Being a train conductor seems like a simple, boring job: collecting tickets, opening and closing doors, reminding people to keep their feet off the seats. Yawn.
But there’s a lighter side to the job, as I wrote a few years ago, based on former conductor Michael Shaw’s great book, “My Rail Life,” after he retired from a 36-year career on the New Haven line. He clearly loved his job. And he swears these stories are true.
He once told passengers on a standing-room only train: “OK, folks. We are half way to Grand Central. It’s time for everyone who’s been seated to get up and give their seats to folks who’ve been standing.”
Asked by a passenger boarding at Grand Central, “What times does this train arrive in Stamford?” he answered candidly, “Usually about 20 minutes after the schedule says.”
On another train he announced: “Folks, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Metro-North fixed the air conditioning you complained about not having all summer long. The bad news it’s now winter.”
Honest to a fault, he turned in everything left by passengers on his train to the Metro-North Lost and Found … even an envelope containing $400 in cash. (The lost money wasn’t claimed so he got it back.) On several occasions, he’d find a lost briefcase or cell-phone and personally return it to the owner’s home the same day.
He also loved razzing his fellow railroad workers, once announcing, “If you have any railroad questions or would like to take your picture with a real railroad engineer, come to the front of the train and say hello to Jerry, who loves chatting with people.” The engineer’s name was not Jerry and the real man at the controls really didn’t like people.
Approaching Bridgeport, Shaw announced the connection for the Waterbury train, adding “Be sure to ask your Waterbury conductor for one of the free 100 Years Commemorative pins.” There were no such pins.
On Friday late night trains, Shaw would bet with his fellow conductors watching drunk passengers boarding at Grand Central, guessing who would be first to throw up. Shaw immediately chose a 95-pound blonde he saw staggering to the nearest car with her equally inebriated boyfriend. Even before leaving the station his co-worker came and gave him his winnings.
Shaw always went out of his way to keep passengers informed about delays. In the horrendous winter of 2014 when the railroad almost ground to a halt, he printed a one-page apology for the previous day’s delays and did his own seat-drop of 500 copies before the train left New Haven. His regular passengers were so grateful for his candor, they gave him a standing ovation as he entered each car to collect tickets. His railroad bosses were not amused.
Approaching an obviously “senior” citizen to collect his fare, the old timer asked if Shaw needed his ID to prove his age. Saying that wouldn’t be necessary, the old timer asked, “Are you saying I look too old?” “No,” said Shaw. “You look honest.”
On another occasion he approached an elderly, grey-haired woman, who wanted to buy a senior-discount ticket. “Are you over 65?,” he asked in a teasing voice. “Actually, I’m 82” she said. “Well, you look marvelous!,” said Shaw, asking “What’s your secret?” Without a smile or batting an eyelash, she said “Rough sex.”
If you need a good chuckle, you’ll love this book.
Editor’s Notes: i) Jim Cameron is the founder of the Commuter Action Group and advocates for Connecticut rail riders. He writes a weekly column called ‘Talking Transportation,’ which is published by a number of publications in the state. ii) ”Talking Transportation” won first place in the general column/commentary category in the 2024 Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Contest.
Epigraph: “Johnny’s in the basement, mixing up the medicine; I’m on the pavement, thinking about the government.” [Bob Dylan (1965): Subterranean Homesick Blues.”]
Prologue:
Thomas D. Gotowka
So, what is there really to think about?
Well, I’m opining on why this Republican President, still supported by a “look the other way” Republican Congress, has shut down the Government; and once again, is threatening our Nation with massive job cuts in the federal workforce — a reprise of his first term shutdown, which lasted 35 days, the longest ever; and resulted in the furlough and/or firing of about 800,000 government employees.
That 2018 Trump shutdown centered principally on funding for his vanity wall along Arizona’s border with Mexico — which he falsely claimed would be paid for by Mexico. Like America’s current crisis over access to affordable health insurance, the Republicans controlled Congress in 2018, too.
I sincerely hope and pray that he does not seek to lengthen his appalling record of 35 days down. Check my math, but if the government remains closed beyond November 5, it becomes the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and this President breaks his own record.
On October 13th, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson already predicted that this current shutdown may become the longest in history: “We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history.” He went on to say that “he won’t negotiate with Democrats until they ‘hit pause’ on their health care demands and reopen the government.”
Unfortunately, Johnson had recessed the House, making negotiations nearly impossible. He claimed that his decision to keep House members out of Washington was not politically motivated. Rather, “lawmakers need to be at home to help constituents weather the effects of the shutdown.”
Johnson has also been holding up the swearing-in of newly elected Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), a month after she won an Arizona special election. Once sworn in, her vote would be the last one needed by the Democrats to require the Justice Department to release “the Epstein files.”
The President is in full “Biff the bully” mode; and his shutdown is clocking towards that new record. He announced at an October 9th Cabinet meeting that “the administration will begin cutting programs backed by Democrats.
“We’re only cutting Democrat programs, I hate to tell you, but we are cutting Democrat programs,” “We will be cutting some very popular Democrat programs that aren’t popular with Republicans, frankly.” I think we got it the first time, Mr. President!
Note: “Biff Tannen” is a fictional character in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, depicted as a hulking, belligerent, and fatuous bully.
