This author and blogger has been away on vacation for two weeks, taking a well deserved break and hitting the mark of being 80 years old.
Part of that vacation was traveling to Rome, Italy with my older son to experience the heritage of the Roman Empire, and it was very enlightening, and revealing, how what happened to Rome in ancient times seems to be happening in America in the 21st century, a sense of true madness!
The fact that we are seeing the conflict between MAGA Republicans and technocrats, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, makes clear that we are headed toward total chaos and anarchy.
The two factions, one very racist, misogynist, and nativist, clashes with the billionaires which include people of color and foreign birth in the battle for control of future policy.
The idea that Donald Trump is threatening to take control of the Panama Canal, given back by treaty under Jimmy Carter, and taking place in 2000, is astounding.
The repeated desire of Trump to take over Greenland from Denmark, and to suggest all of Canada as the 51st state is mind boggling.
The growing threat to journalism and freedom of the press of all kinds, including comedy, and also commentary, even by bloggers like this author, is stunning.
With only 23 days until Joe Biden leaves office, and Donald Trump returns to the Oval Office, there is a sense of foreboding that one wonders about the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence only 18 months away!
Glad you had a nice vacation. Definitely not looking forward to 2025.
Trump sides with Musk in H-1B fight
https://www.axios.com/2024/12/28/musk-war-h1b-racists-maga-doge
Trump Went From Backing a TikTok Ban to Backing Off
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/28/us/politics/trump-tik-tok-ban.html
Jimmy Carter has just passed away.
Sounds like MAGA is eating its own.
“This is Trump’s America now!”: MAGA diehards jumpstart a new year of political violence
There are already calls for vigilantes to round up “brown folks” to imprison in camps
https://www.salon.com/2024/12/30/this-is-trumps-america-now-maga-diehards-jumpstart-a-new-year-of-political-violence/
Some tech company wants to build data centers in our neck of the woods. A lot of residents in the area are opposed to the data centers.
Key reasons for opposition:
High energy usage:
Data centers draw massive amounts of electricity, which can lead to increased energy costs for local residents and potential strain on the power grid, particularly in rural areas like where we live.
Water consumption:
Cooling systems in data centers require large volumes of water, raising concerns about potential depletion of local water resources, especially during droughts.
Limited job creation:
While data centers may bring some jobs, they often require a relatively small workforce compared to their large land use, leading to concerns about the economic benefits for the community.
Visual impact:
The large, industrial-style buildings of data centers can significantly alter the rural landscape, impacting the aesthetic appeal of the area.
Noise pollution:
Concerns exist about potential noise generated by data center cooling systems, which could disrupt local communities.
Trump Loses Appeal of E. Jean Carroll Sexual-Abuse Verdict
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-loses-appeal-of-e-jean-carroll-sexual-abuse-verdict-37c98f08?mod=hp_lead_pos6