American Dream

U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Lourdes E. ‘Alfie’ Alvarado-Ramos will be inducted to the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Wall of Heroes

Published on November 7, 2022

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Director and retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Lourdes E. ‘Alfie’ Alvarado-Ramos will be inducted to the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Wall of Heroes November 9, 2022 at 3 p.m. She is being recognized for always placing the needs of service members—past and present—in the center of all that she does, whether on the battlefield or across Washington State.

Alfie (as featured on Madigan’s wall of past command sergeant majors):

The Wall of Heroes serves as a reminder for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers at VA Puget Sound of the sacrifice, valor, bravery and heroism demonstrated by Puget Sound area Veterans. Dedicated June 29, 2009, the Wall of Heroes display is one way VA Puget Sound honors those Veterans. Framed biographic displays of each inductee are symbols honoring Veterans who have had significant contributions to those we serve at VA Puget Sound. Alvarado-Ramos will be the 18th Veteran honored.

Born in Puerto Rico, Command Sergeant Major Alfie Alvarado-Ramos served 22 years on active-duty service, retiring August 1993 as the Command Sergeant Major of Madigan Army Medical Center and Troop Command, Joint Base Lewis McChord. During her military career, she was the recipient of awards and decorations that include the Legion of Merit, Order of Military Medical Merit, Expert Field Medical Badge and Meritorious Service medals. Her commitment to servicemembers—past and present—remains her #1 priority. This is evident in her many roles today: Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Director, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs President, Governor Jay Inslee’s Executive Cabinet Member and Washington Military Transition Council Chair and serves on the Boards of Directors of the Patrick Madigan Foundation and National Association of State Veterans Homes.

Madigan Army Medical Center Command Sergeant Major Albert Harris (the position Alfie had at Madigan prior to her retirement) will join VA Puget Sound leadership in honoring the 22-year Veteran. Friends of Alvarado-Ramos, along with representatives from U.S. Army, Veterans Service Organizations, local congressional offices and VA Puget Sound staff are expected to attend.

Event Details:

VA Puget Sound, 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle (just inside main entrance)

November 9, 2022, at 3 p.m. (brief 15-20 minutes ceremony)

Teachers In Seattle Vote To Suspend The Strike After Reaching ‘Tentative Agreement’ With School District

Published on September 13, 2022

The school year was supposed to start Sept 7th, however, the strike continues to be extended. That maybe over, however, as the teachers and the school district have reached a “tentative agreement”.

Washington state’s largest school district, Seattle Public Schools, announced late Monday it had reached a tentative agreement with Seattle Education Association on its educators’ contract. This comes as great news for many families as they try to get back to work and in the office.

Seattle Schools released a statement, acknowledging the tentative agreement but not really saying much on the matter according to ABC News, “For now, the details of the tentative agreement are confidential”. The Emerald City Journal was disappointed by all parties and the lack of transparency. The newspaper responded late Tuesday, “We go through this exercise just about every year and these are the employees we pay for with our taxes. They all work for us and they should all do their jobs better to represent the public. That includes all parties involved. If this was any other business, a lot of people would be shown the door and honestly, there are 100’s of others who would step up to replace them. Over time we’ve created a system that is poorly operated and not sustainable. The educational system has been ruined with privileged characters all protected by agreements, rules, bargaining parties, and the union. We will go through this again soon.”

On Tuesday, union members voted on whether to lift the strike. Among 78% of those voting, 57% approved a motion to suspend the strike, according to the union’s Twitter feed. School is expected to start on Wednesday.

As of late Monday night, the union was “excited” to have reached a tentative deal.

It was an “incredible effort” by both sides to reach an agreement, the school district stated.

All this comes, while today, the Dow dropped 1200 points devastating the financial savings across the country. It marks the worst drop since June 2020. Families are struggling to put food on their tables and inflation continues to run wild. Biden and the White House threw an ‘inflation reduction’ celebration with James Taylor on the South Lawn. Nothing to see here…. everything is going just great!

Photo by Peffs

Landlords in Seattle May Soon Be Compelled to Submit Their Rent Data

Published on June 13, 2022

Seattle intends to compel landlords to disclose their rent rates in order to get more accurate information. As part of an attempt to better understand the local housing market, landlords in Seattle may be obliged to disclose the amount of rent they charge, which sparked objections from some building owners.

Seattle’s City Council narrowly adopted a measure on Tuesday that would compel landlords to report twice a year on the rent and other fees they collect for each rental and other facts including square footage, the number of rooms, or if the home or unit is occupied. The measure is now in the hands of the mayor, who will have to sign it.

Council member Alex Pedersen’s plan would require landlords to provide data to a research institution that has yet to be chosen by the city. The new legislation will take effect once the city hires a university to collect the data from landlords.

Data collecting is not expected to begin until sometime next year, and the statute would expire at the end of 2025 if all goes according to plan.

Why Collect the Data?