White House Improvements:
Meanwhile, the President has garishly gilded the Oval Office, is building a “big, beautiful” 90,000 square foot ballroom, now estimated to cost $300million, and planning a grand arch on the Arlington, VA, side of the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River.
CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe asked the President who the arch is for, and Trump pointed at himself: “Me.”
Note that in July, Trump falsely claimed that the ballroom’s price would be $200 million and would be constructed adjacent to the historic East Wing of the White House and “wouldn’t interfere” with the building’s existing structure.
The shocking demolition of the historic East Wing began on October 20th.
And that’s not all! Trump said on Truth Social that “I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom.” “I did it in black and white polished Statuary marble.”
I respectfully quote Trump’s ever-present boogeyman’s favorite retort: “Come on, man!”—i.e., former President, Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
I am certain that President Trump has already guaranteed himself a place in American and world history, even without his ridiculous leasehold improvements.
“Golf is a Good Walk Spoiled”:
Trump marked the first full month of his government shutdown on Halloween by blaming it all on Democrats and taking a $3.4 million golf trip to Florida, bringing the total that taxpayers have spent on his hobby to $60.7 million since January.
Trump doesn’t walk much on the golf course, as he almost exclusively uses a golf cart. His golf party can include security in a dozen golf carts, generally two to a cart; and one cart always occupied by a single person, Donald Trump.
The expression, “Golf is a good walk, spoiled” was used by the author, Harry Leon Wilson, in his 1905 novel, “The Boss of Little Arcady: A Satirical Tale of Power and Corruption in Small-Town America.”
Personal Best?
On October 10th, Trump announced his administration’s plans to slash thousands of workers from several departments, including Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Treasury, and Commerce.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that “It’ll be a lot, and we’ll announce the numbers over the next couple of days, but it’ll be a lot of people.” Again, Trump said that “many of the affected employees worked for programs that were ‘Democrat-oriented’ or were “people that the Democrats wanted”— “More cuts are under consideration.”
Trump’s firings mark the first large-scale expulsion of federal employees during a funding lapse in modern history, going beyond the furloughs that characterized past temporary shutdowns. His move ups the stakes in his standoff with Democrats—and as usual, he’s looking for someone, anyone, to accept the blame for his actions.
OBBB:
All that said, in my last “View,”— “Exercise your franchise and cast your vote on Tuesday, November 4th,” I considered the horrific financial consequences of this President’s tariffs and his alleged “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) on Americans—especially, our neediest Americans; and on education and green energy programs.
Notably, millions of disadvantaged Americans will lose their Medicaid health coverage, nutrition assistance, and access to school lunches; —and an estimated 22 million, including four million small business owners, who access their health coverage via the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) will experience considerable increases in premiums — it is estimated that 4.2 million Americans will become uninsured as costs rise to unaffordable levels.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called Trump’s OBBB “the most dangerous legislation in modern U.S. history,” and claimed that “it is a billionaire-funded payoff.”
Strikingly, even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA.), a staunch Trump supporter, blames Republican leaders for the shutdown, repeating the Democrats’ concerns about increases in health insurance premiums and Medicaid takeaways—which, as noted, is the debate at the core of the shutdown battle: The Georgia Congresswoman wrote: “I’m going to go against everyone on this issue because when the tax credits expire this year, my own adult children’s insurance premiums for 2026 are going to DOUBLE, along with all the wonderful families and hard-working people in my district.”
Pharmaceutical Tariffs:
To make matters even worse, on Thursday, Sept. 25; Trump announced a 100 percent tariff on brand-name or patented pharmaceutical products— i.e., beginning Oct. 1st, unless the drugmaker is building a manufacturing plant in the U.S.
He also announced a 50 percent tariff on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture, and 25% on heavy trucks made outside the U.S. Trump, of course, said these new pharmaceutical tariffs will fulfill his vow to lower drug costs, although economists aren’t so certain.
China’s Restrictions on Rare Earths:
Incredibly, it gets even worse. China announced plans to implement tighter restrictions on their export of rare earths, used to manufacture products including semiconductors, electric car batteries, jet engines, and defense weapons. Intelligence indicates that they may produce more than three-quarters of the world’s rare earth magnets.
Trump threatened to retaliate by imposing additional 100 percent tariffs over current levels.
In reaction, the Chinese Government announced that “it is willing to work with North Korea to explore the potential for practical cooperation and add more impetus to the development and construction in the two countries.”
President Clinton also presided over two shutdowns during his tenure—five days ending in 1995 and 21 days ending in 1996.
At the time, polling generally showed that Americans largely blamed the Republican Congress for the shutdowns and their conflicts with Clinton over funding for education, the environment, and public health.
This essay is a factual, roughly chronological, account of the events and actions that have consumed my attention since my last “View;” and is, really, what’s keeping me up at night.
This “View” is longer than usual, as Trump’s administration has been so relentless in their actions, but if you are not sleeping so well, anyways …
If you are only scanning this “View,” each section represents a major theme in this unusually manic administration and may be reviewed independently. Whenever possible, I use relevant quotations to illustrate and support the issues.
Disclaimers:
This “View” will not consider ICE brutality or the President’s personal vanity war with Venezuela, which, according to the Washington Post, has driven Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to reach out to Russia, China and Iran for support.
