Is it spring now?

 

Is it spring yet? The grass is now green, trees are blooming, and the birds are chirping and building nests. 

Here are trees we saw in Berkeley Springs when we went out early this morning.

Daily Beast, Hegseth’s Top Aide Spilled Jaw-Dropping Claim About Drunken Bender  According to rumor, Hegseth is something of a lush who is often in his cups. But now most information on this matter is being blocked.

THIRSTY, PETE?

Ricky Buria, a Biden administration holdover who has grown close to Pete Hegseth, has allegedly been spreading a bizarre drinking tale.

Now it seems that Hegseth is doing his best to quash this story. He may be also quashing concern about those first strikes on Iran, made without any provocation, not only killing the Ayatolla, but members of the civilian population, for example, like the rocket that annialated an elementary school for girls, killing children and teachers inside without any warning.

Hegseth acts like this is just a videogame, the same attitude he displayed when ordering lethal strikes on Caribbean boaters holding up their hands in surrender. Not only is Hegseth a probable war criminal, but so is Trump for keeping him in his position

The Hill, International law experts: US strikes on Iran may have amounted to war crimes

Hegseth is also firing the generals who might object to his orders.  

Axios, Hegseth's wartime firing of top generals stuns officials: "It's insane"

Hegseth ousts Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, effective immediately without explanation.

Hegseth is also blocking promotions of female and black officers, nor does he dare to explain that either.

Daily Beast, Hegseth’s Top Aide Spilled Jaw-Dropping Claim About Drunken Bender  According to rumor, Hegseth is something of a lush who is often in his cups. But now most information on this matter is also being blocked.

THIRSTY, PETE?

Ricky Buria, a Biden administration holdover who has grown close to Pete Hegseth, has allegedly been spreading a bizarre drinking tale.

But now it seems that Hegseth is doing his level best to quash this story too about his drinking. He may already be busy quashing concern about those first strikes on Iran, ordered without any provocation, not only killing the Ayatolla, but members of Iran's civilian population including children, as well as civilian boaters in the Caribbean. Hegseth's efforts to attribute his many fatal probable war crimes and mistakes to the "fog of war" just doesn't cut it, as this fog and this war are entirely of Hegseth's and Trump's own making, along with Netanyahu, who started the whole disaster. 

War Secretary Pete Hegseth (himself a probable war criminal with no military experience) also has taken steps to block or delay promotions for more than a dozen black and female senior officers across all four branches of the military, some possibly targeted because of their race, gender, or perceived affiliation with the Biden administration, according to U.S. officials familiar with the process.  As the Daily Beast observes: "For a man with the emotional maturity of a three-year-old and the foresight of a newt, Donald Trump is nonetheless a pretty terrible president."
Remember the pottery barn rule, you break it, you own it? I must now take responsibility.
I seem to only be able to post in these vertical columns. I'm not sure what is going on now or where to go from here, so let'sjust close this postnow and start over. .

 

No room at the inn

 "No room at the inn" refers to the Biblical account in Luke 2:7 where Mary and Joseph found no vacancy in Bethlehem for Jesus' birth, forcing them to seek shelter in a manger. This is the season for celebrating that biblical tale and fostering the rebirth of hope in the face of unprecedented challenges. 

Now, at age 88, having lived through many US presidencies, I don't recall any as contentious as the current Trump presidency. Donald Trump seems to deliberately seek out and foment strife and to change his mind on a dime, keeping not only his staff but US citizens and those of other countries always on edge, always apprehensive about what he might say or do next when waking up from a daytime snooze. Is his capreciousness due to a personal mental quirk or is it a worrisome sign of continuing cognitive decline? A slim majority of American voters actually chose him this time around, unlike in his first term when he won by a quirk in the American electorsl system allowing him to win election while losing the popular vote. Now we're stuck with him for almost 3 more years. 

Unlike most US presidents--or the presidents of many other countries--Donald Trump does not wish the best for all those living here in our national territory. In fact, he seems to want many of those actually living and working here among us to go elsewhere, never to return. For Trump, there is no room in the inn, metaphorically speaking, despite "Help Wanted" signs being posted everywhere, even here in little Berkeley Springs. Many folks of working age who could and would do those jobs are being deported. 

Donald Trump attended a Supreme Court session on challenges to birthright citizenship. After the court had adjourned, Trump posted on Truth Social: “We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!” 

Actually, about three dozen countries, most of them in the Americas, do guarantee citizenship to children born on their territory. And what about Emma Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty? Think about Donald Trump's own mother, who was not born in this country. So maybe Mr. Trump is not a citizen here after all, not according to the requirements he wants to impose on others. 

Supreme Court seems poised to reject Trump's birthright citizenship limits as he attends arguments

Wash. Post, Supreme Court appears skeptical of Trump effort to end birthright citizenship

The justices appeared poised to turn aside government arguments that the president can deny citizenship to babies born here to parents without permanent immigration status.

