Looking Backwards …
LB #1
We should know by Tuesday whether or not thousands of dockworkers have gone on strike potentially snarling supply chains. This from Owen Klinsky from the DailyCaller.com, “The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) — which represents more than 85,000 workers at three dozen U.S. ports along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico and whose members collectively handle about half of the U.S.’ maritime imports — has threatened to go on strike for the first time since 1977 if their wage and automation protection demands are not met by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) — the coalition representing shipping employers. The move could cost the U.S. economy roughly $5 billion a day in trade, and would massively disrupt supply chains in a way not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, causing rapid inflation and hiking the cost of living for everyday Americans, experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation…The Biden-Harris administration’s Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg took paternity leave in 2021 amid an ongoing supply chain and ports crisis, with watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) obtaining records revealing Buttigieg refused key meetings during that time…The negotiations are largely centered around worker pay, with media reports indicating the ILA is demanding a 77% pay increase over six years and has rejected an offer from the USMX to increase wages by 40%. ILA representatives say the significant wage increase is necessary to combat recent inflation, with prices up over 20% since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.”
There is a lot to unpack here. I had to throw Ole’ pothole Pete hopefully won’t be unavailable to do his job after recovering after having a baby this time. He might actually have to do some work at Transportation Secretary. 77% increase in wages is pretty nice work if you can get it. I think we are quite a ways away from an agreement here, but I will be anxious to see if the government steps in to try and resolve this. It is kind of a catch 22. If Biden/Harris or whoever is running the government right now decides to make the workers go back to work that hurts the union/Democratic alliance. If they step aside and the strike goes on for any length of time, there will be higher prices again quickly and shortages. It puts the Dems in a tough spot politically before the election.
LB #2
I want to share with you the story of Ursula Bannister. She is 79 years old which is a ripe old age for a Bannister. Every year she climbs the three-hour journey up to High Rock Lookout in the Cascade Mountains outside of Tacoma, Wa. It’s a lovely spot with views of Mt Rainer on a clear day. She goes to remember the day 23 years ago when she sprinkled her mother’s ashes there. This from Sydney Page from the Washington Post, “Bannister, 79, usually hikes with a family member or friend along the 3.2 mile trail, which is a relatively difficult trek. This year, on Aug. 28, Bannister went on her own, figuring she’d be fine because she’s an experienced hiker…Bannister arrived at the trail around 11 a.m. and made her way to the lookout. As she headed back down, she made a misstep, and her foot got caught on a hole in the ground. She fell forward.
“By the time I sat up, my foot was pointing the wrong way. I knew right away I had broken my leg,” she said. “I tried to get up with my hiking pole and it collapsed on me.”
Folks, our Bannister here is in a tough spot. She cried out for help and someone called 911 and they said a search and rescue party would be there in 5 hours. Two men who were on the lookout came over to see what was going on. That’s when kindness happened, “Troy May, a U.S. Air Force Airman stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was at the lookout that day with his fiancé and a friend who was visiting from New Mexico.
“I knew I was capable of carrying her down,” said May, 20. “I really didn’t make much of a decision, I just knew I needed to carry her down if I could. May eased Bannister onto his back and started hiking downward. He carried her for most of the nearly three-hour journey, and his friend, Layton Allen, carried her for the rest.
Others pitched in as well: Shortly into the hike, May’s boots were giving him blisters. A man he didn’t know on the trail saw the situation and gave May his shoes.
“That was just one kindness,” said Bannister.
A physical therapist bandaged Bannister before they headed down the trail and built a makeshift splint for her leg out of wooden scraps, and an occupational therapist did breathing exercises with her to help calm her.”
On a random trail amongst strangers, these people all pitched in to help Ursula down the mountain, and they drove her to the hospital.
Troy May, Layton Allen, and fellow hikers I bestow this week’s Have More Grace Challenge award to you on behalf of your efforts. It has been too long since we recognized something good and kind. We live in a cynical world and social media can be a pithy place, so it is wonderful to acknowledge when something noble happens.
LB #3
Robby Starbuck is back in the news. The man responsible or somewhat responsible for the conservative blue-collar companies across the country axing their woke and DEI corporate policies. This time it is Caterpillar and Toyota that are scrapping its programs. I think everyone feels very safe doing so right now, but I think it is instructive to remember that they edged in this direction in the first place. It seems that there is a CEO or corporate problem. Perhaps that is also why we have such a great income inequality in this country. The woke are pushing the ideologies and the workers are a little too busy not holding them accountable. After all, there are sports bets to make. What I do find interesting is that Starbuck has only picked the low hanging fruit so far. When he goes after the truly woke and carries with him the machete of half the country behind him then I will be truly interested to see what happens. Take for example, Nike with their kneeling and Colin Kaepernick stance etc. Yet, I see the youths of many a conservative wearing the swoosh. When Robby starts reminding Oregon that Republicans buy shoes too, then let me know.
