Tag: marijuana

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO TRIBINE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/chicago-immigration-operation-midway-blitz-2/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/2025-in-review-immigration-enforcement-ice-operation-midway-blitz/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/opinion-2025-chicago-immigration-enforcement-raids/
— Here’s what Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2024 tax returns show
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/mayor-brandon-johnson-2024-tax-returns/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more drug abuse.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/libraries-opioid-reversal-naxalone/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/28/deported-chicago-to-mexico-husband-ice-detention-middway-blitz
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/12/28/broadview-detainees-operation-midway-blitz-self-deporting-high-rates-analysis-finds
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote Kwanzaa.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bronzeville/2025/12/27/bronzeville-kwanzaa-black-owned-businesses-fair

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: As home prices soar in the suburbs, communities struggle to meet affordable housing goals. DD: Back in the good old days, my wife and I bought 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton when I was 29 in 1978. SEE: https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/1017-E-Harrison-Ave-60187/home/18135528  My Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious. The down payment came from my wife’s savings. In today’s dollars, my IRS salary was $108,978/year. I sold my one bedroom Outer Drive East condo and with the gain bought a new 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale and a new 1978 Chevrolet Chevette. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/documents/  My Democrat IRS superiors immediately disallowed my education deductions and again made it clear that they would never promote me to GS-13. They had disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974. They started being furious when I bought a new 1972 Corvette in 1971 and more furious when I bought a new townhome in University Park in 1972  SEE: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/774-Sunset-Ct-5-University-Park-IL-60484/5451474_zpid/  and then condos in 1974 and 1976. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976 and my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. They would not have taken the aforesaid adverse actions against me if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20251227/news/as-home-prices-soar-in-the-suburbs-communities-struggle-to-meet-affordable-housing-goals/

WGN9
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more pot. Pot is poison. In 2019, I led a successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://wgntv.com/politics-3/will-marijuana-be-legalized-rescheduled-in-2026/

WGN RADIO
— A college in degree in Illinois can go a long way. DD: If I had not earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1970, Firestone Stores would not have hired me as a Retail Store Manager in 1970 and IRS would not have hired me as a Revenue Officer in 1971. If I had not been taking graduate business evening courses, IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not earned an MBA in 1976 and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, GAO would not have hired me as an Analyst in 1980. If I had not earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980, passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, and became a licensed CPA in 1981, GAO would not have promoted me in 1986. If I had not been taking graduate evening finance courses, GAO would have forced me to retire when I was 45 in 1993 instead of when I was 49 in 1997.
https://wgnradio.com/outside-the-loop-radio/otl-1002-a-college-in-degree-in-illinois-can-go-a-long-way-the-secret-history-of-kitty-haywood/

SHAW LOCAL
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more abortion.
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2025/12/27/illinois-to-increase-funding-for-planned-parenthood/
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Trump for the high cost of healthcare.
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2025/12/27/why-are-health-insurance-premiums-spiking-in-2026-heres-what-to-know/

CENTAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more pot. Pot is poison. In 2019, I led a successful effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/will-marijuana-be-legalized-rescheduled-in-2026/

FOX ILLINOIS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly blame Republicans for the high cost of health care. To regain the White House, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House, Democrat leaders ever-increasingly hint/imply/argue/shout that they would make healthcare free in America.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-eepskjWlY

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— The Ivy League is manufacturing America’s adversaries. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote divisiveness. They ever-increasingly turn those who are liberal/moderate, minority, female, younger, have less money than others, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time AGAINST those who are conservative, White, male, older, have more money than others, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/4362289/the-ivy-league-manufacturing-america-adversaries/
— The Chinese Communist Party poses a greater threat than Islamism. DD: My critics/opponents have no problem with China and Islam.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4342568/chinese-communist-party-greater-threat-than-islamism/
— Affordability. DD: What helped you afford things? For me, it included my earning more money. The following helped me earn more money: a) my earning a job-related bachelor’s degree, b) my earning three job-related master’s degrees, c) my earning six job-related professional certifications, and d) my earning a job-related professional license.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4356814/subsidizing-demand-not-solve-affordability/

