Iran

 You knew it was coming. Too much firepower in one place. 

I woke up at 1AM and saw what was going on, and Fred and I have been watching this mess. He gave up about 5 minutes ago and went and got in his box. I am thinking about doing the same. 

Remember, there will be a fog of war.  

Don't believe any media at first, and even then, question. 

If you can, watch what is streaming on YouTube. They are generally reporting news before our traditional media.  

Expect the unexpected. 

Do research. 

Trust nothing either side says.  

Getting the H*ll Outta Buna? Jasper, Newton, Hardin, Jefferson, Orange Counties? I B^tch and Moan, Other "Stories?"

 "If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village she must seek them abroad"

-Jane Austen( Northanger Abbey)

Be careful, I will start quoting Tennyson and not stop.....

I have been amazed over the last week of the number of people who are looking to leave this area. Not only Jasper County and Buna, but maybe move someplace and start over with their kids. 

Not only move to say a Houston or a Dallas-Fort Worth, but perhaps Tennessee, or in the case of a couple, to the North.  

I know, I already have a " colony" of former students who have chunked it for whatever reasons, living down here in this area, and have moved to Maine. I can understand why, I quite enjoyed my time in Maine.  

Many, hell most are upset with schools and well, they are looking for something else. 

There are more than you think who just want something different. 

I know, there are more Americans just leaving the country. I am not going to be shocked if my child winds up permanently at some point in Asia. I seriously expect my grandkids ( if I have any) will grow up overseas. 

And after my fit on AI in yesterday's blog, I am thinking large numbers of people moving just to find work is going to become a real thing. ( I wonder if it'll rival Dust Bowl days?)

- End the damn Texas Senate race in our area. I hate both of you at this point. Both of you are lying in my book. Literally spending millions of dollars, for a job that pays $7,200 a year/ And only work 140 days every 2 years. What are the rich wanting these two to do once they reach Austin? 

Speaking of Texas Senate, about to throw a fit next week in a blog......

-  In economics

Cash App is laying off 4,000

Papa John's Pizza is closing 300 stores. 

Stellantis, the company that owns Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, Jeep lost $ 26.300.000.000 in 2025. They are hoping that V-8 engines and Jeeps will save them. The price of a Wrangler scares me away alone....And I can just about see me in a V-8 Challenger. Yep, 145 mph on the Texla Road was " All she wrote." 

Had someone ask  me " Why the economy has not crashed totally yet?" Let me know if you want me to write on it. 

-Speaking of poor economics, Google searches on " Van Life" have skyrocketed. 

- On a personal interest.  

Yesterday, the British held what is called a " By-Election" to replace a Member of Parliament who has either resigned, died, etc..... 

It was held in a district in Manchester. And, to everyone's surprise, the Green Party candidate wins. Pollsters had predicted the Reform Party candidate to win and they came in a distant second. 

( Reform is a new party trying to replace the old Tory/Conservative Party, in the past, it would be best associated with Churchill. The Tories)

The Green, well, now MP, got into politics because she was, and still is against " Dog Racing."  

I need to write on British Politics just for one in coming days. 

- The Ambassador to Israel is telling staff members if they want to leave the country, to " Do so today."   ( How close are we now to a war with Iran?)

Again, thank you for reading the blog, this is my last blog I plan to write for a few days. ( Now watch something big happen either in Jasper County, the school, or nationally)  

As always, you have information, send me the particulars and I will do research and possibly ( probably) will write on it. 

And as always, everything is confidential.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe I Shouldn't Give a Good D*mn

 "It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."

-Lewis Carroll

Using all this time from those Victorian England History classes I wound up in as a graduate and undergraduate student in university....And using a quote Alice made in " Alice in Wonderland."

I went down the AI rabbit hole this morning....

And I scared the absolute shit out of myself. 

