It’s all about chasing those whales

The purchased technology lacks a crucial aspect, which is the research and development process. This is like a mathematical calculation problem, you know the answer directly, but you don’t know the calculation process.

Taking airplanes as an example, the purchased technology allows you to know how to assemble these components into an airplane. But the seller won’t fully tell you which components of this aircraft are the key load-bearing parts and how much force they can withstand. When you need to modify an aircraft, the seller will not tell you which parts can be replaced and which cannot be replaced outside of the contract. Which spaces inside the aircraft are being inefficiently occupied, which can be optimized and loaded with other devices, the seller will not tell you.

Furthermore, the principles discovered during the research and development process, as well as the parts that can be optimized, can serve as the foundation for new products. However, without the research and development process, new products cannot be incubated. This is like purchasing livestock, buying a bunch of livestock, but they have already been castrated and cannot have offspring anymore. These livestock may be gentler, stronger, and can be used for work or to gain more meat, but they are no longer suitable for breeding the next generation.

The photo below is from the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing, China. The airplane on this sculpture is a fighter jet, codenamed J-12, that has not been put into mass production. Only 5 experimental fighters of this type were produced, this is one of them. It is the crystallization of China’s military aviation technology in the 1960s and 1970s. Although the project was terminated, its research and development enabled the Chinese people to master the application of carbon fiber, titanium alloy and aluminum alloy, understand the material properties and structural parameters, understand how to effectively compress the weight of the aircraft, and understand that the mode of the nose inlet has inevitably fallen behind the times.

Chinese writer Liu Cixin mentioned in his book “Caring for God” why the civilization of God is coming to an end. The reason is that God’s civilization is too advanced and has lost/does not know the ability to manufacture and maintain basic components. Or rather, their technological chain has broken.

From my feed

5ef7c6fb69f6ceee4efbd34cbc98ea58
5ef7c6fb69f6ceee4efbd34cbc98ea58
82107c0b018faa6a202737349cf26b4d
82107c0b018faa6a202737349cf26b4d
7a4498d92d521f5563dbf379e46fe816
7a4498d92d521f5563dbf379e46fe816
9ce1ed3a802ac3c7a49fdbfdd53a51bd
9ce1ed3a802ac3c7a49fdbfdd53a51bd
c312fde1f966de194b686d9a8506fcfe
c312fde1f966de194b686d9a8506fcfe
6f3723de0913ff3ca4cb175163fd84b1
6f3723de0913ff3ca4cb175163fd84b1
3b121045f2eee9de4ea876059fe3910d
3b121045f2eee9de4ea876059fe3910d
cab630b7eec703f79a8345d8ad7d0a3b
cab630b7eec703f79a8345d8ad7d0a3b
47d2b665f813175d4d4ff150a2bacdb3
47d2b665f813175d4d4ff150a2bacdb3
529d66683eb0e9ccb507d0dcfb528c4d
529d66683eb0e9ccb507d0dcfb528c4d
a817be79ed486e9517ba5735ad4dd2be
a817be79ed486e9517ba5735ad4dd2be
b4768e848f16acf69dd6383cbcfeffaa
b4768e848f16acf69dd6383cbcfeffaa
add63de978ca9a69f97c3deac9a6b1a4
add63de978ca9a69f97c3deac9a6b1a4
1c1971f89671f1c954f3044db2ab6c22
1c1971f89671f1c954f3044db2ab6c22
e2337405392851a70721f674f0cc22a4
e2337405392851a70721f674f0cc22a4
7db8d6fba22c6962c6e565c8e875bdc2
7db8d6fba22c6962c6e565c8e875bdc2
d0fae9f95d96200510a22ed382cfcb33
d0fae9f95d96200510a22ed382cfcb33
c7001f0ca909c01c9da2e378c6c82756
c7001f0ca909c01c9da2e378c6c82756
2d752e97f3425ac24f79f958c351e41c
2d752e97f3425ac24f79f958c351e41c
3fde2305dbafb4e764f7b4d21f3b7584
3fde2305dbafb4e764f7b4d21f3b7584
44b9055c745452a02d30144f4d3b3562
44b9055c745452a02d30144f4d3b3562
f31a891232738d09f3085474dda40950
f31a891232738d09f3085474dda40950
74cde90433a4bf44794d83ed0daa159b
74cde90433a4bf44794d83ed0daa159b
eb4e17564e4392c8df6a12a52c047bed
eb4e17564e4392c8df6a12a52c047bed
fffa0dc196ca85509074fcbf68175157
fffa0dc196ca85509074fcbf68175157
de2514155f8dec1092d469f8e7c823eb
de2514155f8dec1092d469f8e7c823eb

The US Will Never Be The Same – Americans React To Red Note – TikTok ban

Damn! This is a great video.

You MUST watch! Please!

It’s long 1.5 hours long. Watch.

Will retiring at age 65 become a thing of the past?

