We start with poor Hal Turner talking about divorce and Nuclear War. Some people’s lives are truly a mess.
Don’t be like Hal Turner.
Nuclear Attack Message on Russian TV; Citizens told “Go to the shelters”
A nuclear attack message has been broadcast on Russian television stations "Nuclear strike has been conducted, please go to the shelter, take your calcium iodide pills" The red alert in several regions of Russia broadcasted via TV and radio. Video below: Video as seen on Russian TV stations just minutes ago (9:52 AM eastern US time) UPDATE 10:30 AM EST -- RUMORS . . . . this is a computer hack. No word from inside Russia . . . at all. No word if anyone is actually moving to shelters - or not. My wife got her lazy, good for nothing, fat ass out of bed as this was happening. I told her. She shrugged it off. Actually told ME "I'm not awake yet, I have to wake up." I told her "I wanted us to be in Pennsylvania this week. We should go now" She waved me off like as if to say "It's all such a bother." I've come to realize I hate this woman. After 31 years, I feel nothing in my heart but disgust when I even look at her. Totally, completely useless. I don't even know why I've stayed. Oh. Wait. I do know . . . . so I can pay for it all. Now, I'm supposed to what. . . wait until she wakes up? Maybe wait so she can get dressed or something . . . . If this __is__ a computer hacking and a fake, I've just gotten a real eye-opener about how the real thing would go down in __my__ house. I'd be vaporized waiting for my good for nothing wife because . . . . It's all such a bother. I hate my life. I hate what it's become. I've got to get out of this. 2:24 PM EST-- I have arrived at my house in Pennsylvania. Alone. She told me "You have to leave me the car." I replied "I'm taking my car towed behind the pick up truck." She responded "I have to have a car." I asked "For what, you never go anywhere?" She said "You're not taking the car." I wasn't going to bother pointing out that it's mine. I don't want to bother fighting anymore. I left her the car. Fuck it. I just have to be away from this toxic person. When I got off the Interstate for the exit to my house, first thing I did was hit the bank and grab some cash; the small maximum I can withdraw daily from an ATM. If things go boom, nothing is going to work; no credit cards, no debit cards. Cash would be king, so I got some. Next stop, fuel-up the truck. It took 14.5 gallons. If it all goes to hell, I'll at least have fuel. Added DEF fluid too, which is the pollution control fluid that diesel vehicles must use in the USA along with fuel. Now, at least I'm set with that. I still have to unpack some stuff from the truck, crank the heat up in the house . . . it's down at 60, so got to warm it up. Will bring in firewood to have inside. Supposed to get significant snow here tonight into tomorrow. Then, off to the supermarket for last minute stuff. I did a lot of thinking during the three hour drive. Marriage is not a suicide pact. My wife already made clear - quite recently - she has no desire to survive a nuclear war because it would just be so awful. So in my mind, she's already given up. I have not. She may be willing to sit there and die. I am not. Maybe this is nothing -- I hope so. But I am not going to discount everything I have seen and heard, and just chalk this up to some computer hacker. Things are wound too tightly now. The possibility of an actual Russian nuclear strike upon us is very real, very near, and very JUSTIFIED. I will not sit idly-by and wait to be vaporized. She can. I won't. I told her I do not plan on coming back. I told her I know she may need money help from time to time, and I will do what I can on that. But as far as I'm concerned, this marriage is done. It's ***NOT*** just what happened today. It's years and years and years of a lot more. There is no salvaging this marriage and worst of all - I don't even want to bother trying. THAT . . . . is how far gone it is.
Sigh.
The people that you surround yourself with has the biggest influence on your life. Be careful, and wise. Choose carefully.
Today, we are going to step into a time machine.
We are going to a softer and calmer time. You know (why), to reset ourselves fromt he onslaught of fear-mongering and insanity.
We begin with a fine 1960’s era show…
Petticoat Junction – Season 7 Episode 26
Be the Rufus
A very old lady was at the register with a few things from the marked down grocery shelf. She was as clean as could be, with her snow white hair neatly combed. Her clothes were out of style 60 years ago, but they too, were clean and neat. She was in front of me at the checkout register. She had a loaf of day old bread for .50 and a box of generic corn flakes that was taped up, a bag of mixed bruised fruit, and a quart of milk. When her bank card was declined, she quietly said, “I will put these back.” I said no, and I paid for her items, and I added a package of Oreos, a Sara Lee pound cake, and a box of Red Rose tea bags that were in my pile that I had selected for myself. I know that dear, sweet old lady with the tears rolling down her face would never have bought those for herself. The cashier bagged the items and handed the bag to the woman. With her tear-stained face, she raised her hand to heaven, bowed her head and said, “by the glory of God, in Jesus name, thank you.” Like ships passing in the night, my path crossed hers, only that one brief time. I never saw her again.
I will never forget her.
Gabriel Khiterer Captures Majestic Portraits Of Stray Cats
Gabriel Khiterer is a talented 19-year-old self-taught photographer from Vilnius, Lithuania who pays tribute to the stray cats live near his house.
More info: Facebook (h/t: photogrist, boredpanda)
Tough battle-cats!
Now, for Gilligan’s Island.
The Professor Builds a Telephone to Call for Help – Gilligan’s Island – 1966
Run With Us- (Napoleon/Illya)
Run With Us-Lisa Lougheed.
Clips from The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968)
Swedish Meatballs I
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup dry cream of wheat cereal
- ¼ cup minced onion
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Directions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
-
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg and the milk. Add the beef, cream of wheat and onion and mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls. Place balls on a lightly greased baking sheet.