Moreover, I do not do salacious, so beyond this disclaimer, I am not considering the “Epstein Files” or whatever relationships, if any, existed amongst Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Epstein’s “associate,” Ghislaine Maxwell; —which puts me in good company. The Supreme Court just declined to take up Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal of her sex trafficking case, crushing her final hope of fighting her 2021 conviction.
Bizarrely, maybe not “her final hope.” After the Supreme Court declined, Trump said that he would have to talk to the Department of Justice and review the Maxwell case. He has not ruled out granting a pardon. He has pardoned worse.
The President has labeled the Epstein files “a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats to undermine his ‘success’.”
I continue with an overview of the “coattails effect” in American politics, and then review the rhetoric that precipitated my concerns regarding Trump’s aggressive redistricting push; and the events that inspired my assertion that “the President certainly realizes that his coattails are shabby. I follow with a review of Trump’s personal wars with our cities.
As always, these thoughts and observations are mine.
I usually stand at the liberal side of center; and so, for example, I support school lunch programs, as credible research demonstrates that they are important for improving student health, academic performance, and can be a big factor in addressing food insecurity; ultimately fostering a more equitable learning environment, i.e., they level the learning field.
I don’t know whether there are families in Old Lyme who require nutrition assistance, but the weekly food pantry at FCCOL always appears very busy.
Coattails?
As a political term, the “coattail effect” refers to the influence of a victorious candidate on down-ballot elections—i.e., a phenomenon that appears when the popularity of a political candidate or leader results in higher voter counts for other candidates of the same party. A candidate who wins an election because of another candidate’s popularity is said to be “swept in on the coattails” or “riding the coattails” of that candidate.
So, a popular candidate can help sweep other Election Day contenders into office. In contrast, a controversial leader or unsuccessful presidential candidate may spoil the chances of those running for offices lower down on the ballot.
Trump’s Shady Solution:
I believe that Trump’s actions over the past several months demonstrate that he and his Republican supporters are aware of his probable negative impact on the midterms, scheduled for November 3, 2026.
After all, Democrats “flipped the House” two years into his first term, and he certainly doesn’t want a repeat.
In mid-July, Trump began pushing Texas Republicans to redraw the state’s Congressional maps to create more House seats favorable to him and his party.
Trump stated in an early August CNBC interview that “we should have many more seats in California, it’s all gerrymandered.” (see below). He went on: “we have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. We have a really good governor, and we have good people in Texas. And I won Texas. I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, and we are ‘entitled’ to five more seats.”
Historians will place an asterisk next to Trump’s “highest vote in the history of Texas” claim.
George W. Bush won a higher share of Texas in both of his successful presidential campaigns: 59 percent in 2000, and 61 percent in 2004. Ronald Reagan won an even greater share of Texas in 1984—nearly 64 percent.
Nevertheless, Trump’s 56 percent was solid, but do the math.
What really matters here is not the truth of Trump’s claim, but that in his view, he and his Republican allies are “entitled” to seats held by five duly elected representatives.
I am not going to provide the ugly play-by-play, but Texas Republican lawmakers pushed through a plan over fierce Democratic opposition; and on August 29th, Gov. Abbott approved a new set of district maps strongly favoring Republicans, and positioning them to possibly gain up to five additional seats.
Four of those seats are currently held by Black or Hispanic lawmakers. Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Black Democrat, occupied the other one until his recent death. Abbott’s signature launched a national redistricting war.
California immediately retaliated with redistricting bills that lawmakers and Gov. Newsom approved on Aug. 21st. The bill will go to the State’s voters on Nov. 4, and if approved, could net the Democrats five additional seats. Editor’s Note: The bill passed convincingly on Nov. 4th with roughly 64% supporting it and 36% opposing it.
With intensified pressure from Trump, Republicans have also initiated efforts to create new districts in Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio, which increased calls for Democratic-run states to counter by redrawing their own districts.
Note that redrawing district borders does not circumvent the individual voter’s personal decision.
The Decennial Census:
Redistricting usually occurs every 10 years, triggered by the decennial census conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Preparation and conduct of a decennial census can take several years.
Of course, despite that time requirement, the President ordered a new census in August, “with restrictions;” apparently ignoring the 14th Amendment, which requires that the “whole number of persons in each state” be counted. Instead, and per the President: “the census data collections will be based on ‘modern day facts and figures’ and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024.” Fudge the results?
Undeniably, states do have the authority to redistrict more frequently, often following legal challenges against maps accused of being gerrymandered, which means redistricted in a manner that favors one political party. States like Florida and Virginia have seen this sort of redistricting in the last decade.
The Current Scorecard:
Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the House: 219 Republicans versus 213 Democrats. In the Senate, Republicans have 53 members, and Democrats, 45, though the two independent senators – Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Angus King (I-ME) – caucus with Democrats.
No Kings:
Americans staged two massive national protests this year. At the most recent, October 18th, nearly 7 million people marched at more than 2,700 events in all 50 states; including more than 100,000, each, in NYC, Philadelphia, and at the Boston Common. — and another 250,000 in Chicago. Nationwide, the protests were largely peaceful, although there were a few incidents. Organizers did not host an event in Washington, D.C.
Trump returned to a familiar tactic and tried to denigrate the weekend’s protests; — speaking about the events with reporters aboard Air Force One, he said that they’d been “very small, very ineffective;” and dismissed the demonstrations against him as a “joke.” He also rejected suggestions that he is acting like a monarch. “I think it’s a joke,”
He described those protesting against his administration as “whacked out.”
