Well, numerous followers know that I have been trying to lose some weight. I have started jogging every morning, I cut the size of my meals by 50%, and do my best to eat mostly fruit and vegetables.
And all was fine.
I lost weight. Roughly 0.3kg a day.
Then I hit a limit. No matter what I did, I couldn’t lose any weight. *sigh*
I noticed that I was terribly dehydrated during the four days where I stopped losing weight. So I asked the AI about this. This is what it said…
Hello, it's great to hear about the positive changes you've made in your lifestyle to improve your health, including adjusting your diet, avoiding junk food, and incorporating regular exercise into your routine. It's impressive that you've been able to see such significant weight loss as a result of these changes. Weight loss plateaus are not uncommon on a weight loss journey, and they can be frustrating, especially when you have been making consistent efforts. It's essential to remember that weight loss is not always linear, and our bodies can sometimes reach a point where they need time to adjust before further progress is made. When you hit a plateau like the one you're experiencing, it doesn't necessarily mean that you need to exercise more intensely or drastically change your diet. Instead, it might be helpful to reassess your current routine and make some adjustments. Here are a few things you can consider: 1. Review your calorie intake: Sometimes, when we lose weight, our bodies require fewer calories to maintain the weight loss. It might be helpful to reassess your portion sizes and calorie intake to ensure you are still in a calorie deficit. 2. Diversify your exercise routine: Mixing up your exercise routine can help challenge your body in different ways and prevent plateaus. You may consider adding variety to your workouts, such as incorporating strength training or trying different forms of cardio. 3. Stay hydrated: Adequate hydration is essential for overall health and can also support weight loss. Make sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day. 4. Monitor your stress levels: Stress can impact weight loss progress. Finding ways to manage stress, such as through mindfulness practices or relaxation techniques, can be beneficial. 5. Consult with a healthcare provider: If you continue to experience difficulties with weight loss or have concerns about your progress, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare provider or a nutritionist who can provide personalized guidance based on your individual needs. Remember that sustainable weight loss is a gradual process, and it's essential to focus on overall health and well-being rather than solely on the number on the scale. Keep up the good work, stay patient and consistent with your healthy habits, and you will likely start seeing progress again.
So, the AI is supportive of my efforts.
Then, I asked about hydration.
I'm glad to hear that the advice resonated with you, and you were able to identify potential contributors to your weight loss plateau. Dehydration and stress can indeed have significant impacts on our overall health and well-being, including weight loss efforts. Hydration plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including metabolism and digestion. Being dehydrated can affect your body's ability to function optimally, potentially leading to fluctuations in weight and overall well-being. It's essential to prioritize staying hydrated throughout the day by regularly drinking water to support your health goals. Similarly, stress can trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone that can influence weight gain and retention, particularly around the abdomen. Managing stress levels through relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, or seeking support can help alleviate its impact on your weight loss journey. I understand that dealing with work-related stress and financial concerns can be challenging and overwhelming. It's important to prioritize self-care during these times and seek support from friends, family, or professionals if needed. Taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is just as crucial as focusing on your physical health. Remember that achieving sustainable weight loss is a holistic journey that involves nurturing both your body and mind. By addressing dehydration, managing stress levels, and continuing to make healthy choices in your diet and exercise routine, you are taking positive steps towards reaching your health goals. Stay committed, be kind to yourself, and don't hesitate to seek additional support when needed. You're on the right path towards better health and well-being.
And maybe I am worrying way too much, but I really want to lose some weight, and willing to do whatever it takes.
Then the new week opened up and I was ready to start anew.
Sure as shit, don’t you know it, but I had three staff banquets that week.
*sheech*
Oh the torment!
Well, I ate small portions, kept up with my exercising, and doing what I can to keep hydrated. I don’t go anywhere without my water bottle.
No alcohol!
The sacrifices are painful.
So all I do is eat the oysters and vegetables in small tiny amounts.
BTW; Zhuhai has the best oysters ever!
I will continue staying on the plan and weigh myself every morning, so I went to the AI again…
That sounds like a good plan. Weighing yourself at a consistent time, such as before exercising in the morning, can help provide a more accurate picture of your weight trends over time. Remember that weight can fluctuate for various reasons, as we discussed earlier, and it's essential to focus on overall progress and how you feel rather than getting caught up in day-to-day fluctuations. By monitoring your weight trends over time and paying attention to how your body responds to exercise and hydration, you can gain valuable insights into your health journey. Keep up the positive habits you've established, stay hydrated, listen to your body, and continue making progress towards your health and well-being goals. If you have any further questions or concerns along the way, feel free to reach out. Remember that you're taking proactive steps towards your health, and I'm here to support you on your journey. Wishing you all the best with your weigh-in tomorrow morning and your continued efforts towards better health.
…
Life is a roller-coaster. It goes up, then goes down.
Then you die.
I believe that we might as well take care of what we have. Keep it healthy and clean, and work to enjoy our lives within this overly chaotic framework.
Something like this, perhaps…
Or, maybe the long dresses are too “old fashioned” for you all. Well, I really like them.
But you know, those little party dresses can be pretty cute too…
Who doesn’t like a “little black dress”?
Though, blue silk can be alluring…
Make the most of your life.
If going to a ballroom isn’t in the cards today, might I suggest a fine cup of coffee…
Enjoy the ride you all.
Today…
What did you learn too late in life?
- That body language speaks a lot more than actual words. It matters. A lot.
- You can always earn money. It’s not a big deal. Your world is not going to end because you don’t have a fixed income. Something else will work out.
- Saying No is important. People don’t get offended as much as you think.
- You use only less than 10% of stuff you possess. Get rid of that stuff that you hardly ever use, you will have that many less things to worry about.
- What people say when they are angry, aren’t things they mean. They regret it often. Forgive angry people. It’s okay, they are only human.
- There are no winners in an argument. Only losers. Don’t ruin your relationships arguing about things that don’t really matter.
- Nothing is complicated. Not as much as you assume. It’s just your mind playing tricks with you. If you get down to it, it’s all really simple and clear.
- Loving your partner is a choice, not a feeling. And your character is the choices you make.
- No one in this world will stand up for you like the way your parents do. Always be there for them.
Its becoming a bloodbath.
Energy companies in the West are crashing down too…
What’s the highest speeding ticket you have ever received?
