I used to have numerous motorcycles. My favorites were the Yamaha bikes. They were my pleasures and joys when I was young in my 20’s.
As we age, our images and pleasures change. What mattered to you when you were young fade away. And new things, beliefs and passions wake up within you.
Whether they are art, nature, technology, social or societal things. Change is everything.
Today, I am presenting some “motorcycle porn”…
Today…
What is the smallest moment of your life you will always remember?
Sitting outside our house I sat with my father having a cup of coffee when he turned to me and said,
“I never really realized you would get married so soon.” Just a few weeks were left before my wedding.
“Didnt you always wanted me to leave the house as soon as possible?” I asked poking him. “How you always say how I am a pain in the ass?”
“Of course, that is there, but you know what I mean.”
“No I don’t.” I said to tease him.
“You are too young to get married.”
“Mom was the same when she got married to you.”
“That’s different.”
“How? Yours was a love marriage. Mine is a love marriage.”
“Yes but I wasn’t the father there. I am the father here.”
I kept my head on his shoulder.
“I would call you every other day and make you mad. Would that be okay?”
He smiled. “You won’t get PaniPuri there in J&K, you know that right?”
I laughed. “Dont you always tell me to stop eating that? So I will adjust.”
“But…”
“But what?”
“I am just worried.”
“K is a good guy, I would be happy and safe.” I assured him.
“Oh I am not worried about you. I am worried about the poor fellow who has no idea what he has signed up for.” My dad said and laughed at his poor joke.
I stared at him angrily as he hugged me tight and kissed me.
Those days when your parents would use an insult as a cover for the overwhelming feeling of love that they felt which they couldn’t describe in words.
Roxy Music- “Love Is The Drug” *REACTION*
For those of you over 40, what is it that confuses you the most about young people?
I’m 56 now, and I’ve been noticing something for the last decade and a half:
Young coworkers who refuse to listen to anybody except “The Boss”. Unless you’re “The Boss”, you don’t get to tell them anything.
I first encountered this when, at around age 40, I desperately needed a job, so I accepted a dishwashing gig at my city’s convention center. I was actually a professional cook, having worked in restaurants since I was 17. But my last restaurant job had effectively eliminated my position – I was the breakfast cook, and they decided to stop serving breakfast. I was having trouble finding a new cooking position, largely because the time of year was traditionally a bad time to find restaurant work in my town. I applied for a cooking job; there weren’t any positions available but … they needed a dishwasher. I didn’t really want to be a dishwasher, but I looked at the facts: it was a union job, offered medical benefits and a 401k. I wasn’t going to get that at any restaurant in town, so I accepted the dishwashing job, expecting that I would get bumped up to cooking when a position opened up (it did, eventually).
I actually enjoyed washing the dishes. But the worst part of the job was my teenaged and early-20s coworkers, the servers who delivered the dirty dishes to me. They *would not listen* to anything I asked them to do with regard to how they stacked things, and where they put different types of dishes. Even when it should have been obvious that following my requests would make their own jobs easier.
Eventually, I figured out the problem. They saw me, a guy who was around their parents’ age, doing a menial, low-status job, and just automatically assumed I must be a moron who wasn’t smart enough to do anything better. They were all still young enough to not understand that, when you get to a certain age, you really can’t just run back to Mom & Dad to help you out with money or a place to live, so when you desperately need a job, *you take the job that’s offered* because you have bills to pay.
So despite the fact that I had been working in the food industry, in one aspect or another, since before some of them were even born, I don’t get to tell them anything, because I’m not “The Boss”.
I’m currently working in a supermarket deli department, making cold prepared foods. Same “you’re not The Boss” issues. We had one guy (who, fortunately, did not stick around long) who just would not listen to anybody. He utterly sucked at the tasks he worked on. He was horribly inefficient with his work flow, and would take far too long to finish anything. Every single time any coworker tried to show him the correct way to do something, he’d immediately interrupt and say exactly the same thing: “Don’t worry about it! I’ll figure it out!” Unless it was “The Boss” telling him, in which case he’d do exactly what she told him.
Here’s the thing. In my four decades in the food business, 95% of the skills I’ve learned were not taught to me by “The Boss”. “The Boss” has other things he or she needs to do. Training is done by more-experienced coworkers showing you how things are done. I’ve probably learned 5% of my skills from bosses, 5% figuring things out on my own/coming up with better ways to do things, and the remaining 90% from *listening to my more-experienced coworkers*. And with coworkers, that includes those who are younger than me and may have less overall experience than I do, but they’ve worked in “this place” longer than I have, so they’re more experienced with how “this place” does things.
If Zelensky signed a minerals and reconstruction deal with China tomorrow to replace the US and work with the European nations and NATO to knock Russia out of Ukraine, would the majority of Americans be relieved or mad at Trump?
China won’t sign shit with Ukraine.
Ukraine chose to insult China last year in one of the worst ways possible, by sending its ambassador to honor the dead Japanese facists who caused the death of 35 million Chinese, on September 3rd, the anniversary of China’s WWII victory against Japan.
