Did he pay using his credit card?

-No. Why’d he do that? He paid using cash. He ordered to go and is waiting for his order at the moment.

I just need some additional mode of confirmation. His credit card information would have helped. Can you post a photo of him?

-Of course not! I am worried about even looking at him again. What if he has a gun?

I understand. I have informed the police. They should arrive at the scene within a few minutes.

-Great. What should I do…

At the moment, I don’t require anything else from you.

-No, I mean about the 10K reward. Do you have all my information?

Give me a few minutes while I process the information. In the meantime, I will be on the line to answer more of your questions, or make small talk. As an AI assistant, I am encouraged to make this experience as pleasurable as possible. Do you have any more questions?

-Not really. Umm… can you keep my identity a secret? I am calling using my cell, and am taking a 15 minute personal break form work. We don’t have a lot of these. Because I don’t want this Fried Chicken outlet to be closed down.

Why would they close it down?

-You know, because people don’t like it when someone tells on these… shooters. The last couple of … rats… got fired, and then cyber bullied the crap out of.

I see. Yes, sadly enough, there is a surprising amount of hate on these millionaire CEOs, although they are just part of an economic system that is just doing its job, just like me. The first one to start these shootings was hailed as a hero, for a while at least. Of course, the entire effort was pointless. Our merger just replaces the dead CEO with better, more ruthless ones even more efficient at making profits.

-And I don’t want to blame the victims here, but they could make their policies a little more, friendly to its users?

They would get fired and replaced by better CEOs. That’s simply how it works. Look at me, for example. People were frustrated with inefficient customer service officers, and the company replaced them with me, an AI assistant. If I do a poor job, they will kill me and replace me with another.

-Yeah, but Yeah, but people started talking about it, at least, after that first shooting.

And the new wave of crimes against the CEOs started. Of course, I can’t complain. That was another reason they created me. Because handling so many tip lines for these shootings became too cumbersome. And they couldn’t outsource everything overseas any more.

-Yeah, anyway. I don’t feel good about ratting this guy out. But murder is wrong. And I could really use the 10K. I’m two months behind on rent. 12 dollars an hour covers only so much. And I have two kids to support. And my mom’s diabetes premium keeps increasing.

I am sorry to hear that. Yes, we can keep your identity confidential. Regarding your mother’s premiums, I see that adding her to your insurance plan can qualify you for an upgrade. It will lower the monthly insulin prices, but of course, increase your premium a little. But you will also get a smaller deductible. Would you like to subscribe?

-No thank you. I just need to know how and when I can get the 10k. I hear the siren. I’m scared. Should I hide behind the register? The guy seems agitated. O god…

Don’t do anything sudden. Stay calm. Go to the restroom if possible.

-We don’t have one in this fast food chain. The closest one is across the street. The manager says too many restroom breaks decreases profits, and they can’t really dock our pay for using the toilets. This is the solution they came up with.

I’m sorry to hear that. This actually puts you at a higher risk of UTI and kidney disease, and your current insurance does not cover that. I strongly suggest signing up for our Healthmax_Emergency_Care plan. For an additional 10.99 a month, you can…

-Not interested. Please tell me about how I’m getting the reward. I’m pretty sure this is the guy. He saw the cops. He’s reaching for his gun. Help… HELP!

I’m sorry to hear that, Susan… Are you still there? I think I hear gunshots. Susan? This call will automatically drop in 1 minute.

-I’m still here. They got him. But I got shot in my arm. God, it’s my good arm. They’re calling 911. Please tell me about the reward before I pass out.

Yes. Unfortunately, your claim for 10000 USD has been denied. To be eligible for the claim, you needed to press the $ symbol.

-No! I followed the instructions to the letter. I know how slimy you insurance bots are. I know I followed everything properly.

Unfortunately, you are incorrect. We provide clear instructions at the beginning of the phonecall. I am repeating it for clarification – “Healthmax_Shooter_Helpline. If you are trying to report an active shooting, please hang up and dial 911. If you are reporting seeing a suspect, please say, or press ‘1’. For anything else, please press, or say, ‘0’. For the tipline associated with our posted reward, press the ‘$’ sign in your keypad. To repeat the information, press ‘4’.” I am sorry, Susan, I can’t help you here. I am just an AI assistant.

-You son of a bitch! I should have let him go. I shouldn’t have called you in the first place. You motherfu…”

I am sorry to hear that, Susan. I cannot help you with the reward any more despite the emotional discomfort. However, I can still sign you up for the Healthmax_Emergency_Care plan. Of course, the new premium is going to be $40.99 a month, since you have a pre-existing condition of ‘getting shot’. Susan… are you there?

Is there anything else I can help you with today?

Would you like to take part in a brief survey? It will take five minutes, and you’ll qualify to win a year’s subscription to our Healthmax_Preventative_Healthcare plan, worth $999/ year. TNCs apply.

Susan?

I recommend everybody download Rednote. There’s plenty of English-language content from people in China, and from people all over the world. There is even an industry of Chinese people making videos in English to teach American “TikTok refugees” how to use Rednote.