And the thing is, I have two kids, son, daughter in law right in the middle of AI and neither see the ramifications from it( Reid has a master's in it from UT-Austin , April, AKA YU Zhou has a serious master's from Carnegie-Mellon, both in AI.).  ethically, socially, economically.....Hell, what is it going to do to our ideas on faith?  ( Read a doctrinal piece earlier this week that was talking about the massive changes in all churches in the next 5-10 years, and it ain't good.)

What is this going to be like in 5-10 years? 

Heck, what will the world be like by the end of 2026?

How many people are going to be displaced by AI, either forced to move, or just cannot find a job? 

And don't say go into the "trades?" How long before they become saturated?  Too many plumbers? Price goes down, can you make a living when you have to compete with 135 other plumbing companies? 

Already I can see a collapse of the school system in not only Texas, but America. Too many standardized exams, too much I do not give a good damn by a lot of people within the schools, both working for the school, or attending. 

The damn government is behind on this, and don't say the Republicans or the Democrats will save us.  Both are either in the pockets of corporations with an agenda of AI, and in truth, only care about us and our vote come November of an even number year. If the congress or whatever government agency knows what is coming, they are not talking about it. And are probably afraid to do so. 

Will we be able to trust anything we now see? AI will be able to generate almost anything. 

Saw that the largest growing brothel in Germany, well, it's AI robots. ( I know, it's the damn Germans, and I am exposed as many of you know to the culture, and well, it is a bit different.) 

Was reading a report that the number of people laid off by AI is over 1,000,000 and is growing like mad. 

Heck, this morning, a journalist was  asking different AIs when the war with Iran will begin? All said within 2 weeks. 

The old Govteach is sort of glad the end is closer for me, and in 10 years, I'll be 78, which seems ancient I know, but with how much I took off the front end, it'll be a miracle I make it there, and to be honest, it might not be a bad thing....  

 

Mexico, Iran, The Economy, Buna Schools.....

 I guess it is inevitable, a civil war of sorts in Mexico, all around the cartels. 

Elon Musk posted on " X" or Twitter or whatever you want to call it,  that the President of Mexico is linked to the cartels. She has threatened legal action, trouble is, it is Mexico, who knows what in the world is going on down there. 

I have not been to Mexico in years and years. I have no desire to go to Cancun, or Cozumel, or/and other resorts in Mexico. 

Economically, I wonder if this will ruin the resorts there forever?  

I know, that there were posts online that we need to vacation in Texas, trouble is, oldsters like myself have been everyplace in the state and well, I need to branch out. The only city I have not visited in this state is San Angelo.....And I ain't going there. 

- This morning I see that the US Air Force has now sent 12 F-22 Fighters to an Israeli Air Force base. 

The logistics for an attack on Iran are there.  There are two carrier groups on station in the area. The Ford and the Lincoln. 

From the USNI News.  

"In addition to the naval buildup, the U.S. is also amassing dozens of fighter jets and other aircraft in the Middle East, according to Air and Space Forces Magazine.

The 48th Fighter Wing from Royal Air Force Lakenheath sent F-35s with aerial refueling tankers to the Middle East on Feb. 16, joining the 12 F-35As from the 158th Fighter Wing with the Vermont Air National Guard.

Multiple P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and an RC-135 Rivet Joint signal intelligence aircraft have been spotted in the area with another RC-135 headed to Greek island Crete, according to the magazine.

The U.S. already has multiple F-35 squadrons in the Middle East, in addition to F-15Es, F-16s and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. More aircraft are likely on the way to the region, according to the magazine".

Logistics like this don't happen often. 

The question is, will we strike Iran? 

I know the Iranians have received support, especially technical and radar from both Russia and China in the last 6 months.  China has even sent anti-ship missiles to the Iranians. 

Not going to lie, I hope cooler heads prevail in the Near East. I hope for no war.  

- Was told by someone in the know that in Las Vegas, at least 50,000 people in the Casino, Hotel, Food industry have been laid off. No one is going to Vegas and to be honest, I have never been to Nevada. I am not a gambler. People have just stopped going to Vegas on vacation. It's too expensive and a lot of people do not have the extra money to gamble. 

