My Highlights for the Week

December 26, 2024

” My own feelings were sad and depressed at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered much for a cause, though the cause was, I believe, one of the worse for which a people ever fought.” General Ulysses S. Grant in reference to General Robert E. Lee.

This full-size poster below, was displayed at the entrance to Belk’s Men’s department in the South Park mall. Thousands of men, women and children pass by this display. The picture is disgusting, inappropriate, and lewd or was that the point?

According to a recent report released by the US. Census Bureau, Charlotte, NC has 186,000 illegal immigrants. That number has doubled in the last 6 years. The large increase is straining the housing market, schools, social services, and hospitals (Atrium Health reports 35% non-payers). What worries me is drivers with no insurance or driver training, crime, money flowing back to South America and not spent locally. No federal or state income taxes paid. This is wrong!

The US Mint announced 5 new quarters to be issued in 2025. George Washington is being replaced by 5 women. Hmmm??? Seems a stretch to me. Of course, the women chosen are minority activists often called “trailblazers.” One woman was a tennis player (Althea Gibson), another was a Native American activist, and one woman was a civil rights activist. I never heard of any of these women. But have head the names Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Grant, Hamilton, Jackson, and Kennedy.

The European countries like France, Spain, Poland, and UK have allocated $118 billion in aid to the Ukraine over the last 22 months. The US has spent $85 billion, roughly a 60: 40 ratio. I want Trump to cut funding immediately and end the war. And-I want the Ukraine to allocate its natural resources to the US.

Northvolt, Europe’s premier battery company has filed for bankruptcy. Investors included the governments of Canada, the EU, Germany, Poland, and Sweden. Other investors included Goldman Sachs, Blackrock, BMW, and Volkswagen. JP Morgan also lost millions. Northvolt lost $1.2 billion in 2023. The leaders of Northvolt were incompetent. A complete disaster. The picture above is Northolt’s major factory in a remote area of Sweden.

Last New Year’s Eve in Charlotte a man named Daevion Crawford, age 19, shot 5 people gathered to celebrate the New Year. He was arrested and charged with 5 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Judge Carla Archie (above) accepted a plea deal and sentenced Crawford to 1 year, 9 months. Sadly, a 35-year-old man from Kannapolis was sentenced to 3 years, 2 months in Federal prison for his part in the Jan. 6th riot in Washington. He was found guilty of obstructing law enforcement and assault. He had no weapon. I hope Trump’s new Attorney General reviews the Jan. 6th convictions. The FBI had 26 operatives in the crowd on Jan. 6th. They knew in advance the riot might happen but did nothing to protect the Capitol. I saw the videos; the Capitol Police pulled the barriers back and allowed the rioters into the Capitol. The police chief resigned the next day.

Finally, I watched a few NFL games this week. One game had 22 accepted penalties, including delay of game, illegal formation, lining up in the neutral zone, illegal shift, too many men of the field, false start, offside, and of course, holding. And they call this “professional football.”