Category: Uncategorized

150 miles and $2000+

The Multiple Sclerosis organization sponsors a nationwide fund raising event each year in cities across the US. The event, “The MS 150” occurs on a weekend. Bicycle riders raise a minimum of $300 each to participate in the two day ride, 75 miles each day. It takes about 8 weeks of training to prepare and in most cities 1000’s participate on the weekend ride.

So well organized! MS recruits 100’s of volunteers to manage registration, safety, rest stops, and medical and equipment support along the ride route. Many, many organizations volunteer their time and resources to support the ride.

We have biked the event several times. Recently, my son and I completed the event on September 11 & 12. 50 miles, total ride time 13 hours, 24 minutes. (almost equal time each day, a little over 6.5 hours).  Average speed 11.1 mph.  It was challenging, with the afternoons hot.  The second afternoon, the last four hours, was grueling due to the lack of shade, wide open farm lands that offered no cover from the almost constant wind. The equipment held up just fine. Together we raised more than $2000 for MS. In this event more than 1000 riders participated and raised more than one million dollars for MS.

***** S&E *****

January 6th Commission on the DC Capital riot?

(some congress people describe the event as “like an ordinary tourist’s day” while they hid behind their desks in locked offices). Our Leaders.

Yes, let’s form a commission!

Congress is debating if we need a commission to investigate the January 6th capital riot.

Why do we need a commission? The FBI has arrested 400+ people, many of the the hate groups that participated are now known, a cop was killed, government property destroy, and the media and private videos do a great job of documenting the “typical day”.

An ordinary tourist day…

They will never touch Trump.

This blog is not about political stuff but some things it just can’t let go…

***** S&E *****

World Traveling

The cover on the Kindle Reader shows a sailing schooner and the title, “Time to Travel”.

Lucky as it was, the job progressed in size and complexity to where it spanned extensive travel over the course of 19 years, 30 percent of the time, to all world continents. Three years was spent looking over Asia Pacific while living in Shanghai (China).

Busy, Busy… between family and work and many days it went well past the 8 to 5 window, and some weekends, and some weekday nights. There was little time for much else. But no complaints — few have the opportunity for such a rich, diverse and challenging career and life. Anyway, “hung it up” on May 1st.

T-Shirt Art Work

So years into retirement and living the retirement “plan” reading increased 10 fold. It was on the “list”… not calling it a bucket, rather what to enjoy in later years. To cement the plan, or at least to have some commitment to the plan, to have a direction, there was a t-shirt created (better than a mug, a little). It was given to domestic and international co-workers and family as a thanks for my traveling adventures and their friendships, and loyalty and patience.

Back to traveling… the wonder of books is they can take one anywhere, whenever one wants to take the time to go. And one can choose the destination!

(Also, had to put the real travel on hold while the world gets a handle on COVID-19).

***** S&E *****

The True Cost…

This entry is based on information from https://www.thebalance.com. It is listed under Success as it is good to understand what our government is doing with our money. Just to get readers interested, below are some highlights from an article on the USA’s Military Budget. The link at the end of this entry is the full article. “US Military Budget, Its Components, Challenges, and Growth”.

Apparently, despite closing hundreds of bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States still maintains nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories abroad—from giant “Little Americas” to small radar facilities. Britain, France and Russia, by contrast, have about 30 foreign bases combined.

The true cost ???

Congress won’t allow DOD to close bases. The Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2013 blocked future military base closings. Few elected officials are willing to risk losing local jobs caused by base closures in their states. Blog comment: Another great example of vision and leadership! It’s about elected officials’ jobs, not the country!

Since 2010 the military spending will be about $10 Trillion.

Some perspective: In 2018, US military spending was about three times more than China’s military budget of $250 billion and 10 times bigger than Russia’s budget of just $61.4 billion.

The Defense Department knows it needs to become more efficient. It now spends a third of its budget on personnel and maintenance. That will rise to 100% by 2024, thanks to retirement and medical costs.

Ironically, the DOD base budget does not include the cost of wars. That falls under Overseas Contingency Operations.

https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-military-budget-components-challenges-growth-3306320

***** S&E *****

You just wouldn’t think it should take the WTO…

 CNN. “”5 Things” 3.10.2021.  Around the world, richer nations are administering about one vaccine dose every single second, but most of the poorest ones have yet to get a single shot, a global vaccine alliance says. These same rich nations are blocking efforts by developing countries to waive intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines so others can get the vaccines they need. A World Trade Organization (WTO) committee will meet today to discuss waiving these rights in the interest of public health.

***** S&E *****

….just stumbled on this on the web….

From Investing.com : “The Most Expensive Military Vehicles Ever Built”

…. So decided to see how federal defense spending stacked up against federal spending on education. From one source — estimated Fed spending in 2021:  $1.2 Trillion on Pensions, $1 Trillion on Defense. 126 Billion on Education. Here is the chart (9/21/2020)

https://www.usgovernmentspending.com/us_education_spending_20.html

Is there something wrong with that “picture” …?

***** S&E *****