On that note, both Fanduel and Draftkings are both looking to lay-off people. No money to gamble is the cause. 

There has been 16,000 technology lay-offs in February alone.   

And lay-offs in companies like Maytag, Rovers North( Vermont company, I used to think I wanted a Rover II, IIA or III) and Jelly Belly candy.  

Wendy's restaurants are closing several hundred store across America. I can't tell you the last time I had Wendy's. I think Dave Thomas was still alive. ( Dave founded Wendy's FYI) 

I heard an economist say that there are more homes for sale, than people that can afford to buy them right now. ( We are still in an area where homes are somewhat affordable compared to other part of America. Look at major cities here in Texas for example.)

- Finally Buna Schools. 

I am shocked at the messaging I have received over the last few blogs I have written.  

People mad at me for saying negative about the district. 

People whose experience is not so positive.  

Like I said, I am shocked at the people I taught at Buna, their parents went to Buna, their grandparents went to Buna, and in some cases, their great-grandparents went to Buna....And they are looking to move, or get their kid in Evadale or LCM or even Deweyville to get away from Buna Schools. Many are looking at homeschool. 

I had a former student I taught at Buna High write and ask this...."What happened since I graduated?" " Other than some test taking, my kid knows nothing." as someone wrote in my comments they reiterated, I am teaching my kids math and to a certain extent, grammar and reading. " " I may as well homeschool."  

Again, let me remind you, you don't like the blog, don't read it.  

 

 

 

 

 

  

Buna's Running Out of Kids?????

 “Isn’t it funny that day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different.” 

-C.S. Lewis

So, for some reason, my news feed this morning was full of stories about America running out of kids. 

In Vermont, the school system is in a panic there are so few kids being born in that state, heck, people with kids are not moving there. Just no real job opportunities. 

This morning, the British Broadcasting Corporation's ( BBC) topic was called " America's Teenage Problem." " America is Running out of Teenagers."  As it was subtitled. 

Already Buna High School is the smallest school population wise in their 3A Division I football district. 

As I was told by someone in the know in the community, "people with kids are not moving here." 

And then, so many people in Buna ISD district are wanting to move their kids out of the community.  

(Not kidding, I hear from people in Buna community several times weekly, wanting to know where they can send their kids?)

I know in this state, there are already bigger school districts in the State of Texas closing down schools. This is especially true in the Austin area districts. While Austin is quite " full" the great move there has slowed considerably.  ( I've not stopped in Austin in I know close to 15-17 years. And when we go to the Hill Country, make sure we pass somehow around the state capital.)  Heck, the schools in Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth see it coming. We are going through a great draw-down of the number of students in Texas. 

Most younger folks, are just not having kids like they once did, and part of that is economics. 

A lot of young folks are having a difficult enough time feeding themselves, much less a child. 

At some point the Buna ISD is going to push another bond......Just something to think about, but facilities that might be needed now, will they actually be needed in 5-10 years? 

And all these people, who I have not a clue what the cornbread feck they actually do, they certainly ain't teaching math, science, history,( gubmint/economics) English or some sort of vocational training....  Are they going to be needed when there are fewer kids? 

How many teachers are going to be needed in the future or is this like some sort of FDR " work's project" make people dependent upon the school district for jobs? 

I know, I am being ugly this morning....

Just something to consider for the future folks.....  

 

 

Method to this Madness?

 Yesterday's blog was, well, I debated even writing about the mistake made on the Buna ISD post on Facebook. 

I remember when Market Basket in their attempt to get those who practice Lent to buy their goods, spelling it " Lint" for their seafood specials in a weekly circular. 

Lord knows, I have made mistakes. 

But I have gotten more feedback on yesterday's blog. ( Sunday's)

Again, I have no clue what people will read, and what they want to read. Unless there is some breaking news, or a wild story coming out, it is a literal crap-shoot on what gets read on the blog.  

