MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

New York Times: “Another Housing Setback for New York: Its Housing Chief Is Resigning.” That’d be the day after Mayor Eric Adams said he would oppose an effort to reduce homelessness. Weird. Facts: As of the end of 2022, there were 68,884 homeless people in NYC. Also, the city has fed/housed more than 61,000 migrants over the past year. Note: The Big Apple has the most billionaires in the world, and the second largest national budget, after California. 🗽🏘🗽

New York Times: “Chinese Malware Hits Systems on Guam. Is Taiwan the Real Target?” And adds: “The code, which Microsoft said was installed by a Chinese government hacking group, set off alarms because Guam would be a centerpiece of any U.S. military response to a move against Taiwan.” Do we need more rationales to upgrade military firepower in Asia? In addition to the potentially nine U.S. bases in the Philippines, the U.S. already has 313 military base sites in East Asia alone. ☮️☮️☮️

Smithsonian: “Pets Will Soon Be Welcome at More Than 120 Archaeological Sites in Greece.” And adds: “The new policies won’t apply at certain high-traffic destinations like the Acropolis.” Why not allow dogs in all “destinations,” uh huh? Bring poop bags. Some 23 U.S. states allow dogs in outdoor patios of restaurants by state law or via administrative regulation. In most cases, dogs behave better than hoomans. Dogs don’t smear classic art. They appreciate them. 🐕🏛🐕

New York Times: “Ukrainians Were Likely Behind Kremlin Drone Attack, U.S. Officials Say.” And adds: “American spy agencies do not know exactly who carried out the attack this month, but suggest it was part of a series of covert operations orchestrated by Ukraine’s security services.” Not difficult to believe this. Nord Stream 2 bombing, “grains deal” sabotage, what more? Volodymyr Zelensky and his corrupt cohorts are using this war to pile up more aid$. And personal wealth.  ☮️🇺🇦☮️

New York Times: “Feinstein, Back in the Senate, Relies Heavily on Staff to Function.” And adds: “The California Democrat is surrounded by a large retinue of aides at all times, who tell her how and when to vote, explain what is going on when she is confused, and shield her from the press.” At age 89, Ms Feinstein is not the first, and won’t be the last, U.S. senator to be caught up in speculation that a cognitive or physical decline has rendered her unable to do her job. Ponder. 

       Fact is, although the Constitution’s 25th Amendment can remove a president deemed unfit to serve, there’s no similar mechanism that exists for dislodging members of Congress. Meanwhile, Sen. Robert Byrd, the longest serving senator ever, stepped down as majority leader in 1989 at age 71 but remained in the Senate for two more decades, chairing the Appropriations Committee for part of that time. He finally surrendered his gavel in November 2008, at the start of the economic crash that would become known as the Great Recession. So yes Mr Byrd sat there but that doesn’t mean he was “working.” 🏦🗽🏦

New York Times: “Ruling Against Warhol Shouldn’t Hurt Artists. But It Might.” And adds: “The Supreme Court decision over Andy Warhol’s use of Lynn Goldsmith’s Prince photograph was decided on the narrow grounds of a licensing issue. But it could still have a chilling effect.” Before AI or long before the internet, I never viewed Mr Warhol’s work as art, anyways. He was an exemplary organization dude but his “art” is cribbed from others’ work. 🎨👎🎨

New York Times: “Office Workers Don’t Hate the Office. They Hate the Commute.” Research by the Univ of Chicago avers that employees thought they were just as productive working from home compared to working in the office. Yup, till they get depressed. Same survey also says that commuting time was reduced by 62.4 million hours per day when people work at home. Though they still commute or drive to the bar or meet friends after work to avoid getting depressed. 

       Most if not all of these  studies (funded by tech giants, sure!) say people prefer working at home than beyond or in the office, with other employees. And 30 percent of respondents told researchers they were more productive and engaged working from home. Repeat: Funded by tech corporations. 📎🏎📎

New York Times: “The Reason People Listen to Sad Songs.” And adds: “It’s not because they make us sad but because they help us feel connected, a new study suggests.” When I am sad I don’t really listen to sad songs because these sappy weepies (LOL!) only worsen my sadness. Instead, I crank up the volume: Blues rock, reggae, or rhythm & blues classics. Disco! “Stayin’ Alive!” But I do listen to sad songs, mostly when I am tired. Or happy but bored. Not when I am sad. 😢🎼😭

New York Times: “Addressing an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, Volodymyr Zelensky urged Arab nations to stand with him against Russia.” Zelensky courts Russia’s BRICS buddies Brazil and India, and now the Arabs. While Syria is the only Arab nation to have openly declared support for Russia, other Arab nations have indicated the same. If Z really cares for his people, explore peace talks to end this war and quit creating fissures to divide the world. 

       The Arab stance (quiet or implied) to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is considered a departure from trends that used to govern Arab politics, which have generally been supportive of the United States. Example: The UAE’s decision to abstain from a US-led resolution to condemn Russia’s operation in Ukraine at the U.N. Security Council last year was considered tacit thumbs up for Russia. Then came Riyadh’s oil “partnership” with Moscow despite President Biden’s visit last summer. Russia and Saudi Arabia are #1 and #2 in oil and gas exports. And what about China brokering the Saudi Arabia/Iran handshake in March? ☮️☮️☮️

New York Times: “Immigrants Keep Loving America, Even When America Doesn’t Love Them Back.” And adds: “I was undocumented for 25 years, and I am a child of immigrants who remain undocumented.” The writer’s parents could be “visa overstay” illegals. Possibly they’ve been here for decades, their status ignored over the more politically palatable “migrants” off the southern border. Millions of them, active in the economic system but unable to gain legal benefits. 

       The Department of Homeland Security estimates some 702,000 overstayers in 2017. That could be a small fraction, or just 1.33 percent, of the more than 50 million people who arrive in the U.S. each year on valid visas. But do the math. Calculate from 2000 to 2020, at least. The federal government spends billions$ to house/feed new migrants/refugees, thereby bankrupting fiscal management each year, yet those that are already here, law-abiding sans expired visa, seem never a priority. 🧕🗽👲