Harding gentleman doesn’t get enough credit in our history books? And, if Joe Biden wants any he better start looking out for America, not his fringe left.

Do you want solutions? Yesterday our esteemed Transportation Secretary Peter Buttigieg had one. He suggested that if America wanted a quick fix to higher gas prices they should go out and buy an electric vehicle. Oh, yes he did say that.

Meanwhile, we are buying about 500k barrels of Russian oil per day while sending billions of dollars to Ukraine to fight the Russians. It sounds like we haven’t yet hit the bottom of the barrel yet after all.

Real solutions are on the horizon, or even closer. Start drilling.

This brings us to one word-leadership. America needs leadership right now in the worst way before we get to the worst way. But we don’t have it.

Biden, Harris, Pelosi, Buttigieg, Schumer, Rubio, Graham, McConnell(times 2), Swalwell, Romney, Cheney, Bernie, and The Squad all need to go. There are others, plenty of others.

And, one named Donald Trump needs to not come back. Make that two. Her name is Hillary.

We need that new blood now, and we need a lot of it.

Midterms are exactly eight months away today. That makes the 2024 election(s) 32 months out. In some ways that seems like forever.

History teaches us that it’s way less than a wink. It just doesn’t feel that way.

The pendulum always swings. Sometimes it just has to reach the bottom to get to the other side.

Q & A Today?

Posted on February 25, 2022February 25, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

We confess. We’ve vacillated quite a bit on whether or not to post today. The verbal reports and exploding bomb images rolling in from a foreign land that deserves better can wear one out mentally.

If you’d prefer to take the day off, we understand. But, if you’d like a few questions and answers put forth, soldier on. Below, we begin with facts, opinions, and even guesses. We throw in a dose of befuddlement and bewilderment before we close.

Who is responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? This is an easy one. It’s 100% Putin. Inevitably the leader of Russia gave the final nod to execute the plan that’s clearly been in place for some time.

Who was the most obvious one to halt or at least alter Putin’s power play? This too is an easy one. It’s not 100% Biden, but it’s close. A more unified NATO would have helped. But, Biden and the left could have helped themselves as well.

How? Reagan said, “Peace through Strength.” Biden’s actions since taking office as well as his global missteps of decades and decades gone by offer “War through Weakness.”

Why? Perhaps it’s this simple. Biden is a weak, frail physical figure. People, like it or not, still make assumptions of who you are based on how you look. Perhaps, it’s more complex. Biden listened to too many left-wing zealots when rounding out his approach to energy.

What’s energy got to do with it? Putin’s ego aside, it’s got everything to do with it. Russia has plenty of it coming out of the ground, and America did until Biden and the climate change shrills significantly slowed the spigot.

Is timing everything? It is with energy. The price of a barrel was so cheap (read free) for the first few months of 2020, the year of our Covid, that Trump restocked our national reserves for pennies on the dollar. Biden used his executive pen on inauguration day to suspend drilling/leases on federal lands, increased regulations, and turned the key off on the Keystone Pipeline. In other words, Trump bought low, and Biden sold out to his bidders.

Then what? As demand returned to pre Covid levels, prices rose. Supply was short. Russia got rich supplying its oil and natural gas to Europe. America got shafted at the pump, but we digress. Putin got the funding for the invasion and then some.

Now what? Now, Europe (as Trump warned) is even more dependent on Russian oil and gas. It’s now too dependent as America has less to sell. European NATO nations cannot afford to cut off Russia to the extent that is warranted in sanctions because they would be cutting off the needs of their citizens.

So will the sanctions imposed yesterday work? No, and yes apparently. In the span of 96 hours, Biden said, “No-one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening. This is going to take time, it’s not going to occur…he’s gonna say ‘oh my God, these sanctions are coming, I’m gonna stand down.” But r just Sunday, his VP said, “And within the context then of the fact that that window is still opening, altho- — open, although it is absolutely narrowing — but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open, the deterrence effect, we believe, has merit.”

Are the sanctions strong enough to slow their roll or at least give them a reason to pause after taking Ukraine down? They likely aren’t. The real money sits in Putin’s personal accounts, the Russian oligarchs’ accounts, and most of all the interactive banking that must remain open for countries like Germany to pay Russia for their oil and gas.

How sad is that? We’re asked to help defend NATO countries that are lining Russian pockets. Sad.