I was allegedly clocked at 156 MPH in a 75 MPH zone, being 81 MPH over the posted limit. I got off the highway to get fuel in my local town, got back on the highway and was pulled over by 3–4 deputies in another town about twenty miles away. They surrounded me with their cruisers, hmm, pretty strange I thought. The only deputy that spoke to me walked over and said he stopped me because my plate wasn’t visible enough, seemed fair to me. He ran all my information and came back with a warning, at which point he told me that in all honestly I matched a description and a state trooper had radioed a speeding motorist.
The trooper arrived a few minutes later, gave me the same rundown. He said I was evading but he couldn’t catch me, then later said he knew I didn’t see him and that’s why he never even tried to follow me. He also remarked multiple times at how I was able to get 20–25 miles so fast, but I told him every time that I stopped for gas, stretched my legs, all recorded on the gas station camera I’m sure.
Ticket was given, following the state law is was still a misdemeanor as felony traffic rules start at evading or weaving in and out of traffic, neither of which I was doing.
Given the alleged speed a court date had to be set. I arrived on the day of in the judges chambers. She proceeded to tell me about her younger days and the times she found herself going faster than any rational person would. She gave me a 90 day probation, if I received another ticket in the time I would essentially be SOL. The court costs were high, but minus those she essentially ended up charging me with a 5–10 MPH over ticket. I made the 90 days just fine, payed my dues and never looked back.
Why is China not welcomed in the world?
The question is invalid. China is very welcomed in the world.
Over 85% of humanity welcome China. Only less than 15% do not, and they include the United States and its allies/vassals.
China is welcomed for several key reasons:
- China is the largest trading partner to over 120 countries. Trading with China helps these countries immensely.
- China is helping over 150 countries through the Belt and Road Initiative. These countries are very grateful for China’s assistance.
- China is unifying the world in peace and common prosperity through organizations like BRICS and SCO. This is infinitely preferable to US wars and imperialism.
Why is the US military losing so many high tech MQ-9 Reaper drones over Yemen? After the downing of the 9th of its drone, what does the US Military think?
The MQ-9 is aimed for high level surveillance and transmission of location data
It transmits everything it observes
It is mainly used for single strikes on potential targets which it hits with a Hellfire missile
It costs almost $ 35 Million a piece
Against these, the Houthis use :-
Qiam 1 at $ 150,000 a piece
SA – 6 & 17 at $ 200,000 a piece
Misagh 2 at $ 180,000 a piece
Plus Electronic Jamming by the Azaad 6B
It’s a budget miracle
The MQ9 does it’s job
Unfortunately the MQ9 isn’t exactly Ultron from the avengers movie
The Ground Level intelligence is ZERO
So the Houthis keep shifting base every 48–72 hours and the MQ9s hit mostly bases where the Houthis no longer stay or are active
Once discharged, the MQ9s are shot down by Iranian Made Local missiles that have a 10% hit rate
So far 10 MQ9s have been hit at a cost of $ 350 Million
Assuming 1 Missiles per Fallen MQ9 at a 10% strike rate – that’s 100 Missiles costing around $ 15–20 Million
That’s where Iran dominates
It’s production is localized with a boatload of Chinese electronics and Russian components
And the prices are extremely low
For 20 million bucks Iran can make 1000 short range Missiles which can strike down 100 MQ9s costing the US almost $ 3.5 Billion
Plus it would take 27–40 Months to replace those MQ9s
It takes Iran maybe 18–25 weeks to replace those missiles
It’s exactly like WWII with the roles reversed
Soviets made Junk but they produced so much that Germans best technology fell apart despite a 4–1 battle advantage
US Failed to Steal China’s Space Technology
What was your best moment when negotiating a salary?
I very badly wanted to get into the commercial fishing industry. Every boat I went to had no need for a deckhand with no experience. Finally a captain advised me of another captain who would hire me. He did point out the captain was new and was making his crew little to no money.
So off I go to get a brutal and hard job for little or no pay. When I found the captain he hired me on the spot. He tells me I’ll get 20% of the catch after expenses.
I countered offered. I will take 15% but you have to teach me every thing you know about boats and fishing. He kinda laughed and shook my hand.
Three trips and about six weeks time offshore I made less than $200. Working 16 to 18 hours a day.
True to his word he taught me a lot. I even used this to figure out why he wasn’t catching a lot of fish. He would travel a compass course until there was enough good bottom to string a full set of gear. He would turn around and string the gear the exact opposite course. Good plan unfortunately we went way off the bottom.
He had told me never put a magnet near your compass it will give you a false direction. He never realized that his fish finder was acting as a magnet. It pulled the compass 20% both ways. So he was never actually laying his gear in the right direction.
I got a tremendous education and he became a captain who started catching fish.
Trump: F*ck around and find out..
Guys. This is REAL.
Wholly SHIT.
What would happen to treasury bonds and the US dollar if all countries stopped selling them? Who would potentially buy them in this scenario?
China is cutting back, Japan is cutting back Europeans, who don’t have money to buy they are bankrupt thanks to the US coercing them into silly war with Ukraine and the rest of the world are simply scared stiff of being rob like Russia. So Americans must buy their own debts! Good luck! I think that their interest rates need to rise to get Yanks to part with their monies. Even Yanks have enough sense to ask for a higher interest to buy say a third of what China and Japan used to buy before you guys do shit!
The US will pay more to get less from now onwards! When you had a good thing going don’t fxck it up!
Bourbon Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 box family size brownie mix
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/2 cup soft butter
- 1/3 cup + 3 tablespoons bourbon
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Make brownie mix, cutting baking time by 5 minutes. Bake and cool.
- Brush with 1/3 cup bourbon over top.
- Cool in refrigerator.
- Cream together butter, confectioners’ sugar and 3 tablespoons bourbon. Spread over brownies.
Krugman Calls Trump Tariffs ‘Really, Really Destructive’
Lost in the Woods
Submitted into Contest #196 in response to: Write a story involving a portal into a parallel universe.… view prompt
Genevieve Masters
What is it with these stairs that is starting to freak me out so much? Running my eyes over the stairs, I realize that the wind has not blown any sort of dust or dirt onto them. That can’t be possible. Even I have to keep wiping my lens because of the thin layer of dust that keeps forming on it.
I give in to the unease and decide it is time to make my way up the rest of the trail. Putting away my camera, I start to wonder about the strangeness of these events and decide that I should climb them. I am already here and what harm could it do to get a few photos from the top. It is the only angle I haven’t shot from.
As I put my foot on the first step, goosebumps raise along my arms and I get the feeling that I shouldn’t be here. I pause and consider how many photos I have already gotten and I know that it would be enough to publish a collection. I need to make sure it is something no one has done before though, and so desperation gets the better of me as I begin the climb up.