At present, there is little private rental data available in Seattle. Apartment List and CoStar monitor the prices of new leases that are often more than what renters pay when they remain in a rental for a long time. They do gather some data, but it takes a long time for such data to be made public.

There is also the Center for Real Estate Research in Washington State but there isn’t any precise information regarding the rent data they collect in Seattle. And of course, after years of collecting rent data from local landlords, Dupre + Scott, a private corporation, closed their operations last year.

It was suggested by council members that the information was needed to prevent the relocation of low-income renters or to make the case for the construction of additional affordable homes. The information, according to Councilwoman Tammy Morales, would allow the city to monitor the rate at which rents are rising.

When she spoke earlier this month, she stated that it will “enable us to have a clearer understanding of truly how huge the demand for new houses that are more affordable” is. The council approved an amendment offered by Morales that said that the information landlords provide to the university “should be made accessible to the public.”

However, landlords testified before the council that the law would force them to disclose sensitive business information, which might lead to property owners selling their rentals.

The lack of up-to-date rental statistics is an ongoing issue. “It’s happening all throughout the nation. Nobody has this kind of data unless you are talking about some of those one-off surveys,” said James Young, director of the University of Washington’s Washington Center for Real Estate Research.

The suggestion, however, was questioned by Young. If landlords are reporting correct information, researchers must be able to verify it. For Young, the city’s policing may be improved by including university academics.

Asked whether the university would report those who didn’t provide the report, Young stated that the centers of education and research would never do that. But “everyone needs more data,” he said. “No question about it.”

The program’s expenses have yet to be determined. Enforcement of the regulation will need extra personnel, according to a number of local agencies participating in the new initiative.

However, landlords in Seattle need to know that failure to comply with the new regulation may result in penalties of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for any subsequent offenses within three years after it is put into effect.

Photo Credit: “Seattle Housing – Miniature effect” by Jenni Reynolds-Kebler is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Popular Seattle Suburbs To Buy A House In 2021

Published on June 8, 2021

Moving to a new city is challenging, especially if you don’t know enough about the area you’ll soon call home. Looking for a perfect place where you’ll buy a property is an essential step in everybody’s life and therefore requires serious research. If you’re considering the Seattle area, you can use this article as a guide to the best Seattle suburbs to buy a house in 2021.

Sammamish

Living in Sammamish offers diversity – there is a distinctly suburban feel, but there are also many stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks nearby where you can walk around and relax. The Sammamish area is very safe, family-friendly, and simply breathtaking. If you decide to buy a home here, you’ll have a wide selection of spacious homes to choose from, and many of them are new construction. Living here will ensure that you’re connected to nature all the time, as you’ll be surrounded by beautiful landscaping, hills, lakes, mountains, and trees. There are lots of bikers and pedestrians as this is generally an active community. There’s also a chance that you’ll be welcomed several times by locals as you move here since the sense of community is strong.

Duvall

Duvall is built along the Snoqualmie Valley River, and it’s the definition of small-town living. It’s quiet and adorable and one of the best Seattle suburbs to buy a house in 2021, especially if you like the rural feel and beautiful nature. If you want to grow your own vegetables, this place is worth considering. Many families and young professionals live here, as well as people with farm animals. The public schools are highly rated, and Duvall is generally considered one of the area’s safest suburbs. It’s a quaint old place with unique charm, deep Washington roots, and culture.

Living here will allow you to be close to many large towns and workplaces. If you’re an active person, it’s good to know that there are multiple bike trails across the area, and there’s also a hiking trail nearby. There are diverse dining options, festivals, classic car shows, summer concerts, and plenty of other entertainment options all year round. Main St. is where you’ll find several places to eat and drink coffee, the library, multiple parks, grocery stores, doctor’s offices, and much more.

Maple Valley

You should check Maple Valley if you’re seeking great value for your money and an affordable home. This charming place is especially appealing to family-oriented buyers because it’s served by the highly-rated Tahoma School District. It’s not only one of the state’s fastest-growing suburb areas but also an area with one of the highest median incomes per household in King County. Real estate agents confirm that plenty of new construction homes are available, including senior housing options, townhomes, and single-family residences in planned developments. Houses usually come with multiple-acre land where you can raise horses, cows, sheep, alpaca, etc.

Redmond

Redmond is best known as the location of the Microsoft headquarters and the “Bicycle Capital of the Northwest”. This area is a popular choice for tech workers since it’s home to many nationally known high-tech companies, including Tableau, Nintendo, SpaceX, and Hyperloop. Redmond is a magnet for successful businesses due to a lack of business taxes, unlike its neighboring towns.

If you’re considering buying a home here, you can find everything from rustic farmhouses to modern villas. The area offers increasing diversity and high quality of life with:

Good schools
A healthy economic base
Plenty of parks with a variety of recreational opportunities
Diverse shopping and dining options
Safe neighborhoods

Furthermore, arts and culture are dominant here with year-round entertainment and events. If you like live performances, you’ll love Redmond. Even though there are plenty of places to work here, a typical commute time is around 20 to 30 minutes if your workplace is in Seattle.