If you mean full Social Security, it’s already past 65. But you can retire any time you like. Just be sure you have sufficient money in case you live to 95. Retirement is a wonderful thing to many. It has been for me. Now I’m free to do what I like every day, so it’s been worth all those years of hard work. I live in Alabama (technically, northwest Florida, but we all consider ourselves Alabamans here because we are almost a literal stone’s throw from the Alabama line). And we are culturally Alabama. We are none of the things people think of when they think of Florida. We are an hour-and-a-half from Florida’s white beaches. We never get any tourists. We have nothing in common with most Floridians, who are a transient bunch. When I go for groceries I drive just over the Alabama line to Flomaton, my nearest grocer. We are small farms, vegetable gardens, tractors, cotton fields, tall shade trees, farmer’s markets, and we are deeply rooted. I’ve been here for 32 years. Many folks nearby have been here all their lives, some over 80 years. My land is 40 acres of field, forest, and ancient orchard. And birds, deer, rabbits, and squirrels. Being retired means I get to spend every day on my golden land. October is our best month. High today was 80, low tonight 55, just perfect. I walk out my front or back door and I am in my pecan orchard, the most beguiling bit of our land this time of year. I have one of those “zero-gravity” chairs, which is similar to the old chaise lounge but much superior because you can lie on your back and stretch out, then tilt the thing back to whatever angle you like and lock that angle in. Once tilted back, you do feel almost weightless, like an astronaut riding in perfect comfort. My zero-gravity chair is in the orchard. I walk out, sit down, lean back about 30 degrees, and lock it in. The ancient trees rise as high as 130 feet above me. Their leaves are turning yellow, and they are beginning to shed a few bit-by-bit now, so the grass below is now a mix of green and yellow. From time to time, I see a golden leaf drift down to join those which have already dropped. My orchard is two roughly parallel lines of about a dozen tall trees each, with a wide grassy area between, which is ideal for touch football. When my sister and her kids came down last October, the orchard’s lawn rang with shouts of “I’m open!” or “I gotcha” as the kids played a lively game of touch in the shade of the pecans. But for now, the quiet is unbroken save for chittering squirrels and exuberant birdsong. The orchard grounds are a perfect mix of glimmering sunlight and cool shadow. I am entranced by the gentle, quiet beauty. Cardinals fly from feeder to feeder (hung from trees and filled to bursting earlier today), and blue jays squawk, mockingbirds chatter. Soon a covey of black crows descends onto the grounds and into the trees, croaking as they come (awk-awk). They are my favorites. The English call them rooks, I believe, and they are sometimes associated with death, but all is golden light and a congeries of shadows today, so they are welcome here. The orchard feels intimate, and the sun coming through my chair and onto my back feels so good that I think to myself, “No wonder the ancients worshipped the sun.” I could sit in this paradise forever — a delicate breeze, birds twittering, dappled sunlight, yellow leaf fall. I begin to close my eyes and drift. I feel like one of Odysseus’ lotus eaters, so lulled into apathy by warm sun, birdsong, and purely perfect relaxation, that I care for nothing in this world besides my towering orchard grounds. Directly, I am asleep. I finally awaken just in time for sunset. I turn my chair around facing due west so I can watch the horizon turn deep, fiery orange as the sun drops behind distant woods and over our long field. My wife comes out and joins me. We stay out till the evening star appears and the sunset finally fades. This, to me, is the greatest advantage of retirement, even if it took 67 years to get here. No one should have to work longer than that. I have met many nice and friendly people through writing on Quora. I have even asked many to come and sit with us in our orchard one afternoon if ever they are anywhere near Bluff Springs, Florida or Flomaton, Alabama, in the gorgeous months of October and November, and even early December. You should know that we have extra zero-gravity chairs here just on the chance that someone drops by. We are off the beaten path, but that’s what’s so good about it. We also always have lots of peanuts, popcorn, apples, and cider on hand. We believe in homegrown hospitality here in the heart of Dixie, under the waving pecans, amidst the nattering birds and wildlife. So drop by if you’re ever out our way. We’ll even make a little fudge for you.

Loved?

Look, I’m as yellow as any yellow folk out there. If I try hard enough, I can pass off as a local in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Just last week, a friendly American dropped by and called me a “yellow subhuman from Singapore”.

Others have labeled me a “shitty copy of a ccp troll”, which is mild. I shall skip the unkind redneck insults.


Stateside, a white crewhead drove his truck up the sidewalk at 5+/6 am, cutting into my path. He made a wild u-turn after spotting me walking home alone on the other side of the street.

Red in the face, he berated me for being a “f****** chink”, among a string of choice epithets thrown my way. He even spat at me. I doubled back, and cut through a row of shops before crossing Main Street to the other side of town. Thankfully, I lost the bugger.

Man, was I traumatized.


In Hong Kong, I did my best mandarin impersonation as a social experiment, and received more than a couple rude responses. The discrimination was apparent even at the airport express rail service counter, and I code-switched to Cantonese after watching mainlanders ahead of me berated by a stern looking lady behind the counter.

Guess what? She actually looked rather pleasant when she smiled—at me!


I was once flagged at Aussie customs and escorted to an interview room. I was asked about my travel history, particularly several trips to Indonesia, and repeatedly pressed on the purpose of my trip down under. I have a suspicion someone forgot about me and I waited a good hour in the room. When I was released, my check-in luggage was nowhere to be found and I wasted another hour, this time at the airline counter.

