Today, we will discuss some folklore from my days in Indiana. I hope you enjoy this story…
Oscar the Bosco Beast is a legendary creature said to inhabit the woods and rural areas of Indiana, particularly around the town of Boonville in Warrick County. The story of Oscar has become a part of local folklore, blending elements of mystery, humor, and small-town charm. While Oscar is not as widely known as other cryptids like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, his legend has captured the imagination of many Hoosiers (residents of Indiana).
Origins of the Legend
The legend of Oscar the Bosco Beast dates back to the mid-20th century. According to local lore, Oscar was first sighted in the 1950s or 1960s near Boonville, Indiana. The creature was described as a large, hairy, ape-like being that roamed the forests and fields at night. Some accounts claim that Oscar had glowing red eyes, while others describe him as more mischievous than menacing.
One popular version of the story suggests that Oscar was originally a circus or carnival animal that escaped into the wild. Over time, the creature became a part of local mythology, with tales of strange noises, footprints, and sightings fueling the legend.
Characteristics of Oscar
Descriptions of Oscar vary, but he is often portrayed as:
- Large and Hairy: Oscar is typically depicted as a massive, shaggy creature resembling a mix between a bear, a gorilla, and a Sasquatch.
- Mysterious and Elusive: Like many cryptids, Oscar is rarely seen directly. Witnesses report hearing strange howls, growls, or rustling in the woods.
- Playful or Mischievous: Unlike some cryptids that are feared, Oscar is often described as more curious or playful than dangerous. Some stories suggest he might steal food or cause minor mischief around farms and campsites.
Cultural Impact
The legend of Oscar the Bosco Beast has become a beloved piece of Indiana’s folklore. Locals have embraced the story, using it as a way to celebrate their community’s unique identity. For example:
- Boonville’s Annual Festival: In the 1970s, Boonville held an annual festival called “Bosco Day” to celebrate the legend of Oscar. The event featured parades, costume contests, and other activities centered around the mythical creature.
- Local Merchandise: Over the years, Oscar has been immortalized on T-shirts, bumper stickers, and other memorabilia, further cementing his place in local culture.
- Tourism and Curiosity: The legend of Oscar has drawn curious visitors to Boonville and surrounding areas, eager to explore the woods where the creature is said to live.
Skepticism and Humor
While some people take the legend of Oscar seriously, many view it as a lighthearted tale meant to entertain rather than frighten. Some skeptics believe that the stories of Oscar may have originated from exaggerated accounts of real animals, such as bears or large dogs, or even from pranks played by locals.
In fact, the playful nature of the legend has led some to speculate that Oscar might have been a hoax created to boost tourism or simply to amuse residents. Regardless of its origins, the story of Oscar has endured for decades, becoming a cherished part of Indiana’s cultural heritage.
Conclusion
Oscar the Bosco Beast remains one of Indiana’s most intriguing and endearing legends. Whether you believe in his existence or see him as a product of local storytelling, Oscar represents the power of folklore to bring communities together and spark the imagination. If you ever find yourself in Boonville, keep an ear out for strange noises in the woods—you might just catch a glimpse of this legendary Hoosier cryptid!
Today…
US government does not neglect rare earths. In order to get rid of its dependence on rare earths, they have tried a total of three paths.
The first option is to open a mine and process the mine by themselves in order to restart the Mountain Pass rare earth mine. Mountain Pass was once the world’s largest rare earth mine. In the 1960s and 1970s, the United States became the global rare earth leader thanks to this mine. But later, as China’s rare earth industry rose, Americans felt that it was better to buy than to make, so they abandoned Mountain Pass.
It wasn’t until 2018 that the U.S. Department of Defense allocated funds to MP Rare Earth Corporation of the United States to acquire the property rights of Mountain Pass and prepare for a big move.
But what is the result of this?
MP Company acted as a porter. After digging out the ore, they sold it to China first, and then bought back the refined products. This is no different from before, the US government’s funding has been wasted.
Second Path
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy spent $50 million on a rare earth recycling program with the goal of recovering 90% of rare earth elements from power batteries by 2025. However, today, there has been no follow-up to this plan.
There is also a third way, which is to attract investment and attract companies from other countries to come to the United States to process rare earths.
For example, Australia’s Lynas is the largest rare earth mining company outside of China. They also received subsidies from the Pentagon to build a heavy rare earth separation plant in Texas, but progress has been slow.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies , the U.S. Department of Defense alone has allocated more than $439 million on rare earths since 2020, with an additional $350 million to be added this year.
To be honest, this investment is not small. Although rare earths are very important, the scale of the industry is not large. China’s rare earths occupy 90% of the global market, and its exports last year were only US$489 million.
So why did the US government spend so much money but achieve no results? What is the root cause of the problem?
Two reasons.
First, the rare earth refining technology of European and American countries is far behind that of China.
The refining of rare earths is not only a question of whether or not it can be done, but also purity is crucial. Take the United States for example, their original technology could only refine rare earths to 3 nines, or 99.9% purity. Now they can mass-produce rare earths to 4 nines, and those to 5 nines are still in the laboratory. China, however, can purify all mass-produced rare earths to 6 nines and is currently developing 7 nines.
The purity of rare earths has a great impact on their applications, because even a little bit of impurities will cause performance and stability to drop exponentially. For example, in some high-precision engines, if the added rare earths are not pure enough, the heat resistance will be an order of magnitude worse.
After years of globalization, some of America’s top technological products have their design parameters planned based on the use of Chinese rare earths. If they are suddenly switched to American rare earths, the products will have obvious shortcomings and may even have to be redesigned.
The second reason, They do not have the mechanism of concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks like China.
Projects are started for a while and then stopped for a while, policies change every day, and each state and enterprise is fighting on its own. There is no national industrial plan at all. This is like everyone pulling a cart together, you go east, he goes west, and some people want to take a break anytime and anywhere, so of course you can’t reach your destination.
Moreover, another characteristic of the rare earth industry is that it requires large initial investment but has slow returns. If the cost is not reduced, it will have no market competitiveness and can only wait to die.
