US Marines deployed to the San Diego region have been installing razor wire along the border barrier at Friendship Park as a deterrent to keep migrants from jumping the wall.
The area, which sits on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, had previously been used as a meeting spot for families across the border before pandemic restrictions shut it down. Public access has not resumed.
The new wire installation comes despite prior federal promises to restore access and replant a cross-border garden. The barrier now cuts directly through the space where those plans were to take place.
The Department of Homeland Security says the fencing replaces deteriorating structures that pose safety risks. Since taking office, President Trump has deployed thousands of active-duty military personnel and increased enforcement along the southern border. Mexico has also stationed its National Guard to deter crossings from the south.
Territory
In December 2023, the World Court decided to give water above land shelves to those countries and ruled it was not international water. The renaming of the Gulf of America isn’t renaming the whole Gulf. It is renaming the area above our land shelves as US territory.
You can’t put signs or border walls in the middle of the ocean. So, for legal reasons, we need to identify these new changes on the map so that new borders are made clear to maritime traffic. Those new maps will set the latitude and longitudes of where our border begins, or the Gulf of America. So all maritime traffic knows when they are leaving international waters. This is where knowing what is happening in the world will help you filter out drama and help you understand the legalities in your own country. This had nothing to do with Pres. Trump’s ego: he is strengthening our borders and ensuring all maritime traffic understands the changes in 2023 and putting legal protections in place to help us enforce any military actions or incursion in the future. Betting some of you never realized the US grew by thousands of miles.
The idea of buying Greenland and possibly Canada has to do with the race for minerals in the Arctic Ocean, protecting our borders, and getting us the legal right to help Europe defend their borders from the Russian and Chinese fleets that have been doing damage to infrastructure. If Greenland is a territory of the US but still their own country, like Puerto Rico, then we have the legal right to have a base there and the legal right to protect the waters around Greenland.
The premise right now is that if we were to help Europe, it would trigger an act of war. We would have to wait for NATO action and approval to do anything legally. If we have the legal right to be there, the legal right to protect Greenland, then any response to defend our territory is not considered an act of war. We would NOT need NATO approval to act. Since we are members of NATO, we’ve agreed to be bound by its statutes.
Russia and China have been making plans to invade Greenland, at first through peaceful means.
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Basement Brats
Please send them to the military for a hitch.
***
Soros spelled backward is soroS
(h/t Sam) All across America, “Hands Off” rallies are being organized by Indivisible. Indivisible describes itself this way:
“Action by action, day by day, group by group, Indivisibles are remaking our democracy.
Brought together by a practical guide to resist the Trump agenda, Indivisible is a movement of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative, and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOP’s agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies.
They make calls. They show up. They speak with their neighbors. They organize. And through that work, they’ve built hundreds of mini-movements supporting their local values. And now, after practice, training, and repetition, they’ve built lasting power on their home turf and a massive, collective political muscle ready to be exercised every day in every corner of the country.”
In other words, Indivisible wants you to believe it is a grassroots outfit, a popular uprising. It is organic. It is spontaneous.
It is anything but.
Indivisible is a top-down organization run by two well-known Democratic party operatives Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg and financed by all the usual suspects who have been trying to destroy Donald Trump and the MAGA movement for at least eight years now.
Indivisible works with actors in the universe of radical, revolutionary organizations inside the United States. These include the Democratic Socialists of America, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood, the Working Families Party, and the Tides Foundation. The Tides Foundation funds a wide variety of radical causes and has been repeatedly tied to the funding of the BLM riots that tore apart American cities in 2020.
Indivisible also gets funding via the Democracy Alliance, the dark money behemoth of radical causes. A host of fabulously wealthy Democratic donors pour money into the Democracy Alliance, which then distributes the money to those working day and night to tear down the existing political, economic, and social order. This allows these individuals to fund the destruction of our democratic and capitalist society while preserving their anonymity.