Needless to say, I missed the bus my friend had booked for me. All told, the ordeal cost 4-5 hours, and I had to borrow underwear for the night.

Aussies love Singaporeans huh?


Up north, I’ve been a victim of the kopi-addicted traffic police more than once, just because I was driving a Singapore-registered car.

My friend suffered plenty of grief recovering his father’s body from the Malaysian morgue, after he died unexpectedly during a business trip. It was a terrible ordeal being given the runaround by people in positions of authority, who were all looking to profit from a “rich Singaporean’s demise”. Even the wedding ring on the finger was misappropriated and had to be “redeemed”.

One big happy family huh?


In today’s anti-chinese climate, east Asians are being targeted indiscriminately. No one who looks “yellow enough” is safe.

I happen to discount the supposed power of my red passport, because my name and the color of my skin is plenty enough for discrimination.

Closer to home, a red passport attracts discrimination instead.

50% of the world are members of BRICS++

How did you become a great parent when you had terrible parents as examples?

I had terrible parents. I was born to a girl who had just turned 16 and a father who was barely 17. I was put into a foster home for nearly two years and the state wanted to get me adopted because of them. My mother was and is a selfish narcissist and my father was a paranoid schizophrenic who was hospitalized three times while I was a boy. I had 7 siblings born after me. No one graduated from high school. Some have been to prison, some to mental hospitals. Their children and now their grandchildren have the same problems. My solution was to get out as soon as I could. I’ve worked since I was 10 years old doing whatever I could find to do. Some neighbors felt sorry for me and found things I could make money at. My parents took the money. They took money from me until I finally stepped on a plane and left. I found a good job with a Fortune 100 company. Drafted I went into the Navy. When I was laid off in 1985 I started a business that I ran until retirement 32 year later. I married a good woman from a much nicer family. This is our 47th year of marriage. My son is a Civil Engineer and also has a good marriage and an excellent job. The trick was to get away from those people. And stay away. My parents were examples of everything I didn’t want to be. I’d like to add that I have two wonderful grandchildren. They’re involved in team sports and have good academic scores. (My grand daughter does better) There was more involvement with my mother. When her father became senile she took over his affairs. He had left me, my mother and her sister annuities of over $50K each. She redid the accounts closing mine out and splitting it with her sister. Her sister died a month after their father of cirrhosis of the liver. Her children took all the money and blew it all. My grandmother was living with the kids in a roach infested trailer. My mother picked her mother up and drove her from Florida to Phoenix AZ. Her mother died just as they crossed the border at 92 of ovarian cancer. She has the ashes and I guess someone else will have to deal with them after Mother passes. I made no stink about the stolen $50K. a couple of years later she borrowed $2K from me saying that all the money was in bonds and she couldn’t cash them in. A big lie. My siblings got it all to pay their bills. i never got my $2K back either. My sister asked her how she could steal so much money from me and her answer was, “Robert doesn’t need the money.” The fact that it was mine is irrelevant.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

All the ingredients for chicken pot pie – the chunky chicken and vegetables and the savory broth – are in this soup. A crisp crouton stands in for the pie crust.

chicken pot pie soup
chicken pot pie soup

Prep: 15 min | Cook: 25 min | Yield: 8 (1 cup) servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Rosemary Leaves, crushed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Thyme Leaves
  • 1 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder
  • 4 teaspoons butter, divided
  • 1 (8 ounce) package mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen pearl onions
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 8 thin bread slices
  • 1 teaspoon oil

Instructions

  1. Mix rosemary, thyme and garlic powder in small bowl. Reserve 1/2 teaspoon.
  2. Heat 1 teaspoon of the butter in a large saucepan on medium heat. Add mushrooms, carrots and remaining seasoning mixture; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Remove from saucepan. Set aside.
  3. Melt remaining 3 teaspoons butter in a saucepan on medium heat, stirring to release browned bits from bottom of skillet. Sprinkle with flour; cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes or until flour is lightly browned.
  4. Gradually stir in broth until well blended. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
  5. Add vegetable mixture, chicken, pearl onions and peas; simmer for 8 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally.
  6. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  7. Cut bread into rounds with a 3 inch cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet. Brush bread with oil and sprinkle with reserved seasoning mixture. Bake for 10 minutes or until toasted.
  8. To serve soup, ladle into soup bowls and top each with 1 crouton.

Can a B-2 fly over Russia and China without being detected?

