But now the world is living in similar fear, with an unbalanced emperor with nukes in his possession. The government announces their readiness for any missiles, but what they avoid speaking on is the infamous suitcase sized nuke, secretly carried into the United States. Our government has been fearful of this for a long time, afraid the Russians had brought in numerous mall nukes, probably in the 5 kiloton range, and hid them in numerous spots. Oh, several books and even a movie or two were produced to cover this topic. With all the illegal immigrants sneaking in from Mexico and not caught: an estimated 130,000 for 2016, alone. Then we have the Canadian border that has limited enforcement as they have our similar problem in not having the manpower to cover this much area. Then there is the ocean. One book was written about nukes being hidden in the engine housing of a new car being brought from Japan aboard a massive car carrier. Another one had a large nuke inside a massive tanker, another story had it aboard a cargo barge. If you haven't heard this before, it was reported long ago that when Russia went about downsizing from the Soviet Union, they couldn't locate 1500 nukes. Part of them stolen by the former Soviet countries and then there was other nations rumored to have them and also sold on the black market. The main trouble with nukes, is that when one goes off, the three main power and the crazy guy in North Korea, will most likely launch theirs. Mankind will go the way of the dinosaur. This is the one element that keeps these nations from pushing the button. Even the crazy North Korean knows this. Our Air Craft carrier fleet standing off North Korea has its own share of nuclear weapons. Along with our hidden Trident subs, like the USS Alaska. 15,000 people...I believe that was the number, been awhile. But when the Alaska was moored off the Seward Docks, we went aboard for our tour and walked right next to these missile tubes. One of the best military tours I ever took. Elizabeth, our daughter, was even allowed to launch two mock torpedoes. You should have seen the smile on her face. The crew really went out of their way to be nice to the kids. Afterward, the Army CID ( Investigative Agency- but still Army) wrote the Navy up on a large number of security violations for granting these tours on a active Trident Submarine.
Anyhow, there are a lo of nukes and almost no one wants to push the button for the first one. They'd have only a matter of minutes before they'd fall victim to one. Nice part about living in Moose Pass is how unlikely we'd be a target. Anchorage, is a possibility, mainly because the North Korean's missiles won't fly very far. When the news people mention how North Korea's missiles can hit the United States, they're speaking about Hawaii and Alaska. But it scares more people by just saying the "United States".
Enough on nuclear weapons, I started off comparing this time period to when I was a wee young lad. Even back then the news people really pushed the fear factor and you had alerts on television, followed by the 9 p.m. federal commercial that asked parents, "Do YOU know where your kids are?" That was years later and the rise of juvenile crime was becoming an issue. I do not receive satellite TV, so I am unaware if the Feds put out a question like this any more, or if the government just gave up.
Now as to Moose Pass, home to 200 people, we our experiencing a most outstanding spring. Snow is melting rapidly, most areas down to 2-feet now and daytime temps in the 40's and 50's. I've noticed on the US weather how this early spring has provided an unusually warm time for everyone. 90 degrees in Phoenix is normal but not for early April. I used to live there off and on when visiting my Father. So many tornadoes, also. Glaciers downsizing at a rapid speed.... I can see Chicken Little running around forecasting doom and disaster.
In two-days watch the night skies, 4/19/17, for this is when our latest asteroid is supposed to swing by us. Might be good for photos if you have a telescoping camera lens. NASA will get lots of photos, check out their online site. They also have a gift shop. Several years ago I purchased some posters for my grandkids.
Now its time for the news. I still need to put in some writing time for my manuscript. I am doing my re-read of the Sandbox Wars and half through. Okay, the news:
Gatestone News Service: France- It is reportedly illegal for France and businesses or organizations to call for a "Boycott" of products. 14 such activists, who called for a boycott of Israeli products in 2013. Each group was fined 1,000 francs. However, according to a recent report by the NGO Monitor, the French Government remains "openly hostile to Israel" and now funds those groups who support and promote boycotts and campaigns against Israel, all in violation of their existing law.
Telegraph-Germany: "Almost 300 German soldiers being investigated over their rendering the 'Nazi' salute", also for their attacks on asylum seekers.
Washington Free Beacon: D.C.- Federal Government collected $1.47 Trillion in taxes, in the first half of fiscal-year 2017. (Fiscal year 2017 began in July 2016), But the government is still showing $526, 855.00 deficit during this time- from a US Treasury Department report.
Washington Free Beacon: Louisiana Governor John Edwards, a democrat, pledged $4.3 million taxpayer funds in a grant to a chemical manufacturing company, which is owned by the Chinese Government and has direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Washington Free Beacon: US- Judicial Watch, a conservative activist watch dog, who monitors the American Government, threatens to sue 11 US States, that have reported more registered citizens than they actually have voters who are eligible to vote in their counties.
Free Beacon: DC- EPA employees billed taxpayers $15,000 for private gym memberships in Las Vegas, instead of using the gym on the University of Las Vegas, Nevada campus. ( A little money here and a little money there, it begins to add up. Not to mention the costs are for our President to fly to Florida every, or almost every weekend. Costs for Air Force One include money needed for feeding and housing 70 Secret Service personnel and the crews of Air Force One. One cost given was $20 million so far and true, some of these trips included foreign dignitaries, but Camp David was always used for this before- but no golf course). This story, including the Air Force One info was also run in the New Zealand Star, which didn't help the United State's image any.
New Zealand Star: China- China's state-run tabloid- "Global Times", quoted South Korea's Yon Hap News Agency, as saying China is preparing for trouble across its 1420 KM border with North Korea. Reported was said to say, China has deployed 150,000 extra troops to this border region. China is also reported medical units to handle North Korean refugees. It was said, China was preparing for the after-effects of "Unforeseen Circumstances." Such as a pre-emptive US strike on North Korea.. NOTE: China later denied it sent these 150,000 troops to the North Korean Border.