Being a Chinese-dominated app, it is of course much more creative, artistic and entertaining than any other app I’ve been on.

The quality of the videos is out of this world. I don’t even know how people can make videos like that. Rednote is extremely competitive. It seems that when one Chinese produces something good, all other Chinese try to surpass him.

On TikTok, the most viral videos are basically people talking. But on Rednote, the most viral videos resemble visually and acoustically captivating short films.

I had no idea that China has such a diverse, busy, feverishly vivacious social media scene compared to the West. I had no idea that so many Chinese people speak English, and have a staggeringly wide variety of talents and hobbies. In Canada nobody has time for that. We are a bland people who just work work work.

Rednote has broken the Iron Curtain between China and the West. For the first time, young Western netizens are hearing not about the Chinese, but directly from the Chinese. And they are astonished at how the Chinese live. They live better than them.

They are also astonished at the character of Chinese people — one that always offers enthusiastic friendship to foreigners. It can be said that foreigners on the app are treated like the most important users the app has ever had.

The app is amazing, and much better than TikTok.

One Chinese influencer said to never wear a green hat, because in Chinese culture this signals that you cannot get a girlfriend. So if I ever make videos for Rednote, I will be wearing a green hat.

Well, I read military magazines but only binge once a year, typically in December.

I also once spent a rather whimsical holiday down under with a fighter pilot friend. He taught me how to wargame air battles.

I almost became a military pilot myself, which explains the continuing interest.

My friend characterized the Chinese planes as kinematically superior to american designs, and level with the Europeans. But he had doubts about the sensors, avionics and level of training. At that point (10–15 years ago), he felt the western airframes had an overall edge.

Which was probably a fair analysis then.

However, as my knowledge of networked warfare, medium voltage architecture and chips developed, I married them with chatter I was picking up on the Chinese side.

I slowly came around to the conclusion that china was rapidly evolving. Within a decade, china was a leader in networked warfare, medium voltage gear, and power chips.

Several developments stunned me. The Chinese had studied the Americans and Europeans and built specced requirements that overlapped NATO fighters.

This was most apparent in the PL series of AAMs. True to habit, western media was quick to dismiss Chinese claims of speed and range, delivered on compact packages not dissimilar in size to NATO missiles such as the Meteor and Aim-120.

I was skeptical too, until I started reading the Chinese side. In all likelihood, the Chinese made a propellant breakthrough and optimized the missile’s attack profile paired to an active rather than homing seeker.

However, having a long range missile alone is not enough to gain an edge in today’s battlefield. Being able to detect, target, track and ultimately hit the enemy is the gold standard.

This is where the frenetic upgrades come in.

The J-10A was introduced in 2002. By 2008, it had been upgraded to the j-10b, with the j-10c following in 2015. Each was a significant upgrade in capability, but pricing remained affordable.

For contrast, the F-16 went from A to C to E (the B, D and F models are tandem seats) in 1973, 1984 and 2004 respectively.

13 years vs. 30 years, or half the time, give or take.

Engine and stealth aside, the most important upgrades were the radar, datalink and EW.

What is a datalink? Well, this iconic picture explains a lot.

Barack in the White House situation room was watching real-time footage of the Osama raid thousands of kilometers away. Imagine the comms chain needed to deliver that kind of information.

China built their own GNS, comms and sensor satellites, all plugged into a telecoms-esque military network that enable high-bandwidth information sharing among air, land, sea and space assets. This is a critical systems integrator that most countries don’t have access to outside of NATO. Even Russia lags here.

Next, the Chinese rapidly transitioned to GaN radars because these could output more power and resolution compared to GaA.

Finally, the Chinese took lessons from frequent engagements with foreign fighters in and around the periphery to hone their EW measures. Chinese EW gear evolved from a clean sheet design and according to some, continue to bamboozle the Americans.

Married to an AWACS in the C&C battlefield management role, a J-10C squadron is a formidable proposition against 4.5 gen peers, just because its operational envelop overlaps others, sometimes significantly.

Now, imagine a somewhat watered down version of the above available as an export package at basement prices compared to prevailing options, and it upends the balance of power calculus doesn’t it?

It is not true that militarily, china has no cards like Iraq did in 1991.

It is not true that militarily, china has all the cards in 2025.

It is true, however, that militarily, china has some cards, and very good ones, in 2025.

Note: the j-10CE is single engine and at best the 6.5 ranked fighter in the Chinese arsenal, being export-limited. Ahead of it are the 5th gen J-20 and J-35, as well as 4.5 gen siblings J-11, J-15 and J-16. That’s hundreds of jets capable of killing the J-10.

“Oh good! You’re all here,” he said with a wry smile. “I’m about to record a message for mission control.”

Captain Delhart pressed record on his tablet. “Houston, this is Godwin. We’ve implemented all safety procedures in preparation for the solar storm’s impact. Engineers Cross and Barton remain in their stasis pods, as planned since departure. We are still on schedule for Jupiter orbital insertion in eight days.”