-
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 20 minutes.
-
Drain meatballs on paper towels, if needed. Then place meatballs in a lightly greased 2 quart casserole dish. In a separate medium bowl, combine the soups with the evaporated milk, stirring until smooth. Pour over the meatballs.
-
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for another 40 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Green Acres – Mr. Haney’s “Super Wedding Service”
Love this show and everyone in it. Great wholesome comedy
Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet
The concept of an old-fashioned dates back to the early 1800s and includes whiskey, bitters, cherry juice, sugar and water. This old-fashioned recipe, which is extremely popular in Wisconsin, uses brandy in place of whiskey and lemon-lime soda instead of water for a milder cocktail. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ingredients
- 1 orange slice
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 1-1/2 ounces maraschino cherry juice
- 1 teaspoon bitters
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup ice cubes
- 1-1/2 ounces brandy
- 2 teaspoons water
- 1 teaspoon orange juice
- 3 ounces lemon-lime soda
Ron Swanson hating healthy food for 9 minutes 27 seconds | Parks and Recreation
LOL
String Cheese Meat Loaf
“My daughter likes the cheese stuffed into this tasty meat loaf made with a blend of ground beef and Italian sausage. Served with a salad and sourdough bread, the meal is special enough for company. —Laura Lawrence, Salinas, California”
Ingredients
- 1 cup meatless spaghetti sauce, divided
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 8 ounces bulk Italian sausage
- 3 pieces string cheese
Editor’s Note: Three ounces of mozzarella cheese, cut into four 1/2-inch sticks, may be substituted for the string cheese.
Be that Rufus!
The nice Latina lady ahead of me at the checkout was purchasing baby items: baby food, disposable diapers, formula, etc. And a few other food items.
Card rejected.
Tries another card. Rejected.
Another. Same thing.
She digs for cash. Some, but not enough.
She reddens. Tears. “Can I take some things back?”
Register clerk starts to pull away enough merchandise so what remains will be covered by her cash.
I, standing there in a kind of daze, just waiting my turn, suddenly wake up to what’s happening.
“Holy cow!” I said to myself. “This stuff is for a baby —maybe HER baby. No way she’s not taking this home…”
I gestured to the clerk, who I knew, and who knew me. “I’ve got this,” I said. “Just include it in my total.” He voids her sale, rings me up, including her stuff.
She tries to refuse. I listen politely, and tell her it is OK. “I will pay you back!” she insists, tears streaming down her cheeks, as we move toward the exit.
I replied: “Lady, if you continue to threaten me with repayment, I’m going to retaliate by paying off your car loan or your mortgage or your next month’s rent, and I know you wouldn’t want me to do that, right? So don’t deprive me of the opportunity to do something nice for someone.”
She stopped and just looked at me. Then whispered, “Thank you sir. God bless you.”
“God has blessed me,” I answered. “God had me in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to help someone in need. And we are both blessed.”
We parted ways.
[EDIT]: I am surprised, and I am honored, and I am humbled, by the comments which have expressed approval of my actions. And at the same time, I am, I confess, somewhat troubled by those who say they wish they could do the same as I did. And the truth is that all of us, no matter our material means, can do as I did, whatever your means. If not material, then by your identity and your values. The point is, give something. Anything, whatever you have to give. And when you do this, you put yourself in the place of the person whom you support. So just do it, with whatever you have.
Crazy (Cool) Cat Men: Ridiculous Studio Photos Of Men Posing With Their Beloved Cats
It’s perfectly OK for men to post cute photos of holding cats in their arms, but these guys have taken it to a whole other level! They’ve been posing with their cats, just like probably many men secretly do, however, the thing is that their pictures came out and are funny as hell!
h/t: vintag.es
Hogans Heroes
Premier 1960s.
Jiffy Ground Pork Skillet
“Some people call it dinner hour, but many of us call it rush hour. Slow down the pace with this so-simple mouthwatering ground pork meal. The only thing you’ll have left over is time to share with your family at the table. —Brigitte Schaller, Flemington, Missouri”
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
Blazing Saddles best scene
Terrible Maps That Are So Bad They’re Good
Maps are very useful… usually. However, @TerribleMaps Twitter account proves that not all maps are created equal. Scroll down to see the best examples of hilariously pointless maps!
Cheng Benhua
Cheng Benhua became famous for this photograph taken on the day of her death, when she faced her assassination with a smile.
In 1937, war broke out with Japan’s invasion of China. Cheng Benhua was part of the Chinese resistance. She was captured along with other comrades in 1938, when the Japanese arrived in her region. She endured an ordeal: she witnessed the execution of her comrades, was repeatedly raped and humiliated. Despite all this, Cheng remained impassive and defiant, demonstrating a steely spirit that would not be broken. The photo was taken by a Japanese correspondent before she was bayoneted to death at the age of 24.
In China she became an icon. The city of Nanjing has a 5-metre high statue of Cheng, the warrior who smiled at death, as a symbol of the indomitable spirit.
Be the Rufus!
This young mom if two was in chick fil à with her two young children in tow. You can tell she was having a very bad day she orders lunch for her two children. One of the children asked “mommy, where’s yours?” And she said she wasn’t hungry. She attempted to pay using her credit or debit card and it was declined. She asked to run it again and it was declined. She claimed she didn’t have any money on her and she couldn’t pay for the meals. Mom was in tears. She told her children she didn’t have the money to buy them lunch and started leaving. Now the children were in tears and were crying they were very hungry. I told the manager and said go stop her and give her the meals and I’ll pay for them. I also said add a number one meal for mom so she can eat as well.