Wash. Post, Trump’s gain with Hispanics is evaporating. Republicans should worry.

Hispanics are not going to support a change regarding birthright citizenship, since the current policy is why many of them are now here to begin with. 

Wash. Post, Judge halts construction on Trump’s ballroom, says Congress must decide

The president lacks authority to fund the estimated $400 million project through private donations, the federal ruling said.

Wash. Post, Judge rules Trump order eliminating NPR, PBS funding is unconstitutional  This is proving to be still another setback for President Trump.

Wash. Post, Americans have little appetite for sending U.S. troops to Iran, polls show

Here again, although he was elected president, Donald Trump cannot bend US policy according to his will.

Wash. Post, Trump’s home airport in Florida will now be named after him

It's not Mt. Rushmore or a Nobel, but at least Donald Trump will have a local Florida airport named after himself.  

NY Times, Man convicted in murder of 13-year-old Bronx girl finally sentenced nearly 3 decades later

The long arm of the law has finally reached out and grabbed this guy, who probably thought he was home free.

Wash. Post,  Thieves steal works by Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse in less than 3 minutes

This happened in Italy this time. It's hard to know what thieves do with their musuem heists. Perhaps very wealthy people buy the works to be displayed in their private home collections?

Saudi Arabia is giving the National Zoo in DC $70 million to house rare, endanered Arabian leopards

Mr. Ye is back on stage after doing penance for antisemitic comments.

Ye (formerly Kanye West) has returned to the stage, performing a headline concert in Los Angeles on April 3, 2026, to celebrate his new album.

                         Josefina Aguilar, Mexican clay artist, has died at age 80.

                            

The last posting included this photo of the continuing Cuba blackout, due to failed oil deliveries from Russia. But help has finally arrived.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?vFOX--Cuba receives Russian oil shipment as Trump predicts regime change

The Center for a Free Cuba, ever since 2022, has been calling on the international community to open a humanitarian corridor that directly provides assistance to ordinary Cubans in need, and "not for Cuba’s kleptocratic government to use for other ends."

 Canadian based NGOs are asking the Canadian government to urge Havana to legalize independent civil society to improve aid delivery.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source t

No Kings, No Tyrants, No more Donald Trumps!

 

The gress is now green everywhere. And here's one of many flowering trees we see now all around West Virginia and vicinity,. 

Worrisome messages still keep popping up whenever I open the computer, like one saying "Joe Wi-Fi is unsafe." But most of the quirks in my blog now seem to have disappeared. I don't know if a daughter living elsewhere was able to come in remotely to fix things. In any case, now the blog and my email seem to be doing OK. That's a huge relief. 

Past history and the present moment are all we ever have. The future is always somewhat unpredictable and uncertain, which makes life interesting, exciting, and also rather scary. Are we now headed into a crazy war under these crooks, criminals and crazies? It's starting to look like that might actually be the case. 

Who would have thought we'd ever have Donald Trump back again as our president? Even once was already too much. Maybe the prospect of a woman president had proved just too radical for most American voters, even though it's happened in many other countries, even in Honduras. If Kamala had won, we and the whole world wouldn't be in the unfortunate situation we are in right now.

Return to Homepage

Americans are now paying $4 a gallon for gas.

Here locally, it is $3.99.

All but three members of the president’s top team have given a new meaning to the term ‘pay to play” by pumping millions into Trump’s campaign coffers.

If draining the Swamp was Trump’s big re-election pitch, monetizing it during Trump 2.0 seems to have become his governing philosophy.

Who among this cabinet would risk Trump's wrath by not donating to Trump? We tell you who. Only 3 have dared do that.Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

A new report from the watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has found that 20 out of 23 Trump Cabinet members opened their wallets to the tune of at least $35 million flowing into Trump’s campaigns, super PACs, and inauguration fund.

“There’s probably a lot we don’t know about at all,” veteran political analyst Larry Sabato tells The Swamp, referencing America’s murky campaign finance laws.

“There’s just never been a presidency like this. (Let's hope there never will be another one again.)

Why in the world did President Trump give the go-ahead to bomb Iran without any provocation? We know only that Netanyahu had urged him to do that to get himself out of a legal jam. So a compliant Trump just went ahead and did it, while keeping it secret from Congress,although Congressional notification and approval is required by law.  (He knew that Congress would never approve.)

Apparently Bibi's trial on corruptuon charges has now been delayed, but at what cost to the world, the US, Iran, and to Israel itself? A world war may have been ignited, and is perhaps unlikely to be ending anytime soon. Even Yemen is now getting drawn into the fight. People will be killed on all sides, including our own. For what?