Looking Forwards…
LF#1
Hurricane Helene sure caused a mess and the clean-up will take a while. The hurricane ripped ashore with a 15-20 storm surge that decimated some coastal areas of Florida just north of Tampa Bay. The storm was just getting started though. The storms moved inland and caused some of the largest inland flooding ever seen over parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. This from Dahlia Faheid and Michelle Watson from CNN Weather, “More than 400 roads remain closed in western North Carolina, the state Department of Transportation said Saturday morning. “All roads in Western NC should be considered closed,” its post on X reads. Multiple sections of Interstates 40 and 26, main thoroughfares for traveling into and out of Asheville, remain closed Saturday either due to flooding or landslides, according to the state Department of Transportation… More than 50 people stranded on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, were rescued after rapidly rising waters from Helene made evacuation impossible Friday morning, Ballad Health said…Over in Georgia, multiple people were trapped after at least 115 structures in the southern city of Valdosta in Lowndes County were heavily damaged by Helene, Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday.” The images of the dams spilling over the top were also chilling as the word was out that a dam collapse was imminent, but luckily, it held. We didn’t want another William Mulholland situation. It would have only added to what was incredible flooding. Bridges, interstates, and downtowns all washed away.
LF#2
Israel attacked Hezbollah again on Friday with shock and awe. They dropped what appeared to be bunker busting bombs on General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah killing him in his underground bunker. This from Georgie English for the US Sun, “Nasrallah, 64, was killed in the deadly missile barrage in Beirut, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Confirmation of Nasrallah’s death would mark a pivotal night for Israel after his 32-year reign as boss where he built up the group as a formidable force in the Middle East.
No official statement has been released by Hezbollah as of yet.
The fighter jet blitz also wiped out several other commanders and officials including Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, the IDF claim.”
They are systematically killing all of Hezbollah’s top leaders. Iran has yet to respond, but tensions are high in the region.
LF#3
The US Navy’s oiler Big Horn ran aground Monday causing significant damage. This from John Konrad at gCaptain via ZeroHedge, “gCaptain has received multiple reports that the US Navy oiler USNS Big Horn ran aground yesterday and partially flooded off the coast of Oman, leaving the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group without its primary fuel source.
First reported on the gCaptain forum and by maritime historian Sal Mercogliano, a leaked video and photos show damage to the ship’s rudder post and water flooding into a mechanical space… Compounding the problem is the fact that the Big Horn is the only oiler the Navy has in the Middle East. One shipowner told gCaptain that the Navy is scrambling to find a commercial oil tanker to take its place and deliver jet fuel to the USS Abraham Lincoln.
If the Navy resorts to using a commercial oil tanker as a temporary replacement, it would need to install a Consolidated Cargo Handling and Fueling (CONSOL) system for underway replenishment operations. This system includes specialized refueling rigs, tensioned fueling hoses, and high-capacity fuel pumps—all essential for safely transferring fuel to warships at sea. The tanker would also require robust communication and control systems to ensure precise coordination during refueling maneuvers…Commercial tankers are significantly slower than Navy oilers, which could leave the USS Abraham Lincoln more vulnerable to attack during aviation fuel loading operations.”
This is a pretty serious problem to have with our aircraft carrier in the Middle East potentially as a sitting duck. I saw this movie in 1986 and it took some fancy flying to bring our boys safe and sound. The problem with this oiler situation is that it highlights just how thin we are as we try to play policeman around the world. Do you think Iran would be sitting by if we weren’t hovering over Israel’s shoulder? We are trying to be the big dog that we once were, but we have one carrier in the Middle East and it is damn near adrift. The Houthis control the Red Sea area, the goat herders kicked us out of Afghanistan and yet, we are trying to pick a fight with Russia, the world’s largest nuclear power. I think we need a little bit of humility here and step back from the global stage and see that we need to get our house in order before we try to impose our will on others.
The Federal Spending on war hasn’t even started
Sincerely Yours,
C Thomas Printer
The Dow Jones finished trading …at 42,313.
The 10-year Treasury bond is at …at 3.751%
The price of Brent Crude is … at $71.86 per barrel.
The price of gold is … at $2,685/oz.
The price of silver is … at $32.09/oz.
I leave you with this from the information superhighway, What did our parents do before the internet? I asked my 10 brothers and sisters, but they didn’t know either.
Thank you for listening today and you can find all of our articles and more on our website cthomasprinter.com.