When she found out what I did, she came up to me and hugged and profusely thanked me explaining how her husband died and she was unable to work because of her young children, one who is in the autism spectrum. I told her not to worry, and to enjoy her lunch.
She wouldn’t stop thanking me. Meanwhile everyone else there was complimentary of my actions. But not one other stepped up to offer what I did.
Chicken-Pepper Alfredo
When I want a lighter dinner, I use lean turkey bacon in this recipe. It gives the pasta that richness you want without all the extra fat. —Courtney Harris, Denton, Texas
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked linguine
- 1-1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 4 turkey or pork bacon strips, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 jar (15 ounces) roasted red pepper Alfredo sauce
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
- Cook linguine according to package directions. Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with garlic powder and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken, mushrooms, onion, bacon and garlic; cook and stir 8-10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
- Drain linguine; add to skillet. Stir in Alfredo sauce; heat through. Sprinkle with cheese.
Does the USA know that its biggest enemy is China?
The USA’s biggest enemy is itself.
USA people know very little about anything beyond their borders. Their media is a massive brainwashing lying machine.
On Quora, the most abusive, hateful and stalking people come from the USA. It seems that any human on the planet with real life experience of the world can be abused for criticising the USA. Their posts are full of hate, advocacy of the destruction of entire nations and the massacre of millions all for fake morality based on spurious lies. What a horrid and miserable life it must be to be stuck in the USA and believe that your awful country has a right to spread misery globally. So as a human being from planet Earth (definitely not from the USA) I have every right to express my views based on real life experience and also to choose if I wish to engage for long with such hateful and ignorant people from the USA.
Existential Crisis Duck Night Light
It was, in all regards, an average day in duck’s average life when he suddenly asked himself: “Who am I?” Since then, he has given a lot of thought to the purpose of life, wondering if a duck can do something more than just quack and stuff its face with breadcrumbs. Is that’s all there is to life? It’s a feeling many of us can relate to, and it’s probably an origin story behind existential crisis duck night light. It’s a funny lamp with a silicone body which feels soft to the touch and gives out a warm glow which will turn off automatically after 30 minutes so you can drift off peacefully.
What evidence is there to support the claim that China has replaced the US as a superpower?
China is by far the superior civilised nation.
The US builds up its military whilst its people have no universal health care, live in growing poverty and in crime. The US tries to contain, hawk, and disrupt China’s development. Also they are willing to provoke wars all over the world to ramp up their out dated and globally unwanted hegemony. They have invaded, and bombed many nations and slaughtered hundreds of thousands and ruined the lives of millions. The vast majority of the people on this planet shun the USA now and want nothing to do with it. On this site the supporters of the US demonstrate ignorance of the world, of China and hateful feelings toward any nation that doesn’t comply with the USA’s narrative. The pro US Quorans also are prone to personally abuse any Quoran that criticises the USA as if all us people on this planet should LIKE the USA? After all it has done. The USA is a horrid, horrid, evil regime that needs to change or end. It should pull all its forces, spies and politicians home and leave the good people of this planet well alone.
China has brought itself out of poverty and the people live better than ever now. China offers peace and prosperity to the world. It has helped its own people live in a much more stable and pleasant society than the USA’s. I know this from being very fortunate to have lived there for years. I’m not merely a propagandist like so many lying hypocrites from the USA like to label me as. I know that China is a nation with a peaceful society, a civilised society and a vibrant culture, that supports its minority groups and all religions that exist there. Unlike the US people on this site who have never set foot like to rant; China is a free and happy society. It’s effects on Africa and Latin America and Asia are very positive. China is good for the world. The real evaluation of a civilised super power is with regard to its wisdom, civilised behaviour and that it benefits the world and it achieves all this peacefully. So China is the vastly superior nation to that vile…other one. May China continue to rise for the benefit of this planet. China is the future, China is the hope.
Princess Bride – Battle of Wits
Mendacious menace
By ISHIDA RYUJI
Japan’s economy has been stagnant for nearly 30 years, yet it still has ambitions to be a military superpower
A joint strategy document was delivered after the Japan-United States Security Consultative Committee (2+2) meeting in Washington on Jan 12, 2023. It was based on three defense documents issued by the Japanese Cabinet in December 2022, namely the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Mid-Term Defense Program.
The Japanese government has clearly taken China as a hostile country in these documents, indicating that its Self-Defense Forces will strengthen their cooperation with the US military to target China. To this end, Japan has hiked its military budget and improved its counterattack capability, which goes far beyond the established policy of its so-called purely defensive defense posture, since the capability to hit enemy bases is not allowed.
While claiming that the security environment is deteriorating, the Japanese government is attempting to change the status quo by force and is therefore doubling its military expenditure.
If the economic growth of countries in the “Indo-Pacific” region is regarded as a “challenge to the international order”, all the developed countries in the region should be regarded as a “threat”. Yet Japan’s rapid economic growth in the 1960s was praised instead of being seen as a threat. The so-called free and open international order pursued by the West would be neither free nor open if it did not include India and China. Only by positioning the fast-growing developing countries as emerging partners rather than threats, can regional peace and stability be effectively guaranteed.
Japan’s military build-up to counter China’s rise is in essence an attempt to create enemies unilaterally by not allowing the development of a new power that might threaten the vested interests of the West.
