When I was in second grade or so, my family went to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.
This was one of those many, many trips that my parents would make to expose us kids to science, history and technology. And of course, we loved those outings.
Good going… kudos to my parents.
Once we visited, my dad would sometimes buy us a little trinket from the store there. Overly priced, of course, but a fun activity.
A little treasure for a boy full of wonder and amazement.
On one visit, my father bought me this miniature skull. It was about the size of a golf ball, and I loved it. It looked sort of like this, only made out of porcelain.
I was holding and caressing it. I really liked that little trinket. It was my tiny treasure.
My Tiny Treasure.
It really was. As a young boy… it was my momentary everything.
So… as the story goes, afterwards we went to visit my paternal grandparents in Polish Hill; a suburb of Pittsburgh.
And there, still holding my miniature skull we hung out on the porch. My grandmother had a glider (a couch on a metal frame that would slide back and forth like a rocking chair).
It was a pleasant time.
Us kids drank sodas …
…and our parents drank either coffee or beer.
Ah. It was a typical 1960’s Sunday.
Music was playing from the kitchen radio; KDKA and the Nancy Sinatra song “Those boots were made for walkin'” was playing followed by “Up up and away in my beautiful balloon”.
And we were a chillin’.
My grandparents porch was built on the side of a hill as most houses inside of Pittsburgh, and it was a four or five floor drop to the ground. That’s just the way Pittsburgh was. Homes on the side of hills.
You enter the house from the street. Then as you walked to the back of the house, you met the porch that was five stories high.
So we had a nice video of the steel mills in the background.
Ah. Such memories.
So my dad is holding my kid sister. She was maybe two years old at the time. And he says to me. “Hey let your little sister look at your skull.”
I said no.
“No. She is too little and I am afraid that she will drop it on the floor.”
It was my little prize and joy.
And he said “You are her big brother; you are the oldest son. You must do this. Be a man.”
So I reluctantly and tepidly handed it over to him, and he placed it in her tiny hands.
She looked at it. Tried to eat it…
One second later…
She tosses it high up the air off the porch… she threw it, actually…
And time froze.
I watched in slow motion. Slow motion…
Slooooow motion….
Slow motion… as the skull flew up high and then fell five stories to the sidewalk below.
Crash!
Broken nothing.
Beyond hope of repair. Inside was a fragment of a Chinese newspaper.
And my dad said to me; “Don’t worry next time, you can get another“.
But, you know, there wasn’t a next time.
PERIOD.
…
Today…
FULL DISCLAIMER! This Question came from Stephen Colbert. If you were going to describe the rest of your life in five words, what would they be?
Choices mine. Consequences inevitable. Accepted.
The Coronation Of Harris
The Democrats are hailing themselves for the successful coup (archived) they had launched against President Joe Biden. When their new candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, took part in the primaries she did not get one delegate. In this years primaries Joe Biden had won a majority.
He was removed un-cerimoniously because a few billionaire donors and some party bosses in the backroom thought he might lose the election.
All that leaves no doubt about how democratic the Democrats really are.
I doubt that Harris has better chances to win than Biden. The few times I have heard her talking she did could not formulate anything of substance. My impression is that she is an empty vessel, a shell with nothing in there. Her campaign website has no link of reference to any of her policies. She seems to have no program.
Why then would anyone vote for her?
Her current promotion in Dem friendly media will not hold up during the whole campaign.
The elections are Donald Trump’s to lose. He should again promote policies which will help the lower income strata. Cheaper health care, a higher minimum wage and other such policies will win votes. Promoting crypto, because some donor PAC will pay for it, does not. Ending wars is popular. Launching new ones isn’t.
Running proudly and loudly on a few of the popular things should be enough for Trump to win.
“It’s Getting WORSE And WORSE…” – Richard Wolff
What are some ugly truths of life?
- If you made $100,000 a day since the birth of Christ. Bill Gates would still have more money than you.
- Every disaster movie begins with a scientist being ignored.
- Our brains remember that we forgot something but can’t remember what that thing was.
- We have gotten so used to everyone being rude, that kindness is suspicious.
- We live in a weird generation where robots are named Alexa and kids are named X Æ A-12.
- Somewhere in this world, there are English teachers out there waiting for schools to reopen so they can give students an essay topic “How I spent my lockdown”.
- Breaking up is like deleting a game you spent lots of time, progress, and money on.
- The quote ” Life is short ” sometimes encourages people to do things that might actually make their lives shorter.
- Money may not make you happy, but it sure as hell removes all the extra stress that comes with being broke while unhappy.
- The people who have the most screwed up lives often give the best advice.
- Society hates a lazy person until that lazy person becomes so lazy that they discover a very efficient way to do something.
- The economy is on the verge of collapsing because people are only buying what they need.
- When asked “where do you see yourself in 2 years”, everybody in 2018 probably got the answer wrong.
- If your New Years Resolution was to eat out less, you’re killing it.
- The hospital you were born in is the only room you exit without actually entering.
- If age taught me one thing it is: Days are long, years are short.
- A woman is only as loyal as her options. She will leave as soon as a “better” opportunity comes along. Rooted deep in materialism, a woman’s love can be stolen & her loyalty bought. Her love is always on sale, her loyalty always sold out.
- Man go into family courts to enforce their rights to parent their kid(s). They only leave as a visitor & a paycheck.
- When a woman doesn’t want to raise a child, it’s called a CHOICE, hence the saying “my body, my choice”. When a man doesn’t want to raise a child it’s called a CRIME, no one ever considers it’s “his money, his choice”. He’s called a DEADBEAT & the government will force him to pay CHILD SUPPORT or go to JAIL.
- Some people want diamond ring, Some just want Burger King.
Have you ever walked out of a car dealership just before signing a final purchase contract? What happened?
My mother wanted to buy a trustworthy, used car to run errands and to get to work.
She found one, saying that the sales staff was very helpful and kind (I remember thinking, “I bet.”), but she wanted me to go with her before she signed anything.
On our way there, she chattered on and on about how great they were; she knew their names and even some personal stuff.
Doug, my mother’s salesman, greeted us with a tad too much boyish enthusiasm (he was probably in his 40’s) and was flirtatious with both of us.
I was born and raised in a small Texas city and knew a lot about ‘good ol’ boy’ mentality. I expected it from Doug, and sadly, I was not wrong.
When I began asking relevant questions about previous owners/accidents/maintenance, Doug’s eyes narrowed and a quick frown passed over his face. Then he turned into a condescending axxhxxx.
His mannerisms, tone and ‘soothing’ voice reflected his belief that we mere ‘lil ladies’ shouldn’t trouble ourselves with such things.
When I asked about payment options and interest, I saw another look of annoyance, and obviously without thinking, he said, “You really won’t understand, so I ‘ll pick the best for you.”
I stared at him for a moment, then took my mother’s arm and walked out.
I heard him ask to no one in particular, “What did I say?”
His younger colleague responded with, “Doug, you insulted them.”