NEW YORK POST
— Musk slams Mamdani’s appointment of Lillian Bonsignore as FDNY commissioner over lack of experience. DD: How have your superiors treated your experience? All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me had less work experience than I had, had less education than I had, had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or had no professional license like the one I had. The leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) ever-increasingly ignore/dismiss/belittle the experience I have gained serving a) as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999 and b) as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000 and the experience I previously gained serving a) as an American Association of Political Consultant Midwest Chapter director for 3 years, b) as the MTRO webmaster for 6 years, c) as an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee officer for 4 years, d) as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman for 7 years, and e) as the Republican fundraiser for Wheaton Independence Day parades and fireworks for 16 years.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/27/us-news/elon-musk-slams-mamdanis-fdny-commissioner-pick-over-lack-of-experience-people-will-die/
— LA Mayor Karen Bass calls it ‘sad’ that Hispanics are joining Border Patrol – suggests they’re desperate for money. DD: When were you most desperate for money?  For me, it was when my Firestone Store boss rudely fired me when I was 22 years old in 1971. My application for a financial hardship draft deferment was pending and I was helping support my mother and brother. His firing me directly resulted in my accepting a job offer from IRS.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/26/us-news/la-mayor-karen-bass-calls-it-sad-that-hispanics-are-joining-border-patrol/
— Mamdani-backed Queens Assembly candidate hates American holidays like Veterans Day, July 4th. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have done the most to harm Wheaton’s Independence Day parades since 1978. I would focus on those who had their operatives and their dupes end my service as the Republican fundraiser for the parades in 2021.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/27/us-news/mamdani-backed-queens-assembly-candidate-hates-american-holidays-like-veterans-day-july-4th/
— ‘Unlucky’ illegal immigrant runs red light, crashes straight into ICE vehicle
https://nypost.com/2025/12/27/us-news/unlucky-illegal-immigrant-allegedly-runs-red-light-and-crashes-into-ice-vehicle/
— Mamdani gives advice to thwart, evade ICE in video message calling to ‘stand up’ to feds
https://www.aol.com/articles/zohran-mamdani-gives-advice-thwart-205026199.html

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Antisemitism is surging worldwide, but Jews must stay proud, courageous, and vigilant against threats to their people and faith. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, they had my many Jewish superiors and supervisors take many big adverse actions against me. I should write about the aforesaid.
https://amgreatness.com/2025/12/28/never-again-is-always/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Veiled threat? Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey warns ICE agents they could get killed if they enforce immigration law
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/veiled_threat_minneapolis_mayor_jacob_frey_warns_ice_agents_they_could_get_killed_if_they_enforce_immigration_law.html
— Kid with cell phone exposes $110 million in Somali fraud in Minnesota
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/kid_with_cell_phone_exposes_110_million_in_somali_fraud_in_minnesota.html
— Conservatism through reason and analysis
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/12/conservatism_through_reason_and_analysis.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As a California resident, I have seen firsthand the mirage that is leftism.  Democrats appeal to emotion by espousing the good intentions of their proposed policies (and, more recently, the evil intent of Republicans — e.g., “kill Grandma”).  Their policies always lead to disaster. Affirmative action, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, Social justice policing, Appeasement abroad, Free trade (resulting in the destruction of our middle class), Universal public education, No-risk college loans, SNAP benefits for the poor, Medicaid for All (including illegal aliens), Free buses, Rent control, Gun control, Abortion, or the deceptively named “reproductive rights,” Transing of children, or the deceptively named “gender-affirming care,” Mass unfettered illegal immigration, Bend down the (health care) cost curve, If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor, and Climate change and the urbanization of the populace into smart cities. Wonderful ideas — in theory.  In practice, the outcome of these policies has been disastrous, particularly for those who have bought in to the lie. Inner cities are rife with drugs, crime, and homelessness.)

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— South Pacific island to take deportees in exchange for millions in US foreign aid
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/27/south-pacific-island-to-take-deportees-in-exchange-for-millions-in-us-foreign-aid-1612489/
— Debbie Wasserman Schultz claims America ‘can’t afford’ to spend millions deporting illegal aliens
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/27/dws-claims-america-cant-afford-to-spend-millions-deporting-illegal-aliens-1612451/
— Walz’s daughter extends warm Christmas greetings to illegal aliens ‘terrorized’ by ICE
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/27/walzs-daughter-extends-warm-christmas-greetings-to-illegal-aliens-terrorized-by-ice-1612387/

DAILY SIGNAL
— How Illegal Immigration and Government Failure Fuel Identity Theft
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/12/27/how-illegal-immigration-and-government-failure-fuel-identity-theft/
— Why Western Leaders Won’t Acknowledge ‘Radical Islam’
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/12/22/leaders-fail-when-the-threat-of-radical-islam-is-ignored/
— The Left Framed Trump on ‘Affordability’ Crisis. Here’s What Trump Must Do Now.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/12/23/the-left-framed-trump-on-affordability-crisis-heres-what-trump-must-do-now/

DAILY WIRE
— Kristi Noem’s Gift? ICE Discloses List Of ‘Worst Of The Worst’ It Arrested On Christmas. The list includes murderers, gang members, and drug traffickers.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-homans-gift-ice-discloses-list-of-worst-of-the-worst-it-arrested-on-christmas

