From the "I refuse to..and I'll never look at the mirror and blame myself" department - Online story: "In one of her most candid speaking appearances since losing the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton harshly criticized Russia for interfering with the race, and said misogyny was a factor that contributed to her loss. * "I am deeply concerned about what went on with Russia," Clinton said at the Women in the World summit in New York City on Thursday. "A foreign party meddled with our election. and did so in a way that we're learning more about every single day." -- "misogyny"? "Russia"? Good grief.. Hellary was married to and stuck by the biggest misogynist in our country, and she was the head of our foreign policy with Russia for 4 years.. if anything the misogyny vote was hers for the taking, and if Russia didn't support her, it's because she screwed that relationship up herself.. and as for "healthcare", she was campaigning just as hard as Trump on replacing OObamaCRAP herself..

---
Online headline: "US launches missiles at Syrian base after chemical weapons attack" -- Hey, ASSwad.. remember that "red line in the sand" Obama drew? Well, Trump is keeping that promise, too!

---
Online headline: "John McCain slams Republicans over "terrible mistake"" -- Well.. it looks like McCain is finally out of the closet.. he's chastising Republicans.. side-by-side with UpChuck Schmoozer..

---
This was not a good year to be an amateur guest at the Masters..With gusts of wind in the 30-40 MPH class, those childhood memories of a birdie on 18 to win the Masters were replaced by the fear of being blown into Rae's Creek.

---
After giving it a yoeman's effort to compete in the Masters, Dustin Johnson WD'd on the 1st Tee yesterday..Las Vegas bookies and most of the Fantasy Golf pools took a punch in the gut..as the odds for every other golfer improved dramatically. Oh.. and don't you know the insurance company on the house Dustin Johnson is renting is sweating bullets.. just think of the infinite monetary losses of could be attributable to the #1 player in the World not being able to compete.. win.. the best golf tournament in the world....

---
Speaking of the Masters.. after watching it most of the day, I still cannot believe Charley Hoffman toured Augusta in 65 strokes in that wind...

---
There was a chair placed on the 1st Tee box at the Masters...it was there to honor Arnold Palmer. Bet that Clint Eastwood could not beat this chair ..in golf or debate.

---
I know Tiger Woods was not able to play at the Masters this year, but does anyone know where he was yesterday? Tiger is a 4 times champion, and where else could he be that was more important than being at the Masters...I thought he should have been on the 1st Tee yesterday morning to honor Arnold Palmer.

---
My bride and I made an evening of dinner and a play last night. A delicious dinner at MaBella's followed by an entertaining and educational production of Ace Bullard at Foley Hall. There are still opportunities to catch the play tonight, and Saturday.. It's a great date night.

---
Speaking of "Ace Bullard".. not only is it about a Columbus native, it's adapted from a book by a CSU professor by a playwright who's from Columbus and a CSU professor herself. Natalia Temesgen..Being the historian that I am, I was aware of Eugene Bullard and his WWI exploits as a pilot for France, but now I am AWARE of Eugene Bullard's incedible journey through life.. Natalia Temesgen and Paul Pierce brought him to life in a way that could not have been done in times past..History was looked back at in an honest, and at times painful view, but it ends with the audience looking forward with hope. The play continues tonight and Saturday night at 7:30.. Make it a date night for you and your better half (talking AT the men who follow my ramblings).

---
L-E headline/story: "Columbus city officials project a $4.3 million drop in revenue for 2018" *

Here’s a list of the projected general fund revenue adjustments for 2018:

Title Ad Valorem Taxes revenue down by $1.7 million
Sales Tax revenue down by $1.3 million
Recorder’s Court Fees down by $650,000
GA Power Franchise Fees down by $600,000
After School Program Fees down by $450,000
Parks and Rec Fees down by $218,000
Building Permits down by $200,000
Interest Income down by $170,000
Municipal/State Court Fines and Forfeitures down by $140,000
Penalties and interest down by $100,000
Other Franchise Fees down by $50,000
Source: City Finance Department" --

Even without deep parsing, questions quickly arise.. Some quickie concerns.. Let's talk about:

Sales Tax revenues.. losing $1.3 million on the 2 LOST taxes indicates a loss of over $64,000,000.00 in retail sales that will not circulate throughout the City It also indicates that the 1% MCSD SPLOST will lose about $650,000.00 in revenues, as will the 1% T-SPLOST. (all combined indicates retail sales losses of over $125,000,000.00 is to be expected)

Recorder's Court Fees: Excuse me.. but how can this be projected thusly if the fees are actually fines given for various law breaking.. Just recently, we were told "car crashes" are up 5-times any  previous year. and aren't most of those "car crashes" going to result in some sort of ticket which puts the drivers into the Recorder's Court system?

---
GA Power Franchise Fees: Wait a minute.. does anyone recall paying less for their electric bills? And aren't sales taxes also collected by GA Power?

---
After School and Parks and Rec Fees: Combined total a projected decline of over $475,000.00.. Looking at the losses of the AquaCenter.. and Bull Creek et al, how much, to begin with,  is actually coming in, and why are staggering declines predicted.. Oh, does this include losses of WhiteWater, the Dragonfly Trails, the Dog Runs,  and the Queen TT Lounge maintenance?

Building Permits: Down by $200K? With the announcements of 2 new hotels, and the Bradley Company project, plus strip-centers and enterprise zone projects alone, I thought we would be seeing upward growth in such and our economy and in sales tax revenues...

Interest Income: Down by $170,000.00.. how.. will new bonds issued for TAD and Development Authority projects be rising due to the Mayor/Council poorly manipulating the Fund Balance? And with the Fed recently raising rates, aren't  banks paying more for cash savings/investments?

Those were questions just off the top of my head.. other areas of projected revenue losses need more info before I can question them, but it seems what really is being said is Mayor Tom-LYING-son has really been a detriment to our City's growth.. and future.

 

---

L-E "headLIE": "Republicans rewrite the rules for Gorsuch" -- WRONG.. Republicans rewrote, which is legal and previously precedented, the rules FOR AMERICA, and it's need to keep the sanctimony of the US Constitution intact! 

 

---

From the "if you believe Snopes is bias-free, you're gonna love this" department - L-E headline: Facebook launches resource to help spot fake news" -- Good grief.. all-in Hellary supporter and FB founder Jeff 6uckerberg says he can spot "fake news".. maybe he can.. after all, he is" Fake News".

 

---

We will miss Don Rickles.. the first person to recognize  politicians.. et al.. as "hockey pucks".