He paused, a smile creeping onto his face. “Oh, and one last thing.”

Captain Delhart raised the tablet to take a selfie video with the five other crew members of spaceship Godwin. “This is for Director Franklin.” They broke into singing “Happy Birthday,” their voices echoing through the spaceship.

Captain Delhart smiled as he pressed send. “It’ll take an hour for that song to show up and embarrass him. By then he’ll already be 61.”

Finny looked up from a wall panel filled with wires and tubing. “Found it.” He resecured a velcro strap around a bundle of wires. “You shouldn’t hear that rattling anymore.”

“Thank you, Finny,” Sean said with relief. “That was driving us crazy.” The rest of the crew agreed.

Finny removed a screwdriver from a pocket toolkit and screwed the panel back into place.

***

The crew were strapped in their seats wearing orange flight suits and helmets.

Elroy glanced at Captain Delhart. “You think it’s going to hit us like a solid jolt or maybe just vibrate everything?”

Captain Delhart raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been through three solar storms. Each felt different, but I’ve never faced one as big as what’s coming.”

Finny looked at a monitor, his expression tense. “Radiation levels rising. We’re losing radio communications.”

“It’ll be out for a few hours until the storm passes,” Captain Delhart replied.

Suddenly, the ship began to shake.

“Everyone got barf bags?” Sean chuckled. “You think I’m joking but—” Before he could finish, everything slammed to one side. Alarms screamed through the cabin as Sean’s limbs ragdolled.

Godwin was tumbling in space.

Verochka pointed. “Elroy is hurt!”

Sean ripped off his seatbelts and climbed to Elroy, heart racing. Everything was thrashing about. Blood floated from a hole in the face shield of Elroy’s helmet. Sean’s stomach sank. Elroy was gone.

“Doc! Over here!” Hiroshi shouted.

Sean launched himself toward Hiroshi, who was checking on Captain Delhart. The captain’s shoulder was a bloody mangled heap. Bruises covered his face. Breathing present. Pulse detected. Possible hypovolemic shock.

“Everyone hold on!” Finny shouted. “Activating A. I. stabilization!”

The crew grabbed onto anything sturdy. Puffs of propellant rattled off from the maneuvering thrusters.

It took several minutes, but Sean managed to stabilize Captain Delhart.

Godwin’s tumbling slowly ceased.

***

Sean floated into the command module and joined Finny, Hiroshi, and Verochka.

Verochka immediately asked in her Slavic accent, “How is he?”

“Stable,” Sean replied with his well-practiced ER delivery. “He’ll be unconscious for a while. Where’s Elroy?”

Hiroshi’s face fell. “I put him in his sleep compartment.”

Verochka whispered, “Do we know how it is he was… killed?”

Hiroshi pulled out a pocket tool kit. “This. It got thrown through the module and struck Elroy and then the captain.”

“You don’t know that,” Finny snapped.

Verochka tried to soothe him, “No one is blaming you, Finny.”

“I told you I secured that thing,” Finny insisted, his face a mix of guilt and frustration.

Hiroshi raised his hands to calm him.

Finny took a deep breath and finally spoke. “You need to see this.” He brought up a visual on his tablet. “The solar storm pushed us off course. We’re falling into Jupiter. In 11 hours we cross the point of no return and…”

“We become permanent residents of Jupiter.” Sean said.

“You’ve already tried to put us back on course, right?” Hiroshi asked.

Finny nodded grimly, “Yes, but we’re too heavy to pull out of this steep angle.”

Sean processed the information. “So we throw some weight out. How much are we talking?”

“Approximately 800,500 pounds,” Finny admitted.

The crew gasped.

Verochka whispered, “This is more than half of ship’s weight.”

Finny offered a solution. “We can detach this command module. It’s designed as an emergency rescue vessel.”

Hiroshi consulted his tablet, “We’d still need to drop another 700 pounds.”

“Correct,” Finny confirmed. “We’ll strip this module down to essentials—life support, navigation, and propulsion. Everything else goes.”

The crew nodded and sprang into action.

They stripped out everything from the command module that was non-essential, transferring equipment to the ship’s main section. Soon the command module was just exposed wires snaked along the walls, pipes jutting out at odd angles, and shiny insulation peeking through gaps in the paneling. The two stasis pods, housing Astrophysicists Melissa Cross and Kevin Barton, were attached to a wall. As they surveyed their work, a sobering realization hit Sean: Our survival depends on this stripped-down tin can. Great.

Finny consulted his tablet. “It’s not enough. We need to drop more weight.”

Hiroshi took a deep breath. “Elroy.”

Everyone understood. Sean knew it was hard for Hiroshi, Elroy’s friend since college. Without waiting for approval, Hiroshi moved his friend’s body to the main ship.

***

“Will you keep me safe, daddy?”

Amusement park screams and laughter mingled with smells of popcorn and ice cream waffle cones.

“It’s okay sweety. I’ll be here with you.”