The two radical operatives who run Indivisible day to day openly characterize the ongoing protests across the country as “a let a thousand flowers bloom” kind of moment. For those of you who have better things to do than wallow in Marxist history and ideology, that is a specific reference to a statement made by Mao Tse Tung in 1956. (Albeit a misquote – Mao spoke of a hundred flowers.) It is a strange, if revealing thing for people to say who want you to believe they are speaking for the American people and fighting for the future of the republic and democracy.
On Saturday, April 5th, Indivisible organized its first round of nationwide protests to disrupt Donald Trump’s efforts to regain control over the federal government. It is already hard at work organizing the next nationwide round of actions. This time, they have chosen May 1st, otherwise known as International Workers Day, a Communist holiday.
“Our National Labor Commission is fighting fascism and building worker power! Throughout April, we’re building up to International Workers’ Day. This week, join us at two events to kick this off:
Mass call with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) on Thursday 4/3 at 5pm ET/4pm CT/3pm MT/2pm PT
Saturday, 4/5 Hands Off! in-person actions against fascism across the country
International Workers’ Day is also known as May Day. On May 1, 1886, during extreme wealth inequality, social oppression, and political corruption, hundreds of thousands of workers across the US withheld their labor. They took to the streets in a general strike against industrial barons, demanding an eight-hour work day.
Nearly 140 years later, unelected billionaire oligarchs like Elon Musk are seizing control of our government. The bosses are using state power against the working class to suppress opposition, consolidate power, and destroy our ability to fight for a better life.
But working people aren’t going anywhere. DSA Labor is building short- and long-term power to stop authoritarianism and transform our society into one where workers are in the driver’s seat. We need you to join us in building towards May Day 2025, 2028, and beyond.”
This is not about the American people fighting back against tyranny. This is about revolution, led as usual by members of the bourgeoisie who have come to hate the society that created them and made them rich. Call them Communists. There is a reason why it is increasingly common to see mockups of guillotines at anti-Trump events.
These protests have nothing to do with “restoring democracy”. They are about rage, violence, and revolution, and we can only shudder at what is yet to come.
It’s important to recognize this scum for what they are – and to realize the billions of dollars (mostly your laundered tax dollars) behind them that make them who they are and enable them to do what they have done and will do.
***
Life on the Fault Line
It’s an old graphic, but the geology is the same.
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Bullet Points:
** Self-interested businesses want cheaper labor. Foreign governments, drug cartels, and their American partners want to enrich themselves through remittances, smuggling, and organized crime. Gullible and naïve church and “charitable” groups have allowed their misplaced compassion (and, IMHO, often an intoxicating sense of their own virtue) to blind them to the damage they are doing to their own country. Most of those people and groups have always been here, and together, they have consistently accounted for some illegal immigration into this country. But the driving force behind the recent flood of illegals has been the Democrat party. Dem politicians see illegals as an army of future voters who will secure their national political majority for many decades, thus allowing them to achieve their political goals of a more leftist/socialist, and less traditionally American, country.
** Newt on Judges.
** Cornwell: In the end, you have to write the book. Do it; remember that everyone began just like you, sitting at a table and secretly doubting they would ever finish the task. But keep at it. A page a day, and you’ve written a book in a year!
** Airlines plan to introduce “fast food” on flights. (more here). I suggest they don’t limit the tasty snacks to first/business class fliers. Offer something along the same line to the wretched people (the great unwashed) in the back of the airplane. The bag of pretzels just doesn’t cut it. I usually don’t fly in the back – in fact, seldom anymore- but I recall how unpleasant it was. So, does it boost the price of a ticket by $25? People will pay for something to make the flight less miserable. Could they add a chocolate shake that tastes good? I realize that none of that is suitable for your health beyond providing comfort. The health-conscious can always opt for a stalk of celery, a carrot (perhaps in a Bloody Mary), and a cup of nasty-tasting aircraft water.
