Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

DeWitt Bacon

No ice down here in the red states. It mkes it hard to make frozen marguritas though.

Michael Wetzel

My Opinion : I know you die hard Trump people are not going to agree with me in any shape or form. You know I voted for this idiot because I hate socialism/communism ! Through his arrogance, extreme egotism, unprofessioalism as President ( ie, flipping people off with the middle finger, yelling F.U. to individuals, calling women inappropiate names, etc.,etc. ) and far too many other examples I will not bother to list , except to mention Greenland, Venezuela, Ukraine, Canada and the EU as examples. I believe there is the possibility that he is losing control of his functioning mental capabilities, as a rational individual. Not to mention I personally beleive he is ' evil '. If this in fact can be proven, he is in deep shit, and we possibly as well !!!L.......

Michael Kelly

Mike Wetzel, et. al. I have mixed feelings about Trump and they have increased since he took office. I think the idea of taking Greemland and Iceland is tantamount to providing the impetus for busting our NATO obligations, which I think Trump is very unwise to Scuttle. His posturing with Ukraine has always Irked Me,  especailly since he and the minah bird Vance who used the Feb. 2025 Meeting  with Zelenskyy at the WH to engage in what amounted to World Embarassment, and gave Putin additional excuse to Murder Ukraine's people while Trump and Vance, Each of which has never seen the Death and Destruction that putin has dealt ukraine, have Egg on thier Face. What has happened there should change any Rational Person's mind,

Now I know that Trump has done a very good Job domestically in his decision making, and in a large part his governance has been correct internationally, but with the War in Ukraine, he is a Loser in my Book. He seems to have no regard for them, and his attitude shows a strong sympathy with putin, I guess Trump fantasizes about building Trump Towers in all of Russia's major Cities.

It looks to me that Ukraine is going to whip putin's ass, despite Trump. If anyone deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for that Killer's War, it is Zelenskyy who has dealt with Trump like a Nanny deals with a Wet Diapered Spoiled Brat 'Its alright little Donny, Nanny will change you soon" . Right now, Ukrainians are freezing to death due to putin's delibefrate Destruction of the Ukraine's Power Grid, and his careless placing Military Vehicles next to the inner Workings of the Nuclear Power Plant in Vinnizhia ( sic ) which is the largest Nuclear Power Plant in all of the World. putin doesn't care if he creates another Chernobyl x 10, his goal is to kill people until the only people left are Russians. 

Someone needs to take Donald aside, and give him a strong Talking Too about how he has F'd Up over there. I have decided to help out how I can, so instead of Hating putin, I have formed a 501 (c) (3) to raiise money to buy Wool Blankets for Ukraine so the people can stay Warm since they have almost no Heat or Light. I buy the blankets from Surplus porviders, and will ship them to whoever can distribute them to the people who need them. A Surplus Wool Blanket 60 x 84 80% Wool, is about 25 dollars, and I have already bought some. I want to send them as many as I can. I might just send them to Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse which provides Food, Water, and other necessaries to poverty stricken people. Instead of bitching, it is far more productive to Save People's Lives. If the Spirit moves you then help out. My Goal is to ship people Blankets, Sanitary Sipping Straws, Fire Flints for Starting Fires with Wood, paper, leavesd etc., eventually small Cooking Stoves, and with everything else, Bibles. We are a Country that above all else, We help People who cannot help themselves, and we attract others because of this. Politicians do what they do usually because of money, which may or not be bad, depends on what is in the Person's Heart.  

Bill RIHS

Micheal, both, I have concerns too. I think he is getting over his skis on Greenland, Russia and Ukraine. However, almost everything else is spot on in my opinion. I'll try to overlook his personality defects or worse 😢.