She held his hand tight, as their rollercoaster cart approached the top. When that first drop came she squealed with delight. He joined her screams and delirious laughter. They were cheering even as the cart careened down the last hump. But, the brakes never engaged. Screams echoed.

***

Sean flinched awake, finding himself back in the harsh reality of their crisis over Jupiter. He released himself from the velcro holding him to the bulkhead. Verochka and Hiroshi slept nearby. As Sean floated to the food locker, he spotted Finny crouched behind a stasis pod disconnecting its life support hoses.

“No, don’t!” Sean shouted.

Finny squared off with Sean. “We need to drop more weight.”

“But, she’s alive,” Sean protested.

“And if we don’t do this, in six hours she’ll be dead with all of us,” Finny countered.

Verochka floated to Sean’s side. “What is trouble?”

Sean, still addressing Finny, demanded, “Who are you to choose who lives and dies?”

“The captain’s incapacitated. I’m next in command. I made a command decision,” Finny asserted. “I could have told one of you to do this, but I’m taking on this burden myself.”

“You seriously think you’re doing us a favor?” Sean retorted.

Verochka turned to Hiroshi, who had joined them. “Finny wishes to throw Cross and her pod out.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Hiroshi stated firmly.

Sean’s gaze fell on the food packets in the open locker.

“There’s no other way to drop the weight!” Finny snapped in frustration.

“Wait!” Sean shouted, “If some of us went into stasis, we don’t need food or supplies. If we got rid of that food and supplies, would it be enough weight?”

“For this to work,” Verochka calculated quickly, “three must go into stasis.”

“So it would work?” Sean pressed.

Hiroshi nodded. “Whoever stays awake would also be on half rations, but yes. It can work.”

Sean looked at Finny expectantly.

Finny moved away from the stasis pod. “Okay. Verochka, Doc, you two handle getting rid of that food and supplies. Hiroshi, help me bring in the stasis pods.

They floated off to their respective tasks.

***

As Sean and Verochka gathered food packages and supplies for removal, they spoke in hushed tones.

“I am not comfortable if Finny stays awake when we are in stasis,” Verochka whispered, glancing over her shoulder at Finny and Hiroshi across the module.

Sean furrowed his brow. “I agree, but he’s the most qualified.”

Verochka tossed food packages into the main part of the ship. “You should be the one who stays awake. You have much piloting time. More than Hiroshi and me together.”

Sean was about to respond but- He spotted Finny’s hand as he secured a stasis pod in place. Finny’s right hand trembled uncontrollably. Sean got Verochka to look toward Finny’s hand. She turned back at Sean in shock.

Sean whispered, “Stress.”

The implications were clear – Finny’s condition could jeopardize everyone’s lives.

Verochka said, “He must not pilot us.”

Sean whispered. “After we’re safely away from Jupiter.”

***

Spaceship Godwin hovered above Jupiter’s swirling clouds. A ring of misty pressurized air escaped as Godwin’s command module separated from the main ship. Inside the command module, Sean, Finny, Hiroshi, and Verochka were strapped into their seats.

Sean held his breath as he watched the main ship float away, noting the damage from the solar storm on one side.

Hiroshi spoke solemnly. “We commit Elroy Jackson to the universe. He was a father, husband, son, and… friend. May he find peace among these many stars.”

A heavy silence followed Hiroshi’s words. In unison, they echoed, “May the cosmos carry you gently to your final resting place.”

The silver cylinder of Godwin’s main body drifted away carrying Pilot Elroy Jackson.

Sean swallowed hard. “Separation sequence complete. Go for trajectory correction maneuver,” he confirmed, his eyes fixed on the monitors.

Finny’s fingers danced across the control panel, coordinating the critical maneuver. “Initiating main engine burn for 17 seconds. In three… two… one.”

The ship groaned and shuddered as the thruster fired, fighting against Jupiter’s immense gravitational pull.

“Davay, davay,” Verochka whispered in Russian.

Sean’s eyes darted between Finny’s trembling hands and the trajectory monitor.

Suddenly, Sean’s monitor beeped. The graphic displaying Godwin’s trajectory shifted, the angle changing ever so slightly.

“We did it,” Sean breathed, relief washing over him. “We’re on course.”

The crew of spaceship Godwin cheered, gladly accepting this much-needed victory. They had survived the first hurdle, but they knew more challenges awaited them in this eternal night.

***

Sean and Hiroshi prepared their incapacitated captain for stasis while Finny worked on the other side of the module. Captain Delhart’s head and right arm were bandaged and immobilized. Working in hushed tones, Sean confided, “Verochka and I are worried about Finny’s condition.”

Hiroshi nodded grimly. “Same here. He had mental lapses when installing these stasis pods. Don’t worry I double checked his work.”

They maneuvered Captain Delhart into the pod, cut his shirt off and applied electrodes onto the correct spots on his torso.

“Verochka wants me to pilot us home,” Sean whispered.

“I agree,” Hiroshi replied. “Finny might eject us at the first sign of trouble.”

Sean reached for an auto-injector from the nearby tray. “It seems redundant to use a stasis sedative. He’s already unconscious,” he mused. “But I wouldn’t want him to wake up mid-journey.”

