This and That---July 23, 2025 Edition

A few random observations, charts and factoids to provide some context on what is going on in the world.

Space Launches

If you don't think that Elon Musk has single-handedly saved the United States space program consider this graphic.

The United States would be far behind China today if not for Elon.

The accomplishments of SpaceX are even more impressive when you consider the payload mass that has been placed in orbit so far in 2025.

Over 90% of all payloads among all countries that have been reported as placed into orbit this year have been done by SpaceX.

Source: https://x.com/dpoddolphinpro/status/1940088062588969387

Diversity of Opinion

People of the political left like to refer to conservatives as authoritarians who are close-minded and not willing to consider diverse views and opinions.

However, research into diversity of thought between liberals and conservatives actually indicates it is those on the left who coalesce around a very fixed set of opinionswhereas the right diverges widely.

This graphic speaks volumes.

Source: https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjso.12665
Credit: https://x.com/kevinnbass/status/1946871154683027965

This may be why high profile Democrat Rahm Emanuel (former Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama) who was on Megyn Kelly's show recently stated (jokingly?) that he needed to go into a witness protection program after he stated that a man could not become a woman.

Link: https://x.com/MegynKellyShow/status/1947618455785521653

Education as a Participation Sport

The Democrats are trying to make the Trump administration's cuts and reorganization of the Department of Education a big deal.

Look at this graphic and try to make the case that the education system of the United States has been improving since the Department of Education was established in 1980.

Credit: https://x.com/BrentAWilliams2/status/1944748764117242263

Yes, the graduation rate has improved. However, SAT scores have gone down at the same time.

It appears that many students are just being given a piece of paper for showing up in some form for 12 years of education.

Education has become like youth sports. Everyone gets a trophy no matter what the performance has been.

The Hollowing Out of the American Economy

There is no better graphic to show how the American economy has changed over the last 35 years than this comparison of the top employer in each state in 1990 vs. 2025.

Credit: https://x.com/dailydirtnap/status/1944788330769424452

Many high-paying working class jobs were lost as we allowed our manufacturing base to be outsourced to China and other countries.

The reality is that no value is created in an economy until something is manufactured, created or built. Most everything beyond that value creationis merely transferring that wealth among the rest of society that are providing services or one type or the other.

How long can you sustain a society where health care is the largest employer? Where does the money come to pay for the doctors, nurses and technology?

The same can be said for hospitality, retail or professional services.

This is the key principle behind Trump's tariff strategy.

You simply cannot outsource the foundation of an economy.

We have done it for the last 35 years but it is not sustainable over the longer term.

Fair Weather Fan?

Are you a fair weather fan?

What is your perfect combination of temperatures, humidity and cloud cover?

The website myPerfectWeather.com allows you to put in your inputs and provides a map of the most desirable places for that weather in the United States.

For example, if you are looking for daily high temperatures of between 60 and 85 degrees, a dew point of less than 60 degrees and less than 50% cloud coverage it is hard to beat the California coast.

This map indicates the places I have lived most of my life have some of the most uncomfortable weather that exists. It is either too hot, too cold. there is too much humidity or too many cloudy days.

It must have something to do with where I was born. The area around Akron, Ohio appears to have the most uncomfortable weather you can find.

Credit: https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1944880629814059096

If you are willing to live with temperatures in the 50 degree to 80 degree range with everything else remaining the same a big swath of the country opens up for you weather-wise including much of North Carolina.

Credit: https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1944896030153302424

Take advantage of perfect weather when you can!