In this regard, the US and Japanese governments have always disregarded the fact that the Japan-US alliance has overwhelming military strength in the Asia-Pacific region. The US and Japan have sought to legitimize the reinforcement of their military presence by hyping up China’s “extensive and rapid military build-up”. However, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China’s military expenditure in 2021, which was the second highest in the world at $293.35 billion, was only about one-third that of the total military expenditure of the US, which was the highest at $800.67 billion, and Japan, which was ninth in the world at $54.12 billion. It is true that China’s military expenditure has been increasing since the 2000s, but it is necessary to put that in the context of the need to modernize its military and the continuous development of its economy. In fact, China’s military budget increases have remained in the range of 1.3 to 1.6 percent of its GDP since 1995, far below its economic growth rate.
There is no doubt that the US’ military spending is considerably greater than that of any other country in the world, with its military expenditure accounting for 3 percent to 4 percent of its GDP. Japan is now about to double its quota of 1 percent to 2 percent of its GDP, and will become the world’s third-largest military power. The country’s economy has been stagnant for nearly 30 years, yet it still has ambitions to be a military superpower. That is not commensurate with its economy. And the US military can take full advantage of its newest base on Okinawa, which is located at China’s “throat”. If there is any military threat in East Asia, it is not from China but from the Japan-US alliance.
China’s policy is not hostile to the US and Japan, and it has not formed any military alliances targeting any other country. Japan and the US, by contrast, no longer disguise the nature of their military alliance. Military alliances require enemies to be fabricated if there is no real threat, which is what the US did with the Soviet Union and what it is now doing with China. On the other hand, since the mid-1950s, China has always followed the diplomatic principle of non-alignment and pacifism and insisted on not having military alliances. In the face of containment and blockade, China did not take the initiative to identify the US and Japan as enemies and conduct a targeted military build-up. The containment and blockade of the US-Japan alliance are entirely unilateral hostility, which has never changed.
China’s Foreign Ministry on Feb 22, 2023, issued the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, a vision of peace proposed by China to the world at a critical moment given the situation in Ukraine. Compared with the “strategy document “between Japan and the US in January, China’s aspirations for peace and the pursuit of global interests are evident.
In the process of promoting the implementation of the Global Security Initiative, China will adhere to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. In contrast to the idea of forming military alliances that are hostile to or antagonistic toward specific countries, the Global Security Initiative embodies an aspiration of pursuing peace and a community with a shared future.
China and Japan signed their Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1978. Although that treaty remains in force, the “strategy document” of Japan and the US made no mention of it.
Japan’s current policy blatantly ignores the first article of the treaty:
"The Contracting Parties shall develop relations of perpetual peace and friendship between the two countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence".
While China is strictly implementing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Japan and the US are building up their military force so as to intervene in the Taiwan question. It is they that are the greatest challenge to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Puking Cat Gravy Boat: The Most Disgusting Kitchen Item Ever
Choosing the right gravy boat is serious business. Sure you could go the traditional route, and select a regular boring gravy boat, but if you’re looking to just get downright weird, this puking cat gravy boat ought to do the trick. Made to look like the gravy is being puked out of the cat’s mouth, this unique sauce server was certainly made for the crazy cat lady out there. After all, what better to show your guests that you are completely unhinged than putting something like this on a dinner table?
Best of Crabman 01
And now you know
Yodeling Pickle: The Most Pointless Product Ever Created
Behold, the Yodeling Pickle! Truly a marvel of modern technology. It’s the perfect combination of two things that should never go together: pickles and yodeling. Yes, it’s actually a real thing you can buy online, and it’s completely, totally 100% pointless.
Be the Rufus
It was after work one day and I had to pick up some essentials from the grocery store. I’m tired and cranky and my back is hurting. I grabbed what I needed and got in line. The young woman in front of me had a toddler and a 3/4 year old, both whiny (like me🤣) trying to buy a package of spaghetti noodles, a cheap can of sauce and a small package of hamburger. Her card wouldn’t scan and she was visibly getting more and more distraught. I stepped up and said, ““Honey, I’ve been there. Let me get this” and I told the cashier I would pay. The woman stepped aside, now crying, and I added bananas, bread, milk, lunchmeat and cereal to her order and paid.
Partridge Family
If you are in need – ask for help!
My little sister once had a really horrific type of stomach cancer.
What made it worse was that my family was poor at the time she had the cancer, so we couldn’t afford high-quality treatments and hospitals for her.
Anyway, one year, my parents found a doctor in Massachusetts who they thought could treat (and save) my sister.
The doctor was extremely qualified and specialized in treating the specific type of cancer that my sister had.
So anyway, my mom took my sister to that doctor for treatment, and I and the rest of my family stayed home since we couldn’t afford travelling all together.
After months of my sister being treated in Massachusetts by that doctor, my sister’s condition one day got critically bad.
She was on the literal verge of dying, so I and my younger brother and my dad decided to urgently go to Massachusetts to be with my sister.
We packed our stuff up and took the first flight we could find. It was such an emergency that my dad didn’t find the time to buy the plane tickets online, so we had to buy the tickets directly at the airport. At the airport, however… my dad had selected the tickets and he was going to pay for it using his credit card, and… it pains me so much to write it, but the card was abjectly declined, because of insufficient funds. We all panicked and my dad rummaged through his bag, and he found my mom’s credit card, which she had forgotten to take with her. He tried that card to buy the tickets, and it was declined too — for the same reason.
I just started silently crying at that point. “What if she dies without us being with her?” I remember my brother fearfully asking my poor dad. My dad was so dejected at the situation that he couldn’t even say anything. Unfortunately, we never could purchase those godforsaken fucking tickets, and we missed our flight.
