An Independent view of law, politics and social issues confronting Angelinos, Californians, and Americans
Author: coastcontact
I am a somewhat cranky but mostly optimistic 65 plus who refuses to give up on this maddening world. The purpose of this BLOG is to express my feelings, thoughts.
Reaching the position of United States senator is a role almost every politician dreams to achieve. There are no term limits and so once obtained they remain there almost to the day they die. Eight senators died in office since the year 2000. The last was John McCain who died August 25, 2018 from uncurable brain cancer.
In 2003, South Carolina’s Strom Thurmondretired at the ripe old age of 100 after 48 years in the Senate. The not-so-hidden secret was that his staff did everything but actually push the vote button during his last term, which ended six months before his death.
The current leader of the Republican caucus in the Senate is Mitch McConnell who is 81. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader is a mere 72.
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the oldest serving member of the Senate, at age 89, has missed 60 of the 82 Senate votes taken so far this year due to illnesses. After announcing that she was not running for re-election, the following day she has forgotten that she had made the announcement.
With memory problems and the stresses of participation in the Senate it is time for Senator Feinstein to retire with dignity.
Then comes the next issue. Governor Gavin Newsom will be deciding who will replace Feinstein.
Yellowstone National Park is the most stunning and diverse natural wonder in the United States. With hundreds of miles of trails, dozens of geysers, and 14 lakes, it offers something for everyone. Whether you want to hike, kayak, camp, or just enjoy the scenery, Yellowstone National Park along with adjoining Teton National Park is a destination you won’t forget.
But planning a trip to Yellowstone can be challenging, especially if you want to make the most of your time and avoid the crowds. Here are some of the best tips and tricks to help you plan a successful and memorable trip to Yellowstone.
## Lodging must be your first priority
My first piece of advice if you’re going to Grand Teton and Yellowstone is to plan early. Lodging inside the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks books up quickly, with the most desirable lodging snapped up as soon as reservations become available, sometimes more than a year in advance. Our trips were driving to the parks and arranging for a camp site. I made reservations for both trips. The first trip we stayed at a campground in Grand Teton. The choice was made because it is at a lower elevation and that meant warmer weather. But at 6,800 feet it is cold even in the middle of the summer. Fishing Bridge RV Park in the middle of Yellowstone is at 7,800 feet and is definitely colder. I know. My first visit to Yellowstone was in a cabin there (cabins are now gone).
## Research to decide the things you want to see
Everyone drives very slowly in the parks because everyone in your car along with you wants to see everything. In addition bears, bison, moose and other animals like to walk along and across the roads.
For me a must-do activity in Grand Teton National Park is a float trip down the Snake River. It has beautiful views, opportunities for animal-sightings, and great park information from the tour guide. Several concessionaires offer these trips in the park, including Signal Mountain Lodge and Jackson Lake Lodge. You can book them right along with your accommodations.
All of these photos are old 35mm slides with the exception of the picture of the bear family.
Bison seen from the float down the Snake River
If you like hiking, you’ll love Grand Teton National Park. One of the best hikes—Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls—was closed while we visited because of a fissure in one of the rocks above the trail, but the trail re-opened in August 2018, after the park service found the area safe. If you go, don’t miss it.
You can take a short boat ride across Jenny Lake to access the Hidden Falls trailhead or you can hike around Jenny Lake to get there. The benefit of the hike around the lake is that you might see some wildlife you might not see elsewhere.
Everyone wants to see Old Faithful Geyser but in that area you may see many other geysers. They do not spray water on a daily basis. There are other geyser basins that also include hot pools. The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States. Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park. Then there is Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It is another extraordinary thing to see.
## Be ready to change your trail plans
Yellowstone/Teton is home to a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and moose. While seeing these animals can be a highlight of your trip, it can also pose some risks. Sometimes, trails may close because of bear activity, or because of other hazards, such as snow, rockfall, or fire. To avoid disappointment, you should always check the trail status before you head out, and have some backup options in case your preferred trail is closed. You can check the trail status online, at the visitor centers, or by calling the park hotline.
Not my photo but a great one of a family of bear
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is not to be missed
## Consider West Yellowstone as your home base
This is a town that is at the entrance to the park and provides a variety of stores, gift shops, motels and nearby campgrounds. There is a live theater there that provides entertainment.
## Conclusion
Yellowstone and Teton National Parks is a bucket-list destination for many travelers, and for good reason. It offers unparalleled beauty, diversity, and adventure. But to make the most of your trip, you have to plan ahead and be flexible. By following these tips and tricks, you can have a smooth and enjoyable trip to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks.
Lesley Stahl interview of Marjorie Taylor Greene was a shocker. Following are the highlights of the interview.
Stahl tried to reason with Greene but to no avail. Greene doubled down on accusing Democrats of being pedophiles and calling the scrutiny on her past comments unfair.
“They are not pedophiles. Why would you say that?” correspondent Lesley Stahl asked.
“Democrats support — even Joe Biden, the president himself — supports children being sexualized and having transgender surgeries. Sexualizing children is what pedophiles do to children,” the Georgia Republican replied.
“Wow. OK,” a visibly taken aback Stahl responded. “But my question really is, can’t you fight for what you believe in without all that name-calling and without the personal attacks?”