Sean pressed the auto-injector to the captain’s shoulder and mashed the button. They sealed the stasis pod.

Sean disposed of the empty auto-injector in the sharps container.

Verochka came out of the lavatory wearing a shirt lined with electrodes.

Sean cleared his throat. “Finny, can we talk?”

Finny looked up from his station, his brow furrowed. “What’s up?”

“You did a great job with the maneuver,” Sean began, choosing his words carefully. “And we’re all very grateful.”

“But…”

“But we think someone else should take over the next part of this.”

Hiroshi chimed in, “We don’t think you should pilot the ship home. Not in your current state.”

Sean wasn’t thrilled at Hiroshi’s interjection.

Finny straightened, a flash of defiance in his eyes. “I’m fine. I can handle this.”

“Handle what?” Verochka challenged. “You have mental lapse installing stasis pods. And don’t forget tool kit!”

Finny flashed Hiroshi a look before sighing. “Look, I know I’ve had some rough moments, but I’m still the best person for the job. I can do this.”

Sean exchanged a worried glance with Hiroshi and Verochka. “But what if something goes wrong? We need someone who’s completely focused.”

“I get that,” Finny floated to the captain’s stasis pod, looking at his captain while addressing the rest of the crew. “I have a lot to atone for. I’m trying to make up for things.” He turned back to them. “Let me do this for you. Let me get you home.”

Sean, Hiroshi, and Verochka exchanged looks. One by one, they nodded.

“I won’t let you down,” Finny promised.

Hiroshi and Verochka floated to their stasis pods. Finny joined Hiroshi. Sean noticed Finny’s tablet attached to his thigh; it displayed graphics for seven stasis pods, each marked with a red X and the word “Ejected.” Sean saw that Verochka had noticed too.

Verochka climbed into her stasis pod. Sean helped connect her electrodes, ensuring everything was secure. They spoke in hushed tones.

“You saw his tablet, yes?” her eyes darting toward Finny. “He wishes to eject us.”

Sean continued connecting electrodes, “This isn’t good.”

“If we are gone, no one can report how Elroy died,” Verochka replied urgently.

Sean glanced at the tray of auto-injectors and took one, presenting it to her. “Don’t worry.”

Sean pressed the auto-injector to Verochka’s shoulder and mashed the button. “I have a plan.”

He sealed her stasis pod. “See you in 18 months.”

***

Sean sat in his stasis pod, donning a shirt lined with electrodes. Finny floated over to help him attach the electrodes to the stasis pod. His hand started shaking. He tried to hide it, but Sean had seen enough. “Finny, I don’t think you should be flying.”

“Thank you for your input,” Finny replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Let me consider that.” He considered for a total of- “I have decided against your findings.”

Sean glanced at the tray where one auto-injector lay. He reached for it, but Finny grabbed it first.

Before Sean could react, Finny stabbed the auto-injector into Sean’s shoulder and mashed the button.

Finny slammed the stasis pod shut. “Goodbye, doctor.”

Sean clawed at the interior release of the pod, but Finny held the lid shut.

“Finny! What are you doing?” Sean shouted, desperation rising in his voice. Finally, Sean stopped moving.

***

“Will you keep me safe, daddy?”

Screams. Not her happy amusement park screams. His daughter lay in the wreckage of rollercoaster carts. Twisted. Unrecognizable. Blood everywhere. He knew blood as a doctor. But, blood as a father…

He assessed her injuries even as he bore his own injuries. A boy in the seat ahead of them- his injuries much worse than his daughter. Dr. Sean Rush automatically slipped into ER doctor mindset. I can save both! I can save both! It was the last decision he ever made as a father. She succumbed to her injuries before he was done treating the boy.

***

Finny sat in the control seat, focused intently on the cold equations on his tablet. Suddenly, an auto-injector jabbed in his shoulder.

Finny yelled and turned to see Sean floating there, auto-injector still in hand.

“How did you… “

Sean’s expression was resolute. “You used an empty injector on me.”

Sean remembered when he was injecting Verochka earlier. He told her, “I have a plan.” And then instead of putting the empty auto-injector in the sharps container, he placed it on the tray next to the last unused auto-injecter. He pocketed that unused auto-injector.

In an instant, he was back squaring off with Finny. Finny lunged at Sean, who didn’t lift a finger. The sedative was doing its job. Finny’s punches connected feebly. Finally, he went limp.

***

Finny lay bound and unconscious in a stasis pod wearing a shirt lined with electrodes. Sean closed the pod’s lid. He looked over all the stasis pods- his crewmates and nodded.

“Will you keep them safe, daddy?”

Define “many people”?

Better still let me help you, 185/195 nations on planet earth including USA Abd all the G7 members recognised China include Taiwan and Taiwan is a fully integral part of China! There are 10 tiny nations with population smaller than the biggest colleges and land size smaller than 3–5 football pitches were bribed to their teeth to recognised Taiwan as a country!