And my sister died without us being with her. We were only able to get to her and my mom after my sister had died. Regrettably, she died a grievously painful death, and my mom told me that she was constantly screaming for me to come to her, and asking why I wasn’t coming to her. She died saying something along those lines; she died saying how much she was missing me, her big sister. And she died without me.
It’s been years upon years since she died, and to this day, I’ve never recovered from the sheer trauma of that hellish experience, and I probably never, ever will.
Cardboard Cat Forts: The Ultimate DIY Project for Feline Fun
Picture this: You’re sitting at home, surrounded by Amazon boxes that you’ve been too lazy to recycle. You’ve got some time on your hands, a cat on your lap, and you’re feeling a little bit creative. What do you do? You build a cardboard cat fort, of course!
h/t: sadanduseless
But why do cats love cardboard so much? It’s not just because they’re weirdos (although that certainly plays a part). No, it turns out that there are some legit reasons why felines can’t resist the allure of a good cardboard box.
First of all, cats are all about safety and security. They love small, enclosed spaces where they can hide and feel safe from predators (or from their pesky human roommates). Cardboard boxes provide that sense of protection that cats crave.
But it’s not just about safety. Cardboard is also a great insulator, which means that it keeps cats warm and cozy. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good snuggle session in a warm, cozy box?
Of course, there’s also the playfulness and curiosity factor. Cats are curious creatures by nature, and a cardboard box provides endless opportunities for exploration and play. They can jump in and out of the box, paw at it, scratch it up, and generally just have a grand old time.
And let’s not forget about marking their territory. Cats have scent glands on their paws and faces, which they use to mark objects and claim them as their own. A cardboard box is the perfect blank canvas for a cat to make their mark and declare to the world, “This is mine!”
So go ahead, build that cardboard cat fort. Your feline friend will thank you for it. And even if they don’t appreciate the intricate design work and clever architecture, at least you’ll have a good laugh watching them poke their little heads out of the various nooks and crannies.
Be the Rufus!
“You’re such an embarrassment.”
I’m at the grocery store, ready to check out. I keep glancing over my phone and scrolling through my Twitter feed while waiting for my turn.
“Yes, that too, what the hell? What in the world is wrong with you, woman!?”
I paused my scrolling feed for a sec, and glanced up to see the aggressive speaker.
From what I can tell, he was dressed up for a special occasion like a red carpet event or gala. Strange. I went back into my phone mode, and getting bored, switched from Twitter to my weekly planner. I had to pee, so I started slowly tapping my feet as a distraction.
“I am so sorry, son, I didn’t know…”
“Of course, my dear.” said the elderly mother. (It’s clear they are mother and son.) She spoke in a soft, shaky voice, and was hunch backed, with thin, grey hair. Her middle-aged son was twice her size.
The elderly woman spoke to the cashier, “Can you please add the two bottles of wine and the chocolate? And, let me see… Oh, is it too much to ask if you don’t mind, to remove the eggs, almond milk, and the peaches too? I am so sorry to cause everyone trouble.” She turned to me with a frown and sad eyes, obviously embarrassed. She whispered, “I am so sorry.”
I gave her a big smile and said, “Oh, not at all. You’re totally fine.”
“For crying out loud. Wow, you’ve managed to ruin my night. That’s it, I’ll be out in the car waiting with Joanna.” The son had one hand in his pocket, and the other rubbing his forehead in an irritated manner. He turned around and walked out of the store.
“What a douche bag.” I said to myself, and then went back to staring at my phone.
“Ma’am, can you please swipe again?” The cashier asked the sweet, elderly lady.
“Of course, my dear.” she said in her soft voice, her entire body shaking as if she was going to fall.
“What card is that? Oh it’s an EBT card. Ma’am we don’t accept that at this store.”
“Oh no… That’s all I have except some cash and change. Can you please cancel out the transaction? I’ll get the wine and the Ferrero Rocher chocolate. I’ll see if I can come up with the cash.” She began shaking even more, her voice starting to crumble as a tear slid down her cheek. She walked toward the Coin Star machine to get dollar bills to add to her cash so she could buy the things for her son.
I couldn’t take it anymore. My heart was ripped. I didn’t want to embarrass her, so I waited until she walked away.
“Hey, please don’t cancel the items. Also, can you please ring the peaches, almond milk, and the carton of eggs? While you do that, can I quickly get something?”
I ran to the gift card aisle. There was a $50 Visa and a $500 American Express. I picked the AmEx.
The elderly woman, at this point, was barely to the exit door.
“Please add $500 on AmEx and these two frozen pizzas.”
The cashier said, “Oh, wow, $500. Is it a special occasion? Someone is lucky!”
“Yes, I was very lucky, and I’m going to repay the kindness.”
I checked out, and walked toward the elderly woman. I asked, “Ma’am, what’s your name?”
Taken by surprise, she looked at me with her sad eyes. Still shaking, she said, “I am Laurie.” “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Laurie. You see, earlier today, my boss gave away $1,000 for a silly competition at work. I won, and I was going to give it to my mother. But today, when I saw you, you reminded me of her. If you would be so kind, would you accept this small gift and split it with my mother? I mean, if she were here, this is what she’d ask me to do, and sharing my award would make me happy, but sad if you don’t accept.”
“I can’t do that, my sweet angel.” she said, looking down and crying uncontrollably.
“Yes, you can. If you consider me your angel, you will do just that because knowing you won’t will make me sadder than you.” I don’t know why, but I started crying along with her.
After a few minutes of negotiating, she accepted but asked for my cell phone number and address so she could mail me a check. I gave her the wrong number.
I took out the AmEx card, and wrote, “You’re a lovely mother.”
