But first, this government shutdown.  From the  New York Times  this morning: Each department identifies people critical to protecting life and property, and they keep working during a government shutdown. Think federal law enforcement officers, air traffic controllers and T.S.A. officers at airports. Not all agencies rely on appropriations for funding. That is why some government services continue uninterrupted. Mail is still delivered, and Social Security and Medicare payments continue.   Many of the people who keep the government running will be working without pay until the government reopens. Afterward, the law says, they must receive back wages . Further: Big difference about whether a federal worker is furloughed or fired ( same as layoff) . If furloughed, you WILL get back pay for those days not at work when you return.. If fired, you are fired. President Trump and Congressional members still get paid during a shutdown . This is the first stoppage since Janua...

SORRY ABOUT YESTERDAY.  I FINISHED THAT BLOG, BUT NEGLECTED TO POST IT.  You can read it by clicking on  THE HAPPIEST STATE IN THE USA . ************************ Yes, much of our Federal government is shut down.   Read this for details . The Hamas rejected President Donald Trump's 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan.   Watch this video . Defense Secretary Hegseth and President Trump yesterday summoned all the important generals into a room in Virginia and ....well,  here is what Jimmy Kimmel reported .  Quoting  Politico : Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech to top generals was supposed to serve as a rallying cry for military exceptionalism — but it didn’t land that way with many of the people it was targeting. Numerous defense officials — who watched senior brass scramble to Washington and then sit through a partisan speech from President Donald Trump and a return to old-school military standards by Hegseth — were left wondering why the event ...

  But first, the latest news of the day.   President Donald Trump met with Israel's President Benjamin Netanyahu.   In a follow-up press conference they agreed to  Trump's 20-point peace plan . Hamas hasn't seen it yet, it says. But Team Trump-Netanyahu is not this time giving the Hamas any choice:  accept the plan or get totally destroyed! Haven't before seen this type of strategy.  Might work. By now Trump has met with Congressional leaders to work out a plan to avert a government shutdown at 12:01AM Wednesday.  Watch the news. Supreme Court met in private today to discuss what they will do at their next session, which opens on October 2, with official public hearings beginning on October 6. Jessica Sanchez has had quite a journey through both America's Got Talent and American Idol.  Want perseverance?  She epitomizes that term. But first, who is she? She was born on 4August1995 in Chula Vista, California, mother from the Philippi...

This could well be my most humdrum posting ever.  Today, I will try to simplify all you need to know about the Federal Reserve System.  Why? The Federal Reserve today cut the interest rate for the first time this year.   President Trump's political pressure and weakening labor market were reasons.   The U.S. lost jobs in June. So far this year, the economy has added 598,000 jobs, compared with 1.4 million for the first eight months of 2024. The unemployment rate also ticked higher last month to 4.3%, a level not seen since September 2017 outside of the Covid-19 pandemic. The cut was from 4.25% to 4%.  I did not know there were so many members on the Committee, but the vote was 11-1.  The dissenter was newly appointed governor ( members are called governors ) Stephen Miran.  He wanted a reduction of half a percent.  Trump has two others on the panel, and they went for the quarter point.   This lower rate should help businesses hire, ...