Greene answered by turning the question around on the Dems. “I would ask the same question to the other side, because all they’ve done is call me names and insult me non-stop since I’ve been here, Lesley. They call me racist. They call me– sen– antisemitic, which is not true. I’m not calling anyone names. I’m calling out the truth, basically.”
The controversial Congressperson who has promoted far-right conspiracy theories also sidestepped Stahl’s questions about whether she apologized to Nancy Pelosi for liking a comment on her Facebook page saying that the former House speaker should get a “bullet to the head,” something that she claimed was done by someone on her social media team.
It was reported in 2021 in a candid interview with New Yorker magazine guaranteed to make headlines, Melania Trump revealed that she wished she could get a divorce “just by thinking about it.”
While stressing that she had no plans to divorce her husband, Mrs. Trump said that doing so would require “a lot more than having the idea in my head.”
The situation has changed as a result of the indictment of Donald. It has now been reported that she will file for divorce within a week of his formal surrender in a court in New York City. Most newspapers will not report on the divorce filing until after Trump’s surrender.
When major companies start large employee layoffs you know a recession is coming. Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve are raising interest rates and the effect is obvious. Powell is not finished raising rates as proven by the continuing low Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report issued by U.S. Department of Labor.
Major US technology companies have collectively laid off more than 100,000 workers in January alone, with the majority of the firms citing a bleak economic outlook and recession fears as the core reason for the layoffs.
Amazon on March 20, 2023 announced that it will cut additional 9,000 jobs, after announcing 18,000 job cuts in January 2023. That included the closing of DP Review the camera advice web site.
Electronic Arts, the maker of video game franchises such as Battlefield, FIFA and Madden, announced layoffs affecting roughly 6% of its workforce in March 2023. That translates to 775 jobs.
Warner Music Group, the New York-based entertainment company announced job cuts affecting 270 positions.
Lucid Group, a San Francisco Bay area electric car maker, announced an 18% job cut of its more than 7,200 employees.
Disney announced earlier in March that it is planning to layoff 7,000 employees across divisions.
PayPal unveiled cut 2,000 employees, becoming the latest U.S. company to reduce its headcount, just hours after software company HubSpot announced it would lay off 500 positions in an effort to reduce costs.
Of course after each mass shooting we have the vigil, candle lighting, flower displays. Then we do nothing to stop the killing. Instead the owners of guns say it’s their second amendment right to have as many guns of all kinds. We all return to our homes hoping the next shooting isn’t in our neighborhood.
Israel is a thriving democracy that has been the source medical and computer technology. Israel’s primary exports are Cut diamonds, refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, machinery and equipment, medical instruments, computer hardware and software, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel.
The ultraorthodox Jews in Israel want to impose their views of social behavior on the entire population. To achieve that goal they want to take control of the country’s judicial system. Large demonstrations against the take over have developed over the past week. However there have also been large demonstrations supporting the government’s plan to impose religious law on everyone.
In other words it is a battle between a secular society similar to the United States or a society similar to Iran. Iran’s formal name is Islamic Republic of Iran. Israel might then be titled the Jewish State of Israel.
CNN reports
Israel’s contentious judicial overhaul legislation will be put on hold until the next session of the Knesset, after the Passover recess in April, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday.
The nation’s largest labor union called an end to the strike after Netanyahu’s announcement, but warned there would be more if the “prime minister returns to aggressive legislation.”
Under the proposals, the government would have control over the appointment of judges, and parliament would gain the power to override Supreme Court decisions. Opponents say the plan threatens the foundations of Israeli democracy.
American Jews are becoming appalled over the impact that the ultraorthodox in Israel are having on how the country functions.
The best example of the orthodox interference with the lives of its citizens is marriage law. The issue of civil marriages is a major issue for secular and non-Orthodox Jews, as they are required to follow Orthodox practice to marry in Israel.
As an American Jew I am appalled but what ever the majority want that is what they will have.
For those of you who are professional & amateur photographers the end of DP Review is a sad event. I have used this site repeatedly over the years to learn more about cameras and their abilities. I do not know of a site that does the job they perform. The site is owned by Amazon. Amazon is all about making money. Think about that.
According to data from Mexico’s Tourism Secretary, 270-thousand students are set to visit Mexico during the spring break season. That number will translate to millions of dollars in income to the Mexican economy.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador knows how important that income is to his economy and so he comes out with a statement just before the spring break season “Mexico is safer than the United States. There is no problem in traveling safely in Mexico.”
Sadly the facts do not support the president’s contention. The Associated Press reports “Mexico’s nationwide homicide rate is about 28 per 100,000 inhabitants. By comparison, the U.S. homicide rate is barely one-quarter as high, at around 7 per 100,000.”
The Mexican president brushed off continued concern over violence. Currently, the U.S. State Department has “do not travel” advisories for six of Mexico’s 32 states plagued by drug cartel violence, and “reconsider travel” warnings for seven other states.
“This is a campaign against Mexico by these conservative politicians in the United States who do not want the transformation of our country to continue,” López Obrador said.
“This violence is not a reality,” he added. “It is pure, vile manipulation.”
Facts are hard to dispute. It is reported that late Saturday six men and two women at a club in the largely rural township of Apaseo El Grande, where rival cartels have been fighting for control for years.
How many students looking for a good time be dissuaded from changing their spring plans for a good time? Probably not many.
Coast Contact 