03/20/25

Tariffs, A Little Context And Analysis

Since President Trump’s inauguration — is it really still less than the first 100 days — there has been much talk of tariffs. Trump has threatened them, imposed them, modified them, and removed them. New concepts — such as “reciprocal” tariffs — have flooded the space.

Tariffs are in play, baby.

Here’s a link to the Federal Register where you can look up all of President Trump 2.0’s Executive Orders. Federal Register

Trump 2.0 has made tariffs into a sharp-edged weapon. And, yet, we are still only in the early innings. Continue reading →

03/19/25

Russian Nothing Burger — The Best Way To Cook A Russian Nothing Burger

Donald J Trump, enroute to trouncing Kamala Harris, boasted he would end the Ukraine v Russia War before Inauguration Day. Might have been a bit of election braggadocio. Haha.

The old boy can be a bit of a boaster, a braggart. It’s part of his charm, I suppose. I take no offense as it communicates the sentiment clearly. I believe he legitimately does want peace.

Artisan Nothing Burger — sesame seeds and well toasted

Continue reading →

02/26/25

The Green Card V The Trump Gold Card I

Good morning, dear reader, today we discuss the existing immigration EB-5 Investor program and the impending Trump Gold Card.

What is the EB-5 progam, Big Red Car?

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (administered by the USCIS — US Citizenship and Immigration Service) was created in 1990 as a pathway for investors to attain a green card as a result of an investment in the United States that created at least 10 new jobs.

Since the inception of the program, it appears:

 1. that as many as 240,000 visas (including the families of the foreign immigrant investor) have been granted;

 2. that more than $50B has been invested;

 3. that the US Treasury has generated approximately $20B in tax revenue; and,

 4. that 1.0MM jobs have been created as a direct result of the investment.

The jobs are estimated using the formula of “direct jobs” X 1.5 indirect jobs to arrive at the final tally. Seems a bit tenuous to Big Red Cars. Continue reading →

02/21/25

Volodmyr Zelenskyy — Patriot Or Dictator?

Recently President Trump unloaded on the President of Ukraine, Volodmyr Zelenskyy, calling him an unpopular dictator, in particular for not conducting elections. These claims are patently false and irresponsible.

President of Ukraine Volodmyr Zelenskyy has been an effective military commander and inspirational leader for his country.

What about the martial law and elections thing, Big Red Car?

Continue reading →

02/20/25

Understanding The Russian Negotiations #2

At the Ukraine – Russo War of 2022 negotiations in Saudi Arabia two days ago, the Russians fielded an experienced, unyielding, and tough as nails negotiating team as I wrote in: Understanding The Russian Negotiations #1.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio — in his new job as America’s top diplomat for less than 3 weeks — asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to stop attacking Ukrainian energy plants as a show of good faith.

Seems reasonable, no?

Sergey Lavrov — 10 years Russian Ambassador to the United Nations and 21 years as Foreign Minister, fluent in English — replied that Russia did not attack any Ukrainian energy plants, no power generating plants, nothing.

Obviously, the entire world knows this is blatantly untrue.

That night Russia unleashed an attack package of 150 +/- drones, missiles, and rockets against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Continue reading →