My mother was very happy with the car we bought right across the street from Doug’s workplace.
What are the differences between the Chinese government and western style governments? What are the reasons for these differences and what are the consequences of each system?
This is a really good question, and I’m also very interested in this topic.
I’ve never understood why the West practices a one-person-one-vote system. In my view, this system has serious risks.
If we were building a complex bridge or launching a rocket, would we decide how to do it by voting?
Obviously not.
But why is it that governing a country, a project thousands of times more complex than launching a rocket, can be decided by one person one vote?
It’s absurd.
Chinese tradition respects the elderly and scholars, believing that they possess wisdom.
I consider myself a scholar and an elder. I firmly believe that China absolutely should not adopt a one-person-one-vote system; it would be a disaster for both China and the world.
A huge disaster.
You should be well aware that a captain must have absolute authority. Deciding the course by a vote? That would be a tragedy.
This topic is very sensitive.
I’m not anti-democracy, nor am I discriminating against any ethnicity, and certainly not against young people or those with lower education levels.
What I’m trying to say is that this is an engineering issue. Governing a large country, especially one with 1.4 billion people, is extremely difficult.
Take the UK’s high-speed rail project as an example. They spent 20 years debating, spent several times more money than China did on its longest high-speed rail from Beijing to Shanghai, and in the end, only built a few dozen kilometers…
It was certainly democratic. But the efficiency was completely lost.
My daughter asked me today: “Dad, why is Great Britain now a third-rate country?” I replied: “Please show basic respect for Great Britain—it has become a second-rate country mainly because of its small population and small size—and its extremely inefficient democratic politics.”
This question is too difficult to answer. I wrote thousands of words, but deleted them all in the end because it didn’t express my true opinion – it was too politically incorrect.
Wife Of 7 Years Opened Our Marriage Without My Knowledge, Has BREAKDOWN When I Toss Her + Suitcase..
Two parts. This is the first, and the second is at the bottom of this post.
Today’s MM AI generations
Why doesn’t the West face up to China, but uses public opinion to smear China?
Because the west is all about supporting a single narrative at all costs, not about the truth.
Here are the main points of the western narrative:
- Human progress has always been defined by Judeo-Christian values, which have evolved into western values. This should continue into the future.
- Any civilization or culture which proposes an alternative is a threat which is unacceptable and must be defeated.
- Only alliances under western leadership are acceptable; everything else is a threat.
- Multipolarity is a threat to western leadership which must be challenged at all costs.
The fact is that the west has only 15% of the world’s population and the U.S. has only 5%, but the U.S. consumes 20% of the world’s production.
The U.S. is in a privileged position which it wants to keep, but it no longer has the industrial power because it outsourced it to China.
But it cannot admit it did this by itself; that would be an embarrassing admission of stupidity, and would show that Wall Street determines policy, not the American people.
So the western media becomes the tool to convince the American people that China did all this, and that China is evil.
Not western businesses and policymakers.
What tourist nationality do you dread seeing in your country the most (arrogant, rude, pretentious, stingy)?
I live in Bolivia. Cheapest country in Latin America (or at least is used to be) for tourists.
Israeli tourists are generally considered the worst.
Entitled, dirty, superiority complex, rude, stingy…
I met an Israeli girl, who was actually quite nice and to a tee the opposite of the stereotype, who explained the why and how of such behaviour.
Turns out that the mayority of these tourists, who almost always travel in packs, are young people who have just finished their military service in the border regions. They are full of adrenaline and “piss and vinegar” and are basically EXPECTED to go travel for a year after their military service to get rid of the “bad vibes”. In truth, these people just long to get home after a very stressful 2 years, but social pressure obliges them to go “travel”.
And then you get the following situations:
littering and vandalism amd general disrespect. Hotelrooms left dirty and vandalized, towels stolen and sheets smeared with excrement…
haggling over every little thing. E.g. in Rurrenabaque you have moto-taxi, and it costs about 20 Eurocents a voyage (2 Bolivianos). So, 1 rider, 1 passenger. Nevertheless I saw Israelis that insisted THREE passengers would fit on that bike. It is indeed not unusual to see a whole family of 4 on 1 motorbike, but come on! This is a TAXI, trying to make a living! 20 Eurocents /USD cents is not the end of the world if you are showing off your North Face gear and expensive digital cameras! Then they expected a private room with private bathroom for the price of a bed in a dorm etc etc.
Males harass the female population but are prone to physical violence if you even dare to look at a girl in their group.
Bsaically, if you have Israeli customers, they end up costing you more money than you can earn off them. Not a good business plan.
I worked in a hotel in Rurrenabacque, I saw all this with my own eyes. Of course, there ARE nice people and not all Israelis are POS, but those “gangs” of young Israeli tourists are just the worst.
China Just Struck A Major Hit On Europe, And Things Are About To Get Real!
Why did you become pro-China?
Despite being attacked and labeled incessantly as wumao and commie lapdog, I don’t consider myself pro-china.
I am first and foremost pro-singapore. This is where I was born, and I fully intend to die here, an island I have sworn to defend.
I live right in the middle of the Anglophone echo chamber. Singaporeans are plugged directly into the mainstream news circuit as English speakers.
It is not an exaggeration I am surrounded by brethren who have been conditioned by decades of negativity fed by the news circuit.
You may not like China and the mainland Chinese. Trust me when I say I understand. My wife insists on banning Huawei phones from the home because these devices “send data back to China”.
And that is why I carry a Samsung. Guys who are married quickly learn the meaning of “no end to it”. The tomorrow threatened never fails to arrive.
So why am I writing about China?
Hate China all you want. But hate China and the Chinese for the right reasons.
Otherwise, mindless hate will only exacerbate the risk of war, as public consensus of China as THE enemy and THE threat solidifies.
The greatest arms race of the 21st century is brewing at our doorstep in East Asia. Hundreds of billions in strategic weapon systems and trillions in defense spending. Meanwhile, an economic war is intensifying, threatening to blow up the livelihoods of billions in East Asia.
It is pertinent to inform east Asia that the health of China is central to peace and prosperity of the region. China isn’t an abstract concept or a faraway land, because decisions in Beijing are intimately entwined with our livelihoods.
I continue to speak out against the demonization of China and the Chinese, because the real threat is the hegemony of the United States. But there must first be awareness and understanding of who the Chinese are, what they are facing, and why they are not bowing to hegemony.
My time on quora is but a token effort.
I very much want my daughter to inherit a peaceful tomorrow, one where the color of her skin does not condemn to a lifetime of discrimination meant only for yellow people.
Hank Discovers Gus’s Meth Operation | Breaking Bad (Dean Norris)
What is the basis for the belief that China could defeat the United States in a military conflict?
Firstly, do not count on it. The United States could very well be victorious when fighting Russia, plus China, plus Iran, plus North Korea.
You never know.
Ah. The neocons believe so. And you just gotta believe them. For after all they have first-class seating waiting for them in Heaven.
