*The transcontinental railroad was completed May 10, 1869, in Promontory, Utah, when the Union Pacific Railroad of the East met the Central Pacific Railroad of the West. The presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads met in remote Promontory, Utah, to mark the occasion, driving a ceremonial last spike to connect their rail lines.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act into law on July 1, 1862. The act gave two companies, the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad, responsibility for completing the transcontinental railroad and authorized extensive land grants and the issuance of 30-year government bonds to finance the undertaking. Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad was a pivotal moment in the United States, ushering in a period of progress and expansion nationwide to expedite travel, communication, and business.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2015 an estimated $623 Billion of goods were transported by train within the United States, not including goods that merely passed through the U.S. from foreign countries with destinations to other foreign countries.
*As for May 11, nothing happened on this day anywhere in the world.
On to today's news
400 California pastors to defy governor, open churches for Pentecost May 31
The pastors have signed a letter to Gov. Newsom(D) outlining why they should be able to open their doors.
"“We’ve been respectful and submitting,” said Westside Christian Fellowship pastor and Stream contributor Shane Idleman, “but at some point, you begin to realize, ‘Okay, we’ve gotta we’ve got to step it up a little bit here’ and can’t wait for the governor’s okay to open churches when everything else is open from Lowe’s and Home Depot to Walmart.”The first right in the First Amendment is religious liberty. That's on purpose. And Constitutional rights trump any politician's discrimination or oppression. As Obama WH advisor Jim Messina infamously quipped, "Punch back twice as hard."
Pastor Jim Franklin of Cornerstone Church in Fresno told The Stream that churches just want equal treatment as those large stores. And they will be operating in line with CDC guidelines. They’ll be using “best practices” and social distancing. Attendance will be “scaleable” to protect their people."
Hope for Tolerance? New Yorkers Grateful to Samaritan’s Purse for COVID-19 Help
"Mount Sinai Hospital, who’d partnered with Samaritan’s Purse to bring more help to downtown New York, announced over the weekend that the virus crisis may finally be manageable enough for area facilities to handle on their own. New patients, it explained, would be admitted to area hospitals.Odd. It's like that whole 'Love trumps Hate' mantra by the debauchery alphabet was just a cudgel of bullsh!t. Or something.
Still, it insisted, no one could thank Graham’s volunteers enough. No one, it seems, except people like Democratic New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
In a tweet that same day, he tried to kick the group on the way out, insisting that “their continued presence here is an affront to our values of inclusion, and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community.” It’s time for Mount Sinai “to sever its relationship” with Samaritan’s Purse."
"As Johnson hurls insults, offending every doctor, nurse, and volunteer who put their lives on the line for his city, not everyone shares his opinion. Watching the charity up close changed a lot of people’s minds about Graham and his organization."Yup. Christ trumps Debauchery.
Meanwhile, a few miles over the state line from me: Nail salons to Johnson County, and governor: ‘We’re opening’
"A group of nail salons in Johnson County is preparing to open Monday, in defiance of both (Democrat) Governor Laura Kelly’s latest executive orders and Johnson County Public Health Officer Dr. Joseph Lemaster’s more restrictive order.#Resist. I'm certain all the Leftists will rally 'round that hashtag. #sarcasm.
Adrienne Vallejo Foster(R), who is running against U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, (D- Kansas) for the 3rd House District, said in a phone interview Saturday she has been helping the operators of these nail salons try to navigate the largely broken Kansas unemployment system, and try to apply for Paycheck Protection Loans since Governor Laura Kelly closed the state in early March."
Judge rules Kentucky churches can hold in-person services
"U.S. District Judge Greg Van Tatenhove ruled that Gov. Andy Beshear needed "a compelling reason for using his authority to limit a citizen’s right to freely exercise something we value greatly -- the right of every American to follow their conscience on matters related to religion," according to a copy of the ruling obtained by ABC News. "Despite an honest motive, it does not appear at this preliminary stage that reason exists.""Still and again, if we can social distance with a mask at the grocery, hardware, pharmacy, or garden stores, we can do it at a church. Unless your politicians are anti-religious bigots.
Capitalism for the win: As Food Supply Chain Breaks Down, Farm-To-Door CSAs Take Off
"From California to Maine, the movement known as community supported agriculture (CSA) is booming. Members buy a share of a farm's often organic harvest that gets delivered weekly in a box. CSA programs almost everywhere report a surge in memberships and growing waiting lists.Keep on the sunnyside of life.
"The interest in getting local, fresh, organic produce just has skyrocketed during this crisis," Redmond said."
Gunfire causes more damage than the Wuhan Virus: At least 10 people shot in the city of St. Louis on Saturday
"During a period that stretched over 10 hours, there were at least 10 people shot in St. Louis. Two men were killed in the incidents."The city recorded no new deaths from the virus - Wuhan, that is, not the murderous hate for others.
You’ve noticed. https://t.co/dVYTf0biUl— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) May 11, 2020
Weird, how all these 'mistakes' are always one way...
Finally, from the indespensable Jack Cashill: Seth Rich Refuses to Stay Buried
"“I am reliably informed that the NSA or its partners intercepted at least some of the communications between Mr. Rich and Wikileaks,” wrote attorney Ty Clevenger in a startling letter last week to Richard Grennell, Interim Director of National Intelligence."Seth Rich was a 27 y.o. IT Specialist who worked for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) when the DNC and Hillary campaign insisted their computers had been hacked by the Russians. Rich was shot and killed as he walked home on July 10, 2016. His murder is still unsolved.
H/t: John Combest & Survival Blog
