Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced Wednesday, the first head of a military service to depart during President Trump's second term but just the latest top defense leader to step down or be ousted. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy's top civilian official, coming as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war. Another Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the Navy: Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran who ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate and House in Virginia. https://www.npr.org/2026/04/22/g-s1-118406/navy-secretary-john-phelan-leaving-undersecretary-hung-cao

See my comment in the sigma thread. Labels serve only to reduce people to a stereotype.

@andyd Good point.

My daughter gave me a couple boxes of North Spore mushrooms, can't remember which variety. They grew beautifully! You can also get them in a log form with spores embedded in the log, and then grow outdoors...a larger quantity.

@adagiom I'll check out your site! @mik @andyd This is where I got my two pair of identical shorts in different colors (navy and dark grey) and 3 t-shirts (white, grey, and navy). They cost a small fortune but they are perfection in every way at least for me. There's no way I could wear a Gildan or Hanes t-shirt to an HOA interview. I also have to hire and meet with a real estate attorney. I have to meet hire a buyer's agent and meet other real estate agents, and possibly owners. I have to buy a car. I will be presentable. My everyday clothes are ok but they wouldn't be up to the task. Mack Weldon | Elevated clothing to look and feel your best https://mackweldon.com/?utm_source=googlecpc&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=ne_google_search_brand_General_Exact_l_All&utm_term=aud-917271497972%3Akwd-361548274927_-_697807507327&utm_content=21236693702_-_160006504485&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21236693702&gclid=CjwKCAjw46HPBhAMEiwASZpLRLBrAR3YKqkxc41VqSzjtxArjeG9k2sPR824sXKjYodDN2reRlxTZRoCSW4QAvD_BwE

Thank you all! I edited the audio and now you should be able to crank it without blowing it or your ears out. lol I adjusted it so I could turn the volume all the way up on my MacBook Pro using headphones and the listening level is still comfortable.

I'm keenly awaiting next year's trip. Makes the news worth watching

Reported here, too-- Link to video Background is: he, in error, is operating under the assumption that China and Korea ? tested nuclear weapons, when they only tested weapons capable of delivering them; then he ordered (as yet not happened, planning stage) nuclear tests to be done on American soil. So, all things considered, when he asked for the nuclear codes, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (if I understood correctly) allegedly flat out said, "No."

I hear you.

@Mark thank you!! I would love to hear your Chopin!!

Some of our "Social protection" category is paid with dedicated taxes in trust funds. The % shown is abysmal, not withstanding. I'm surprised the "Defense" category is such a low %, when the defense budget was 1 trillion and was recently (during Trump II, year 1, passed and signed) raised to 1 1/2 trillion. I'm not sure why a 50% increase was deemed necessary. To add to this category, I believe but could be wrong that the budget for some or all of the intelligence agencies is kept secret. The politicians have a fainting couch on hand when it comes to domestic spending, but it seems the sky is the limit for debt creation vis a vis defense spending, including, of course, foreign wars, and decades of tax cuts.

Looks great. After having to cancel trips to Japan in September and April we are going to Denmark, Oslo, and Stockholm in June.

Tomorrow we hit 75. I'm going golfing in the afternoon.

@Axtremus The early LED lamps were prone to “singing” when used with certain dimmers or dimmed down very low. Sometimes it could get pretty loud. The problem seems to have gone away with newer lamps. Or maybe not. Maybe they just sing very softly now and your hearing is sensitive enough to pick it up.

True story. My Doc of eight years had a receptionist with a bigotry problem and she didn't hide it. Well, one day she was upset about something, and followed me into the examination room, as if that was her business. The RN (I've known the whole time) being above her, bosses her. She said, "Get out!" I looked right at her, and with the same tone and volume, said, "Get out!" She never messed with me after that.

I haven't paid much attention to this American Pope to be honest. I'll find out more about him one day. The Pope, head of the Catholic Church, and secular head of state of Vatican City always interested me. The friction between HH and Trump doesn't surprise me. Is there anyone Trump gets along with who isn't a sycophant except Netanyahu who's in a category by himself?