Author Note :
Yes the US is a bullshit country that hyped spaceX to go to mars, yet they haven’t put theirs into the orbit. This is what happened when your country has too much slogan of lies, smearing China can only copy so you don’t know the real reason why China is the only country on the planet that become a world manufactured. What a disgusting western cvilization.
Weird And Unbelievable Things Are Happening Around The World
Who was the most entitled person you ever met?
In college, my girlfriend was having a party with her friends in her dorm room. Out of nowhere, her roommate, Ashley, started going on a rant about how all poor people are lazy and just need to work harder.
Ashley had never known anything except daddy’s money. So my girlfriend just snapped when she heard that. She came from a less fortunate family, so she challenged Ashley to try living in her house for 1 week.
She accepted and called her dad to make sure it was okay. Upon hearing her say it was to prove that washing a few dishes isn’t hard.
He realized just how out of touch with reality his daughter was, so he accepted.
As soon as Ashley got to the house, she apparently started throwing a temper tantrum after seeing the single bed she had to sleep on.
She did nothing but complain.
And after the 1st day, she started outright refusing to do any chores as they were below her.
She was genuinely confused as to why my girlfriend wouldn’t just save up for a maid.
Apparently, Ashley came back to their dorm room on the 3rd day, so she asked her mom what happened.
Her mom told her she asked Ashley to take the food compost outside and wheel it to the curb.
After that, Ashley said something that drove her mom to just kick her out of the house completely.
What is the average pension for a US postal worker?
I’m going to give you the answers for FERS employees. There is almost no CSRS left.
Before 62 years old. 1% of your high three years times years of service.
Say you started at 24 and now your 60. 36 years. Your high three earning years. Base only. Not including overtime. Lets say $75,000 a year. The pension would be $27,000 a year. $2250 per month. FERS contributes to Social Security. Figure another $2500 a month for that when you hit 62. If you take it then.
Those are rough estimates. There is also TSP. That can be lucrative assuming you invested wisely.
After 62 it goes to 1.1% per year at your high three. In that above example at 36 years at 1.1% at $75,000 it would be a pension of $29,700. $2475 a month. Plus your Social Security. Close to $5000 a month total.
I know some people would consider that alot.
Health insurance, income tax are deducted from that pension. That also makes your SS taxable.
Then more than likely you’re going to go for Medicare part B. That’s another $185 a month gone.
There are things like the military buy back. That adds time to your calculations.
For more exact info go to OPM.gov. Click on retirement. You can look at FERS and CSRS. Law Enforcement like Postal Inspectors are under a different system too. They have forced age related retirement at a higher percentage.
I’ll tell you from personal experience. Most people, Especially the letter carriers earn that pension and retirement.
Americans Are Flocking to RedNote – The TikTok Alternative Changing Social Media!
Are you getting as tired of all the talk of China invading Taiwan as I am?
My wish for 2025 is that all this talk of China invading Taiwan would stop.
I see no signs of China invading Taiwan, which seems very popular in the US and India. For the US, I can understand it because US defense contractors want to make money selling weapons to Taiwan, and Congress wants to provoke China with Taiwan.
The problem with using Taiwan as the stick to provoke China is that as China gets more powerful, the Taiwan stick gets smaller and weaker. Have you noticed that in Taiwan, there is less talk of Taiwan independence? The Taiwan independence advocates know that the situation is changing, and when trends are not changing in their favor, it makes more sense to be quiet. Especially when Trump says that he wants Taiwan to defend itself in case of war with China, not necessarily the US.
China shows no signs of preparing to invade Taiwan, but the authorities are definitely tightening flights around Taiwan and its naval presence. All signs are that Xi is focused on keeping the PRC economy on an even keel in terms of new job creation, sourcing technology from Chinese companies, and promoting exports of Chinese products, especially EVs, all over the world. There are no signs of China preparing for an invasion.
As for the US, it remains to be seen if Trump can get enough broad support to reshape the US economy for the future. For too long, the Biden administration have been using Russia, Ukraine and China as distractions for Americans, keeping the US from much overdue reforms and changes to keep the US competitive.
As for India, I have no idea what they are doing. It seems like many Indias have trouble stopping themselves from fantasizing about competing with China, when they should talk much less and focus on hard tasks in order to make India more competitive.
GF Complained His Doctorate & $130k Starting Salary Wasn’t “Ambitious Enough”, Now She’s Crying…
Elvis Has Left the Planet
Submitted into Contest #210 in response to: Set your story after aliens have officially arrived on Earth.… view prompt
John K Adams
“Coffee. Gotta have coffee. My kingdom for a cup!”
His kids, Lucy and Rex, looking at the morning paper, barely reacted. They’d heard it many times. Rex focused on the sports section. Lucy commandeered the calendar page.
“Where’s your mother?” He began making coffee.
Monica, still in her robe and slippers, stood at the kitchen door. “Here. What a night! Dogs barking. Lights flashing…” Dean rolled his eyes. “You too?”
“Like the good old days, huh?”
She smiled wanly. “Ready for school, kids?”
They mumbled an affirmative. Dean read over Lucy’s shoulder.
“Damn! I wanted tickets…”
Monica looked at him. “To?”
“Taylor Swift’s show sold out…”
“Never, never gonna…”
“How many people…” Dean grabbed the front page. “Oh my god! Look! Aliens have landed!”
Rex ran to look. “Wow! Space aliens, Dad!”
Monica shuffled up behind him. “Where?”
Dean read, “Just outside Bakersfield! Close!” They locked eyes. “Easy drive.”
Monica said, “You mean…?”
Lucy said, “Could we?”
Rex yelled, “Yay!” He began dancing. “Goin’ to see the aliens!”
“What about school?”
“So, they miss a day. Once in a lifetime… Remembered forever.”
“We’ll write a note. Grab your stuff. Oh, I’m a mess!” Monica ran out.
Dean called in sick from work. “RV’s gassed up… Traveling in style!”
“Don’t forget sunscreen!”
Lucy changed into a polka-dot party dress and found favorite lipstick. Rex raced around making sci-fi noises.
“All stocked up. Let’s hit it!”