Zelesky keeps asking China for help and people in his government keep sabotaging any chance of Chinese mediation. Naturally China would wonder the integrity of the Ukrainian administration, or whether Zelensky can control his government and really represent Ukraine any more.
Southern Fried Catfish
Ingredients
- 6 small catfish
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups cornmeal
- Salt
- Ground pepper
Instructions
- Shake cornmeal, salt and ground pepper in a paper bag.
- Heat oil to 360 degrees F, halfway up the sides of a cast iron skillet.
- Dip catfish into buttermilk, then into dry mixture in bag.
- Fry for about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes on each side (5 minutes per every inch of thickness).
- Serve with Hush Puppies.
What is the oddest reason you have been contacted by your child’s school?
My little girls school class were covering the Vikings. I was approached by her teacher at the school gates. She asked if my brother-in-law (her uncle) really did have a viking sword as my girl had said. I said yes, in fact he had a full panoply of Viking armour and weapons. At first the teacher was incredulous then puzzled. Then as I explained that it was all authentically made for experimental archeology and I was happy to bring some of it in to show the children, her demeanor changed. Initially she asked to me to do a 30 minute presentation for one class. I ended up doing an hour and a half each for two classes of seven year olds. They loved it! I can still hear the gasps of excitement when they saw a real sword, ring mail shirt and shields! A happy day for all.
Cheating Ex Comes Crawling Back After Text Exposes Her Lies
Which country can manufacture jet engines?
Countries that can manufacture Jet Engines indigenously without License :-
- USA (Since 1961)
- Russia (USSR since 1959/1967)
- France (Since 1981)
- Sweden (Since 1977/1984)
- China (Since 2019/2021)
Two Countries – UK & South Korea can make their own Jet Engines but license Technology from US with a export localization of 32% of Engine Value
Japan used to make Indigenous Jet Engines but since 1989 has been licensing Technology from US and lost its Indigenous ecosystem for Jet Engines
USSR claimed to make the Jet Engine indigenously without German derived patents in 1959 but others claim it was 1967
Swedens first indigenous engine was in 1977 but the first commercial aircraft was flown in 1984
(Iran and North Korea have claimed to make their own Jet Engines but experts claim the Iranian version is Russian Modified and the Korean version is the Chinese WS -13 modified)
There are 13 Nations currently at various stages of development of Indigenous Jet Engines :-
Level IV (Final Platform)
- Turkiye
- Germany
Level III (Preliminary Platform)
- UAE
- Canada
- Poland
- Brazil
Level II (Final Assembly)
- Pakistan
- India
- Egypt
Level I (Initial Assembly / Sourcing)
- Slovenia
- Ukraine (Announced)
- Netherlands
- Romania
Why is the US doing such a bad job countering China’s rise?
This question solidifies the entire problem with America.
Why should the U.S. be doing anything to counter the rise of China – Does it dislike the Chinese people so much that it wants them to stay poor farmers and use a horse and cart?
Why should America consider itself the leader of the free world? > Did you know fewer people are involved in the decision of who is being put up as a presidential candidate than who is going to lead China. Let that float around your noggin for a bit.
China has been working away to build its country with very little conflict. Can you say the same for America?
What about the South China Sea?
America hosted war games in the South China Sea some years back, I forget the actual year. It showed it could block off the trade routes of China. It was an antagonistic show of force. China looked at this and thought well, this is no good. It then started building out some of the sand Islands in the South China Sea to aid in its protection from the warmongering USA and friends. Countries need self preservation when it comes to the USA, is this right? No of course it is not right—America is a bully.
Geopolitics
America does not like any country that feels it should have a say in global affairs, be that China, Russia and soon enough, India will have problems. America runs on a toxic culture of exceptionalism, which is kind of ironic when it is the child of history.
America could only dream of the level of technology China has. It could make it more of a reality of it did not spend most of the countries money on the (MIC) Then it could offer its citizens a higher living standard.
Global Infrastructure
Show me a country investing in Global Infrastructure—The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a massive global infrastructure and development project initiated by China in 2013. Its primary goal is to enhance trade and investment flows between Asia, Europe, and Africa, with a focus on building and upgrading infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, and energy pipelines.
The only thing I have seen America do is blow up infrastructure
The (BRI) is just one of the reasons America is seeding anti-China propaganda around the world. It is directly leaning on Australia to lower cooperation between the nations. Even though Australia’s pay cheque comes from China.
China Military Buildup
Newton’s third law simply states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, if object A acts a force upon object B, then object B will exert an opposite yet equal force upon object A – China knows all too well that with it’s economic rise will also bring a target on its back. As outlined above when America hosted war games on its side of the world. This has forced Chinas hand and as such we see a reaction. This has also come at a cost to every day Chinese people. As there is always only so much money to go around.
How do we build a more harmonious world?
