!!!!

I live in interesting times. 

I went into the office because there was something wrong with my id card. I think the government already had my fingerprints but they have them again. We took two pictures. The first picture I looked pissed. The second picture I tried to smile. In it I look proud and mean. 

I was soooo hungry but the Budget team let me have some of their food. 

Then for the excitement. 

The new Secretary of State decided we should put a work stop order on all of our contracts. This is how this decision saves your taxpayer money:
- we sponsored a conference. 
- we don’t get that money back
- we don’t go
- we stop all of our contracts, so we pay companies to keep their employees, offices, and equipment but do nothing we them. We pay them late but they will get paid and we will get no work for it
- the companies were supposed to explain at the conferences what they offer to all the people we wanted to help but now they don’t get to go
- we don’t know that they’ll ever get to do this. Maybe the contract will be cancelled. So it is good that they and we don’t go because what would we say? 

It is all very expensive. It is used very rarely and for as short a time as possible 

So we’re going to do it for 85 days. 

It is never done for 85 days. 

It is, under extreme circumstances, done for a month, for one contract. 

This will be ALL of our contracts. 

But wait, it gets better!
A bunch of people work for us, with us, in our offices, just like us, but hired differently. They work for companies. Those contracts are supposed to stop. So these little businesses will get paid very late. The people who work for them will get paid, but they will not work, and eventually they may be fired. Everyone loses! 

We spent the afternoon trying to save their jobs. 

We will find out Monday? 

Whew!

Good time to reiterate that I represent no one and none of this is the official position of any government agency? 

Tomorrow I go to synagogue and meet the Rabbi and see the space. After a friend and I get together. She and her husband are divorcing and she wants to throw things so I suggested paint. There is a place in Baltimore where you pay to throw paint. 

No, I’m serious. You pay money, you throw paint, you get a painting. It will be cool. 

“A Ukrainian refugee who fled her war-torn home country with just a bag of belongings has secured investment on Dragons' Dan after pitching her fashion business.” She imports luxury clothing made in Ukraine.” 


“Russia faced its heaviest Ukrainian drone attacks so far this year, damaging a major oil refinery that makes fuel for export, a crude-pumping station and one of the nation’s biggest production plants for microchips.


A total of 124 Ukrainian drones that targeted more than a dozen regions were intercepted overnight, including over Moscow and the northern Leningrad area, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Nine airports temporarily halted operations, including in the capital, Russian news wires reported, citing the state aviation authority.”