Michael Wetzel

Michael, your a very intelligent man, so lets discuss a couple of items. His tariffs. Trump big claim he is generating trillions of dollars through them. Some individuals do not understand or comprehend who is actually paying the price because of these tariffs. You, me, and every jackman in the U.S.A., that's who. The cost of these tariffs are passed down to us through every damn item we purchase, by the sellers. Be it Drugstores, Walmarts, Frys, every business still in operation. Which brings up the fact that these tariffs has forced thousands of businesses such as Restaurants, Clothing stores, small Shops to have to close, many to never reopen again. Everything I need to purchase, I have been paying more for that item, as I'm sure is the case for you. By the way, has anyone received their two thousand dollars yet, that Trump keeps promising? I sure haven't....His passion for going after every individual who he has a perceived slight from, in his mind, is mind boggling. He far surpasses Biden. This was one of his main promisses while running for President, that he would never, ever do. I realize most all Presidents lie, but Trump is by far the biggest liar I have ever witnessed. I have said it before on this site, and I will repeat it again, President Reagan, was the best President in my life. We so badly need another one just like him..............

Maybe we should discuss his choice of Cabinet members sometime ,or lack there of..........

Michael Kelly

Bill Rihs, Mike Wetzel, et. al.  Trump does seem to be assuming way too much in making overtures about Greemland, Iceland, and by implication, automatically weakening even more than he has already, NATO, with his refusing to aid Ukraine, which now relies upon EU and individual Nations for aid in fighting Russia. I heard a very good Analyst discussing this on YouTube, a British/USA War Strategist or HIstorian if you want to call him that, and he just put it out there, that Trump's overall effect on the War, was to actually help putin with endless delays and arguments that go nowhere about Peace, when it really just buys putin more time to kill Ukrainians. putin is a Sociopath and you cannot deal with a Sociopath, because they can never lose. If you divert everyone's attention with Tariffs, that as you say Mike, just get paid for by consumers us then you weaken to a certain degree the economy after you reach a certain percentage increase. Why not sell to someone else, and avoid buying and selling to the USA. 

Trump wants to end up being an Isolationist in effect, which may have worked in the late 1800's up to the 1960.s but Speed of Travel/Deadliness  of Weapons/Information Technology breakthroughs have made Isolationism obsolete. News is consumed 24/7 from all over the World, and if you Focus on it you can run a World Events News Service from your Desk with a Laptop and make money at it without having to get out of your Pajamas until Noon. 

Frank Wiley

FYI--We are having one of the most DRY winters in recorded history here in Colorado.  Some of my Friends and Neighbors up here are starting to wonder why they questioned my Mountain Xeriscape.  I say mountain because I have both Aspens, a Colorado Blue Spruce and a few other Native/Very nice local high country plants that only need occasional water on a drip system and some hand watering by me in very dry periods.  I'm a golfer (well I should say I play golf, but a good golfer would say I'm a hacker) and while I understand the importance that golfers want to play of pristine fairways and greens.  Those fairways suck up millions of gallons of water that may be desperately needed.  Since I was a the Community Developer Business I felt some comfort in knowing that most of the new development in the majority of the Valley was land that was being converted from farming which used more water than a housing development.  Now though there are thousands of acres being developed in the desert.  New developments had to have a "100 YEAR" proof of water availability and I believe they still do.  However, I don't trust the claim they do. If you live in the Phoenix Metro area, go take a drive up I-17 and take the relatively new 303 outer loop heading west.  Hundreds (or Thousands of homes and businesses are being built in areas that were once desert.  It was eye opening to me!!  Thank-you!

Jim Coats

To Patty, Frank, DeWitt, David Rainwater and other classmates in the path of the big storm.....Bundle up, charge your cell phones and be careful!  Always have blankets in your vehicle too.

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Montana has been almost balmy this winter, very little snow and unusually warm temperatures, it's about 15 degrees outside, the coldest this year.  The cold, nasty stuff has been to the east of us.  I think living this far north we are, for the most part, always prepared for bitter cold, wind and snow to blow in.  

DeWitt Bacon

6" of snow on the ground and still coming down. But saying warm.

Frank Wiley

It's 7 degrees this morning and high of 38 yesterday.  We got 3" of snow yesterday but that was it.  The Ski Area  at 10,000 feet got about 10".  The storm brushed us but nothing much.

David Rainwater

11^o right now and 7" of snow; we don't get above freezing until Tuesday.  But we're snug and warm so far.  Am thinking power would be out by now in our all-electric country home in Eugene (plus no water from our well), so it's nice to be living in a city!

