Author: Californiacontrarian

For many years after I had retired I fantasized about buying a pickup truck. Did I need a pickup truck? No, not really, although on occasion, having a pickup truck would have been convenient. Did I ever get a pickup truck? … No, although a few months back I read that Ford was discounting its F-150 by $10,000! I asked myself, “Why would Ford reduce the price of its F-150 by $10 K?”

Answer … because this reduced price was on its F-150 Lightning EV, and the F-150 Lightning EV is just not selling. In fact it is not selling to such a degree that Ford is now reducing its production of F-150 Lightning EV by one half.

From Hot Air:

“Bloomberg News reports that the company’s flagship plant in Dearborn, Michigan now intends to produce 1,600 vehicles per week in 2024, down from 3,200 in 2023.

The move comes just months after Ford announced it was slashing prices on the Lightning by $10,000. And though the company cited lower “battery raw material costs and continued work on scaling production and cost” for its price cut, it’s becoming painfully obvious that low demand for EVs was the primary catalyst.

AEIR describes this development as an example of ‘what happens when companies heed planners instead of consumers.’ That sounds like a very accurate assessment. They note that Ford appears to be trying to cover their tracks by crediting lower raw material costs for batteries and more efficient production line practices. But the harsh reality is that the demand for these vehicles is nowhere near the sunny projections put forth by the government.”

Could this move by Ford be the initial “chink in the armor” of these government  EV mandates?

Still from Hot Air:

“Around the United States. Car lots are filled with electric vehicles, many with their original sales prices reduced. Most people simply aren’t interested in purchasing an EV despite any mandates being issued by state governments or the White House. There are various reasons for this, including the high cost of these vehicles (despite generous, taxpayer-funded rebates) and the uncertainty of there being sufficient charging stations to keep them running. Now Ford has seemingly woken up to the reality of the situation.”

So at this point in time, I guess that I will never fulfill my fantasy as I do not intend to purchase an EV. Yes, I suppose that I could still  be interested in a Ford F-150, but only if the gas powered ones go on sale !!

1/2/24

Anybody who is pretty familiar with baseball is familiar with the term, “Alphonse-Gaston” or an “Alphonse-Gaston Act.” The phrase has a specific meaning in baseball lingo: when two fielders allow a catchable ball to drop between them, it is known as “doing the Alphonse-Gaston Act.” Here it involves neither of the two involved players taking charge, and instead of shouting “I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” each remains silent, and thus the message to each other is, You take it.” In baseball the result of neither taking charge is that what should have been an easy out turns out to be a hit for the hitting team. In baseball doing the “Alphonse-Gaston” implies that each of the deferential players is at fault as neither took charge.

The other day I was listing to Senator John Kennedy (R,LA) questioning the head of the FBI and asking about security on Jan6. He asked, “How come the FBI didn’t call out the National Guard? As the FBI had informants in the crowd, how come the FBI didn’t act on what was being relayed by these informants?” The head of the FBI basically said that it was not the responsibility of the FBI to call out the National Guard. But Senator Kennedy didn’t stop there. “What about the House’s Sergeant at Arms. Why didn’t he call for the National Guard?” … He didn’t know.that answer. “What about the Senate’s Sergeant at Arms?” … Again, he didn’t know. “What about the Capitol Security? … Again, not in his bailiwick.

To me this sounds like a catastrophic immense Alphonse-Gaston Act! 

Or could it be that this was a semi-planned Alphonse-Gaston Act? Could it be that prior to Jan6, the word was out that it would just be best if there was no security? Could it be that those who know best figured that some of the yo-yos in the crowd could be inveigled or perhaps even provoked to enter the Capitol. Could it be that some thought if we just open the doors to the Capitol, many of the lemmings will take this as an invitation?

Although I do not usually consider myself to be a conspiracy theorist, one must admit that Jan6  has led to many past and still continuing adverse  consequences for Donald Trump. Personally, however, when having to choose between multiple simultaneous supposedly coincidental Alphonse-Gaston Acts by responsible individuals, verses a planned “open the doors, and they will come” scenario, I am going with the latter!

1/1/24

californiacontrarian

As is my Sunday tradition, I write about someone who is deserving of our praise. Today this is the family of Jeremy Medina.

Jeremy Medina, 17, was at baseball practice in Georgia on Nov. 20. Medina suffered a horrific injury when he allegedly leaned into a batting cage net while a teammate was hitting balls.

Gainesville High School Principal Jamie Green explained, “As a player followed through on his swing, Jeremy leaned into the net and was struck in the head. There is no horseplay, no misconduct, and no intent.”

Medina was rushed to the hospital and has been hospitalized in a coma ever since.

