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. 

Bill RIHS

Thanks Les! We are well on our way with letting evil in.😡 I pray that the republicans stay in power long enough to turn things around.🙏👍

Michael Kelly

Thank You Les. my grandfather listened to Paul Harvey and was a Conservative Republican. He would listen to Mr. Harvey on the Radio everyday that he was broadcast. What is stated is almost identical with where our Country is headed. Calling what used to be unacceptable and considered Evil, is now  urged upon us as the new Norm, and all hell rains down upon you should you disagree. We have all seen the Videos of School Board Meetings where parents objected to their daughters having to share Restrooms with Boys who claim they feel as if they are girls, and one father was beat up by the Law enforcement personnel when he voiced his oblections after his daughter had been raped, and was told to shut up and sit down. We can witness nowadays what Paul Harvey predicted years ago.

Jim Coats

And it all comes to us courtesy of the radical left wing that "the people" elect and keep on electing.  Totally shameful.

Frank Wiley

Thanks Les!  I listened to Paul Harvey when I could.  He had Great Common Sense.  He reminded me alot of today's Victor Davis Hanson.  When I think about the DSA it reminds me of the old adage, "the slippery slope".  The Democrat leaders let the cancer, the radicals into their "Big Tent" and it is mestastasizing.  It's not a slippery slope anymore, it's a Double Black Diamond ski run.  I watched one DSA member actually scream in a speech that it's ok to steal if your hungry , and people who steal if their hungry shouldn't be prosecuted.  Even Liberals like Bill Marr and Steven A. Smith are calling DSA and their policies, "Crazy"!  It's to bad Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer are to intimidated to call them out.

Michael Kelly

It is amazing to me, or perhaps just another example of Stubborn Refusal to Recoginze Foolishmess, for people to kling to Socialism/Communism as a successful method of solving Societal Problems when there are endless examples of Failure when such method is tried as a way of Ordeering Society. We have a glaring example of that right now, in Russia's Failure to impose its Societal Edicts on the Counry of Ukraine. Although there is a Lack of News about the alleged progress in this War, putin is on his last  legs. Moscow has lines at its gas stations that are over two miles long. There  is no food on its stores shelves, and the people who had been in fear of Retaliation if they said one negative thing about putin as little as two months ago, are now openly criticizing him for ruining their Country. It is a perfect eample of Communism running its full course. Of course, that is why no one hears about it in the American Mainstream News, but you can see it on YouTube if you care to watch. 

Lester Cox

Right now, the U.S. is paying roughly $3.8–$4.0 BILLION every day in interest on the national debt.

Using Treasury data through June 30, 2026, the government had incurred about $1.052 trillion in interest expense during the first nine months of fiscal 2026.  That averages approximately:

• $3.85 billion per day
• $160.6 million per hour
• $2.68 million per minute
• $44,600 per second

And that is interest only — it does not reduce the principal owed.

Treasury’s data has since been updated through July 31, 2026, and the national debt itself continues to rise. 

For perspective, at roughly $3.85 billion a day, we’re spending about $1.4 trillion a year just servicing the debt if that pace continues.

Forty one cents of every dollar the US collects from us in taxes goes to pay the interest on the debt. 

What part of this do the 535 people in congress and the President just not understand. Not sure there is anyway out of this mess. 

Michael Kelly

Well, with what Les has just enlightened us all with, guess it is time to 'print More Money, and take on more Welfare Recipient Classifications, so we can give out more money. 

Bill RIHS

We will probably need to go over the cliff to change, that will hurt whoever is left here. Sad future down the debt road.

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

🥳 🎁  Happy Birthday Brad 🎉 🎂

Frank Wiley

Happy Birthday Brad!!

DeWitt Bacon

WE FOUGHT A REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO GIVE US THIS COUNTRY. NOW WE MAY HAVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER ONE TO KEEP IT.

President Trump is fighting a war in a foreign country when he should be fighting the war at home to keep OUR country free.

Jim Coats

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Brad.  Hope you're doing well.

Lester Cox

Happy Birthday Brad.

Brad Musil

Well, thank-you to ALL for the birthday wishes! 

