Thursday, May 18, 2017

WORLD: The Russians are Laughing Their Asses Off!

INTRODUCTION: This is not a reflection on any particular political persuasion in American  - not D's or R's - not L's or C's. Its just a statement of fact. What's going on between Russia and America is like what often happens in the world of sports: when a less-talented team takes it to the more highly skilled team, by using clever tactics and psych-outs. 
Photo (above): yep, this silly Russian prop is in the Kremlin. The Russians are probably laughing like this statue is right now while swilling down a bottle of Vodka!

BACKGROUND: Russia is a weak country that is in decline: their population is decreasing, and their economy is growing ever more dependent on fossil fuels (and we know which way that is heading). Their currency is in continual turmoil, and their people are regressing towards 3rd world living standards. All they have is a popular dictator, a large army and a bunch of nukes. 

EFFECTIVELY STIRRING THE POT: The Russians got what they wanted when they "stirred the pot" during the election in America — and then some. We are so off of our "game" that we're not even on the field - heck, we're haven't even arrived at the ballpark! Instead of taking care of the business of running the country, our political parties are in full war footing — against each other! Am I the only one that sees this that Russia is making us the laughing stocks of the world?

For liberal/conservative sake, lets just say that both political parties are losing in this arena. Therefore, America is losing this internal battle. They must be laughing their *sses off in Moscow. As far as I can tell, there is no concrete evidence of malfeasance on the part of Americans during the election - only the Russians (if I'm wrong, please point out the facts to me). 

The Ruskies had to do very little to create this mess! There are now 5 separate investigations into collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians - no doubt involving 100's or 1,000's of government employees (who is doing their jobs while they are "investigating"?), while it is costing "we the people" 100's of millions of dollars, and distracting our elected officials from doing the job they are supposed to be doing of running our country.
Above: Yep - Red Square and the Kremlin.

Well, I hope somebody is happy about this (besides the Russians), because I'm not. We in the private sector don't have any choice but to get up each day and do our jobs and run our businesses. If we didn't, there'd be no business left to run. But the politicians? Right now, it seems they've never met a camera or a TV crew that they didn't want to jump in front of and start accusing the other side of the most extreme things that they can dream up in their vivid imaginations. Politicians were screaming to impeach Trump even before he took the oath of office! Facts don't seem to play a significant role in any way that I can tell.

Enjoy my photos of Moscow from a trip a few years back. No, I'm not part of the conspiracy, but I wouldn't be surprised if some government A.I. bot (Artificial Intelligence Robot) picked up on these photos of the Kremlin and put me on their private "watch list".
Above: Yep - the Kremlin, again. On display - world's largest cannonball!

Friday, May 12, 2017

SAN LUIS OBISPO: The Faces of the Chronically Homeless


UPDATE 7/6/2017: Our Hope's Village of SLO "Showers of Hope" program recently received an endorsement from the Police Chief of San Luis Obispo, Deanna Cantrell (see below): 
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"Hope's Village of SLO has my blessing for their "Showers of Hope" program that will allow people who are homeless (and without access to other showers) an opportunity to not only be clean but be cared for. My hope is that this will be part of supporting folks to move towards a better life. Thank you Hope's Village for your leadership on this." 
— Heidi Harmon, Mayor, San Luis Obispo, California


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“I am pleased to support the work of Hope’s Village to provide portable ‘showers for Hope’ to San Luis Obispo. Health and cleanliness should be important to everybody in the community. Providing everybody the dignity to shower is a great thing. I applaud Hope’s Village and their community partners for making this happen.”
—Ian Parkinson, Sheriff, San Luis Obispo County, Calif.
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“The San Luis Obispo Police Department is in support of Hope’s Village of SLO offering something many of us take for granted, and that is the ability to shower.  The homeless in SLO that are unable to use Prado Day Center can benefit from having access to a clean portable shower that will not only bring them dignity, but can also prevent sickness and disease."
—Deanna Cantrell, Police Chief, San Luis Obispo