But most [1] serious students of modern combat, who are also [2] aware of Chinese history, and who have [3] also been to modern contemporaneous China, pretty much everyone is in perfect harmony and complete agreement that China would emerge the victor.
Not just the experienced “people in the know”, but also American military think tanks. Such as RAND, and the Naval War College. In all cases, they advise NOT to engage China in a hot war.
So it is a unanimous consensus or shared agreement among all that China would be the victor in a hot conflict.
But…
There are a number of rising tides of dispute to these assertions.
The first are the rabid neocon cabal; who are religious zealots (for the most part) and who have an unwavering belief in “American exceptionalism”. This belief is that all one needs is “faith” and “unwavering belief” that Jesus (the Lord and Savior) has blessed the United States, and being so blessed; is immune from ever being destroyed. They control most of Washington DC “Deep State”. They believe, in their hearts, that the United States is immune from harm.
The Second is a propaganda feed-back loop. The neocons have made arrangements to fund an anti-China narrative in all English and American (and proxy) publications. This has been active since 2008, and has changed English-speaking public opinion against China. This is a negative feed-back loop as those decision makers inside of the Washington Beltway believe their own lies.
Since these two groups control the vast bulk of the decisions being made in Washington DC, we all (in unison) watch in horror as the United States places it’s various efforts in prepared positions for an assault upon China.
…
Well…
Are the neocons right, or are the military think tanks right?
They both see China, and I like to believe that they study China, yet they both come with completely different conclusions. Which is really a “head scratcher”. Don’t you think?
That’s a good question, and perhaps the actual issue behind this question.
Let’s spend some time learning about China from a military perspective.
HISTORY
It is well established that China has a solid 6000 years of the people identifying themselves as Chinese. It is also well known that this is only what we can read. China goes back much further than that. Latest archaeological discoveries place populated cities back to 200,000 years ago. And during all those years, do you know what China was doing?
They were fighting.
China has the oldest known civilization, and the oldest civilization with near continuous fighting. The Chinese know war. In all of it’s various forms. And when the archeologists started digging in the 200,000 year old Chinese settlement, do you know what they found?
Evidence of large scale war.
In fact, the Chinese were perfecting large-scale military battle involving thousands of men and horse, along with coordinated attacks when the earliest proto-Europeans were hiding in caves, and running from Neanderthals.
And when Robert Greene wrote his massive tome: The 33 Strategies of War, he used example after example of techniques that the Chinese have perfected over the many centuries of fighting.
MILITARY SOCIETY
Because of the massive span of time of fighting, the Chinese have evolved into a rugged and capable people. And with the torrent of endless wars, they developed a society of survival. This, of course, evolved into various forms of discipline and martial training; the Chinese people have created a Chinese-version of ancient Sparta.
GENGHIS KHAN
When Genghis Khan moved out of the Mongolian lowlands, his first order of business was to fight the Chinese. And it took years. For after all, the “Great Wall of China” was built specifically to keep out the Golden Horde from China.
But, you know, eventually, the great Khan captured China and integrated it into his kingdom. And from that moment on, the Chinese assimilated the Mongols. Resistance was futile. And so, while the European history books tell of the fierce Golden Horde seizing most of Asia, what they minimize was the fantastical role that the Chinese sappers played in the destruction of all the Middle Eastern, and European cities. These cities were not destroyed by Genghis Khans horseback riders, but by Chinese engineers, sappers and assault troops.
As you can see by the map below (at 1300 a.d.) the Chinese Empire and the Mongol Empire was one and the same.
China is the red outline, with the Mongol Empire in purple.
Today, the discipline handed down from generation after generation of Chinese follows a direct lineage to the bloodline of the Genghis Khan Golden Horde. As does the contemporaneous Russian living in Asia.
MODERN MILITARY EQUIPMENT
One of the great anti-China propagandized narratives is that China uses conscripts, out of date; hand-me-down weapons from the former Soviet Union, and is devoid of “real” leadership. This narrative is repeated with great gusto and passion in Conservative publications throughout the West.
But it’s all a big lie.
China was a peer competitor with the United States and it’s proxies in 1950. Since then, it has focused its efforts and redoubled down on creating the most dangerous, lethal and strongest military in the world. And it has been successful.
China today is Peer-level with Russia, and above-peer with the United States.
In fact, China has entire arrays of weapons systems that are absolutely unheard of outside of Asia. They have developed simple, rugged and easy to manufacture systems all domestically made. From the top-line stealth fighters (J-20) and stealth bombers to the (*hush top secret*) Tic-Tak UFO craft that enjoys zipping around American Aircraft carrier battle groups.
China has drone aircraft carriers, search-and-detonate hand grenades, sonic, and laser cannons, terminator robots that fly into the battle field, swarms of robot sharks and a wide selection of nuclear based munitions.
I have written numerous posts on these very interesting weapons systems, but there seems to be a cabal of folk that don’t want to hear anything about Chinese military. They just want to believe that they are just poorly educated peasants with old SKS rifles.
CO-TRAINING WITH RUSSIA
Russia is obtaining some terrific experience in the battlefield in Ukraine. And this experience has caused them to update their battle and combat doctrines. And do you know who they share this information with?
They share and train with the Chinese PLA.
Everything that the Russians learn is shared immediately in real time with China.
WROTE THE BOOKS ON FIGHTING
The vast majority of text and books on how to fight wars, strategies, and techniques are all Chinese. And the way that they are written are timeless. You can follow then whether you are an archer, or a battle tank commander. China KNOWS how to fight wars.
In the realm of strategy and war, ancient Chinese literature is rich with timeless wisdom and insights that continue to inspire scholars and military minds to this day. Here are ten notable Chinese books on strategy and warfare that have left a lasting impact:
1. “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu – A classic treatise on military strategy, tactics, and leadership.
2. “The Thirty-Six Stratagems” – A collection of ancient Chinese strategies and tactics for use in warfare and business.
3. “The Book of Five Rings” by Miyamoto Musashi – Though Japanese, this book offers profound insights on strategy and martial arts.
4. “The Water Margin” (also known as “Outlaws of the Marsh”) – A classic Chinese novel that includes themes of strategy and military tactics.
5. “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” – A historical novel that offers insights into military strategy and political intrigue during the Three Kingdoms period.
6. “The Book of Lord Shang” – A work on statecraft and governance that delves into strategies for maintaining power and order.
7. “The Tao of War” by Wang Chen – A military treatise that combines Taoist philosophy with strategic principles.
8. “The Way of the General” by Ts’ao Kung – A guide on military strategy and leadership.
9. “The Spring and Autumn Annals” – A historical text that includes accounts of military strategies employed during the Spring and Autumn period.
10. “The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China” – A collection of seven influential Chinese military texts that cover various aspects of strategy, tactics, and leadership.
These works offer a glimpse into the profound wisdom and strategic thinking of ancient Chinese military thought, providing valuable lessons that continue to resonate in the modern world.