“I looked at the people. They’re not representative of this country, and I looked at all the brand new signs paid for, I guess it was paid for by Soros and other radical left lunatics.”
Despite the insult, George Soros remains a billionaire philanthropist, who supports progressive and liberal political causes through his Open Society Foundations.
Republicans maintained that the protests were “hate America” rallies and claimed they are prolonging the federal government shutdown.
On the other hand, Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke to demonstrators in front of the U.S Capitol building and said “we’re here because we love America; President Donald Trump and his billionaire allies, like Elon Musk, are endangering self-government.”
The first “No Kings” on June 14th, drew more than five million people at over 2,100 rallies and protests, countrywide. The LA Times reported that tens of thousands demonstrated in the city, roiled by Trump’s recent brutal immigration enforcement. The New York Post reported that 50,000 people showed up in NYC.
June 14th was the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, and Trump’s 79th birthday; which made him the oldest President, ever.
There were no planned protests for Washington, D.C. — organizers stated that “instead of allowing this birthday parade (below) to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day.
Trump’s “Unbirthday” Military Parade:
The June 14th parade was the largest U.S. military parade since the 1990s, but several media outlets, including the New York Times and the Wall street Journal, reported that the crowd was sparse; TIME estimated tens of thousands came out to witness the event; Although Trump, whose preoccupation with crowd size is well known, claimed “250,000 patriots showed up to celebrate.”
In an interview at the Capitol, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called the parade “wildly inappropriate” and said that while he has no problem celebrating the U.S. military; “We do not celebrate individual leaders. We celebrate the Constitution, and we celebrate the Country.”
“It’s clear Trump is doing this as a celebration of his power, not as a celebration of the military,”
The Army reported expenses of $30 million; which covered the cost of hauling dozens of tanks and armored vehicles by train and truck from military bases in Texas to Wahington, D.C., travel expenses for 7,000 soldiers, Warplanes that flew overhead, and Army parachutists that came down from the skies The Army’s tabulation does not include the cost of the parade’s significant security requirements, including the Secret Service, DHS, FBI and local police personnel required to secure a large area of downtown Washington and monitor possible threats, or damages to the City’s infrastructure by the tanks.
The idea of one’s “unbirthday” first appeared in Lewis Carroll’s 1871 novel, “Through the Looking Glass.” (Note that I have not used the term in the same manner as Lewis Carroll.). N.B. The Navy, which also celebrates its 250th anniversary in October of this year, has no plans for a similar parade; neither does the Marine Corps, for its 250th in November.
The Democrat Power Center:
The day after the June protests, Trump ordered Democratic cities be “targeted with raids by immigration authorities; — he said that “he’s ordering his entire administration to attack cities that he calls “the Democrat Power Center.”
Trump’s Invasion and Occupation of American Cities Governed by Democrats:
This is “insanity.” Perhaps not a diagnosis you’d find in ICD-11, but the look and feel is definitely there.
Los Angeles:
In June, responding to protests of heavy-handed immigration raids in Los Angeles, Trump ordered 2,000 soldiers from the California National Guard into the city to “protect ICE agents. He also ordered the Pentagon to dispatch regular U.S. troops “as necessary” to support the California National Guard.
Trump later claimed that he saved Los Angeles by deploying Marines on protestors, stating that “Los Angeles would be burning to the ground.”
CA Gov. Newsom, another Trump boogeyman, decades younger than the President, responded with a lawsuit, noting that the President’s action threatens state sovereignty.
Washington, D.C.:
On Aug. 11, after a “trumped up” public safety “emergency,” The President announced plans to deploy some 800 members of the Washington, D.C. National Guard to the nation’s capital. Trump claimed the deployment is part of a city-wide effort to combat violent crime such as homicides, robberies, and burglaries – even though such crimes have sharply fallen over the past two years. “This is liberation day in D.C. and we’re going to take our capital back.” These moves generated intense outrage from Congressional Democrats, while the GOP just looked the other way.
Chicago:
In early September, Trump posted what appeared to be an AI-generated image of himself in front of the Chicago skyline with helicopters, flames, and the phrase “Chipocalypse Now;” referencing, I suppose, the 1979 movie “Apocalypse Now.” “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”
“Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker responded: “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman; he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.”
In early October, Trump responded on Truth Social that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker “should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers!”
It wasn’t immediately clear what Trump was specifically objecting to with those threats, but it was an example of his deliberate calls for his opponents to be prosecuted or locked up;”— in this case, guilty of opposing his deployment of National Guard troops in their city.
Finally, on October 9th, two hundred Texas National Guard troops started working in the Chicago area.
Portland:
In his first term, Trump declared Portland to be an “anarchist jurisdiction.” As unlikely as that claim sounds, he carried it through to this term. NYC and Seattle also received that designation.
While addressing our military leaders (see below), he described Portland as “like a war zone and claimed the city looked like World War II.”
In a mocking manner he related his conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek.: “I get a call from the liberal governor: “Sir, please don’t come in, we don’t need you.’” “I said, ‘Well, unless they are playing false tapes, this looked like World War II. Your place is burning down. I mean, you must be kidding.”
Trump repeated that claim to reporters at the White House: “I looked at Portland over the weekend. The place is burning down, just burning down … it was on fire over the weekend.”