So why is Putin in Ukraine anyway? Only Putin knows for absolute certainty. But a guess would be in order, ego, power, money, and a desire to return Russia to the former Soviet Union.

Is it true that former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned in an interview this week about “massive emissions consequences” from a Russian war against Ukraine, which he also said would be a distraction from work on climate change? Unbelievably, yes.

Did he also say, “I hope President Putin will help us to stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate?” Unbelievably, yes again.

Did anyone mention that the Russian troops weren’t wearing masks? Unbelievably, but thankfully, in the world today, no.

Will whoever said they stand with Ukraine yesterday please stand down? Not likely. It’s one of the dumbest statements incessantly regurgitated on a daily basis about whatever gets people’s attention. It must make the weak feel good, but not good enough to stand in front of a Russian tank.

Will we next hear from some congressperson that we need to “come together as a nation?” For sure.

What’s next from the US side? Likely little. Putin has the next move. He must think he’s playing chess while Biden’s playing checkers at this point. If Biden were smart he would have turned the spigot back on American oil months ago in anticipation of this. Or, better yet, he would have never turned it off to begin with.

Are cyber attacks next? And just like that $7.50/gallon of gas is the least of our worries.

The Best Medicine

Posted on February 23, 2022February 23, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

Way back when before everyone became a victim of some terrible social injustice or, even worse, inequality, there was comedy. We used to poke fun at ourselves.

Way back when we also cut down trees to staple paper together into magazines. One monthly that came to America’s door was The Reader’s Digest. It had many regular features. One of them was called Laughter, The Best Medicine. That’s so right.

Way back in 1984, Ronald Reagan asked Don Rickles to perform at his inauguration. Rickles job? His job was to cut down Reagan, First Lady Nancy, and his cabinet members right in front of them.

He did. How insensitive was it? They howled. The more the better was how insensitive it was.

Could Henny Youngman, Rodney Dangerfield, George Carlin, and Don Rickles even perform today? God, we hope so. And God, while we are at it, we could really use a line or two.

Henny, you’re up!

I said to my wife, ‘Where do you want to go for our anniversary?’ She said, ‘I want to go somewhere I’ve never been before.’ I said, ‘Try the kitchen.’

I’m offended by political jokes. Too often they get elected.

While playing golf today, I hit two good balls. I stepped on a rake.

It’s not true that married men live longer than single men. It only seems longer.

Rodney, try to get some respect!

I asked my old man if I could go ice-skating on the lake. He told me, “Wait till it gets warmer.”

My mother had morning sickness after I was born.

A hooker once told me she had a headache.

I met the surgeon general. He offered me a cigarette.

When I was born the doctor took one look at my face, turned me over, and said, “Look, twins!”

George Carlin takes center stage.

“As it stands right now, I lead Richard Pryor in heart attacks, two to one. However, Richard still leads me, one to nothing, in burning yourself up.”

“Have you ever noticed that you never get laid on Thanksgiving? I think it’s because all the coats are on the bed.”

“Isn’t it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do ‘practice’?”

“How is it possible to have a civil war?”

And, last, but not least, Don Rickles!

[to Robin Williams, upon seeing his forearms] “I’ve never met an ape.”

“Orson Welles, this great man was married to a great many women. They’re all flat now.”

“Is that your wife, sir? Jesus… what was it, a train?”

“Bob Hope couldn’t be here tonight, he’s looking for a war.”

In summary, perhaps Rickles said it best, “You know, every night when I go out on stage, there’s always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. I’m always afraid that somewhere out there, there is one person in the audience that I’m not going to offend!”

Ten Piece Nuggets-Random

Posted on February 22, 2022February 22, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

Our style is to have no style in this random nugget format. We think it, we write it.