I take my time and measure each step. There are no railings of any kind and these stairs would not be very forgiving if I were to lose my balance. The more steps I climb, the more I can hear a voice in my mind tell me to turn around and walk back down the steps and go back to my small apartment. I almost give in and turn back as I make my way further to the top of the stairs. The closer to the top I get, the thicker the air feels and the electric feeling I got used to increases. I think I can even hear something buzzing before the world goes black.
My mind feels fuzzy as I begin to wake up. I blink my eyes open and realize I must have been out for at least half of a day because the sky is starting to darken as the end of the day draws near. It is much colder now and my nose feels like ice when I touch it.
I slowly sit up and look around me. The staircase I thought I must have fallen off of is no longer there. Hurriedly I turn my camera on and find that the battery has drained from it being left on and I groan. I needed to know if I imagined the entire ordeal. It feels too strange for me to have imagined, but the staircase is definitely gone and there is no sign that it was ever there.
Somewhere in the distance I hear an owl hoot, reminding me how late it is. I get back up to my feet and brush all of the dirt off of me. I assume that I must have fallen off because of the blackout, but I’m not sore anywhere. I scan the area around me and it looks the same as it did before. Trees all around and areas of thick underbrush, which is not unusual off of the well-worn trails. In the distance I see the boulder sized rock I sat on before so I use it as a way-point to make my way back to the trail.
As I make my way back, I tell myself how lucky I am that I woke up before night truly fell and that I still have time to make it back down to my car. I wish I could have made it up the rest of the trail, but with the photos I got, it doesn’t really matter that I didn’t finish what I started this time.
I can tell something is wrong before I reach the rock. The makeshift stairs I climbed up are no longer there and it is only the steep hill left. In fact, I realize there is no trail at all. It is just more of the same thick trees surrounding me. I can feel my heart begin to race. I need to calm down so I go to sit on the rock, but it is no longer smooth. I turn around to look at it and it is no longer the seat-like surface it was just this morning. Instead it has bumps and sharp points dotting the surface. The thought comes to me as I look around me.
I am not in the same place I was before I blacked out.
Of course, it is the same mountain and the same trees and the same rock, but it hasn’t been touched by human hands. There doesn’t seem to be any interference from mankind at all. I can feel myself shaking as the panic sets in and adrenaline starts coursing through me. I crouch down as I start hyperventilating and bury my face in my hands. This cannot be happening right now.
I give myself a few minutes to get myself calmed down and try to come up with a plan. Every survival show I have watched says to go downhill and try to find water to follow. I know it goes against everything I know to go up the rest of the mountain side, but I need to get a good viewpoint to see if there is anything I recognize and determine where to go. It is obvious to me now that what I know of the world and who inhabits it is not the same anymore.
The light from the sun fades more and more as I head up the mountain. It is a difficult hike without a trail to follow but eventually I make it before darkness completely covers the forest. I consider myself lucky that I still have my backpack as I take out some water and drink an entire bottle while I try to catch my breath.
The sounds of the forest are starting to quiet down as the night begins to creep in and I can just make out the sounds of a city? It is not the normal sounds you would expect with the sounds of cars and machinery, but it is the unmistakable noise of a dense population of people.
I make my way to the edge of the trees and peer out over the valley below me. I expected to see the river that winds through the valley, but what I did not expect was the city that had been built along it. There is still enough light that I can see the buildings, so many of them, along the river’s edge and some up into the mountain sides. They look like the ancient ruins from central America but these are new and more modern than what I remember seeing from pictures.
The largest building I can see is made with the same type of blocks from the staircase I climbed and is plated in the same shiny gold. I can still see the sun gleaming off of it, but not quite as brightly. It looks like a pyramid you would expect to see from one of the old Aztec cities, but I am far from where they would have been. It is much taller than any of the other structures around it. Many other pyramid-like structures surround it and even more encircle a courtyard that extends behind the tallest one. Not all of the buildings seem as ornate, some I can tell are only made of stone without the gold coverings. It is impossible for me to be back in that time though, since I can see lights shining from inside some of the smaller structures around it. Somehow, there is electricity or some other way of lighting the buildings. The lights bounce off of the streets and it almost seems like the streets are made of gold as well.
It is utterly breathtaking. The mixture of civilization and nature is something I never thought I would witness. I wish I would have turned my camera off before climbing those stairs so I could have some proof of what I am seeing when I get back. If I get back. I had not thought of that yet. How am I going to get back? The staircase was gone and I have no idea how to bring it back.
I cannot stay out here in the forest forever. I don’t have any knowledge of how to survive and the grumbling of my stomach reminds me that I have not eaten since the morning. I have enough water to last me maybe one more day, but after that I don’t know what I will do. I have to make my way to this city and hope that the people there will help me. I doubt we will speak the same language.
I cannot doubt that I am scared and confused on how I came to be here in this world so similar to my own, but I try to cling to the excitement I feel as I head back down the mountain towards the strange city. This is not the change I expected when I left my apartment this morning, but I am determined to make the best out of this strange series of events.
China’s Strategy to Trump 2.0 | Jeffrey Sachs, Zhang Weiwei & Charles Li
I am British, l am far from anti-USA, but may l ask why so many Americans cannot see the corruption, the deceit, and the idiocy of Donald Trump?
American. Political Science major when dinosaurs walked the earth. I have been an avid watcher and reader of all things political for about forty years (historic and current). I have never seen anything like it in my lifetime. Not with any candidate or sitting politician. There have been politicians that have been adored by large constituencies like Kennedy, Reagan, and even Obama, but nothing like this. This is indeed a cult. People I know that are pro-Trump will not hear one negative word about him. You can make them cry in a heartbeat if you say a word against the great Tangerine Leader. I’ve seen it in person.
What led to this mess? It’s a boil that’s been festering for over 30 years and finally came to an ugly head with DJT, but he is not the sole creator of it. Trump has taken #7 and #8 to an art form. Here’s what I think led to this hot mess of a decade:
- Eliminating civics and government from many schools’ curriculum. If you don’t understand the fundamentals of the parts of government, founding documents, how the legislature works, how can you be an informed citizen? I’m embarrassed by the comments some of my fellow Americans make about basic facts of governance. The ignorance is breathtaking.
- Eliminating critical thinking from high school and college studies in some school districts. Many believe teaching children to think critically, to consume facts, data, statistics, etc. and arrive at a conclusion are the Devil’s tool (i.e. from the left). They want their children simple and God fearing like it’s 1850.
