I do not remember if I related this story before, but I will relate it now. It’s about a massive earwax buildup.
Ok. So it’s sometime in the late 1990’s and I am cleaning out my ears. I’ve always has an earwax problem. And so I pretty much take the time to clean out the ears when I get a chance. Today, I use long soaks in hot water, but in those days I used hydrogen peroxide to do so.
So I am trying to dislodge this big blockage, and it was so bad that I really couldn’t hear out of my left ear. And I tried and tried.
So I have this massive big blockage, and I tried and tried to remove it, but to no avail. The hydrogen peroxide only caused the wax to get denser and stick into the ear. And sure as shit, don’t you know it, I had to leave for an interview.
So I got on the plane and flew into Western Tennessee to interview at a hot water heater company. Ah… Oh the pain in my head was unbearable. I’ll tell you what!
But a curious thing happened, I met an old colleague of mine there. Yeah, we both worked at Sunbeam-Oster back in the day. And it was a good merry old time reconnecting and all the rest.
Ah. Life happens.
Don’t you know.
So that night, when I got back to my hotel room, I crawled into the tub and soaked my head.
I made super hot water, and I soaked and soaked and soaked. At about the one hour mark, I felt everything discharge. So I held my breath and blew out the blockage. And it was massive… all quickly dissolving in the hot water. I must have had a pint of earwax there. Wholly cow!
Thank God!
And you know what? That was my massive earwax story.
Now, I know youse guys don’t want to hear about all this. You want to hear about what everyone else is talking about. But people(!) real life is not the war in Palestine; is not the President of the United States, and it is not about Ukraine, or Taiwan or whatever else the “news” wants you to concentrate on.
It’s about you.
And me.
And my story of the earwax problem that I could not let be.
And with that, today…
UPDATED 12:28 PM EST — South Korea Declares MARTIAL LAW; First Time in 50 Years
It is a whole new world in South Korea where for the first in almost half a CENTURY an ’emergency martial law’ has been declared over a threat from North Korea.
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday said he had no choice but to resort to such a measure to safeguard free and constitutional order.
He accused opposition parties for allegedly taking hostage of parliament to throw the country into a crisis and for sympathising with North Korea.
‘I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,’ he said.
It has been reported that the parliament building has been shut, with entry and exit blocked to members.
South Korean Democratic Party chair Lee Jae-myung says there is high possibility military is mobilised to arrest members of National Assembly.
Martial law involves the temporary rule by military authorities. It is usually invoked in time of war, rebellion, or natural disaster.
Curfews are usually introduced, in addition to the suspension of civil law and civil rights. Civilians defying martial law being subjected to military tribunals.
Yook did not say in the shock announcement – broadcast live on national television – what specific measures will be taken.
He declared the step as critical for defending the country’s constitutional order.
It was not immediately clear how the steps would affect governance and democracy.
UPDATE 10:36 AM EST —
South Korean Army Chief-of-Staff General Park An-su has CONFIRMED martial law, with the suspension of parliament and political parties. In the (new) image atop this story, the South Korea military is entering the Parliament building. Below, Military helicopters are filling the sky over the capital city, Seoul: He added that the government had imposed control over all media. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol suspended democratic rule in response to preparations by parliament to begin impeachment proceedings against him.
UDATE 11:11 AM EST —
Troops enforcing martial law in South Korea are attempting to enter the building of the National Assembly of the country, and there is a clash with citizens at the entrance. This was reported by the YTN television channel. Citizens gathered at the entrance, including members of parliament, are not allowing a small detachment of soldiers into the building. So far, the civilians have managed to hold back the soldiers. • The parliament has been completely dissolved. • The martial law government has taken control of all municipalities. • The military has seized critical points. • It has been announced that anyone who resists will be shot or arrested.
UPDATE 11:20 AM EST —
"COUP?????" South Korean opposition leader declares a coup, stating "Yoon Suk Yeol is no longer the president of South Korea."
UPDATE 11:34 AM EST —
In the Martial Law Declaration, the President declared the South Korea parliament ‘dissolved.’ BUUUUUT . . . the South Korea Parliament just convened and held a vote to LIFT Martial Law. The vote was 190 to zero. Looks like they’re not complying. Under South Korean law, the Martial Law Act explicitly states that if the National Assembly demands an end to martial law, the president is obligated to revoke it "without any delay." While the Assembly has voted to block President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration, the president has to formally still lift martial law. It is not over, yet. South Korean opposition leader Jae-Myung: “All soldiers still enforcing the martial law decision will be tried for treason.” “There will be consequences for your actions; courts and prisons await you.” On its face, this appears to be pure, governmental chaos going on right now. Likely NOT a good time for the NORTH KOREANS to do anything…I’m guessing that the safeties are off and the South Korean generals are in charge of defense…likely with little to no civilian oversight. A very dangerous time in Korea right now…things could go sideways with the North very quickly and without warning.
Hal Turner Initial Analysis
This could very well be related to Ukraine. Who is it that’s been supplying Russia with millions of artillery shells, ammunition and perhaps even rockets? NORTH KOREA.
