Kosh's Shadow 4/19/2026 6:56:41 AM

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Today is Patriots' Day in Massachusetts and Maine,

From this link

For the answer, let’s travel back to the American Revolution. On April 19, 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord kicked off the colonists’ fight for independence from Great Britain. Just two months after Parliament declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion, the brave residents of the colony took up arms and went to battle for independence—eventually leading to the creation of the United States of America.

In particular, today commemorates the "shot heard round the world" - at the North Bridge, in Concord, MA

"The rude bridge that arched the flood"

Which is where this blog got its name.

vxbush 4/20/2026 6:34:35 AM

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In #1 Kosh's Shadow said: Today is Patriots' Day in Massachusetts and Maine

So why isn't today a national holiday? It should be right up there with Independence Day, as far as I am concerned. Being willing to take that shot for freedom should be something we mark and acknowledge. 

vxbush 4/20/2026 6:45:46 AM

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Some estimates for the total amount of fraud during the end of the Trump and beginning of the Biden years: 

Westbrooks testified that GAO found that for fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the U.S. government lost annually somewhere between $233 billion and $521 billion to fraud.

BILLION. Potentially over half a TRILLION in FRAUD. This paragraph is the article is so spot on, it should be the center of all targets: 

The Epoch Times explained that the billions in fraud over the five years is “enough to employ a million people for seven years or purchase a million homes.” Our federal government has enough money to spend if it would only slash unconstitutional and useless programs, or even simply keep to a budget and implement more fraud guardrails. Our national debt truly is a deliberate choice on the part of incompetent, irresponsible, and willfully dishonest government officials.

Go read the whole article, but please prepare yourself some with blood pressure meds first. 

vxbush 4/20/2026 6:47:08 AM

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JCM 4/20/2026 7:09:09 AM

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US Navy fires upon and boards Iranian container ship Touska

US armed forces fired a five-inch gun at the engine room of Iranian-flagged container ship Touska to disable the vessel before boarding and seizing the ship as part of the US blockade of Iran’s ports.

Kosh's Shadow 4/20/2026 7:12:55 AM

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In #4 vxbush said: Honest question: is housing in New York City actually set up to take advantage of natural gas? Or is everything being done with fuel oil, as is common in the northeast?

Probably gas, but a lot of NYC buildings get steam from ConEd plants.

Oil is delivered by truck, and that would be a lot of traffic. Big cities tend to use gas.