Random Thoughts

So many happenings, so little time, so here are some quick hits on topics of the moment.

• As anticipated, the freak summer snowstorm at the White House — the cocaine find in the West Wing — has been, to mix a metaphor, swept under the rug. The Secret Service pleads lack of evidence. Case closed. No fingerprints on the plastic bag? No surveillance footage? No prime suspects, such as a family member with admitted substance abuse problems? No problems with conflicting reports about where the drug was found? If you’re buying this pap, your brain has slipped out of gear.
• There was a story the other day about how Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, who played a president on a comedy TV series and now is doing the same in real life, was whining to his NATO backers at a recent summit that they have not been quick enough to keep money and armaments flowing to his corrupt country. An accompanying picture indicated Zelenskyy is height-challenged. I did some research and found his height listed as anywhere from 5-5 ¾ to 5-7. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is reported to stand between 5-4 and 5-7. What is it about little guys desperately seeking attention? Can you say Napoleon?
• Joe Biden’s handlers have hit upon the term Bidenomics as a catch-all to claim economic success under the Clueless One. Recently, they touted declining inflation numbers, with typical pick-and-choose methodology. When it suits them, they cite headline inflation, which measures a basket of good and services. That was reported at 3 percent in July, down from 9 percent a year earlier, but still above the Federal Reserve target of 2 percent. But core inflation, what the Fed actually watches and includes things such as housing costs, came in at a reported 4 percent, still twice the Fed’s target. And a report shows homelessness among Americans in 20 cities as of January 2023 had increased 37.6 percent above a year earlier. Add in mounting bankruptcies, credit card borrowing and general indebtedness and I’m not sure Biden wants to run for re-election based on the economic health of the populace.
• Still on the topic of government statistics, they are largely trash. Often revised after the fact, and toyed with in the moment, they show whatever modelers desire. For example, a report cites claims for jobless benefits falling last week, on a seasonably adjusted basis. If you take out that random “adjustment” the claims were the highest since January.
• Kudos to the local NBC affiliate for reporting news from Johnstown, not the usual Centre County menu. Alas, it is not favorable news. First, we were told how a honcho in the Cambria County Crimestoppers and his brother who has an “affiliation” with the Geistown Borough Police, have been charged with assaulting a man at a bar. Then came the report that the suspect in a fatal shooting outside another bar here, has been captured in New Jersey.
• An aside to the We-Need-Rain people, lamenting back-to-back days of good weather in our area, precipitation is on the way. I am writing this at 1:20 p.m. Thursday and accuweather.com is predicting a good chance of rain today and for the next nine consecutive days. Rejoice.