And yesterday's blog got huge reads.  

Then again, I got this jewel of a message that pretty much summed up some of the people who live in the Buna ISD's feelings? 

" Mr. Thomas, do you really understand how many dollars some of us are paying to the Buna ISD in Property Taxes every year?  And we cannot do any better? " 

They go on in their message.....

" And many of us, for whatever reason can't complain, but you can......" " I can't even like your blogs on Facebook."  

So, we plug on, even when it is often, in my mind, well, it's time to do something else.  

And So It Begins at the Buna Schools.....

 Like everyone else across America. 

(Blasting STP this morning at the Compound......Yeah, I know, not my age group Rock, but you must remember I taught high school a long time. Good stuff, is well, Good Stuff.....)

About 6-8 people captured and sent the mistake the district made on their Facebook post concerning a position for Asst. Principal at the elementary school.  

It seems the district had spelled it " Principle." 

And an English teacher called them on it....And the district changed the spelling to " Principal." 

As many mistakes I make with this blog, I am one to talk......But, I am not trying to recruit teachers and administrators.  

I don't know, in my mind a school administrator needs to be " Principled."  

The Oxford Dictionary defines Principled as -  

(of a person or their behavior) acting in accordance with morality and showing recognition of right and wrong.

But that's just me...... 

Already the district has 10 openings in the Special Education Department.  

And teachers are already starting to resign in regular classroom positions. 

I am somewhat old school and in the old days so their is not blow-back while you are start teaching, to waiting until April-May-June to resign. Sometimes there might not be a job opening if you are leaving that district for another school teaching position, but in 2026, so many teachers are, well, just done and " Getting the Hell out of Dodge" including and what I was told, especially Buna ISD.  It is still February. 

In 2026, I don't know how many teachers are walking in the door down at administration.....

How many people are/will being hired and have no teacher's certificate?  

 

 

 

The Week Ahead????? Restuarants? Andrew? UIL and Buna? Iran?

 No fooling, if you've not heard Rhonda Vincent and Daryle Singletary  cover " After the Fire is Gone."   you need to take a listen.  They almost out duet Conway and Loretta. ( Link is to YouTube.)

-Man, I know we are somewhat in a bubble here in SETX, but I get " sticker shock" every time I get the simplest fast foods. 

Yesterday, we used an app to get two BK Whopper combos, no upgrade, small fry, small, coke, right at $25.....WFT? How much without the app?

How do people with kids go out?  They don't? 

I know we do less and less, yesterday, it was a late day and we both decided birders and fried......Next time, I'll eat PB and jelly. Got a new jar of red plum that goes well with HEB crunchy.   

We've been married 156 years, so to avoid crowds, we do holidays either early or late. we will go out to eat for the past holiday today after we both visit the dentist later this morning.  I wonder what it'll set us back?

It's not we can't afford it, but dadgum, we like a lost of people have cut back. And to be honest, I had rather eat at home the older I get, the food out, well, it is not that good anymore. Quality is just bad. 

I wonder how many restaurants will go under in the next few months, year(s)?

-The former Prince Andrew, still technically in line to become King of England was arrested this morning on his 66th birthday.  They think he gave away secrets when he was a trade representative/envoy for the UK. They are saying the secrets gave people the upper hand in buying stocks. " Misconduct in Office."

This puts a lot of pressure on the monarchy.  You've got to remember that many of Andrew's family especially Elizabeth II and Charles III gave him £12,000,000 to pay off an Epstein victim. 

The British press is wondering how it will effect the monarch? The King's brother arrested? Unrepresented in the UK.  

-A Buna athletic team was reported to UIL for a video. The video has been taken down, but several people have already captured it and sent it on it way to Austin. 

No, it was not me.  

I am the last person to report anyone or anything to the UIL. Lord knows I skirted the rules so close when I was UIL Academic Director, I am the last person to be turning anyone in and I want nothing to do at any level with the UIL. 

