UPS Doesn't Deliver!

 

Above is the tracking history of a package having been shipped by UPS.  The package has been held up in Philadelphia for a while, and no reason is being given by UPS for the hold up. Dollars to donuts that this package is being held up for two reasons:

1. Lack of US Customs personnel in Philadelphia due to Government Shutdown.
2. Trump's Tariffs causing confusion at import points

This is the second time I've had problems with deliveries not being delivered, and held up in mid stream. (The first was with Amazon, and mentioned here in a prior post.)  I expect things will start getting much worse as the Holiday season approaches.

So what's going on here? 

We've seen reports of foreign mail services refusing to ship small parcels to the United States.  In the past, an items valued $800 (or less) could be mailed to the US without having to pay duties.  Now that the "De Minimis" floor of $800 has been removed, all parcels are subject to US tariffs, and are subject to duty collection.  But who pays?  Where is this money collected?  How much should be paid? Sadly, because of this confusion, foreign postal agencies are simply saying NO to shipping packages to the US.  And I can't blame them one bit.

Even though my package is being delivered by UPS, is my package one of those affected?

I'll be contacting UPS to find out more about what's going on.  If I have to pay a reasonable duty right now, I'll consider it.  If not, I'll write off this purchase for now.  But if I have to write off this package, I'll avoid doing business with Ulla Popken (a great German retailer) until things clear up. 

- - - - - -

PS1: Before I had the chance to call UPS, I saw an update - they expect to deliver the package tomorrow (as I write this, Wednesday).  I'll make an update to this post if delivery occurs as now expected.

PS2: UPS changed the delivery date again.  Contacted UPS to find out why package is delayed.  Will update this post as new information is received.  Hopefully, I will finally receive the package as now scheduled.

PS3: UPS Keeps pushing back the delivery date.  It's now scheduled for Friday.  Will need to call their phone number for international deliveries to see what's up. 

PS4: Late last night, UPS reported the package was in "Clearance Scan" state (I couldn't capture this on time).  This morning, it is "On The Way".  I wonder whether I will receive the package on Friday as now scheduled.

PS5: The package is finally on its way.  It's hard to believe that it took 2 weeks to clear importation procedures in Philadelphia.  Hopefully, there will be no more delays, and the package will be at my door as now scheduled. 

PS6: Things have now gotten ridiculous!  The package was delivered on Monday as was now scheduled, but to the wrong address! (My doorway looks nothing like the doorway above.)  Around 7:30, I filed a report of package mis-delivery, and by 7:50, I received a call back.  UPS had delivered the item to the wrong address - about 1/4 mile away from my apartment.  Although the person at the other end of the line explained how this could happen (several properties on my hill have similar addresses), UPS should train its delivery workers better to deliver goods in areas like mine.

 

PS7: On Tuesday, I contacted UPS again around 9:45 am, and they mentioned that the issue has been reported to the local delivery center.  Hopefully, I will hear back from them by the afternoon.  Then I contacted Ulla Popken, where my request for a new shipment or refund was passed to the shipping department for processing.

 

PS8: Around 7:30 pm on Tuesday, I got another call from UPS asking me about the mis-delivered package.  She confirmed where the package was delivered, and I mentioned again that that is not my address.  It's hard to believe how screwed up UPS can be when they deliver a package to the wrong address.

 

PS9: This afternoon, I found a package near my mailbox.  The shipment from Ulla Popken had finally arrived.  So, I sent an email to Ulla's customer service, saying that UPS finally delivered the package, and that finally, all was right with the world.  19 days from date of order to delivery - AARGH!  At least, I now have the package.

 

 

This emperor wannabe has no clothes.

 

The Emperor has no Clothes!  I don't mean this in a literal sense,  But I do mean it in the sense that he only has power if we act is if he has any power.  However, he is losing most of his cases in court, and his administration is screwing up the rest of them due to DOJ attorneys being chosen for loyalty instead of competence.

The first example of his losing is NYC's congestion zone tolling that's been in place since January 2025.  One would think that he'd have a good case against NYC before ordering NYC to remove congestion zone tolls.  Recently retracted documents show that the Snowflake's lawyers have a very weak case.  Several months after the Snowflake's original removal deadline, these tolls are still in place and are doing their job better than NYC could have hoped.  Although the case is still in the legal system, it is doubtful that NYC will lose the case.  Simply put, the Snowflake made a threat that he had no power to cause harm to his intended victim, NYC.