This story struck home with me because of something similar that happened when I was about eight. During the summer my friends and I used to walk over to the Emmett grade school ball field to watch the older kids play softball. The good thing about this was that we could get very close to the field and hence very close to the teenage ball players. The bad thing was that we (I) got very close to the on-deck area where the next hitter was warming up by vigorously swinging a baseball bat. Yes, I was hit in the head. Unconscious temporarily? … I do not recall, but back in those days, nothing much was made of it, except I was a lot more careful about where I was in reference to the on-deck hitter.

“The initial trauma to his head was significant and caused him to lose consciousness. Medina was put on life support at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

On Wednesday,, 12/6/23,  Medina had “progressed to death by neurological criteria, or brain dead.”

Jeremy’s father, David Medina, announced that they would donate the teenage athlete’s organs and tissue.

“Not only will lives be saved and improved, but the family members, friends, and communities of those who receive his organs and tissues will be forever impacted by the memories made possible thanks to a second chance at life,” the distraught father said. “Although his life ended so young, Jeremy’s legacy will continue through his selfless decision to give the gift of life. We encourage others to consider following Jeremy’s example and register your decision to be an organ and tissue donor.”

Medina said the family has relied on their faith to get through the heartbreaking situation. “We are a family of faith. We walk by faith and not sight,” Medina proclaimed.

Whereas we can all admire the resilience of the Medina family, perhaps a silent moment of prayer is called for.

12/31/23

As is my Sunday tradition, I write about someone who is deserving of our praise. Today this is the family of Jeremy Medina.

Jeremy Medina, 17, was at baseball practice in Georgia on Nov. 20. Medina suffered a horrific injury when he allegedly leaned into a batting cage net while a teammate was hitting balls.

Gainesville High School Principal Jamie Green explained, “As a player followed through on his swing, Jeremy leaned into the net and was struck in the head. There is no horseplay, no misconduct, and no intent.”

Medina was rushed to the hospital and has been hospitalized in a coma ever since.

This story struck home with me because of something similar that happened when I was about eight. During the summer my friends and I used to walk over to the Emmett grade school ball field to watch the older kids play softball. The good thing about this was that we could get very close to the field and hence very close to the teenage ball players. The bad thing was that we (I) got very close to the on-deck area where the next hitter was warming up by vigorously swinging a baseball bat. Yes, I was hit in the head. Unconscious temporarily? … I do not recall, but back in those days, nothing much was made of it, except I was a lot more careful about where I was in reference to the on-deck hitter.

“The initial trauma to his head was significant and caused him to lose consciousness. Medina was put on life support at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

On Wednesday,, 12/6/23,  Medina had “progressed to death by neurological criteria, or brain dead.”

Jeremy’s father, David Medina, announced that they would donate the teenage athlete’s organs and tissue.

“Not only will lives be saved and improved, but the family members, friends, and communities of those who receive his organs and tissues will be forever impacted by the memories made possible thanks to a second chance at life,” the distraught father said. “Although his life ended so young, Jeremy’s legacy will continue through his selfless decision to give the gift of life. We encourage others to consider following Jeremy’s example and register your decision to be an organ and tissue donor.”

Medina said the family has relied on their faith to get through the heartbreaking situation. “We are a family of faith. We walk by faith and not sight,” Medina proclaimed.

Whereas we can all admire the resilience of the Medina family, perhaps a silent moment of prayer is called for.

12/31/23

In the past consistently I have not been reluctant to make fun of those individuals who appear to be incessant face-mask wearers. However on Christmas Day at church I had a “re-think” of sorts.

Shortly after the service had started, I observed that a middle-aged gentleman entered church with his wife. Whereas he was wearing a mask, his wife wasn’t. They sat in a pew that was well removed from any other church attendees.

In my mind as I was beginning denigrate the mask-wearing gentleman, I was having second thoughts about my rush to judgement. Perhaps because it was Christmas, I began to think more charitably. Could it be that there was a reasonable explanation for his wearing of the mask ?

Actually, I did think of two reasons that could sensibly explain his behavior. 

Could it be that he has some type of serious medical condition and is undergoing chemotherapy? Granted masks are far from the perfect defense against an infection, but if an individual is in a compromised situation, perhaps, even a little bit can help.

In addition, could it be that he was on the tail end of a recent Covid infection? As there seems to be a significant increase in Covid just recently, could it be that he was following the old recommendations of isolating for five days, and then masking and distancing from others for an additional five days?

Certainly either explanation could explain his masking while in church on Christmas Day.

I felt good that I was able to come up with a charitable explanation on Christmas. No, I did not follow him to his car. If he had continued wearing the face-mask while in his car, then all of my charitable thoughts would have been for nought!

12/29/23

“How many politicians are principled?” Granted this is a somewhat rhetorical question, as most politicians have a tendency to go the way the wind blows on various issues. However, if one does come across a truly principled politician, he/she is a keeper.