Global Times: China- New Freight train links South China's manufacturing hub with Vorsino, Russia.
Global Times: UNICEF/United Nations- 11-million people in urgent need of food in drought hit Northeast Africa. Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, with reports South Sudanese now eating leaves to survive.
Global Times: European Union- Nearly 13,000 illegal immigrants entered the EU in March, 2017, according to a report by EU Border Guard and Coast Guard Agencies.
Guardian News- Alabama- "Senate vote to allow church to form its own police department." Birmingham Briarwood Presbyterian Church will now establish its police force to help its school and church, where 4,000 people attend services.
The Local News: Italy- Farmers are now using "cow poop" to transform it into crockery- at the "Shit Museum". (Sorry, but I had the post this one. I suspect the crockery is sold as gifts. Similar to Alaskan moose nugget jewelry and other gift items. It does sell as humorous gift items.)
Telegraph: France- An American female tourist was stabbed to death by a homeless man in Paris. She reportedly angered him when she began photographing graffiti on a wall. ( With all that going in in France and other European countries, they're a nice place to ignore for your next big trip.)
Telegraph: Finland- Iraqi refugees are returning home due to Finland's "Chilly" weather and hostile locals. Thousands of applications for asylum canceled , with Finland now chartering flights to take refugees back to Baghdad, Iraq.
Telegraph: UK- Fraudsters need just 3-details to steal your identity and most of it ca be found on Facebook.
Manila Times: China- From a report filed by Agense France-Presse - Human Rights Organization shows China executed more people in 2016 than all the world's countries combined. Amnesty International believes China has "killed thousands" of people.
Gatestone News: Britain- Britain Foreign Aid Budget is reportedly "funding at least two-dozen Palestinian schools, of which are named after terrorists and murderers, and which openly promote terrorism and encourage pupils to see child killers as role models." An estimated 400-homegrown jihadis have returned to the United Kingdom, after fighting in Syria, but only 54 have been prosecuted. --Some 100 sharia courts in Britain are now dispensing Islamic Justice the remit of the British legal system. ( This fails to provide adequate assistance for women, where the men are allowed to beat their wives and divorce favors the man in all cases.)----In Germany, it was reported that the government has been using dishonest Muslim translators, who listen to the immigrant's stories and if they are former Muslims who had turned to Christ, the translator will lie to ensure the application is denied.
As sharia law spreads across EU and into Britain, and into Canada, just how much longer before it spreads across the United States. Mexico is predominately Catholic and it will become tough for the Muslims to gain a foothold, but money talks. Latin America and South America is also strong Catholic, but there is a major secondary following of ancient native Indian religions. In numerous Asian countries, Islam is gaining rule over Hindi and Buddhists. China is tough on any religion, outside the Communist Party.
If your not aware, the country with the most Christians in it is not the United States, but is the Country of India. One Indian church in southern India numbers 10-million or more...The Disciple who went to India to spread the Word of the Lord was Thomas, also known as Doubting Thomas. Interesting what you find with a little research and listening to some learned teachers.
Our sons John Leroy and Joshua Troy were here for Easter. John is currently working two jobs; Whittier Police Department, where he now patrol the Seward Highway, and he works Federal Security. Joshua is going through the long hiring process for the Uniformed Federal Job. We had a nice talk about being a cop of the Old School and our new police. Charges we used to arrest for, including DWI, are being issued citations to appear before the magistrate. They are no longer arresting for misdemeanor offenses and even felony cases, the offender after being found guilty receive mostly probation and some kind of rehab. Now in my day we showed this new program does not work 70% of the time if the crime involved booze, drugs or violence. But the government is doing it again, rather then build prison cells. This made me ill and in the last year there has been a steady raise in home invasion by armed individuals. Plus a rise in car-jacking's by armed men. In my elderly opinion, this new system is at fault for the increase in violence in Alaska. But I carry only one vote, trouble is we were not allowed to vote on this. Senate Bill changed this. So, I recommend when driving in Anchorage or even Fairbanks, drive with your windows up, doors locked and carry is revolver or pistol in your vehicle. Know how to use same, also. If you come to a stop light and one to 4 men jump out of the car beside you, step on the gas pedal and slam into the car ahead of you or even behind you. The men are bound to hightail it knowing this got a lot of attention, cameras are flashing and other firearms are popping out. The drivers who were victims, panicked and forgot these rules. I do not recommend shooting anyone, but have the firearm ready. I also recommend and I'm really sorry to say this, but avoid picking up hitch-hikers, especially if you're alone. If there is two of you, put the hiker in the front seat and your rider in the back seat. Make sure everyone is belted up. If the rider pulls a weapon, the chances of him shooting you, especially if you're driving over 45 mph, where he's liable to die when you lose control, are low. If all he wants is money, offer it, but never leave the highway, he might decide to kill you on a side road because you can identify him. Let him off on the side of the road, carefully speed off and then immediately call police or troopers.
I've dealt a lot with men holding guns and seldom are they of the type willing to kill, unless drugged up. As for houses, make sure you secure them at night and there are numerous security items that will help you without having to spend a fortune. A deadlock is the first thing, runner bars to prevent sliding doors or windows from opening. An angle bar brace against the front door, anchored by a floor piece or the foot of your stairs is one of the best. Downstairs doors should be solid if possible, lots of windows in a door allow openings for a thief to break. This will depend on your neighborhood and if you have a strong patrol presence.
Oh, I could go on, but let it settle in your mind the evil in this world is growing. This is why in most states the police agencies are growing. Sadly, not here in Alaska. Cities dislike paying the money a good department will cost.
Time for me to go. Writing to do, but you have provided me with a nice warm-up. God Bless. BILL