Adam

cannot help but think someone is making out quite well on the tariff rollercoaster guess we will see if he reverses course in coming days

i guess private practice can do "as they please" but i think bulk of healthcare is provided through hospital systems, so unlikely it will be limited impact

On 3/19/2025 at 9:43 AM, Twin Tiers Living said:

Israel has apparently resumed bombings in Gaza

got all those people back in a concentrated area, makes extermination much easier

On 3/14/2025 at 6:04 PM, MsKreed said:

And I also have no reason to doubt the number of Medicaid recipients that was quoted by several people Monday....40,000 Chemung County residents (over 30% of the county population). Clearly, our Medicaid burden is a serious issue (with or without federal cuts).

last i knew it was large % if not total of the County property tax as well as half or so of the sales tax goes to cover unfunded mandates. at some point, county needs to tell State to kick rocks, stop covering them...really whats going to happen? State pulls funding from elsewhere? fine, then shift the money from the mandates to cover the shortfall

i guess im waiting to see when they stop doing business with contractors that charge Fed 600 for a hammer or some other obviously inflated price, or the multiple failed financial audits of the Pentagon where billions of dollars cannot be accounted for, along with the upcoming budget being stripped of the billions in pork spending that normally gets crammed in...perhaps Y+THEN most of us will view DOGE as a serious effort

8 hours ago, Chris said:

Things are going well I see:

Source

Source

and all the while, his sheep keep repeating that Canada has 200 to 500 percent tariffs on our goods....except its only a half truth. most imports are either duty free or minimally taxed until they hit a quota. only then do the high tariffs kick in. those quotas ensure that their own farmers/producers are not priced out of their markets while still allowing for imports

9 hours ago, Beekeeper said:

IMHO all we can hope for is that democrats get a majority in both the house and Senate in 2026.

i would argue that NEITHER party has made good to the People, despite both having ample opportunities at majority

7 hours ago, Ann said:

Based on what I’ve seen of the behavior of the Democrats in the House and Senate I would not vote for a Democrate in 2026.  You can loathe the individual holding the office but I have always believed that the Office of the President deserves respect and everyone should stand when whoever holds that office enters the room.   You don’t have to like the person or agree with what’s being said.  Stay silent, don’t applaud and your silence will speak volumes.  
Leaving in protest while the individual holding that Office is speaking, holding up your little signs, disrupting the moment by shouting and shaking your fist, not acknowledging the ordinary Americans mentioned and their struggles and achievements, well, in my humble opinion, that is immature, petty, and the American people deserve better from their Representatives be they Democrats or Republican. 
The Democrats did not listen to the American people during this last election and that’s on them.  From what I’ve seen, they  are still not listening and it will be to their detriment come the 2026 midterms.  Listen and learn, you might finally understand who the people you represent are.

I guess its difficult to follow that sound advice, particularly when the individual currently holding the office cannot

On 3/3/2025 at 10:10 PM, Adam said:

so the cyber security thing, Trump seems to be parroting many talking points ( some verbatim) that putin has spouted, plus trump is not denying that meeting was a set up, and it was learned today that there was a Russian State-media person IN THE OVAL OFFICE during this confrontation, and now hes pausing assistance....i cannot help but think trump is either SEVERELY enamored with putin, or perhaps this is a russification of our Executive branch?

and now add forbidding UK to share American intelligence with Ukraine and talk of easing sanctions on russia....fucker has got to go folks

1 hour ago, Chris said:

It’s just easier to post a pic of the headlines sometimes. 🤦‍♂️ 

so the cyber security thing, Trump seems to be parroting many talking points ( some verbatim) that putin has spouted, plus trump is not denying that meeting was a set up, and it was learned today that there was a Russian State-media person IN THE OVAL OFFICE during this confrontation, and now hes pausing assistance....i cannot help but think trump is either SEVERELY enamored with putin, or perhaps this is a russification of our Executive branch?

ive an old timer in my side yard, actually had two but one finally gave up the ghost last year. likely your old one needs to be topped out to encourage lower growth, take out old dying or broken branches.

the younger ones are around 2 years past where training pruning should of started, but certainly well in the time to start up now. read what Compound suggested but also watch some youtube videos( im a visual/hands on learner) to give an idea where to start

57 minutes ago, Beekeeper said:

Trivia question for the more experienced "farmer".  Do apple trees provide apples every 2 years?  Or does the frost keep killing my flowers every other year?

in my observations, the heavier the fruit load you allow on your trees one year will certainly decrease or halt them the following. pruning wrong sections of limb can also be a factor, and yes, once the blossoms open, any frost will likely eliminate or certainly negatively affect fruit for that year

4 hours ago, Chris said:

According to CNN, a White House official says things started off badly from Zelensky’s arrival when Trump made comment about his attire twice in a short time saying Zelensky was “all dressed up.”