At least based on literature, Russias S-400, S-500 & Chinas JY-27 are capable of detecting the very small radar signature of the B-2 It’s the standard Spear vs Shield Equation First they make the sharpest spear Then they say “If the enemy has the same spear, we need a shield that can resist the sharpest spear” Then they make the toughest shield Then again they make a sharper spear Then again a sharper shield China has the world’s second best stealth technology after the US Yet US is a long way ahead The S-400 is among the best Air Defense systems on the planet and has the best advanced radar system So any combination is possible The B2 could be good enough to fly over undetected The S-400 could detect the B-2 and blow it up The JY-27 could detect the B-2 and flow it up


The chances ain’t very likely to happen That’s because the USAF will never risk flying a B-2 over Russia or China, getting it shot down and the Chinese studying the B-2 and adapting the final touches to their Xian H-20 or Russia with their Tu160M2 Too much of a risk The F-117 in 1999 was shot down at a time when Russia was very far behind in Air Defense compared to the US and Stealth was unknown to either Russia or China Suddenly the MI-41, SU-57 and J-20 programs sprung to life, coincidentally a few months after Russians and Chinese studied the F-117 systems in detail I believe the F-117 delivered Stealth Technology to Russia and China 10–12 years earlier than otherwise possible You think they will risk the same with a B2? Hell no!!!!!

Have you been disowned by your family? If so, why?


When I was 7 years old, my mom was killed in a car wreck. I never knew who my dad was so my grandma raised me. For that, I’m grateful. Now fast forward 13 years, I’m pregnant with my first daughter. Oh boy, I was scared to tell my grandma so I didn’t. Well, my grandma wasn’t a fool though. She had my mom when she was 17 years old and my mom had me when she was 17 years old. One night, I was washing dishes and she walked up to me. She put her hand on my stomach and said “you’re gaining weight, huh?”. “Not really”, I said. She walks off and I’m like whew, she doesn’t know. Well, of course, that wasn’t the case. The next day, I get a call from my aunt to stop by for dinner. She often invited me over so I thought nothing of it. I get there and we eat dinner. Everything seems ok. I help clean the kitchen and all hell breaks loose. She starts asking question after question. The first question is “Are you pregnant?”. With a deer in the headlights look, I answered “Yes”. The second question is “Who’s the father?”. I answered “You don’t know him?. That wasn’t a good enough answer so she starts naming random guys that she knows and I tell her she doesn’t know him. The third question is “Is he black?”. Once my heart started beating again, I looked at her and said “Yes”. You could hear a pin drop in that house. I was told that my little bastard child and her N***** dad will never be welcomed in any of my family’s homes. I was asked to have an abortion or give it up for adoption. I told her thst I couldn’t do either of those. She also told me that “MY mother will not know when you have that N***** bastard”. I thought to myself that MY grandma knows if a person is pregnant then a baby will be born. November 1989, I was disowned by my family. March 1990, I became mommy to the most beautiful daughter in the world. If I had to do it all again, I would choose this tiny perfect angel. I promised her that I would love her unconditionally and I have for almost 28 years.

What 10 things have you stopped doing in your life?

  1. I stopped shaving. I got fed up with doing it every day and the irritation it caused my skin.
  2. I stopped trying to maintain friendships. I still have friends but I don’t put any effort into maintaining them. Those that are still my friends are good friends – I just have a lot less people wasting my time and energy.
  3. I stopped pursuing romantic relationships. It caused me no end of heartache and pain. For the most part I’m happy and content being single.
  4. I stopped dieting. I used to do all sorts of faddy diets, would lose weight, then gain it. I now tend to eat in moderation without being fanatical. My weight has stabilised. I’d like to be thinner but it’s not worth the aggravation.
  5. I stopped ironing. It used to take up a whole Saturday (laundry day). I now hang everything and it’s not actually that noticeably different.
  6. I stopped pursuing a career. I realised being good at your job made no difference in being promoted and all sorts of idiots leapfrogged me into management because they ingratiated themselves with senior people. I still work but mainly freelance.
  7. I’ve stopped travelling. I used to love doing it but got tired of being ripped off by hotels, petty thieving and tourist traps. I’ve a holiday home in an area I like and just visit there on my downtime. It’s handy, convenient and most importantly no hassle.
  8. I’ve stopped bothering with family members who’ve hurt me. I’ve a brother I haven’t spoken to in decades. I’m on good terms with the rest of my family. I just don’t bother with him.
  9. I’ve stopped caring what people think of me. It took many years for me to get to that place. I also realised most people barely thought about me anyway so it was silly to worry about what that might be.
  10. I’ve stopped being upset about world events, politicians and government policies. Everything is a cycle. Bad politicians get voted out of office, wars eventually end and government policies eventually change if they’re particularly bad. It’s just a case of biding time.

Do you think the growing technology rivalry between Beijing and Washington will have long-term effects on the semiconductor market?

Certainly. There will be abiding consequences, with the chip landscape irrevocably reshaped across the entire supply chain. To make it brief, the Chinese are trying to contain disruptive risk from hegemonic application of ip and trade rights that can cripple businesses overnight. The most secure solution is to stop buying from the west, and that is very clear from the cratering of mainland chip imports. China, the world’s largest chip consumer, used to spend more money importing chips than on oil. In a few more years, it will transit into a net chip exporter, first by volume, then by revenue. Tsmc and other foundries ex-china are already on the cusp of a price war due to overcapacity ex-china, as the impact of surging mainland chip production reverberates around the world. All the familiar players will be affected, from sumitomo chemicals to lam research to asml to tsmc and TI. Those that are too slow to outrun the tsunami will suffer seismic damage. The Indian summer is almost over.

What is it like for women in the Marine Corps?

