MARCH 2025

The last month was primarily focused on the Andy-Liz wedding in Oaxaca, Mexico. Getting there was not part of the fun, with delayed flights allowing for about an extra six hours to become familiar with the Dallas airport.  Some rate it the worst airport in America. It took less than six hours to support that opinion. Before departure time there were six gate changes, for example. Fortunately, the wedding was better organized.  About 120 guests traveled there from Alaska and other places, and they were treated to a delightful experience.  Perhaps the highlight was the post ceremony parade through the streets which is a Mexican custom. Here is a clip.

The locals turn out of the various businesses along the route to watch and seemed to enjoy watching mostly Gringos celebrating the Mexican way.  For those who haven’t seen them elsewhere, here are a few wedding photos.

Of particular interest is this series of shots of Bev Hoffman after punching the shoulder of her favorite assault target. On the right she realizes the event was captured on film.

Despite that she asked the injured party to dance, which has never before happened.

Tariffs and Tribulations 

The visit to Mexico was rewarding.  Mexicans are uniformly welcoming to Americans, and in conversation they blame only Trump for the bad vibes on the political scene.  They love that their government is standing up to Trump, and they also loved it when visitors referred to the Gulf of Mexico.  Trump’s views toward Mexico, Canada, Greenland, Gaza and the Ukraine are foolish, and will do long term damage to America’s standing in the world. Here for example is one of the fallacies of Trump’s Greenland designs, posted by a Danish government leader Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Danish Foreign Minister.

If Greenland is so crucial to America’s security, simply reopen the bases.  But that is just a handy excuse, because what Trump really wants is access to the mineral wealth that lies under the ice, and his billionaire buddies want to extract it.

Speaking of billionaire buddies, is anyone else getting tired of having billionaires run the country?  They are in many key positions, they protect their own self-Interest, and if anyone truly believes they are looking out for the little guy, dream on.  The recent manipulation of the stock market which saw a bunch of the richest people in America profit immensely when Trump alerted them he was going to suspend the tariffs for 90 days is pure corruption.

More and more corruption shows up in the tariffs.  A select few get excused from the tariffs because they donated millions to Trump.  That puts them at a huge advantage over competitors.  There is no question that Trump loves tariffs because at least for now he can apply them and remove them without any oversight from Congress. Pure taxation in the hands of one man, a felon with six bankruptcies to his credit.  What could go wrong??

This month’s news is heavy on the issues facing America because this is obviously a crisis.  There are daily events that cause legal and political scholars to gasp.  Read this article by long time conservative writer Davis Brooks. When Brooks sounds the alarm, conservatives should listen. Many do, but are afraid to act. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke up and made it clear what is going on. Trump has struck fear into those who would oppose him and has followed through in every way possible. He is a tyrant who loves autocrats, so he has become one. Many people wonder how Hitler was able to do the harm he did before and during WWII. He got away with it because so many people looked the other way. And right now in America people are being put to the same test.  If you see all the things that have happened in the last three months and shrug your shoulders, you are like the Germans in the 1940’s. Trump is grabbing people off the street and sending them to faraway prison camps, with no court approval.  And when the Supreme Court tells him to stop, he ignores them. Numerous lower courts have told him he is wrong. But it doesn’t matter.  Too many in Congress fear him, and before they act the damage might be too great.  And there is worse yet to come.

Mandatory Moose & Other Characters

Wildlife is abundant on the farm this spring. This Sandhill crane walked past the window at the farm

Otters are always fun to watch.

This snapping turtle is among the biggest ever sighted on the farm.

This eagle nest on the farm seems to have young ones inside but they haven't been seen yet. It is certainly the first nest in the last 100 years on the farm where eagles were almost never seen until recently.

In Alaska, this Mandatory Moose is already sporting about an inch of antler.

This photo of Mt Edgecumbe near Sitka was taken by Jackie Klejka.

And this group of eagles shows that the population is alive and well on Kodiak Island, photo courtesy of Josh Fitzgerald.

ALO Update

Despite the turmoil, some legal stuff was done.  A traffic accident in Kodiak was settled for policy limits without litigation. ALO also submitted a notice of claim in a case involving the loss of a windshield in an airplane at high altitude.  ALO represents all nine passengers on this terrifying flight.

There are happy things as well.  Here is a painting by Ada from her kindergarten class. Grandparents are biased, but she has some talent.

Finally a video that must be viewed. For those out there that are concerned about the level of leadership provided by the US President, this collection of clips from his speeches will assure everyone that he really does have control of the situation.