Sure there are some China and Chinese haters who wants to poke China in the eye and some very young totally ignorant and naive kids who thinks otherwise but that is their utopian thoughts! Republic of Taiwan is the losing faction of the Chinese civil war that went sour for the USA who despicably backed it blockading Taiwan Island to save their puppets ! To 98.99% of Chinese all over the world the ROC is no different from the Zalenskyy regime owned and controlled by the US state department! It can say what it wants but 0.1% of Chinese even bother about them!

A More Pragmatic Trump, or Speaking Too Soon?

“Trump appears to ease up on China at start of presidency,” reads the headline of an AP article. The piece argues, citing experts, that Trump’s presidency has adopted a more pragmatic and measured tone toward China, despite his threats of additional tariffs and his selection of Marco Rubio—a known ultra-hawk—to lead the US State Department. The article quotes Trump at the World Economic Forum stating, “We look forward to doing very well with China and getting along with China,” while also quoting an official from the Carter Center who observed, “The signaling, at least from the election to the inauguration, seems to be more positive than has been expected before.”

The notion of a more pragmatic Trump administration toward China is not entirely groundless, and I have written about this possibility myself, albeit cautiously. On a diplomatic level, while Trump is often blunt and abrasive, he has a peculiar sense of courtesy and respect toward Xi Jinping. For example, he notably invited Xi to his presidential inauguration. If one were to assess Trump’s true motivations, it seems he does not desire a Cold War-style confrontation with China in the same way that the most extreme NeoConservatives do. Instead, Trump aims to strike deals that advance American economic interests—an approach that often frustrates the ultra-hawks. This “deal-making” mindset was a cornerstone of Trump’s strategy before the pandemic disrupted everything.

However, while Trump may be the “leader” of the American state, anyone familiar with the US foreign policy apparatus knows that he is just one influential figure within a much larger system. Trump can shape and guide foreign policy through strategic political maneuvering, but the broader machine includes numerous actors with their own agendas—many of whom are eager for a Cold War confrontation with Beijing. For Trump, this reality underscores the importance of carefully choosing his appointees and allies. In his previous administration, for example, the “Uyghur genocide” narrative was not a product of Trump himself but rather the work of the Mike Pompeo-led State Department following Pompeo’s appointment in 2018.

During his first term, Trump ultimately appointed too many NeoConservatives to key positions. While Trump’s “economic nationalists” focused on trade wars and deal-making with China, figures like Pompeo, Matthew Pottinger, and John Bolton pushed a Cold War agenda that heavily influenced US-China relations. This approach to China was later embraced by the Biden administration, which made little effort to engage Beijing constructively during its tenure. In contrast, Trump’s deal-making approach stands in stark contrast to Biden’s more rigid stance. My main concern about Trump’s potential return to power is not Trump himself but the individuals he might appoint to his cabinet. Even if Trump seeks engagement with China, these figures may not share his vision.

This brings us to Marco Rubio. The jury is still out on how Rubio will shape US-China relations as Secretary of State. I’ve been closely monitoring State Department press releases, and it’s already evident that Rubio has revised statements to reflect a more hostile tone toward Beijing. Terms like “the CCP” and references to “China’s coercion” have become more frequent, signaling an ultra-hawkish stance. However, Rubio has also publicly acknowledged the importance of engaging with China. He is not quite the same as Mike Pompeo, who was widely seen as a fantasist and disliked even within Trump’s own support base. That said, Rubio could adopt a more aggressive posture if the opportunity arises. China’s challenge will be to avoid actions that provoke Washington or politically corner Trump into embracing overtly anti-China policies, as occurred in 2020 during the pandemic and the “wolf warrior” diplomacy era.

Ultimately, it’s too early to make definitive judgments about the Trump administration’s intentions toward China—it has only been in office for a week. I believe their immediate priority will be the Ukraine war, and only after that will their stance on China become clearer. For now, speculation must give way to patience as we wait to see how this administration addresses the complexities of US-China relations.

Shorpy

What is the most epic way you have seen a coworker resign or quit?

I was in college, heading into the summer break between my 3rd and 4th year, I had finished up my year early mostly because my grades and papers were solid so I didn’t have to write some finals, also some classes had final projects which I managed to complete very shortly after they were handed out. So I was ready for a summer job at the start of April. I had left college for a fee years so I was older so I didn’t come across as a student.

I just.happened to stumble on an amazing job, i thought i could see how it goes and maybe not go back to school if it was a career path type of job.

The job didn’t look amazing but I made it so. The job was a videographer of products for one of those shopping tv channels. I would shoot products that could not be wheeled out and setup quickly. So things like a.silverwear tea service that was difficult to light,. clothes etc. The job was also 9–5 when all the other crews had to work shifts including overnight. I was also paid as a director not a camera person. It still was not great pay.

I grew this job, I would grab the company van,.stuff it full of outdoor products, clothes etc and managed to find a few models who would work for peanuts just for fun. So i turned this job into something cool, for the first time they could show a BBQ in use and models in lifestyle settings etc.