The kids ran to the RV.
Monica stopped Dean and did a twirl. “How do I look?”
“Out of this world!” They laughed.
Dean pulled onto the highway. Traffic was light.
Lucy asked, “Think they’re friendly, Dad?”
“Of course. We’d know by now if they weren’t.”
“Pow! Pow!” Rex aimed his finger at his sister.
She pushed his hand away. “Cut it out, Rex. Fingers don’t shoot lasers.”
“Mine does.”
“Then be careful picking your nose…”
Traffic bunched up about twenty miles out. Roadside souvenir stands sold t-shirts and google-eye glasses. A sign touted ‘extra-terressed kettle corn,’ and toys. Traffic crawled by a guy selling tin foil hats from the back of his truck. Dean thought, ‘What a geek.’
“Dad! Can I get one of those?”
“There’ll be plenty of stuff to buy, Rex. You won’t wear that.”
“But I will. Promise. They’re cool. I always wanted one.”
Dean pulled over and found parking. A family walked by eating ‘alien’ funnel cakes.
“Anyone hungry?”
Monica and Lucy declined. Rex wanted everything and now.
“Lucy, sure you don’t want a hat?”
“No thanks. Hate hat hair…”
They perused the t-shirt selection at another stand. Lucy held some up for her mother’s opinion.
“‘Take me to your breeder,’ is boxy. ‘I lean alien’ is nice. You like the color?”
“Chartreuse clashes with everything I have.”
They piled back onto the RV and edged into the slow, steady traffic. A billboard featured pictures of classic movie aliens. It advertised the theme park that hadn’t existed 48 hours before.
Lucy looked from her phone. “I just googled,” she said. “They’ve landed all around the world. Say they come in peace.”
“Good to know,” said Monica.
“But what do they want?” asked Dean.
Lucy said, “It says the rocket came from the planet ‘Bop.’”
“Never heard of it.” Monica laughed.
“Good beat. Easy to dance to,” Dean added.
Rex asked Lucy “What are they talking about?” She shrugged.
The traffic began to move as it split into streams for parking.
The giant rocket loomed in the distance.
Rex could only say, “Wow!”
The family found parking and joined the crowd migrating toward the rocket. A ramp came into view. A low stage stood at its base. People gathered as if for a show.
The crowd cheered as a figure dressed in white began descending the ramp. It raised his arms in greeting. A glittering white cape wafted behind him.
Dean stopped. “Wait, what? Did I make a wrong turn and end up in Vegas?”
Lucy said, “Is that…?”
“It looks like…”
Monica shouted. “It’s Elvis! He’s so dreamy.”
Rex said, “That’s not Elvis. He’s fake.”
Lucy bit her knuckle and said, “But he’s still dreamy.”
Cell phones began pinging. Lucy checked hers.
“They’re inviting earthlings to planet Bop.” She summarized. “When they left Bop, Elvis was in style here. Due to the vast distance traveled, their fashion trends lagged.”
Her phone pinged several more times.
She said, “China rejected this invitation. They say Elvis is an American propaganda tool.”
Monica said, “All I know, is he’s dreamy.”
Rex and Dean shrugged at each other.
Lucy said, “They’re desperate to repopulate their planet. Everyone looks like Elvis. They have no females. Everyone’s invited. A good time will be had by all.”
The women surged forward and lined up at the ramp’s base.
As if sleep walking, Lucy joined the line. Monica looked at Dean.
He said, “You must be joking.”
“I’m sorry, Dean. You can’t argue with dreamy.” She took Lucy’s hand and looked back at him.
He nodded. “I understand. Go…”
Monica wiped a tear from her eye and turned away. She and Lucy jumped up and waved to the Elvis alien.
Dean called out. “I’ll miss you…”
“What are Mom and Lucy thinking, Dad?”
Dean watched them. “Good question. You’re a smart kid. I don’t get it.”
“They look happy.”
“I hope so.”
The crowd surged to safety at the sight of another spaceship approaching. Shaped like a saucer, it landed a hundred yards from the rocket. The updraft made the long flaps around its perimeter flutter and fly up.
It settled. A portal opened and a ramp emerged.
A voice like honey announced, “Greetings! We come from the planet ‘Hubba.’”
An alien emerged and walked gracefully down the ramp. Its white dress moved hypnotically with every step. The crowd of men swayed as the alien descended with an alluring smile.
Dean’s mouth dropped open. “Marilyn…”
“Wow! She’s prettier than Mom!”
“Shhh!”
From the line of women, Lucy said, “That’s not Marilyn.”
Rex pulled at Dean’s sleeve. “Who’s Marilyn?”
The men silently lined up to board the saucer. Thousands of people stood in two lines. No one spoke.
Throughout the crowd, I-phones pinged. People broke from the lines and walked to their cars.
Dean called out. “Lucy! What’s going on?”
She held up her phone. “Look, Dad… Taylor Swift tickets!”
“Unbelievable!” He shouted, “Use the app, Lucy. Use the app! Did you get the tickets?”
She tapped her phone and, grinning, nodded.
Dean pumped the air. “Yes!” He waved at Monica and Lucy. “Let’s go!”
They broke free from the crowd and ran to the RV.
The alien Elvis and Marilyn watched as the lines dissolved. Turning, they saw each other. Each stepped from their stages and shimmied toward each other in a silent dance.
Dean’s family boarded the RV. He idled forward as cars approached the exit.
He looked at Monica sitting in the seat beside him and reached out.
“I love you…”
She took his hand and smiled. “I love you too…”
Entering the highway, they rolled toward home. The souvenir stands they’d seen earlier had packed up and left.
Rex said, “Man! I didn’t even get a t-shirt!”
Dean said, “Wear your tin foil hat, kid. I paid good money for that.”
He looked at the solid line of cars leading away from the spaceships.
“Will you look at the traffic!”
A Scruffy Stray Cat Begs for Food Through the Window Out of Hunger
What is the most badass thing your parent has ever done?
I was 16 years old. It was my very first job. I worked in fast food. One day, the manager was talking to another employee when I walked by. He grabbed me by the upper arm and slammed me against the counter and screamed that he was talking to me. I answered his question and thought nothing more about it.