If the Korean War is RE-STARTED – because it never actually ended, there is only an Armistice – then North Korea might not be able to continue supplying weaponry to Russia for Ukraine (and Syria.)
1 month ago:
European Union’s Borrell visits South Korea amid alarm over North Korean troops in Russia.
6 days ago:
Ukrainian envoy visits South Korea (they already got part of a loan -$100 million- of the up to $2.1 billion, on Nov 29) but the Koreans opposed sending arms.
4 days ago:
Russian Defense Minister appeared in North Korea for Unannounced Visit.
On its face, this is all connected: Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Georgia, and now, South Korea.
Somebody very powerful, WANTS World War 3. Whoever that is, needs to be “ended.”
UPDATE 12:02 PM EST —
South Korean military is saying the martial law will remain in place until the president officially lifts it.
UPDATE 12:28 PM EST —
South Korea stock markets are in shear chaos:
Richard Wolff: There is NO Way Back! How America MISSED Its LAST Chance To Maintain Global Supremacy
CIA fingerprint is all over the place? CIA’s freedom fighter?
Pakistan PM says militant attacks aimed at thwarting China cooperation
ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (Reuters) – Attacks by separatist militants in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan are aimed at stopping development projects that form part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.
The assaults that began on Sunday, killing more than 70, were the most widespread in years by ethnic militants seeking to win secession of the resource-rich province, home to major China-led projects such as a port and a gold and copper mine.
“The terrorists want to stop CPEC and development projects,” Sharif said in a televised address to cabinet, adding that the militants also wanted to drive a wedge between Islamabad and Beijing.
CPEC, said to have development commitments worth $65 billion, is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative.
Pakistan has not been able to fully build the infrastructure needed to tap mineral resources in poverty-stricken Balochistan, and has sought China’s help in developing the province.
In Beijing, China condemned the attacks and vowed to maintain its support for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.
“China is ready to further strengthen counter-terrorism security co-operation with the Pakistani side in order to jointly maintain regional peace and security,” Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson, told a regular news briefing.
Beijing has previously flagged concerns about the security of its citizens working on projects in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan. Six Chinese engineers working on a dam project were killed in March in the northwest.
Separatist militants have also targeted Balochistan’s deepwater Gwadar port, which is run by China.
One of the groups, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), took responsibility for this week’s simultaneous attacks on police stations, railway lines and highways in the province, the largest but least developed of Pakistan’s four.
Hundreds of its fighters, including seven suicide bombers, participated in the attacks, it said in a statement.
Chinese targets have previously come under attack by several Baloch militant groups, who say they have been fighting for decades for a larger share in the regional wealth of mines and minerals denied by the central government.
The Car Market is a Joke ….. Part 3
Should you throw the first punch in a street fight?
Absolutely.
Strike first, strike HARD, and (maybe) show mercy (legality and all). Striking first doesn’t mean you have to throw the first punch, either.
Most untrained “fighters” telegraph their attacks. When they load one up, beat them to the punch.
This is one of my go-to set ups right here.
Like, the other guy ALMOST threw a punch 😏
Bruce Lee called this a Stop Hit. It’s an advanced strike from a highly aggressive defensive counter fighting method and it’s extremely effective.
This right here was one of the highest concepts Lee expressed in his fighting philosophy, and it epitomized his “Way of the Intercepting Fist” hence his, Tao of Jeet Kune Do was at least in part, based on this concept.
Strike first? Don’t strike first? Your choice. Just don’t get hit!
Therefore, what’s most significant is your ability to control the distance in a confrontation.
I was sucker punched and jumped enough in my youth to learn the hard lesson of never allowing a hostile person to enter my personal space.
No exceptions.
That said, the person that throws the first punch is usually the aggressor and the aggressor is usually the one that has issues with personal boundaries. Generally speaking.
From a self-defense perspective and a legal standpoint (in most places) if someone invades your personal space issuing verbal threats (implied or overt) or they communicate a threat through their body language (feinting, flinching, fist clinching etc.), and most especially if they make physical contact (poking, shoving, pushing, chest bumping, slapping, etc.) you’re now justified in defending yourself with a reasonable amount of force to neutralize the threat.
So, should you throw the first punch in a fight?
Yes, there are numerous instances where doing so would be morally and legally justifiable. Not to mention, advantageous.
E.g. someone gets in your face and shoves you into a wall.
As this exact thing happened to me years ago, I was justified in kicking off the wall for added force and momentum as I ended the conflict with a single right hand closed fist to his nose.
One and done.
[Must Watch] – COL KAREN Kwiatkowski : US Planned to Invade Russia
Yup.
Did you ever get pulled over by a cop when you hadn’t done anything wrong?
Pulled over by two cop cars – state and local police – very late at night during the mid 70’s. My cousin, his girlfriend and I were driving home, up in Putnam County, just above Westchester ( having picked her up from her bartending job). We were smoking a J. All of a sudden there were lights and sirens. We pulled over, saying to ourselves: all this for smoking a J?? WTF!!
It got worse.