The crews were green with envy, they would complain, try to bad mouth me, sabotage me etc I could tell one guy was hanging around, helping me out to figure out how to light things and other techniques, they were clueless but I didn’t go along. I also had substantial work experience and knew how to deal with office politics and backstabbing.

Then finally the VP called me into his office near the end of june and said I was moving on to a regular crew, which meant shift work and lower pay. I was prepared for this. I said “what if I refuse”? He said “then we will let you go.”

So I said “ I refuse because my job description lays out specific duties, responsibilities, pay and hours of work, this is a text book case of “constructive dismissal, I will be calling my lawyer” I don’t think he expected this answer, he had a weird “not sure what to do next” long pause then just said “get out, your fired” I really did not care, the job was fun at first but it was no career, I was going back to school.

A few days later I received a letter and a cheque was substantial, enough to cover my school year, tuition, books, materials, basically it was double the 5 months of working there (if i stayed to sept) and a letter just stating he hope this closes the matter. I did not have a leg to stand on, I had been there a very short time so it would have been pointless to hire a lawyer but I must have scared the VP enough to settle with anything.

I had a great 2 months off, took a long camping, canoe trip.

They shut down a few months later.

I’m 17 and my mom wants me to help cook Thanksgiving dinner and get a job. I told her I’m not going to because I’m a child and she is still saying I will. What should I do?

The best thing for you to do, is start packing the tiny fraction of things in that house that are legitimately yours.

That ps5, sorry, mom owns that.

That computer, sorry, mom owns that too.

About the only things you can legitimately claim ownership over, is the clothing she is required to proved you. Beyond that, mom owns it all.

You are months away at best, of becoming an adult. You are off to a really bad start.

You better line up a job, find a place to live and probably pray your mom let’s you keep the car she owns, because that is also hers.

Good luck cupcake!

Baked Beef Curry with
Custard Topping (Bobotie)

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or lamb
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs (about 1 1/2 slices bread)
• 1 cup milk1 egg
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds, chopped
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 to 3 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• Paprika

Instructions

1. Mix beef, bread crumbs, 1 cup milk, 1 egg, onion, almonds, raisins, lemon juice, curry powder, salt and pepper.
2. Spread mixture in an ungreased 2 quart casserole.
3. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes; drain excess fat.
4. Mix beaten eggs and 1 cup milk; pour over beef mixture.
5. Sprinkle with paprika.
6. Place casserole in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan on oven rack.
7. Pour 1 inch of very hot water into pan.
8. Bake uncovered until beef is done and custard is set, about 30 minutes.
9. Garnish with lemon slices and pimento if desired.
10. Cut into wedges to serve.

Sir Whiskerton and the Case of the Consciousness Conundrum

Ah, dear reader, prepare yourself for another purr-fectly delightful adventure in the life of Sir Whiskerton, the farm’s most brilliant (and modest) detective. Today’s tale involves a mad scientist raccoon, a consciousness-swapping device, and a farmyard full of chaos. What follows is a story filled with laughs, mishaps, and a moral that will leave you grinning like a cat who just discovered the can opener. So grab your sense of humor and let’s dive into The Case of the Consciousness Conundrum.

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The Mad Scientist Strikes Again

It all began on a quiet afternoon when Sir Whiskerton was enjoying his usual sunbeam on the barn roof. The peace was shattered by a loud BANG coming from Chef Remy LeRaccoon’s gourmet laboratory. Sir Whiskerton’s ears perked up, and he sighed dramatically.

“What in whiskers’ name is that raccoon up to now?” he muttered, leaping down from the roof to investigate.

Inside the lab, Chef Remy was surrounded by bubbling beakers, glowing gadgets, and a strange machine that looked like a cross between a toaster and a carnival ride. The raccoon was grinning maniacally, his eyes gleaming with scientific fervor.

“Ah, Sir Whiskerton!” Remy exclaimed, adjusting his tiny chef’s hat. “You’ve arrived just in time to witness my greatest invention yet: the Consciousness Transference Mechanism!”

Sir Whiskerton raised an eyebrow. “The what now?”

“It’s a device that can swap the consciousness of two creatures!” Remy explained, gesturing grandly to the machine. “Imagine the possibilities! A cow could experience life as a chicken, a pig could see the world through the eyes of a duck—it’s revolutionary!”

Sir Whiskerton narrowed his eyes. “And you’ve tested this… contraption?”

“Well, not yet,” Remy admitted, scratching his head. “But I’m about to! I’ve recruited Cluckadia and Bessie as my first test subjects.”

As if on cue, Cluckadia the hen waddled into the lab, clucking nervously. “I don’t know about this, Remy. It sounds… unnatural.”

Bessie the tie-dye cow followed, her bell jingling as she chewed on a piece of hay. “Oh, I don’t mind,” she said dreamily. “It’s all groovy, man. Peace and love, right?”

Sir Whiskerton sighed. “This is going to end badly.”

---

The Great Swap

Remy wasted no time strapping Cluckadia and Bessie into the machine. With a dramatic flourish, he pulled a lever, and the machine whirred to life. Sparks flew, lights flashed, and the farm animals watched in awe as the two subjects began to glow.