That night at home, I was wearing a short sleeved t-shirt. My dad asked what happened to my arm. I looked down and realized there was a handprint where my manager had grabbed me. I, not really concerned about it, told my dad about the incident at work. Nothing more was said.
The next morning, Dad said he was driving me to work because he had some errands to run nearby. When we got to my job, he got out and came in with me. He said he’d never been in the restaurant and wanted to see where I worked.
We walked into the restaurant and Dad pointed to the manager and asked if he was my boss and the one who had grabbed me. I confirmed it. Suddenly, Dad walked over to him and just laid him out with one solid punch to the face. Then, he pulled him up by his shirt collar and said “Don’t ever touch another one of these kids again. Especially my daughter.”. He dropped the guy back on the ground and told me to get my stuff because we were leaving and he wouldn’t allow me to work for such a person.
Shorpy
Golden Mushroom Roast
The gravy is scrumptious!
Ingredients
- 1 (4 to 5 pound) beef roast
- 1 large can mushroom stems pieces, drained
- 1 can golden mushroom soup
- 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix
Instructions
- Place roast in slow cooker.
- Mix together remaining ingredients and pour over roast.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.
Lol! “Government regulations are Communism.”
How close are Xi Jinping and his “government” to being thrown out by mainland Chinese citizens?
Notice there are no barricades?
The people have been told not to go beyond the white line and they are disciplined enough to follow the simple instruction
Xi walks fearlessly among his people
These guys aren’t here because the CPC paid them or for free food
They are here to talk to Xi Jinping and tell him how the policies of Beijing are helping or not helping them
If these guys fell on him and wounded him, he doesn’t have adequate security also
All these men are 50+ years old and useless as security guards
Very different from when he is outside China
He has younger, stronger and efficient security all around him when he is in Russia or US or India
Again there are no barricades here
These people come to listen to Xi and tell him their problems and whether his policies in Beijing are working or not
He doesn’t have 3 layers of Barricades, Police and SPG
The possibility of Xi overthrown by Mainlanders is very very low
He isn’t corrupt, selfish or greedy
He has made their life infinitely better
He has ensured that the worst floods have not been able to destroy their livelihoods
He is a people’s leader
One of the very few in the world today
It’s why he is so supremely confident within China
Title: Sir Whiskerton and the Case of the Bigcat Takeover: A Feline Feud
Ah, dear reader, welcome back to another tail—er, tale—of intrigue, humor, and the occasional fur-raising showdown. Today’s story is a claw-some adventure that pits Sir Whiskerton against not one, but two rival cats, each with their own unique brand of mischief. Enter Bigcat, a burly feline with a penchant for muscle and a plan to take over the farm. Add in Catnip, the sly schemer, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos. But wait—there’s more! Our dear Ratso, the farm’s resident rodent, finds himself entangled in a love story straight out of a Film Noir classic, complete with a “Dumb Blonde Dame” named Echo. So grab your popcorn, dear reader, and prepare for a story filled with puns, punchlines, and a little bit of romance.
The Arrival of Bigcat
It all began on a crisp autumn morning, the kind where the air smells like hay and the promise of mischief. I was lounging on my favorite fencepost, keeping an eye on the farm, when I heard a deep, rumbling voice that made my whiskers twitch.
“Listen up, furballs,” the voice boomed. “This farm belongs to me now. The name’s Bigcat, and I’m here to take over.”
I turned to see a massive, muscle-bound cat strutting into the barnyard. His fur was a patchwork of scars, his tail swished like a whip, and his biceps bulged as if he’d been lifting hay bales for fun. Behind him trailed a motley crew of alley cats, all looking equally tough and equally ridiculous.
“Bigcat?” I muttered, hopping down from the fence. “More like Big-ego.”
“Whiskerton!” Rufus barked, skidding to a stop beside me. “We’ve got a problem. Bigcat’s trying to claim the farm!”
“I can see that,” I said, flicking my tail. “But don’t worry, Rufus. This farm has survived worse than a tomcat with a Napoleon complex.”
Before I could intervene, Catnip appeared, slinking out of the shadows with his usual smirk. “Well, well,” he purred. “If it isn’t Bigcat. I was wondering when you’d show up.”
“Catnip,” Bigcat growled, narrowing his eyes. “You’re still skulking around this dump? I thought you’d have moved on to greener pastures by now.”
“Oh, I’m quite comfortable here,” Catnip said, flicking his tail. “But I must say, your timing is impeccable. I was just about to make my move on the farm.”
“Your move?” Bigcat snorted. “This farm is mine. You’re just a flea-bitten con artist.”
“And you’re just a walking furball with delusions of grandeur,” Catnip shot back.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Gentlemen, as much as I’d love to watch you two bicker, this farm isn’t up for grabs. So why don’t you both take your egos and scram?”
Bigcat and Catnip turned to me, their eyes narrowing in unison. “Stay out of this, Whiskerton,” they said in perfect harmony.
The Farm Reacts
Word of Bigcat’s arrival spread faster than a mouse in a cheese factory. The chickens were in a tizzy, the cows were mooing nervously, and even the geese—usually so bold—were keeping their distance.
“Oh, Sir Whiskerton!” Doris the hen clucked, flapping her wings. “What are we going to do? Bigcat’s so… big!”
“Big! But also so scary!” Harriet added.
“Scary! Oh, I can’t bear it!” Lillian screeched, fainting into a pile of hay.
“Calm down, everyone,” I said, flicking my tail. “Bigcat may be big, but he’s not invincible. We’ll handle this.”
Meanwhile, Ratso the rat was having a crisis of his own. He’d been skulking around the barn, muttering to himself, when he bumped into Echo, a new arrival to the farm. Echo was a sleek, silver-furred rat with a voice like honey and a penchant for dramatic gestures.
“Oh, Ratso,” Echo purred, batting her eyelashes. “You’re so… mysterious. Tell me, do you always skulk in the shadows, or is it just for me?”
Ratso blinked, his whiskers twitching. “Uh… I guess I just like the shadows?”
