I was left all alone yesterday, for the first time if I can recall. Everyone else went over to Elizabeth's Bead Store- "Salvage Arts". The book store, shares an indoor wall with her, had a small fire, which activated the store's sprinkler system, and brought the Soldotna Fire Department. Water from the sprinkler system flooded the book store and then found its way into Elizabeth's store, doing extensive damage. Deep smoke came down from the roof for probably several feet from what I was told and the standing water in parts of the snow could've passed for a goldfish pond. Fire Investigators are looking at the cause and the word is there bring down a fire investigator from Anchorage. It may have been a short in the wiring, or arson, while the store was closed. Word is the people who lease the store want out of their leave-no pay to when the lease is supposed to end. That would make any investigator suspicious. Wording as a police officer and a investigation, I always marveled at the things people would say to me. Many people were honest 99% of the time and then they goofed, so now that honesty streak in them hopes they'll be caught...which leads to confessions. Or they wait until I show them some...not all of my evidence and then they either talk or want a lawyer. I believe most people should have a lawyer, but the ones stuck with Public Defenders are rolling the dice.
I've dealt with Public Defenders off and on for sometime, and you have lawyers who couldn't make a dime on their own, so they turn to the public defenders office to at least bring a pay check home. But then there are the men and women who sincerely care about people having good representation. But again, those are rare. In Dillingham, there was one outstanding attorney out of 7 lawyers, in the Public Defender's Office. I actually felt bad for some of the bad guys who had committed their first offense into major crimes. In Skagway, I was actually the prosecutor as well as the arresting officer and I won both cases. The Prosecutor couldn't make the flight and the judge refused to re-schedule the trials. Luckily, the two men I was up against had long criminal records. But the Public Defender spent most of her time slamming me and any mistakes I might have made- which upset the judge. An interesting part of a trial is what the judge will/will not allow into the trial, and how often a judge removes the jury, while the prosecutor and defense lawyer, argue over various laws and the evidence. That's another thing, I've always felt that juries should never be removed. They should see everything and judge for themselves in how the evidence or law should be considered in bearing to this case, as its presented. You all have enough training to become Public Defenders. But be careful who you pick to defend. I've to pull- off some violent criminals from attacking their defense lawyers, they were not happy in how the case went. I've also had to guard a judge, from all the threats made by family members. Law Enforcement can be fun.
Oh I forgot, my day alone went quite well. I decided to kill all the cats and dogs, they drove crazy! But, I love them and couldn't hurt them. I know they make great watch animals and any burglar coming in will be identified by the serious injuries done to his ankle. They do love ankles, in an unpleasant way. I had a lot more news to put in, but I try to keep it down on news items I do not believe local papers will add to their pages. Sometimes they do, and I seen their articles printed a day or two I send the journal to you. Maybe I'm being hacked...I don't care unless they want to show up here and want my wife or my guns, maybe my extra copies I have of my books. Yes, the time is upon us...almost, for me to take my books to book signings. I find it humbling that people want my signature. I still keep waiting for when my books show up in a thrift store, for then I will know I've made it. I'm for sale with some of the great writer of my time.
News from the last time:
Moscow Times: Russian newspaper carries story, no writer named, of all the request from citizens to "send out "robot riot cops" to be unleashed on corruption riots , protest and assembly. (Does Russia have robot cops and when will it be announced they now have robot soldiers. Will they be like Hollywood's Robot Cop guy?)
Moscow Times: "Russian Military Training in Kindergarten" This was a main story on-line and it showed one photo of children dressed in jungle camouflage, maybe it was woods style. Couldn't see the faces and that's all right, but they looked to be 9 or 10 years old. But the story says- The City Cherepovets has just opened "Reserve", a "Military- Patriotic-Club". This club caters to children just out of "Daycare". ( This will most likely touch us old people as we remember reading about the Hitler Youth Corps and the damage they accomplished. A lot of the Jews were turned in by former friends, now separated by the speeches they received in training. I often look to see how History repeats itself and how it may match up with the Word of God. World War One and just afterwards was the beginning and this constant battle for Israel or Jerusalem. Look how fast anti-Semitism is growing.)
Manila Times: Philippines- 3 decades after the Philippines shed their Dictatorship, but now President Duterte is giving speeches, where he offers a return to Authoritarian Rule as a solution for all the problems of democracy has failed to fix. He continues to say "Martial Law" may be needed to save his Nation. ( From President to Emperor...and he's killed a lot of people he is rumored to have dealings with when he was allegedly transporting, dealings with, or maybe...just the guy standing on the corner, who offers directions to lost strangers. I've followed Duterte for sometimes and if he's made a king, the South Sea is going to cause problems.)
