Hot Water Tank and the Administration

We've been hearing the hot water heater popping when it's heating water.  That's a sign that sediment from our very hard water is precipitating out, covering the bottom of the tank.  When water gets hot, it boils underneath that layer and then bubbles up and pops.  It's not difficult to drain and flush, you just have to do it.  So today we did.  

Fifty feet of house were required to get the water down the driveway.  Here it is, water coming out of the tank.

There is sediment in the water.  It's really hard to see because it's in the water, the sun is really bright and the camera can't really focus on it.  See the white patches on the road - sediment. 

It looks like we'll be having some cactus death.  This part of the Mexican Fence Post is dying.  There is another arm that is leaning.

There are two more arms that are leaning, as well.  There is one that's still green on top, and one that is yellowed in front.  There is nothing to be done about this, eventually they'll fall down.  There is a dying arm in the middle of the plant, and another one in front of the tall leaner.  None of my photos are particularly good.

Well, this has been a very full week in the US government.  This is one of my favorites.

“One of ours, all of yours.” 
That was the slogan behind the 1942 annihilation of Lidice in the Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, in what is now the Czech Republic. Czech resistance fighters assassinated Reinhard Heydrich, a senior SS leader and one of the principal architects of the Holocaust. Hitler and Himmler ordered the complete destruction of Lidice as collective punishment and a warning. All men over 15 were executed. Women were deported to Ravensbrück. Children were either murdered in gas vans or taken from their families and placed with SS households for forced “Germanization.” The Nazis also systematically abused and tortured dogs, primarily as part of their racial ideology and military programs.  

Kristi Noem, Secretary of DHS thinks its appropriate to have this slogan printed on her podium when she's speaking.  Nice, really nice. 

Canadian Premier Carney went to China.  Here is his synopsis. "We’re removing trade barriers to unlock billions of dollars in business for Canadian farmers, fish harvesters, and workers across agri-food sectors. By March 1, we expect that China will lower tariffs on Canadian canola from 84% to about 15%, and that Canadian canola meal, peas, lobster and crab will no longer be subject to the anti-discrimination tariffs." Canada is moving on without us.

Mr. Carney stopped in Qatar on the way back from China, and then on to Davos.  Busy Busy.

47 continues to demand ownership of Greenland.  If he invades, this will be the end of NATO.  It's hard to believe he's still going on about this.

-74% of all insulin used in America comes from Denmark. 
-100% of all Ozempic used in America comes from Denmark 
-15% of all shipping containers arriving in America come from a Danish company 
All 3 are being discussed within Denmark to halt. 

His current position is give us "Greenland or we will increase taxes on American citizens for things that they buy."  He thinks that he can tariff part of the EU if he doesn't get his way. It doesn't work that way.  EU is a trading block, tariff one you tariff them all.  The good citizens of the US actually pay the tariffs, he's shooting us in the head to try to get his way.  So, threatening tariffs is not the win that he thinks it is.

Minneapolis continues to be a misery.  He's now threatening to declare an insurrection and bring in 1,500 people from 11th Airborne who are currently based in Alaska.  One wonders how that will work out.

OK, I am now sufficiently depressed.  Enough.