Yesterday was President’s Day, but today is President Biden’s day. Putin finally punched his dance ticket at the Ukrainian border. What will Joe have to say after saber-rattling about severe actions? Some European countries have acted already this AM with sanctions.
Biden puffed his chest out and said during his campaign for President that Putin wanted nothing to do with old angry Joe. In fact, he said in 2019, “Putin knows that when I am President his days of tyranny and trying to intimidate the US and Eastern Europe are over.” Well, that didn’t age well as the kids say.
Funny thing is, the last time Putin’s troops visited west of the Ukrainian border was when Biden was VP under Obama. Now he gets to huff and puff again. Hopefully, it’ll have some teeth in it and not some troops in it. Could you even find Ukraine on a map without an assist from Google? Be honest.
Whatever he says let’s hope it’s better than what our multitasking VP and US and Ukraine border czar said on the weekend while in Europe. Responding during a Euro press gaggle to whether or not the sanctions implied could deter Putin or if it was too late, Madame VP offered, “And within the context then of the fact that that window is still opening, altho-open, although it is absolutely narrowing-but within the context of a diplomatic path still being open, the deterrence effect, we believe, has merit.” We wish we were misquoting her, even if by a little bit. Maybe that worthless mask masked the message a smidgen?
MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell said last evening on-air that Biden has a lot of confidence and ego in his foreign policy and feels up to the task of the Putin test and gets defensive about his performance. Maybe that’s partially due to Robert Gates, the former defense secretary under Obama? He said a few years back that Biden has “been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”
Let’s hope he gets it right this time. Remember, when Obama pulled the trigger on Osama Bin Laden, Biden voted thumbs down in the Situation Room on the decision. You wouldn’t want him making the heads/tails call in an NFL overtime game. He’s defensive about his defense policy, and you’d be playing defense right after the coin flip.
Former WH Press Secretary and now CNN commenter, Joe Lockhart has confidence in Biden’s confidence. “Whatever happens in Ukraine we shouldn’t underestimate the fact the United States has retaken the adult chair in the world,” Lockhart tweeted. “Biden has restored American leadership so damaged by Trump. The world needs us and we have a President who can and does lead.” Why doesn’t it feel like that to nearly 75% of polled US adults last week?
Speaking of coin flips, is Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for the 2019 Democratic Presidential Nominee, a Democrat? Or, is she an Independent? Or, is she, thankfully someone that blazes her own path? The four-term former US Rep from Hawaii is confirmed as a speaker this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Principals and actions speak louder than affiliations. Where is this all going? Only 2024 knows. Fox News is interested. She’s on the network a time or two each weeknight these days.
And then there was one. Hawaii stands as the final state with a mask mandate, over two years after the start of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic. Every other state in the country has ended (some long ago) or announced plans to end their respective mask mandates in the very near future. What a waste of the fresh air that surrounds the islands. They’ll get wind of what’s right though, and soon. The trade winds are blowing and so are the 2022 midterm political winds.
Soon, but not soon enough, we’ll forget words and phrases that dominated our lives for two years. Here are just a few, but also way too many. Social distancing. N95. Two weeks to flatten the curve. Spikes. Horse pills. Hydroxychloroquine. NIH. FDA. CDC. The new normal. Antivaxxer. Provaxx. Ivermectin. And the most absurd, we’re all in this, together. Correction, the most absurd, follow the science. Nugget 10 would not be possible without a shoutout to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Thanks, Tony.

As a reminder, today is 2/22/22. We cannot wait for 2:22 PM.

Sleep With the Fishes

Posted on February 18, 2022February 18, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday here at the global headquarters for BBR.com the temperature at 8 AM was 77. As we gather for a staff meeting we just asked Siri what it is this morning. Her answer was, “Brrrrr, it’s 37.”

Maybe, just maybe, this is enough to convince those “climate deniers” that change is indeed in the air. For further proof, we used the Google search engine courtesy of Al Gore’s internet for any recent updates to this existential threat.

Gore himself is quite the expert on climate change (formerly known only as global warming) as well. As a former VP, though, his expertise on the climate falls short of current VP Harris’ handle on the US and now the Ukrainian border, but we digress.

The very first article that popped up was courtesy of NOLA.com the virtual newspaper formerly known as The Times-Picayune back when we cut trees down to write. The article, in a nutshell, said that the latest Federal Government research project on rising water levels now projects a two-foot rise at the Louisiana coastline from current levels by 2050 and a four-foot rise by 2100 of the Gulf of Mexico.

This was a modest but not insignificant increase in levels from a previous study by the same team just five years ago. The word dour comes to mind.

As we ready the lifeboats, we climate change ignoramuses have a couple of questions, please and thank you.

One, if the water is going up two feet on the Louisiana coastline by 2050, isn’t it going up by two feet everywhere in the Gulf of Mexico, or for that matter any and everywhere that land touches an ocean worldwide? The old adage, “water seeks its own level” comes to mind. We’re not claiming to be intelligent, just inquisitive.

Are all coast dwellers soon to “sleep with the fishes?” Venice, Italy, are you listening?