I’ll never forget the day I went to pick up one of my cousin’s daughter at the airport after she graduated boot. She was also the honor grad. Her single dad was still overseas. I drove about an hour to Ft. Huachuca Army Base where she waited. Huge Army base where they can easily land a 747 humping the Space Shuttle. They can take in and send out any plane in the world. Solid fucking Army city of about 50K. I was probably the only former squid there at that base of about another 10K stationed there. She stood loud and proud in uniform. Picture a 19-year-old Jennifer Love Hewitt in a Marine uniform. I stood solid and saluted her. She returned it deadly sharp There was a steak house just out the base’s front gate. A dude with three of his buddies at the table behind us in civilian attire yelled “Lookie at the wookie!” Laughter broke out among them. “Wookie” is a military derogatory term for a female in military uniform. They were instantly tap-danced out into the parking lot and stomped some more by Army guys in uniform! Two girlfriends of the stomped dudes show up and get into the mix. My Marine niece puts both their lights out in seconds! YIKES!! Back in the restaurant it’s a standing ovation and a killer meal on the house. Anyhow, she did her four years without any problem or harassment. Made lifelong friends too. She made use of the GI Bill, went through medical school and is currently finishing up her emergency medicine residency with Banner in El Paso, Texas. Loud and proud of her!

Teen Sets FIRE To Congressman’s Office over Tik Tok Ban

Fire set Tik Tok Ban large
Fire set Tik Tok Ban large

A 19-year-old Wisconsin man set fire to Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman’s office in Fond du Lac over the TikTok ban.  The fire was started around 1 a.m. on Sunday, just hours after TikTok went offline.

According to a report from WISN Milwaukee, “Police officers arrived at the scene and used extinguishers to hold the fire in check until firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire.”

The building was empty at the time, and no injuries were reported.

The suspect, who has not been publicly identified, was arrested nearby.

While in custody, the teenager “admitted to starting the fire in response to recent talks of a TikTok ban.”

“Acts of violence, in any form, are not tolerated, and we remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community. I am thankful for the swift response of our Officers in helping knock down the fire and also locating the suspect of this arson,” Fond du Lac Police Chief Aaron Goldstein said in a statement about the incident.

How does the USA justify their freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea and Straits of Taiwan, despite not allowing other countries to do the same?

While the U.S. promotes its freedom of navigation operations as a defense of international law, the reality is that these actions contradict its own practices, exposing a significant hypocrisy. The USA justifies its freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait by claiming it’s upholding international law and ensuring open access to critical maritime routes. The U.S. government positions these operations as necessary to counter what it views as excessive maritime claims by other nations, such as China, thereby protecting the principle of freedom of navigation under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Despite these justifications, there’s a glaring contradiction: the U.S. isn’t even a party to UNCLOS and doesn’t reciprocate by allowing similar operations near its own waters. Behind the diplomatic facade, FONOPs serve a strategic purpose for the United States. They are a muscle-flexing exercise meant to remind regional players of America’s naval power and its readiness to defend what it sees as an international maritime order. These operations are also a signal to allies and partners, reassuring them of U.S. commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. However, the practice raises questions of hypocrisy, given that the U.S. would not tolerate foreign vessels conducting comparable operations near American shores. The double standards become evident when you consider that the U.S. guards its maritime boundaries rigorously, reacting swiftly to any perceived encroachments. For instance, the U.S. Navy would never permit a Chinese naval vessel to carry out a FONOP within 12 nautical miles of the American coast. This inconsistency underscores a “rules for thee, but not for me” attitude, complicating Washington’s justifications on the international stage. Critics argue that it’s hard to advocate for norms you don’t consistently adhere to. In regions like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, such operations take on heightened significance given the geopolitical tensions. The U.S. aims to challenge China’s territorial claims and assert navigational rights, viewing these waters as international rather than under any one nation’s control. Yet, the aggressive posturing often exacerbates tensions rather than calming them, leading to confrontations that could easily escalate into more serious conflicts. The strategic waterways of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait are crucial not just for China’s trade and energy supplies but for global commerce. Any significant disruption could have ripple effects worldwide. The U.S. argues that ensuring these routes remain accessible to all underpins global economic stability. Nevertheless, the provocative nature of FONOPs also risks heightening regional instability, contradicting the stated aim of securing peace and prosperity. In defending its actions, the U.S. touts its role as a global peacekeeper and protector of the international maritime order. However, when its practices entail selective adherence to the very norms it promotes, this rationale appears flawed. It’s a classic example of “do as I say, not as I do,” which weakens America’s moral authority and creates a breeding ground for geopolitical skepticism. Allies might appreciate the show of strength, but adversaries see it as an excuse to bolster their own defenses, thus perpetuating a cycle of military build-up and distrust. The USA justifies its freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait by claiming it’s upholding international law and ensuring open access to critical maritime routes. The U.S. government positions these operations as necessary to counter what it views as excessive maritime claims by other nations, such as China, thereby protecting the principle of freedom of navigation under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Despite these justifications, there’s a glaring contradiction: the U.S. isn’t even a party to UNCLOS and doesn’t reciprocate by allowing similar operations near its own waters. The Americans justify their operations in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait by saying they’re upholding international law and keeping these waters open to everyone. They claim these moves counter what they see as China’s over-the-top maritime claims. But here’s the kicker: the U.S. isn’t even a signatory to the very law (UNCLOS) it’s always waving around as justification. Let’s cut to the chase: These FONOPs are more about flexing muscles than anything else. The U.S. wants to remind everyone who’s boss, showing off its naval power and pledging to keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open. It’s a way to reassure allies and signal to potential adversaries. But the hypocrisy is glaring. The U.S. wouldn’t stand for another country, say China, sailing military vessels just off its own coast. Double standards are at play here. Take a moment to think about it. The U.S. zealously protects its waters and would raise hell if any foreign vessel tried to poke around near its shoreline. Imagine if a Chinese naval ship sailed within 12 nautical miles of California. Not gonna happen. This “rules for thee but not for me” attitude makes Washington’s stance on international maritime laws look shaky, at best. Critics are quick to say it’s tough to preach principles you don’t practice yourself. And let’s not kid ourselves about the geopolitical tactics in play. In the tense waters of the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, these operations are all about pushing back against China’s territorial claims. The U.S. sees these areas as international waters, open to all. Problem is, these moves often ramp up tensions instead of cooling things down, ratcheting up the risk of confrontations that can quickly spiral out of control. The South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait aren’t just local fishing ponds. They’re pivotal routes for global trade and energy supplies. Disruption here isn’t an isolated incident; it has global repercussions. The U.S. says keeping these sea lanes open is crucial for the world economy. Yet, by being so provocative, it risks stirring up instability, contradicting its own aims of promoting peace and prosperity. In its defense, the U.S. likes to paint itself as the global peacekeeper, the guardian of the international maritime order. Nice rhetoric, but it falls flat when you see the selective adherence to those very norms. It’s the classic “do as I say, not as I do” routine, which undermines America’s moral high ground and breeds geopolitical skepticism. Sure, allies might clap and cheer for the show of strength, but adversaries just see it as a reason to boost their own defenses. It’s a vicious cycle of military build-up and distrust that doesn’t help anyone.