Zelensky arrived dressed as he often has, wearing all black attire, his pullover shirt with the Ukrainian trident on the chest. 

you know its funny people in a snit over Z not wearing a suit in the Whitehouse yet none bat an eye when this is plastered all over the screen:

1.digging digging digging raw earth?

2. You are in the room with two of the 21st century's most visible and famous/infamous leaders and you ask why Zelensky doesnt wear a fucking suit!? im betting his parents are really proud and that fall-back communications degree really came in handy today.....FFS

3. @ 22:47 you can just see vance wanting to show the world he indeed has a pair for his run at the WH

4. 25:55 Zelensky regarding security, hes answering a question asked previously that he didnt have opportunity to, again, laying out his country's position that they have been here before( minsk accords UK/US gave security guarantees when ukraine gave up old soviet nukes and see where that got them), the previous cease-fires Putin "agreed to" then broke, the thousands of children stolen away to russia,  so id be a bit hesitant to just nod and go along as well if he were to then in near future you KNOW it would get turned around on him if/when russian aggression starts again.

5.  38:10 very cogent question, what happens if Russia moves into areas where american interests are digging digging digging? answer: throw insults...this is important relating to Zelensky wanting to know what security guarantees are going to keep putin from repeating his past invasions, is it military response from neighboring countries? if so, then its the same as if ukraine were a Nato member.

6.  OUr POTUS corrects the president of an invaded nation when they were invaded? then when VP even concurs 2014 its OH i wasnt here then....its not about YOU, Z even is giving trump credit in advance for standing up to Putin!

7. 41:53 Z is now responding to Vance's point about diplomacy and taking putin at his word; note that during last campaign cycle, vance and trump both had indicated that Ukraine would likely have to cede territory and make many other concessions so any person with half a brain would be very hesitant, then look at past actions quite similar to what we are hearing throughout this video ended in further aggression and lives lost because russia did not take those Nations "guarantees" seriously, and thousands of Ukrainians have paid the price for it.

8. 43:43 Vance is backed into a corner: so he follows POTUS lead and insults....he makes a crack about Ukrainian conscripts, rightfully Z asks if hes been there and seen these issues first hand. whats vance say? he's seen videos! and continues to insult.

9. 43:19 Z is conceding that in war EVERY nation has had problems...FFS J.D do you think if they were perfect and everything going to plan, Z would be having to be sitting in that room at that very moment? perhaps Vance would realize wars are messy if he actually had been in actual combat instead of reporting on it.

9.  44:20 so now accuse Z of stumping for their opponent; Z was invited by the current administration, toured a munitions factory( could have been in trumpville arkansas for all he could have cared), no republicans were present because they were not invited( as if Z could control THAT), and at that point in time, candidate trump was refusing to meet with Z....so because American politics is a circle jerk of a monkey shit-fight, hes not supposed to continue advocating for his Nation? from this point on the simian shit slinging continues, so much im surprised MTG didnt lump out from behind a curtain to complete the ensemble... its a mix of vance needing to make good sound clips for his future run, trump just needing to have it be about him and poor Z is supposed to just sit there and eat all their shit? fuck that, he showed so much composure, he HAS thanked our Nation, for the money, the military hardware, American families hosting Ukrainians, through this whole meeting, he repeatedly said how strong an ally the U.S has been, thanking god even, WTF does he need to personally thank trump further for just for Vance to prove to the world his balls have dropped? this whole time hes  at there listening to his NAtions slow destruction be boiled down to value of "raw earth" and his peoples' lives reduced to a bullet-point in a boardroom negotiation and now hes supposed to bend over for vance while kissing trumps ring, AND LIKE IT? by not telling either one of them to bend over and kiss their own asses, by having recently offered to resign his Presidency if it meant guaranteed peace, by keeping his responses throughout this 45 minutes, he has shown far more class and leadership than the two sitting to his left. 

I just cant anymore...its like one big internet troll-fest...this has ZERO bargaining, leverage, comedic, sane, adult, redeeming value whatsoever. though i wont go so far as the daily chicken-little-the-sky-is-falling nail biting, hair tearing route, i will say, he needs....no WE need him to either resign or 25th his ass right out of the 200 mile radius of Washington and while we are at it, be it comet, meteor or icbm, the whole of the  Legislative and Executive branch members need to be put out of our misery

not that im in support 100%, but if you look at trade around the globe, it does seem american products DO get taxed unfairly when imported, compounded by many nations heavily subsidize certain sectors, and/or pay their workers very little perhaps as well as the penchant for US unions to get free reign on just about any "demand" they want, something has to give

umm CNN;

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-america-s-aid-to-ukraine-actually-works    interesting read, as i tried to find hard numbers on how much aid has gone to Ukraine versus gone to American military industries.

It is nebulous at best, but from all the reading done to date, it seems of the 175billion so far, only around 50-60 billion has been alluded to as loans, most of the aid has been in form of military hardware.