Shoreline

Shoreline is one of the best Seattle suburbs, located at the north end of the city. People living here like the RapidRide bus that takes them to downtown Seattle quickly. They also have easy access to Richmond Beach Park, and everything one may wish for. Shoreline has 14 beautiful neighborhoods and a strong sense of community. There are many social events, neighborhood projects, and volunteer opportunities, so one can adapt quickly. There’s always something going on here, so you could never be bored with all that’s happening around you. Shoreline has its own school district, with excellent public and private schools and a community college. There are many homes on the market, including contemporary ones built in the 1980s and newer.

Renton

Renton’s location is on the shores of Lake Washington, and it’s a place where families and businesses simply thrive. It offers lots of opportunities for work and pleasure. There are hundreds of software companies located right here and plenty of gorgeous parks, spacious playgrounds, and excellent schools. Renton has an impressive collection of public art and a popular vintage-style shopping center called The Landing. The most popular recreation area is Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. It’s where you can swim, play volleyball and organize a picnic. You’ll also love The Cedar River Park, which has:

A giant playfield
Access to the Cedar River hiking trail
Renton Community Center
The Carco Theatre

Even though Seattle home prices have been on the rise for many years in a row, home seekers are glad to know that Renton has an extensive inventory of affordable homes. Housing options include everything from newer family developments, townhomes, new construction as well as vintage homes.

Interested in buying a home in one of these suburbs?

If you’ve already fallen in love with one of these places, you might want to start planning your long-distance relocation sooner rather than later. Thoroughly research each place and find out the crucial points which will help you settle in and adapt faster. Once you have all the needed information, and once you’ve found the perfect home, it’s time to organize your Washington move. To avoid losing any precious time, you should find reliable moving experts that can lead the process and make everything go as smoothly and stress-free as possible.

The bottom line

As you can see, all of these best Seattle suburbs offer significant benefits and various lifestyles to meet anyone’s needs. Good luck with buying a home in whichever suburb you find most suitable!

Joe Biden Wins! Victory Celebration Photos – Capitol Hill Seattle

Published on November 8, 2020

We have a new president-elect and his name is Joe Biden. It was an emotional night for many to say the least. During Joe Biden’s victory speech, you could feel the inspiration in the air and a united front that could be felt among his supporters. On a night that will go down in history, many stood tall and proud. As the flag of our nation waved in all of it’s glory, you could hear the honking of horns, dancing, and the yells of victory in the streets. Families hugging in rejoice while others stood quietly with tears running down their faces excited about what is next for our great country.

For many, it was 4 years of heartbreak, wrong decisions, and a lot division. President Trump did have his supporters, however, who felt he took chances and was different from the established politicians that came before him and much more. With that being said, it was not surprising to hear that on Election Day, voters came out in volumes that have never been seen before to cast their vote with emotion and certainty for their wanted candidate. No other election in our nations history experienced such a popular and dramatic turnout. While there is controversy, 145 million people voted between the two candidates. One thing is certain, however, our next 46th President will be Joe Biden. His inauguration will be in January 2021.

When Joe Biden was officially named the president-elect and winner, Seattle residents came to the streets to rejoice.

Jack Lambert captured some amazing photos of the celebrations on Capitol Hill. Mr. Lambert really captured the energy and feeling of the people in the streets. As you can tell, it was an amazing moment in history. If you’d like to reach Jack Lambert or see more of his work visit: https://www.lambertlens.xyz/

Photos by: Jack Lambert/lambertlens.xyz

AN OLD RADICAL’S OBSERVATION OF CHAZ

Published on June 15, 2020

Photo of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ)

An observation by Glenn Young who visited Seattle’s Capitol Hill Liberation Zone (CHAZ) on June 13th 2020.

Yesterday I took a chance. I got on my best mask and went to the CHAZ (Capitol Hill Liberation Zone) and tried very hard to keep social distance, while checking out the scene. After all I am in that very high risk group for COVID-19; old, fat, diabetic, and lots of chronic illnesses. The fear of getting the virus had kept me mostly “sheltered” for months, and obviously out of the street demonstrations of the past weeks. Yet, I am, or was, what used to be called in certain demographic classifications a “FRUMPIE” – or “Formerly Radical Upwardly Mobile Professional.” The allure of checking out the newest of these “zones” that I have experienced several times over my formerly radical self was something, even with the pandemic, I just found too hard to resist. I am, after all a “veteran” of the Berkeley events in 1967-68 and the Haight “street scene” in 1968; as well as many, many civil disobedience activities, in many cities, through the late sixties and early seventies. Many of the demonstrations and other efforts I was involved with in those days also created “liberated zones” of some fashion or another. So I was very curious to see how this zone compared to others.