**JMSDF – hopes to defend the home islands. The PRC and DPRK are existential threats to Japan, and they’re entering into an arrangement with the US to produce Navy Standard Missiles (SM-6/SM-3 Block IIA) capable of ballistic missile defense. (more here – h/t Claudio)
** Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh were hit with extremely high Tariffs, highest on the Chart. Let’s presume that they capitulate. They eliminate all tariffs they may be imposing on US imports. We say thank you, do the same, and have a Rose Garden photo-op. Wouldn’t we still have trade deficits for at least the foreseeable future with them as they are impoverished countries that by and large can’t afford our stuff but have comparative advantages in things like Coffee and millions of excess cheap laborers to stitch sneakers in a hot factory? Let’s say we run ongoing deficits in traded goods in a new tariff-free arrangement for the next 10 years (highly likely). Would that still be bad?
** We shouldn’t underestimate how much damage has been done by leftist schools of thought and the multitude of ways they have taught our children to hate our country and themselves. Multiculturalism tells us that all cultures are equally valid, except that ours is somehow worse than the primitive and the non-capitalist ones. Socialism tells us that the wealthy are evil exploiters rather than the creators of rising tides that can lift all boats. Critical race theory and post-colonial studies tell us that prosperous first-world countries and the lighter skinned are eternal victimizers, and the rest of the world are their rightly aggrieved victims.
** Ultratrippers – A SpaceX rocket launched from Florida on Monday night a week ago, marking the first human mission to orbit over Earth’s poles, a path commonly used for weather and spy satellites. Financed by blockchain investor Chun Wang, the Fram2 mission carried four private astronauts on a three-to-five-day journey, orbiting 270 miles above Earth and passing over the poles multiple times daily. While experts debate the long-term viability of commercial space travel, the mission highlights the growing role of private funding in space exploration, with SpaceX and rivals like Blue Origin expanding their offerings for the ultra-wealthy.
** Rolls-Royce announced they’re shifting engine production to the USA to avoid tariffs.
** Boeing has some explaining to do. The article lays out the problem with Starliner. Would you want to ride a Boeing product into orbit? Crew 9 had some significant spacecraft failures to contend with. (h/t Claudio)
** Are truck drivers compensating?
***
Explore your Options
caveman cooking sticks
n0-cook stick spray
non-stick spray cooking
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From Elsa
When I shared my story & pics about spending New Year’s Eve at Mar A Lago, several leftists asked if President Trump was as orange in real life as he is on television. The answer was, and is, no, not at all. I even speculated at the time if the media outlets were adding a filter. Turns out they were (and are). Credit to clyp keeper on X for the video (from which this is a screenshot)
***
Identify the Aircraft
1
2
3
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Parting Shot
End
Leaving home – couldn’t imagine living with parents long term. I had enlistment paperwork filled out and submitted well before I turned 17 ( minimum age for general admission to Australian Army. You could join as low as 15 for some trade schools). One of my parents had to also sign as I wasn’t 18. You finished high school in my state at 17.
Growing up on a farm helped a lot with independence.
Part of the problem here is the sheer cost of houses vs income. Houses have gone from three years gross income to twelve years since I started working. Remembering those numbers don’t allow for tax, food, rent or other expenses.
I can’t speak to young women, but it’s good for young men to get out of the house and experience life. The trend is not going in that direction unfortunately.
My welcome at home ran out, then the draft helped me make the decision to enlist.
One of my smarter moves.
Of three sons, one enlisted Navy, two moved out and got jobs to get away from the house rules.
“Failure to launch” is a parenting problem. 15, school was out in June, despite having had a paper route I had no plans to get a job, but ended up going to my uncles for the Summer working in their manufacturing shop. It was a great experience. The next year, learners permit in hand, school was just out, mom walks into my bedroom while I was fiddling with my ham radio and announces “Time to go look for a job.” That started my independent work history…otherwise we have what is more prominent now: 42 year olds living at home in their old bedroom and a weaker class of “guys”, not grown-a$$ men.
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Fiat 7002
2. Fokker D.XXIII
3. Mil Mi-26 Halo
I thought the Fokker might slow you down. Good job.
That one I recognized. The Fiat required research but there aren’t many helicopters with tip jet rotors.
