Land of Whispering Pines 🌲

Good morning! I pray The Great Spirit be with you 🙏 🌅

Kinda feeling OK, I suppose, for an old goat.🐐 I was out in my green space with my coffee this morning; it was nice to sit at the patio table and watch the hazy sun rise. That reminds me of the hills 🛤 in the Ozarks, yep, I was there too. Just to see if it really was there. Went to a lot of places, piloting my truck and camper to whatever destination. Free Spirit. 👼 Well, that's a continuing story for some other time.

I had to step away for a moment to check on Paula, then I went out to sit in my green space and simply close my eyes, 😌 soaking up the sun's ☀️ warmth, which energized me to my soul. I'm feeling a little jittery, or jumping at shadows, I believe some call it. But I think everything is OK for now.

There is not much to report here from the Newsroom this morning, except that I feel relieved to see that Paula is up and about. 👩 👍

I like silence, but not that kind, thank you. Did you watch The Late Show 📽 with Stephen Colbert, featuring William Shatner and Neil deGrasse Tyson as guests last night? What a pair! Well, Paula and I have that kind of rapport, one spirited. I have a conceptual understanding of the mechanics of Quanta. She finds within the parameters of a three-dimensional view the quantum possibilities condensed into a three-dimensional perspective.

TODAY'S TOPIC:

THE UNIVERSE IS ABSURD:

- Google Search -

WILLIAM SHATNER & NEIL deGRASSE TYSON

COSMIC PERSPECTIVE — Experience the universe through the eyes of a man who's seen Earth from space and an astrophysicist who's dedicated his life to understanding our cosmic neighborhood.

- Google Search -

The idea that the universe is absurd, often explored in philosophy, particularly by existentialists like Albert Camus, suggests that the universe is devoid of inherent meaning, purpose, or value. It's the conflict between our human desire to find meaning and the universe's apparent lack of response that creates this "absurd" state.

I hate to differ on the absurd universe, but I will say that my perception of spirituality didn't differ much from Shatner's concept. But in my opinion, it's our tiny, insignificant little blue speck of dust in an endless sea of dead dust specks. Dusty rocks, dirty ice balls, brown stars, supernovas, black holes, pulsar stars, Real Death Stars, or how about getting crushed in a giant gas giant planet or a nebula. And only one little tiny blue speck survived all that chaos, the chaos which is actually the universe's way to reproduce itself. ABSURD, they say? "

One chance in a number that would exceed infinity. 1 in 0.000000 = ∞ That is the absurdity!"

Honestly, how many dogs don't have fleas? And the ones that don't have fleas, what's preventing them from catching fleas?

I would love to have either or both respond to this. I would be honored. I'm only just a self-educated backyard scientist.*_

BREAKING NEWS:

LA police confront protesters as Trump doubles National Guard deployment

What you need to know:

• On the ground:

Demonstrators and police faced off in scattered protests in downtown Los Angeles for a fourth day Monday, with officers using “less lethal” weapons to disperse protesters after objects were thrown at them. At one point, police escorted a CNN crew out of a protest zone. Damage appears to be limited to a portion of downtown, while much of the city has not been affected by the protests.

• More troops:

• Divisive deployments:

Hegseth questioned by House subcommittee about funding for federal troop mobilization to Los Angeles

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was pressed to provide answers on how the National Guard and Marine mobilization to Los Angeles was being funded during today’s House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing.

Hegseth said the Defense Department will “have the capability to cover down on contingencies” under the FY2026 budget request.

Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum, the ranking Democratic member of the subcommittee, probed Hegseth on the specifics of how the latest move by the administration is going to impact the budget:

“What is the current cost for what is taking place in California, and how is it going to affect this budget, or the budget we’re currently serving under?” McCollum asked during today’s hearing. “Where in your limited budget, sir, are you going to find in the remainder of this fiscal year, are you going to pull the money to cover these deployments, what holes are being created?”

Updated 11:13 AM EDT, Tue June 10, 2025 - CNN -

‘Disruptions all over the place’ if today’s China talks fail

Call it a “chip shortage on steroids.”

That’s how one expert told CNN the auto industry is describing a possible shortage of rare-earth elements — minerals that are now center stage in the global trade war. Running low on those minerals could recall the pandemic-era chip shortage that jacked up car prices, used and new, across America.

China has a virtual monopoly on those 17 metallic elements, which are critical components to everyday products from cars to jet engines to electronics like smartphones and flat-screen TVs. They’re even crucial for the contrast dye used in MRI machines and some cancer drugs.

And, recently, China made it even harder to get them: The country introduced a new licensing requirement on the export of the elements in April, effectively slowing the flow of outbound shipments to most of the world, including the United States.

Updated 7:23 AM EDT, Tue June 10, 2025 - CNN -

CANADIAN NEWS:

Only 40% of air force inventory ready for action as Canada rethinks its F-35 contract

Mixed fleets and avoiding American firms come with their own challenges

Only 40 per cent of Canada's air force inventory is considered serviceable and ready to fight, according to a new military-wide readiness document obtained by CBC News.

And the uncertainty about the availability and age of the various fleets of aircraft is expected to grow in light of the Liberal government's pledge to look at alternatives to the F-35 fighters and the possibility that the number of U.S.-made warplanes on order could be reduced.

The document, dated Feb. 18, 2025, tracks the availability of military equipment and personnel. It projects that 60 per cent of the air force inventory is "unserviceable" and likely not fit for deployment should NATO call upon this country.

• The issue, says Carney, is whether the F-35 is the right warplane for Canada in this geopolitical climate when allies are questioning the reliability of the United States.
• "We had a discussion about Canada's options and the fact is that under the [F-35] contract, as you may know, there are — after a certain number of purchases — we have options on subsequent aircraft," the prime minister said.
• It was an obvious reference to the company that placed second in Canada's fighter jet competition — Saab, the Swedish defence giant. It offered its Gripen-E fighter jet and proposed assembling it in Canada.

Posted: Mar 19, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: March 19

- CBC -

♪♫NATURE'S SOUNDS AND MUSIC TO SOOTH THE SOUL♪♫

✨~Awaken and follow the inner light within you~✨

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0Ys-CEOZc