On Sep. 27th, in a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that “at the request of the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, he was directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “provide ‘all necessary Troops’ to Portland.” He wrote that the troops would “protect War ravaged Portland” and protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities that he claimed “are under siege from attack by ‘Antifa’ and other domestic terrorists.”
Trump added that he is “authorizing Full Force, if necessary,” but without clarification.
He then issued a press release that said “the Radical Left’s reign of terror in Portland ends now,”
Portland’s mayor, Democrat Keith Wilson, said “Our nation has a long memory of acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it.”
Similarly, in September, the conservative editors at the Wall Street Journal warned the GOP that their failure to resist Trump’s executive power excesses will hurt their party and the country in the future; and give Democrats precedent to use the same tactics against them.
Trump and Hegseth Meet with the Military’s Senior Officers:
Hegseth ordered some 800 military leaders with a rank of one-star general, rear admiral, or higher and senior non-commissioned officers to travel with little notice and without an agenda to Marine Corps Base Quantico. The gathering was highly unusual, given the disruption and logistical effort required to have military leadership travel from all parts of the world with only a few days’ notice; and given that the military has a well-established ability to hold secure meetings remotely.
Trump had spoken with reporters at the White House in advance of the meeting and said “I’m going to be meeting with generals and with admirals and with leaders; and if I don’t like somebody, I’m going to fire them right on the spot.”
Hegseth began the meeting with a speech extolling the “warrior ethos” to our Nation’s senior-most warriors, and promoted the new name, the Department of War, although it has not been officially changed by Congress.
“This speech is about fixing decades of decay,” “This is part of the Trump administration’s effort to strip away the “social justice, politically correct and toxic, ideological garbage that had infected our department.” “We are done with that s***.”
He slammed “toxic leaders,” who he accused of lowering standards to make the Defense Department a “woke” culture” at the Pentagon. “He complained about “fatties” and “beardos” and went on with: “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, you should do the honorable thing and resign.”
Trump followed Hegseth with his own speech, and was met with grim faces and silence.
As he took the stage, he said that “I’ve never walked into a room so silent before “If you want to applaud, you applaud. There was no applause. “If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room.” Trump covered a range of topics in his 70 minute ramble:
his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
the “possibility” of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state.
the quality of stationery he uses.
former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen.
his pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize; repeating his false claim that he has “settled seven” wars.
He called for the production of more battleships, and noted that “they were building a ship a day in World War II, but we don’t build ships anymore.” He suggested that his tariffs could fund an expanded production of battleships.
Journalist Philip Bump, national columnist for The Washington Post, wondered “Does he not realize that the military needs of 2025 are different than those of 1945?”
Amazingly, Trump then continued with “We’re under invasion from within,” “No different than a foreign enemy but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms — at least when they’re wearing a uniform, you can take them out.
“We’ve brought back the fundamental principle that defending the homeland is the military’s first and most important priority. That’s what it is,” Trump said. “Only in recent decades did politicians somehow come to believe that our job is to police the far reaches of Kenya and Somalia, while America is under invasion from within.
At one point, Trump said he suggested to Hegseth that “We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military – not national guard, but military” – because we’re going into Chicago very soon, that’s a big city with an incompetent governor,” He noted allegations that protesters were throwing bricks at vehicles driven by federal agents and the National Guard, and suggested that military members should exit their vehicles and “do whatever the hell you want to do” in response.
The senior military officers at the meeting remained professional throughout, but never broke into applause.
A Note on the Oath of office:
All officers of the eight uniformed services of the United States swear or affirm an oath of office upon commissioning: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.
A senior officer in the military may question whether an order is illegal when they suspect the order is contrary to the Constitution, the laws of the United States, or lawful superior orders. They may also question an order if it appears to be manifestly illegal;—e.g., orders to target civilians or to commit crimes.
If a senior officer has concerns about the legality of an order, they are obligated to seek clarification or confirmation of its legality.
Author’s Thoughts: This “View has been very difficult to research and write. My approach was to present the Administration’s issues and themes “in his own words,“ which has been gut-wrenching. He joins an ignoble body of international figures, who turned their own armies inward on the very people they were supposed to protect.
Adolf Hitler sent the SA, SS, and Gestapo into neighborhoods long before WWII — intimidating, silencing, and brutalizing his own citizens.
Benito Mussolini unleashed his Blackshirts in Italian towns to attack and terrify his political opponents.
Joseph Stalin used the NKVD and Red Army inside Soviet cities to purge, deport, and control through fear.
Francisco Franco in Spain kept soldiers in the streets to crush dissent and make silence a way of life.
I complete this “View” with the words of Joseph N. Welch, Special Counsel for the Army, during the televised Army-McCarthy Hearings in Washington, D.C.; who responded on June, 9th, 1954 to Sen. Josph McCarthy’s (R-WI) specious attempt to accuse a young associate in Welch’s firm of Communist ties.
“Until this moment, Senator, I think I have never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?” Now nearly three-quarters of a century later, I feel that recent events make this poignant comment relevant again.
Editor’s Note: This is the opinion of Thomas D. Gotowka..
