Resilience lunar lander ready for tochdown!

You may recall that a few months ago, two lunar landers headed off planet.  Blue Ghost took a direct oath to the moon, and landed within a few weeks of launch.  

Resilience took a longer route and circled the moon for a bit, and has a planned touchdown of June 5 near the moon's north pole.

Japan's space agency has high hopes for the future.  Its an exciting time!

https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/japans-resilience-moon-lander-arrives-in-lunar-orbit-ahead-of-historic-touchdown-try

Oh the irony

I've been meaning to post about this for quite some time, but hey nothing like the present.  It came into focus as DOGE (Douche Out to Get Everyone) shone a light on how taxes, and distribution of wealth works.

This post is about Florida, specifically, but could likely be happening in other GOP-led states, too. Remember that the Florida GOP is trying to tout Florida as being all about Free-dumb! Its about how the individual can do what they want, without any government action.  And of course there's an element of "Socialism is bad" mixed in.

And yet....the way taxes work in Florida is interesting.  There is no state income tax, so the state relies on sales tax for running everything, from social services, to schools, to infrastructure, to garbage.

There are 67 counties in the state.  8 of them are very populated, and would mostly be considered "blue."  And of course, they have most of the industry in the state.  The other 59 counties you might think of (mostly) as being in the deep-red south.  Not much happening, fairly rural.  

And yet, when that sales tax is collected, it all gets fed into the state, where it is redistributed (based on a formula, but its somewhat evenly) to all of the counties.  

These 8 counties also have a fraction of a penny, up to a whole cent, of additional tax that is kept in that county.  And of course property taxes are mostly (its never as simple as that) left in the counties too.

So, in effect, these red counties have services and available funds because of the larger counties.  

Which is socialism.  Exactly what they rail against.  And if they stopped, then there would be a whole new conversation.  

It just strikes me that the  maga-aligned crowd really don't understand how the economy works - and more importantly WHY it works.

A letter to senators: preserve, protect, and defend the constitution

The White House is actively talking about "suspending habeas corpus" to detain people without due process, indefinitely. 

In short, this is yet another discussion wherein Mr trump is attempting to openly subvert the constitution.  The writ of habeas corpus is specifically cited in the constitution in Article I, section 9, clause 2.  

But this is nothing new. He has actively violated is oath of office - specifically to "preserve, protect, and defend the constitution" multiple times during his first few months in office, while you sit idly by.

At what point do you decide it's enough and actually DO SOMETHING about this?  You, too, have a duty to defend the constitution in the oath you took.  By choosing to quietly watch, one could assume that you are violating your oath of office as well.

You can't simply allow Mr. Trump to just do as he pleases to further a decidedly UNconstitutional agenda. 

T-rump commenting on TV?!

This is hilariously absurd. The local PBS affiliate aired "Escape from Alcatraz" and right after it ended, T-rump went on his tirades about tariffs on movies and reopening the prison. 

Let me re-iterate. He was watching PBS. The very thing he called out earlier in the week as bad, and wants to defund. 

And then created public policy based on that movie. 

Quick! Can someone air a story about a guy who's "very popular" who ascends to the highest office and then realizes that he would be even MORE beloved if he stepped down, and then proceeds to do so.  Maybe there could be a riding off into the sunset moment with a young model. 

And perhaps he'll emulate that too. "Great film. The best"

https://deadline.com/2025/05/trumps-escape-from-alcatraz-on-tv-1236386328/

Oh how I long for simpler times.

Like when the tan suit was the biggest issue of the day. "Such an offensive thing the president did."

Unlike today where the president wants to fuck everyone over for his own benefit. 

Hey great jobs are coming.... #AmIRight ?

The commerce secretary sat down for a TV interview.  And it was filled with so much fluff, so much gaslighting, and just utter nonsense.  

Sure why not "make the permitting process easier" so that you can avoid any unnecessary complications like worker protections?  Why does anyone need a college education to get a "good job?"  (even if they video they show depicts automation) Generations can work at the factory!  And pay no attention to the fact that many companies can't get up and running anytime soon - even if they want to.

My gawd.  This is what we are.  And his smug smile just this so much worse.

 

Violation after violation

Mr Trump continues to effectively act as a dictator and do as he pleases. 

He posted to social media that "we're taking away Harvard's tax exempt status. It's what they deserve!" 

That is a direction violation of 26 US Code, 7217, specifically "prohibition on executive branch influence over tax payer audits and other investigations"

And worse than that, he was asked by a reporter over the weekend if he will uphold the constitution. And whether he supported due process (which is enshrined in the constitution). 

His answer to both was "I don't know." 

These statements are a violation of his oath of office. 

This is simply unacceptable and you need to hold him accountable or work to ensure his removal from office. 

Full stop.