The first step in creating a world with less conflict is to get a passport – then travel, see that we are all very much the same. Some countries have better coffee, some have no coffee or milk at all, that is difficult to take. I have travelled all over this world, and I am yet to meet a person where I thought their country deserves to be held back from developing.
Is the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting a preview of what the US is going to do to Taiwan?
What makes some people believe Taiwan is comparable to Ukraine?
Ukraine has some of the best soil growing crops;
Ukraine has mines;
Ukraine has technologies including scientists (not yet escaped) inherited from USSR;
Ukraine is in the middle of the largest continent, and can be used to counter Europe, Russia, the US and even China;
Ukrainian women are popular, they can sell their bodies well (either as prostitutes or marrying someone);
Even before the war, the situation was the girls wanted to move out of Ukraine and the boys were taking cheap drugs. There were hard working girls and old women, but they could do little to revive the country.
Taiwan is mountainous, unfriendly to peasants / farmers;
Taiwan has close to zero valuable natural resources;
The indigenous R&D was already totally destroyed by the US decades ago. The people doing R&D in private companies except semi are old, there is no passing down of knowledge and expertise through generations, like what is happening in many countries (Japan, US);
Taiwan is basically a big island (and many other very small islands), it can be only used to counter China, dozens of times bigger in everything;
Taiwanese women are free for whites (including Turks), 99.99% of them don’t have a dream, they are aboslutely satisfied with their lives (there were tragic stories during COVID but the people didn’t care). Recently a former student political movement leader, a long time prostitute was arrested in the US (wait, maybe I have seen her or some other Taiwanese freedom fighter’s nude pics somewhere, can’t remember. I would have been impressed if she’s good).
Liu Qiaoan, who is celebrated as the Goddess of the Taiwanese Sunflower Movement in 2014, has been arrested by ICE as an illegal immigrant charged with multiple crimes. She will be deported. What a difference a decade makes. Note: The Sunflower Movement led to the Occupy Central/Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong later the same year, using similar tactics, organization and means of communication. Both were obviously well funded and planned, just like how Liu Qiaoan was the hired help planted within the crowd.
In which ways are they similar?
Oh I forgot to mention. US did give money and weapons to Ukraine. In 1996, when Taiwan was more like a opponent, the US refused to provide any form of help to Taiwan but instead to tell them stop barking to irritate China (that’s from a former General of ROC).
Madame, the Mystic.
Submitted into Contest #245 in response to: Set your story in a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of inhabitants.… view prompt
Julie Grenness
Jade did a quick think. “I don’t need a puppy. I want to meet a man to love.” The mystic astrologer spoke again…..
“Peace will flow, consult your guardian angel, always there in each awakening dawn. You must position yourself seamlessly for love, and be grateful for the graces that appear. I advise a weekly consultation. Here is your next appointment. I shall be your guide on the side!”
Jade left the astrologer, slightly bemused. Within no time, astrology was her world. She met Charlene, spent some funds on new threads, dressing each day according to her horoscope and personal palette. No more grey and brown sensible clothing, all was aqua, yellow and bright. Her hair was tinted, with blonde tips, her make-up was featuring her eyes, sparkling with hope.
Jade now awoke half an hour earlier, just to greet dawn with her guardian angel. She rehydrated with coffee, interpreting her coffee cup, making her bed, tidying her clutter, practicing her new skills in tarot cards. Once per weekend, she rose and changed her sheets, polished and mopped, flung open the windows, and lit her sage smudging. She wafted the aroma through her flat, opened doors. She still did not need a puppy, this guardian angel was demanding enough.
Jade had not, of course, told her father, who was called Bernard. The astrologer had got that bit right. She was getting crosser with God on a daily basis, smiling at strangers was not very effective. She was getting some very funny looks at the coffee shop, as she taught her students. Still she could not fix men, as astrology states.
Life took a turn for the worse. Bernard phoned, asking Jade to take him to his appointment at an oncologist. The news was dreadful, he had stage four tumors, riddled with cancer. His prognosis was very grim. Bernard was not as upset as Jade. He told her was grateful for all the blessings his Lord had granted him during his days. Treatment was planned, so he rapidly became an in-patient at an oncology unit.
Jade and the church people visited him regularly. In between tutoring online, she made a daily pilgrimage to her father’s bedside. He went downhill very quickly, the chemo was futile. Jade had been brought up with filial piety, but inside, she was now furious with her father’s divine Lord. How could this happen to such a faithful believer?
One grey morning, while channeling her guardian angel, her tarot cards finally showed a pair of lovers. “Yeah, right.” Jade wondered, but she was now a keen follower of astrology. At her father’s bedside, she held his hand .She felt that she was never quite good enough, never met a husband, never had his grandchildren to love and cherish.
Bernard suddenly opened his eyes, he was lucid for a while. “I am so proud of you, the apple of my eyes,. You are so bright and loving. I want you to got to the chapel and pray, like you used to. God has a plan for every one of us. I shall always be loving you. This journey goes on, true love.” With that, he breathed his last, and smiled his way to eternity.