LARGEST MILITARY
Oh, I forgot. China has the largest military in the world. Not only in manpower, but in combat trained troops. In auxiliary troops. In reservists. And in homeland defense. It is so huge that if you took the entire militaries of the West all together, China’s military still dwarfs them in numbers, training and size.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
One of the Achilles Heels of China has been (historically) to rely on sea shipping for it’s raw materials, foodstuffs, and advanced technology. But that is a relic of the past.
China trades with all of it’s neighbors; including Russia and wants for nothing. All the ocean routes around the world can be blocked and China will still survive because of all the land routes, rail connections, road connections that it has forged over the last two decades.
To think that China can be blockaded is a childish fantasy made by ideological fanatic infants with zero intelligence and pumped with (can only be described as) pure and simple stupidity.
WAR CHEST
To conduct a war, you need something called a “war chest”.
A “war chest” refers to a reserve of funds or resources set aside for use in times of conflict or emergency, particularly in the context of military operations or strategic planning. This term is often used figuratively to describe a stockpile of money, supplies, or assets that can be deployed to support a particular cause, campaign, or endeavor, much like a chest filled with provisions for battle. In a broader sense, a “war chest” can also symbolize preparedness, resilience, and strategic foresight in facing challenges or pursuing objectives.
Since the 1970’s the United States has relied on debt to finance it’s wars. This is directly tied to the demise of the USD and increased internal inflation.
China doesn’t have this problem. And is fully able to light long-duration wars with anyone and not have any significant changes to it’s domestic population.
LARGEST NAVY
China has the largest Navy in the world, and they operate modern cutting-edge vessels. These vessels are equipped with sonic and rail gun technologies and are very formidable. Additionally, they are concentrated along the Chinese borders. They are not spread around the world like the United States Navy is.
LOGISTICS
The Chinese military is designed (primarily) as a defensive organization. They are not designed for “force projection”. As China does not invade anyone. This is contrary to the American Western narrative of the “evil communists gobbling up and invading everyone”. They simply do not have anything near the invasion fleets, and systems that the United States has.
All this talk about a “Taiwan Invasion” is simply just bullshit and bluster. China does not have that ability. It cannot land a huge contingent of people on islands. Oh sure, it has one or two simple Naval Vessels, but is nowhere near the capacity to invade anyone.
That being said, because of this, to fight China is to fight in and around China. And that means, to so so in China’s “backyard”. A nation that has spent the last 500 years building underground bunkers and defensive parameters is not going to allow anyone to fuck with them. Every parking garage has blast doors and reinforced concrete walls. Every region and town has built-in CNC centers. Every comm link is redundant.
Oh, and China is a nation armed with a “zillion” missiles.
All sizes, types and shapes. Even the elementary school Children train with the missiles, the drones and basic combat skills.
If you go anywhere near it with hostile intent, you will be erased like God’s own hand. China will cleanse the land and it will become pristine; primeval.
Blessed emptiness and void for the world to see.
CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY
China and Russia operate “cutting edge” technology. Most of their military technology is so advanced that the United States won’t be able to field comparable systems for decades. This includes the hypersonic missiles, but much, much more. From the novel 055 vessels to the latest hand cannons, the technology is unmatched outside of Asia.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Everyone in China gets formalized military training. It starts in first grade, and continues year after year. Formal “boot camp” is traditionally held during Middle School, and then another placement later on in their educational career.
This is handled regionally; some like Guanxi provide “American SEAL” level training starting at Kindergarten. While others such as Shanghai concentrate on discipline, marching, and tasks such as bed making, and small squad level tactics.
This is a recent development. This became the norm after 2013, and was fully implemented nationally by 2016.
Short video. Worth you time to watch all three minutes.
ALLIED WITH RUSSIA
Oh, and to fight China is to fight Russia.
Russia and China are “joined at the hip”. They are a complete unified block. You cannot isolate China. China and Russia act as a unified team together. This is a formalized reality. One that was publicly announced in 2022.
NUCLEAR ARMED
China has nuclear weapons.
The idea that China only has 400 nuclear warheads is a propagandized narrative that has ZERO basis on reality. When you read the “studies” on this, look at their assumptions. “China doesn’t have the manufacturing capability.” Or, “China doesn’t know how to… and would take decades to…”. These “white papers” are a living and true example of “wishful thinking” that I have ever seen.
More accurate counts are somewhere between 4000 to 5000 nuclear warheads.
Oh, and they employ neutron-enhanced weaponry on the tactical scale. Erase the population, then move in the city.
Oh, and they do not employ “surgical strikes”. As far as nuclear weapons are concerned, they believe in “Shotgun nukes”. Which is to lace and bombard a target with ten nuclear weapons for a much wider dispersal and greater damage.
MANUFACTURER FOR THE WORLD
Finally, to fight China is to empty all the store shelves in the world.
No more aspirin, toilet paper, toothpaste. No more cell phones, spare parts for cars.
Consumer-based societies (of which the United States is one of the largest) will collapse. Thus to fight China is to have your entire internal domestic society implode.
…
Now, the neocons say that “facts do not matter”. Their faith in the divine blessings from God and that Jesus will protect the United States is unwavering. Therefore, they are pressing and planning and setting up conditions to attack China.
One excuse after the other.
But let me tell you, that when that day happens, it will be like a light switch. 0 to 1000 in 0.1 seconds. China will go from peace into “slaughter everyone on sight” mode.
War is not a game, and idiots should not be placed in charge of governing anything. Every effort should be devoted for peaceful resolutions of conflict.
But you know…
… there’s no arguing with lunatics. And sometimes the only thing that you can do with a Mad Dog is to put him down.
Wider Middle East War and US Imperial Decline
Cheesy meatballs
Cheesy Meatballs are juicy and tender, simmered in a rustic homemade tomato sauce. Topped with melted mozzarella cheese and serve over spaghetti for a delicious dinner!
The best meatball recipe starts with the most tender meatballs, browned in a hot skillet to seal in the juices and get crispy, golden edges. Soaking up rustic tomato sauce flavours underneath a golden blanket of melted mozzarella cheese, Cheesy Meatballs is an easy dinner recipe that will be a hit with your family!
MEATBALL RECIPE
Dry meatballs are a thing of the past with our recipe. While most nonna’s hold a secret to get the perfect meatballs, some people just can’t seem to get it right. Cooking dry meatballs that are often times flavourless and hard to swallow, I agree with most in that meatballs can be hard to master. It’s easier to buy cooked meatballs in throw them in a sauce.
Even though it can be hard to get the texture and taste right out of a humble meatball, I’m here to tell you it’s super easy. All you need is the right meatball recipe!
We have a trick up our apron sleeves (or straps), that make these meatballs so moist and juicy and absolutely the best meatballs we’ve ever eaten. You will love our cheesy meatballs!
HOW TO MAKE MEATBALLS
It all starts with your meat mixture. There are two key elements crucial to a good meatball recipe:
- Texture
- Flavour
Without these two details, meatballs are bland, dry and not worth the effort that goes into making them.