After we pulled over, there were screams from the cops: “ out of the car, get your fu____g hands over your heads, feet spread, up against the the car. Do it!!” This as our boys in blue rushed us, guns drawn.
My cousin’s girlfriend recognized one of the cops and called his name (taking her hands down), and yelled, “what is this??” They screamed again: “get your fuc___g hands in the air or we’ll blow your goddam head off,” as they were upon us, guns still pointed at us.
The cop whom my cousin’s girlfriend knew finally said: “Sharon, is that you?? Oh, shit.” To which Sharon said: “Yes, it’s me. WTF is this. What are you doing!!”
The screaming and frisking soon stopped as our friends from law enforcement determined we we ok and not whom they were looking for. Turned out they were not clocking us for smoking a J, but cuz three people, two males and a female, in a similar car. had just robbed a motel for its safe’s contents – at gunpoint. Luckily for us, two of the cops were regulars at Sharon’s bar and quickly recognized her – but they still finished the frisk. And they finally did apologize.
We needed a drink after this hair raising encounter.
What is something that completely blows your mind?
How to train new Vietnamese soldiers to become disciplined?
Obviously, punishment if they make a mistake is a common way. Let’s take a look at how the Vietnamese commander punishes their soldiers.
- Got caught smoking? No problem. You would be smoked as many as you want but at a higher level.
2. Don’t forget to heal the relationship after fighting with your comrade.
3. One of the roommates gets up late, the rest will be taking care of his sleep under the sun.
4. One man defecates into the vegetable garden, the whole squad has to pass each other the dung into the toilet.
5. One man got caught stealing a mango; he had to stay in front of and say sorry to the mango tree 1000 times: “Sorry comrade mango”.
6. Four men got caught playing cards. The commander gives them four shovels then orders them to dig a real grave, 500m away from the base. Then order them to bring each of the cards (each man each corner of the card) to the grave, walking, crying at the same time. There are 52 cards — could you calculate the length of the road that they have done?
7. There was a guy who has stinking feet. His feet stink out to the room so the whole squad rushed to hit him. The squad was punished by smelling his shoes in one hour at 12 A.M.
8. One man gathers late because of buying a bottle of water on the way heading to the training ground. He was punished by bringing along the bottle, crawling to the store where he bought the bottle, and go back 20 times.
9. Four men got caught playing cards; the commander brought them to the football court. They played cards with four men standing at four corners of the court. Each turn, the player must run to the center of court then put the card there and run back.
10. (This is my personal experience) One time, my neighbor squad didn’t want to sleep. They were chatting and laughing after sleep time. The commander ordered them to come in front of the rubbish dump and smile to the trash bin. “You will be forgiven when the trash bin smiles back at you”, The commander said.
There are countless other funny punishments in the Vietnam military environment. All the newbie will catch one of that stuff. Those punishments really work, most people step out from the military environment become disciplined and polite.
My Nurse GF Cheated And Got Preg When I Lost My Job, Now I’m Making More Money And She Wants Me Back
Crazy stuff regarding relationships. Ugh!
Has a nurse been inappropriate to you?
Bearing in mind that inappropriate behavior is in the eye of the beholder.
Yes I have had a nurse behave inappropriately towards me, in my opinion.
A few years ago, I had a heart attack and had been in hospital for a few days. I am blind and as the doctor had said that I would be okay getting up, having a shower and going to the bathroom with some assistance, I asked for guidance to the bathroom.
Now I expected this to clearly mean that the nurse guide me to the door of the bathroom then let me enter the bathroom, then allow me to proceed to use the toilet, wash in the shower myself. Then proceed back to the chair beside my bed, cleaned up and refreshed in some clean clothes.
The more elderly nurse, female, came to my room, led me to the bathroom and to the toilet, then took my penis in her hand to get me to urinate in the toilet.
I was not happy at this and told her to leave me alone.
She told me that I was blind and therefore I needed sighted help to go to the bathroom.
As someone only blind for about five years I assured her that I had no problems using a bathroom alone and definitely did not appreciate her assistance.
There was a brief back and too between us as she insisted that such help was appropriate, only when I told her that I wanted to speak to her supervisor, did she relent and actually left the bathroom.
Later I called my wife on the phone to tell her about the incident. My wife then called the nursing supervisor and the nurse was re-assigned to other patients.
Kishore Mahbubani: The Biggest Mistakes of the US, China, and ASEAN
Is it possible that someday China would abandon their thousand years of authoritarian regime and embrace democracy? If not, what are the reasons why China couldn’t do that?
What’s the antonym of authoritarian? According to the thesaurus, it’s permissive or liberal.
In other words, authoritarian is a STYLE of governance, not a SYSTEM of governance.
And how does the OED define democracy?
One man one vote.
It is a voting system to choose leaders, and not a SYSTEM of governance.
Meanwhile, the word regime refers to a particular system of governance, but CONNOTES a negative form, namely oppressive or repressive leadership that burdens the people.
Five minutes with a dictionary and it lays bare the revolving door of innuendo a thousand such questions depend on, and the poor grasp of political concepts among the ilk.
And that is sad.