Echo sighed dramatically, clutching her chest. “Oh, how brooding! How enigmatic! You’re like a character straight out of one of those Film Noir movies. You know, the kind where the dame always falls for the tough guy with a heart of gold.”
“Dame?” Ratso said, scratching his head. “I’m just a rat.”
“Nonsense!” Echo said, twirling a strand of her fur. “You’re a hero, Ratso. A dark, brooding hero. And I’m your leading lady.”
Ratso’s cheeks turned pink. “Uh… okay?”
The Bigcat-Catnip Showdown
Back in the barnyard, Bigcat and Catnip were still at each other’s throats. Bigcat had claimed the hayloft as his “throne,” while Catnip had set up shop in the chicken coop, much to Doris’s dismay.
“This farm isn’t big enough for the two of us,” Bigcat growled, flexing his claws.
“Agreed,” Catnip said, smirking. “Which is why you should leave.”
“Me?!” Bigcat roared. “You’re the one who’s out of your league, Catnip. This farm needs a strong leader, not a two-bit hustler.”
“And you think that’s you?” Catnip said, rolling his eyes. “Please. You’re all muscle and no brains.”
I stepped between them, my tail flicking impatiently. “Enough! This farm doesn’t belong to either of you. It belongs to all of us. And if you two can’t play nice, you’ll both be sent packing.”
Bigcat and Catnip glared at me, then at each other. “Fine,” Bigcat said. “But this isn’t over.”
“Not by a long shot,” Catnip agreed.
Ratso and Echo’s Noir Romance
While the feline feud raged on, Ratso and Echo’s romance blossomed in the most dramatic way possible. Echo had taken to following Ratso everywhere, speaking in exaggerated Film Noir dialogue.
“Oh, Ratso,” Echo sighed as they strolled through the barn. “The way you nibble that cheese… it’s so… dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” Ratso said, his mouth full. “It’s just cheddar.”
“Cheddar?” Echo gasped, clutching her chest. “Oh, Ratso, you’re so humble. So… real. It’s intoxicating.”
Ratso blinked, unsure how to respond. “Uh… thanks?”
Meanwhile, the other animals couldn’t help but notice the odd couple.
“What’s with those two?” Rufus asked, tilting his head.
“Love,” I said, smirking. “Or at least, a very dramatic version of it.”
The Resolution
In the end, Bigcat and Catnip’s feud fizzled out when they realized they were both more interested in causing trouble than actually running the farm. With a little persuasion (and a well-timed hiss from me), they agreed to leave the farm in peace.
As for Ratso and Echo, their romance continued to flourish, with Echo’s dramatic flair adding a touch of Hollywood glamour to the barnyard.
The moral of the story, dear reader, is this: sometimes, the biggest threats are all bark and no bite. And when it comes to love, a little drama can make life more interesting—just don’t let it go to your head.
Until next time, my friends.
The End.
Are Trump tariffs on Taiwan a serious geopolitical miscalculation on top of the tariffs on his three main trade partners?
The situation in Taiwan is the same as that in Canada. Trump directly named Taiwan and imposed high tariffs on it. It was the Taiwan DPP authorities who made the wrong bet, and Trump is seeking revenge.
- Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, whom Tsai Ing-wen had previously spent a huge amount of money to invite, is Trump’s political archenemy.
- Lai Ching-te recently invited Mike Pence, who backstabbed Trump in 2004. Even Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who had previously criticized Elon Musk, also helped Lai Ching-te shirk responsibility, but the Taiwan DPP authorities do not take the current US President Donald Trump seriously at all and have no idea about the direction of the US political situation.
Since the Taiwan DPP authorities want to interfere in the internal affairs of the United States, they must face Trump’s wrath. This is the same all over the world.
As a chess piece, Taiwan should have the awareness of being a chess piece and not dream of being a chess player.
Now that Trump has ascended the throne, imposing high tariffs on Taiwan is just the beginning. The White House’s tough policy toward Taiwan is still to come, and the Taiwan DPP authorities can only wait to be dealt with by Trump.
The DPP authorities in Taiwan are a group of idiots who don’t understand international politics. They are courting their own destruction and cannot blame anyone else.
The US has been scattering some of its forces from the first island chain to the second and third island chains lately, and Taiwan has been abandoned.
U.S. Retreats from First Island Chain, Exposing Taiwan's Cross-Strait Dilemma The Storm Media Editorial, December 20, 2024 The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) recent military activities was described by national security officials as a "silent exercise," with the Ministry of National Defense noting its impressive naval strength and its positioning between the first and second island chains. However, the true nature of this exercise remains unclear. The concept of the Pacific "island chain" still deeply influences the ruling party. During a stopover in Guam on December 5 during his tour of diplomatic allies, President Lai Ching-te "moved" Guam to the vicinity of Taiwan. President Lai claimed that Taiwan and Guam, both located in the first island chain, must closely unite to face the threat of authoritarianism. This highlights the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) strong belief in Taiwan's strategic position within the first island chain, viewing Taiwan as a member of the American-led effort to contain China. Taiwan’s security strategy has heavily relied on this military defense line to counter the mainland. However, this defense line is showing signs of weakness. According to Japanese media, the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa has begun relocating to Guam and Hawaii, with about 9,000 personnel being reassigned. This relocation is a significant warning for Taiwan, symbolizing American "strategic retreat" in the Indo-Pacific region, signaling the weakening deterrence of the first island chain and a shift in the balance of military power between China and the United States. Several key military indicators point to this shift. First, China has entered the "three-carrier era," with one carrier in port for maintenance, another training in the South China Sea, and a third regularly deployed on the outer edge of the first island chain. The original plan of the United States to arm the first island chain as a "forward base" to create an interwoven firepower network has been undermined by China's growing naval strength. Additionally, China’s launch of the Dongfeng-31AG ICBM in late September, with a range of 11,700 kilometers, can now reach Hawaii in the third island chain. On October 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected the Rocket Force, showcasing the Dongfeng-26 missile, with a range covering Guam in the second island chain. These developments indicate that the first island chain, once a frontline of American military projection, is now facing fractures. Northeast Asia's geopolitical situation is also evolving. South Korea’s U.S.-friendly government is on the brink of collapse due to a recent martial law crisis, while Japan led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba avoids explicitly stating that the a crisis in the Taiwan Strait is equivalent to a crisis for Japan. With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's impending return to the White House, President Joe Biden's efforts to build a democratic alliance in Northeast Asia are nearing collapse, which could disrupt U.S.-Japan-Korea security cooperation. American retr...
