Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

Jim Coats

$1.74 for Regular gas @ Costco today.

DANGER, Will Robinson!!  I meant to say $2.74/gal.  Sorry.  I understand the I-10 coming in from California is jammed with people trying to buy gas here!!

Michael Kelly

Coats Your Gasoline per gallon Price is just about making it more economical to drive to Arizona to Fill up the Tank, than to stay here under the Gruesome Newsome economy and get by on gas prices here.

On another issue, I went to buy a Rifle over here, and the Gun Store said I needed to have my Birth Certificate. If I went to buy a Rifle in Arizona, would they want to see if I have a Birth Certificate also.? I went to Order a Birth Cert. on line, and sent them a Form I filled out, and they came back and told me I didn't exist because my Mother's Maiden Name was not correct on the Form. I am starting to feel like Rodney Dangerfield. I checked with my Youngest Brother, and he said that they may have her name as different from when I was born, because she was listed as a Native American for a while, and she may have  changed her last name from what I was given on my Birth Certicate, to a different last name. 

We had a whole bunch of Rain over here, Roads washed out, Cars were swept away in water, one road that I have traversed numerous times was featured on the News because a Driver tried to drive across it and his Car  was swept away and out into the desert. I don't know if the Driver was ever found.

Had my Annual Physical on Wednesday, it was done remotely, nice lady called herself a physician's assistant, she asked me a bunch of questions. Then she asked me if anyone had ever told me that I was suffering from  Alzheimer's or Dementia, I answere back that I didn't think so,but I really couldn't remember, Our conversation ended I believe. 

Frank Wiley

Well Mike, one good thing about living in Commie-fornia is you won't have to worry about paying the billionaire tax?

Jim Coats

LEFTY.

Re:  My #15757.  Gas at Costco yesterday was $2.74, NOT $1.74.  It's still $3.15 at Safeway.

I was typing on my Android where everything on the CHS site is still microscopic and my fingertips are 3 keys wide.  I hope your heart is OK and you're not on the road here to fill up....although I'd really like to see you.

Re: Birth Certificate requirement to buy a gun here.  NOPE.  I have a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit and that greatly speeds up the process since I have already been proctologically examined by DPS, ATF, FDIC and CHS.

Your experience with your Physician's Assistant (PA) is similar to mine PLUS I never get to speak directly with my Doc, just the PA via Zoom or whatever the hell it's called.  Assembly Line Medicine, Mike.  "Get 'em in....Get 'em out...And Don't let 'em die on my watch.

Bill RIHS

Sharon and I have "Direct Care" doctor. He is available 24/7 via his cell phone. He does have a PA to handle questions and prioritize appointments for those that want one or need one. We see him for our annual physical not the PA. No insurance to deal with. We love it for $120/ month.

Michael Kelly

Coats  It almost seems like the Doctor's Exam is not about your current health, or lack thereof, it is more than likely Aimed at diagnosing us Guinea Pigs with some kind of condition or disease, that calls for a Group or Schedule of Medicines that are gauged at pricing you right up to the Maximum of your Socially Subsicized Medical Allotment. Very Clever, Perhaps it is time for all of us to become Voting Stockholders in one or more of the Pharmaceutical Corps and Vote at the Annual Meetings for cheaper medicine Costs. Like Charlton Heston when one of the Media Giants became very Vociferous against Gun Ownership so Heston became a Shareholder, with Voting Rights, and Threatened the Corporation with a Shareholder Takeover unless they changed their Policy about Gun Ownership. It Worked.

Frank Wiley

3 days till the Beer Summit!

Jim Coats

Frank.  I'll be at the Beer Summit.  Do you have a head count?  The Duchess will not be in attendance.

Michael Wetzel

I will try to be there. Which brave souls are bringing their brides ?.....

Frank Wiley

Count I have is 7.

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Happy Birthday Mike  🥳 🎂 🎉 🎁 

Jim Coats

LEFTY:  To quote Festus....HAPPY BIRTHDAY you ol' scudder.

Michael Wetzel

Happy Birthday Michael, have a great day, and stay safe........

Michael Kelly

FRIENDS, CLASSMATES, FELLOW RAPSCALLIONS:  I want to thank you for your Birthday Well Wishes, This is my Seventy-Ninth year of my sojourn here on Terra Firma. I will mind your admonshments in regards for my Safety in this upcoming year. Ole Scudder

Lester Cox

Happy Birthday Michael, hope isn't a great day. I got to 79 about 6 days ahead of you, it's not so bad.

Bill RIHS

Micheal, happy birthday buddy. Welcome to 79, been there since October 😊.

Lester Cox

Frank, Bill and Jim, thanks so much for the warm welcome to my first beer summit. Very much appreciate your friendship and look forward to seeing you all many times going forward. And Bill, thanks for the ride home. Frank, when you come to the next summit, please understand you are welcome to stay at our home. Thanks again all. lc

Frank Wiley

Happy Birthday Kaliformia Kelly!  Les, it was nice getting to know you and thanks for the invite!