Jade was devastated. The nurses were summoned, she walked to the chapel, frozen. She sat, silently yelling at God, Jesus, the holy church, her guardian angel. More than cross, angry. She nearly kicked a hole in the church walls.
But she was well-behaved,. Not praying, just recalling some happier times with her father. As she sat in the back pew, not doing any knee mails, she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She glanced up, meeting the eyes of her father’s junior oncologist. “These things happen, ” he told her, “Look, I have seen some mysterious things here, stranger than anyone can perceive. I took a photo of your father’s monitor, as you were holding his hand.”
Jade looked at his phone, there was an image of an angel, with wings. “Is this possible?” she asked. “Can I send it your phone?”asked Dr. Ben, that was on his name tag. “it is a comfort for you. You have your own guardian angel.” He laid his hand on hers. They swapped phone numbers, and Jade soon had a miraculous image of her own guardian angel.
Nearly eighteen months later, Jade sat in the chapel. Dr. Ben had given her his paw of emotional support, and that was not all. She did have a white wedding, but not in that fancy dress, simple, fitting, respectful. His name did start with a B, after all. She cuddled their brand new baby son, healthy with a good set of lungs already. Maybe she wasn’t so cross with the greater powers after all. Madame, the Mystic, was spot on. Jade had been open to a nuanced understanding of her guardian angel, and the theory that love will find a way.
Dr. Ben sat beside her. Their baby boy looked like Jade’s father, and himself. “Welcome to the world, little Bernard Benjamin……” A journey that continues for everyone. ……
How can US manufacturing catch up with China’s lead when China has cheap energy, ready access to rare earths, and huge numbers of engineers daily launching new open-source products and technologies, such as DeepSeek and Unitree do in 2025?
There is no possibility of US catching with China’s lead in manufacturing.
US is post-industrial. Most of its industrial skills are gone, save for a limited range, notably, the defense industry.
Plants enticed by subsidies from Biden’s Chips Act and Inflation Reduction Act appear to have encounter delays and problems. TSMC has complaint of shortage of skilled labour and cultural issues. US solar panel manufacturers claim they face stiff competition from imports, including substantial quantities from Chinese companies in Southeast Asia. IRA projects could face difficulties from Trump who does not believe in global warming.
Trump talks a lot about his tariffs bringing manufacturing home. He will find few believers.
China’s manufacturing strengths are across-the-board. They include cheaper energy, supply of materials, and labour skills. If US is willing to bear the costs and has the stamina, it could overcome each of them individually.
What it cannot do is to replicate China’s supply-chain, and the synergies that are intrinsic in the chain. The clear demonstration of this is Apple and Xiaomi.
Apple abandoned its plan to enter the EV business after having spent several years and large sums of money. Xiaomi launched its first EV, having spent about 1/2 the time and probably less money, Apple does not have a supply-chain to lean on. Xiaomi has the entire supply-chain in China at its feet.
The power of China’s talent pool makes possible the likes of DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics. US can never match this talent pool.
China and the world marveled at DeepSeek’s R1 model. It is open-source, and its training cost was only $5.6 million, apparently what a single AI expert is paid at Silicon Valley. Unitree is equally hot, its humanoid robots are making waves around the world. They can dance solo or in group, work, fight, take and receive, and more. The founders are young persons – Liang Wenfeng, founder of DeepSeek is 40, and Wang Xinxing, owner of Unitree is only 35.
President Xi is conscious of the power of the talent pool. In his meeting with Chinese tech leaders in Beijing on 17 February, he told them the time is prime for them to show their talents and give full play to their capacities. Liang Wenfeng and Wang Xinxing were both seated in the front roll.
Shorpy
Jishi Auto’s Global Expansion: China’s Luxury EV Takes the Middle East by Storm!
Do old people always say that things were better in the olden days mainly because they were young in the olden days and they have a perspective of it from being young, whereas now they’re old and life is worse simply because of that?
No. Life has really gotten bad in the last 30 or so years. I will prove it to you.
Let us talk about the average people. It is an entirely different story for the rich people.
First, it is important to remember that for an average person, life has been continuously getting better for millions of years.
It slowly started to change in the Eighties.
In the sixties and seventies, someone working in a diner in the US could buy a house and raise a few children as a single mother. Can you imagine that now?
I live in a big city in North America. My neighbors bought their house in the sixties using their income from working in a Dry-Cleaning place. Can anyone do that now?
Children used to play street hockey on the roads without worrying about people mowing them over.
There were so many coffee houses then in the big city I live. People used to get together, chat and have a great time. I met so many very interesting people from all walks of life in those cafes. I can never meet those types of people at my work place. The coffee houses are all gone now.
There weren’t this many kids with all sorts of learning disabilities then. We had plenty of teachers in the school systems then.
Now they are bringing children to schools in the city center from the suburbs that are 25 km away because they don’t have enough special education classes in their schools over there.
The traffic in my city is really, really bad now, compared to when I first arrived here, 40 years ago.
