Grumpy Editor

U.S. SPACE FORCE, HAILED AS ‘NEWLY CREATED,’ DEBUTED LATE LAST YEAR

 

A news story over the weekend shows the flag of the “newly created” U.S. Space Force being presented by military leaders to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.  However, Grumpy Editor notes the new Space Force debuted without much fanfare late last year — on Dec. 20.

 

The Space Force is organized as a military service branch within the Department of the Air Force, one of the three military departments within the Defense Department.  The Space Force, through the Department of the Air Force, is headed by the Secretary of the Air Force who reports to the Secretary of Defense.  

 

The Space Force flag of the newly created armed service will hang alongside those of the other military services at the White House.

 

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper says the creation of the Space Force is necessary because adversaries have "weaponized” space.  "The United States is now doing what it needs to do to protect our assets in space and ensure that space remains the heavens by which we not only protect America, but we sustain our economy, we sustain our commercial capabilities, we sustain Americans' way of life,” adds Esper.

 

Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, points out space is critical to the United States. "If we are going to sustain our way of life, and we're going to defend our nation, then we're going to have to defend ourselves in space,” he declares.

 

Gen. John W. (Jay) Raymond, commander of the U.S. Space Command and the nation's first chief of space operations, thanked the president for his support of the 16,000 space professionals assigned to the Space Force and noted "those men and women come to work every day focusing on providing space capabilities for our nation for joint coalition forces and for the world. 

 

Raymond tells the president:  "We're proud of this flag. We're proud to have an opportunity to present it to you here for display in the White House.”

 

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

 

USS NEVADA WRECK FOUND.  Searchers find the wreck of USS Nevada, the World War II battleship that endured bombs and torpedoes, almost three miles underwater about 65 nautical miles southwest of Honolulu.

 

WASHINGTON POST'S OFFICES CLOSED.  Affected by the coronavirus, safeguarding health of its employees, the Washington Post‘s offices will remain closed until after Labor Day.  Workers were sent home on March 11.  When the workforce returns, there will be social distancing, temperature checks, protective wear and testing.

 

WSJ MAGAZINE SKIPS AUGUST.  Latest print publication adjusting summer plans due to the coronavirus, the WSJ Magazine, a monthly publication from The Wall Street Journal, will skip the August issue this summer.

 

NINTENDO SEES PROFIT JUMP.  Japan-based video game giant Nintendo, founded in 1889 as a playing-card company and later producer of household games, announces a profit jump amid the pandemic from an increase in people staying home seeking things to do.

 

J.C. PENNEY FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY.  Department store chain J.C. Penney, founded by James Cash Penney in 1902, files for bankruptcy, punctuating declining sales and failed turnaround plans.

 

NYSE TRADING FLOOR TO REOPEN.  Closed since March 23 after several employees tested positive for the coronavirus resulted in all trading going to an electronic platform, the New York Stock Exchange reopens its trading floor on May 26, the day after Memorial Day, with limitations.

 

CONDE NAST REDUCES STAFF.  Reflecting the impact of the pandemic, Conde Nast, publisher of the New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired and others, will lay off about 100 staffers in the U.S. and furlough another 100.

 

PAJAMA SALES JUMP.  With more people working from home, pajama sales are soaring while pants sales are about stopped.  Grocery sales also are getting a boost.

 

REMOVAL OF HOTEL'S TWO TOP FLOORS SOUGHT.  In Athens, Greece, builders of a 10-story hotel near the Acropolis have been ordered to remove its top two floors after locals united in a campaign against the structure because its height obstructed the view of the historic site.

 

BROADWAY SHOWS DARK THROUGH LABOR DAY.  New York’s Broadway shows are canceled through Labor Day.  Return date remains unknown.

 

WALMART GIVES MORE BONUS PAYOUTS.  Following similar bonus payments in April, Walmart is giving staffers working during the pandemic a second round of bonuses — $300 for full-time workers and $150 for part-timers.

 

Others join Trump in getting tough on U.S. flag burners

President-elect Donald Trump wasn’t the only one to suggest getting tough on those who burn U.S. flags, observed Grumpy Editor.

First, Americans who served in the military during bloody wars, “fought for the flag,” something today’s protesters apparently did not learn in school. And who can forget Marines raising the U.S. flag on Feb. 23, 1945, atop Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

So Trump last week suggested loss of citizenship or jail for those who burn the American flag, saying such protests should carry “consequences” and “nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag.”

A few days earlier, Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., decided to stop flying all flags, including U.S. flags, after someone there burned a U.S. flag to protest Trump’s election victory over Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Hundreds of veterans and others protested the decision by the college to remove Old Glory.

Few recall that Clinton in 2006, while serving as U.S. senator, termed flag burning “deeply offensive.”

Strangely, flag burning was ruled to be constitutionally protected speech under the First Amendment in a 1990 Supreme Court case.

Standing with Trump on the issue last week was American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt. He praised Trump for his support of the American flag.