What does the geopolitics of the United States have to do with Trump? Even the hegemony of the US dollar has nothing to do with Trump. Let’s pay more attention to the impact of Trump Meme on the hegemony of the US dollar! 😂😂😂
Celestial Harmonies: Unveiling the Symphony of the Universe
Submitted into Contest #210 in response to: Write about a character who has to grapple with something completely alien to them.… view prompt
Turey Rosa
Poetic.
As I set up my campsite in the verdant heart of El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s stunning rainforest, I murmured to myself, “Alex, you’ve finally made it.” Nestled near the captivating Río La Coca, a waterfall’s ceaseless cascade echoed the rhythm of this untouched wilderness, hypnotizing me with its majesty. This journey was my self-prescribed sabbatical—an endeavor to escape the mundane and lose myself in the arms of nature’s raw beauty. When dusk arrived, the rainforest filled with the soft symphony of its nocturnal residents. It was then I ventured deeper into the woods, lured by the prospect of foraging for berries. Unbeknownst to me, this simple act was about to propel me into an extraordinary encounter that would irrevocably shape the trajectory of my existence.
In the midst of this tranquil realm, as the orchestra of life played on around me, my footsteps carried me to a secluded oasis, yet my senses were abruptly seized by a sight so bewildering, it defied every realm of possibility. Before me stood a figure that seemed to have materialized from the fringes of imagination—an entity of diminutive stature, its skin a hue of verdant green that harmonized seamlessly with the emerald foliage.
Yet, it was not the creature’s otherworldly appearance that ensnared my attention, but the focus of its fascination that stirred curiosity and wonder within me. Standing solitary, a single sunflower bathed in the moon’s ethereal glow was the spectacle in this enchanted realm. The creature’s gaze, fixated on the sunflower, was a sight so remarkable that it cast a spell upon the very air itself.
Perplexed, I stepped forward, inadvertently snapping a twig beneath my feet. The alien’s gaze, once captivated by the sunflower’s radiance, pivoted toward me, our eyes locking in a moment of electrifying astonishment. A pulsating silence enveloped us, as if the universe itself held its breath, bearing witness to this extraordinary encounter.
An unspoken understanding emerged, transcending language and the limitations of mere existence. Neither of us recoiled from the other’s presence; instead, an unquenchable curiosity united us in a shared exploration of the inexplicable. In the heart of El Yunque, a silent conversation began—one that would weave the fabric of reality and fiction into an intricate tapestry of revelations.
With a beckoning gesture from the alien’s hand, the stillness shattered, drawing me into an intimate embrace of the arcane encounter. My initial shock yielded to cautious intrigue as I approached the green-skinned being. There was a palpable aura of friendliness enveloping its form. Accepting the alien’s invitation, I sat beside it, both of us facing the resplendent sunflower that had ignited this marvelous rendezvous.
The alien extended its small, verdant hand in a movement both fluid and surreal, seeming like a symbol of universal goodwill. An instinctive impulse propelled my hand to meet the alien’s in a gesture that surpassed language’s boundaries. This fleeting touch fostered an exchange that transcended the confines of words. Our minds intertwined in a fusion of consciousness, bridging worlds and cultures.
Through this unprecedented communion, the alien swiftly absorbed my language, erasing the veil of separation that had initially stood between us. Thus a gateway to understanding had been unlocked, paving the way so the true conversation could finally commence—a dialogue that spanned galaxies, dimensions, and the enigmas of existence.
As the alien’s gaze returned to the sunflower, a scroll of secrets started to unfurl. Its words flowed like a symphony, each note unveiling a profound revelation. “The golden ratio,” the alien’s voice resonated, resembling a melody whispered through the eons, “is the cipher of creation, a language inscribed in the very foundations of reality.”
In the embrace of the rainforest, the alien spun a tale of the golden ratio—an intricate pattern embedded within existence itself. With every word, the sunflower’s spiral seemed to morph into a portal, a window peering into the structure of space-time. “Observe the sunflower’s petals,” the alien continued, “a glimpse of the divine proportion, a whisper of the cosmos’ intricate gyration.”
The rainforest bore witness as the alien unveiled the golden ratio’s manifestations, from the spirals of galaxies to the delicate curvature of seashells. Each revelation was a note in the cosmic symphony, a testament to the unfathomable intelligence that permeated the universe.
As the final echoes of the alien’s words resonated within me, the sunflower before us began to radiate with an otherworldly brilliance, as if echoing the cosmic truths that had been revealed. Even the rainforest around us seemed to hum in harmony, a symphony of life bearing witness to the wisdom that had been shared.
With a sense of reverence, the alien’s gaze lifted towards the star-lit sky above us, its slender finger reaching out to trace the path of a distant constellation—Orion’s Belt. Among the glittering jewels of the night, one star on the belt’s periphery seemed to pulsate with a unique light, a pharos marking the origin and home of my mysterious companion.
In a moment suspended beyond the constraints of time, I became privy to the alien’s narrative—a story of an aquatic world, a planet predominantly cloaked in boundless oceans. A tale of evolution, where it’s species had risen from the depths to traverse land, a leap that spanned mere cosmic moments.
With bated breath, I listened as the alien wove its saga, revealing a kinship that transcended the chasm between our worlds. An evolution mirroring our own insatiable thirst for exploration, a quest to transcend limitations and redefine existence.
Beneath the canopy of El Yunque rainforest, a profound connection was woven—a pact binding humanity and an interstellar voyager. With a gift bestowed upon me, the alien bid its farewell, each step it took leaving a lingering mist in its wake, a reminder of its ethereal presence.