The public transport system never broke down when I first arrived here. Now it breaks down at least 2 times in a week. They have to use busses to shuttle people from subway stations to subway stations.
People are more stressed out now. They are working harder to make money that is not even enough to rent a place in a big city. Don’t even think about buying a house unless your parents can help out.
Just because you have video games and Tik Tok with stupid videos does not mean life is better. It really used to be much, much better.
Sir Whiskerton and the Radioactive Rave
Ah, dear reader, prepare yourself for another purr-fectly electrifying adventure starring none other than Sir Whiskerton, the farm’s most brilliant (and modest) detective. Today’s tale involves glowing mud, fluorescent feathers, and a radioactive rave that threatens to turn the entire barnyard into a neon disco. What follows is a story filled with laughs, puns, and a moral that will leave you glowing—not just on the outside, but on the inside too. So grab your glow sticks and let’s dive into Rufus Goes Viral (Literally).
The Glow Begins
It all started on an ordinary afternoon when Rufus the “radioactive doggie” decided to take a little detour near Catnip’s farm. As usual, he was sniffing around in search of something interesting—perhaps a bone, or maybe some leftover snacks from one of Catnip’s schemes. Instead, he stumbled upon a patch of strange, shimmering mud.
“Huh,” Rufus barked to himself, wagging his tail. “This looks… sparkly! Like me!”
Without hesitation, Rufus rolled in the mud, coating himself from nose to tail. When he returned to the farm, his green glow had intensified to a dazzling electric hue. The animals gathered around, their eyes wide with awe.
“Rufus, you’re glowing brighter than ever!” Doris squawked, her feathers ruffling in excitement. “You look like a walking lightbulb!”
“I do?” Rufus said, tilting his head. “I think I look more like a star.”
“A star? More like a supernova,” Sir Whiskerton muttered, adjusting his monocle. “But what exactly did you roll in?”
Before Rufus could answer, chaos erupted. Doris suddenly laid a glowing egg, which promptly lit up the coop like a lantern. Bessie, the tie-dye cow, noticed her psychedelic patterns were now fluorescing under the moonlight, making her look like a cosmic kaleidoscope. Even Ferdinand the duck began quacking in a high-pitched tone that sounded suspiciously like a laser beam.
“This is outrageous!” Sir Whiskerton declared, flicking his tail. “Something is clearly amiss. Rufus, lead me to this… glowing mud at once!”
The Investigation Begins
With Rufus leading the way, Sir Whiskerton set off toward Catnip’s farm, trailed by Ditto the echoing kitten (“Glowing mud! At once!”). Along the way, they encountered several peculiar sights:
- Porkchop the Pig , who was attempting to paint himself with the same glowing substance so he’d match Bessie’s new look.
- Lucifer the Chipmunk , perched atop Big Red the Dog, declaring himself the “King of Neon” and plotting to cover the entire farm in glitter.
- Bartholomew the Piñata , standing eerily still while softly whispering, “Because I’m the only one who listens…”
When they finally reached the source of the glowing mud, Sir Whiskerton examined it closely. It shimmered unnaturally, emitting a faint hum that made his whiskers twitch.
“This isn’t ordinary mud,” Sir Whiskerton announced. “It’s radioactive! And judging by its effects, it amplifies whatever traits you already possess.”
“So… does that mean I’ll start glowing even brighter?” Rufus asked hopefully.
“It means we need to contain this before everyone becomes unbearable,” Sir Whiskerton replied dryly. “Doris laying glowing eggs is bad enough. Imagine if Ferdinand starts singing louder—or worse, if Bartholomew decides to philosophize nonstop.”
The Farm Turns Fluorescent
Back at the farm, things were spiraling out of control. The animals’ newfound glow wasn’t just physical—it was affecting their personalities too.
- Doris became obsessed with being the center of attention, strutting around like she was auditioning for a poultry pageant.
- Ferdinand tried to form a band called “The Glow Tones,” recruiting Jazzpurr to play bongos and Tony the Bear to provide backup vocals.
- Bessie started hosting impromptu yoga sessions under the stars, claiming her glowing fur was perfect for meditation.
- Big Red the Dog accidentally knocked over the feed trough, spilling glowing grain everywhere and turning the entire barnyard into a neon wonderland.
Even Ditto couldn’t stop echoing everything twice as loudly, driving everyone—including Sir Whiskerton—to the brink of madness.
“We must act quickly,” Sir Whiskerton said, pacing dramatically. “If this keeps up, the farmer will notice, and then we’ll have bigger problems than just glowing feathers and fur.”
The Solution
Determined to restore order, Sir Whiskerton devised a plan. He enlisted Rufus and Ditto to help gather all the glowing mud and dispose of it safely. Meanwhile, he consulted Philo the Philosophical Penguin, who suggested using clay from the pond to neutralize the mud’s effects.
“Clay absorbs radiation,” Philo explained in his usual cryptic manner. “It’s simple science—or perhaps metaphysics. Either way, it should work.”