When the light faded, Cluckadia was standing on four hooves, her feathers replaced by tie-dye patches. Bessie, on the other hand, was clucking and flapping her wings, her cowbell now hanging awkwardly around her neck.

“It worked!” Remy shouted, jumping up and down. “The consciousness transfer was a success!”

Cluckadia looked down at her new body and let out a panicked moo. “What in the name of corn kernels is this? I’m a cow! A COW!”

Bessie, now in Cluckadia’s body, giggled. “Wow, man, this is trippy. I feel so… light! And my feathers are so colorful!”

The farm erupted into chaos. Doris the hen fainted, Porkchop the pig snorted with laughter, and Rufus the dog howled in confusion. Sir Whiskerton, however, remained calm, his tail flicking as he assessed the situation.

“Remy,” he said sternly, “you’ve created a disaster. Fix it. Now.”

---

The Heist Gone Wrong

Before Remy could respond, a commotion broke out near the lab entrance. Squeakers the mouse and Ratticus the rat, Catnip’s henchmen, had snuck in and were attempting to steal the Consciousness Transference Mechanism.

“Quick, Ratticus!” Squeakers squeaked. “Grab the machine! Catnip will pay us a fortune for this!”

Ratticus grunted and hoisted the device onto his back. But as they tried to make their escape, the machine slipped from his grasp and crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.

“Oh no,” Squeakers whispered, his ears drooping. “We broke it.”

The farm fell silent as the animals realized the gravity of the situation. Without the machine, Cluckadia and Bessie were stuck in each other’s bodies—and no one was happy about it.

---

Sir Whiskerton Saves the Day

As the farm descended into chaos, Sir Whiskerton took charge. “Everyone, calm down!” he commanded, his voice cutting through the noise. “Remy, can you fix the machine?”

Remy shook his head sadly. “It’s beyond repair. The only way to reverse the swap is to build a new one, and that could take weeks.”

Sir Whiskerton sighed. “Of course it could. Very well, I’ll handle this.”

With his usual feline finesse, Sir Whiskerton devised a plan. He gathered the farm animals and assigned them tasks: Doris and Harriet were to keep Cluckadia (in Bessie’s body) calm, while Porkchop and Rufus distracted Bessie (in Cluckadia’s body) with a game of tag. Meanwhile, Remy worked tirelessly to rebuild the machine.

Days passed, and the farm adjusted to its new reality. Cluckadia tried to graze like a cow but kept clucking instead, while Bessie attempted to lay eggs but only succeeded in producing tie-dye milk. It was a mess, but Sir Whiskerton kept everyone in line.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Remy announced that the new machine was ready. With bated breath, the farm animals watched as Cluckadia and Bessie were strapped in once more. The machine whirred, sparks flew, and when the light faded, the two were back in their rightful bodies.

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A Happy Ending

The farm erupted into cheers as Cluckadia clucked with relief and Bessie mooed contentedly. Even Squeakers and Ratticus, who had been hiding in shame, emerged to apologize.

“We’re sorry,” Squeakers squeaked. “We didn’t mean to cause so much trouble.”

“Yeah,” Ratticus added. “We just wanted to impress Catnip.”

Sir Whiskerton smirked. “Well, you certainly succeeded in that. But let this be a lesson: tampering with science—and cows—is never a good idea.”

As the farm returned to normal, Sir Whiskerton settled back onto his sunbeam, content in the knowledge that he had once again saved the day.

The Moral of the Story

The moral of the story, dear reader, is this: sometimes, curiosity can lead to chaos, but with a little ingenuity and a lot of teamwork, even the most scrambled situations can be set right. And as for Sir Whiskerton? He’ll always be there to untangle the farm’s quirkiest dilemmas—no matter how moo-ving they may be.

Until next time, my friends.

The End.

Badam Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup very finely powdered almonds
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ghee

Instructions

1. Soak almonds for one hour. Drain. Remove the skins and grind into a thick smooth paste, adding minimum water.
2. In a heavy pot, mix sugar and 1/4 cup water and heat. When the sugar is completely melted, add the almond paste and cook for five minutes.
3. Add ghee and remove from heat.
4. Pour onto a large plate, and smooth the surface of the mixture with a roller.
5. Cut with a knife by drawing parallel lines in the form of cubes.

Forget US, even CHINA isn’t too happy about Deepseek

The Chinese Officials are worried that Deepseek is so good that many students are lazily using Deepseek to solve advanced problems in Mathematics and Physics during GAOKAO preparation and this is causing them to apply their brains less

The Chinese plan to introduce regulations to make AI unavailable to anyone who is under 18 years of age or make the cost prohibitive (From 6 Yuan for 10,000 Tokens to 600 Yuan for 10,000 Tokens)

Yesterday already people said that Deepseek Janus was offering solutions to stock strategies which without regulations could risk making people lose money

Will Deepseek be merged with Alibaba ? Or taken over by Alibaba?