Not having great knowledge of aircrafts , I was thinking about making up crazy names for them based on their appearance ( 1.clearview wackadoodle 2. twin finned air slicer 3. heavytop bombdropping krautkiller) , but I will restrain myself and sit back in my chair and learn from the masters and exercise some maturity . I do so enjoy the plane pics , and the posts here.
Those are great names. Remember Boaty McBoatface? https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36064659
Those are great…will throw the AI Grade savants for a loop.
Just remember…today is EVERYBODY OANIC MONDAY!…except for The Amish since they don’t have TV, computers, or handheld propaganda delivery devices and are already out at the barn prepping the team to go plow the fields for Spring. People need to ignore the hyperventilators and be patient, let the Great [Proper] Reset gel and come to fruition, it’ll take some time to overcome the old tax-n-spend mode. I liken it to the priests walking into the Sistine Chapel four years in, looking up at Michelangeloand saying “We don’t get it.”…he pauses then says “Come back in three years.”
*PANIC…(note to self, reading glasses)
Paul, thanks for sharing Angelo’s reply. With my reading glasses on, I still need some help with Oanic Monday. Did you mean, Manic Monday by the Bangles? I’d not heard of the song or the group. Just web surfing trying to learn the savant linguistics here on V.M.
Heh…when one has a vision for success in solving a problem or creating a masterpiece, patience by the common observer who isn’t walking that path is necessary. Markets will turn as the shock-n-awe of ripping off the 50 year bandaid to clean out the festering wound so it can finally heal has the desired effect. The Panicmongers are not to be taken seriously, most have no clue what they are talking about.
Honolulu Airport used to have a Buffet restaurant After security ,Decent Fare ( on the par of a Golden Coral ,Smaller though ) We always ate there as we are not Fast Foodies and Plane Food is Never ( On Domestic ) a good Option
Some of the business class food is ok on domestic flights. In the back of the plane, it’s pretzels since some people with peanut allergies seized up on flights.
I won’t fly anything below Business, the airline LOPA (aka seats) are already too cramped below that, plus, half the GP travelers are…well…I’ll keep it polite but one can infer my sentiment….PJ’s on a plane and looking like you just crawled out of bed does not mean I have to sit next to you.
I fly what the company pays for.
They can’t pay fore less than D22.
I ask for the biscuit cookies because my wife likes them.
Otherwise I bring jerky and trail mix.
The coffee is good.
Small victories are available to the savvy traveler…and nice to think of your bride while hanging out with the great unwashed in a tube (kidding, sort of). Major Hub points.
Ed, I’m reluctant to rely on your coffee reports. BUT, since VM is historically renowned as a food blog, your jerky and trail mix recipes will soon be highly sought after.
“and we can only shudder at what is yet to come.”
“and we can only shoot at what is yet to come.”
Fixed it. :)
“Wouldn’t we still have trade deficits for at least the foreseeable future with them as they are impoverished countries”
Free market people are going to realize we got free markets with… tariffs.
Trump is playing it two ways, it’s poker, and he’s not tipping his cards.
Does he want protectionism (bring mfg back) (or free (and fair) trade?
I can’t see how you have both.
I see it as having to start somewhere to overcome historical [stupid] policies that have hamstrung American manufacturing and COGS for decades. I like the full blown approach…means something will gain the desired result. I do find it infuriating and hypocritical that other Presidents and/or their handlers have worked to undermine American sovereignty and our economy and yet, silence, whereas Trump moves to fix this asinine mess and unshackle industry…right down to the homeowners pocket book…and OMG HAIR ON FIRE! screams from those who call themselves experts, when in fact they are the exact people who have made the pig stye we find ourselves, while profiting by our demise.
Just wait until he [rightfully] reduces the corporate tax rate to [a still too high] 15%, then yer gonna see the crazies heads explode with all manner of Bernie’s mumbo-jumbo “billionaires are being rewarded” baloney (never saw an impoverished person hire anyone), even when you point out our corporate tax rate is still the highest in the world.
👍👍👍
You can have protectionism and free/fair trade at the same time.