The recent partisan Colorado Supreme Court decision to keep Donald Trump off of the primary ballot would have been a perfect chance for the Republican candidates to demonstrate their individual principles. Most of the responses of the Republican candidates were not a demonstration of principle, but were rather milquetoast-like. The exception was Vivek Ramaswamy. Admittedly, as I did not watch any of the pseudo-Republican debates, I did not know much about Ramaswamy. 

Much of the following is from Wikipedia:

Vivek Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati to Indian immigrant parents. He graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor’s degree in biology and later earned a law degree (JD) from Yale Law School. Ramaswamy worked as an investment partner at a hedge fund before founding Roivant Sciences. He also co-founded an investment firm, Strive Asset Management. In August 2023, Forbes estimated Ramaswamy’s net worth at more than $950 million; his wealth comes from biotech and financialbusinesses.

So basically, he is very well educated and very rich. But is he principled?

Almost immediately Ramaswamy  pledged to withdraw from the Colorado GOP primary ballot after the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot.

Wow! No hesitation! No waiting to see what the polls were showing!

This guy is a keeper! POTUS ? … probably not. However, my guess is that he will find a spot in the next Trump administration, as he is a keeper!

12;28/23

For months prior to the start of the Russia-Ukraine War, I wrote more than a few op-eds chastising Joe Biden for essentially sitting on his hands. For months Putin was amassing troops in Russia along the border of Ukraine and Russia. While our illustrious commander-in-chief did nothing, the massive Russian troop build-up continued to increase, and in February, 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine. At that time what did Joe Biden think? Certainly Putin was not lining up 100,000 troops just for fun! However, Joe Biden appeared to be paralyzed … paralyzed with indecision.

At that time I was criticized by some for being too rough on “poor Joe Biden.” To those who were on my case for coming down on “poor Joe Biden,” I ask, “How did Biden’s fickle indecisiveness work out?”

Unfortunately, we were now in another one of Joe Biden’s indecisive periods with the what to do about the Houthi’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Shortly after becoming President JB removed the Houthi’s from the list of terror organizations after former President Donald Trump’s administration had designated the Houthis as a terror organization. Certainly at this point with the Houthi’s terrorizing shipping lanes in the vital Red Sea by launching more than 100 drone and missile attacks against civilian transport ships, the Houthi’s are in clear violation of international law, and are clearly a terrorist group. 

 Biden’s response -> nothing! … indecision! inertia!

Hopefully Biden will not continue to fiddle while the Red Sea burns! It’s only a matter of time until an American gets killed as a consequence of a Houthi drone or missile!

12/27/23

californiacontrarian

Part and parcel with EVs is that they need to be charged.

From Real Clear Investigations:

“California is at the vanguard of the nation’s EV transition, with more than 1 million electric vehicles among the state’s 31-million-plus registered vehicles, and EVs accounting for about 25% of new car sales in the second quarter.”

This sounds pretty good for the future of EVs, however there are a few practical problems as EVs need to be charged.

In California, which is slated to ban sales of new gasoline-powered cars in just 12 years, government estimates indicate the state may need to install at least 20 electric chargers for every gas pump now in service to create a reliable, seamless network. California now has about 11,000 gas stations, convenience stores, and other businesses that sell gasoline, which roughly converts to about 110,000 individual gas nozzles, according to an estimate by Jeff Lenard, vice president of Strategic Industry Initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores. That means the transition from fossil fuels to electrons will require California to install at least 20 EV charging ports for every gas nozzle by 2035.

According to my calculations … 20 x 110,000 = 2,420,000 charging stations! … another practical problem.

Despite California’s massive infrastructure investment, now totaling nearly 94,000 public chargers, the state has fallen behind its goal of 250,000 public chargers by 2025 – and potentially 10 times that number by 2035, when the ban on new gasoline-powered cars takes effect. 

California has plenty of sunshine, and consequently there are many, many solar rooftop panels. However practically speaking these solar panels are for the most part restricted to the homes of the more affluent. And this leads to another practical problem. Namely, a “net zero” society inherently favors the haves over the have-nots. Renters and low-income families aren’t as likely to own private chargers, and electricity purchased from public chargers can cost five to 10 times as much as charging privately in a garage at home. To avoid penalizing the little guy, federal EV mandates require that 40% of benefits pay for public chargers in disadvantaged areas, while California requires that at least half go to such “equity” communities, where relatively few people currently drive EVs.

If the power for the EVs is not coming from solar rooftop panels, it most come from public charging stations. According to a California Energy Commission assessment, California will need more than 2.4 million public chargers to accommodate about 15.5 million electric cars, trucks, and buses by 2035. That breaks down to 2.11 million chargers (including 83,000 fast chargers) to support 15.2 million electric cars, as well as 256,000 depot chargers and 8,500 public chargers for 377,000 trucks and buses.

