Category: Government (Page 1 of 24)

National Parks are precious.

July 15, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 2 Comments

President Trump Orders National Parks to Raise Fees on International Visitors

It was a bold choice to wear a straw boater hat for a serious backpacking trip, but it works. This is 1991, in Andalusia, Spain. Gorge, in the Wally Cleaver shirt, was a fun work friend, and Isabel, with the pink backpack, was my best friend and savior. The other four were friends of theirs.

My Spaniards and I were backpacking in the Sierra Nevada National Park. That seems like an unlikely name for a national park in Spain, but it means “snow covered mountains”.

la Fête Nationale Française

July 14, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

“Bastille Day” is how you say, “4^th of July” in the metric system.

This video explains Bastille Day in less than 3 minutes.

The US as an ally or enemy.

July 13, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

Pew Research: People in Many Countries Consider the U.S. an Important Ally

For this Pew Research Center analysis, we asked respondents in 25 nations which country they think is the most important ally to their own. Then we asked which country they think poses the greatest threat to their own.

Pew Research surveyed almost 30,000 people and looked at the ally/enemy question several different ways. Respondents didn’t choose from a list, but could write anything down.

What if Trump won in 2020?

July 13, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

America Would Be Better Off If Trump Won in 2020

At first blush, the idea that things would be better had Trump been peacefully re-inaugurated on January 20, 2021, seems nuts. But we can all agree it would have been good if there had been no “stop the steal” rally, no gatherings of Christian-right extremists blowing shofars, no Capitol riot, no shattered windows, no dead or injured police officers, and no enduring right-wing myth of a rigged election.

An interesting thought experiment by a Leftist.

OTC Ivermectin

July 10, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

These States Now Allow OTC Ivermectin, and More May Follow

Currently four states — Tennessee, Arkansas, Idaho, and Louisiana — have passed OTC Ivermectin laws.

Federalism and states being the laboratories of democracy, is a good idea, but it seems odd that states set their own pharmacy laws. Since they do, it’s good to make Ivermectin an OTC medication. I might have hookworms. You don’t know.

Cracking down on OnlyFans.

July 9, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

Sweden Cracks Down on OnlyFans – Will U.S. Follow Suit?

Porn is an awkward topic. Anyone old enough and not specifically avoiding it, knows a bit about the evolution of pornography.

Tragic deaths at Camp Mystic.

July 8, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

New Jersey native on first rescue mission with Coast Guard helps save 165 Texas flood victims: ‘American hero’

The central Texas floods were terrible, with the Camp Mystic events being particularly tragic. Having a guy like this on the ground at Camp Mystic, directing the rescue efforts, had to be a great comfort.

Scott Ruskan, a 26 year old rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard, is a hero, and sounds like one.

Honestly, I’m mostly just a dude. I’m just doing a job. This is what I signed up for…

Building the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator and using it on Iran.

July 5, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

TWZ: Los Alamos Scientist’s Insights On The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator

This interview convinces me that Gary Stradling is a smart guy with a good attitude. Good thing he is on our side.

This is very sophisticated work. It is not casual, and it’s not speculative. These are real experts who are doing the work. Careful, technical, quantitative work to be able to deliver this kind of war-fighting capability to the services.

Do more than enjoy the holiday.

July 4, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 1 Comment

When I worked at Caterpillar, my division had a facility in Leicester, England. Working internationally, there is the time difference to accommodate, but also a holiday difference.

Retirement can be complicated.

July 2, 2025 / Richard Nestoff / 0 Comments

Social Security is not a retirement plan, so it doesn’t have to make financial sense. It’s a program to make sure everyone gets some money.

My phone appointment with an SSA rep just concluded. He explained why they aren’t sending me as much money as I’d like.