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Happy Birthday Frank...  🎉  🥳  🎂

Frank Wiley

Thanks Patty!  I don't feel 79!

Lester Cox

Everyone in the storms path: NO SNOW SHOVELING! No matter how good you feel, how in shape you are, there is a teenager somewhere who can use a few bucks. We're all too old to be out shoveling snow! Take care, be safe, stay warm. Sure wish our western mountains would get some of this snow. 

Lester Cox

Also, Happy Birthday Frank. 79 feels just like 78. I was listening to a news story about a grandma who did a fund raiser to help the family get some medical bills paid for her grandson and they were really hyping how this woman who was 81 could do all this and it struck me that she's frigging two years older than me. CRAP!

DeWitt Bacon

Snowed all night last night and still coming down some—fortunately, no wind, so the drifts are low. We have now probably 10-12" and still coming down slowly. And to think I was at Home Depot the other day making fun of all the people buying snow shovels. Lol. Snow is supposed to end sometime this evening. I'm sure the main roads have been cleared, but the street in front of my house doesn't look too good. I'm glad I don't have anywhere I need to go for a couple of days. I'll just sit back and relax with a cup of hot cocoa and a splash of rum to stay warm. Besides, I can't get to my car. It's sitting out in the street where I parked it under a mountain of snow. Lol

DeWitt Bacon

Frank, happy birthday, old man. I guess we can call this the year of the 79rs 

Michael Wetzel

Frank, here's wishing you a wonderful, snowy, safe, and warm Happy Birthday !....

DeWitt Bacon

Here's a bit of trivia for us to consider.

The Salem, Oregon, high school class of 1944 held its 80th class reunion in 2024, making it the record for class reunions.  We just had our 60th. Do you think we can make it another 20 years? Our class broke many other records. Think about it, Patty. Better get started planning now. 

Frank Wiley

Thank you everyone for the good wishes!  The good news about snow here is that at least we have a ski area that we can make good use of it!  

Jim Coats

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK!  You're a good man and I appreciate your counsel and your friendship.

Now, go have a big piece of cake!  Semper Fi!

This piece of incredibly timely and wonderful advice came to me from my wife, Julie.

"The purpose of life is not to be happy.  It is to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bill RIHS

Happy birthday frank 🎂🎉🇺🇸🍺

Michael Kelly

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FROM ONE OLD TIMER, TO ANOTHER:  Just remember that the best thing for a Golfer to do is if the Shots aren't working like they used to, its not you, its time to Trade in those old, worn out clubs, for some New Ones, and if that doesn't do it, then Change Golf Courses, or the kind of Golf Balls, or your Bag, or maybe the Shoes. Maybe get some relief by watching Charles Barkley try and learn how to hit a Golf Ball Again, and again, and again. Remember, Barkley had a great Golf Swing, hit the Driver over 400 yards, phenomenol distance, and then one day, he drove the Ball, and Beaned some Spectator and knocked the guy out Cold. Then, Barkley got that "Hitch" in his Swing and NO ONE COULD CURE IT, EVEN THE BEST COACHES. HIS LESSONS WITH LEDBETTER DID NO GOOD, IT WAS ON YOUTUBE. IT WAS SAD, VERY SAD. I think I have already told all of you about my Golfing Partner, Steve Blankenbiller, who drove a Ball off the 16th Tee here in California City Golf Course, and the Ball was a hard hit Line Drive, until about a 100 yards it Center Punched a Ground Squirrel, It was like seeing  a Western Movie, the Squirrel grabbed the Ball, and fell Backwards, after it fell, it rolled around on the Ground like a Bad Guy who had been GutShot in a John Wayne Movie, I think I even heard it Say ":You got me Pal" but that may be because this is California, and even the Ground Squirrels are 'Cinema Conscious" Anyway, poor little Squirrel dove into a Hole and didn't  emerge. As a Concerned Citizen I sent pictures from my Cellphone to PETA. 

Bill RIHS

Les, I forgot to thank you for the beer at your beautiful home after the last Beer Summit. I still can't figure out where I think I know your wife from😊. It was a Pleasure meeting her.

No snow or rain here😩. Just returned from Prescott, no snow and just a mist late yesterday😡. Stay safe everyone!!!!