‘Canadians don’t want to come here any more’: anger over Trump squeezes US border businesses

                                                                            No  Kings

'No Kings' protests recap: More than 8 million turned out across all 50 states, organizers say

Bruce Springsteen performed at the flagship Minneapolis rally. More than 3,300 protests took place across all 50 states. President Trump has not commented.

Protesters rallied all over West Virginia, including right here in Berkeley Springs.

West Virginians also demonstrated at the state capitol in Charleston.

Folks also rallied against the Trump administration in Washington, DC, and actually all over the nation (an even the world).  

Americans may have voted Donald Trump into office, but many now regret their vote.

                                                      A golden toilet has now appeared  on the DC mall.

Daily Beast, Pope Delivers Holy Warning to Trump in Blistering Address   ARE YOU THERE GOD?

The pontiff said that prayers for war will go unanswered.

Pete Hegseth is on a completely different religious track, reading out a sermon praying that “wicked souls” be “delivered to the eternal damnation” in the fight against Iran. Of course, I regard Hegseth as a liar, an idiot, and a blatant war criminal, someone who had ordered the murders of Caribbean boaters holding up their hands in surrender. Also, although he is Secretary of War (formerly called Defense), he has no military experience whatsoever, except National Guard duty, He was elevated way beyond his capacities and experience. I can only speculate that his family must have made a humongous donation to Donald Trump's campaign.

A broker for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly sought to invest in major defense companies just weeks prior to the commencement of Donald Trump’s war on Iran, a new report has alleged. This is according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to the Financial Times. (Read all about it there.)

In my own lifetime (88 years so far). I don't recall any US president evoking so much backlash as Donald Trump. GW Bush was not terribly popular, but he was still re-elected. I thought at the time that he was absolutely the worst president I could ever imagine. I never imagined Donald Trump, who in his first term, won the presidency despite losing the popular vote. From there he embarked on his political career, and we have been dealing with the repercussions ever since. 

Daily Beast, Trump Secretly Admits Top Goon ‘Is Crazy’: Wolff

OUT OF CONTROL

We're talking here about RFK Jr., whom Trump appointed as his Secretary of Health. 

RFK Jr. fails to live up to the promise of either his father or his uncle. He now claims that Donald Trump is really an "empath" about losses on the Iranian side, yet, nonetheless, is still going forward with attacks harming and killing civilians, including young children. So is Trump actually an "empath" after all? I once shook hands with RFK Jr,'s late father during his presidential campaign in California, a man who was actually a much more genuine "empath" than his own namesake son. 

=================================================

NY Times, U.S. to Allow Russian Oil Tanker to Reach Cuba, Breaking Blockade  The tanker full of crude oil could reach its expected destination by Tuesday, providing a lifeline to the island amid intense U.S. pressure.

               Cuba has been on blackout once again, but now help is on the way. 

An appeal has just come in on behalf of this young Cuban boy.

Free Jonathan Muir: Cuba Is Imprisoning A Child For His Faith And His Voice And from the Cuba Archive: Message View Raúl Castro: Human cost of his regme / Costo humano de su régimen Unfortunately, I'm no longer doing English/Spanish interpretation in the DC area, but I still get regular requests. Most require showing up in person, though this one may allow participation by zoom. (I have no idea how to do zoom.) Session number 123568/1 Date Thursday, April 02, 2026 Time 07:30 AM - 09:30 AM (EDT) Language Pair English to Spanish Service Onsite Consecutive Interpretation Subject Matter Hearing Location Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20006-6807 Notes Immigration hearing at the attorney's office (on Zoom). ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Musings and observations  Lately, I've been thinking about Savannah Guthrie and her dear mother's probable death. Who could have anticipated that Savannah's own success in her media job in the east might have resulted in likely fatal harm to her mother living thousands of miles away? There are so many connections and links that we don't immediately recognize in our increasingly interconnected world. Someone apparently wanted to hurt Savannah via her mother's abduction. Whatever was in that person's twisted mind was something completely unknown and unpredictable.The mother had lived quietly for years quite safely in her Arizona home.  I also have noted how frequently we all, myself included, collude to keep everyday "secrets" in our local communities to maintain heighborhood peace and social tranquility. For example, it may be common knowledge that a spouse is being unfathful, even if their partner seems blissfully unaware of it. Nor do we remark when one child in a family looks nothing like his or her siblings. And when someone flaunts wealth they seem not to have earned, we usually say nothing. Or when a person tells an obvious lie, we often don't call them out on it. Frequently, an elderly indiviual or a child with a terminal illness won't be told about their prognosis. All these subterfuges serve to keep our society functioning more or less smoothly..Sometimes, I wonder if secrets are being kept from me just for my own protection? If so, I'd prefer not to know that is the case.

And now from the mastercook, my friend Susan back in DC, spinach and onion quiche.