And honestly, I have not heard who sent the video to the UIL. And yes, I saw the video.( I've heard rumors, but no solid sources, and don't tell me...)

I have stepped away on this one and am letting it play out on its on. 

What is wrong with some of you? Tell your kids stop acting a fool.  

- The US now has 2 aircraft carriers on station in the Iran area.  Look for a war with Iran, and it might be longer then we expect. This weekend? 

 

 

 

 

I Often Wonder This About Buna and School Growth?

 After yesterday's blog, I received a number of messages from people. Folks that have been affiliated with Buna for years and years. 

Buna High School is not growing. It just isn't. It is about the same number of students as when I first went to work there in the 1990s. 

Other 3A schools have had growth. 

Buna has 404 kids in the district.  

I know that the area really has not gown and many people once they graduate from high school in this area, they are gone. 

Social reasons, employment reasons, marry someone from outside of this area.  

Buna is the smallest school in its 3A District for football. There are other schools in the district that have right at 150 more kids than Buna. In 3A 150 kids makes a big difference in fielding a team. There are just more kids to put on the team.   

As I was told by someone in the know, " The people moving into the district just do not have kids." Which tells me, these are retired people moving into the community. 

And look around, how many people who are old name's grandchildren are going to school someplace else? 

And I know there are school districts in the area that have not recovered from Ike, Rita, Harvey, etc.....But others have.... 

How many people in community leadership positions have kids, grand-kids going to schools outside the community, never mind, their residence is in Buna ISD?   

Then, I was written this by 2 different people. 

Many teachers outside the district are trying to leave, others, have already submitted their resignation effective at the end of the current year, in May. Others, are waiting until closer to the end. 

The teachers, and not all, outside feel, well, like there is a double standard for Buna teachers, and those outside. 

That is not a story. When I was first employed at BHS, I was an outsider. I felt it. And to a certain extent was treated that way. I ignored it in my middle years there and tried to " fit in." Tried to dress more  East Texas" and well, my late father who was blue collar as you can get, said something to me one afternoon after teaching,  when I was dropped by my parent's house, I was wearing Wrangler jeans, Justin boots, a ratty shirt. " Are you working cows? Or are you professional?"

I started wearing a coat and tie the rest of my career.  I was a damn senior economics teacher. I need to dress as such. 

I knew I was not going to fit in. Never would.  I will dress and act however I think I should.  Never mind other faculty might and some often did say something derogatory. 

I failed miserably trying to fit in where I was technically an outsider. 

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed my time in Buna ISD. There are some good people in the community. There are many people in town I am very fond of. But when I got my points in with Teacher Retirement, I talked with my family and well, not going to lie, I almost quit every Monday my last semester. Those last years, I really felt like an outsider. It's like there were people who could not wait for me to leave.  

I was looking at the numbers of people employed by Buna ISD with, or with an invalid teacher's certificate. The majority who live in the district. And the thing is, it won't get any better. 

We will discuss uncomfortable things later this week in this same vein.  

 

I Know Buna....I Know......

 I owe you a blog.....

And I do not know, I am having a hard time writing a blog without it possibly being my last one or it being one in which I have to step away from the blog for a while.  

All this while, me trying to set up a blog. My " expert" in the field is starting a new position and well, the way jobs are right now, I do not what to disturb them and hurt their long-term stability at that job. 

( Concerning the "kids" moving to Southern California. They are not moving, they visited a little while back and decided that the move was not for them. L.A. was literally a hell-hole in their eyes, and the cost of living, well, it did not pay enough for them to accept new positions. Plus the state taxes....)  

So for now, they are in Washington state....And the food alone up there is making them want to move back to Texas. Seattle food is passable at best. ( We went to a fancy, fancy wedding a few years back in which a country club was rented out and they had the best of the best foods. I saw the menu choices, and well, it was okay, and that was top of the line menu items. )

I am just upset with Buna right now, I don't know what I am writing is actually doing any good, other than letting folks know that " Many of of you are not alone. More than folks want to know." 