- 30 years of far-right radio on the air 24x7x365 spewing anti-woman, anti-urban, anti-immigrant, anti-Democratic, anti-everyone-but-white-boys poison. People like Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, Michael Levin and a host of others just unleashing word vomit on huge hunks of the working-class population.
- 1974 Rupert Murdoch, the vilest human to every grace a newsroom came to America. 1985 he became an American citizen and buys FOX movies which becomes FOX Inc. and FOX News. The number one cable news network in the USA. Over the decades he has just gone further to the right and further from the truth, but millions of my countrymen watch FOX as their only source of information.
- In 1996, Newt Gingrich became the Republican Speaker of the House. He decided it would be best for the Republican Party NOT to have policies or a platform, to only argue against whatever the Democratic Party proposed. He declared compromise and negotiation the dirtiest of dirty words. Any concession was a complete loss. That approach has only gotten worse over time. This was antithetical to how our government had functioned for a couple hundred years. Everyone comes to the table, everyone negotiates, no one party gets everything they want. You are lucky to come away with a few key wins and compromises.
- 2010 Citizens United was a Supreme Court decision which declared money was speech. Any state, local, or federal laws to restrict the flow of money into political races was verboten. In effect, they approved bribery. A billionaire has unlimited “speech” with his political donations, a poor person not so much. Politicians no longer have to be afraid of the electorate, because donors with deep pockets can fill the radio, TV, cable, and internet with ads that will blast away poor opposition that can’t afford those same buys.
- Something that started about 10 years ago was your political opponent was not just someone who disagreed with you on a policy, or implementation, or a treaty, they were the anti-Christ, the Devil, the enemy, they didn’t deserve to be American. Trump has poured gasoline on that fire and taken the rhetoric to new heights.
- Trump was and is a norm buster. Never in my life did a president swear in front of a microphone. Or speak ill of the political opposition. Or say someone who opposed him should die. Or attack our treaty partners. Or try to f*llate an enemy leader (Putin, Jong Un, Xi) right in front of cameras. He is the first president in my life to not concede an election, to not go through the transfer of power, to not attend the inauguration of his successor. A poor sport and a pig, in my estimation. Even yet, he has sent no representatives to sign the agreements that allow him and his agents to prepare for the transfer of power from Biden should he win over VP Harris. It’s like he thinks he’s taking over a lemonade stand rather than one of the largest governments in the world
I’m sure I’ve forgotten some things, but I’ve thought about what brought us to this state for a long time and this is where I’ve landed…
Why made Hong Kong so attractive to Britain as a colony given that it was the last of Britain’s colonies and Britain does not profit from taxing Hong Kong?
Contrary to popular belief, Britain’s grip on Hong Kong was driven far more by economic interests than by any strategic motives. The true appeal of Hong Kong for Britain lay in the enormous profits generated from awarding government contracts exclusively to British companies. Before the handover in 1997, the colonial government operated with a striking lack of transparency, allowing British firms to bypass competitive bidding and dominate lucrative projects without much oversight.
Take the construction of Hong Kong’s International Airport, for example. British engineers, laborers, and even truck drivers were brought in to work on this massive project. These workers earned substantial sums that many used to purchase multiple properties back in the UK, often securing financial futures far beyond what they could have achieved at home. This is just one of many instances where British expatriates capitalized on colonial opportunities, accumulating wealth and economic advantages.
The colonial infrastructure in Hong Kong, such as the old Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) and the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) systems, stands as a testament to this economic exploitation. The use of over-engineered materials and refurbished British train units, sold at inflated prices, highlights the extent to which the British government ensured financial gains were maximized. It wasn’t merely a matter of providing expertise; it was about creating an economic windfall for British companies right up until the 1997 handover.
Despite the official story focusing on strategic interests and geopolitical importance, Britain’s extended rule over Hong Kong was fundamentally about extracting economic value. The colonial administration’s exclusive preference for British companies in public projects – often with inflated costs – shows a strategy meticulously crafted to ensure a significant flow of financial benefits back to the UK. This approach to maximizing economic extraction was deeply ingrained and persisted until the very end of British rule.
Interestingly, the narrative that post-1997 Hong Kong has continued to follow similar practices under Chinese governance doesn’t stand. The contracts awarded for public works and infrastructure in recent years have seen considerable global participation. For instance, the new train units for the MTR system have been supplied by international firms like Hyundai Rotem from South Korea and the SP1900 EMU units from Japan. This global approach to procurement contrasts sharply with the British era’s exclusivity, indicating a more competitive and open market environment.
In summary, while the official narratives often emphasize Britain’s strategic and geopolitical motivations for holding onto Hong Kong, the real driving force was systematic economic exploitation. The British colonial administration’s financial strategy left a lasting economic legacy on Hong Kong, marked by infrastructure overbuilt to extract maximum profit and a host of British expatriates who amassed considerable wealth. This non-tax revenue extraction shows Hong Kong’s extraordinary value to Britain until the final days of colonial rule.
Understanding this economic dimension paints a different picture of British colonialism in Hong Kong, one where the pursuit of wealth was just as, if not more, important than any geopolitical strategy. Hong Kong was far more than just a strategic foothold; it was an economic goldmine that Britain mined profitably until the end.
Lee Kuan Yew’s Shocking Prediction About China’s Future (Unbelievable)
Really great foresight.
This bread is so good, you’ll forget it’s just 5 ingredients
Plus, once you’ve got the basics down, you can try different kinds of flour, add cinnamon and raisins, or sprinkle the top with seeds and oats to customize this loaf. Slice and freeze whatever you’re not going to use right away, so you can thaw and toast as you go.
- 1 cup water, warm
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil plus extra for greasing baking pan
How to
- In a small glass bowl or measuring cup, combine the warm water, honey, and yeast. Set aside for 3 to 5 minutes or until frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the bread flour and salt.
- Add the vegetable oil and yeast mixture, and stir vigorously until a dough forms.
- Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and knead 8 to 10 minutes (or use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment).
- Lightly grease a large bowl with vegetable oil.
- Add the dough, and rotate it to ensure all sides are greased.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and set in a warm place to rise for 2 hours.
- Lightly grease an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2 bread pan with vegetable oil.
- Punch down the dough, and shape it into a rectangle the size of the prepared pan.
- Transfer it to the pan and re-cover with plastic wrap.
- Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size and risen over the lip of the pan.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Remove the plastic wrap and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating halfway to ensure even baking.
- Allow the bread to cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
How China deals with US provocation
Wooden Boat inspirations
Saudi Arabia Officially Declines BRICS Membership!