Recently, the Snowflake suffered an even greater defeat- a little known federal court ruled that Congress had sole authority to levy tariffs, and could not unilaterally delegate this to the Executive branch of government. In short, even though the court's order is stayed on appeal, the Snowflake is again being checked by the courts.

Now, the "TACO" phrase is being applied to the Snowflake.  TACO - Trump Always Chickens Out.  People have gotten wise to him, and know that he will usually back down at the first sign of resistance. His so-called tariff deals are much ado about nothing.  Does one remember what happened to the Canada and Mexico tariffs?  What about the UK tariffs?  After a large amount of bluster, not much has changed, save that people no longer want to do business with America while the Snowflake is in office. Foreign governments know what TACO stands for, and are taking advantage of it.  Even better, Jimmy Kimmel has a new video for "Taco Man"!

So, how are transgenders being affected by the Snowflake's actions as of late?  Memorial Day weekend marks the graduation day for cadets in our service academies.  There were 3 transgender cadets who graduated, but weren't given their commissions because of the Snowflake.  They had until June 7th to resign or be involuntarily discharged. If they voluntarily resign, they will be responsible for the cost of their education.  If they are forced out, their education was for free.  I wonder how this saves money for the American taxpayer?

 

PS: West Point Cadets may have shown the Snowflake their disapproval of his actions by refusing to shake his hand at their graduation ceremony.  Although he may have shaken some hands, more of them didn't - officially because he left early. I'm not sure of what the objective truth is.  But I'm sure that many cadets were glad to be able to follow their honor code by not honoring a 34-count felon who is temporarily in charge of our executive branch of government.

 

 

 

 

 

It'll have been 11 days so far....

 

By the time you read this, the Orange Snowflake will have been in office for 11 days.  I have my worries about this man and his worsening dementia, and the people who support him without question.  Will some people keep him in check?  Or, will he go F'ing nuts when power is restored to him?  Only time will tell.

Right now, people like Sarah McBride are biding their time until they have the power to change things.  It doesn't pay for her to challenge the GOP leadership to assert her rights.  But that time will come.  The GOP will eventually lose control of government, as they have done in the past.  For those of us who can blend in, my advice is to do so - but to be honest about who you are if anyone asks.  This might not be a viable option for many deep in a red state.  But it has always worked for me in the Hudson Valley and elsewhere.

The Orange Snowflake knows nothing about how tariffs work, nor does he have a firm grasp on anything essential to the running of government, save to put "Yes Men" with major flaws in positions of power.  He can not afford to have anyone challenge him - especially with the 25th amendment in mind. When confronted by one friendly reported on who would pay the tariffs he proposes, he acts like China (and other countries) would pay to sell their goods here without affecting the purchasing price paid by the American consumer.  The problem here is that he wants to use a machete when a surgeon's scalpel is called for.  Do we need high tariffs on European goods, where wages and other costs are similar to that in North America?  Yet, it would make sense to have high tariffs on Chinese goods, considering their low wages, and the use of Uighurs as slave labor. Universally low tariffs have caused the decline of American manufacturing, as it was cheaper to export jobs to nations with low wages and few worker protections.  In short, a broken clock can be right twice each day, and the Orange Snowflake's idea of tariffs shouldn't be dismissed out of hand - it should be refined by professionals, so that the right approach is used by the US.

I expect that the Justice Department to be politicized.  The Snowflake doesn't care about justice.  He wants revenge against his perceived enemies.  I'll be watching the news to see if he goes after the January 6th committee, as well as anyone who opposed him.  Most people who read this blog know that I use an alias when communicating with the Transgender community.  This doesn't mean that I can't be found if someone wants to go after me.  Instead, it slows down any potential attack on me.

It is likely that some Transgender people will be persecuted by politicians who are also religious zealots.  They  may consider fleeing the country.  Although it is illegal to enter Canada without going through a legal checkpoint, our border is mostly unguarded.  There are towns (and buildings) that sit on the border.  If one feels that they might be targeted because of politics, one might consider finding a way to reach the border without leaving electronic bread crumbs.  No cell phones or late model cars would be safe in this attempt.  Remember, Abbie Hoffman stayed on the lam for years using the alias of "Barry Fried".  This might be a way to wait things out if things go sour in our country.

Remember - most people don't give a damn about us.  This will work for and against us.  Try to use that knowledge to your best advantage....