Once I entered CHAZ, I felt that the “vibe” was closest to the Berkeley take-overs, of the 67 and 68 time frame. Except, there seemed far less joy and far less hopefulness in this crowd than back then. It may have been because this gathering was more driven by deaths, in this case I mean individual killings, rather than the abstract deaths of a distant war. Also, CHAZ seemed to lack the added values of sense of “ sex, drugs and rock and roll” of my time in the streets (or I am just too old to recognize what is really there?) Also – the speakers, and those listening, understandably, seemed quite tired after all these weeks of constant demonstrations. There was a sense of fatigue I recognized that was there in DC in 1971, after weeks of civil disobedience against the Vietnam War, and 13,500 arrests. But here, in a “zone” created “in the zone” by some people as a place just for open discussion, I hung out (at a safe distance) with some people trying to see if I could see where they were coming from – and for the most part I heard almost the same conversations I had with people fifty years ago – or perhaps that is what I chose to hear. But among those I got to talk with – most were idealists, thinking they were part of a history that would really change the world. Or people lost, and feeling empty, hoping the takeover would help give their lives meaning. And some were pessimists – thinking that there would be violence soon – either violence to destroy them, and their zone, or violence as they attempted to expand the zone and would be met with opposition. At times, when talking to any of these types, I felt I was talking to myself of fifty years or so ago.

Being there in the zone, mainly I felt – if not an acid flashback, then at least a feeling of “we have all been here before …” By the way, there were also camera crews from the national and local media looking for the chaos that was supposed to exist. They seemed as frustrated as many – but for different reasons. They neither got shots of protesters with guns, or firebombs nor did they get handed flowers, as may have happened fifty years ago. Many of the other people milling about there also seemed disappointed that there was not much really happening. CHAZ felt like a small block party with speeches rather than local rock bands, and there weren’t even arts and crafts to buy. By this time, after about a week of existence, many of those in the Zone, including me to some degree, seemed to be more like tourist rather than anything near terrorist. On a part of the sidewalks there were also an updated version of the “Diggers” from my time – running a “Cop free Co-op” and giving away or trading goods. Long ago, I was on the other side of the counter (doing the giving away); and all I could do was to look on the store in memory – and flashed on a song by Paul Simon with the line “isn’t it strange to be seventy.” The most amusing event of my hour-long visit was seeing a man with an “I can’t breathe” face mask and asking him where he got it; his response with embarrassment in his voice was “I got it on Amazon” — to which I replied that “I wouldn’t tell anyone else that answer.” We both laughed as we went on our way. Maybe we both understood that there are many limitations on how autonomous we could all really be in this capitalistic culture.

I am definitely glad I went to the zone. And, since virtually everyone had masks, and there were means to keep social distance, well, I hope I won’t have medical consequences. The place did allow me to meet my younger self again, at least for a while. So, for me it was almost a Twilight Zone experience, rather than just another liberated zone sojourn. While finding my way back to where I parked my upscale car, what I focused on was on similarity from talking to people in this zone, as I did when I was younger in other zones (and even then a historian); From my point of view, there was one thing that had not changed very much. Among the people I talked to and the speakers I heard (now and in the past), there was a shocking feeling of them having “no sense of history.” Back in my time, most people I’d meet had little understanding of the history of imperialism and the racism of the Western world; or the Paris Commune, the International Brigades nor the long struggle of “labor” for the rights of workers. They also seemed to know little of previous generations’ anti-war, or civil rights, or women liberation or anti-hunger, or unionization efforts.

For most people in the streets then, they just wanted to “Stop the war now” and “Give peace a chance.” Most there seemed to feel they were the first to take such actions. Today there is perhaps a greater understanding of the history of racism and of slavery, but the people there in CHAZ still seemed to be mainly focus on the “killings of the moment.” The idea of “defunding the police” mostly comes without the historical recognition that there may be a need to “smash the state,” and not just one of the “arms the state” used to maintain oppression of people of color, and also poor whites as well. It also seemed that, like then, the people in this zone had little knowledge of those who did such things before. They just want to “stop the killings now” and, redistribute some of the wealth of society. Not bad goals, but seemingly somewhat limited, and without “ideology.” Well, I guess that little time spent there in the “Zone” really impacted me; moved me into thinking like I did fifty years ago. ” You know, “smash the state” is not a phrase I used much anymore (but did an awful lot back then). But, maybe, those in the Zone need to hear it from some old guy like me; to let them know that “we have all been here before” and to learn more about their “radical ancestors” that reach back so far into history; and have created many of these zones before.

So, as far as the zone itself, as itself, I can say “Far out, man” (to be updated, Far out, people.) And, of course, not just “Black Lives Matter” but a slogan from my time “Power to the People.” And as far as my reaction goes, I have to remember that, while history is so important, there is also the fact that all revolutionary movement are organic, often starting with spontaneous events, driven by the needs of the moment. CHAZ seems to be both organic and driven by need. So, I guess this is really just a one note of almost random observation from an aged “comrade;” caught between desire to be there long term, and the realities of aging, and of COVID 19.