My understanding there is a board election coming up later this year. And some of you need to quityerbitchen and run for the board. 

No, you may not win, and sometimes you need to run more than one time to get elected. 

Years ago, when my brother ran for a countywide office  in this area, he lost and well, we all just knew he had gotten politics out of his system. Low and behold, years later, in another district of 4 counties, he is running again. And this time he wins. The clique is not as strong as you think it is....And Buna, well, it is not growing as fast as people think, or should be growing. We will talk about that in a future blog. 

Just sometimes being out " On the point" alone is sometimes hard. Not going to lie, the " Happy Pills" help.  

Anyway, I've not forgotten you, a blog is coming. 

As always, thank you for your support.  

 

 

 

Buna ISD 26-27 Calendar........Other Friday Thoughts

 This week, the Buna ISD School Board approved the 26-27 School Calendar. 

Easter is in March in 2027, so there is time off for that holiday. Good Friday, and one day earlier in March  for Redbud. 

There is a Winter Break like this year, which begins today and ends next Tuesday. 

In the 26-27 school year, there is a week long Winter Break and like all winter breaks, it is crap shoot. It might be cold or " sort of" nice like it will be during this year's 3 day break.  

Next year, the February break is a week long, the third week of the month...... 

And next year's Spring Break is the last week of April.....

Why?

Am I missing something here? 

When the kids return from Spring Break there are only 18.5 school days left. 

Do you know what kind of battle it will be for teachers to get kids, especially high school Seniors to do anything?  Heck, most kids are done. 

Now I know the April Spring Break is done that way because of state testing. 

Why didn't we just go ahead and end school a week early in May? Have graduation on May 21st? Start Summer early? 

 

 I will be shocked if they find Savannah Guthrie's Mother still with us. This whole thing is just "fishy."

The Epstein Files......Man, I need to talk about it at some point. Not going to be shocked if King Charles III abdicates due his brother Andrew's involvement and Charles III say it is due to his cancer. I have theories and you may think I have finally lost my mind. 

I need to talk about the economy. It is worse than we all think or even suspect. 

I have a fit on the Buna Schools coming in the next few days. Seriously glad I am on " Happy Pills" right now so I can handle it.....And yes, will talk about the " clique."  

 

 

Bad Bunny....Kid Rock......Commericials.....

 Bad Bunny,  don't get it......

Yeah, I could not understand it either...Yeah, it was in Spanish, and that is what they speak in Puerto Rico.... And yes, they are US Citizens. They hold US Passports. 

They became American Citizens in 1917 when the United States decided that they were eligible for the draft during World War 1. My father in law served with a guy from Puerto Rico in Vietnam. He was seriously wounded with along with John when their boat was hit by a rocket. 

Puerto Rico was acquired from Spain after the 1898 Spanish-American War. It was a colony of Spain from the 1500s until 1898.  The last referendum, they voted for statehood, but congress decides on statehood. 

 Kid Rock lip-synced his music.  Come on man. Robert Plant of Led Zep no longer can sing either. Plant at least tries to sing, or no longer even try.....When you get older, your voice changes. And sometimes, you cannot sing like you once could. 

I hated both of the halftime shows. 

And I only watched them this morning. 

Same with the Super Bowl TV Commercials.....

Most of you are younger than me, but most of the commercials had actors who were relevant 10-15-20 years ago.....They are have become professional pitchmen and pitchwomen. It seemed like they came out of their retirement home because they needed a paycheck. 

The only ad that came even close to interesting was the William Shat one, and even it was   sort of amusing at best. 

And the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, I just do not find them attractive. And I figure talking to them is pretty boring.  Find a girl ( or guy) who loves you for you...

Bud is trying too hard and their commercials with Peyton and  Post and Shane Gillis, who was funny for about 5 minutes, well, he thinks he's cute and no longer is. His humor is pretty much one thing....The Bud Light ad was, well, just stupid, were most of them. And it might not be so bad, but Budweiser products are just awful. 