I offered her my arm, and we walked toward a brand-new Mercedes Benz, where her son was waiting. I glanced through the window and saw him lounging, conversing with a woman who must’ve been Joanna.
He looked at me, shocked, and got out of the car. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” Turning to his mother, he said, “Mom, who the hell is that guy?”
Quickly, she became nervous, and I could tell she was embarrassed. “Please, it’s not like him, forgive his behavior.”
“I am Sonny,” I replied. “I am here to escort Ms. Laurie to your car. If you care enough, could you please let her in?”
The son mumbled, “Oh yes, sure. Whatever.”
I opened the door, and Ms. Laurie stepped inside. She spoke in her sweet trembling voice, “Thank you so much, angel, sweet boy. I expect to talk to you soon, I am in your debt.”
I said to her son, “Listen dude, whoever you are, I don’t give a fuck and if I see you again being rude to the elderly, I’ll be sure to call you out in public. You’re lucky I didn’t today.”
Fuck off got inside his car and drove off.
I wonder what the mother could have done so wrong to be worthy of her son’s rude behavior?
Does he know that 50 years ago this beautiful, young woman was busy wiping his butt, feeding him, and looking out for him? One must wonder what horrible things his mother may have done for him to be that angry; it makes me sick to see that he allows her to live on food stamps, and watched as she left her groceries behind so she can buy the two bottles of wine. She showed her love for him while he sat talking to a young girl who was half his age and looked like someone’s teenage daughter.
I went home and immediately called my mother. I started to cry as she said, “Kaise ho beta?” (How are you, my son?) I know that she’s old now, and that life is so short; someday she’ll be gone, and the thought of that caused an ache that made my voice choke. “Ahem… I am doing well Ammy (Mom). I just wanted to call to say I love you. That’s all.” I hung up and continued to cry.
The truth to the matter is that there’s no one like your mother, so spend time with her, love her, appreciate her because you never know when this very moment can be taken away from you.
The real truth about Huawei
Huawei Technologies Co has replaced more than 13,000 components in its range of products with local substitutes and redesigned over 4,000 circuit boards in the past three years, founder Ren Zhengfei said, offering a glimpse of its efforts to overcome years of US sanctions.
Founder Ren, 78, said the production of circuit boards has “stabilised” after the Chinese telecoms giant developed replacement parts from domestic sources. Huawei will launch MetaERP, its own resources planning system, next month and fully use its own operating system, data system, compiler and language.
Ren delivered the speech during a February 24 seminar to thank the public and academics who participated in the company’s search for solutions to its technology predicament. The transcript was also posted by Peking University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, among others.
Ren said until Huawei’s skirmishes with the US, he was an advocate of Western technology when he was young and still admired Western tech after he founded Huawei, adding that even now he is not “anti West”.
Meanwhile, Ren said Huawei spent US$23.8 billion (entire GDP of Macau) on research and development in 2022. After its smartphone business was impacted by the US sanctions, the company began looking for more opportunities in enterprise solutions.
Arnold Ziffel Craves Jellybeans & Lisa Douglas’ Tries Driving – Green Acres – 1970
Who has more allies, the United States or China? Why? Which country has more “spheres of influence”? Which one is bigger and which one is smaller, if any at all (countries)?
The western media especially the U.S. media will have you believe that the U.S. has enormous influence and the biggest number of allies but the truth is this.
Due to the decades of abused of power the U.S. has lost the plot. All it has left are 4 groups. One, their fellow native slaughterers, two, their fellow despicable colonial powers, three their slave vassal states and finally four, some weak and small Eastern European nations that regularly poked Russia in her eyes and then needs to hide behind the U.S.
Together these U.S. dependents represent less than 20 nations out of 195 nations. In population it hardly exceed 5% of the world.
What about China. Let us look are real alliances such as BRI. 145/195 nations fully support China. Or we can take the various UN resolutions. China frequently has 160/195 nations supporting China. Why?
The Entire Africa, the entire South America, Middle East, Central Asia, Asia and some parts of Eastern Europe duly support China. That is why. The main reason China has such a following is easy to understand as long as you ignore the western narrative.
Think about China fully recognising each nation’s sovereignty. Think about China respecting the rights of each nation own path to their future. Think about China not colonialists, not interfering, not bullying, not forcing its way. China have real friends not the U.S. think of the countries supporting the U.S. out of need or no choice. It is not sustainable.
Lighten up guys.
What happened to the Brady Bunch actors…
Who is the most badass person in history that no one knows about?
There are many historical figures who are not well-known but have accomplished remarkable things. It’s difficult to say who the most “badass” person in history is, as it’s a subjective term, but one person who could fit that description is Lozen.
Lozen was a warrior and spiritual leader of the Chiricahua Apache, who lived in the late 19th century. She was known for her exceptional horseback riding, sharpshooting, and strategic thinking. She fought alongside her brother, Victorio, and the famous Apache leader Geronimo, and was considered to be one of the most skilled warriors of her tribe. She also had a reputation as a powerful medicine woman, and many believed that she had supernatural powers.
Lozen actively fought against the U.S. Army and Mexican army for the preservation of Apache way of life, freedom and their land, and was known for her ferocity in battle and her ability to evade capture. She was also known for her ability to scout and gather intelligence for her people, which was vital in the Apache resistance.
Unfortunately, her story is not well-known, but she is remembered and honored by the Apache people and some historians as a powerful and respected warrior, leader and medicine woman.
A Sweet Little Photo Story Proving That True Love That Knows No Bounds
A fine end to this post which started with Hal Turner and Nuclear War.