Armed with buckets of clay, the animals worked together to scrub away the glow. Doris reluctantly parted with her radiant plumage, while Bessie mourned the loss of her cosmic aura. Even Rufus sighed as his signature green glow dimmed back to its original hue.
“Don’t worry, Rufus,” Sir Whiskerton said, patting him gently. “You’re still the brightest dog on the farm—in more ways than one.”
A Happy Ending
By sunrise, the farm was back to normal—or as normal as it ever got. The glowing mud was safely buried deep in the woods, far from prying paws and hooves. The animals gathered around Sir Whiskerton, grateful for his quick thinking.
“Well done, Whiskerton!” Doris clucked, no longer glowing but still dramatic. “You saved us from becoming a radioactive circus!”
“Yes, yes,” Sir Whiskerton said, smirking. “Though I must admit, the sight of Lucifer wearing sequins was rather entertaining.”
As the animals laughed and returned to their daily routines, Sir Whiskerton settled back into his favorite sunbeam, content in the knowledge that balance had been restored.
The Moral of the Story
Too much sparkle can blind you to what truly matters. While it’s fun to shine brightly, sometimes the best qualities are those that don’t need to glow to be appreciated.
Until next time, my friends.
The End.
Pepe Escobar: Russia BRACES for War Endgame as Trump Drives EU to TEARS, Ukraine Collapses
Why are there so many stupid questions about China? Is it a part of Western public opinion hegemony?
Stupid people ask stupid questions, and if there are too many stupid people in the West, the hegemony of public opinion naturally cannot be maintained.
This is because something is wrong with their education system.
If you ask them to make change at the grocery store, they can’t count at all, but when it comes to the dozens of genders, they can memorize them by heart.
How stupid are Americans these days?
During the COVID-19 epidemic Trump told them that drinking bleach water would cure COVID-19, and as a result just as many Americans actually drank the bleach water and were hospitalized for poisoning as a result.
Many Americans are so incredibly poorly informed about science that about 13% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 actually believe the Earth is flat, from basketball players to musicians, rappers to TV hosts,
Back in 2021, Newsweek pointed out the top 10 ignorances of Americans through a large survey, and it was a real jaw dropper to read:
- Over 20% of Americans don’t know what a Muslim is and think Obama is a Muslim;
- Over 21% of Americans believe in witchcraft and magic;
- over 90% of young Americans don’t know where Afghanistan is and have no way of finding it on a map;
- that over 70% of Americans don’t know which ‘three powers’ the ‘separation of powers’ is.
- …….
Why are Americans so stupid? And getting dumber?
Because their teachers don’t teach them any of this, their teachers teach all 70+ genders in America.
The U.S. Department of Education is absolutely responsible for the decline in Americans’ IQ.
That’s why Trump has ranted about the Department of Education on social media more than once, and the most common thing he’s said is:
The U.S. education system sucks, it’s a giant shithole, and we have the highest cost per student expenditure out of over 40 countries, but exist at the bottom of the competitiveness rankings!
TWILIGHT’S EMBRACE: A LUMINA ECLIPSE TALE
Submitted into Contest #245 in response to: Set your story in a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of inhabitants.… view prompt
Darvico Ulmeli
In a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of its inhabitants, exists a planet bathed in eternal sunlight. Lumina, devoid of night, revolves around its radiant sun, the source of life and energy for its inhabitants.
But as the inhabitants of Lumina discovered, their dependence on the sun was not merely symbolic—it was a matter of survival. Without the sun’s life-giving warmth, the planet’s delicate ecosystem would wither and die, plunging Lumina into darkness and despair.
Faced with the impending total solar eclipse, the inhabitants of Lumina had no choice but to evacuate, seeking refuge on distant planets where the sun’s rays could still reach them. They left behind empty cities and abandoned landscapes, their departure leaving a profound emptiness in their wake.
Yet amidst the exodus, two friends, Alara and Kael, chose to defy the odds and remain on their beloved planet. They knew the risks and understood the consequences, but their love for Lumina ran deeper than fear of the unknown.
As they watched their fellow inhabitants depart, Alara and Kael made a silent vow to stay together until the very end. Even though they knew they could not survive without the sun, they were determined to witness the eclipse—a final farewell to the world they called home.
Alara, the young astronomer, explains to Kael, her friend and fellow observer, the celestial mechanics behind the eclipse as they prepare for its arrival.
“The eclipse is happening because of the perfect alignment of the sun, the moon, and our planet,” Alara explains, her voice filled with wonder. “As the moon orbits around Lumina, it occasionally passes directly between the sun and our planet, casting its shadow upon the land.”
“Is this the first time that eclipse is happening?” Kael asked with curiosity. “Why not before?”
“That is because the moon orbits extremely slowly.” explains Alara “It takes more than five hundred years for the moon to cross paths with the sun.”
Kael listens intently, his eyes fixed on Alara as she unravels the phenomenon’s intricacies. “During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks out the sun, plunging our world into darkness,” she elaborates. “It’s a moment of cosmic convergence, a rare glimpse into the cosmic dance of our universe.”