Zelensky has recently said( paraphrasing) the money we got has been grants so we aren't required to repay anything, which aside from pissing off the average American who may have, up till now, been begrudgingly supporting Ukraine spending, gets some to wondering: how much of this money is being siphoned on either side of the Atlantic? it seems, according to this article, that USAID( go figure) has been front and center in paying government salaries etc, yet cannot vouch for any amounts being paid!

i think first and foremost attention needs to be focused on what is loans, what is forgivable and where exactly what is/has been spent before we worry about USPS, and other federal offices.

while i do give credit to Zelensky for saying if price of peace is him stepping down bring it on, I'm a bit chapped for him to suggest all the money thus far has essentially been a "gift" particular when funds are going to pay government salaries there

while at it, IF Ukraine is expected to cede territory taken thus far, they must be guaranteed immediate admittance to NATO and Crimea should be OFF the table.

as for trump, i kind of think IF he is using his stance to worry Ukraine into a sweetheart deal for RE minerals, its stupid; though i do admit its nice to finally see European countries getting off their asses and out from behind us....trump should work to get the country equitable  peace, then secure some sort of repayment deal in minerals for half the US investment thus far and if putin dont like it, kick rocks

8 hours ago, Beekeeper said:

and the DOD has just purchased Cybertrucks...you know the ones that the roofs are falling off..Not that Musk had anything to do with that...Of course, not.

so, all the sources i can find dated as of 15th indicate either it was put on hold, denied or removed from mentioning...any sources to indicate otherwise? not looking for argument, i generally like to see independent verification beyond tik toks or insta-news

told my wife when first story out said he was not feeling well( paraphrasing, but by wording of report could tell they were under-selling the info) there will be a new pope by late Spring/early summer at the latest

11 hours ago, Twin Tiers Living said:

Read more here.

from what ive seen, hes worth it and i hope they can make a deal

5 hours ago, Andy said:

Source

Gulf of Mexico to me, this one is a severe SMFH

11 hours ago, Twin Tiers Living said:

Source

to a degree i do believe the US has been at disadvantage when it comes to world markets, many governments subsidize businesses in order to export cheap goods to us but place high import taxes on our goods...there really has to be a middle ground where we actually can be competitive

11 hours ago, Chris said:

I can't help but wonder what the motivation is. But hey, if it gets him out of the Hazlitt building, then so be it. 

gives up his seat and gets the Mrs to run for his County seat and two Gov teets to latch?

course that would mean letting her put shoes on, leave the kitchen and give the womb a break.....

53 minutes ago, MsKreed said:

I played it back twice because I couldn't believe how Netanyahu kept a straight face. Just barely raised an eyebrow. 

Would not want to play poker with Bibi!  LOL 

hell he was likely barely containing his salivation response: palestine no more, the people gone, the mess cleaned up and ordinance cleared without spending a dime/soldier and just who does anyone think would profit most from all that cleared real estate

on this one, i dont believe there is any chess/checkers or even tic tac toe. to have pondered something as he said out loud in front of cameras  would be slightly crazy behind closed doors, but on the world stage? that just begs a response from one extremist group or another, let alone OPEC responding to halving their oil output....not to mention to even think to involve our military in such matters is unconscionable.

IF getting other countries to get involved, he/we would have been better served to simply say: the Arab countries dont/wont take in Palestinians and want a two state solution, then put THEIR money where their mouths are, clean it up, rebuild it...otherwise every Palestinian child or civilian that is killed by israeli actions are equally the responsibility of those "brother nations" that refuse  

its only two-weeks in, i'm willing to take a wait and see approach. likely, these tariffs are an opening bid, Trump is likely betting that( especially since he has no worry of another term) that "We" can wait the other countries and once they blink, there's room for getting illegal migration under control, same as with the Panama canal. i don't think he really wants it back, but it gets Panama thinking about cooperation a bit more seriously( though technically with two chinese firms managing sections within the canal system, there IS a technical breach of the treaty). 

What id like to see is that in addition to these tariffs, a way of preventing or forbidding any companies from passing the costs on to consumers, particularly just to maintain their share-values.

it has been tiresome being the World's police, scape-goat, bank, etc while some other Nations, in some cases literally, get away with murder...China could give two cold dogshits about climate, fair-trade, or ripping off tech worldwide. They then turn around and undercut world economies because of the above points as well as heavy subsidies from the government, as well as dirt cheap labor. add in the amount of money the US bleeds annually to the UN, NATO, WHO, etc. and generally, instead of any real ROI these entities and Nations keep wanting more, further add in the grift here at home from politicians, lobby groups etc and its a wonder there hasn't been an armed uprising to date.

Whether Trump can fix any of this is seriously doubtful, but i think he got elected and some lee-way because at least it isn't more of the same we've seen these last 3 or 4 decades. I hope this DOGE endeavor brings to light the domestic waste( any findings should be made public sans redactions), that the federal workforce IS reduced safely, that the billions/trillions tossed around globally is reduces and accounted for, that our borders are taken more seriously....but with that hope comes a short leash and for what its worth, a watchful eye