This brave cat overcame all the obstacles for the sake of meeting his beloved. And what would you be prepared to do in the name of true love?
h/t: brightside
What’s the saddest “card declined” moment you’ve seen?
I was about 16 and a man in front of me was trying to buy a pack of ramen and cat food. He was probably 50 and looked completely overwhelmed and ready to cry. His card declined so he removed the ramen and bought the cat food. He then tried to buy the ramen using another card which then declined. He started to count change but was still short. I gave the cashier $20 for it and let the man keep the change. I’ll never forget the look on his face. It really struck me that he spent the little he had to make sure his cat was fed and would’ve gone hungry himself. He kept trying to have me take the change too which I also think spoke of his character. At that time my dad would just hand me money, I know spoiled, but the $20 didn’t mean much to me. it meant a lot to that man and I hope he’s doing okay.
Xi Jinping meets Putin. AUKUS, preparing for conflict
As an Australian I, like many of my countrymen am appalled at our political class. It no longer matters which of the two major parties is in power, the policies are basically the same and have been derived from the WEF Globalist's play book. In particular, our subservience to the American war machine. We have given our sovereignty away and are the unofficial 51st State of America. They say "jump" we say "how high Sir". Our salvation might come when the American empire finally collapses. A collapse that is inevitable. The current financial crisis has no end, because it is built on a foundation as stable as desert sand. I am aware they have a massive nuclear arsenal, they may decide if they can't have the power, then they will take everyone else with them to the grave. We in Australia could well be among the first to die.
Both Putin & Xi have put out articles on the 🇷🇺-🇨🇳 relationship within the past 24 hours. Read
Forging Ahead to Open a New Chapter of China-Russia Friendship, Cooperation and Common Development
Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
At the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, I will soon pay a state visit to the Russian Federation. Russia was the first country I visited after I was elected President ten years ago. Over the past decade, I have made eight visits to Russia. I came each time with high expectations and returned with fruitful results, opening a new chapter for China-Russia relations together with President Putin.
China and Russia are each other’s biggest neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination. We are both major countries in the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council. Both countries uphold an independent foreign policy and see our relationship as a high priority in our diplomacy.
There is a clear historical logic and strong internal driving force for the growth of China-Russia relations. Over the past ten years, we have come a long way in our wide-ranging cooperation and made significant strides into the new era.
— High-level interactions have played a key strategic role in leading China-Russia relations. We have established a whole set of mechanisms for high-level interactions and multi-faceted cooperation which provide important systemic and institutional safeguards for the growth of the bilateral ties. Over the years, I have maintained a close working relationship with President Putin. We have met 40 times on bilateral and international occasions. Together we have drawn the blueprint for the bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, and have had timely communication on major international and regional issues of mutual interest, providing firm stewardship for the sustained, sound and stable growth of China-Russia relations.
— Our two sides have cemented political mutual trust and fostered a new model of major-country relations. Guided by a vision of lasting friendship and win-win cooperation, China and Russia are committed to no-alliance, no-confrontation and not targeting any third party in developing our ties. We firmly support each other in following a development path suited to our respective national realities and support each other’s development and rejuvenation. The bilateral relationship has grown more mature and resilient. It is brimming with new dynamism and vitality, setting a fine example for developing a new model of major-country relations featuring mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
— Our two sides have put in place an all-round and multi-tiered cooperation framework. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia trade exceeded US$190 billion last year, up by 116 percent from ten years ago. China has been Russia’s largest trading partner for 13 years running. We have seen steady increase in our two-way investment. Our cooperation on major projects in such fields as energy, aviation, space and connectivity is moving forward steadily. Our collaboration in scientific and technological innovation, cross-border e-commerce and other emerging areas is showing a strong momentum. Our cooperation at the sub-national level is also booming. All this has brought tangible benefits to both the Chinese and the Russian peoples and provided unceasing driving force for our respective development and rejuvenation.
— Our two sides have acted on the vision of lasting friendship and steadily strengthened our traditional friendship. On the occasion of commemorating the 20th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, President Putin and I announced the extension of the Treaty and added new dimensions to it. Our two sides have held eight “theme years” at the national level and continued to write new chapters for China-Russia friendship and cooperation. Our two peoples have stood by and rooted for each other in the fight against COVID, which once again proves that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.
— Our two sides have had close coordination on the international stage and fulfilled our responsibilities as major countries. China and Russia are firmly committed to safeguarding the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We have stayed in close communication and coordination in the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, the G20 and other multilateral mechanisms, and worked together for a multi-polar world and greater democracy in international relations. We have been active in practicing true multilateralism, promoting the common values of humanity, and championing the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.
Looking back on the extraordinary journey of China-Russia relations over the past 70 years and more, we feel strongly that our relationship has not reached easily where it is today, and that our friendship is growing steadily and must be cherished by us all. China and Russia have found a right path of state-to-state interactions. This is essential for the relationship to stand the test of changing international circumstances, a lesson borne out by both history and reality.
My upcoming visit to Russia will be a journey of friendship, cooperation and peace. I look forward to working with President Putin to jointly adopt a new vision, a new blueprint and new measures for the growth of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the years to come.
To this end, our two sides need to enhance coordination and planning. As we focus on our respective cause of development and rejuvenation, we should get creative in our thinking, create new opportunities and inject new impetus. It is important that we increase mutual trust and bring out the potential of bilateral cooperation to keep China-Russia relations at a high level.
