Palm Sunday

Caption: Palm Sunday is the Christian moveable feast on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

(From Killing Jesus, by O’Reilly and Dugard) It is Sunday, April 2, A.D. 30. Pontius Pilate has just returned to Jerusalem and taken up residence in Herod the Great’s palace. Herod Antipas, the tetrarch, arrives in the city and stays just a block away at the Hasmonean Palace. At the same time, Caiaphas prepares for the biggest festival of the year at his palace home in the Upper City.

Passover week is about to begin.

The purification process is vital to properly celebrating Passover. It creates a physical and emotional state of mind that prepares a worshipper to embrace God’s holiness—thus the need to arrive in Jerusalem almost a week before the holy day.

Anticipating the smell of roast lamb hanging over Jerusalem as the Passover feasts are being cooked in ovens, the pilgrims count their money, worrying about how they will pay for that feast and the inevitable taxes they will incur in the city. Despite their sore feet and aching legs from walking mile after rugged mile through the wilderness, the travelers feel transformed by Jerusalem’s magnetic pull. Their thoughts are no longer set on their farms back home and the barley crop that must be harvested immediately upon their return, but on holiness and purity.

“We are going up to Jerusalem,” Jesus tells his disciples as they prepare to depart for the Passover…

“Jerusalem is just a forty-minute walk from the village of Bethany, where they stop for the night. They stay at the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, rather than risk traveling after sundown and on the start of the Sabbath. This will be their base throughout Passover week, and Jesus and the disciples plan to return here most nights for the promise of a hot meal and easy rest.

“Just on the other side of Bethpage, the two disciples stand waiting. One holds the bridle of a donkey that has never been ridden. The animal is bareback. A disciple removes his square cloak and lays it across the animal’s back as an improvised saddle. The other disciples remove their cloaks and lay them on the ground in submission, forming a carpet on which the donkey can walk.

“Following this example, many pilgrims remove their cloaks and lay them on the ground. Others gather palm fronds or snap branches off olive and cypress trees and wave them with delight. This is the sign everyone has been waiting for. This is the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy. “Blessed is the king!” shouts a disciple. The people join in, exalting Jesus and crying out to him. “Hosanna,” they chant. “Hosanna in the highest.”

“Jesus rides forth on the donkey, and the people bow down. “O Lord, save us,” they implore, thankful that the Christ has finally come to rescue them. “O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” The words of thanksgiving are from Psalm 118, a psalm sung at Passover. This is the moment for which these simple peasants have waited so long. Of all the thousands of pilgrims who set out from Galilee, these are the lucky few who can tell their children and their children’s children that they witnessed the grand moment when Jesus the Christ rode triumphantly into Jerusalem.

“But not everyone bows down. A group of Pharisees had been waiting for Jesus and now looked on with disgust. They call out to him, giving the Nazarene one last chance to avoid a charge of blasphemy. “Teacher,” they yell, “rebuke your disciples!” But Jesus refuses. “I tell you,” he informs the Pharisees, “even the stones will cry out if they keep quiet.”

“Others who have heard that Jesus is near have run out from Jerusalem, spreading palm branches across the path of the Nazarene. This is a traditional sign of triumph and glory.

“The donkey stops atop the Mount of Olives. Jesus takes it all in. Tents cover the hillside, where the poor Galileans camp during Passover. Jerusalem calls out to Jesus from across the small Kidron Valley, and the Temple gleams in the midday sun. Throngs of pilgrims line the path winding down into the valley. The mud-and-limestone trail is remarkably steep, and Jesus must use great caution to guide the donkey downhill without getting thrown. This is his day. Jesus’s life has pointed to this moment, when he will ride forth to stake his claim to the title “king of the Jews.”

 

Bullet Points: 

** I’ve been asked how I feel about tariffs. For the record, I fully support President Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy. I support the 145% tariff on everything coming from the People’s Republic of China or from any country that exports PRC goods (even if they’re made in Cambodia, Vietnam, or Laos). I support the strict review of any visas or permanent residents from the PRC or its allies. It’s not the least bit racist, but if they’re at war with us, we should reciprocate. Is that being too subtle?

** A message from a recovering Californian living in the American South, appropriate for Palm Sunday.

** Was yesterday a lousy day for Iran? I don’t know how the talks went, but if yesterday was a bad day, they have worse days ahead.

** The EU and tariffs.

** If the plan were to tariff China and negotiate better trade terms with our allies, the easiest thing to do would have been to tariff China and negotiate better trade terms with our allies. Occam’s razor suggests that Trump unleashed a policy he preferred and then reversed course thanks to blowback. Trump himself acknowledged that he changed policy because people were getting “yippy” and “queasy.”

It makes no difference whether this was planned chaos or merely a reactionary course change—the utilitarian nature of the result is the same. President Trump lives in reality, responding to headlines, incentives, and situations. That’s just as true today as it has always been. And for that, Trump deserves credit.”