What are some affordable cities to live in for someone with a low income?
Thailand is on top of the list of affordable cities on Earth. A playground for billionaires as well as a haven for dirt poor folks and the homeless.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t imagine anyone coming to my country with ‘ little’ money and aiming for a low income. (don’t get me wrong, I’m pragmatic and empathetic blok)
The lure of the eyes even little things on the sidewalks, yummy food, a free flow of booze and cannabis, a smile of the ladies, a military salute from doormen, a bow from the waiters, and a graceful ‘Wai’ from the Supermarket cashier… All these are siphoning a great deal of money every ‘ Baht’ the expats made from Thailand-
Thus fulfilling: “‘Give to King What Belongs to King,’ Does it sound familiar that you heard it before?
I would advise you to stay put in your country, do the same old crap, travel within your country, eat the same old junk (like me now), and never ever think of living outside a safety net with no money or less money. You will thank me for that.
Why do modern US warheads have yields of hundreds of kilotons while older warheads were megatons?
Pretty much accuracy.
This warhead, a W53, used to be the US’ premier nuclear bunker buster;
Yield? Nine megatons. (For the layman, 9,000,000 tons of TNT.)
Why was such a large warhead necessary?
Because this was the launch platform; a Titan 2.
The Titan 2 had an accuracy of about 900 meter CEP. That means that a warhead had a 50% chance to land anywhere in a circle with a radius of 900 meters…that’s a circle around a target, about a mile in diameter.
This is a B61 nuclear bomb. It’s replaced the Titan 2’s W53. It has a maximum yield of 400 kilotons. (About 400,000 tons of TNT.)
Substantially smaller, right?
How can this serve as a replacement for the W53 in the bunker buster role?
Simple; the B61 has the ability to bury itself in the ground before detonating, AND its significantly more accurate.
B61 bombs prior to the Mod-12 had an accuracy of about 100 meter around the target, substantially smaller than the W53’s 900 meters.
And here’s the thing…it’s getting more accurate.
Smart bombs are becoming more and more prevalent on the modern battlefield, and the B61 is no exception. The Mod-12 has an accuracy of about 30 meters from the target.
This enables nuclear weapons to accomplish the same job without as much tonnage.
Here are ten funny cow jokes for you:
1. What do you call a cow with no legs?
Ground beef!
2. Why do cows have hooves instead of feet?
Because they lactose!
3. What do you get when you cross a cow and a trampoline?
A milkshake!
4. Why did the cow go to outer space?
To see the moooon!
5. What do you call a cow that can play a musical instrument?
A moo-sician!
6. How do cows stay up to date with current events?
They read the moos-paper!
7. What do you call a cow that tells jokes?
A comedi-hay!
8. Why did the cow join a gym?
To get a little more moo-scle!
9. What did the cow say to the farmer?
“You crack me up!”
10. Why are cows such great dancers?
Because they have all the right mooooves!
Hope these bring a smile to your face!
Collective West hopes RUSSIAN economy will overheat and CRASH
What are your thoughts on the US government’s new regulations of restricting investments in China’s semiconductor, AI, and quantum technology sectors, effective from January 2025?
It won’t work for two reasons
A. The Money will find a way
It costs $ 350,000 per Researcher in the US to carry out high level R&D for Salaries, Staffing, Perks & Facilities
It costs $ 90,000 per Researcher in China for the same R&D for Salaries, Staff Space, Perks and Facilities
Chinese Universities produce 11 Qualified Post Graduates in these Areas for every 1 Qualified Post Graduate that US Universities produce
So you can do the same cutting edge research in a lab in Shenzhen for 1/4 of what it would cost you in Cambridge or Oakland or San Jose
It’s CAPITALISM 101
Right now China is the only nation that has comparable Graduate Talent in fields of AI & Quantum Computing & Semi Conductors in large enough numbers
Taiwan, Korea and Japan dont have the numbers
India, Vietnam, Malaysia don’t have the Talent
So Money will find a way whatever the regulations are
Simple example :- A US Hedge Fund will invest into a Singaporean Investment Company which will invest into Chinese Tech Firms for R&D at 13% RORR a year after 5 years
What can the US do?
They would have to spend all their life checking every investment made in every corner of the world
B. The date is far away
The Minute you give someone time, they will take advantage of everything
For instance EU will be raising tariffs for every EV order placed from China into Europe from 1/11/2024
Yet more than 30,000 orders have been placed in October alone and there is sufficient inventory of Chinese EVs in Europe until March 2025
Likewise these regulations will result in billions being invested until January 2025 without breaking the regulations
So China will not lose
These are USSR style tactics
They will never work
Technology and Money always find a way to flow towards Demand & Supply
The Only thing the US can do is COMPETE in the open markets and constantly innovate and keep ensuring they have continuous flow of talent
Otherwise they are helping China more and more every day
Would China be better if the Tiananmen Square protests succeeded?
Tiananmen Square event in 1989 was a students’ protest being taken advantage by the US and ended as a failed color revolution at the cost of lives of Chinese students and policemen, and also political and economic cost thereafter.
The US has been masterminding the similar playscripts, with slight modifications or updates localized to different countries and regions, some succeeded, some also failed.
Is Russia better now because of the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Is Serbia better now because of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s “Bulldozer” revolution?
Is Georgia better now because of the “Rose” revolution?
Is Ukraine better now because of the “Orange” revolution?
Is Kyrgyzstan better now because of the “Tulip” revolution?
Is Armenia better now because of the “Velvet” revolution?
Are the Arab countries, from Tunisia to Egypt, from Syria to Iraq, from Libya to Yemen, better now because of the “Arab Spring”?
(The Arab Spring of 2010 to 2012)
Now, please tell me:
Would China be better once the US succeeded in 1989 in overthrowing the ruling of the Communist Party of China, in dismantling China into 5, 6, or 7, or more, small nations, in supporting “allies” of those “like-minded” of the “Western universal values” who prioritize the US interest and their own personal interests over China’s national interests to rule over the country?
One of the fundamental reasons why China can rise from a poor country back then into today’s second largest economy is:
China is a fully independent country, leaving very little leeway for the US to penetrate into and control the country from within, so that China can choose its own development path, walk its own ways, make its own decisions.
And luckily, though with ups and downs, with lessons and even mistakes, China has been overall on the right path for the past several decades!
Have you ever been told you won’t amount to anything, and then met that person many years later?
Yes.