Our two sides need to raise both the quality and quantity of investment and economic cooperation and step up policy coordination to create favorable conditions for the high-quality development of our investment cooperation. We need to boost two-way trade, foster more convergence of interests and areas of cooperation, and promote the complementary and synchronized development of traditional trade and emerging areas of cooperation. We need to make sustained efforts to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, so as to provide more institutional support for bilateral and regional cooperation.
Our two sides need to step up people-to-people and cultural exchanges and ensure the success of China-Russia Years of Sports Exchange. We should make good use of the sub-national cooperation mechanisms to facilitate more interactions between sister provinces/states and cities. We should encourage personnel exchanges and push for the resumption of tourism cooperation. We should make available better summer camps, jointly-run schools and other programs to steadily enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples, especially between the youth.
The world today is going through profound changes unseen in a century. The historical trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation is unstoppable. The prevailing trends of world multi-polarity, economic globalization and greater democracy in international relations are irreversible. On the other hand, our world is confronted with complex and intertwined traditional and non-traditional security challenges, damaging acts of hegemony, domination and bullying, and long and tortuous global economic recovery. Countries around the world are deeply concerned and eager to find a cooperative way out of the crisis.
In March 2013, when speaking at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, I observed that countries are linked with and dependent on one another at a level never seen before, and that mankind, living in the same global village, have increasingly emerged as a community with a shared future in which everyone’s interests are closely entwined. Since then, I have proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative on different occasions. All these have enriched our vision for a community with a shared future for mankind and provided practical pathways toward it. They are part of China’s response to the changes of the world, of our times, and of the historic trajectory.
Through these ten years, the common values of humanity — peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom — have taken deeper roots in the heart of the people. An open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world with lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity has become the shared aspiration of more and more countries. The international community has recognized that no country is superior to others, no model of governance is universal, and no single country should dictate the international order. The common interest of all humankind is in a world that is united and peaceful, rather than divided and volatile.
Since last year, there has been an all-round escalation of the Ukraine crisis. China has all along upheld an objective and impartial position based on the merits of the issue, and actively promoted peace talks. I have put forth several proposals, i.e., observing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect of the legitimate security concerns of all countries, supporting all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, and ensuring the stability of global industrial and supply chains. They have become China’s fundamental principles for addressing the Ukraine crisis.
Not long ago, we released China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, which takes into account the legitimate concerns of all parties and reflects the broadest common understanding of the international community on the crisis. It has been constructive in mitigating the spillovers of the crisis and facilitating its political settlement. There is no simple solution to a complex issue. We believe that as long as all parties embrace the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and pursue equal-footed, rational and results-oriented dialogue and consultation, they will find a reasonable way to resolve the crisis as well as a broad path toward a world of lasting peace and common security.
To run the world’s affairs well, one must first and foremost run its own affairs well. The Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, are striving in unity to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization. Chinese modernization is characterized by the following features: it is the modernization of a huge population, the modernization of common prosperity for all, the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement, the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, and the modernization of peaceful development. These distinctive Chinese features are the crystallization of our practices and explorations over the years, and reflect our profound understanding of international experience. Going forward, we will steadfastly advance the cause of Chinese modernization, strive to realize high-quality development, and expand high-standard opening up. I believe that this will bring new development opportunities to Russia and all countries in the world.
Just as every new year starts with spring, every success starts with actions. We have every reason to expect that China and Russia, as fellow travelers on the journey of development and rejuvenation, will make new and greater contributions to human advancement.
Be the Rufus
It was January in Toronto. I was in the grocery store with my then four-year-old son. We were chatting, teasing each other while going through aisles with giggles and smiles. There was a young mother shopping with her little boy who was about the same age as mine. So naturally we noticed each other and made some exchanges when bumping into one another from aisle to aisle. I overheard her denying a lot of stuff that her son wanted to buy by saying, “Sorry, Mommy didn’t budget for this.” Or “We don’t have money for that.” The little boy wasn’t asking for anything absurd. He was asking for fruits, yogurts, goldfish crackers and so on. So the boy would still put his choices in the shopping cart regardless of how much his mom said she wouldn’t buy them.
So we finished shopping around the same time and ended up at the same cashier, her in front of me. She started leaving out the items her son put in without permission. So the boy protested and then turned into a meltdown. The mother was tired, frustrated and clearly at the end of her rope when her debit card got declined. She started putting back more and more necessities like bread, milk, cheese and eggs. Then she apologized to the cashier after the last decline and wanted to dash out of the store due to embarrassment. But the little boy wouldn’t leave without a fight. So over the whole course of the mother trying to reason with the little boy, I pieced together the story. She is a single mom living with her handicapped mom. Her ex hasn’t paid child support, and she had to pay a psychiatrist’s bill — for her older son — which wasn’t fully covered by insurance. She works two jobs and was in a rush to get the shopping done so she can return home, drop off the kids at the babysitter and then go to work. And they are missing the bus because the little boy cried too long. So while she was taking care of the situation, I gestured to the cashier to ring through all her items and her little boy’s, grabbed a bunch of chocolate bars and added in and paid it quickly. I then gave her a lift to her place. (Thank God I had an extra booster seat for my nephew.) We chatted along the way and got to know each other a bit more. She insisted on asking for my phone number so she could repay me. When she called me a couple of days later, I casually asked if she was up for an office job. One thing led to another. She has been working here for five years now, and she is continuing with her post-secondary diploma through my company’s education assistance program. Her mom is working for us too as a part-time office administrator. I have received the most genuine friendship from her and her family since, which I am totally grateful for and didn’t expect, when I used my card five years ago. I often think back to the day we met and feel lucky that I had the opportunity to know her and have this wonderful experience.