All of them, they are pretty much taste like "Bug Urine." Then again, most American mass produced beers have gotten awful in the last 25 years, simply from cutting corners on product.  

The ballgame? Who cares? I've driven by both New England's stadium in Foxborough  and Seattle's. ( We drove by the one in Foxborough when we rented a car and drove from Boston Logan Airport to Providence, RI T.F. Green Airport when we flew to Shannon, Ireland. Seattle's when we were visiting the kids, this past year.....Norwegian Air to Ireland. Might be one of the worst airlines in Europe.) 

But in the score of life, Seattle won? I don't care. Fred don't care. In truth, I could not tell you who won the NBA title last year, or NHL, and while at one time I cared about who won MLB's title, so much money is spent to win, I don't care..... 

 

 

I Told Y'all I Might Do This.....

 And I spoke in my traditional East Texas vernacular not to run many of you off.....Or in East Texan, " You got Runt Off."

The Prime  Minster of Britain, the UK, whatever you care to call the nation is a man called Kier Starmer.  He is a member and leader of the Labour Party in the UK. 

Labour is similar to our Democratic Party. Conservative or Tory Party is similar to our Republican Party, There are fairly big differences, and will discuss those at a later date..... Also, the UK has many other parties with representative in their main legislative branch, the House of Commons....

There is a scandal in the UK involves the former British Ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson.  

Mandelson is a long time politician, longtime elected member of the House of Commons, he is also a British Lord.  

Mandelson was a close friend to Jeffery Epstein of the Epstein Files.  

Even after Epstein was convicted for running a prostitution ring, Mandelson remained friends with him.  

And Kier Starmer was aware of this, and still appointed Mandelson to the Ambassadorship in the U.S. 

In the latest release of  Epstein Files, it was discovered that Mandelson gave stock information to Epstein in 2008 while Mandelson was a cabinet member for another Labour Prime Minister. The information was confidential and could be used to help Epstein profit in the stock market. 

UK Police are investigating Mandelson for Misconduct in Public Office, which in Britain could carry a life sentence.  

While Starmer may not have been aware of the extent of Mandelson's ties to Epstein when he tapped him to represent Britain in Washington D.C., British lawmakers have sharply criticized the government's vetting process, stressing that some elements of Mandelson's friendship with Epstein were public at the time he was given the position.  

The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has questioned Starmer's judgement in elevating Mandelson to such a key diplomatic post. 

"The Prime Minister cannot blame the process. He did know...it was on Google. If the Conservative research department could find this information out, why couldn't Number 10?," referring to the prime minister's office at 10 Downing Street in London. 

Because of this and the economy, immigration, many in the UK are calling for Prime Minister Starmer to resign, especially many in his own political party.  

It is not unusual that pressure for both the voting public and political leaders that a British Prime Minister resigns from office.  

Because of his unpopularity, the percentage chance that Kier Starmer resigns is now at 80%.  

In the UK, like other parliamentary style governments, the prime minister CAN dissolve the government and call for new national elections.... 

But we will see. The next man( Or in this case, woman) up, gets the role of Prime Minister. 

Trouble is, she is not liked very well at this point in time either.... 

If a new election is called in Britain, we will talk about UK politics in detail, and that should be interesting.... 

 

 

 

And Who Knew???

Was asked by someone, former student , who knows, I always have music blaring when writing the blog. Again, some of you will think, it shows my immaturity, got to have music going....But they asked what I listened to yesterday?

Sorry....But yesterday it was " Rage Against the Machine." " Alice in Chains" and "Audioslave..... "

Today, it is WA Mozart's " Requiem Mass  in D minor." ( Lacrimosa)   

Yeah, today pretending I am someone. 

It has gotten to the point, once again, a large number of people are " peeping" and joining the blog's site on Facebook. People, well, I do not know.  