** Last day at work in a soulless corporate office building.

** The DOW is right around 40,000, which indicates a disastrous plunge down to the last time it closed below 40K, during the height of the calamity of that long-ago trauma happening…wait for it…three years ago! According to the market stats scrolling across my computer screen, the NASDAQ is still up 3% over a year ago, even after the bloodbath of the last several weeks.

** The population collapse, importing illegal aliens, and liberating women in Canada. More on Canadian politics. It’s too bad they’re not allowed to own firearms in Canada, but you can see why it would be in the government’s interest to disarm them. It’s almost as if the Canadian Govt is anticipating another pandemic.

 

An Interesting Development

President Trump authorized the Department of Defense to militarize the “Roosevelt Reservation” along the US border in California, Arizona, and New Mexico by executive order.

This means the 60-foot buffer zone on a 700-mile stretch of our border will now be considered military property, and troops can seize illegals to hand to Border Patrol.

Translation: He just activated the military to shut down the invasion on our southern border completely

(link) Another brilliant legal analysis by Andy McCarthy as to what the latest SCOTUS decision on the Venezuelan gangster deportations means, and what is the status of the main lawsuits challenging Trump’s right to fire people in departments where there is a question as to whether or not these agencies are solely under the power of the executive branch. If you are interested in these issues, this is an episode you need to hear.

 

In a Changing World

CDRSAL, a national treasure, posted this on his blog. You should read it twice, maybe three times, or four times. The US Military is doing things wrong. Our allies can defend themselves; we should be nimble enough to help them. I don’t advocate leaving NATO, but China is the big enemy, not Russia. The Ukraine invasion had a lot to do with US shenanigans. Russia is culpable for its actions, but they were hollowed out by a fifth-rate power with whom they share a border and a history – which is why Ukraine hates them. If the Europeans are concerned about Russia, they can arm to defend themselves from Russia. They can recruit warriors (if there are enough) from their woke populations or recruit mercenaries to protect them. Sellswords have a mixed historical reputation, but if that’s all they have available, go for it. Good luck.

Europe is large enough and has a large enough GDP to buy and sell Russia ten times over.

CDRSAL addressed the US Army. I agree with his assessment. Many Army formations exist only to provide jobs and some occupational training for American youth. Many are not the least bit warriors and are barely soldiers. A high percentage are fat, hiding their bulk under camo uniforms. Adding large numbers of women to the Army has not been suitable for it. I don’t have a problem with women in the military or in combat if they meet high standards. We need to disengage garrison troops in Europe and place them to face the threat from China.

The US Navy has become overly woke and rotten under feckless US leadership inside and outside of the service. Our ships are overused, and the sailors burn out after almost constant deployment. Retention is an issue. Woke is an issue. Internal rot is a big issue. Pres. Trump’s commitment to building ships is a welcome relief, and it seems that allied foreign shipyards will be called upon to ramp up naval construction. Personnel are critical. We need to focus on retention of quality and let the rest go. Eliminate naval camo uniforms used to hide fat and return to a maritime service dress suitable for the tasks at sea. For the most part, the navy is an engineering service, much like the Air Force.

I could go on, but it’s a blog, and you all prefer short articles.

 

 

Palm Sunday Message

The first commandment given by God to humanity was: Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the Earth. The most significant existential threat to humanity today is the unwillingness of women to stay at home and be mothers. I realize that we have created an economic system that forces them into the job market, but that needs to be addressed if we intend to have the species survive another two hundred years. I don’t contend that all women make good mothers or should be mothers, but society has to promote motherhood. No success in life compensates for failure as parents. As the father of four daughters and the husband of a wife who stayed home to raise them, I understand the financial strain involved. I didn’t inherit money. I didn’t have family connections. I had to do it independently, and it wasn’t easy. So, I’ve walked the walk.

Circumstances differ—I get it—but the messages from influencers to our youth are 180 degrees from the scenario I’ve laid out above. To be free, we must be moral people who pass those values on to our children and grandchildren. Our school system in the US has become rotten. Pres. Trump underscored this in his discussions of failure, no matter how much money we pour into education. Our institutions of higher learning have become Marxist indoctrination academies that glorify abomination. Part of the problem is the student loan programs that allow universities to charge exorbitant fees and saddle students with grinding debt. Many leave school with a sheepskin and no valuable skills (besides a government job where little is required – and those jobs will become less available in the future). I have no problem with taxpayers underwriting valuable STEM training.

 

Have the Communist Chinese Overplayed their Hand?

The key to the rise of Communist China was very straightforward. The Chinese opened their markets to the West. They invited Western companies to manufacture on their soil. They provided cheap labor. They could care less about worker safety and environmental standards. You could move your factory from Detroit, Birmingham, or Bonn to China, produce dirt cheap goods, and make a massive profit.