About the author: Glenn Young is not just a former radical, but a former US government official, who worked on policies issues concerning the needs of low-literate populations and persons with disabilities. Glenn has been a resident of Seattle, off and on for close to forty years. He has both a bachelor’s (in history) and a Masters’ degree (in Public Administration) from the University of Washington. He is the author of several books including, No Sense of History – a set of political essays on issues or racism and economic injustice, and personal development; Chasing Revolution – a memoir of his time in the radical left of the sixties and seventies; The Winning Words – an evaluation of American presidential elections, based on evaluating the issues behind and the means of the slogans used in these elections; and also The Ba’al Theory of Christianity – an evaluation of Phoenician and Carthaginian religion’s influence of the development of early Christianity.

Tim Cook Biography – CEO of Apple Inc

Published on February 10, 2020

Those who are familiar with Tim Cook likely know him as the chief executive officer of Apple, Inc., which is a position that he has held for over a decade. Prior to taking over as CEO of one of the world’s largest tech companies, Cook began by serving under Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple. Still, who is Tim Cook, and how did he reach the position that he’s in today?

Early Life and Education

Timothy Donald Cook, commonly known as Tim Cook, was born on November 1st, 1960. Cook is from Mobile, Alabama, although he actually grew up in Robertsdale, a nearby town. He came from humble beginnings, with his father being a shipyard worker and his mother working at a pharmacy. Although Cook wasn’t born into wealth, he was highly motivated and a hard worker from his childhood.

In 1978, Cook went on to graduate from Robertsdale High School. After his high school graduation, Cook went right on to attend Alabama’s Auburn University. He earned his degree in 1982, which was a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering.

Even so, that wasn’t the end of Cook’s educational journey. He later attended Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where he graduated with his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1988.

Pre-Apple Career

After he graduated with his bachelor’s degree, Cook began working in IBM’s personal computer business. He remained at this company for around twelve years, which eventually led to him serving as the organization’s director of North American fulfillment. Cook completed his master’s program while he was working at IBM, leading to him becoming a Fuqua Scholar.

Cook would eventually leave his position at IBM, although he didn’t transition right away to work with Apple. Instead, he joined Intelligent Electronics’ computer reseller division. In this company, Cook held the position of chief operating officer.

Although it was short-lived, Cook has served as Compaq’s vice president for corporate materials. After just six months in this role, however, Cook was hired by Steve Jobs. This is what caused him to leave Compaq and join Apple, Inc.

Early Apple Career

After being asked by Steve Jobs himself, Cook joined the Apple team in 1998. He considers his choice to join Apple to be based on intuition, as well as his promising interactions with Steve Jobs. At that point in time, many of Cook’s peers were advising him to stay with Compaq, since that position was superior when it came to cost and benefits. Nevertheless, Cook decided to go with his gut and leave his position as Compaq’s vice president for corporate materials.

About his decision to leave Compaq and join Apple, Cook has said that he quickly realized how much he wanted to be a part of Apple, even if it meant going against logic and caution. He felt it to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and his intuition guided him to make the decision to join this amazing technology company.

When he first joined Apple, Cook was given the position of senior vice president for worldwide operations. While he was in this role, Cook closed the company’s warehouses and factories, replacing them instead with contract manufacturers. This turned out to be a remarkably positive change for Apple, with its inventory wait times being reduced from months to just days.

Cook demonstrated his impressive ability to keep the company’s costs under control, helping to generate enormous profits.

Later down the line, in 2007, he was promoted to lead operations for Apple. Then, in 2009 and 2011, Cook would serve as chief executive during Jobs’s health-related leaves of absence. During these periods where Jobs was on leave, Cook handled most of the company’s day-to-day operations. However, Jobs continued to be in charge of major decisions within Apple.

CEO of Apple

In August 2011, Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple, becoming the company’s chairman of the board. It was at this point that Cook took on the role of full-time chief executive officer. Just six weeks after Cook became CEO of Apple, Inc., Steve Jobs passed away due to complications with pancreatic cancer.

Around a year after becoming CEO, Cook made significant adjustments to the company’s executive team. Over the next several years, he would also concentrate on creating a harmonious culture within Apple. He stuck to his values, as well, even if it meant challenging shareholders to cut ties with the company if they didn’t share Apple’s views on climate change and sustainability.

Cook received a payout of approximately $750 million in August 2021, having sold over five million Apple Inc. shares.

Philanthropy and Personal Life

Over the course of his career, Cook has remained dedicated to supporting charities and causes that he believes in. For instance, at the start of 2018, he made a pledge to add 20,000 new jobs and invest $350 billion in the United States economy before 2023. Part of this plan included investing $55 billion to construct a facility that runs off of renewable energy.

Shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple donated $15 million to help support global relief efforts. Several weeks after this major donation, the company started to create face shields that they would be shipping to medical workers. Over the course of a few weeks, Apple produced millions of these protective face shields.

Cook has also shown support for various LGBTQ causes. Although he never denied his sexuality, Cook wasn’t open to the public about being gay until 2014. At this time, he came to the conclusion that by being open about his sexuality, he could inspire positive change and encourage struggling LGBTQ youth. When asked about this topic, Cook then went on to say that while his privacy was extremely important to him, he also recognized the value in what his story could do for others. It was this realization that led him to feel comfortable sharing his truth with the world. All in all, Tim Cook has had a long and remarkable career. Not just anyone could successfully follow in the footsteps of Steve Jobs, although this is a role that Cook took on with ease. And at the current time, it seems that Cook has no intentions of slowing down.

Monica Crowley Assumes the Position of Assistant Secretary of The Treasury for Public Affairs

Published on July 24, 2019

When American citizens think of the Department of the Treasury, they might immediately think of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and paying their yearly income taxes. They would be correct because that is, indeed, a vital part of the duties of the Department of the Treasury. However, there is much more that the Department does within this branch of the United States government. As Monica Crowley steps into the role of Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs, she understands the weight of history the position brings with it.

With the 1789 Act of Congress, the Department of the Treasury and has been an important cornerstone in how we live, work, and do business in the United States and abroad for centuries, but the institution did not start there.

Its history began years before 1789, during the American Revolution, a war which won the United States of America their independence from England. The problem patriots of the American cause faced was how they would pay their debts and finance a war. The Congress of the time did not have power to collect taxes or procure money from outside investors and governments. The representatives of the Congress devised a way to issue credit, or promissory notes, based on faith in the cause in the form of paper money and coinage.

Without a strong economy, many in the United States would be left without employment and, therefore, means to support themselves and their families. It is the job of the Department of Treasury to promote economic prosperity at home as well as on the world stage as ambassadors of America. The Department of the Treasury also advises the President on economic matters to better inform about potential policies and investments.

More specifically, the Department of the Treasury is comprised of two branches within the executive agency at large: the departmental offices and the operating bureaus. The departmental offices handle policy and management primarily and are about 2% of the whole of the Department of the Treasury. The other 98% of the operation is handled by the operating bureaus. The operating bureaus are tasked with many jobs that range from collecting taxes from the citizenry and businesses, minting and circulating money/coinage for citizens to use, and investigating fraud/prosecuting those committing fraudulent acts (counterfeiting, tax evasion, and forgery).

On July 24, 2019, Monica Crowley was sworn in and assumed the role of Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs, joining the staff of the Department of the Treasury. As such, she is an advisor to the Secretary and other upper-level Department of the Treasury officials for anything involving public relations strategy, community outreach, and communicating with the press about economic policies and priorities of the current Administration. In her new position, she also serves as the top spokesperson for the organization.

Monica Crowley was born on September 19^th, 1968 on an army base, Fort Huachuca, outside of Vista, Arizona and lived much of her life in Warren Township, New Jersey.

After earning her bachelor’s degree (BA) in political science from Colgate University, Monica Crowley went on to achieve two Master’s Degrees and a Doctorate in International Relations from Columbia University. As a student of just 22 years of age and while earning her degrees, she started her career as a Foreign Policy Assistant to former President Richard Nixon in 1990.

Monica Crowley then joined Fox News after its launch in 1996 and worked as a both a foreign affairs and political analyst. She has an amazing biography and career. While working for Fox News, she has appeared on several networks as an expert contributor, such as PBS, MSNBC, Fox Business, NBC News, and NBC News. She also appeared as a regular guest panelist on the widely popular show, The McLaughlin Group and hosted her own syndicated radio program, eponymously named, “The Monica Crowley Show.” Monica Crowley is a powerhouse with a long political analyst background.

When not lending her voice and vast knowledge to this collection of radio and television media outlets, Monica Crowley has penned three New York Times bestselling books: Nixon Off the Record: His Candid Commentary on People and Politics (Random House, 1996), Nixon in Winter (Random House, 1998), and What the (Bleep) Just Happened?: The Happy Warrior’s Guide to the Great American Comeback (Broadside Books, 2012). In addition to her bylines as a columnist for The Washington Times and The Hill, she was also published in distinguished national outlets such as The New Yorker, The New York Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Baltimore Sun, and Newsweek.

In addition to this impressive resume, she has also appeared in the hit Netflix series “House of Cards.” She plays herself as a new contributor, discussing the main characters’ marriage and how it would affect the president’s future re-election.

In the role of Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Monica Crowley does more than discuss political aspirations of fictional characters. She is grateful for the position, having replaced Tony Sayegh, who left the role in May of 2019.