In High School, the vice principal and I did not get along. In Middle School, I wrestled for a different school and he happened to referee matches. I was very good for my age but transitioning to the High School level was harder for me. He was excited when I transferred to his school for High School and thought he had a real winner. Turns out, my freshman year was a disaster. He saw me as a failure and thus began our dislike for each other.
I was eating lunch in the cafeteria. Most of my friends ate after my lunch period so I didn’t really spend time socializing at lunch. Instead, I would finish eating then walk to my next class, read a book, and wait for the class to begin. The teacher didn’t mind since she was on break before that class started.
One day, the vice principal walked past the classroom and saw me sitting there alone reading a book. He chastised me for leaving the cafeteria and ordered me back there. While standing in the hallway, he was ripping me a new one for not following the rules. He then started making it personal by dragging up wrestling and calling me a failure. I tried walking away to go back to the cafeteria and he yelled “Get back here! I’m not through with you yet!” His last words to me were “You’ll never amount to anything!” before turning to walk away from me. While this was going on, the bell had rung and the hallway was filled with kids watching and listening to his tirade against me.
I was fuming. As he began to walk away, I yelled to him “Get back here! I’m not through with YOU!” He spun around in disbelief while all the kids in the hallway stopped and stared at us. He asked “What did you just say?” I repeated my command and continued by questioning what has HE done in his life except become the vice principal of a school where everyone hates him and he’ll never be promoted.
The kids in the hallway began cheering as I walked back into the classroom that was now where I belonged in the first place.
Surprisingly, the vice principal walked away and didn’t say a word.
Fast forward about 12 years…..
I’m working as a police officer and happen to be working an off duty detail at the local high school where they happened to be playing my alma mater in basketball. I look in the stands and there sat my old vice principal. I chuckled at the thought of confronting him but realized it really wasn’t worth it. I had already proven him wrong while all the time being right… he was never promoted.
I’ve had a great career, accomplished many things, have a family that is proud of me, and have touched many lives in a positive way.
Here’s to you, Mr. McInturf…..
The BRICS countries are planning a new reserve currency to replace the dollar. Shouldn’t this be more widely supported so that we are not held hostage to the dollar?
Not the way I read it.
I have been puzzled about the “reserve currency” argument ever since it was floated years ago.
What is a reserve currency? It is a fraction of a circulating currency acquired by central banks as a liquid asset, often in the form of interest-bearing debt.
BRICS is a supranational coalition of the third world spread across continents, cultures and beliefs. There is no hope of stepping up from 0 into a monetary union to issue something like the Euro, which is causing massive damage to, say, the Italian economy because of the failure to coordinate fiscal policy and account for regional differences.
Besides, going from 0 to a fraction of a circulating currency acquired by central banks as a liquid asset isn’t trivial.
What’s more realistic in the interim is a cross-border payment system immune from western sanction, using local currencies as the medium of exchange.
Yes, the forex market is still centered on the dollar, and exchange rates are converted with the aid of the dollar.
For example, sgd/myr is arrived at using usd/sgd and usd/myr rates.
But let’s say a SWIFT alternative is developed by BRICS and 150 countries start using it.
A proxy to the dollar can be established within the system to facilitate local currency settlement to BYPASS THE DOLLAR. This is similar in principle to tether in the crypto world being pegged 1:1 to the dollar, allowing use of the token to transact digital assets. This is also similar to alibaba’s use of a credit ledger to transact yuan denominated goods within its platform.
The technology to implement such a system already exist. “Money as message” and “money as token” are already proven. The challenge is to integrate a real-time forex component into the equation. Complicated, but not insurmountable.
The biggest hurdle is trust. But with more than 100 nations gathered in kazan, there is critical mass to push the project forward.
In time, the brics-issued token within brics-maintained ledgers will morph into trustworthy global stores of wealth, and become a fraction of a circulating currency acquired by central banks as a liquid asset.
So, trading currency, before reserve currency.
Someone asked for a clearer illustration of the difference with the euro.
Simply, the brics currency isn’t used to value assets in-country, only cross-border goods and services.
The Viking Seeress of Fyrkat: a High-status Sorceress and Seductress
A Norse burial site in Denmark from around the year 940 contains the remains of a woman of high status whom experts believe was a seeress or völva.
Such women held a special place in society and commanded the attention of Viking kings, warriors and even the gods. Witches, called völur, are mentioned in some of the old Norse manuscripts.
This grave contains the body of a woman who has been dubbed the Seeress of Fyrkat. She was buried with items that indicate she may have practiced seid or sorcery.
The völur were known to seduce men, and for this reason some deemed them dangerous. The goddess Freya was also known as a seducer, and she may have been a divine role model for sorceresses in Norse society.
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Are military police really as bad as people say they are?
Yes, utter pricks.
I was jiffed for some shit job in the sergeants mess, the day a video recorder went missing
About 5 months later I was lifted by the RMP and taken to be questioned. “Where were you on 5th March?”
I had absolutely no idea, it was months ago
“The day you were in the sergeants mess doing X Y and Z”
Right, I was in the sergeants mess doing that; somewhat obvious I thought
They carry on about where in the mess, what I was doing, times, people that saw me etc
Then they play their trump card; “actually, you’ve just told us about the 5th, you were actually there in the 4th. So what we’re doing on THAT day?”
I was in the mess
“But we’ve ascertained what you were doing in the 5th, tell us about the 4th when you were there and the VCR went missing”
“Are you pissed? I told you about the day I was in the mess, you told me the date”
“So you’re lying about what you were doing on the 5th”
“Right, you are making shit up, doing an absolutely fucking shit job of questioning, and I’m answering fuck all else until my boss gets here” I’d already got my sergeant with me, as allowed, but we were allowed to have an officer. Our branch office in the formation headquarters only had 2 officers; a Major (who was out somewhere on a unit visit that day), and Commander Medical, a full Colonel that was an ex ranker, a mate of my dads for nearly 30 years, and absolutely hated MP’s. He turns up, finds out what they’d been doing and absolutely ripped the shit out of everyone he could find, including their OC, a major
So yes, utter cunts
The Seeress of Fyrkat’s Grave
Fyrkat is a ring fortress near Hobro, Denmark. Archaeologists found unusual objects in the woman’s grave, including an iron staff that was disintegrating. Her grave was one of 30 found at the fortress.
The National Museum of Denmark describes the burial:
‘At the time of burial the woman was dressed in fine blue and red clothes adorned with gold thread – which had royal status. She was buried, like the richest women, in the body of a horse-drawn carriage. She had been given ordinary female gifts, like spindle whorls and scissors. But there were also exotic goods from foreign parts, indicating that the woman must have been wealthy. She wore toe rings of silver, which have not been found elsewhere in Scandinavia. In addition, two bronze bowls were also found in the grave, which may have come all the way from Central Asia.’