FOX NEWS
— ‘Unlucky’ Honduran woman arrested after allegedly running red light and crashing into ICE vehicle
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/unlucky-honduran-woman-arrested-allegedly-running-red-light-crashing-ice-vehicle

PJ MEDIA
— Biden Administration Helped Illegals Take Americans’ Housing
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/12/27/biden-admin-helped-illegals-take-americans-housing-sec-turner-says-n4947576

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CBS NEWS
— Trump calls for release of any Epstein files naming Democrats: “Embarrass them”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-for-release-epstein-files-naming-democrats/

NBC NEWS
— How tracking blood sugar with continuous glucose monitoring may be helpful. Some experts claim that reducing fluctuations throughout the day can help protect against heart disease, even for people who don’t have diabetes. DD: I have started using Stelo by Dexcom to continuously monitor my blood sugar level. If you have type 2 diabetes like I do and use Stelo, please phone me at 630-653-0462.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heart-health/glucose-monitoring-blood-sugar-tracking-continuous-non-diabetic-know-rcna189881
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Is there a benefit for healthy people to track their blood sugar? Measuring blood sugar has joined sleep and exercise tracking as wellness trends, with some longevity experts claiming that reducing fluctuations throughout the day can help protect against heart disease, even for people who don’t have diabetes. Continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, are small devices that track blood sugar in real time and can tell wearers how their bodies are reacting to stress, food, sleep or exercise. New versions attach to a user’s arm and can pair with a smartphone to give blood sugar readings throughout the day. CGMs, which the Food and Drug Administration first approved in 1999, have traditionally been prescribed only to patients with diabetes. More recently, the FDA has approved two blood sugar monitors for over-the-counter use, making them available to anyone without prescriptions.)

NEW YORK TIMES
— The U.S. Must Break China’s Chokehold on Our Economy
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/opinion/the-us-must-end-chinas-rare-earth-dominance.html
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/opinion/trump-weaker-resistance-stronger.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/24/opinion/voter-preferences-polls.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little? DD: If Gingrich had reformed GAO instead of gutting it, there would have been no need for DOGE.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/us/politics/doge-musk-trump-analysis.html
— How to Tell Your Adult Kids the Bank of Mom and Dad Is Closed. DD: I had to work my way through college. My father died suddenly in 1969 when he was 47 and I was 21. I helped support my mother and brother 1970-1972.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/business/retirement-supporting-adult-kids.html

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— How to Use an MBA to Advance in Your Field or Change Careers. DD: The IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 gave weight to my taking graduate evening business courses at Loyola during that time. GAO would not have hired me in 1980 if I had not earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976.
https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/how-to-use-an-mba-to-advance-in-your-field-or-change-careers

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
— How to find a career with a purpose. DD: What about the importance of what employers do? The importance of what the Post Office does (deliver mail), what Firestone does (sell tires and automotive services), what IRS does (collect federal taxes), and what GAO does (audit federal agencies) motivated me to not only to accept their job offers, but to withstand tremendous efforts to get rid of me by my Democrat superiors.
https://www.ajc.com/herstory/2025/12/how-to-find-a-career-with-a-purpose-this-atlanta-executive-charted-a-path/

COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN
— When Nixon ended the draft it changed the course of my life. DD: How did the Vietnam War draft impact you? It had a tremendous impact on me. I avoided the draft with student deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship deferment 1970-1971. Because of my draft lottery number, the likelihood of my being drafted decreased in 1971. But the draft did not end until 1973. Potential employers viewed me as being draft bait because I was 1-A for the draft. They did not believe that my financial hardship draft deferment application would be approved. That severely harmed my job search. When I graduated from NIU in 1970, I took the only job offer that I got. It was for a job that did not really require a college degree. I was rudely fired from that job because I had accepted a job offer. But that job offer was withdrawn. Because I had to have a job, I accepted a job offer from IRS in 1971. But I soon learned that my Democrat IRS superiors who were veterans blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War. They despised/hated Republicans like me who avoided the draft. They got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. They disallowed my travel vouchers in 1974. They disallowed my education deductions in 1978. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my earning an MBA in 1976 and my passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. They made it ever-increasingly clear that they would never promote me to GS-13. The aforesaid resulted in my transferring to GAO in 1980. But I soon learned that my Democrat GAO superiors who were veterans also blamed Republicans for America losing the Vietnam War. They forced me to take a $23,472/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.  They kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, They delayed my promotions and never promote me beyond GS-13. They always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance. They forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/local_columnists/when-nixon-ended-the-draft-50-years-ago-it-changed-the-course-of-my-life/article_20c863b8-98d7-11ed-8e1c-2b19c458cdaf.html

NPR
— DD: Democrats run the federal government. Because of that, federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.https://www.npr.org/2025/04/18/nx-s1-5369550/trump-federal-workers-schedule-f