Bread soaked in milk instead of dry breadcrumbs is the secret to getting juicy, moist meatballs every single time. The same method we use for our Meatloaf recipe.
Meatballs also need to be well-seasoned. We use salt and a crushed bouillon cube to get the flavours going, as well as aromatics like onion and garlic.
Herbs are just as important to get those classic Italian flavours in each bite. Our recipe calls for fresh parsley and dried oregano and basil, purely taking seasonal availability into account. Feel free to mix it up with your own favourite combination. Mint, tarragon, thyme or marjoram, plus a pinch or two of nutmeg adds a subtle flavour. You decide.
Eggs are also added to bind the meat, bread and parmesan together, making them light and spongy.
HOMEMADE MEATBALLS
The next step to incredibly tender meatballs is mixing your meat mixture until the ingredients are just incorporated, with your hands. Use gloves if you have an aversion to touching raw meat, or mix lightly a wooden spoon. Full pieces of ground meat should still be visible.
Roll your meatballs with lightly oiled hands to prevent the meat from sticking to your fingers, while adding a little extra moisture into each meatball. Then place each meatball onto a lined plate or baking sheet. This just helps keep your kitchen stay clean without creating too much of a mess, and prevents your balls from rolling all over your bench top.
HOW TO COOK MEATBALLS
If there’s one thing my father passed down to me from the Italian side of his family, it’s never to poach or boil beef. There’s nothing like the aromas and flavours of meat hitting a hot skillet or pan. Sizzling first to get a perfect browned crust before adding in sauce. You won’t be cooking them all the way through in this step.
Space the meatballs out evenly into your skillet or pan by cooking in batches of three, instead of throwing them all in the pan together. This avoids the meat poaching or simmering in its own juices.
Rustic, homemade meatballs are never perfectly rounded, especially when seared first. Don’t worry if they begin to flatten in the pan. The blanket of melted cheese will cover them.
MEATBALL SAUCE
Our sauce recipe is easy, starting with onion and garlic to get those aromatics in. Tomato sauce, puree or passata is simmered with tomato paste, herbs, chili flakes (if using), salt and pepper. Add a pinch of sugar to cut through some of the bitterness, or use ¼ teaspoon of aluminium free baking soda to help neutralise the acid.
It’s really hard to overcook meatballs in your sauce, since they’re simmering in liquid. Braise them for about 15-20 minutes, turning the meatballs in the sauce to get those flavours absorbing evenly into the meat while simmering. I also suggest stirring the sauce to prevent it from burning on the bottom.
Top with cheese and finish them off under the broiler in your oven.
If you don’t have a broiler, continue simmering them until he cheese has melted.
There you have it! Cheesy meatballs!
Be the Rufus
75-year-old Leonard Bullock and his wife Dorothy have lived across the street from a railroad yard in Pendleton, Oregon since 1982. And over the years, they haven’t always had the money to maintain their house.
A railway worker named Josh Cyganik has waved to Leonard on his porch almost every day for the last four years, but never actually talked to him until last month, after he heard two teenagers making FUN of the place.
They were joking that it looked so bad, someone should just burn it down. And Josh knew Leonard heard them too, when he saw the look on his face.
So a few days later, he asked Leonard if he and some friends could repaint the place for him, and got a hardware store to donate supplies. Then he posted about it on Facebook, and more than a HUNDRED PEOPLE showed up that Saturday to help.
They painted the house . . . fixed up the porch . . . made it wheelchair accessible . . . and bought everything they need to replace the ROOF, which is still in the works.
Josh says one of his friends drove by around 10:00 P.M. that night, and Leonard and Dorothy were both still out on the porch smiling.
Pepe Escobar: Putin’s DEVASTATING Kursk Trap SHOCKS NATO & Ukraine, WWIII Next?
What did the Germans do with all of the bombers that were shot down over Germany during World War II?
During World War II, Germany faced a significant challenge in dealing with the large number of bombers that were shot down over its territory. These downed aircraft posed various logistical and strategic concerns for the German forces. So, what did they do with all those bombers? Let’s dive into it.
Firstly, the fate of each individual bomber largely depended on the circumstances of its crash and the condition of the aircraft. In some cases, German authorities would salvage as much usable material as possible from the wreckage. This included parts such as engines, instruments, and weaponry. These salvaged components were then utilized for repairing damaged German aircraft or for manufacturing new ones. The German aviation industry faced numerous resource constraints during the war, so repurposing parts from downed bombers helped alleviate some of these challenges.
However, not all downed bombers were salvageable. Some crash sites were too remote or hazardous to carry out extensive salvage operations. In such cases, the Germans would often strip the wreckage of any valuable equipment or intelligence materials and leave the remains to deteriorate over time.
Interestingly, the Germans also used captured bombers for their own purposes. When Allied aircraft were captured intact or in relatively good condition, the Germans would sometimes repurpose them for their own use. These captured planes were often repainted with German insignia and used for various purposes, such as training new pilots or testing new tactics against enemy aircraft.
Additionally, some downed bombers were used as propaganda tools. The Germans would occasionally display the wreckage of shot-down Allied bombers in public areas to showcase their military prowess and boost morale among the civilian population. These displays aimed to convey the message that the German forces were successfully defending their homeland against the enemy.
As the war progressed and Allied bombing raids intensified, the Germans faced an increasingly overwhelming number of downed bombers. This led to the establishment of specialized units responsible for recovering and processing crashed aircraft. These units would systematically document the wreckage, collect any useful equipment or documents, and dispose of the remaining debris.
In some cases, the Germans would recycle the wreckage of downed bombers. The metal from these aircraft was often melted down and repurposed for various military applications, such as constructing new weapons or reinforcing fortifications. This recycling effort aimed to make the most efficient use of available resources in a war-torn Germany.
UNBELIEVABLE Story About Chinese Police Doing Their Job!
Why can’t officers sit and eat with the enlisted if they’re all on the same team?
AMERICAN ANSWER
There are BIG differences between the services in this, and I mean the cultural gap is huge.
The American Navy descended almost directly from the British Navy and is hugely class-conscious. Officers and enlisted don’t mix. Officers, speak to chiefs and chiefs direct the men. There aren’t just two different messes, there are three — officers, senior enlisted and junior enlisted.
There is a reason for everything that persists. Life is very fragile on a ship—take a nuclear submarine: a wrong move kills everyone aboard. Familiarity breeds contempt. Better to let the Captain remain a godlike figure rather than Fred who likes knitting to relieve stress. A little psychological distance is a good thing.
The Army was heavily influenced by the proto-Germans (Prussians) and the French— a lot more egalitarian than the Navy, but still conscious of rank. We eat together in the field, there is only one mess hall, though we may be at separate tables. There was only one mess hall in Iraq — Generals and Privates ate in the same space.
The Air Force is directly descended from the army, and the least rank conscious part of the army, aviation. Their enlisted are smart, they are technicians, and they keep the planes in the air. The Air Force uniforms are more egalitarian, I do not think there is any problem with an air crew sitting and eating together in the air force.