As Alara speaks, Kael’s mind races with thoughts of the ancient prophecies and legends surrounding the eclipse. “So, this darkness we’re about to experience—it’s not just a natural phenomenon,” he muses, his voice tinged with awe. “It’s a symbol of something greater beyond our understanding.”
On the eve of the rare celestial event, the impending total solar eclipse, the atmosphere on Lumina crackled with anticipation and a tinge of melancholy. Alara and Kael, inseparable companions, stood atop a windswept plateau overlooking the vast expanse of their sun-drenched world. The air hummed with a finality, a bittersweet symphony of emotions swirling around them.
Alara’s slender fingers danced delicately over the intricate controls of her telescope, her movements precise and practiced. Each adjustment was a testament to her unwavering determination to capture every fleeting moment of the eclipse. The sensors hummed softly in response to her touch, as if eager to fulfill their duty in documenting this monumental event.
“Kael, this eclipse is going to be extraordinary,” Alara’s voice carried on the breeze, her words laced with a quiet intensity. Her eyes, alight with anticipation, sparkled with an ethereal glow as she peered through the lens of her telescope.
Kael, his rugged features softened by the golden light of the setting sun, stood beside her in silent awe. His gaze was fixed on the moon, which started to cover the sun with each passing moment. “It’s a sight to behold,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I can already feel the anticipation building in the air.”
As the moon began casting his majestic shadow across the sky, Alara and Kael were swept up in reverence. Tears welled in Kael’s eyes as he beheld the spectacle before them, a mixture of awe and sorrow tugging at his heartstrings.
“Look at that,” he breathed, his voice barely audible over the gentle hum of the sensors. “It’s like the sun is putting on a show just for us, knowing it’s our last.”
Alara’s heart swelled with emotion as she followed his gaze, taking in the breathtaking display of light and color. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, mirroring the raw beauty of the scene unfolding before them. “We’re lucky to be here, witnessing this moment together,” she whispered, her voice tinged with gratitude and a hint of sadness. “Not everyone gets to experience something like this in their lifetime, but it’s heart-wrenching to know it’s also our farewell.”
And so, as darkness descended upon Lumina and the world held its breath in anticipation of the impending eclipse, Alara and Kael stood as silent witnesses to the closing chapter of an era. In the fading light of the sun’s warm embrace, they shared a bond forged in the crucible of their shared experiences, their hearts intertwined in a dance of love and loss beneath the vast expanse of the celestial canopy.
As the partial phase of the eclipse begins, a subtle change in the atmosphere becomes palpable. Shadows grow longer, and the once-bright sky begins to dim. Alara’s hands tremble as she adjusts her telescope, her heart heavy with the weight of impending loss, capturing the gradual encroachment of the moon onto the sun’s fiery surface. Each movement of the sensors feels like a solemn farewell to the sun they’ve known all their lives.
With each passing minute, the sun’s brilliance diminishes, replaced by the eerie glow of the approaching darkness. Alara and Kael exchange nervous glances, their hearts racing with anticipation and sorrow. The sensors precisely record the diminishing light, each reading a somber reminder of their impending fate.
As the eclipse darkness descends upon Lumina, engulfing the landscape in an eerie twilight. Alara and Kael stand side by side, their hands clasped tightly together, their breaths shallow with a mixture of excitement, fear, and profound sadness. The sensors register the sudden drop in temperature, the chilling effect of the absence of sunlight palpable in the air.
“We can’t survive without the sun,” Alara whispers, her voice barely audible over the howling wind, tears streaking down her cheeks, mirroring the rain of emotions within.
Kael tightens his grip on her hand, his expression grim yet filled with empathy and love. “I know,” he replies, his voice choked with emotion, every word heavy with the weight of their shared fate. “But at least we’ll face the end together, finding solace in our bond amidst the darkness.”
As the eclipse reaches its top, Alara and Kael share a final embrace, their bodies growing weaker with each passing moment. Their hearts race with fear, sorrow, and a profound sense of connection as they feel the icy grip of death closing in around them, their souls intertwined in the face of their inevitable farewell. And as they embrace, the sensors continue to record, capturing the poignant final moments of their existence on Lumina.
But even in the face of impending doom, they find solace in each other’s arms, drawing strength from their unbreakable bond. And as darkness envelops them entirely, they take comfort in the knowledge that they will forever be united in the eternal embrace of the cosmos. For on that fateful day, they discovered that even in the depths of darkness, there is beauty to be found. And though their lives may soon end, their love will endure for all eternity.
What’s not good about being rich?
Let me change it a bit: what’s not good about being a rich person? When we already have everything at home, for example a big swimming pool… you tend not to be able to enjoy the swimming pool in a 3-4 star hotel… while your friends are already diving in the pool, having fun, you are just in a daze and thinking: this pool is not as big as the pool at my house..