MS NOW
— DD: To get more votes from minorities and from females, Democrat and RINO candidates, elected officials, and party leaders ever-increasingly shout at minorities and at females that older Republican White males discriminate against them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUy-mDTryPk

FAST COMPANY
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly a) glorify and praise their illegals and b) fight their deportation.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91460622/trump-mass-deportation-campaign-in-2025-devastating-photos

JILL SCHLESINGER
— Labor Market Slowdown: Young Grads Feel the Squeeze. DD: What harmed your job search? Potential employers viewed me as being draft bait because I was 1-A for the draft. They did not believe that my financial hardship draft deferment application would be approved. That severely harmed my job search. I avoided the draft with student deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship deferment 1970-1971. Because of my draft lottery number, the likelihood of my being drafted decreased in 1971. But the draft did not end until 1973. When I graduated from NIU in 1970, I took the only job offer that I got. It was for a job that did not really require a college degree.
https://www.jillonmoney.com/blog/labor-market-slowdown-young-grads-feel-the-squeeze

BANKRATE
— 9 myths about home equity. DD: When I sold my Outer Drive East studio condo in 1976, I used the equity to buy a one bedroom condo in that building. When I sold that one bedroom condo in 1978, I used the equity to buy a new 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale and a new 1978 Chevrolet Chevette. When my wife and I sold 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton and my townhome in University Park in 1984, we used the equities to have 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton.
https://www.bankrate.com/home-equity/myths-about-home-equity-what-homeowners-often-get-wrong/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— DD: Democrats run the federal government. Because of that, federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/11/final-schedule-f-regulations-describe-civil-service-protections-unconstitutional-overcorrections/409616/

NFFE & FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— DD: Democrats run the federal government. Because of that, federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://nffe.org/press-release/trump-administration-creates-new-schedule-g-to-reward-political-lackeys-and-undercut-civil-service-protections/
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/04/trump-administration-estimates-50000-federal-employees-will-lose-civil-service-protections/

GALLUP
— One in Four U.S. Employees Lack Advancement Opportunities. DD: Democrats run the federal government. To advance in the federal government you have to be a Democrat and the more of the following that you are, the faster that you can advance: minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or have ancestors who have not been in America for a long time. Because I am none of the aforesaid, IRS never promoted me beyond GS-12 and GAO never promoted me beyond GS-13 even though I earned three job-related master’s degrees, six job-related professional certifications, and a job-relate professional license.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/695996/one-four-employees-lack-advancement-opportunities.aspx

LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
— DD: Democrats run the federal government. Because of that, federal employees who are the following have no Civil Service protections: Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.naacpldf.org/five-rights-federal-workers/

MOTHER JONES
— DD: All my coworkers who my Democrat superiors in the federal government promoted over me were Democrats a) who had less work experience than I had, b) who had less education than I had, c) who had no professional certifications or fewer than I had, and/or d) had no professional license like the one I dad.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/elon-musk-the-fdny-veteran-who-worked-9-11-and-covid-isnt-qualified-to-lead-the-department/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

FINANCIAL EXPRESS
— Why being good at your job doesn’t guarantee career growth. DD: My Democrat superiors and supervisors have always used the subjectivity in their performance appraisal systems a) to favor their Democrat employees who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time and b) to disfavor their Republican employees who were White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. The aforesaid ever-increasingly rendered worthless my job-related a) bachelor’s degree, b) three master’s degrees, c) six professional certifications, and d) professional license.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/education/article/why-being-good-at-your-job-doesnt-guarantee-career-growth

OTHER SOIURCES

CNET
— Continuous Glucose Monitors for Easy Tracking. DD: I have started using Stelo by Dexcom to continuously monitor my blood sugar level. If you have type 2 diabetes like I do and use Stelo, please phone me at 630-653-0462.
https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/best-continuous-glucose-monitors-according-to-experts/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Stelo was the first over-the-counter CGM available in the US when it received FDA approval in 2024. The small sensor sits on the back of your arm and tracks your glucose levels 24/7. You can view your blood sugar levels within the app. . .Each sensor lasts up to 15 days, it’s pretty low maintenance and it’s an easy way to see how your stress, meals and daily habits influence your glucose levels. One pack of two will cost you $99 (lasts about a month) but if you subscribe that price will drop to $89 a month. The pack comes with everything you need: the sensors, applicator and overpatch to secure the sensor in place. Over the two weeks I tested the Stelo, I noticed which habits (like taking a walk after dinner) affected my blood sugar the most. I find this tool helpful for those curious about their overall health and probably not for those with a diabetes diagnosis as it doesn’t send safety alarms when your glucose levels are too high or too low. If you have a diagnosis and would like to try Stelo, I recommend speaking to your doctor to ensure it will give you the insights and alerts you need.)