Several Viking Age graves of wealthy women contained iron staffs explains the museum. Experts concluded these seeresses or völur were from the upper strata of Viking societies. The word völva probably means staff or wand.
The archaeologists also found seeds of henbane plants, a poison that may have been used to induce mild euphoria, hallucinations and trances. The seeds, plus the iron staff with bronze fittings, are signs that the Seeress of Fyrkat may have been a magic-practicing seeress or volva.
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The Viking seeress’s cooking spit. The spit was already slightly bent when it was placed in the burial. (National Museum Denmark)
Henbane seeds when thrown on fire produce smoke that is mildly hallucinogenic if breathed in. The seeds could be made into a salve that imparted a psychedelic high when rubbed into the skin. The seeds were in a small purse. Witches of later years also were known to use henbane.
Another poisonous substance, white lead sometimes used to produce an ointment for the skin, was found in the Seeress of Fyrkat’s belt buckle.
The museum site says other grave items indicate the woman was a seeress. Archaeologists found a box containing owl pellets, small mammal and bird bones, and a silver amulet in the shape of a chair. The article says it may have been a magic or seid chair.
This small cup was found in the seeress’s grave. (National Museum of Denmark)
They also found a small cup, possibly for drinking, and a bronze cup that may have come from Central Asia. The bronze cup had a fatty substance inside and a grass cover.
Even Odin, the King of the Gods, Called on Seeresses
A Viking edda or document called the Voluspa: The Prophecy of the Seeress, says Odin visited a seeress and sought “to know the future and what the fate of the world will be. He looks poor and miserable, but as he has only one eye the seeress recognizes him immediately as Odin,” says another article on the National Museum of Denmark site.
Odin offers the völva his necklace and ring as payment for telling him the future. She then begins to inform him about the creation of the world, the first gods and people, as well as the end of the world – Ragnarök, when gods will do battle with giants. The seeress also describes how after Ragnarök, the all-destructive war, the world will rise again. But she also sees that evil will return to the world.
Odin consults with a volva, drawing by Lorenz Frølich. (Public Domain)
The Vikings believed seeresses could enter altered states of consciousness and see the future or distant events. They did seid or magic using a special seat.
During their sessions, these mystical women were surrounded by young girls who sang to the spirits. The songs invoked the spirits and sent the seeresses into a trance, whence they could communicate with gods and spirits, see far-off places and predict the future. They supposedly also could make an enemy restless or make a weapon invincible.
Seeresses Had a High Place in Society
Seeresses’ high status meant they were accorded respect. Households or settlements in distress would call on them for help.
The Flateyjarbok, an Icelandic manuscript quoted in The Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend, says:
‘In those days wise women, called prophetesses, used to travel about the countryside, and they foretold people’s lives. Because of that many people invited them to their homes, made feasts in their honor, and gave them gifts when they left.’
The Saga of Erik the Red tells of a seeress who was called on to do magic for a whole settlement. She had an entourage of young girls with her who sang.
The seeresses did not just practice magic for others. They sometimes used magic to further their own interests.
Christian Authorities Forbid Magic
After the conversion of the Norse lands to Christianity, seeresses were in peril. An Anglo-Saxon document of the late 10th century says a woman suspected of witchcraft was drowned at London Bridge.
In the Norse lands, after Christianity was introduced, authorities made laws that suppressed pagan ritual and forbade seid and any other magic. Seid is making a comeback today and is being practiced by neo-pagans.
The National Museum of Denmark this year has an interactive exhibit displaying the Seeress of Fyrkat’s grave goods and explaining her place in society. The exhibition is called “The Viking Sorceress.”
Top image: The burial of the Seeress of Fyrkat, a drawing by Thomas Hjejle Bredsdorff. Source: National Museum of Denmark
Be the Rufus!
While shopping at Goodwill one day, I was approached by a lady. She asked me if I remembered her. I said that she looked familiar, which is my standard answer when I have no clue who a person is. In my lifetime I have met thousands of people and I don’t remember them all, but would never tell them that.
The lady started to cry. She took my hand and proceeded to tell me that I am her Angel, that she often tells her grandchildren about the lady who saved her life. I looked at her stunned. How did I save this lady’s life?
Many years ago she was homeless, her then husband had beaten her and thrown her out of her house, she had lost custody of the kids, her family had rejected her and she had nowhere to go. She was living in the women’s shelter but she was not getting along with the other women and had pretty much reached the limits as to what she could endure, so she called a cab to take her to the beach where she planned on drowning herself. I was the driver of the cab she called.
She told me that I wouldn’t drive her to the beach, that instead I drove her around in my cab like I knew what her intentions were. I talked to her about the way abuse works, how giving up on hope is to let the abuser win. About how life may be tough at times but it won’t always be tough, to hang in there.
She said I told her that she will be loved right someday, so don’t give up now. She told me after driving her around for over an hour talking to her and making her broken heart feel so much stronger that I would not take her money for the ride. Instead, I had insisted that she keep it in her wallet as seed money so more would grow.
My words helped her get through the fight to get her kids back, to hold onto hope that life would get better, and it did. She told me she’s married to an amazing man and is happy. She thanked me for showing kindness to a stranger and, since meeting me, how I had become her role model.
I’m glad her life turned out well. I felt uncomfortable being thought of as a role model, To me, what I did was just something that I was able to do at the time, so I did. In other words, to me it was insignificant but to her it was phenomenal.
(Helping the lady see that life was worth living was not insignificant — it wasn’t — what it cost me was insignificant.)
Symbols of Power: Deciphering the Language of the Secret Elite
The Hawthorne Lights
Submitted into Contest #196 in response to: Write a story involving a portal into a parallel universe.… view prompt
A.J Roberts
Brownies with Marshmallow Mint Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) box brownie mix
- 1/2 (1 pint) jar Marshmallow Creme
- 2 tablespoons green creme de menthe
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Prepare fudge-type brownies according to package directions.
- Cool slightly; cut into large bars or squares.
- Blend together the Marshmallow Creme and creme de menthe.
- To serve, top each brownie with a scoop of ice cream. Spoon mint sauce over top.
The average American worker can not compete with the Chinese worker. So what should be done? Would you lower American wages, get rid of environment protections, tariffs on China. How would you level things out so America could compete with China?
The ugly truth is that Americans will have to adapt to a lower standard of living and get back to work, instead of arguing politics and blaming each other. This process will last at least 30+ years.