The Chinese government has many faces. It has been remarkably liberal and forbearing in the conduct of diplomacy, to the point many states do not treat it with the p5 UN security council status that it deserves.
Other than heinous crimes, China’s criminal code is more lenient than many first world states, especially in what it classifies as misdemeanors and the variety of process and discipline available to shape antisocial behavior.
Put another way, any more-than-cursory exploration of Chinese criminal justice can support the “authoritarian” thesis among several highly evolved first world “regimes” when it comes to the handling of crime.
The Chinese system of governance is thoroughly modern.
Bloodlines and patronage are no longer seen as legitimacy to rule, unlike say, the UK, with the Crown and the House of Lords still fixtures of public life.
There is a continually revised constitution to keep up with the times, unlike the US, trapped in its insistence that they have reached the end of history and living perfection.
Parliament is carefully chosen from the people, designed to offer the broadest representation throughout society, whether it is across ethnic, geographical, religion, gender, income, profession, special needs or what-have-you. Consultation across all levels of society is baked into policymaking.
I have not come across a more diverse and representative parliament. Not even india’s vaunted “democracy” comes close.
I can go on to describe the good in Chinese governance which is surprisingly plentiful but I won’t.
Ultimately, what is good governance? A government that is of the people, by the people and for the people.
And the Chinese are the best people to judge, because they have to live China.
The rest of us making vicarious choices on their behalf to inflate the ego should be rightly ashamed.
About a boy
“When I asked my 11-year-old son to help me unload dirt from our small pickup into his mother’s new garden boxes, his reaction was typical.
“Ummmm… I’m busy right now,” He said.
He was playing Roblock on the family laptop, wearing sweat pants and an old T-shirt, lounging on the sofa, feet on the coffee table.
“No you’re not,” I said.
There was a fight, moaning, excuses… the usual.
Moments later, we were next to a wheelbarrow shoveling dirt. He looked at me with flat eyes, his hood up, shoulders slumped, and said, “Why do we have to do this?”
I thought for a moment, because I’ll admit, it was a valid question. Neither of us were all that into flowers or vegetables, or any of the things that would be grown in those garden boxes. But my wife, Mel, loves gardening.
I thought, and he waited, and finally I said, “When you love someone, you serve them.”
I went on, telling him that I want him to grow up to be the kind of man who serves his family, friends, and community.
“This” I said while gesturing to the dirt, and the garden boxes I built the weekend before, and the wheelbarrow and shovel, and the first of many truckloads of dirt we would unload over the next few weeks, “Is what love looks like.”
He didn’t like my answer. I could see it in the way he reluctantly picked his shovel back up.
We finished unloading the dirt. The next day, while I was at work, and the kids and Mel had the day off because it was between terms, Mel sent me this picture. Mel picked up another load of dirt and before she had a chance to unload it, Tristan voluntarily started working. When she asked him “why,” he shrugged and said, “Because I love you.”
I’d never been prouder of my son.
Shorpy
When you first went to prison or jail, were you more scared going in or coming out?
I served my sentence in an Australian Prison and had never been in prison before or had a criminal record. When the prison van arrived at the prison from court after being sentenced the inmates had already been locked up for the night. When I stepped out of the prison van and saw the prison itself I found it to be very intimidating and did it frighten me on first reflection yes it did but I went to great lengths to try and not show it in front of the other Inmates there with me.
We were met at reception by a a Principal Prison Officer which is the 3rd highest rank in the prison. Right from the start he made it very plain who controlled the prison and it wasn’t the inmate’s. He told us after calling out our names that we will from then on be reffered to by a number. He told us we are to salute all officers regardless of rank. That visits are once a month for 20 minutes. That we could write 1 letter a week and receive no more than 2.
After changing into our prison green’s we were taken to the wing to be locked up for the night. By this point my mind was all over the place trying to keep it together. When we got to the wing to go to our designated cells I remember the most depressing feeling overcoming me. I’ll never forget the sound of the bolt going through the lock on the cell door as the officer locked me in for the night. It was then that fear over took me and the gravity of the situation that I put myself in hit home to me.
Because all the inmates had already been locked up for the night the fear of not knowing what to expect when we were let out of our cells made for a very long night. I’ve read over the years on Quora where inmates in prison for the first time felt that all eyes were on them when they first came into contact with the other inmates. That I very much related to because that’s how it felt and that in itself for a new inmate can be scary and intimidating. Every wing had it’s own yard where they put the inmate’s in which was about 100 inmate’s together till we were locked up again.
Before I was put in the yard the Wing Officer called me into his office where he told me that because I had to serve more than 10 years I had a choice whether I wanted to be by myself in the cell or be put into a cell with another inmate. For me it was an easy decision to make I told the wing officer I don’t want to be with a cellmate so I stayed one out throughout my sentence. It wasn’t the fear of having a physical confrontation with an inmate who tried to stand over me because I was a new inmate. I was far from being the best fighter in the yard but regardless of the outcome I wouldn’t have let an inmate stand over me. The fear was one of not knowing what to expect as a new inmate.