SpaceX Plans to Send Two People on a trip around the Moon

Published on March 28, 2017

SpaceX has plans to send two private citizens around the Moon. The pair approached Elon Musk and SpaceX to prepare for this trailblazing adventure. This mission presents an opportunity for humans to return to deep space for the first time in 45 years. They will travel faster and further into the Solar System than any before them.

The trip around the Moon would take roughly one week. The mission would skim the surface of the Moon, go further out into deep space, and loop back to Earth, reaching approximately 300,000 to 400,000 miles. The launch is set tentatively in 2018 with the SpaceX yet untested Falcon Heavy rocket. It will be a private mission with two paying customers. The passengers are “very serious” about the trip and have already paid a “significant deposit,” according to Musk.

The two individuals going on the trip, who weren’t named, already know each other. They will begin initial training for the trip later this year. They wanted their identities to remain private for the time being. It was also stated that neither of these space explorers are from the Hollywood realm. Musk declined to comment on the exact cost of the trip, but said it was “comparable” or a little more than the cost of a crewed mission to the International Space Station- let’s just say it’s no small price tag for a trip around the moon. These trips are costly to the individual traveling to space, but could greatly benefit SpaceX. Musk commented that regular private trips like this could significantly impact SpaceX revenue for future explorations and innovation. “There’s a market for at least one or two of these per year,” Musk said, adding that lunar flyby missions might eventually constitute 10% to 20% of SpaceX’s revenue each year.

The passengers going on this expedition know that the risks are high. Musk said the flight would be on a self-directed spacecraft that needs no astronauts on board. It would be necessary for the two paying travelers to undergo “extensive training before going on the mission.” Musk commented that Dragon is designed to be an autonomous vehicle. The space explorers would be launched from the historic Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center late next year on SpaceX’s Dragon 2 vehicle on a Falcon Heavy rocket. That’s the same launch pad used by NASA for Apollo missions to the moon, as well as many space shuttle missions, including the last one. SpaceX flew its Falcon 9 from the KSC pad for the first time earlier in February.

NASA and SpaceX have a good working relationship. In a statement, NASA said it commends its industry partners for reaching higher. “We will work closely with SpaceX to ensure it safely meets the contractual obligations to return the launch of astronauts to US soil and continue to successfully deliver supplies to the International Space Station,” the agency said. SpaceX said that Nasa has encouraged privately crewed missions, saying that through them “long-term costs to the government decline and more flight reliability history is gained, benefiting both government and private missions.” NASA has financed much of SpaceX’s spacecraft development, and Musk said the agency has priority. If NASA wants to put its astronauts on the Falcon Heavy’s first moon flight, he said, SpaceX will comply. But the Falcon Heavy has not been through NASA’s rigorous reviews to be judged safe for astronauts.

SpaceX is not the only company trying to race to space. Rival spaceflight company Blue Origins, headed by Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, has also announced plans to eventually take people and cargo to low Earth orbit with its own reusable rockets. In 2001, billionaire Dennis Tito became the world’s first space tourist for an estimated $20 million, booking a trip on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station, and about half a dozen others followed him into orbit. Space explorations seems to be heating back up after decades of little to no new exploration.

Many details about the Moon mission have yet to be made public. Mainly the names of the passengers, the reason they are so interested in going, what spacesuits and equipment will be necessary, whether the Federal Aviation Administration will give SpaceX the go-ahead, how the passengers will prepare, what emergency support and plans are in place, etc. The lack of information from this announcement has made some experts uneasy.

Chris Newman, an expert on space policy and law at the University of Sunderland in the UK, said that the aggressive timeline and budget are “extremely ambitious, and it remains to be seen if the practical difficulties associated with human spaceflight can match this ambition.” Some have expressed doubt about Musk’s aggressive timelines often falling short.

On the other hand, some experts have reacted more optimistically. Phil Larson, a former Obama administration space policy adviser and former SpaceX employee, said, “It will act as a stepping stone for the eventual human exploration of Mars, which is everyone’s ultimate goal.” Larson recognizes Musk’s timing is opportune “as a new administration grapples with their plans for NASA.” It seems that many of Musk’s goals are dependent on the upcoming decisions and favor of the new administration. “This goes to show that America’s commercial space industry is ready to go beyond Low Earth Orbit not in 10 years, but now,” he said. Dale Ketcham, chief of strategic alliances for Space Florida, said Musk’s announcement was somewhat of a surprise in the space community. “I do think most of us didn’t see it coming, but maybe we should have,” Ketcham said, referring to Musk’s reputation for innovation and challenging the status quo. Ketcham called Musk’s announcement “very exciting,” and said it will help drive competition among NASA and commercial space companies that could lead to an accelerated timeline for space exploration.

Whether you think it is a good or bad idea to send two people on a trip around the moon, it is hard to deny that the prospect is quite exciting.

You can follow Elon Musk on Instagram or his much more popular Twitter.