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Protectionism by bringing manufacturing home works because once everything has no tariffs coming in or going out, it will be cheaper and easier to build stuff here. Especially once you factor in travel time and materials costs.
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One thing nobody really talks about over the whole Global Manufacturing thingy is that US Industry was stuck after WWII with all the production equipment that made us a manufacturing threat. Nobody bombed or destroyed our factories. So we have been behind the tech times regarding things like steel production or car production or anything else. And our labor costs, thanks to the evil labor unions, have been climbing since WWII. So it became cheaper, and really, better, to shift production overseas.
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Look at the industries that have survived or come back. Like US steel production, which can’t compete with foreign tariffs and cheap labor costs, went with boutique steel manufacturing. Remove all those tariffs or charge the huge tariffs and US steel can compete even for the big stuff.
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Frankly, all the politicians that allowed foreign countries to levy huge tariffs on the US should be arrested for treason.
Last sentence: Exactly. It’s how most got wealthy on $174k/year salary’s. Gaming the system is over…another two months and things will get even jiggy-er, I suspect a bunch won’t conveniently “decide to no run” as the DOGE heat and Presidential wins with foreign powers ramp up even more. Lovin’ this…yeah a dip, but the market already rebounded a smidge, and we look at trends not blips.
Who elected the International Maritime Organization and why should we go along with the “green” tax on shipping?
https://gcaptain.com/imos-historic-carbon-pricing-framework-for-global-shipping-enters-final-negotiation-phase/
Enough of the green new scam. I’m with you, Fredrick
Here in good ‘ol Colorado (aka California Lite) a few years back the do-gooders conjured up their newest “green” theft for the rest of us; imposing a 27c fee on all deliveries…despite fuel taxes are already included in transportation. This year it magically increased to 29c per delivery. Pretty good thievery if you ask me…because consumers have zero recourse to eliminate it. When I inquired – twice- to my state Rep…crickets. Guessing they don’t have to respond to us Peon Schlub’s when they steal our money under the auspices of a veiled tax. They will tell you it’s fair considering I didn’t have to expend my time and fuel (with taxes) and vehicle wear-n-tear to go to town, fully failing that online purchasing is the mode now for 90% of households.
These people are nothing but common thieves in a suit…but they have gone to the well too many times, people will start bailing from this state, leaving them with pot shops, a rampant homeless population taxed out of their homes, and MS-13 gangs taking over apartment buildings and city sections. Just like Seattle.
Yes, as one who recognized californication instantly, Colorado was an early recipient of refugees who set up Soddom-in-the-Rockies – first in places like Breckenridge, to be followed by the more wretched class who settled in the Denver Corridor.
Look at Frisco before heading up towards Breck…The Log Cabin cafe (awesome by the way) was at the far West end of town, now it’s in the middle. If you build it they will come…with all their weird proclivities.
The Colorado (P)regressives way around TABOR are “fees”.
Fredrick, my answer? No one, that is no one in their right mind would be doing that or voting for those who are. Why? WTP need only to see a clear path to stop it.
If I recall correctly, the HO made her maiden voyage as vice to China circa fall 2021. 2 paraphrased quotes if there is such a thing.
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” Well I guess were not going to have a Christmas”. Remember back when there was a major cluster of container ships stuck in a traffic jam all the way from Sac out past the SF bay? Ok, I’m exaggerating a little. No toy’s for kids, or what? Then she said,
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” Pure jabberwokey about the oceans rising and going green with shipping.” That’ll be the day when the Chicoms send over a ” green” freighter. Or anyone else for that matter. The IMO and the elites ( way to nice of a word) are merely inventing another tax. This is just another honey pot they’re trying to claim; In 2023 the world’s merchant fleet consisted of 105,500 ships of at least 100 gross tons (GT) including x ships over 1000 GT reaching a carrying capacity of 2.3 billion dead weight tons.$!!! What are the possibilities of moving that much freight across the ocean and load it on to trains averaging 20,000 tons without burning up some carbon? Even if it’s to charge the batteries… if they’re ever developed to that kind of capacity?