Along the way, the Chinese somehow forgot that there was nothing particularly unique about this formula. Others could copy it, and they have already. Many developing nations now have major Western companies producing on their soil or for the Western market. Yes, I know that the Chinese consider themselves to be celestials and somehow better, but they’re not.

The Chinese counted on the power of co-opted, corrupt politicians (like Joe Biden and his Crime Family) in the West to preserve this system in perpetuity. A considerable number of very wealthy Americans owe their riches to their connections to the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese market. Beijing began to believe these individuals were so influential that the United States would never change course or stand up to them.

They are learning that they have grossly miscalculated. Donald Trump is not afraid to stand up to the Communist Chinese. He understands the future of the American economy and, therefore, the nation depends on us breaking free of our self-destructive entanglement with a hostile Communist regime. He knows we either stand on our own two feet again or we resign ourselves to ultimate subjugation and domination.

Trump began his effort to regain American economic freedom by levying 34% tariffs on Chinese goods entering the United States. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. exported $143.5 billion of goods to China in 2024 while importing products worth $438.9 billion. In short, the Chinese buy almost nothing from us and flood our market with cheap goods. Trump said he would no longer accept this imbalance, and the world had changed.

The Chinese ignored the warning shot across the bow. They imposed reciprocal tariffs. Trump told them to back off, or he would ramp up the pressure. Beijing ignored him. He added additional tariffs, putting the total level for import taxes on Chinese goods at 150%.

Then, Pres. Trump played another card. Chinese shipments into the United States valued at less than $800 have historically avoided tariffs, allowing Chinese companies to market goods directly to consumers in the United States. No longer. Those sales, previously considered “de minimis,” are now subject to tariffs like all others. Chinese online retailers like Temu and Shein are dead.

China has once again pushed back. It intends to increase levies on U.S. imports to more than 80%.

In New Delhi, Hanoi, and Dhaka, they must be cheering. These nations have already seen businesses move out of China and set up shop on their soil. These nations, and many more, have already signaled their willingness to negotiate with Trump, reach an understanding, escape U.S. tariffs on their countries, and maintain their access to American markets. The idea that they can do so and no longer have to compete with China for sales must be exhilarating.

Meanwhile, the dark reality of what is happening to China is beginning to settle in. Chinese exporters are starting to ditch shipments to the U.S. mid-voyage. Speaking anonymously, an employee of one Chinese exporter said, “Every factory order is halted. Anything that hasn’t been loaded will be scrapped, and the cargo at sea is being re-costed. A staff member at a Chinese export company, also speaking anonymously, said its US-bound container volume had plummeted from 40-50 containers a day to just three or six.

There are already widespread reports of factories shutting down in China because orders for goods destined for the United States have been canceled. Amazon just canceled orders from China for beach chairs, scooters, air conditioners, and other products. In China, stores are closing. Unsold products are piling up in warehouses. Logistics companies have stopped operations.

The Chinese cannot replace the U.S. market. Without the U.S. market, the Chinese economy collapses.

There will be some temporary disruption inside the United States. You may find that, momentarily, you cannot buy another can opener that will break in six months or additional cheap plastic junk to stuff into your storage locker. Then somebody else somewhere else will agree to take your money and sell you what you want. Life will continue, and only the Chinese will be left to face the consequences of the CCP’s decision to pick a fight with America.

 

Space News

The U.S. Space Force’s Systems Command has assigned the first nine National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions under the Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts. SpaceX has captured seven launches worth $845.8 million, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) has secured two missions valued at $427.6 million.

The allocations represent the fiscal year 2025 portion of the five-year contracts announced on April 4. These contracts will distribute approximately 54 missions worth $13.7 billion among SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin through the fiscal year 2029.

The Space Systems Command said on April 7 that SpaceX’s seven awarded missions include three for the National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-96, NROL-97, NROL-157) and four for the U.S. Space Force (USSF-186, USSF-234, USSF-174, and USSF-15/GPS IIIF).

Elon is saving the US cash. And Blue Oragin is not even in the picture.

 

Anti-Homeless Architecture

Hostile architecture, otherwise known as anti-homeless architecture, is a form of architectural design intended to prevent or impede crime and help maintain order. The built environment is part of the strategy to stop people from using public spaces for things they weren’t meant to be used for.

Isn’t it simpler to ask the police to do their jobs and force vagrants to move on? I realize that I’m dating myself, but there was a time when the tear gas carried by uniformed officers was primarily used to spray the bedrolls and belongings of vagrants. That’s before city fathers found that those wastrels had a cash value and encouraged hobo jungles.

That was also back when street drugs were illegal, and officers didn’t have to carry Narcan to save themselves. Yeah, a long time ago. A different universe.

 

Identify the Armor

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Identify the Aircraft

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Parting Shot

Is the end near?

 

 

 

End