What school rule had to be put in place because of you?

I helped change 2 customs at my high school. The first custom was the use of the gym during lunch time during winter. The boys got to play basketball or volleyball or whatever while the girls got to sit in the balcony and watch them or gossip or whatever. Enough other girls preferred the gym floor to the balcony so I went to the principal where I explained the unfairness to the girls and that we should get equal time. He heard me! Girls got two days, boys got two days and, horror of all horrors in late 1950s, we had a co-ed day. The new “rule” extended into the spring when the ball field was shared. The second custom was girls taking mechanical drawing. I wanted to take the class; the teacher/vice principal didn’t take to the idea at all. He thought it was only for boys, as if they had extra talent in that area. He made all kinds of suggestions for which I had an answer. The only answer I found acceptable was that I be admitted to the class. He eventually gave up and treated me as just another student. The big win: next term there were two more girls in the class.

What made you forbid someone from ever entering your home again?

A woman I met through a friend of a friend, was always hugging me when she saw me, or asking me about my mother, very nice and I liked her. After knowing her for only 4 months and talking to her a few times, I gave her a ride but told her I had to stop at my house first to check on my mom, she was disabled. I let her come in and took her out to meet my mother, she didn’t get much company and was always a people person, then I got my jacket and we left. She told me she was going to be homeless, would I consider allowing her to stay at my house for 3 weeks, and she would pay me. I told her that it’s not my house, and my two kids are very outspoken and could make your stay uncomfortable. I didn’t think it was a good idea, I ended up letting her stay, she could only pay me 1/3 the day she moved in, and would be able to pay the rest in a week she said. Two weeks later, I asked about the rest, I was going grocery shopping and wanted to use the money for food, she said she didn’t have it but promised she would by that night or the next day. I worked but she didn’t and I had no idea where she got her money. Went grocery shopping and filled the refrigerator and freezer with my kids food and knew I was good for 2 weeks with what I got. Next day, the woman asks me if it’s okay if her two daughters come over to go swimming. I said sure. So, I go out back to hang out and talk to them all. The one daughter asks if she can use the bathroom and the other goes with her, and I stay and talk to the woman. Not long enough for me to think anything wrong happened, the daughter comes out and later the other. They swim for a little longer and tell us that they are gonna leave. Later my daughter comes home and goes into the kitchen to eat, and she comes back out and says I thought you were going shopping for food today. I did, so I go into the kitchen to see if what she is looking for is just under the rest of the stuff I put in the freezer, there is barely anything in it, open the refrigerator, a lot is missing. Checked the cabinet, that was hit too. What the heck. Waited for the woman to come home, didn’t show till next morning, I told her that all my groceries that I bought are gone, she tried to make me believe that the little bit still in the refrigerator was all she saw after I went shopping and it looked the same to her. Ok, so I’m nuts, I went shopping and didn’t buy any food, dreamed of putting it away and saw I was good for two weeks. But, never did any of it. I go to the trash and pull out the empty bags that I brought home with just a receipt and nothing else. I showed her the receipt and the food that I bought, and told her to find the items for me. She had no idea, I did. That was probably the only person I chased out of my house and told her I never want her in my house again. People are crazy.