As far as was I scared about being released after serving 16 years in prison. No I wasn’t scared I couldn’t be happier and excited that the day finally arrived where my wife and son and I could be a family again. I knew alot had changed in society in the years I’d spent in prison and I had to adjust to my new world as I got used to the changes that took place.
Why do many Chinese people on Quora think Communist China is a perfect country and think CCP is always a victim?
I don’t know where you got that stupid idea from, but let me set you straight…
Nobody thinks Communist China is perfect, not even the Chinese people themselves.
And nobody thinks the CCP is a victim.
However, generally speaking, China is a wonderful country. It has a lot going for it. In most respects, it is a better country, a better place to live in, than the United States.
Whatever you may think of China, I guarantee that you’ve been terribly misinformed.
China has opened up to visa-free travel for many countries. People who visit China are mightily impressed. I recommend you take one of these visa-free trips.
While working in Hong Kong in the 90’s it wasn’t uncommon to see white police officers but after the handover they all disappeared, did these officers not have any option but to leave?
They were allowed to stay on if they wanted.
There’s also a bit of a misconception here. The white police officers in the HK Royal Police force all entered at the rank of police inspectors. There were no foreign police officers who entered service below this rank. Note that while they entered at police inspector, if they wanted to be put on the elevator (HK civil service got regular promotions) they had to learn Chinese up to a certain level. The inspectors were put on a 3 month intensive course and had to reach a certain level of fluency in speaking and reading before promotion was opened up.
Secondly recruitment of foreign police officers in Hong Kong stopped in 1994. Add in the retirement at 55. There were a few who stayed on and ended up retiring in the 2010s.
There’s still a few of them, we saw them during the riots. The bomb squad is mostly composed of UK born british police officers. The leaders of the anti riot squad are also foreign born white guys. We saw this around September 2019 when the AR15s came out and they were photographed at a command post.
By 2021 there were about 60 left from before 1997.
There’s also a bit of an irony about it. Some of these were police from before 1997. Retired at 55 and then were hired back because there just wasn’t anybody to fill the role. The bomb squad for instance. Nobody in HK other than the PLA has any experience in this so they hired the old bomb squad person back and a foreign team.
This will likely change I think the bomb squad will likely be replaced by former PLA army officers in the future.
16F, my 12 yr old brother likes to try to punch me, my parents do nothing because he has autism. if he punches me and hurts me am I allowed to punch him back, he weighs a lot more then me and he is stronger so would I get juvie time for defense?
That’s a tough question! It is more likely that Child Protection Services would get involved, if things escalated beyond disapline outside of your home.I teach martial arts with a heavy emphasis on self-defense.
I had a very similar situation with a 14 year girl in my school. She was being punched by her 17 year old, autistic brother. Her parents were doing nothing to protect her. She hid her injuries until one day, after missing a week of classes, she came in with a black eye. I talked to the girl’s father. It turned out that he wanted my help telling his daughter, she shouldn’t defend herself against her autistic brother. She had kicked him in the groin and his right knee, causing a partial tear in his ACL.
After taking both children for medical attention, the father told the doctor a bullshit story about what had happened. He wanted me to back him up if anyone came asking questions because of his daughters training. At the time she was preparing for her black belt test.
Well, screw that! I called C.P.S. myself, and reported what my understanding was, of what was going on in the home. I went to Court regarding the investigation. The girl was removed from the house and temporarily placed with my wife and I until things were sorted out.
Temporarily custody turned into 1 year and 7 months. We fought her parents like hell to keep her safe and with us every step of the way! After that year and 7 months, her brother nearly choked the mother to death, and was institutionalized by the Family Court. After that, the girl returned to her parents.
So, here is the tough question. Since your brother is so much bigger than you, there is the potential for you to be seriously injured by him. If your brother attacks, and tries to kill you, if nobody is there to help you, then what happens? Ask yourself, if your parents are allowing, what can only be described as domestic abuse of you to continue, do you have a trusted adult you can confide in? What are the reproductions to yourself and family if you don’t talk to someone? This is a very difficult question for you to answer for yourself!
Everything I said is predicated on not knowing how severely autistic your brother is, and what he’s capable of. If If you truly feel that you are in danger, please get help! If your dad was beating your mom, what would you do?
Good luck young lady! I truly hope that this situation can be worked out in a manner that’s beneficial to you and your family.
Warmest regards,
Master Robert Kopishke
What is the strangest way you found out your significant other was cheating on you?
Husband tells me that he left the large business checkbook folder out in the cab of his truck. So I go out and get it as I am busy with my job, the kids and the house but I still have to reconcile the business checkbook every month. I open the driver’s side door and a letter falls out. Yes, it was from one of his friends from university who also attends all the reunions. Besides him not wanting me to see how sloppy drunk he gets, he apparently stopped asking me to attend with him because he had a side thing going with this woman. I got angry. I called her phone number several times to let her know that I knew. She had even brought her kids to see him (us?) in our home state. She never answered so I left a message that she had left her belt at my house and shall I mail it to her? Note also that the hangups stopped after I did that. With husband, I pointed out how good he had it here at home, and how dare he share himself with someone else when I would have to do all sorts of things short of begging if we were to ever be intimate. I told him if he wants to be with the married woman to go right ahead. He didn’t. Sometimes I think that would have been better because maybe I could have gotten out in time to make a better life for myself and our children. Instead, I stayed and he managed to mess us all up even more. Narcissistic abuse is real and it is emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically damaging to the victims of the abuse. No, he didn’t beat or hit me, but I became very sick from the gaslighting and other crap he used to do. Free now and recovering and healing.
