My Latest Thoughts

The Ladder
By Mike Bibb

"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it." — Genesis 28:10. (28:12 in some editions)
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The Beat's article "Stairway to Heaven," Genesis 28:10, by Dan Stewart, (April 12, 2026) got me thinking the ladder analogy is a fitting description of a technique we can use when exiting our current Earthly assignment.

A ladder to climb to the next adventure.

We know ladders were designed millennia ago to assist people in reaching higher to perform certain tasks.

Ladders have multiple rungs to climb to the intended goal. Normally, it takes at least one rung, and as many as several dozen to accomplish what we're trying to achieve.

"Open the F**in' Strait""
By Mike Bibb

"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fu**in' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah." — President Donald Trump, Truth Social, April 5, 2026.
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Doesn't get much more clear than that.

I realize delicate ears have probably been offended, and Democrats and RINO Republicans are pulling their hair out but, hey, it's politics and international "diplomacy."

At least, the way Trump envisions it.

Before a lot of folks begin screaming "Trump's gotta go. Invoke the 25th Amendment or Impeach 47, now!", it would be judicious to apply soft breaks and slow down a little before something really stupid takes place.

You may have noticed Trump advised the Iranians to permit unrestricted ship travel through the Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. If they didn't, various infrastructure targets could be targeted.

By Mike Bibb

Contributed Photo/Courtesy NASA: NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft lift off in this April 1, 2026, image. NASA's Artemis II mission will take NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy on an approximately 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft.
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Like the President John F. Kennedy assassination a few years prior, I remember exactly where I was when U.S. astronauts first landed and walked on the moon on July 20, 1969.

It was during the height of the Vietnam War, and I was assigned to a Marine Corps Air Station. About a dozen Marines were huddled in front of a small TV awaiting the landing of the Apollo 11 lunar module.

After announcing "The Eagle has landed," astronaut Neil Armstrong descended the spacecraft's short ladder and declared his now famous comment "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" as his uniform's boots settled into the Moon's soft surface.

By Mike Bibb

Be careful what you wish for.

Image result for El Niño 2026 summer weather pattern picture

"A potentially strong El Niño weather pattern will likely emerge this summer and persist through the rest of the year, according to the latest official forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Forecasters estimate there is a 62% chance that El Niño will emerge between June and August. El Niño occurs when trade winds weaken, allowing vast volumes of warm ocean water to move from the Eastern Pacific toward the Americas." — NPR, March 12, 2026
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"Golly, this has been the winter that wasn't" you're probably thinking. "Sure be glad when it cools down and rains settle the dust."

Careful what you wish for.

According to various weather prognosticators, El Nino is approaching and will be bringing much relief to a parched Southwestern United States.

By Mike Bibb

Well, looks like warmer weather is bringing out the Dem's sidewalk protesters again. At least passing motorists will have something to entertain them as they patiently await a green light.

However, I've noticed they're intending to add a slightly different twist to their chants on Saturday, March 28. Something calling itself "We the People — All the People" is hooking up with the third installment of the "No Kings" protest, now known as the "No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings." gathering.

By Mike Bibb

Darwin 3 19 26 Picture retrieved from the web of an airplane worker applying some kind of adhesive tape to a piece of the plane's wing.

"I don't fly much but when I do, I fly Spirit. Stay flying, my friends."

Okay, a slight alteration of a popular beer commercial — but you get my drift. Sometimes, it's better to laugh than cry.

Maybe, more therapeutic, too.

First of all, I'm not familiar with the details behind the photo appearing on the web, or why a small section of the plane's wing was being taped back on. Other than the fact it was in need of a quick fix.

However, the incident apparently happened on an actual Spirit flight while, presumably, the plane was on the ground, temporarily awaiting the technician's tape application to repair a loose piece of sheet metal.

By Mike Bibb

1,000+ Flu Vaccine Cartoon Stock Illustrations, Royalty-Free Vector Graphics & Clip Art - iStock

"This season's vaccines were around 25% to 30% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor's office, clinic or hospital, according to a CDC report this week." — Newsmax Health, March 17, 2026
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Normally, I'm not overly concerned with the effectiveness of annual flu shots. Especially, since the mandated craziness of the COVID debacle and President Joe Biden's repeated claims that multiple shots and boosters would prevent spreading the contagion and protect those who were vaccinated.

If I recall correctly, believe he had at least two, maybe three bouts of the virus — while vaccinated and boosted to the max.

Of course, telling the truth never seemed to be one of Joe's more admirable traits.

If he said it was "Wednesday, 2:37 in the afternoon," I'd look at a calendar and check my watch — just to be sure.

By Mike Bibb

If I did the math correctly, according to The Beat's March 11 article — "Grant County Candidates for 2026 Primary Election" — Democrats out number Republicans by a substantial margin.

Of the 7 elected county positions listed, Democrats easily exceeded Republican candidates by a 12 to 2 majority.

A few of the offices have a single, unopposed, Democratic contender.

Hardly, a competitive election when Dems already have a lock on at least 5 of the 7 jobs available.