In my return to my everyday reality, a relentless obsession consumed me. The cryptic artifact held my gaze, its mysterious equation acting like a siren’s call, beckoning me into the depths of cosmic understanding. Symbols and letters converged in a complex pattern, revealing a mosaic of surreal riddles that seemed to cradle the very essence of the universe itself.”
Every night, the artifact rested on my desk, bathed in the soft glow of lamplight, casting a mesmerizing pattern on the walls. I had become consumed, driven by an insatiable hunger to unravel its meaning.
I pored over scientific texts, delved into ancient philosophies, and explored realms of knowledge I had never ventured into before.
My determination was unrelenting, my thirst for understanding unquenchable. As the weeks rolled on, my mind transformed into a crucible of contemplation, where the universe’s secrets melded with my thoughts. My apartment had become a sanctuary of intellectual exploration, its walls adorned with intricate notes, equations, and diagrams.
I had become a modern alchemist, seeking to transmute the enigma before me into the pure gold of comprehension.
Each day, as I deciphered more of the equation’s layers, I felt myself drawn deeper into the riddle. The symbols began to resonate, their harmony echoing through my thoughts.
It was as if the universe itself whispered its truths to me, guiding me through a labyrinth of interconnected revelations. And then, one fateful night, as the moon cast its silvery gaze upon my realm of exploration, it happened.
A connection sparked in my mind, a thread of insight that wove through the equation’s complexity. The symbols aligned, the letters coalesced, and the meaning bloomed like a celestial flower in full bloom.
With trembling hands, I traced the lines of the equation, my heart pounding in anticipation. The riddles that had tormented me for weeks now coalesced into a symphony of understanding—a melody that intertwined with the very fabric of existence.
The message unfolded, revealing a truth that transcended the boundaries of science and philosophy. It was a revelation that echoed the cosmic beauty of the stars, a dance governed not by an external hand but by the intricate choreography of natural forces.
The message whispered of a universe born not from a predetermined blueprint, but from the crucible of experimentation—a universe where elements collided, conditions intertwined, and time sculpted the ever-evolving tableau of reality.
It spoke of the elegance of trial and error, the interplay of creation and destruction that gave birth to galaxies and the tiniest particles alike. with a continued trial and success. My heart raced as I beheld the equation’s unveiled meaning, a truth that shattered conventional perceptions.
The universe, it seemed, was not a masterpiece orchestrated by a divine conductor, but a grand improvisation—a cosmic dance that defied preconceived notions and embraced the fluidity of existence.
U=f(E,C,P,T,I) U—The universe and its phenomena, the ultimate reality. E—The elemental building blocks, the very alphabet of creation. C—Conditions, the stage upon which the cosmic drama unfolds. P—The heartbeat of trial and error, the rhythm of exploration. T—Time, the master sculptor shaping the universe’s ever-evolving form. I—Interactions, the cosmic conversations that weave existence.
This equation, once an enigma, now spoke a profound truth. The universe was not a mere product of calculation, but an intricate blend of elements, conditions, and interactions—a tunefulness of cosmic forces harmonizing through the eons.
As dawn bathed my room in gentle light, I sat in admiration, a witness to a revelation that transcended the boundaries of human understanding. The cryptic artifact had granted me a glimpse into the tapestry of existence, a tapestry woven by the universe itself—a universe that embraced the beauty of imperfection, the majesty of experimentation, and the exquisite allure of the unknown. And as the final pieces of the puzzle fell into place, I knew that this journey was not just mine alone. It was a revelation meant to be shared, a message that would echo through the corridors of time, resonating with those who dared to question, to explore, and to merge with the cosmos itself.
In the heart of my apartment, amidst the remnants of countless calculations and sleepless nights, I felt a profound sense of fulfillment. I had deciphered the equation, unraveled the code, and in doing so, become a part of the universe’s eternal symphony—a symphony that would forever serenade the stars and inspire the hearts of those who dared to listen.
Essay.
In the heart of El Yunque rainforest, where the verdant foliage meets the ceaseless cascade of Río La Coca, a self-prescribed sabbatical led Alex to an otherworldly encounter. As the nocturnal residents serenaded the rainforest’s dusk, curiosity lured him deeper into the woods. What followed was an extraordinary rendezvous with an entity of verdant green, an interstellar voyager, and a shared exploration of the inexplicable.
This diminutive figure, cloaked in an emerald hue, fixated its gaze on a solitary sunflower. It was not its appearance that captivated Alex, but the focus of its fascination. This alien being, from a distant aquatic world, held a kinship with humanity’s thirst for exploration—an evolution mirroring our journey from ocean depths to land traversal.
An unspoken understanding transcended language as their minds intertwined in an exchange that spanned galaxies and dimensions. United by curiosity, Alex and the alien embarked on a silent conversation that wove reality and fiction into intricate revelations.
In the embrace of the rainforest, the alien unveiled the cosmic significance of the golden ratio—a divine proportion embedded within existence. From galaxies to seashells, this pattern, symbolized by the sunflower’s petals, resonated through the fabric of reality—a language inscribed in the foundations of creation.
The alien’s narrative, a tale of evolution on its aquatic planet, mirrored humanity’s quest for exploration. As it traced Orion’s Belt in the starlit sky, Alex became privy to a story that transcended the chasm between their worlds, revealing a profound connection.
The encounter’s aftermath saw Alex grappling with a cryptic artifact—a mesmerizing equation that encapsulated the universe’s secrets. Driven by an unquenchable thirst for understanding, he delved into scientific texts, ancient philosophies, and uncharted realms of knowledge.
Weeks of tireless contemplation led to an electrifying moment—a connection sparked, threads of insight weaving through the equation’s complexity. Symbols aligned, letters coalesced, and the meaning bloomed, whispering cosmic truths. The revelation: the universe was an improvisation, a dance of elements, conditions, interactions, and time—a symphony of creation and destruction.
This revelation shattered conventional perceptions, leading Alex to an equation that defied the notion of a predetermined universe. With trembling hands, he traced the equation, discovering a harmony that embraced the fluidity of existence—an equation that spoke of the universe’s complexity and beauty.