So I think you need to calibrate your expectations to the service you are discussing.
Have you ever tried to fire someone and it backfired?
I have not. But my company made a three-part blunder that might qualify:
Part one: we had this very senior employee, about 70 years old, who was highly experienced with one customer system that was quite old, but still in use. Since we only needed one person who understood the ancient technology, nobody ever thought to assign someone for him to mentor in case he decided to retire. It wasn’t a major profit center, but the company made a nice bit of coin and kept a big customer happy by maintaining the antique.
He loved working on that old system, and had a fantastic relationship with that customer. He was long-since eligible for pension and didn’t need to work—the job was a paid hobby for him and kept him moving, thinking, and interacting socially. He did his job, caused no problems, was always ready to lend a hand or advice to younger engineers. Which of course was pretty much everybody. But he wasn’t looking to get ahead, get promoted or anything.
Part two: being a large corporation, we had a performance evaluation system that ranked people into four categories, from outstanding to needs improvement. And since there were lots of people, HR & finance took a statistical view which included a specific shape of the “bell curve”: So many people (%) in the top tier, so many in the next tier, etc. This was enforced at the 100-person level of the organization. So if we had a pretty good crew in one area of the business, they’d end up not being allowed to rank some people as high as we thought they deserved, while some other area had people who were actually not quite as good but ranked higher. None of the managers close enough to know the people liked it, but we had to do it. That ranking was the strongest factor in raises and promotions. So by mutual agreement, this amiable, useful old guy was always ranked in the bottom tier, freeing up a better ranking for someone who might otherwise get hosed.
Part three: HR came up with a policy that anyone who’d been ranked in the bottom tier more than a certain number of years in a row, was automatically either demoted (with a pay cut), or laid off. It was the employee’s choice whether they got laid off or demoted but one or the other was going to happen.
You can see where this is going. HR called the guy in—without consulting his management—and offered to let him keep his job by accepting a demotion. As a long time employee, if laid off he was entitled to 6 month’s severance pay (as a lump sum) and could immediately apply for pension payments. So he took the layoff right on the spot. HR hadn’t expected that for some reason and tried to change his mind. Now, another bit of policy was any employee being laid off got walked out directly from HR—management would then be notified to have someone clean out his desk and return personal items. So by lunchtime he was home, retired, applying for pension and thinking how to spend the windfall. It was later in the day before his management found out he was gone. The customer was extremely unhappy. Before management could even begin to decide who would take over the maintenance contract, the customer cancelled it. They explained that the former employee was going to work directly for them as a technical consultant, which meant his hourly rate was nearly tripled—he was getting the “overhead” and profit the company used to get.
He Laced Her Drink & Let The Football Team Run a Train On Her!
Daily Shorpy
Is it legal for a police officer to use a drone to look into someone’s home without a warrant or notification? What are the reasons for this?
I used my high powered, single shot, Ruger Number One (.458 magnum) to take a drone out which was hovering approximately 30 feet above my house, peering into my child’s window while she was getting dressed. She called downstairs and complained. I went outside and with a (very loud) single shot destroyed the drone which fell into my yard.
It wasn’t five minutes later that five police cars showed up and I was arrested for destroying police property. The rifle was confiscated. My daughter was questioned and I . . . went to jail.
Fortunately my daughter knew the law and said absolutely nothing to the police except, “If you want anything from me, you’ll have to provide me with an attorney,” and said nothing else.
My wife just smiled, handed out coffee (nobody took it) and said absolutely nothing. It was a deaf / mute scenario. The police had NO idea how to handle it. They were yelling, threatening, everything – all the while my daughter and wife smiled and said nothing whatsoever.
Eventually I ended up being booked into the county jail. The County District Attorney decided not to file charges. Is spying legal when the police do it?
I’m still trying to get my Ruger back. As a single shot, big-game hunting rifle it’s not quite what people consider to be an assault rifle – but damn, it did a JOB on that drone!
What are the craziest experiments done in the name of science?
Karl P. Schmidt, a renowned American herpetologist, chose to dedicate his final moments to science when faced with death, demonstrating remarkable dedication to his work.
In September 1957, the Lincoln Park Zoo brought a 30-inch snake to the Chicago Natural History Museum, seeking help with its identification. Schmidt, who was highly respected in the field of herpetology and had several species named after him, agreed to examine the snake.
On September 25, Schmidt observed that the snake was African, with bright patterns and a head shape similar to a boomslang—a venomous snake from Sub-Saharan Africa. However, he was unsure if it was a boomslang because the snake’s “anal plate was undivided,” a feature inconsistent with that species.
While examining the snake, Schmidt made a fateful decision. He picked it up for a closer look, but the snake suddenly bit him on the left thumb, leaving two small puncture wounds. Instead of seeking medical help, Schmidt, ever the dedicated scientist, began documenting the effects of the venom in his journal.
- “I took it from Dr. Robert Inger without thinking of any precaution, and it promptly bit me on the fleshy lateral aspect of the first joint of the left thumb,” Karl Schmidt wrote in his journal. “The mouth was widely opened and the bite was made with the rear fangs only, only the right fang entering to its full length of about 3 mm.”
Within 24 hours, he would be dead.
Schmidt may have underestimated the severity of the bite. He took a train home and continued noting his symptoms in detail:
-4:30 – 5:30 PM: Strong nausea, no vomiting. Took a suburban train trip.
– 5:30 – 6:30 PM:Experienced chills, shaking, fever of 101.7°F. Bleeding from the gums began around 5:30.
-8:30 PM: Ate two pieces of milk toast.
– 9:00 PM – 12:20 AM: Slept well. Urinated at 12:20 AM, mostly blood. Drank water at 4:30 AM, followed by violent nausea and vomiting. Felt better and slept until 6:30 AM.
The next morning, Schmidt carried on with his routine, eating breakfast and continuing to document the venom’s effects:
-September 26, 6:30 AM: Ate cereal, poached eggs on toast, applesauce, and coffee for breakfast. Noted continuous bleeding from the mouth and nose, though “not excessively.”
“Excessively” was the last word Schmidt wrote. After lunch, he vomited, called his wife, and soon became unresponsive. Despite attempts to revive him, Schmidt was pronounced dead at 3 PM, the cause being respiratory paralysis.
Boomslang venom is terrifyingly potent; just .0006 milligrams can kill a bird within minutes. The venom causes internal bleeding, leading to a slow and agonizing death. Schmidt’s autopsy revealed that his lungs, eyes, heart, kidneys, and brain were all hemorrhaging.
The Chicago Daily Tribune later revealed that Schmidt had been advised to seek medical help but refused, saying, “No, that would upset the symptoms.” Some say Schmidt’s death was a tragic case of curiosity overcoming caution. Others believe that, knowing the antivenom was only available in Africa, Schmidt simply accepted his fate, continuing his life’s work until the very end.
You be the judge.