We are currently in Cobano Costa Rica visiting Cindy's brother and family.  We came to Costa Rica for the purpose of closing the sale of our condo in Escazu... which finally happened after several delays on Thursday afternoon.  That was a big relief and birthday present 2 days early.

We are over here now looking for property to build our next home.  Bare farm land down here is running $650,000 per acre.  Closer to the beach and it's well beyond 1 million dollars.

Needless to say... I have had to 'downsize' my desires.  I was planning on about 10 acres... not anymore!

We will be back statside on the 28th of August.  I won't bore you all with the stories and associated stress with the 'closing' down here. I have closed on 7 properties, 3 of which were over 1 million dollars, and the closing didn't take maybe 40 - 45 minutes at most. We started the closing process 3 weeks ago, and the bank postponed the signing 3 times!  I was fit to be tied and wanted to punch somebody!  When we finally closed the bank stated: we cannot instantaniuosly transfer the money... it may take up to 24 hours.  The alternative was a chashier's check which we could immediately deposit; however, our bank would need to send two people (1 an armed guard) to the originating bank and withdraw the CASH to expedite our having access to the funds... and that might take 1 day!  NOTHING... is simple or easy down here... especially when dealing with money.  Everyone demands being paid in advance before they will perform any work... no matter how simple or complex.  We had to pay over 3 thousand dollars to have our furature moved... ALL in advance before they even would show up to load.

It's very beautiful here... but it's no wonder 'gringos' become dis-enchanted with Latin American countries.  They DON'T do business as we are used to.  AND... no one shows up on time!  30 minutes late is considered 'on time' down here.  That alone drives me nuts!  Try as I might... I have not been able to convince these people to make a meeting on time.

Pura Vida,

Brad

ps: Pura Vida means: pure life or... relaxed life (down here)

Frank Wiley

Hi Brad, are you permanently in Costa Rica now or do you still have your place in the Valley?

David Damron

Happy Birthday, Randy Edwards!!

Brad Musil

Frank, 

Yes we still have our home in Gilbert... and will have for some time.  I anticipate this re-location will take 4-5 years to become cast in stone.  As you might well imagine there are many things to consider and the USA (Phoenix/Gilbert) has many pluses.  But then so does Costa Rica.  If I didn't have a Costarican wife, this wouldn't even be a starter; however, she potentially has a much longer futer than do I,and thus the decision.

We are currently looking for propertry in the Cobano area of Costa RIca.  Mostly because that is where Cindy's only brother lives and she wiashes to be with family when I pass on.  That's important because she is 30 years younger than me.

It's an amazing place down here... and once we get settled... We would be delighted to show you the non-tourist side of CR.

MyBest, Brad

Jim Coats

HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow Randy!

You were one of the MOST interesting characters I knew at Monte Vista....and you have retained that title to this day.  I'm glad we were able to meet at the reunion.

Take care buddy!

Bill RIHS

I am late to say; happy birthday to Brad and Randy🎉🎂👍🇺🇸.

Frank Wiley

Happy Birthday Randy!  Brad, Thanks on your residential updates!

Lester Cox

Brad, I was in Costa Rica in the mid 1990's and loved it there. Everything was very cheap as it really had not been discovered as yet and I mistakenly failed to invest in land there. My trip there was mostly on the western side of Costa Rica, the Pacific coast, which was quite remote at that time. In 2005 I visited again but on the east side. I'd love to learn more from you about living in Costa Rica. My wife and I do plan to visit in the next year, flying into Liberia.

Patty Meyers (Anderson)

Happy  Birthday Randy 🎂 🎉 🎁 🎉

Randy Edwards

Many thanks to you all for the Birthday greetings - glad to still be here!

Jim,

I get down to Phx/Cave Creek at times. Love to have a cup of coffee or lunch. Have been fortunate enough to catch up with Dave Damron once in a while. Maybe meet for lunch, might even convince Dave to join us.

Again, thank you all! 78, who would have guessed?

Bill Randall

   Happy birthdays you Aug-Boys from the 114F in the shade; Phoenixian. Heading to a cool tap room for a foamy treat.

Bill Randall

  Just purchased from Aridus Wine (Benson, AZ) their tasting room in Scottsdale a case (12bottles) of their overstock for today's temperature [114F]..