Pepe Escobar : How Strong Is the Resistance?
Serious.
Is it true that martial arts are useless in a street fight?
Martial arts are a skill. If you end up in a street fight, you will do better if you are skilled in martial arts than if you are not. It is not useless, but it is not an “I win” button.
Avoiding a fight is best. You should train your situational awareness and perception. The more time you have to prepare, the more options you will have. De-escalating, running, getting a weapon or something to block with, calling police or security, getting to an advantageous position, getting a loved one out of the situation. All of these are good options if you can recognize the threat early. Many attackers will back away from somebody who seems prepared, as they are looking for the low-hanging fruit. Likewise, if they are looking to rob you, throwing your wallet towards them can give you time to get away. Property can be replaced.
Martial arts practice has rules. Street fights do not. You need to go beyond what you practiced in sparring to focus on actually hurting the opponent.
Street fights often involve weapons. While it is possible for an unarmed person to win against a weapon, this gives the attacker a big advantage. Expect to be injured even if you win.
People who start street fights often have experience fighting. It may not be formal training, but expect them to have some skill.
Street fights can involve multiple people. Being outnumbered is bad. In real life, attackers don’t wait their turn and attack one-by-one. They gang up on you. Using the environment to limit the angles they can attack you can help.
Killer Vlogs His Murder on Snapchat
https://youtu.be/hh3tq-P8epQ
Man Reveals Horrifying Secret in His Backyard
https://youtu.be/nWA2ZMg-ig0
Adrift
Submitted into Contest #247 in response to: Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.… view prompt
J.C. Vayda
“Warning! Warning! Sudden—”
***
Breaking News / Chief Director of Space Viking Astronomic and Science, Dr. Rines PhD / Formal Address to the Nation on The Recent Tragedy of Space Viking I / Space Viking Headquarters / Front Lobby
Dr. Rines: We regret to inform the nation as well as the world that the Space Viking I crash landed on an asteroid three days ago. The astronaut and pilot on board was Rebecca Towerson. She was an excellent scientist, explorer, and visionist.
Reporter: Sir, is there any effort for a rescue attempt? How can you confirm that is what happened?
Dr. Rines: There will be no rescue attempt. The Space Viking I was the only vessel in existence capable of navigating through space. We were able to pull data and photos from the cameras located on the outside of the vessel when we received a sudden impact alert, but all data coming in seized soon after that.
Reporter: Sir, did she say anything before the crash?
Dr. Rines: The transmission log is currently under investigation and will not be disclosed at this time.
Reporter: Sir, what does—
Dr. Rines: Listen, everyone. Rebecca Towerson was a one-of-a-kind individual. Without her, the Space Viking I project would’ve never been completed. When I first met her, she told me that when she was a little girl, her dream was not only to make history but to send humankind further than it ever imagined it could go. I understand the recent events are terrible. It’s a tragedy, indeed. But I want each one of you to know that Rebecca Towerson accomplished her dream. She has made history, and she has sent us beyond what we ever imagined was possible. She will never be forgotten. Her legacy will live on forever.
Reporter: Sir, what will you tell her daughter?
Dr. Rines: I will not be taking any more questions at this time.
Reporters: Sir! Sir! Sir!
***
Rebecca’s eyes opened and for a moment she didn’t move. She lay still in her bunk. The room was dim, cool, and quiet. The soft hum of a control panel beside her produced a thoughtless ambiance. She looked at her watch. Did it matter what day or time it was? It was almost as interesting as it was scary to think about. Why? Well, because that was what day and time it was back on Earth. A place so far out of reach, its sight was swallowed by the blackness of space. She remembered the moment it all went to hell.
***
Rebecca was fixing her a cup of tea when the alarm went off. She alerted Earth before she left her station to fix the tea. It was protocol.
Towerson: Low traffic. Taking break.
Earth: Good copy. Enjoy.
Low Traffic meant a sector was clear of space debris (natural-made). This let Rebecca get up, stretch, relieve herself, eat, and rest. High Traffic meant the opposite and she would need to manually navigate the ship through whatever obstacles lay ahead of her.
She was knocked unconscious after the impact. When she woke up hours later, she went to the bathroom to vomit. Concussion—check. Engaging the break didn’t stop the crash from happening but it left the ship intact enough to be able to move and live about it. She was thankful to be alive, but she knew she only prolonged her death. She looked in the mirror and pieced together what happened. The list was short. Low traffic—check. Teatime—check. Asteroid comes out of nowhere—check.