Two, Nancy Pelosi is building a swanky mansion on the Florida Gulf Coast for her retirement home as we speak. What does she know that the researchers have overlooked?

Cramped Barracks at Barrack’s. Is a Small Carbon Footprint Needed to Run this Joint?

Oh, and Barrack Obama and the fam decided that they would like an occasional getaway from the cramped conditions in Martha’s Vineyard. They’re building a second home on the Hawaiian Islands. Will they fly to and fro emitting fossil fuel all along the 3000-mile journey? Heck, maybe the glacier melts and Artic Shelf degradation fallout won’t matter much that far away from the mainland.

Then we wonder why the tops of every single mountain reaching thousands of feet in the Sedona, Arizona air are flat, parallel to the ground there? A little research of our own, not federally funded, tells us that once upon a time the ocean actually was there. The tops of the mountains were the floor of the sea. Let that sink in a bit.

This brings us to the ultimate question. Hasn’t the climate always been changing? Of course, it has. If you don’t believe us ask the dinosaurs.

But, now we need to do something about what nature does on its own. Why? Because mankind (and womankind) is bad. We’re destroying our planet.

It’s why we have more hurricanes and more severe ones at that. No, it isn’t. And, do we even have more and more severe ones? Nah. We have more damage because more folks like Nancy and Barrack live closer to the water than ever, so the damage to lives and property is far worse.

If ending(which you can’t) or greatly reducing fossil fuel consumption is some/most/all of our solution we’ll eventually get close. But, you need communist China and India, and others to jump on board.

And, relative to what Mother Nature does on her own it’s like shooting a BB at a tank anyway. But, shoot away.

All it takes is 30 or 60 or 90 trillion depending on who you ask. AOC thinks 90 and she’s an emerging expert here as well.

And, finally, did you know that the sun is cooling by the year as well? What to do, what to do? Get a match.

Father Time is undefeated, and you shouldn’t mess with Mother Nature.

But, give it a try we will. Oh, and you better get it done by 2050 or you can kiss Louisiana goodbye.

Ten Piece Nuggets-Random

Posted on February 16, 2022February 16, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

If you’re waiting anxiously at your door for a block of ice delivery from Canada it might be a while. But, if you’re waiting for your delivery of some tasty nuggets, we’ve got ten on your virtual doorstep below.

The contrast between the summer of 2020 discontent in America and the Canadian Freedom Convoy protest approaches polar opposites. Up north it’s mostly peaceful while south of the frozen Canadian tundra it was said to be mostly peaceful. Americans lit cities on fire. Canadians are lighting wood in barrels on fire to stay warm. America allowed the destruction and took little to no action against the instigators. PM Trudeau has invoked the Emergency Act in an attempt to freeze banks accounts, take gas away, and tow trucks from the streets.
Trudeau’s temper tantrum seems a bit harsh. But, it is two separate countries on one continent. To each their own. Still, no one remembers Antifa nor BLM having funds frozen in 2020. But, you might remember certain politicians (Kamala Harris), corporations, and actors donating money to the causes or the rare need for bail money. And, now a lot of that money has gone missing, but we digress.
As Special Council Durham
Durham Means Business It Seems

continues his journey into purported spying, lying, and trumped-up Russian ties/allegations against Trump, the so-called mainstream media remains eerily quiet. How the world of journalism has changed from by the book factual investigative reporting to cheerleading for one side or the other in the last 40 years is fascinating and terribly disappointing. Deep Throat, if we knew who he or she was, would have a sore throat trying to get someone to listen to them.
If there was even a hint that Trump spied on the Biden White House can you imagine the fervor? Maybe this is a big nothing burger. But indictments are coming in the dozens and soon. Better to cover what turns out to be a non-story than to not cover a story you would think.
On 10/31/16, just seven days prior to the general election Democratic Nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted out, “Computer scientists have apparently uncovered a covert server linking the Trump Organization to a Russian-based bank. This secret hotline may be the key to unlocking the mystery to Trump’s ties to Russia.” Did she omit the part about her operation trumping up the charges and paying for the head fake? We will see.
You can vote early (today) in Texas for their 3/1 primaries setting up the November elections. The gubernatorial primary comes down to incumbent Greg Abbott getting 50% plus one vote to advance to meet Beto O’Rourke from the left in the general. O’ Rourke has already announced that he wants no part of Biden in Texas to “help” him.
Lost to Cruz and Biden. It’s Abbott for the Hat Trick.