As the leader of the nation’s largest veterans service organization, Schmidt said, “Our brothers and sisters in arms have shed blood, even paid the ultimate sacrifice, in defense of our nation. The American flag represents their sacrifice and our nation’s way of freedom. No one should tolerate desecration of the American flag.”

The American Legion strongly advocates for a constitutional ban on flag burning, and calls on the new commander in chief to support such a ban with the following wording, “Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.”

Schmidt said there is “strong support for such a law. Every U.S. state has passed memorializing resolutions to ratify a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. Additionally, the House of Representatives has passed an amendment six times by supermajorities, only to see it fall short in the Senate --- by just one vote the last time it reached the floor.”

Schmidt added, “It’s time to protect Old Glory from being burned or otherwise desecrated by protesters. “We are not against civil protest or demonstrations. However, these protesters are not burning a piece of cloth. They are desecrating the sacrifice and honor of all past, present and future service members and their family members, who have given so much to this great nation.”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

For global warming believers:  Powdery snow covered the desert sand in Saudi Arabia as temperatures dropped below freezing last week. Saudis reacted with a healthy dose of humor, and even a few snowmen. On the other side of the globe,  California is targeting greenhouse gases produced by dairy cows and other livestock, claiming the farm animals are major sources of methane that is released when they belch, pass gas and make manure.  Meanwhile, in Hawaii the National Weather Service issued a winter-storm warning through the weekend citing up to 30 inches of snow on the peaks of the Big Island.

More Chinese-owned companies are setting up manufacturing operations in the U.S., reported CNNMoney...The U.S. will forgive an estimated $108 billion in student debts over the next two decades, revealed the Government Accountability Office...Over the weekend another prisoner was released from the U.S.-operated Guantanamo Bay detention center, reducing the number of prisoners there to 59 --- with 20 of the remaining approved for release, said the Pentagon…Self magazine said its February issue will be its last print production.  Then the Condé Nast publication goes all digital.

Some major advertisers have left the site of news organization Breitbart.com following the election. Among those pulling ads, succumbing to activists: Kellogg with its Frosted Flakes. But not Nissan. The car maker said it “places ads in a variety of sites in order to reach as many consumers as possible. The placement of Nissan advertising is not intended to be a political commentary and there are no plans to change the advertising mix at this time."...Key to the room at Homestead Inn in New Milford, Conn., where actress Marilyn Monroe stayed 60 years ago when she was dating playwright Arthur Miller, sold for $131.

Ex-ABC News chief still defends 9/11 ‘no flag pin’ policy

Former ABC News president David Westin, in making the media rounds to plug his book, Exit Interview, revived the controversy on his post 9/11 decision that his network’s journalists not wear American flag pins in lapels, observes Grumpy Editor. 

Appearing Sunday on CNN’s Reliable Sources --- a day prior to Memorial Day --- Westin still defended his 2001 no-flag-pin declaration. 

Other networks, broadcast and cable, have had no problem with journalists wearing flag pins. 

CNN host Howard Kurtz asked Westin about his thinking on the issue. 

Westin, who left ABC News in December, 2010, explained that “we'd long had a policy at ABC News that we wouldn't let people wear any lapel pins of any sort, the theory being when you're reporting the news, you should be reporting the news, not taking a position. 

“And I said quickly, 'We're going to stick with our policy and stand by that.'  And I believe to this day that was the right decision.”

With his frowning on U.S. flag pins, don't look for Westin to be welcomed at any American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars gatherings any time soon.

 

Obama's image on U.S. flag irks veterans in Florida

Following a Florida television station report about a desecrated U.S. flag, a dozen veterans descended on Lake County Democratic headquarters, resulting in the flag --- bearing President Barack Obama’s image replacing the 50 stars --- being removed from a flagpole at the site, notes Grumpy Editor.

A number of Web sites jumped on the story aired Tuesday on WFTV, Orlando.

But, surprisingly, the report was missing from most newspapers yesterday --- and today. 

The TV station reported Korean War veteran Don Van Beck said his blood was boiling.  "I can't describe how upset I was because you just don't do that to the American flag," he declared.

Other veterans joined him in expressing outrage. 

Greeting them where the flag was flying, Lake County Democrat Party chairwoman Nancy Hulbert said, "This is private property. This is private property. You're not allowed to touch anything. I'll call the police." 

But she went online to look up the flag code --- which should have been done prior to raising the altered flag.  The flag then was taken down. 

"If you've been a veteran and fought --- and some died for this flag --- you don't want to see it desecrated,” emphasized Van Beck.  "That's how simple it is."

 

UPDATE: Ex-NYPD officer allowed to fly 9/11 honor flag

Following the Nov. 22 posting:  Homeowners’ association seeks removal of 9/11 flag ---

Richard Wentz, the retired New York City police officer who was told by his Coral Springs, Fla. homeowners association to remove his commemorative 9/11 flag or face fines and legal action, has been allowed to continue flying the flag, learns Grumpy Editor.

Bill Sugarman, president of the company that manages the HOA, asked for a review of the one-flag (Wentz also flies the U.S. flag) policy and said Wentz “will be permitted to fly his (commemorative) flag."