Rebecca walked back to her station and tried to send a transmission to Earth but the communication system was damaged. She walked to the window in front her station and turned on the outside light. It was terrifying. All she saw was a valley of grey rock before her. In that moment, Rebecca new Space Viking I was adrift, riding on an asteroid, and heading toward the void of the unknown. She analyzed and evaluated the ship’s condition. She only had one question to answer—can we get off this rock? After several hours of troubleshooting, she had her answer—No.
The crash happened three months ago.
***
The control panel warning light turned red, and the screen display lit up. She turned over in her bunk and looked.
Warning: Oxygen Level Low
Oxygen Level: 10%
Time Remaining: 15 Minutes
Action: Refill Immediately
Refilling wasn’t going to happen. The tanks were empty. She used all of them up since the crash. She was surprised she made it last three months. She could’ve made it last longer if she didn’t work so hard to troubleshoot the ship in the first week. It expended a lot of energy and that expended a lot of oxygen.
“Space Viking I to Earth. Over and Out.” Rebecca said and closed her eyes.
The minutes crept by, and the air begin to tighten around her. Suffocation was a strange feeling. It was like standing in the middle of a desert with thirty layers of clothes on. Rebecca thought she would be scared. She thought it would hurt. It didn’t. Her last visions were beautiful—overwhelmingly beautiful.
First, she saw herself as a little girl again running around in the backyard on a summer night in August. She paused to look up at the stars. Her little eyes watched in wonder as a satellite passed over.
Then, she saw herself up on stage graduating from the academy. She saw her mother clapping. Her mother had tears in her eyes. It made Rebecca cry too. I told you, momma, not to cry! Cause if you do, I’m gonna cry too!
Finally, Rebecca saw her daughter approaching.
“My little baby girl . . .” Rebecca said and smiled.
Her daughter held out her hand. “It’s time to go home, Mommy. It’s time now.”
That night, somewhere in the far reaches of space, Rebecca Towerson went home.
***
Annie Towerson got out of the passenger side door of her best friend’s car. It was her first day as a Freshman in High School. She was a bit nervous. Her best friend could see it. A few news vans were parked outside. Their cameras were up and ready to cover the story of the age.
“It going to be okay, Annie. My freshman year was a breeze.”
“It’s not that,” Annie replied.
“What, are you afraid to be the most famous girl here today?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t like it.”
“Live it up. You know you should.”
Annie walked to the front of the car and looked at the school entranceway. In large brick letters above the archway, it read, REBECCA TOWERSON HIGH SCHOOL
Her friend walked up beside her, put her arm around her, and looked at the large brick letters above the archway too. “Listen, Annie. You better not get any crazy ideas about becoming an astronaut, too, okay?”
Annie grinned. “No promises.”
Her best friend sighed and rolled her eyes. “You’re killing me, Annie!”
A few students walked by, glanced, and began whispering to each other.
Annie’s best friend grabbed her hand and said, “Come on, Annie. Let’s go say hi to the cameras, shall we?”
Rebecca Towerson’s legacy was already cemented. Her daughter, Annie Towerson . . . Well, her legacy was about to begin.
Some of my latest MM generations using AI
These are from a hodgepodge of playing around with the various settings.
Now the nudes show up if you use a Baroque setting, as most of the art from those days were nudes or “fig leaf” nudes.
The ample chests on some of the ladies is a result of the work around for the inherent “child pornography” rules in the model. If you say “young”, “pretty”, or “girl” the AI crashes with a warning that it will not produce child porn.
So you can say “woman”, but if you are not careful, you will start getting 60-year old golden girls. *sigh*
But, if you say “motherly” then it starts producing more accurate works. Though they tend to be busty.
This is a “handsome man” on a boat with a cat, drinking a glass of wine.
A man and his pregnant wife on a boat…
A man “drinking” wine with a cat on a boat…
A beautiful woman with a cat on a boat.
And another…
Adding more people…
I think the AI messes up the placement of the nipple from time to time. I do like his shirt though.
This is a favorite…
This is the all-time best of the bunch. Right height.
This is from my “Bacchus anointment” series…
Boy this one is a beaut…
Same arm position as my very first oil painting after my first divorce.
Nice.
A dirty AI mind?
Trying different models. Not too impressed.
I do like this one…
Too many grapes.
Good, but the third glass of wine needs to be photoshopped out.
What????
Check out the cat.
Two sets of twins?
I really like this one. The soft tones of the center woman’s chest is lovely. The cats are great. and the grapes are on a platter.
Yes.
Also a yes.
Love that golden vessel in her hand.
Here are some worried Chinese gals. There’s an (unintended) hint of sexual tension…
I don’t know what happened to generate such a suggestive work…
And then out of the blue we get this. I have no clue as to why the AI spit this one out…
Then I went for Thailand and Indonesian praying and processionals in the rain. Which created some really interesting art….
The exposed boobies is disconcerting.
Ah. This is more like it.
Covered, but sensual.
Even better. Love the wet silk fabric.
Even better; white cotton.
I cannot deny the allure of wet silk.
But this is lovely.
This is a “dramatic” variation suggestive of drama.
Better than this…
Do you all feel wet yet?