Yesterday he walked as far away from his 2019 attack on gun owners (we’re going to take away their AR15s and AK47s) when he said “I’m not interested in taking anything from anyone.” Why the sudden change of heart deep in the Heart of Texas? Polls. He trails Abbott by about 58-42% in most polls.
Get ready to roll up your sleeve every year from now till death. A high-ranking US FDA Officer on a hidden camera revealed the government’s future Covid policy. “Joe Biden wants to innoculate as many as possible.” “You’ll have to get an annual shot.” The FDA is not going to not approve it.”
Dr. Fauci couldn’t agree more. He was on MSNBC last evening with Chris Hayes and said, “You may be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with the US, nor is it done with the world.” He went on, “the protection with boosting is profound.” This contradicts a Pfizer news release last Friday that showed their booster’s efficacy diminishes greatly after four months. Maybe it’s three shots a year every year till death do us part.
NBC is strutting its peacock feathers as viewership of its conventional broadcast and streaming of Super Bowl LVI totaled 112.3 million viewers. That was up 13% from last year and nearly an all-time high. If you thought Kapernick and his knee would break the NFL think again. It’s a marketing and brand machine the world over.
Well, it is except in Los Angeles who hosted the party/game and had the hometown Rams playing and winning it. LA didn’t make the top ten markets in viewership per Nielsen. Cincinnati lost the game but won the Nielsen’s as it had the highest audience share in the country. It was 80 plus degrees in LA and sunny. Isn’t it always? There were better things to do.

You’ve been served.

A Rock Fight

Posted on February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

In politics, 2024 is just around the corner. But for aspiring, thought to be front-running politicians it’s light-years away.

After all, who thought an ACORN employee turned Illinois Congressman would walk in the room and crack the glass ceiling when Hillary Clinton was attempting to hammer it herself in 2008?

And, who thought a gritty NY businessman turned reality show star would walk in the room and crack eggs over the head of Jeb Bush in 2016?

And, finally, who thought a 77-year-old man four years removed from the lifelong political game could hide in his basement and garner the most votes ever cast in a presidential election?

If you type “politicians make” in the Google search bar in no time you get “make me sick,” “make strange bedfellows,” “make false promises,” and “make too much money” in short order.

So, while we agree on what they do, who in 2024 will turn our collective stomachs? As of today, would you say it’s former President Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton?

Several corners on Las Vegas Boulevard do. So is the race to the bottom on?

Time will tell. But what good poker players know as a tell is the not too distant rumblings of the respective parties.

If people judged Donald Trump by what he accomplishes, not what he says or, most of all, how he says it, he would be a worthy candidate all over again. But, too many people have had it with him and his ego, and that was prior to that January 6, 2021 dustup at the Capital Building now labeled as “Insurrection Day” by the left and their media shrills.

If he polls at 30% and the balance of the Republican field scatters the other 70% does that make him the front runner? Yes. But it also makes 70% of the likely Republican voters prefer someone else.

Hillary cannot help herself. Every time she opens her yapper she proves it to the general public. Also, she’s physically not up to the task. She wasn’t well at the wire in 2016, how could she be in 2024? She’s got more than just carry-on baggage. Her email server has been on the fritz for years.

And, now she may have far bigger problems. Special Counsel John Durham looked into Russia’s supposed ties to Trump. And, in quite the plot twist he has tied Hillary’s campaign team to instigating, paying, and then spying on team Trump per his blockbuster report released Friday.

How bad is it? The bombastic former President weighed in yesterday. “This is a scandal far greater in scope and magnitude than Watergate and those who were involved in and knew about this spying operation should be subject to criminal prosecution,” said Trump. “In a stronger period of time in our country, this crime would have been punishable by death,” he said.

Death? Maybe. But, it is a good transitional word. Maybe both of these candidates are dead to us as Tony Soprano might say. Or, maybe they should be.

The only way the Democrats can get back in this race (and we know it is early) is if the Republicans let them back in. And, if they nominate Trump it will be game on. They’ve taken getting their base riled up to a higher art form when they bellow about that Trump fellow.

For the Dems, Biden is 79 and doesn’t know if he’s President of the US or El Salvador. There is no way he’s running again unless it’s to the nearest men’s room. Hillary is 74 and has been shown the door one too many times.

Both parties can do better, can’t they?

Will they? 2024 in one sense is near, but perhaps there is still plenty of time for two fresh faces to appear.

America deserves better than a rock fight.