About the author: Tom Gotowka’s entire adult career has been in healthcare. He will sit on the Navy side at the Army/Navy football game. He always sit on the crimson side at any Harvard/Yale contest. He enjoys reading historic speeches and considers himself a scholar of the period from FDR through JFK. A child of AM Radio, he probably knows the lyrics of every rock and roll or folk song published since 1960. He hopes these experiences give readers a sense of what he believes “qualify” him to write this column.
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The colors of fall never cease to delight. LymeLine file photo.
Birches, Larches, Gingko, Oaks, Magnolia, and all flowering fruit and flowering trees as well as the Eastern Red Cedar. These trees have fleshy roots, and their feeder roots are not large when young and therefore take time to establish and are susceptible to frost heave.
Perennials that do not like to be planted in fall are Artemisia, Lambs Ears, Foxglove, Penstemon, Anemone, Campanula, Kniphofia, Lupines, Scabiosa, Ferns and Grasses.
Plant garlic this fall – garlic is the antibiotic of the garden. Plant garlic under fruit trees to avoid scab and root disease. Also, plant garlic near to ponds or standing water to control mosquito larvae or pour garlic water into ponds, bird baths and fountains to deter adult mosquitoes.
At this point I want to reiterate what Franklin D Roosevelt said in 1937; ‘the nation that destroys its soil destroys itself’. America has not heeded that warning. Precious soils in this country and around the world are being destroyed by dangerous practices in industrialized agriculture and poisonous chemicals, which completely disrupt our eco system and poison all living things.
THE HUMUS COMPONENT
To begin the process of humus, add composted manure like that pictured above, three times through the year. LymeLine file photo.
Good news for organic gardeners – in your own garden you can build and retain a rich growing environment by building the Humus component. We are all carbon-based creatures as is all life on earth. Not only humans but also our soil microbes need carbon to flourish. To attract carbon from the atmosphere is needed to build the humus component.
To begin the process of humus – add composted manure three times through the year – early May, July and now in October. Manure builds soil structure and provides a rich planting environment for the following season by encouraging the millions of soil animals down below to manufacture nutrients for the roots of the plants.
Plus add mulch in the form of natural brown fine bark mulch or wood chips that you produce from your garden – aged wood chips with a combo of leaves, twigs and branches.
With manure and fine bark mulch, you are building the humus component. The manure and mulch attract carbon from the air, which builds the richest organic planting environment – the humus component.
Mulching the garden, and particularly any plants planted, divided or transplanted this fall with two inches of fine bark mulch, when the ground to cools in late October, the mulch will keep warmth and moisture in the soil and protect the roots of your plants through the winter.
You are probably asking what are the benefits of humus?
Humus acts like a sponge and holds 90% of its weight in water.
Because of its negative charge – plant nutrients stick to humus with nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and other elements, which prevents these from washing away, and acts as nature’s slow- release fertilizer.
Humus improves soil structure, making it loose and friable, which helps plant roots move through the soil which makes for better access to nutrients, water and oxygen.
Humus also helps filter’ toxic chemicals from the soil, much like carbon-based water filtration systems that filter toxins from your water.
We cannot control industrialized agricultural practices – but in your own garden you can make a difference. Grow the soil organically and the soil will grow the plants.
Mulch and peat provide acidity, which is particularly important for any newly planted broadleaf evergreens installed in September. As previously mentioned, evergreens are shallow rooted and can heave above ground in hard frost. I suggest that you store a few bags of topsoil and mulch in the shed or garage. When you see exposed roots after frost heave, cover them with the soil and mulch until the plant can be resettled next spring.
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
This splendid vegetable garden was featured on an Old Lyme Garden Tour several years ago. LymeLine file photo.
Now let’s look at what should be done right now in the vegetable, first focusing on cover crops. Last week I cut down the finished crops in the vegetable garden and incorporated them lightly into the soil.
This year, my choice for a cover crop in one area of my vegetable garden is Alfalfa, which has 3.4% nitrogen content. On the opposite side of the garden, I will plant Buckwheat, which has 1.4% nitrogen content which provides nectar for beneficial insects. Then I cover the seeds with organic composted manure.
There are many cover crops to choose from; I use white clover and rye grass in alternate years. In spring when the earth is workable that is, not too wet or cold, the cover crop is turned into the earth as ‘green manure’.
There is nothing better than your own homegrown organic vegetables – good for you and for the environment.
The less hectic pace of fall provides an opportunity to rethink your gardens. The garden’s pre-winter grooming can wait for a few weeks. You may feel that you would like a professional design, having thrown good money after bad and nothing looks right.
If that is so then contact someone that you trust to work with you to create a plan in the fall and winter, which can be phased in next spring. Engage someone who will listen to your wants and will stay within your budget. My son, Ian of Landscapes by Ian.com, always says ‘it is not what you do in the garden, but how it makes you feel’.
SPRING BULBS
Early November is the time to plant spring bulbs. When purchasing Daffodils, choose early, mid- season and late blooming Daffodils, by doing so you will have a succession of bloom. Be adventurous this year and go for masses of a single color for the greatest impact. No matter how small your planting area, it is the intensity that counts, with two or three dozen red Tulips or a hundred Daffodils planted on your woodland edge.
Buying daffodils in large numbers is less expensive, it’s true the bulbs are usually smaller but that is not a problem because daffodil bulbs grow larger each year they are in the ground. Even though many say that the bulbs should be spaced six inches apart, there is no reason they cannot touch one another.
