A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
No COLA notices hit seniors’ mailboxes. According to the Social Security Administration, the cost of living did not increase this year, so recipients of Social Security will not receive a cost of living adjustment. My personal impression is that the cost of food is up, and continues to increase. Gasoline costs less, but expect it to rise when the summer price gouging season arrives, and when the oil companies jack up prices to try to help Republicans win the election. Incidentally, if the cost of living did not increase, why did the Federal Reserve increase interest rates? (Answer: to help rich bondholders.)
Thanks to all who responded to my question on LED lights. I appreciate the feedback, and learned some things that are helping me in my investigation of LED lighting.
Two Mile Drive is about to get twisty. What once was a narrow, but tree lined, country road is about to become a twisting suburban road lined by not many trees. The detour around the bridge over the bypass route is paved, and soon that’s where we’ll drive. It won’t be any fun. And when the bridge is completed, it will go up and over the bypass, so instead of being flat and icy, Two Mile will be hilly and icy. This improves the lives of the people receiving the millions to build the bypass, but it makes life slightly less pleasant, and probably a bit less safe, for those of us who use Two Mile Drive.
Expect Gov. Bullock to run out the clock on appointing a new lieutenant governor. Even if he’s already made his selection, and it’s possible he has, waiting until 31 December to announce the lucky person presents the image of great and careful deliberation and vetting, which will help some if this appointment also goes awry. It won’t be lost in the holiday news, as Montana’s reporters will be all over it as soon as they recover from their breaking in the New Year hangovers. As as a humanitarian gesture, it will give Angela McLean a paycheck through the end of the year.