What is the most disrespectful advice you received from a person who assumed you were less intelligent and made less money than them?

“Get a job.” I was checking out at a grocery store about 15 years ago. I heard the man behind me say just that. At the time, I was going to nursing school full time during the weekdays, and working on the weekends as a CNA. Often pulling 16 hour shifts, Friday through Sunday. I made pretty decent money to provide for myself, owned my own vehicle, paid for everything on my own, etc. As I put my bank card in the machine to pay, I heard a man behind me in line scoffing, laughing, and seemingly trying to get my attention. When I turned my head in his direction, he grumbled, “Get a job.” I was clueless and proceeded walked out with my groceries. While in the parking lot, it dawned on me that he thought I was using a welfare money card. Here in Indiana, they are called EBT cards, “Electronic benefit transfer,” which welfare participants receive uploaded money monthly. My bank card was a similar color to the EBT cards issued around the time. My best friend had one, so I was familiar. (She was a single Mom living in special income based housing). I believe that he assumed I was able bodied person and using government money to cheat the system. I was sure of it. The person that I am, sometimes it takes a while for me to “get” something. Even though I ignored the man in the store (safe practice / strange man) I was furious that he assumed the worst. I didn’t even have bad choices in my grocery cart. That was my mindset. I’ve never been witty with comebacks. Then I realized. Really, it hurt. Obviously this guy was very judgemental and probably carried a chip on his shoulder for whatever reason. Little did he know…I DID have a “job” and was paying from my actual BANK ACCOUNT. After I was over being upset, I found it strange that he was peering so closely to watch me open my wallet and pay. He was about 5–6 feet away from me. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. I’ll never really know. He misjudged the wrong gal that day. *As a side note, I do not judge others regarding how they live. I was raised on welfare in Mississippi growing up…and I certainly don’t watch what kind of card others use while paying in the store. Thanks for reading. Take care all.

Ty Warmbrodt

For his entire life Rick Donaldson has been Rick Donaldson, a thirty-one-year-old bachelor and EMT. He loves his job as a paramedic, the intensity, the responsibility, the adrenaline, but he dreads his downtime. He never knows what to do with it other than eat, drink, and watch ball games. He lives in a small, untidy apartment in the city but spends most of his time at McAllister’s Pub where he occasionally runs into friends or acquaintances. It’s all better than nothing but leaves him feeling rather unfulfilled.Rick finished his twenty-four-hour shift and stopped in at McAllister’s for a drink. He was sitting at the bar chugging his first draft. But when he sat it down, it was a glass of milk on a dinner table where he was surrounded by four other people. A woman about his age, a young girl in her teens, and a boy who was probably in grade school. They were all wearing outdated clothes, as was he, and they were all in black and white.“What the willikers,” Rick asks, although he used a four-letter word instead of willikers. Somehow, that changed. He could hear laughter but couldn’t tell where it was coming from. None of the people at the table were laughing and he couldn’t find anyone else in the room.“Daddy,” whines the young girl.“Martin, Marsha just asked you if it was okay if Tommy Michaelson takes her to the school dance,” the woman says, remaining cheerful, although irritated.“Martin? Who’s Martin?” There was that laughter again.“You are dear. You’re Martin, and Tommy is the polite boy from down the street. Stanly and Joanna’s boy.”“Okay. Why do I care?” More laughter.“For Pete’s sake, Martin, she’s your daughter. Your approval is important to her. Are you feeling ill or something,” the relentlessly cheerful woman asks.

 

“Ill, yes, I am feeling a bit ill. Daughter. I have a daughter. Of course, sweetie, have fun at the dance,” Rick says, paying more attention to his black and white attire that he would never in a million years wear. It is a suit without a jacket or shoes. They were replaced with slippers and a sweater.

 

“Can I be excused, daddy, I want to call Sally and tell her the good news,” Marsha asks, beaming with excitement. Rick flips his wrist to signify he doesn’t care.

 

“I got in trouble at school again dad,” the young boy says. The laughter was replaced with a resounding uh-oh.

 

Rick rubs his eyes, hoping to restore color to his surroundings. “Oh yeah, what did you do?”

 

“I put a frog in Cindy Perkins’ lunch box. When she opened it, it scared her. The frog jumped all over the cafeteria making a mess.” The laughter returns.

 

Rick bursts into laughter at the thought. It sounded so ‘Dennis the Menace.’

 

“Martin do not encourage the boy,” the woman says, starting to lose her cheerfulness.

 

Suddenly Rick finds himself in an armchair holding a paper. “What in tarnation,” he says, surprised. Although, what he really said was Jesus F’ing Christ. He doesn’t know what’s going on, but he learns really quick he is definitely censored.

 

The cheerful lady who for some reason wears dresses and heals around the house, stops her knitting, and asks, “What is with the language lately, Martin? My goodness, if I had a nickel,” she says, shaking her head. There’s more roaring laughter, causing Rick to look around the room, freaked out, concerned he might be losing his mind.