PART 2 – Wife Of 7 Years Opened Our Marriage Without My Knowledge, Has BREAKDOWN When I Toss Her…
Two Deaths and a Glowing Plant
Submitted into Contest #247 in response to: Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.… view prompt
Eyza H
This story contains themes or mentions of physical violence, gore, or abuse.
After this, the communication line with Mr. Presnig was cut. From his own words, as well as the autopsy report generated from his suit, we can conclude that Mr. Presnig’s assumptions of being impacted by a certain gas, or gases, had indeed not only caused hallucinations, but also poisoned his blood – he died within a minute of having inhaled the gas. How the gas penetrated his suit is still unknown, as no issues were found with the suit during testing. However, his death was not caused by gas poisoning.
This piece of evidence has been left confidential, and his family were not made aware of it, due to the highly sensitive nature of the issue. Mr. Presnig suffered a slash to his neck which almost entirely separated his head from his body, which was his cause of death. Had this not taken place, he would have indeed died of gas poisoning within 58 seconds. Source or cause of the slash are unknown.
Nick Wrigh
Nick Wrigh was a young and promising technical engineer of 28. He had been a part of several space missions before this, including 12 of exploratory nature. As this mission was deemed low risk, Mr. Wrigh was considered an ideal candidate to join the mission and sharpen his skills for the future. He was joined by his partner of two years, Joan Longwood, who had been on several missions with him before this one as well. Their families reported that the two had planned to get married upon their return, before this tragedy had taken place.
Mr. Wrigh died 13 minutes into his exploratory course, and had only registered 2 logs. However, pieces of his conversation with Ms. Logwood have been recorded, as well as his emergency call, which took place 37 seconds after Mr. Presnig had passed away. His last communication was with Ms. Longwood.
“Log.1. Landed successfully on Planet Y. The planet is beautiful – bare stretches of magenta with brown boulders and rocks, against an electric blue sky. There seem to be some gases layered on the horizon in shades of yellow and grey. Samples of rock and soil have been collected, as well as a piece of what seems to be an unidentified metal.”
“Log. 2. 40 meters from base. The rocks and boulders around me have grown huge – they are almost the size of small houses. They did not appear this large from a distance. If I look back, I cannot see our ship, as I am walking through a narrow path between large rocks covering my view. The rocks themselves are smooth, with sharp edges. I have tried to break a piece but failed, as they are extremely hard and dense.”
Mr. Wrigh did not submit any logs after this. The following pieces of conversation have been recorded between himself and Ms. Longwood 2 minutes before his death.
“J, this place is… the rocks are huge. Are they huge where you are as well?”
“No, it’s all flat here… huh, I don’t remember seeing any rocks that big when we landed.”
“I don’t know when they started getting bigger, but… it’s all I can see around me. They are beautiful, but a little…”
“Hah…Are you scared, Nicky?”
“Come on… anyone would be terrified if they saw massive rocks on an unexplored planet.”
“Just teasing!”
“Joan.”
“…Nick? Is everything alright?”
“Joan, the rocks… are moving.”
“How is that possible Nick? I don’t detect any movement on my radar for several kilometers around.”
“Joan, I swear, I feel like these rocks, they’re… moving in, towards me…”
“Nick, are you… come back. I’ll come back too.”
“J, there’s no path… I can’t see a path back. The rocks, they’ve all moved in!”
“Nick, I’m coming to you right now!”
“NO! Don’t, or you’ll also… Joan! I..”
“Nick? NICK? Can you hear me?”
After that, Mr. Wrigh made a call to the space station. He mentioned the large rocks which had seemed to be moving in to crush him. The personnel responding to him at the time told him to immediately go back to base, fearing his mental faculties had been compromised by the same gas which had poisoned Mr. Kresnig. They did not alert him about what had happened to Mr. Kresnig, thinking it would worsen his mental state. However, around 20 seconds after this communication ended, Mr. Wrigh had passed away, before making it back to base. His last exchange with Ms. Longwood is recorded below.
“Nick, where are you? I don’t see any huge rocks, Nick!”
“Joan… I can’t, I can’t breathe… I’m..”
“NICK! Please… I’m getting closer, I’ll find you!”
“I love you, J. Don’t worry, just..c-count till 15…”
According to the autopsy report, Mr.Wrigh’s cause of death was asphyxiation. However, there were wounds on his arms, chest, back, as well as his head. We do not believe that any “moving rocks” are likely to have crushed him to death, as the wounds would’ve been much more severe. We have ruled out gas poisoning as the autopsy did not indicate any such factor. This leaves the real circumstances surrounding Mr. Wrigh’s death completely uncertain. The only explanation may be that he had fallen somewhere, which had possibly damaged the oxygen tank in his suit, thereby causing his death. The wounds on his body may also be explained through some sort of fall, though not with absolute certainty.
Joan Longwood
Joan Longwood was an extremely gifted and inspiring member of the Space Exploration Association, 27 years of age. She was one of the youngest crew members to venture to space, only at the age of 17. While a technical engineer like Mr. Wrigh, she also had expertise in scientific and geographical aspects of space exploration, making her an apt decision maker in key situations. Had this incident not taken place, Ms. Longwood was on a trajectory to becoming a Captain within the Exploration Department within the next 5 years, having taken part in 24 space expeditions. Her logs are recorded as below:
“Log. 1. Landed successfully on Planet Y. The planet is a vast expanse of dry, pink soil, with a few brown rocks of varying sizes, and a vibrant blue sky. Bands of unidentified gases streak the sky in shades of orange, yellow, grey and white. Land samples have been collected. No metal or water has been detected.”
“Log. 2. 20 meters from base. The terrain has not changed, although there seems to be some change in the bands of gas in the sky. They are slowly disappearing in this direction – although there is no wind to shift them from their place. No explanation found yet for this phenomenon.”
“Log. 3. 30 meters from base. Vegetation has been detected – a small green plant growing on a rock. The plant has the same anatomy as those on Earth from the outside – a stem, some small leaves, and one flowering bud. The flower is an odd mixture of colors – each of its petals are of grey, orange and yellow shades, similar to the bands of gas seen in the sky. Correlation unknown. Collecting sample for analysis.”
After this, Ms. Longwood engaged in communication with Mr. Wrigh as recorded. She began retreating to base, as she had mentioned, upon hearing the distressed words of Mr. Wrigh. She tried to contact Mr. Kresnig after disconnecting with Mr. Wrigh, but was unsuccessful. She did not make any calls to the space station like her crew members. Her final log, before her death at the 15 minute mark, is recorded below:
“Log 4. Communication has failed with Mr. Wrigh and Mr. Kresnig. Their location on the radar is incorrect and keeps shifting. There might be an interference in signals on this planet. Reached the base. The plant has begun to glow. It glows brighter by the second – so bright I cannot look at it. Mr. Kresnig and Mr. Wrigh are dead. Their vital signs disappeared from the ship’s monitor. The plant’s light is surrounding everything. Don’t come here.”