In the glow of dawn, a sense of fulfillment washed over Alex. He had unraveled the code, becoming part of the universe’s eternal symphony—an exploration meant to be shared, a message resonating with those who dared to listen.
Why don’t other countries buy USA-made cars?
In 2023 the biggest car exporter of the United States was:
Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW)
They got this title for the ninth time in a row.
Trump and his MAGA idiots may not know this, but the largest production facility of BMW in the whole world is located in Spartanburg/South Carolina. And they do not only make cars for the U.S. market there, they also export them.
In 2023, 416,000 BMWs were built in Spartanburg. 227,000 of them were exported in about 120 different countries.
Before 2023, most cars made in Spartanburg were sold to China, but the Chinese share dropped from 24.15% to 13.5%. So Germany became the biggest buyer of U.S. made BMWs – 15.5%. Other important target markets were South Korea (12.8%), Canada (7.5%) and UK (5.6%)
So, if you see a BMW X5 somewhere in the world (even in Germany), it is likely that it is made in the U.S.
By the way: One other major exporter of U.S. made cars is Mercedes-Benz. Their production facility in Tuscaloosa/Alabama was founded in 1995, and back then it was the first major Mercedes production site outsides Germany. Since 1997, more than 4 million cars were made in Tuscaloosa, most of them SUV models. According to Mercedes-Benz roughly two thirds of the production is exported.
Nevertheless: When Trump complains that he sees “so many BMWs and Mercedes in our streets”, the reason for that may be that they were built in your country.
Even if the Chinese economy surpasses the US economy, China will still be less advanced than the USA, won’t it?
Dear Americans, have you paid your annual property taxes yet? China does not need to pay the property tax every year, it is only paid once when buying a property.
Dear America, have you paid off your school lunch loan? In China, school lunches in developed cities or regions are free and paid for by the local government, while school lunches in less developed regions are charged at a low price, and the excess is subsidized by the central government. If a child in a Chinese school does not eat lunch, or the lunch is of questionable quality, then the local education chief and the mayor will surely be removed from their posts and held accountable.
Dear America, have you paid off your college loans, which are said to cost more than $20,000 a year at your lowest college? Chinese college students earn only a few thousand yuan a year.
Dear Americans, is it true that the average American buys fresh vegetables and meat (unprocessed) in installments? Ordinary Chinese people buy fresh vegetables and meat at full cost every day.
Dear Americans, your soldiers serve their country, pay their own rent, uniforms and equipment. All expenses for Chinese soldiers are paid by the state.
Dear Americans, your low – and middle-income communities are filled with blood sellers, and low – and middle-income Americans need to sell blood to pay their bills. There are no blood sellers in China.
Dear Americans, the vast majority of you ordinary Americans work at least two jobs, and some even three, just to pay the bills. The vast majority of people in China only work one job, yes only one job.
Dear Americans, if you cry in front of your doctor, you will receive a special crying bill called emotional Distress. In China, if a doctor dares to charge such a fee, the hospital director does not have to work.
Dear Americans, you will be fined heavily for growing vegetables in your own yard. In China, you can grow whatever you want.
Dear Americans, there is a tax on rain falling on your home. In China, if rain falls on a home, anyone who collects the tax will be arrested for taking bribes.
These are just some of the differences between China and the United States, so China is indeed inferior to the United States. The U.S. government and the plutocrats extract money from Americans from all angles and places. In China, if the government had dared to do this, the Chinese would have overthrown the government.
What’s the most disgusting thing you’ve ever seen?
This is the most disgusting experience I’ve ever had. The story is that I was shopping at a mini market for millions of people. There I bought several items, one of which was a pack of sweetened condensed milk like this.
(pic: google, just for illustration)
In one plastic package contains 6 sachets. All sachets are neatly arranged in a tight plastic package. Everything looks normal. Nothing strange. The expiration date is still a long way off. I paid and took it home.
The next day I brought the sachet to the office with the intention of brewing it as an addition to oatmeal this afternoon if I worked overtime. I tore the plastic sachet and took out the sachet while it was still folded. Then I put it in the bottom drawer of my desk to avoid the greedy desires of Siti , our affectionate nickname for the mouse.
Not long after, a strange smell that pierces the nose spread, the smell of cat feces. Sorry, this is true. Co-workers began to check each other to see who had brought or stepped on the sacred object . The entire floor was checked and even mopped again. Initially, it was resolved because the strong aroma of the floor cleaner managed to cover the mysterious smell. But over time the smell reappeared. After investigating more intensively, it turned out that the source of the thicker smell was around my desk.
I just got suspicious, maybe it was from …… Right. The sachet. As soon as I opened the desk drawer, wow… the aroma was getting stronger. I pulled the sachet, it turned out that there was indeed dried cat feces stuck to the sachet wrapper. Because it was neatly folded and inside, it was not visible from the outside. Besides, who would have thought that something like that would happen? Finally, all the sachets were thrown into the trash.
Ugh, it’s so disgusting just remembering it.
All HELL have broken loose!
A pre-emptive strike of Teheran by Israel. It is also the eve of the US Military Parade to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the US Army and it is also Trump birthday. Both Israel and the US are complicit in this war.
Garlic Orange Beef
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak, thinly sliced in strips
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon orange peel, cut into 1 inch long thin strips
- 1 can condensed beefy mushroom soup
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Brown steak strips in oil over medium-high heat. Remove from pan and transfer to slow cooker.
- Top strips with onion, garlic and orange peel.
- Stir soup, water, tomato paste, orange juice and molasses together and pour over mixture in slow cooker. Sprinkle pepper over all.
- Cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
- Serve over hot noodles or rice.
Why were U.S. warships being charged by Panama to transit the Panama Canal?
All ships are charged a toll, as no-one works for free. The US Navy are charged at cost, pilot fee and towing charges, as are ships from any other navy. The Liar-in-Chief would have you believe American ships are charged more than anyone else’s, and guess what, that’s a lie – look it up. How stupid would people have to be to believe a single word that comes out of that imbeciles mouth? You have the internet, get a grown-up to turn it on for you.