Today we rode, it was the last good day for awhile. Warm, breezy, overcast.
Spring is taking its own sweet time this year. It did the same last year, it was cold into June. Then it went straight into the 100s.
Yesterday we went to Lowe's to buy new blades for the reciprocating saw. There are two dead Roses of Sharon, one we're going to dig out with the help of our neighbor, the other we're just going to cut down. It's been there for 20 years, I know there is a huge root system, and there are pressurized sprinkler lines somewhere in the area. Now the vent from the gas fireplace will be visible from the street, but I guess I just will not look there. They had a really pretty peony in the garden department. It's a huge plant, the label was covered, so I'm not sure what it is.

Google lens is of no help, there are hundreds of similar plants returned by search. It's a peony.
In no particular order, I have these topics.
The Catholics have a new pope. He has dual citizenship, Peru and the US. Some of the magats are already suggesting he could be arrested and deported to Peru if he comes here. Good luck with that. Louisiana State Archives records also show the pope's maternal grandmother identified as being from New Orleans and his grandfather identified as being a native of Haiti. The pontif's maternal grandfather, Joseph Martinez, was later listed as being from the Dominican Republic. Some people are pretty excited about his multi-cultural background. The magats are not. Already he has come out strongly against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That's refreshing.
As you no doubt know, RFK Jr wants to start a database of autistic people. Why does that need to be done? Who will collect the data, who will safe guard it. Currently DOGE wants to merge HHS, Social Security, and IRS data into one database.
This is a terrible idea. Currently they're separated for additional security. Making one giant file opens it up to hacking. Once that's combined, they know everything about everybody. I really hate this.
Dr. Oz has said repeatedly that “It’s patriotic duty of Americans to take care of themselves. It’s important for serving in the military & healthy people don’t consume healthcare resources” as well as "70% of the money we spend is on chronic illness and we are not getting our money's worth." So, what does he want the chronically ill to do? Go die? He's verging on Nazi ideology. Google on "useless eaters."
The nominee, Casey Means, for Surgeon General does not have a medical degree. She dropped out during residency, and started a company that convinces people who do not have diabetes to buy glucose monitors. Here is part of a Slate article about her. I think it covers the bulk of her awfulness. She's a wellness grifter. Par for the course for this administration. She's been chosen because RFK Jr likes her.
47 continues to be a nutbag. What we're seeing as a result of 47's tariff policies is traffic in the US ports is dropping off to nothing. Currently there are no Chinese ships on the way to here. Thousands of dockworkers and truck drivers are
worried about their jobs. 47's response to this slow down of trade, "That means we lose less money ... when you say it slowed down,
that's a good thing, not a bad thing."
There was also a digression into the country of Mattel. He threatened the "country" of Mattel Toys with a
100% tariff if they counter his policies. "Mattel— they’re the only country I’ve heard saying they’re going to go
some place else. That’s okay. Let them go and we’ll put a 100% tariff on
his toys. He won’t sell one toy in the US."
So, he doesn't understand trade imbalances, he thinks it's good that we won't be getting anything from China, businesses that resell stuff from China will go under, people will lose their jobs, it's all fine.
Earlier today, European
leaders issued a 30 day ceasefire ULTIMATUM to Putin.
Either he negotiates an end to the war, or Europe will unleash “massive”
sanctions against Russia and supply Ukraine devastating weapons.
Putin has 36 hours to respond. He responded, nyet. He's countering with direct talks between Ukraine and Russia on May 15. However, this is also happening: "The US embassy in Kyiv put out a public warning late on Friday night
that it had received intelligence of a “potentially significant air
attack that may occur at any time over the next several days”. It did
not give further details, but it later emerged that Russia will close
its airspace over the Kapustin Yar missile testing range on Monday and
Tuesday, which could indicate the potential launch of ballistic
missiles." This is bad. It's unfortunate that mass shipments of arms were not made at the beginning instead of being doled out with restrictions on what could be targeted. I had hope earlier today, so much for that. Good coverage here.
This is from twitter.


Here is a good thing. "People who receive the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of health problems like stroke, heart failure and heart disease."
Also good. If
you have a pacemaker, you can put it in your Will to have your
pacemaker donated to a dog in need after you pass. Pacemakers cannot be
donated to another human, but they can be donated to dogs with cardiac
issues who would depend on it to stay alive.
If you would like to see Senator Chris Murphy take Kristi Noem to the wood shed, go here and play the video.