 

The front door opens. Marsha is home from her date. Rick looks at his watch. A minute ago, they were having dinner where he just gave her permission to go to the dance. That was around six. Now she’s coming home and it’s almost ten. Oohs and awes can be heard as Marsha dramatically dances her way into the living room wearing a pretty dress with her hair all done up. Rick watches the drama unfold with a bit of repulsion, not used to seeing such behavior.

 

“I guess you had a good time,” mother says to daughter, pleased to see her child in such spirits.

 

“It was like a dream mother,” Marsha says, taking a seat by her mom on the edge of the couch with her hands placed perfectly in her lap. “Tommy was such a gentleman the whole night. We danced, we talked, he even walked me to the door and kissed me right on the cheek when he said goodnight.”

 

“That sounds amazing, honey. Your father was quite a gentleman too. Martin, do you remember our first date?”

 

“No,” Rick says, a bit distracted. “I’m still trying to account for the last four hours.” The laughter returns. Rick closes his eyes and rubs his temples.

 

“Your father is a kidder. I’ll tell you about it another time. Right now, it’s late and you need to get to bed.”

 

Time skips ahead again. Rick finds himself standing in an office overlooking a factory floor with a file in his hand. This startles him and he drops the folder. “Gobble-dee-gook,” is not what he said, and the laughter came again.

There’s a knock at the door and a man sticks his head in. “How’s it going boss? Did you have a good weekend?”

 

“Hard to say,” Rick replies, taken aback that he lost two full days this time.

 

“It sounds like our kids had a good time Friday night.”

 

“Hmm, oh, the dance. Yes, Marsha waltzed through the door like she was on cloud nine,” Rick says, putting it together that he’s talking to Stanly Michaelson.

 

“I’m happy to hear that. Tommy would like to come by your place and ask permission to go steady with Marsha,” Stanly says timidly to his boss.

 

“Those kids don’t need my permission. Save your boy the trip and tell him it’s fine.”

 

“How does Florence feel about your daughter going study at such a young age?”

 

“Who?” Laughter.

 

“Florence. Your wife.”

 

“I know she likes Tommy. Really, it’s up to Marsha.”

 

“I guess that’s true. Well, I’ll let Tommy know. He will be very excited. Thank you. I better get back to work. Break time is just about over.”

 

Stanly had no sooner closed the door than Rick found himself at the front door of a house. Not sure where he’s at, he knocks. Florence answers the door, wearing a blouse, skirt, apron, and heels, hair done up nicely with her make-up on, looking confused. In one hand she has his slippers with his sweater draped over her arm and in her other hand a scotch and soda. She doesn’t bother asking why he knocked, she just hands him his slippers and takes his briefcase. Then he exchanges his jacket for the sweater, and she hands him his drink. “Tough day at work, Martin?”

 

“Not really. Talked to Stanly Michaelson briefly. He wanted to know if Tommy could come by and ask to go steady with Marsha.”

 

“Oh, how nice and proper. What time should we expect him?”

 

“I told him to save the kid the trip. I really don’t care. It’s up to Marsha who she dates.”

 

“Oh, are you sure honey. I mean, we know Tommy, but what about the next boy, if there is a next boy. Don’t you think it’s in our daughter’s best interest that we get to know the boy first.”

 

“Nah, she’ll be fine.”

 

“Okay…. Well, if that’s how you feel, you are the man of the house. Dinner will be ready in half an hour. The paper is by your chair.”

 

Rick sat down and Florence was almost in the kitchen when Marsha comes bouncing inside. “He asked me to go study! Tommy Michaelson asked me to be his girlfriend!” Laughter and applause ensued.

 

Florence clasps her hands and bounces up and down as her daughter hugs her dad and showers him with thank you after thank you for his blessing.

 

Another skip forward and Rick finds himself sitting in bed with pajamas on, with a book in his hand. He raises his eyebrows and side-eyes Florence who is putting lotion on her hands. “You made your daughter a very happy girl these past few days. You have been acting a little odd, but I chalk that up to you not feeling well. Despite not feeling well, you have come through for us and made us as happy as always. You’re the greatest husband and father a family can ask for. Goodnight, dear,” Florence says as she crawls under the covers. She rolls over and gives him a kiss on the cheek before turning off her light. Rick smiles sheepishly and puts down the book, thinking that maybe if he turns out the light and goes to sleep, he will wake up in his real bed in his apartment.

 

That wasn’t the case. That was just the end of episode 1, season 1 of ‘Meet the Millers,’ a sitcom that aired from 1956 to 1961. After the last episode aired, Rick found himself back on that barstool like he had never left. He had a new appreciation for those long stretches of time when he thought there was nothing to do. He started filling that time by going out more, dating, fishing, exercising, and making a point of contacting friends and family more often. There are times where he just appreciates having time to watch a movie or read a book. He got involved with a charity organization and helps with fundraisers too because if there was one thing he learned while stuck in TV land is that time can fly by, so why not make the most of the time you have.

New Homes In America Are Falling Apart, And People Are Trapped