Captain Jim's Green Flash Sightings

As the final minutes of 2016 tick down, I have some thoughts about the coming year. Foremost is the hope that Americans are not complacent in our outlook that everything is going to be okay under the Trump Administration. Our unity of purpose and survival as a nation of people who protect freedom and liberty for all citizens, work to expand equal rights and protection from discrimination, is at risk. It is at risk because those in power are now the wealthiest and most "conservative" group of leaders and appointees with agendas to dismantle so much of the progress we have achieved in expanded medical insurance and access to quality care, protection of the environment, scientific inquiry and research to benefit all mankind, defending the environment and seeking energy alternatives, defending equal rights and tolerance of minority rights and issues. The partisanship implicit in the plans to dismantle ACA, minimum wage, LBGT recognition, women's right to choose, limit a

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 I have lived my life trying my best to be strong and courageous, to be unafraid, to find the strength and determination to do the right thing, to not be disheartened by adversity and the unworthy actions of others.  For the most part, I feel I have held my own and successfully faced up to the challenges placed in my path. It has been difficult and scary plenty of times, but I am sustained by the conviction that I am being guided by a worthy spirit and good, sound morals.  This journey has taught me humility, patience, and the ability to forgive myself and others for transgressions and failures. Throughout it all, the words and example of Jesus' ministry have helped me evolve spiritually and provided me an anchor to limit and arrest unintended drift from the honorable path.  Fortunately for me, my wife and m

Politics regarding the Presidential Election have really divided the country. In my opinion, the complete lack of any qualifications in the case of Donald Trump makes him a non-starter as President. he would not be the most dangerous and destructive man in the US, he would be such in the whole world as well. Somehow, I think most people understand that at some level. The problem then becomes the "unlikeability" or downright "hatred" for the other candidate shown by a predominantly white, male, extreme right wing segment of the voting population. Unquestionably, there are also millions that are not voting for Hilliary because of her negatives and other issues which include the fact that she is a woman, Bill's wife, text messages, and all the 'Gates and Bengazi accountability. A lot of the anti-Hilliary sentiment is because she is a Clinton, then there is the fact that she is a woman (like I strongly suspect was the case for our first African American Preside

 The United States has maintained a forward presence over much of the globe since the end of WW II. Japan, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Philippines, United Kingdom, Turkey, and other locations where we based forces and facilities, along with fleets of ships year round for just over 70 years. Through the years we and the other WW II allies managed to rebuild Germany and Japan into stable democratic partners and global economic powers. Other nations have dwindled in the extent of their military power but maintained their strategic value, the United Kingdom for example.  This power projection on the part of our Navy Fleets and physical presence in Germany, Japan, and South Korea, have been the basis of keeping the free world, freedom seeking and emerging nations, at some degree of security to seek some form of independence.  All the while, there has been unending strife, wars, police actions, famines, coups, invasions, ongoing across all the decades. In the majority of these

A reminder to one few followers, bless you, the Green Flash phenomena is one that exists but you have to accept it and actually look for it, to experience it. So it is with so many things. Example, running for President of the United States. You have to be awfully impressed with yourself to believe you should be the leader of this representative democracy. The President is the head of only one branch of the government. His or her job is to administrate, run the federal government for the benefit of the all the people. Lots of departments tasked with the defense of the nation, safety, health, finance, benefits, etc. Congress has their job to deliberate and pass laws and to authorize the funding for the departments and agencies that serve and protect the people. Seems pretty straight forward and simple. But, not anymore and not for the better with regard to what is in the best interest of all who are citizens of this country, the United Staes of America. As insane as it may seem, I wi

   The election is months away and the actual exchange of office still further away. While almost the entire attention of the body politic is focused on the candidates and all the subplots regarding running mates and whom is unworthy and/or untrustworthy, the real work of the Republic goes undone and largely ignored.     The issues that go unaddressed include: Supreme Court vacancy - who can say that the Senate will consider a new justice candidate next year?, immigration reform - do something, gun violence, do something like allow research or issue gun locks for free or something positive, tax reform - duh, increase social security withholding eliminate the cut off for for withholding, healthcare reform - Obama care is working but will falter and fail if not fixed and the full promise of Medicare extension adopted.    Essentially, we are all be held hostage by the determination and fervent hope that a Republican President will sweep in office and set aside all that is "bad for

Since my last posting much has happened and really none of it good for the welfare of the American people. By that, I mean that the candidates in the race do not represent the qualities and sensibilities, the strength of character, personal integrity, or intelligence, to be the President of the United States, none of them. Some certainly are qualified and financed to continue in the race. They have primary victories and delegate counts that seem to be showing Trump and Clinton as the eventual contestants in the election.  As dismal as that seems to me, I actually see a potentially positive result if it comes to these two candidates in the race. I think Trump will scare the absolute shit out of those in the country who reasonable and thoughtful and they will mash up to vote against him. He will be likely to continue his campaign rallies and debates being a bully, braggart, and bombastic. His advisors are certainly trying to make him over into a traditional candidate, but I think he is

2016 Election For the last seven years, the President of the United States has worked with unprecedented opposition to his initiatives, and the American electorate has stood by and accepted the dysfunctional way our national government has been doing the peoples’ business, or not doing the peoples’ business. Now there are divides and ideological differences, but in the end the business of governing has to go forward, smoothly and reliably. The opposition raises their issues, voices, and argues their points; but the imperative is to get the job done, find the compromise and common ground that allows the certainty that the programs are funded and the bills paid. At least that is what I expect of these duly elected representatives. In the coming election, I do not see a candidate that if he or she were to win is going to be able to change the way Congress functions for the better. The entire Republican field is campaigning in undoing the ACA, imposing Christian values as protected

What will be the prospects for Americans this time next year, 2017? Another year has passed and we are a world with a full plate of issues and concerns. It is a long list. Climate Change, Immigration, Muslim fundamentalism and thuggery – ISIS and al Qaeda, IRAQ and Afghanistan US military commitments, China flexing its military muscles and expanding its influence in the Western Pacific, and the list goes on. Internally, the 2016 Presidential Campaign has provided convincing evidence that national level politics have gone awry in a big way. Politicians making personal attacks and outrageous statements, and winning in the national polls. There is no civil discourse among the opposing sides. The entire run-up to the primaries has centered on Donald Trump and his vision of American greatness and the general and often specific unworthiness of his rivals and opponents. Generally, concerned Americans are voicing their disgust with Congress for not doing its business. There is no