Caveat Emptor

This blog is not what you may think it is. 

I often swear.  

I may turn around the next blog and talk about faith. 

I am going to write something that will at some point step on your toes.  

I often use mind altering substances. I take " Happy Pills."  Anything to keep me out of pain....

I now have a cat, and not going to lie, still not sure how I feel about it. A dog person all my life, at age 68 a cat shows up, and he's my cat. He's on the rug watching me type.  So, if I talk about Fred, you'll know who he is....

I often refer to my wife as " St. Debbie" or "Debbie the Good." Had a class give her that nickname a number of years ago, and she to put up with my lunacy....Stick around you'll understand. 

I have a Chinese daughter in law, so don't get too hard on the Chinese. ( China, Hong Kong are amazing places. We went and were shocked at how modern the country was....) 

I don't blog every day and while I write on Buna and Jasper County matters, I am not above writing on anything and everything from economics to history, to theology, to whatever strikes my fancy.  

I am a bit of an Anglophile, and often write on the UK. We've been 4 times in recent years. I am fascinated with British History,  politics and may write on British politics.

Yes, I call my " alter-ego" Govteach because I was a government teacher for many years. I find I have to include that because there are people who do not know my background.  

Welcome to the blog, and as I have written, I am working on a podcast sometime in 2026. It's going slower than first expected..... 

 

 

Buna ISD Story..... The First Amendment.

 As many of you know, especially those of you who took my class know, I am an absolutist on the Bill of Rights, especially the  First and Second Amendments. 

Look, I had a radio show, I write this publication on a regular basis. I am working on a podcast....

And again, if you took my class, you know I am an absolutist on Amendment 2. I still want a fully-auto German MG42 or a British Vickers.....

This story comes from a reader of the blog, who felt that they needed to share with me. 

Allegedly, they received a call from a local law enforcement officer(LEO) to stop posting on social media concerning school district leadership. That it was....

 " Against the law." 

It somehow was " harassment?  "

What the cornbread ??????

Look, I am a " Public Personality"( Public Figure) writing this blog.  You should get some of the stuff I receive. I even have people write me and tell me I am "Going to Hell" because of my religious beliefs.  I generally write them back and say, " See you down there."

It bothered me at first, but it got to where, I just ignored it and went on.... It's just part of writing the blog. I fully expect it when I start the podcast. Ain't no telling what people will say.....And I know this. 

When you take a job on the taxpayer teat, well, you are subject to criticism. This triply  applies if you are in a school or any government leadership position. 

When Harry Truman was President of the US, one of his sayings was ...."If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." 

In other words, can't stand the criticism that goes with the position YOU accepted, leave. Quit, go do something else. 

The patron, still pays Buna ISD taxes is my understanding who received the phone call from law enforcement, they of course were upset and went to LEO leadership and told them what happened and they( leadership) told them what they had written on social media was protected speech.  

If school leadership is using law enforcement to try and shut you up, that should scare the hell out of you..... 

I was about to recommend an attorney.  

So, my question is this, does the Buna ISD School Board know this was going on? If so, have they done anything about it? Or do they want that "pesky" Amendment 1 to go away?

My message to leadership? 

Toughen up. Grow some thick skin. What you going to do when something really bad happens? 

My understanding is board elections are later this year.  

Just saying..... 

 

  

Yeah, I Didn't Know Either......

 The Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy start this coming Friday....

Yeah, I did not know either....

I noticed the other day that NBC Sports Channel now has 3 channels on YouTube TV.  

I cannot tell you the last time I watch ANY Olympic Games.....Summer or Winter.....

While in recent years, we have actually seem snow, to us, ice is something we normally put in a Coca-Cola or Dr Pepper, perhaps sweet tea, in July in an attempt to cool down. 

So, while I MIGHT watch some Olympic hockey, I doubt I want the so-called games which are in 2026, professional athletes trying to win gold medals for their own ego.....Or whatever?