Apply some composted manure or bulb food on the soil where bulbs are planted. Wear gloves when you plant bulbs as they contain a skin irritant, which may cause a rash.
The general rule is to plant bulbs about three times as deep as the bulb is tall and with the pointed end up. This method is appropriate for most bulbs although tulips should be planted about twelve inches down if you want to produce bloom for a second year.
Daffodils should be planted no less than nine inches down, which is below the frost line. I suggest that you do not plant the bulbs singly for the most colorful impact, but plant in groups of odd numbers, 5,7 or 9 bulbs as odd numbers are harmonious in nature.
Think Spring! Plant bulbs now to enjoy a display like this one next year. LymeLine file photo.
Small bulbs like crocus can be tossed gently into a shallow trench with composted manure on the bottom of the trench, about three inches deep and plant them where they land, pointed side up. For larger bulbs like tulips and daffodils dig a trench about nine inches deep and three or four feet long with composted manure as the base and scatter these larger bulbs in the trench, also so that the pointed end of the bulb faces up!
Personally, I treat Tulips as annuals because their first year’s bloom is the best, after that first year the bloom is never as full and vibrant; the only exception to this is the parrot tulip, which I find, flourishes for years.
A word of caution -Tulips are the ‘caviar’ of the bulb family. The best method to prevent them from becoming tasty items on the rodent’s menu is to soak them in an organic deer repellent, which also repels rodents. Allow the tulip bulbs to dry before planting.
If you are unable to plant your bulbs immediately when purchased, keep them in a cool, dry place in paper bags. The best time to plant spring bulbs in the Northeast is in mid- November.
Observe Mother Nature; plants in nature do not grow in straight lines but in gentle curves that connect harmoniously with the earth.
TREE WORK
Ghoose a licensed arborist. This work is much less expensive to have done in the fall after the foliage has fallen, then the arborist is able to see more clearly what needs to be done and the work goes faster – meaning less labor time and therefore is less expensive.
If you have deep shade and want more sunlight in an area, ask the arborist to thin out the tree’s canopy and prune lower branches to make for a sunnier area, this will give you more choice of plants, that grow in dappled rather than deep shade.
If you have a badly damaged tree, meaning over 50% damaged or diseased, then have it removed, which may allow for a sun garden or perhaps the vegetable garden you have always wanted.
PERENNIALS
I do not cut my spent perennials to the ground in fall but leave them up so that I am able to enjoy the browns, grays, yellows and faded greens, which blend gently with winter’s muted landscape. The seed heads of the perennials are also wonderful snacks for the birds and in the dead of winter, what better sight than a red cardinal on the Winterberry bush in the snow.
Also wait until next April to cut down ornamental grasses; their graceful foliage is lovely to enjoy with the icicles on them shining in the pale winter sun.
However, on perennials, any spent perennials that show disease should be cut down but if the plant is more than one third diseased it should be dug up and discarded. Then throw the diseased material in the garbage not in the compost. Clean up any fallen plant debris from the soil and ONLY if it is disease and weed free, can it be added to the compost pile.
Prune peonies in November to enjoy blooms like these next May. LymeLine file photo.
Peonies – In November after the first hard frost, cut down peonies to within six inches from the ground and add some composted manure around the base of the plant.
SIGNS OF FROST
You can foretell a hard frost when you notice the afternoon temperature falling fast under a clear sky. Assess the wind by taking a long strip of plastic, like a shopping bag from the supermarket, and hanging it from a tree branch. If the bag flutters about a foot in either direction, you do not have to worry about frost, but if it blows vigorously then frost is on the way. If you still have plants in the garden that are of concern, cover them with salt hay, newspapers or lightweight old quilts and put a brown paper bag from the grocery store over smaller plants like herbs, anchored down with rocks.
Your houseplants should be indoors now. After their summer sojourn outdoors, wash the pots thoroughly and add fresh potting soil. Then replant the plant at the same depth it was at originally and into the sink or shower and allow water to wash the foliage and water the plant well. If the plant has outgrown its pot, transplant it to the next size clean pot, only one and a half inches larger.
Enjoy the pleasant Fall weather and if you have any gardening questions, feel free to email me at MaureenHaseleyJones@gmail.com and I will see you in your garden in November.
About the author: Maureen Haseley-Jones is a member of a family of renowned horticultural artisans, whose landscaping heritage dates back to the 17th century. She is one of the founders, together with her son Ian, of The English Lady Landscape and Home Company. Maureen and Ian are landscape designers and garden experts who believe that everyone deserves to live in an eco-conscious environment and enjoy the pleasure that it brings. Maureen learned her design skills from both her mother and grandmother, and honed her horticultural and construction skills while working in the family nursery and landscape business in the U.K. Her formal horticultural training was undertaken at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in Surrey.
“Blinded by the light Revved up like a deuce Another runner in the night” – Manfred Mann
Has this ever happened to you? You’re driving on a narrow road in the dark, when the headlights of oncoming traffic suddenly blind you, leaving you wondering where is the road and whether you might crash.
With sunset now coming as early as 5 p.m. (thanks to the return to Standard Time), driving in the dark becomes a real challenge if not a danger. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows nighttime crashes are three times more likely than daytime, even on dry roads.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
There are several reasons that headlights appear so bright. The first is that the headlights may not be properly aligned, aiming too high. And with more vehicles riding higher from the road (think SUVs and trucks), their headlights shine more directly into oncoming traffic.