Global Times: South China Seas, story by Sunski Hobo. South China Seas Dispute, which has turned into an issue between China and the United States, and a critical Regional Player. This player is known as ASEAN, (10) South East countries, who have gathered over this issue and they feel they've been largely neglected Now ASEAN sees China's rise that may contribute to the formation of a new regional order.
(From the same story, but farther along). ASEAN is also worried about China's illegal fishing in the South China Sea. A Dignitary representing ASEAN stated "We welcome China's rise, but we are concerned as in how China uses it's power."
Always remember my stories can carry a lot of propaganda, but how else will you know about tales from Iran, Russia and China, plus around the world. Also, Global Times is a Chinese publication. This is why I try to always advise you the story is from Global Times, to read about Russia or ran, China and numerous Southeast Asian countries and Europe.
Global Times- story taken from Xinhua News Africa- The African Union (AU), is extremely appalled by the attacks against African students in India .
Global Times: Middle East- from Xinhua News- Arab leader on Wednesday urged all countries not to relocate their embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv to the City of Jerusalem, and not to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
Washington Free Beacon: Story by Natalie Johnson- "Hillary Clinton retained access classified and top secret documents for herself and 6-staff members after her resigning as Secretary of State in 2013, according to a senior Republican Senator. (odd, but I still haven't seen anything about an investigation, but maybe I don't receive the right news papers,)
Telegraph-England: "Sharp rise in number of US Citizens turned away by Canada." Story by David Millward. In 2014, 7509 Americans were turned away from entering Canada, but 2015 showed a large rise to 23,233 of US citizens turned back. This then jumped again in 2016 to 30,233 people. Figures for people crossing into the US from Canada run about 30,000 over the last three years. There has also been a surge of refugees trying to gain entry into Canada by crossing unguarded sections of 5,000 land miles between US and Canada. (Canada has a real problem with taking in America's criminal. No one with a DWI on their record, will be able to enter, or other crimes. Felony records come under a new section ( In Skagway, we dealt with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Not quite as good as they were in the late 1800s and early 1900s., but we got a long pretty good. I arrested a couple bad hombres for misdemeanor charge, where no one else-but me received any injures. Finding they were Canadian I'd call the Mounties and these stupid boys each had felony Canadian warrants. It would've taken them a week to get the legal paperwork done and these men would've filled my one jail cell jail for a week. This is a stone building, two stories high. Comes with its own ghosts, from a haunted grizzly bear, now chained to the floor to keep it from moving-anyway, to a haunted jail cell where 12-men had committed suicide all built back in 1950 era. There was only 2 of us at that time and it was tourist season. So, I worked it out with the Carcross Mountie and he drove up into White Pass, right to our border line and I gently pushed each man into Canada. Saved both countries a good amount of money for all the legal work involved. Once across the line, each of these Canadians were then arrested for violent felonies. Oh, Eric Stroud, the infamous murderer known as "The Birdman of Alcatraz". He stayed in our jail for a couple days, being transported down to Seattle by U.S. Martials. He'd killed a man in Nome, over a woman and I've already to you about the asylum the city had built, which filled the police record book with repeated "Insane" charges. At some point it was destroyed and only a few brick s remain. Being in the 1950s, 50 some years from the Gold Rush, what was now causing all these people to go insane. As to all the reported hauntings and spooks, you'll find them in my The Badge and the Cross-Book Two- 'Stronghold' Book one, 'Rookie", will hopefully be put out this summer)
Moscow Times: Russia-"North Korean slaves 'allegedly' building Key Russian 2018 World Cup." 110-North Korean are forced laborers who are building this stadium. They 10rk 7-days a week, sleeping in shipping containers and one worked was recently found dead in one of these containers. (Might be interesting to see if the World Cup will continue on in its plans to use this Stadium.)
No news.
Watched a great movie and if you haven't seen it, I recommend "Hacksaw Ridge.",. This is not for kids until till their 18th birthday. The movie remain factual, but it does show the carnage of warfare between the Japanese and Americans. But the character, his story, shows how a Christian man, who refuses to touch a rifle, receives all the abuse, will become a major World War Two for saving 75 men in battle. He is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. Not a documentary, Hollywood is present. But this is one worth the cost. A war movie nominated a an Academy Award "Best Picture", that's unusual these days."
So, I am going to leave you all now, write a bit and wait for someone to deliver me one million dollars and no IRS bills to be paid. Then Mona and decide that after we pay our tithe, which I'm over due most times. then comes out house rebuilt job to add a couple rooms and a ramp to handle me and my wheels. I have seen a lot of writers who are on wheels, but for me it will only help if stop on a street, put my sign out with my bowl...NOT. Sorry, getting another story idea. Happen at the strangest time.
God Bless You All, and may you have a pleasing day and all your tomorrows . BILL