The government cares more about itself than it does us when it comes to death.

The problem with people screaming about guns today is they don’t know anything about them. They think assault rifles are all fully automatic, and the media does nothing but promote the falsehood. They constantly refer to semiautomatics as assault weapons firing a gazillion shots a minute, but that’s just wrong. Liberals want people to believe that.

They believe the government rules the people. I feel terrible for what happened to the children. It is heartbreaking, but banning “assault” weapons won’t change anything.

Here’s something to consider. Courthouses, federal buildings, and other government buildings where politicians work are more heavily guarded than schools. This tells me that politicians hold themselves in higher regard than our children.

I know this for a fact because I’ve been in and out for decades. I have to go through a metal detector, put my personal property on a belt, take it through a machine that x-rays everything, and then have a deputy “wand” me if there is the slightest beep. Yet, on the same day, I can walk into a school. A sign tells me to check in at the principal’s office. That sign is just as effective as the one that says, “NO GUNS ALLOWED!” to one intending harm.

Schools remain soft targets. Simple fix: harden the schools. It would be easy to do.

Today is the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne, now essentially infantry, were surrounded a few days later, fighting the Germans in extreme weather conditions, with little in the way of provisions, received the Germans’ following message, and a response was necessary. I’ve read several books dealing with the battle, and there is more to the story, but this is the gist. I hope our history of this stays the same.

The response was a word I heard my dad repeat occasionally, but it had no meaning to me until I read several books on Bastogne’s defense. Although I never fully understood its significance because it seems tame by today’s standards, it did have a real, specific meaning, and there’s more to the story than is here.

Some interpret it as “Go to hell!” or a more colorful “F*ck you!” but the essence is clear: it was a firm and resolute “No way!” In the movie, when the German general asks for a translation, he is told, “Go to hell!” Here is the exchange between German Colonel General Alred Jodl and General Anthony McAuliffe, who was the acting division commander of the 101st Airborne Division

“To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne. The fortune of war is changing. This time strong German armored units have encircled the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands. There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note. If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours’ term. All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.”

The typed reply centered on a full sheet of paper. It read:

“December 22, 1944
To the German Commander,
N U T S !
The American Commander”

I’m five years younger than Elton John, and while I don’t care for his music, I agree with him. The addiction is most likely psychological rather than physical. Still, for a person with an addictive personality, that’s all it takes. What we bought in 1970 doesn’t compare with what we get today. I’ll apologize in advance for the length of this.

As far as being a productive user, it can depend on whether a person is using sativa or indica strain. Sativa is touted as having an energizing effect. That can turn into paranoia. Indica has a relaxing effect and can help you sleep, they say. It’s not a great choice for driving or operating machinery. THC levels are 30-50 times what they were in 1970.

To those believing it not to be addictive, challenge someone using it regularly to give it up for 30 days. They’ll say, like an alcoholic, they can stop at any time. Like I said, issue the challenge and see what happens. As far as being a gateway drug, I maintain it is. Based on people I’ve known, their first exposure to drugs was marijuana. For some, it went on from there. I’ve never talked to someone using coke, etc., that did start with marijuana, usually hash. I know someone will tell me they know someone who didn’t begin with cannabis. If true, I view it as anecdotal. The fact is, it seems most people disagree with me.

Suppose you are injured at work while under the influence of cannabis; it can preclude recovery in Ohio for workers’ compensation. In Ohio, if an employee is injured at work while under the influence of marijuana, it can indeed affect their eligibility for workers’ compensation. If testing positive, it is presumed that the intoxication caused the injury.

For employment, it includes recreational and medical use. Employers in Ohio are not required to accommodate the use of medical marijuana, and an employee whose injury was the result of being under the influence of marijuana is generally also not eligible for workers’ compensation.

Understanding that being under the influence of anything can lead to bad decisions is crucial. When inhibitions drop, it’s more likely that people will make poor choices. These choices can lead to promiscuity, or worse, they can lead to the use of harder drugs. It’s a stark reminder of the weight of our decisions and the need for responsible decision-making.

I jokingly used Reefer Madness as a good documentary on the evils of marijuana; the movie may have been extreme, but it did highlight some real dangers of marijuana use. It’s important to be cautious and aware of the potential risks, even if they may not be as extreme as the movie portrayed.

I’ll likely change no minds, but who knows, maybe one person will consider I could be right. If so. I’ll take it.

Finding someone who has faced and overcome as many challenges as Donald Trump in 2024 is nearly impossible. He battled through adversity, exposed corruption in government, corporate, and bureaucratic sectors, was branded a felon by what some call a politically motivated Department of Justice under President Biden, and endured slander from mainstream influencers who claimed his presidency would end democracy, and worse, leading to two assassination attempts.

All of this was intended to derail his campaign. Despite these tribulations, he still emerged victorious in the election. President Trump earned the title on the cover.

No one has accomplished as much as he has in my lifetime. You’d have to look back to the era of the Founding Fathers to witness a similar political phenomenon. Perhaps one other figure achieved as much and lived during my time, but his accomplishment was just before I was born; that would be Ike.

I believe history will record Trump’s achievements in this light.