After submitting the final log, Ms. Longwood exercised her right to Code X355D100, which states that an astronaut, under circumstances of certain death, has the right to end their own life through controlled means to avoid excessive and extended suffering. However, this decision is questionable considering that her vitals were healthy till the end, and she did not describe any threats to herself, as the other two crew members had. The glowing plant could be said to be the result of a hallucination, however, there is nothing to indicate there was any sort of hallucinogen in Ms. Longwood’s system at the time of her death. Our only explanation for her decision to execute Code X355D100 is due to extreme fear and trauma from the loss of her crew members, including her partner.
The events surrounding this incident have been kept entirely confidential from the public. The circumstances surrounding the cause of death for each of the crew members of Orchid 367 are inconclusive and uncertain. The next two sections cover an analysis of the possible scenarios which may have caused their deaths in more detail, as well as recommendations for the future to avoid another Incident Y from taking place.
Crescent Ragu Squares
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small jar Ragu spaghetti sauce
- 1 (4 ounce) can mushrooms
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) can Pillsbury refrigerated quick crescent dinner rolls
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In frying pan, brown ground beef; drain.
- Stir in Ragu sauce and mushrooms; simmer while preparing crust.
- Separate crescent dough into 2 long rectangles.
- Place in ungreased 13 x 9 inch pan; press over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust. Seal perforations.
- Spread meat mixture over dough.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is brown.
- Top with cheese and bake until cheese melts.
- Cut into squares to serve.
What do you dislike most about the U.S.?
An Uber driver told me something the other day that made me stop and think.
He came from Ghana 35 years ago to settle in the US.
“What do you think about America after having lived here for so long?” I asked.
“America is the best salesperson in the world. It convinces you that no matter where you are or what you have going on, things will be better here. It makes people all around the world drop what they’re doing and immigrate.”
“And then what?”
“You work your ass off until you die.”
I like talking to people.
Especially immigrants.
They have one leg in their home country and the other here. As a result, they see things that others don’t. They have a unique perspective.
They’ve all come in search of something.
Quality of life. Freedom. Money.
Some find it.
Many don’t.
They all miss the vibrancy of their home countries. Whether from Africa, South America, India, or somewhere else, they miss the colorful festivals, the sacred in the ordinary, the tight-knit family and community, the customs and tradition that make a place singular.
The US is marketed as the land of possibilities.
And for some, it is.
But most—like that Ghanaian driver—end up working very hard for little gain. On top of that, even though it’s a nation of immigrants, it doesn’t do a very good job of making newcomers feel welcome.
More like alienated and unaccepted.
What the immigrants I talk to dislike about the US—and what I tend to agree with—is that it engages in false advertising. It markets itself as the best, most advanced, and bountiful country on the planet.
The greatest.
But in reality, it’s not. I could insert a bunch of statistics here, but a quick Google search will reveal that the US isn’t number one when it comes to a variety of metrics such as tolerance, education, and quality of life.
Far from it.
Like every human being I know, it’s deeply flawed.
Except it won’t admit it.
“So what will you do?” I asked the driver.
“I’m going back to Ghana,” he said.
What is the reason for the high number of Chick-Fil-A restaurants in the US compared to other countries? Is there a specific strategy that sets them apart from other fast food chains?
All Chick-fil-A outlets are basically company owned.
If they used a franchise model, they could expand much faster. But they prefer a slower, paced development. Even it seems like a lot of locations, they have not reached saturation in the US market.
Expanding overseas provides a huge opportunity but also large risks. Developing an efficient supply chain is one of them.
What happens when private investigators get caught spying on somebody? Can they legally go to jail for stalking?
Funny you should ask.
Back in 1989, I had been hired to conduct surveillance on a car salesman in a small town about 150 miles southwest of Chicago. He claimed to be permanently disabled from slipping in wet grass in front of his employer’s location and injuring a leg. It had been more than a year after the initial injury and he hadn’t undergone any surgery, in fact a Chiropractor was allegedly treating the leg and certifying him permanently and totally disabled. The company said BS and suspected he was working elsewhere.
My normal practice was to contact the local constabulary and let them know I was in the neighborhood just in case someone called and reported a suspicious vehicle or person. I did so in this case too.
Nice little neighborhood, nice little houses, some cars parked on the street, too. That makes it easier to try and fit in. I was there well before dawn and parked about 4 houses down and on an intersecting street. Black felt capsule enclosure surrounding me in the back of my Trooper, I prepared the video camera on its secured tripod along with the Konica and long range lens. We were ready to rumble.
At about 8:AM a Sheriff’s department squad car rolled by me slowly, then pulls into my subject’s driveway. Sheriff Billy Joe Watkins gets out, holding two coffee cups from McDonald’s and is met at the door by my subject, who gives me the stink eye. I of course get a couple of good pics.
Half an hour later, Sheriff leaves, gets in the squad, subject steps out onto his front porch and watches as the Sheriff drives up to my vehicle, gets out, bangs on the side of my truck and yells “YOU GOT 5 MINUTES TO GET OUT OF TOWN OR YOU’RE GOING TO JAIL!”
He didn’t have to say it twice. I’m sure he would have found a reason to lock me up, impound my vehicle and make my equipment disappear. And I was 150 miles from home in Yee-Haw County. And the Sheriff was a friend of the subject.
That was the last time I made the courtesy call. Lesson learned.
With so many scam calls originating from India, why doesn’t the Indian government crack down on the people conducting these scams?
Not worth the cost
The Scammers are geniuses in Economics and Finance
They know high value scams can get them roasted in days
For instance if they went after Adani for ₹5000 Crore, they would be caught and hauled up in a week at the most
However the Scammers go for MASS and small numbers
Rather than dupe 1 guy for 10 Million Bucks, they dupe 10,000 guys for 1000 Bucks each
Now take the Police
Even if they slog and slog and somehow manage to arrest the accused
They need the witness statement of 10,000 guys
It takes 2–3 years to bring a case to trial
By this time all the people who lost their money are OK with it and have resigned themselves to their fate
They certainly don’t want to come to court and spend 6–7 hours waiting and maybe get called again and again
Those who do come, get offered 10 times the amount and they end up making VAGUE STATEMENTS that go 180 degrees against the original statements
Ultimately the Scammers get acquitted
Then they start again
Scammers get your account information from Banks through the BPO side
They target customers who won’t be devastated if they lose ₹30–40K
Targets are angry for a few days, a week maybe two and then they shrug it off and go back to their life
Police don’t strike when the iron is hot
They start after 1–2 years by which time the Target has long forgotten the issue
By this time he simply doesn’t want to waste too much time and won’t come to 4–5 sessions with the Prosecution, Cops and hearings before the court
Imagine they are NRIs in US??
They need to pay more for the tickets to come to India
Would you testify for a loss of ₹1 Lakh four years ago by spending ₹5–6?
No right
The Cost Benefit Analysis never works in favor of the Victims or Law enforcement
It’s why Scammers flourish on CARELESS PEOPLE