The real reason Republican administrations (Trump) and Democrat (Biden) have started a trade war and put sanctions on chip and AI technology sales to China is because they understand that with the current state of the American workforce and technology, there is no way the American products and services can compete with Chinese products and services in the U.S. and in international markets. The U.S., in its history, has never encountered an economy which has the capability to steamroller the US economy the way China’s economy can. This is the real reason Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen complains about an “oversupply” of Chinese products.
But China is not really to blame for this: it is the fault of the U.S. ruling class for failing to invest in the U.S. workforce, its education system, and transportation and manufacturing infrastructure. Instead of making medium-and long-term investments which would take 1–3 decades to show results, but which would generate a long-term benefit to Americans, they have instead chosen quick fixes and red herrings which would help them win the next election. Both parties have kicked the can down the road, and now they see that there is no more road.
China’s rise is mainly an economic challenge to the U.S., which could have been handled with domestic investment and infrastructure policies 20–30 years ago. Instead, Wall St’s gift to the US economy and the world was the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, which directly led to populism and Trump’s election in 2016.
Since 2016, U.S. administrations have used China as a scapegoat for their own domestic policy failures. Since the U.S. is used to using foreign military adventures and foreign “enemies” as a distraction to the American people from their own failures, they have tried to goad China into attacking Taiwan by stepping up arms sales to the Taiwan authorities. China has responded by stepping up military exercises around Taiwan, but has not yet taken the bait to attack Taiwan.
That is why we are where we are today.
What would likely be the outcome of a simultaneous Chinese invasion of Taiwan, and Okinawa? Does the US have sufficient forces in Okinawa to fully defend it against the Chinese Navy and associated PLA military forces?
First, it is American troops stationed in Okinawa, and more recently, taiwan, including the provocative presence of SOCOM forces in jinmen, within sight of Xiamen in fujian.
Second, it is indopacom that is drawing down half its Okinawa troops to be redeployed on Guam and surrounding islands. Kadena is no longer the keystone of the pacific, with Guam being fortified to the tune of billions as the new fortress.
China has no claims to the ryukus, although it insists on the fulfillment of the cairo and Potsdam declarations as an equal-weight victor. China was not party to the treaty of San Francisco that left significant gaps on the table.
In the 2020s, China’s sovereignty claim on Taiwan, and by extension, diaoyutai, is a quarrel between Washington and Beijing. The US recognizes china’s claim by upholding the One China policy, but refuses china’s exercise of sovereignty. Beijing meanwhile insists on the One China principle. I will leave the difference between the two as an exercise for the interested reader.
As we have seen in the past two years, China is fully prepared and drilling intensely for a blockade on Taiwan. In 2025, a complete encirclement of taiwan can be enacted on demand, with the latest exercise declaring exclusion zones in real time without pre-warning.
Naval and air force units have been rotated for drills in the Ecs to familiarize personnel with local conditions and maintain a strong presence in the vicinity of taiwan, particularly the key Bashi and miyako straits.
China is prepared to turn Taiwan into a cocooned fort rather than the battleground.
After all, the threat to Taiwan is as far south as America, as far east as America and as far north as America.
In my experience, hitting that plateau while dieting is because of the body’s metabolism slowing down as a reaction to less energy being available.
I found out the hard way that there’s no short cut to having a “cheat day” or days. While I was losing that 75kg I found that I had to have one day a week, I chose Saturdays, where I ate 2.5k calories and that would stop my metabolism from slowing down. After a few months I even had to have a “cheat week” to bounce my metabolism back up!
After all the hard work of dieting it felt really counter-intuitive to eat more to keep losing weight and I really didn’t want to accept that reality. Eventually I relented and learnt the hard way, as I usually do. Even pushing harder with more exercise didn’t work, it just slowed my metabolism down more. I found that one easy day a week of eating normally is what works best.
It’s good to avoid alcohol while dieting too as that really messes with the body’s hydration. It takes almost a week for it to return to normal after one night’s drinking!
Very important tips.
Yes. It is CNY and the drinking and eating is non-stop.
I have limited my drinking to beer, and still jog.
But I’m spending three weeks in Malaysia and all the foods here are so heavy and delicious. It’s a tough one.
So your timely message will be heeded, though the drinking is a tough one at this moment in time.
Protein… gotta have it.
Water.. hydration… well I am going to over hydrate if I can. -MM
Tim Ferris’ “The 4 Hour Body” gets into cutting edge body chemistry and mechanics for the uninitiated. With plenty of solutions to offer folks struggling with disease/weight/metabolism problems. I learned a lot reading that book just out of interest and keep it handy for reference. Essential reading and broken down into tight sections, even if things are fine biologically, and turns some old fashioned dieting and body training myths upside down, such as lifting weights, rather than infinitely more effective bodyweight training (as our bodies have their own, inate intelligence, and react badly to being loaded with weight non-progressively via machines and levers) and utterly debunked “no pain, no gain” approaches; that usually just result in permanent damage, subtle and unrecognizable as that may be– that is, until you’re pushing 60 or 70 and struggling to tie your shoe laces, suffering stubborn painful joint flareups, or much, much worse.
Great book. As for stubborn weight plateaux, Metallicman, find the nearest hill or mountain and figure out a way to climb it or a portion of it every morning, without fail (barring one weekly rest day). And forget the jogging. 90 minutes up and down, in total, will do it. Trust me. The weight will fall off and you can eat what you like, within reason. Half portions are indeed the most effective. Lots of water but don’t saturate yourself. A pint of two post exercise is enough. Nothing before, just rinse your mouth out and gargle, and do it early, pre dawn. And stop drinking water as you exercise in general– pro tip. Verrry important that. Only after. Repeat: only after.
Alternatively, swim 20 lengths every morning in preferably cold water. Same result. Guaranteed. (But with proper breathing techniques or it won’t work– you’re not trying to
give yourself a heart attack.) Maybe 2-3 months to gain exponential loss for both approaches. So watch out!! You’ll notice bones in your face you never even knew were there, 😂.
Maybe you lose fat, but your weight stays the same because of increase in muscle mass.
Xin nián kuài lè!🎋🧧🧨🐍
Thank you to all!
Massive changes in the year of the snake.
First, two new 6th gen stealth aircraft by China, then xiaohongshu, now DeepSeek.
Meanwhile the rats and dinosaurs in the west are running around in circles gobsmacked.
As I said, we have passed the pivot point, and are now entering reconstruction of the new world order, and it ain’t what the Liberal Globalists want. -MM