Curious if they both still live with their parents or if either go to the salon with their moms for a pedi?:
“ ‘Harriet’ Haynes faced ‘Lucy’ Smith at the Ultimate Pool Women’s Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan – a quaint little town not far from Birmingham, England.”
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Thing is…no surprise… they are both weirdo males wearing lipstick dressed as [seriously ugly] woman. In the olden days they’d be taken behind the gym and ‘straightened out’. But now, it is clear that won’t fix anything as that 0.5% pf weirdos are so engrossed in their derangement that the “no cook stick spray” is the right idea. Geez, how demented must those running that pool tournament be to allow this insane buffoonery.
Economic times are challenging for many people. Sometimes living in grandma’s basement is the only option. I don’t want to appear to stand in judgment of the people who make that decision. However, part of being a man requires that you be head of a household – in my opinion. You can’t do that from grandma’s basement, which means that young men must launch. Traditionally the military has allowed you to leave your comfort zone, be placed in uncomfortable and challenging situations with others of varied backgrounds and to separate yourself from the comfort of home while still living in a semi-controlled environment where you’re not fed to the wolves. I don’t know if I’m expressing myself well. I don’t think that the military is the only option, but the GI Bill has saved many from crushing student debt, etc.
just curious:
are we now at war?
https://gcaptain.com/china-hits-back-at-us-tariffs-with-rare-earth-export-controls/
is it currently worthwhile to purchase(?) Greenland from the Danes? would/can they sell?
I’m covering the gallium crisis in an upcoming blog (already written). We’ve been at war with the People’s Republic of China for the past sixty years. They’ve been engaging in covert and overt attacks on the US including flooding the country with fentanyl. The US tries to play nice, the PRC doubles down.
👍
We’ve been at war with the ChiComs since, well, they were formed under Mao.
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They’ve been actively at war with us since the Korean War.
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And being Chinese, they have learned to play the long game while smiling and buying politicians and bureaucrats.
Confucius say – better to own a politician than to be one.
“Hands off” = (P)regressive hissy fit. The backers? Clear and present danger.
“Would you want to ride a Boeing product into orbit?”
I wouldn’t want to ride a Boeing product of any sort – even on the ground.
It’s been a long time but Turkish Airlines international coach beats any American airline’s first class. Roomier as well.
But it’s been more than a decade since I’ve flown, I hear things have gotten worse, and it’s hopefully even longer before I have to fly again. I’m not sure if it’s the airline companies, the “process” of flying, or the manufacturers I trust least. (Low-bid, DEI, union-built vs Yurapee’n government-directed committees)
The hottest stewardesses are on Aeroflot, and the former Soviet Republik airlines. It’s a magnet for attractive women. Likely all Sparrow trained.
For roomy business class compartments (with a door) Qatar Airlines have an edge. I was just on a flight.
THAT was business class? Geez, First Class must have ones own personal masseuse and in-cabin chef.
Actually, you can eat gourmet meals during the entire 16 hour flight. No limit on that. There is an open bar and some flights include a masseuse (must be scheduled). First class has showers.
Coming through loud and clear Larry. The stats are staggering in relation to ” being a man” that can include leading one’s own household.
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I’m still working on the judging part.
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Sports were the closest I came to military discipline. Went to all three of the recruiters offices at 18, trying to decide my direction. Ended up back pounding nails. I respect those that served and used the G.I. Bill, health care, VA loans ect.
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I’m hearing Peterson’s quote, ” …take to path of maximum responsibility… that’s the path of maximum adventure…”
Love the quote…as for pounding nails…a good vocation, people need well built homes and people who work a trade…everyone can’t “code”, may pay the bills but doesn’t fix a pipe patch a roof.
I went from HS to college, to the military. I was out of the house by 18, and have never regretted it. My daughters were out of the house by 19, too! Re Soros, somebody needs to confront him and his minions. Period.
Musk has the capability on his own. I wonder if Patel/Bondi have a plan?