I changed the seed and the AI model to “Lifelike Vision” and ended up with some very interesting pictures. All the hyper busty topless girls are gone, and there’s far more detail. Nice, but I really hate the rendition of the clothing folds. Far too detailed for my tastes.
Notice the too many rolls on the sleeves… (aside from the messed up hands and arms)
I just don’t understand where the peach came from…?
Is that a cigarette that she is passing around?
Good, but not great.
Fine.
There has to be a topless chick in ever other picture, don’t you know.
I do love the bodices. What a nice pattern.
Epic. But I don’t get the references.
Nice…
Now that is one swarthy dude.
Nice bodices.
Again. I see some pattern inspirations.
I do like this one…
Dynamic but without the excitement.
Always a topless one in the bunch.
This one is typical. partial exposure of the chest next to a headless woman.
And this is what you get when you type a “quiet moment alone between two lovers at home”…
Why are the men always shirtless?
Not alone, but the expression on the two chicks is certainly interesting.
My Lordy!
Why don’t the Chinese people get rid of the CCP or failing that, why don’t Anti-China nations threaten harsh measures against China (Sanctions/removal from the UN,etc.) until China does get rid of the CCP? The CCP is no good.
Unfortunately some people live with a very uninformed idea about China. Many opinions are based only on what they read in western media. Or the labels like communist country.
I’m a Canadian Born Chinese who moved to Macau in 1983 and now consider it home. It is at the door step of China and I have visited over 100 times.
If anyone has an axe to grind about China it would be me. My parents were separated for 17 years because of the Canadian government. The Chinese Exclusion Act did not allow Chinese to immigrate. My father was already living there but couldn’t bring my mother and my sister because of that.
My grandfather went to Halifax and had a laundry business. Brought my dad over when he was 9. My dad was the first Chinese to graduate from the local university.
My grandfather went back with a bit of money and bought land and hired itinerant workers to grow rice. He died during WW2 and left things to my grandmother to look after. After the Communists took power, my grandmother was branded a capitalist landlord and made to beg for food as a punishment.
My mother and sister emigrated to Canada in 1949 after my father got citizenship and the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. My upbringing in China was of course, not favorable to communist China.
After I moved to Macau in 1983, I visited Guangzhou to see a cousin who was from the same village. He grew up as a neighbor to my mom.
He told me about how poor China was in the 60s and 70s. How they had food rationing. Coupons so you could get rice and oil every week.
He was an English teacher at a prominent university. He told me how things had gotten better and life was pleasant. People were starting to become more materially well off. This was 1983.
Back then, everyone had four wants. A black and white TV. A washing machine. A bicycle and a refrigerator.
Pretty soon it evolved to a color TV. A motorcycle. And up the scale for years.
Mobile phone sales doubled every year for 15 years.
When Deng Xiaoping took over, the country changed overnight.
One of the pillars of socialism/communism was equal pay for equal work was dismantled. The so called iron rice bowl was not working. It made people lazy. So he introduced responsibility system. More productivity more pay.
China was very pragmatic about communism. If it works and is good for the people, keep it. If it doesn’t work get rid of it. Ideology is not sacred if it doesn’t work.
He made things work. Foreign investment poured in. I’m thirty years Chinese people’s lives greatly improved. There is an abundance of food. There is no price gouging. Government strictly regulates prices. Public transport is amazing. Public facilities are really wonderful.
If you grow up in a country that is continueously improving, you are happy with your government. Pew surveys (from the US) show over 90% satisfaction with the Chinese government.
So the only people who have the idea of toppling the government are people who have never visited China and seen it with their own eyes.
Suggest you try to get the facts on China before making such uninformed questions.
How do you win a fight when your opponent is much stronger and taller? I’m a female so I could really make use of learning some techniques now.
One of the principle behind Aïkido is to defeat a stronger opponent by using their own energy against them, while using little of your own. Balance is crucial in this art, as is speed. You’ll need some strength, so getting your body’s core strengths ready at all time is high encouraged. Look into what some masters are demonstrating online, and signup if you feel it is for you. Smaller sizes, man or woman, will always be at a disadvantage regardless, but size doesn’t guarantee victory to the bigger opponent.
But in a ‘street fight’ scenario where it is one person against you, there are no rules. Engage when not expected to, surprise, bite, hit where it hurts (throats, testicles, eyes) with full strength, use whatever fits in your hands and all the while doing this scream as much as possible to bring attention. The key is that there are no rules, so in other words play nasty. And if your opponent ends up on top of you, rip his ears out of his skull if you can.
Had an Aussie acquaintance who was a Superintendent in RHKP back in the early 90s. He laughs that he been in Sex, Drugs & Rock and Roll (Vice, Narcotics & anti Triad / Gangs; 1990s a gang of robbers used AK47s for armed robberies & had a shoot out with the police, hence Rock and Roll ).
Once on a visit to London Chinatown, a waiter spoke to him in Cantonese & asked what would you like to eat today, sir. Turned out he collared this young man once & waiter remembered his Gwailo arresting officer. Waiter went to London to turn over a new leaf.