Michael Kelly

Sunday  Jan. 18, 2026  Minnesotans must be the victims of VERY BAD WATER because they are prone to acting very irrationally. They stand out in really cold weather and demand ICE leave. it makes no Sense. After years of cold weather in January, they demand this year that ICE leave? Havent they learned over the years that Ice is a part of January's weather. 

Bill RIHS

Micheal, good one on ice leaving🤣👍

DeWitt Bacon

No ice down here in the red states. It mkes it hard to make frozen marguritas though.

Michael Wetzel

My Opinion : I know you die hard Trump people are not going to agree with me in any shape or form. You know I voted for this idiot because I hate socialism/communism ! Through his arrogance, extreme egotism, unprofessioalism as President ( ie, flipping people off with the middle finger, yelling F.U. to individuals, calling women inappropiate names, etc.,etc. ) and far too many other examples I will not bother to list , except to mention Greenland, Venezuela, Ukraine, Canada and the EU as examples. I believe there is the possibility that he is losing control of his functioning mental capabilities, as a rational individual. Not to mention I personally beleive he is ' evil '. If this in fact can be proven, he is in deep shit, and we possibly as well !!!L.......

Michael Kelly

Mike Wetzel, et. al. I have mixed feelings about Trump and they have increased since he took office. I think the idea of taking Greemland and Iceland is tantamount to providing the impetus for busting our NATO obligations, which I think Trump is very unwise to Scuttle. His posturing with Ukraine has always Irked Me,  especailly since he and the minah bird Vance who used the Feb. 2025 Meeting  with Zelenskyy at the WH to engage in what amounted to World Embarassment, and gave Putin additional excuse to Murder Ukraine's people while Trump and Vance, Each of which has never seen the Death and Destruction that putin has dealt ukraine, have Egg on thier Face. What has happened there should change any Rational Person's mind,

Now I know that Trump has done a very good Job domestically in his decision making, and in a large part his governance has been correct internationally, but with the War in Ukraine, he is a Loser in my Book. He seems to have no regard for them, and his attitude shows a strong sympathy with putin, I guess Trump fantasizes about building Trump Towers in all of Russia's major Cities.

It looks to me that Ukraine is going to whip putin's ass, despite Trump. If anyone deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for that Killer's War, it is Zelenskyy who has dealt with Trump like a Nanny deals with a Wet Diapered Spoiled Brat 'Its alright little Donny, Nanny will change you soon" . Right now, Ukrainians are freezing to death due to putin's delibefrate Destruction of the Ukraine's Power Grid, and his careless placing Military Vehicles next to the inner Workings of the Nuclear Power Plant in Vinnizhia ( sic ) which is the largest Nuclear Power Plant in all of the World. putin doesn't care if he creates another Chernobyl x 10, his goal is to kill people until the only people left are Russians. 

Someone needs to take Donald aside, and give him a strong Talking Too about how he has F'd Up over there. I have decided to help out how I can, so instead of Hating putin, I have formed a 501 (c) (3) to raiise money to buy Wool Blankets for Ukraine so the people can stay Warm since they have almost no Heat or Light. I buy the blankets from Surplus porviders, and will ship them to whoever can distribute them to the people who need them. A Surplus Wool Blanket 60 x 84 80% Wool, is about 25 dollars, and I have already bought some. I want to send them as many as I can. I might just send them to Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse which provides Food, Water, and other necessaries to poverty stricken people. Instead of bitching, it is far more productive to Save People's Lives. If the Spirit moves you then help out. My Goal is to ship people Blankets, Sanitary Sipping Straws, Fire Flints for Starting Fires with Wood, paper, leavesd etc., eventually small Cooking Stoves, and with everything else, Bibles. We are a Country that above all else, We help People who cannot help themselves, and we attract others because of this. Politicians do what they do usually because of money, which may or not be bad, depends on what is in the Person's Heart.  

Bill RIHS

Micheal, both, I have concerns too. I think he is getting over his skis on Greenland, Russia and Ukraine. However, almost everything else is spot on in my opinion. I'll try to overlook his personality defects or worse 😢.

Michael Wetzel

Michael, your a very intelligent man, so lets discuss a couple of items. His tariffs. Trump big claim he is generating trillions of dollars through them. Some individuals do not understand or comprehend who is actually paying the price because of these tariffs. You, me, and every jackman in the U.S.A., that's who. The cost of these tariffs are passed down to us through every damn item we purchase, by the sellers. Be it Drugstores, Walmarts, Frys, every business still in operation. Which brings up the fact that these tariffs has forced thousands of businesses such as Restaurants, Clothing stores, small Shops to have to close, many to never reopen again. Everything I need to purchase, I have been paying more for that item, as I'm sure is the case for you. By the way, has anyone received their two thousand dollars yet, that Trump keeps promising? I sure haven't....His passion for going after every individual who he has a perceived slight from, in his mind, is mind boggling. He far surpasses Biden. This was one of his main promisses while running for President, that he would never, ever do. I realize most all Presidents lie, but Trump is by far the biggest liar I have ever witnessed. I have said it before on this site, and I will repeat it again, President Reagan, was the best President in my life. We so badly need another one just like him..............

Maybe we should discuss his choice of Cabinet members sometime ,or lack there of..........