Most problematic are the new kinds of headlights we use. The older incandescent (yellowish) lightbulbs are being replaced by LED or xenon lights, which are blue-white and more glaring to your eyes.
That’s because bright oncoming headlights, especially the bluish ones, cause the pupils in your eyes to constrict rapidly, literally blinding you until the oncoming vehicle passes and your eyes adjust.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
When bright lights come at you, don’t look into the oncoming beam. Instead, look to the right edge or lane marker of your driving lane. Use anti-glare mirrors, especially in your rear-view mirror, so headlights on vehicles behind you don’t hit your eyes. Most of all, slow down! Being blinded on darkened roads, coated with wet slippery leaves, is dangerous.
WILL BLUE LIGHT GLASSES HELP?
Even with good driving habits, glare from new headlight technology can still feel intense leading some drivers to look for solutions like special glasses. But the jury’s still out on this idea. Some manufacturers and optometrists say that lenses designed to block or filter short-wavelength blue light can help reduce the perceived glare by filtering out that part of the spectrum. Some glasses described as “for night driving” (the ones that are often yellow in tint) also have reflective coatings.
Doctors say some patients swear by these specs, making them more confident. But safety experts say you shouldn’t take this as license to drive faster than is safe for the road conditions.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
You can start by making sure you’re not part of the problem. Get your own headlights checked for alignment at your mechanic or national chains like Midas or Goodyear. It’ll cost you about $100.
It used to be that the Connecticut DMV checked headlight alignments during your bi-annual emissions tests, but that ended in 2001. A bill (HB 6163) before the Connecticut legislature in 2023 would have restored those tests, but it never became law.
In the UK they’re taking this problem more seriously, upping testing of headlight brightness and where they aim down the road. Some are even calling for a ban on super-bright LED and xenon bulbs. UK stats claim 280 collisions a year in that country are caused by the dazzling bulbs.
Meantime, take it easy on the roads at night. Maybe even avoid driving in those hours, if you can. Try the glasses, if you’d like. But above all … stay safe!
Editor’s Notes: i) Jim Cameron is the founder of the Commuter Action Group and advocates for Connecticut rail riders. He writes a weekly column called ‘Talking Transportation,’ which is published by a number of publications in the state. ii) ”Talking Transportation” recently won first place in the general column/commentary category in the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Contest.
Sure, they look pretty as they change colors, but when those leaves are spent and fall to the ground, they present real problems for travelers.
Whether you rake your leaves yourself or have someone “blow” them for you, disposing of leaves is a hassle.
Growing up (many years ago) I remember we used to burn our leaves, heedless to the air pollution and health effects. A better alternative is to use a mulching-mower and just grind up the leaves on your lawn, providing much-needed nutrients to your soil. Or try composting them on your own property.
In most towns leaves must be bagged and left curbside for pick-up. In other towns, like Stamford, Middletown and Farmington, you can just rake the leaves into a pile at the curb, loose, and the town will vacuum them up … eventually.
Often however, the piles of leaves left curbside get rained on, creating a giant soggy mess, blocking parking and leading to slippery roads. At speeds of 40–45 mph, it can take up to three times longer to stop on wet leaves compared to dry pavement, with stopping distance increasing from about 80 feet to over 200–250 feet.
But the slippery, almost winter-like driving conditions caused by wet leaves also affect our trains. Their wheels also slip on wet leaves and the trains’ “brains” sense it and go into emergency braking. You’ll know this is happening when the trains suddenly “dump their air,” and brake quickly.
Usually it’s just a minute or so to reset the computer and you carry on. But as in a real emergency, braking and stopping distance are quickly diminished. Which is why railroads take a number of defensive steps to literally clear the tracks.
So bad was the leaf slime problem in years past that Metro-North would have 25% of its fleet out of service as the trains’ brakes locked the wheels to a stop, grinding flat spots on the wheels, requiring repairs.
This is especially a problem on the Danbury branch, a 397-foot uphill climb from Norwalk to “The Hat City.” Often, locomotive-pulled trains couldn’t get enough traction so that they had to skip stations like Cannondale just to keep momentum to climb uphill.
You see, on a diesel locomotive there are only eight traction wheels making contact with the rails. But on the electric M8 cars, every car is a locomotive, so contact with the wheels is spread across the entire train, increasing traction … another good reason to re-electrify the Danbury branch.
In years past the railroad used high-pressure water jets to blast the slippery leaf pectin from the rails. But now they have resorted to lasers. Metro-North’s Laser Train uses high-intensity lasers to remove this contaminated layer in a single pass at speeds up to 60 mph, allowing Metro-North to clean the entire network at least once a day. The train is a rare sight, usually operating overnight to clear the tracks in time for the morning rush hour.
Last year the Laser Train saw a 40% reduction in leaf-related “slip slide” events, leading to the lowest wheel-regrinding costs on record.
So enjoy the fall and the beauty of the foliage. But beware the dangers, whether driving or training, of “slip sliding away.”
Editor’s Notes: i) Jim Cameron is the founder of the Commuter Action Group and advocates for Connecticut rail riders. He writes a weekly column called ‘Talking Transportation,’ which is published by a number of publications in the state. ii) ”Talking Transportation” won first place in the general column/commentary category in the most recent Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Contest.