Facing The Truth About Political Lies

Published on September 7, 2016

Politicians telling lies

One thing is true – you can’t fix stupid. Its been proven over and over again that American is one of the dumbest countries around and this includes its people. From education, spending, healthcare, and voting to name a few – we are simply the dumbest in the land. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. There have been many International tests that have proven this. I see them driving and I see them in Walmart. Stupid is everywhere and we can’t avoid it.

What really gets me is just how ignorant people are about the political process. They believe our leaders are here to really help us but in reality their agenda always comes first. They will all lie like dogs to protect their leadership perception and of course none of them makes a mistake. Fingers are always pointed in the other direction when it comes to mistakes or the truth is twisted to make it sound better.

It’s interesting to me how gullible people are when it comes to their news and media. They are so convinced their news channel is not bending the truth. It doesn’t matter if you watch Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC, they all bend the truth to get their agendas out. They also favor sides (Republicans vs. Democrats). The truth is they all these channels are controlled by their respected political parties. How often do you hear them talk about the Libertarians Presidential candidate? You know there are more parties than just the Republicans and the Democrats right? Over the years, we’ve been molded to just believe in two parties and you should support one side or the other depending on what channel you watch. However, if you talk to a Fox News viewer or a CNN viewer they both believe their channel is less evil and “more truthful”.

Slavery:
There is no doubt the African American votes go to Obama and Hilary. This question is why? I’ve talked to many blacks and they are passionate about Obama. They love him and will vote for the democrats (including Hilary) with their last dying breath. There is no re-considering or logically analysis for their decision to support the democrats. Even if I said the democrats block every attempt to abolish slavery – they would still vote for them. “Well that was a long time ago”, I’ve heard which is the most pathetic answer. Grudges are held against a white man like me but not against the party that voted against abolishing slavery every step of the way. Hate to tell you but Republicans ended slavery folks.

19th Amendment: A Women’s Right to Vote
We all know Hilary has the women’s vote. She (and the democrats) have played that card very well. The perception of republicans being against women’s right has been molded for many years. There is a whole strategy in fact to dupe a lot of disenchanted voters into the democratic heard to support them. You may have heard about the “War on Women” talk that’s been planted against the Republicans the Democrats are doing a fantastic job of winning that war. That fact is simple – in 1878 a California Republican who goes by the name A.A. Sargent introduced the 19th Amendment only to see it voted down by a Democrats. Just like slavery and women’s rights, Republicans pushed these laws forward against the constant push back from Democrats. Over the years, the Democrats have wised up and realized they really need these people’s vote so now they are on the other side of the fence.

To make a change you must vote:
Americans actually believe our presidential process is fair. I believe more and more people are wising up to this process. It was much more obvious this time around, however. Bernie lost before he even started. News and documents were published about how the Democratic bigwig leaders developed strategies behind the scene to oust him and they did just that. Hilary locked up the super delegates before Bernie even realized what they were. Trump was saying that all along about the process and probably one of the reasons Trump is falling under the Republican umbrella. Lets look here in Washington State. Bernie Sanders won this states Democratic caucuses by a landslide. It was devastating to Hilary. Bernie preached a lot about taking Wall Street back from the billionaire class. The final results were 72.7% in Bernie’s favor over Hilary. Bernie won every county in Washington State. It was a slandering over Hilary and “the people” spoke their minds at the polls. People wanted a real change. Unfortunately, our political leadership sided against Bernie and “the people”. The truth is Hilary had the super delegates in her pocket so it didn’t even matter. It turns out some of our leadership is corrupt and continue to side against what “the people” really wanted. Gov. Jay Inslee turned against the people and pushed for Hilary after the people side with Bernie. In addition, there is U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and all six Democrats in the state’s U.S. House delegation will turn their backs on the people and vote for Hilary. Right after hearing Bernie won this state, these super delegates were standing by their position for Hilary winning the presidency. The process is corrupt and so is our Washington State leadership. The fact that they are not supporting the views and votes of the people clearly shows this as being a fact. Bernie was done before he started.

Bernie turns his backs on his supporters:
Bernie gained a lot of traction and supporters during his campaign. A lot of people wanted to support the democrats but wanted a candidate who appeared to be more truthful and real. With Obama and Hilary, they come across very political in the way they speak and over the years its become a turnoff. We have the Benghazi incident and many feel “hope” wasn’t really delivered as promised. Bernie offered a different perspective and sided more with the public. It turns out, however, Bernie wasn’t exactly honest and after he dropped out (Hilary wins) he immediately endorses Hilary and starts campaigning for her. It was odd how that turned around so quickly. It’s still a mystery how someone who is “for the people” quickly supports his main rival. It’s common for deals to happen after a candidate drops out. It’s common for the other side to support the loser financially (it’s expensive to run) while getting his support in return. That is what I suspect happened but honestly we will never know. One thing I do know is that it was extremely shady behavior.

Some items to think about as we move closer to the election.

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