The sheer scale of a charging infrastructure means recruiting retailers and businesses to install and maintain chargers that are expected to lose money in the near future, with some likely to be written off as economic losses.

Massive public subsidies will be a crucial part of this effort because private industry is not willing to take the financial risks of betting on an uncertain future. Government subsidies mean complying with recordkeeping and reporting mandates and making sure chargers are online 97% of the time, while bearing the financial risk of vandalism, mechanical malfunctions, daily fluctuations in electricity pricing, and cashflow unpredictability.

Another issue with charging stations is, “how often do they not work?” Perhaps, another practical problem.

A University of California, Berkeley, study last year found similar results: only 72.5% of chargers in the Bay Area were functional. A newspaper columnist in California described the charging experience as miserable. “The misery was meted out in several ways,” he documented. “Charging stations were hard to find. Maps that locate stations were not reliable. Paying for a charge with a credit card often proved troublesome, sometimes impossible. Worst of all, way too many chargers were broken or otherwise out of order.”

12/26/23

On Sundays I identify individuals who we can all complement and praise.

On Dec. 3, at about 3:34 p.m., deputies and St. Francis Police officers arrived on the scene, located along Garnet St., north of Minneapolis, and found the men and pet stranded, having fallen through the ice.

A passerby who saw them struggling had managed to push a canoe out to keep them afloat while they awaited help. They had been immersed for an extended period and were hypothermic, as temperatures hovered just over freezing. The overly-thin ice and warmer temperatures were likely contributing factors in the incident.

From Epoch Bright:

After officers arrived, while they awaited marine rescuers, Deputy Chris Fjeld recognized the serious danger the men were in and took decisive action, placing his own life at risk. Cooperating with officers ashore, he secured himself to a rope held by his colleagues on the dock and crawled out onto the thin ice to fetch the men and dog.

“Where are you going?” one officer is heard saying. “Chris, I don’t like it.”“Either do I, but these guys are hypothermic,” Deputy Fjeld said.

The selfless deputy was able to reach the stranded party and help them crawl across the ice back to shore one by one. First responders then helped them onto dry ground.

“Deputy Fjeld made the decision to begin the rescue before the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office’s Marine Unit equipment and resources arrived,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “We are thankful all involved are ok and are proud of Deputy Fjeld’s selfless actions to help others in need.”

Deputy Fjeld recognized the gravity of the situation, and acted. He did not hesitate. He did not wait. He knew what needed to be done, and he did it without concern for his own safety. Truly a Minnesota hero!

12/24/23

As many of you are aware there is no doubt in my mind that that the 2020 election was fraudulent.

From BlazeMedia:

One in five voters who cast mail-in ballots during the 2020 presidential election admit to participating in at least one kind of voter fraud, according to a new poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute.

The national poll of 1,085 likely voters was conducted between November 30 and December 6, with a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points and a 95% level of confidence.

Specifically, 21% of mail-in voters admitted they filled out a ballot for a friend or family member; 19% of mail-in voters admitted that a friend or family member filled out a ballot on their behalf; 17% of mail-in voters admitted they voted in a state where they were no longer a permanent resident; and 17% of mail-in voters said they signed a ballot for a friend or family member with or without his or her permission.

Each of these instances constitutes voter fraud.

Taking only the first instance, this means that 21% of all mail-in ballots were fraudulent in 2020. It is important to note this number was likely much higher because the survey questions were not mutually exclusive. Though there is certainly some crossover between categories, some voters committed fraud by filling out a ballot for a friend or family member, while an entirely different subset of voters committed fraud by casting mail-in ballots in a state in which they were no longer permanent residents.

Using a conservative estimate, it appears likely that more than 14 million ballots cast in 2020 were fraudulent.

“There are many reasons why mail-in voting is less reliable than in-person voting.

State voter rolls are notoriously inaccurate. In 2012, the Pew Center on the States analyzed state voter registration rolls and found that “approximately 24 million — one of every eight — voter registrations in the United States are no longer valid or are significantly inaccurate. More than 1.8 million deceased individuals are listed as voters. Approximately 2.75 million people have registrations in more than one state.”

The survey indicates that the percentages of voter fraud among Republicans, Democrats, and unaligned voters were largely similar. It is vital to note, however, that this does not mean these fraudulent ballots simply canceled each other out.

According to the survey, 38% of Biden voters submitted mail-in ballots, compared to only 23% of Trump voters. As such, Biden received a much larger overall share of likely fraudulent ballots.”

Despite all of these concerns, only 0.80% of all absentee and mail-in ballots were rejected in 2020, according to Ballotpedia. Clearly, nearly all fraudulent ballots made it through our country’s gaping sieve of an electoral system.”

In view of these multiple “irregularities,” I am even more convinced that the 2020 election was FRAUDULENT!

12/23/23