Example two: because I like to play drums, I have the best cymbals, the term in the cymbal world is B20 Cymbals. When one day I was invited to practice at the best studio in our area, their cymbals were below my cymbals in quality.. I became lazy to play them.. I understand, music studios will not have the heart or be willing to rent B20 cymbals, especially if there will be many people playing them.. they will lose if someone plays the death metal genre which definitely hits the cymbals brutally.
Everything feels “numb” if you have everything.. in the end there is only one thing we can enjoy, which is riding an Alphard. At home, we don’t have a luxury car. My parents, wife and I don’t really care about classy cars. So every time we go on vacation, we rent an Alphard, and it feels really cool, comfortable and luxurious. Finally we decided that we will never buy a luxury car because by having a luxury car at home, we will feel ordinary when on vacation.. riding an Alphard once every two or three months is fun for me… the same fun feeling as my friends who swim in the pool of a 3-4 star hotel.
Plus: we decided not to buy the expensive down pillows that hotels usually use, so that when we sleep in a hotel, everything feels luxurious and memorable. What’s the point of paying for an expensive hotel, when your room is more luxurious than a hotel room?
My Rottweiler and the pool at home
In my opinion, having everything doesn’t make you happy. Neither does having nothing. Just being mediocre, says Vetty Vera (you can tell I’m old, from the song I know).
Edit: because the people who commented on my circle were people from the lower classes or who said that I should ‘move up a class’.. I just want to say: if I have often been in the phase: “oh so this is how it feels” many times in my life. I sit in thought: I can tell that whatever I buy, I can be sure it will give me pleasure for only 6 months, after that the sensation is gone. Anything, including the achievement of a PhD degree that I got even though I had to study for 5 years to get that degree abroad. Believe me, living in moderation is the best, you can be grateful for more small and big things out there.
Edit2: why are there still people commenting about money this and that.. when I just want to vent that having everything makes us ‘numb’ and tend to be less appreciative of the little things out there. I also want to emphasize the meaning of the word “Enough” which is rarely practiced in everyday life.
Edit 3: who advised me to donate: thanks but that’s not the topic we’re talking about here. We’ve been doing it for generations. My grandfather opened up employment opportunities for three hamlets (you can read it in my embedded answer). My father provides scholarships for underprivileged children and doesn’t charge if the patient is from our village. My mother diligently donates to orphanages. While I was only able to provide basic food assistance to my neighbors when Covid hit.
Edit 4: Sorry I disabled comments… among the thousands, there are still those who do not focus on the question.. they say I am ungrateful etc.. they say I am funny, let’s change fate and other sarcastic comments (I have deleted them all).. but after I think about it, Quora is like other social media.. I used to think Quora users were polite and highly literate.
Southern Pork Loin with Fall Flavor Infusion
This pork loin recipe is easy to make and has been a Southern favorite for generations. Apples and pork have always been a great duo and this crock pot recipe is no exception.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork loin
- 1 apple, cut in half and sliced
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 Vidalia or other sweet onion, sliced
Instructions
- Slice slits into pork loin horizontally about 3/4 through meat.
- Fill each slit with an apple slice and drizzle honey over top.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Transfer pork loin to slow cooker. Layer onions over top.
- Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours.
What are 5 habits that can destroy my life?
- Alcohol– I’m not a big drinker and recently went a year without consuming alcohol. But when I drank at my friend’s wedding a couple of weeks ago. It took me 3 days to recover. I also felt anxious, irritable, and overall, like I’d been hit by a truck. I don’t know how people drink every weekend.
- Porn– this habit has wasted so much time in my life. I don’t know if other guys can relate, but it’s almost impossible to pick a video to watch when you get seriously into it. Because your brain is so messed up by the dopamine overload, you spend over an hour finding a video. Life is too short for this addiction. Life is much better without porn and addiction.
- A messy house. The average person spends around 18 hours in their home every day. Living in filth is very jarring. A cluttered house clutters your mind. Instead of pursuing the habit of being messy, get in the habit of tidying your house. Even just one room every day will go far.
- Being on social media. Social media is literal junk food for your brain. Stay away from it and read a book. You’ll get more out of it.
- Watching the news or reading newspapers—honestly, they are entirely worthless. Don’t believe me? Read a newspaper from this time last year, and I bet you find zero enjoyment in reading it.
Other unhelpful habits include:
Self-loathing behaviour. Make sure you love yourself. When you love yourself, your world changes for the better.
Gambling—remember, the bookies always win. It’s obvious why gambling is banned in certain cultures. It’s a complete waste of money and time.
Binge-watching Television. We all like a bit of TV. However, a good rule of thumb I learned from the late Stephen Covey is that for every hour spent watching TV, you should read a book ( good literature, i.e., the Harvard classics) for an hour. This way, you’re still improving your mind, not filling it with frivolous nonsense.
Littering—I hate it when people litter. It’s one of those things that really grinds my gears, and unfortunately, littering is abundant in the UK. If you litter, please stop. Littering is bad for us and the environment.