Not-my-president Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in a negotiated agreement, will appear before staff of the intelligence committee in a closed door session to explain his meetings with Russian officials, dealings with Russia and omissions on his application for security clearance, among other things.  Ahead of that meeting he put out a written statement, filled with denials and excuses.



He will NOT be under oath.  It is an appearance only, not sworn testimony.

He will NOT be appearing before the intelligence committee,  just staff personnel.

He will NOT comment in open public session.  It will be behind closed doors.

He has issued a written statement ahead of his appearance.  He will only repeat.

So much for transparency.  But, how could we expect any less.

Kushner, son of real estate tycoon Charles Kushner, fits the mold.  In 2005 Charles Kushner was convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion and witness tampering.  He was sentenced to federal prison for two years, serving only 14 months of his sentence.   After his release he returned to his career in real estate.

Yesterday not-my-president Trump helped commission the new aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford.  The carrier was built at a construction cost of $12.8 Billion with an additional $4.7 Billion spent on R&D alone. $17.5 billion combined.  $17,500,000,000.

A Washington Post/ABC poll taken on July 10-13 showed that 50% of Americans preferred "ObamaCare," while 24% preferred the GOP plan, with 13% liking neither.  The poll also found that only 59% of Republicans supported their party's proposal.



With 63% polled saying it is more important for the government to provide healthcare rather than cutting taxes, Mitch McConnell and his male cronies kept pushing their plan.

A majority of Americans saw through the GOP healthcare plan as only a modification of the ACA, slashing coverages and robbing dollars from Medicaid to give to the wealthy.  All the while McConnell kept up with the behind closed doors strategy and plan to push it through without public hearings.

It's hot across most of the nation and that includes here on the farm.



We don't have it as bad as the southwestern states, however with the high humidity it makes our afternoon heat oppressive.  One thing for sure, it cuts down on all the mowing.



Finding shade is the order of the day.







As for me, I head for the air conditioned house in the afternoon heat.

Just one day more...

Fifty years ago, in a landmark decision, Loving v. Virginia 388 U.S. 1 (1967), the United States Supreme Court invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage.  The case was brought by Mildred and Richard Loving, who had been sentenced to a year in prison for marrying each other.

Since the batteries don't do well sitting in the Arizona heat all summer, we decided to bring our Club Car golf cart home to the farm, especially after we shelled out $836 for new batteries in December.



Now that it is at the farm we decided it would be a good idea to get a back seat for it so the grandkids can go for a ride.  It's also handy to tool around the farm.  After searching the internet I found a place on ebay in Austin, TX with the best price, which included free shipping.  At over 100 lbs. unassembled, that has to cost a few bucks to ship to Nebraska. So, I ordered it with tan cushions to match the seat in the golf cart.



After a couple of weeks the UPS truck pulled in the yard and unloaded the box, which was taped and strapped shut.  As with most UPS drivers, he knows us and is super friendly. Realizing it was a heavy box he asked where I wanted it so I wouldn't have to lug it myself. Upon opening the carton, I saw the cushions were black.


Geez... now what?!  My wife suggested just going ahead with the cushions, however after considering how hot they would be to sit on after being out in the sun, I decided to call the company.  "No problem, we'll send out tan cushions and you can switch them," was the response.  "There will be a will call tag with it and just put the black ones in the same carton and we'll have UPS pick them up."

In the meantime I put the assembly together on the golf cart, less cushions.  Two weeks later the UPS guy pulls in the yard.  I went to the door of the truck and told him just to pass it out the side door.  "I don't think so," was his response.  "Same place as last time?" he said.  Out the back door of the truck he unloads another box weighing over 100 lbs.  What the heck?!  They shipped another complete assembly with tan cushions.  Since I had the assembly ready to go on the golf cart it was a simple matter of attaching the tan cushions and putting the black ones in the replacement box they shipped.


I contacted the company by email (so I'd have a record of it) and told them they shipped another complete assembly.  They said they would sent a will call tag and have UPS pick it up.  "Good," I said, "since I can't even lift the box by myself."  That was three weeks ago and I haven't heard a thing from them or gotten a will call tag.

I wonder if they figure that they've already broken even on the deal and it is too expensive to ship it back.  Anyway, it's sitting in the barn... waiting.

Just one day more...