Let’s try to relax and chill out. I don’t have too much to say today. Just that it’s now official, the USA is directly engaging the Russians directly in Ukraine. This is NOT going to end up good.
Just stating the obvious. Aside from that, well, have a good day.
Theme Song | The Green Slime | Warner Archive
The year is 1966. Rock on!
Americans are now fighting Russians in Ukraine directly!
Ah, we knew this, but now it is clearly the case. Ugh!
As a parent, what did your child’s school do that made you say “you can’t be serious…”?
My son was in 5th grade and the school bully loved picking on him. You see, my son is a ginger. The most beautiful color of red hair grows from his head. He is and always has been very handsome, but that story is for a different day.
This bully tried and tried everything he could think of to get a rise out of my boy. He was taught that; unless he is backed into a corner, violence is not the answer. And so it went.
The bully kept on and kept on. My son’s best friend was a tiny bit of a boy who also wore glasses. As a last ditch effort and after making derogatory remarks about me, his dad and him, the bully turned around and sucker punched this small child, my son’s friend, right in the nose so hard, the kid’s glasses broke as did his nose!
It was on! My son had had enough of this bully and started whaling on him, and he wasn’t going to stop before he had annihilated this bully! Well, it took the principal, one male teacher plus the janitor to get my son off him.
I get a call to come pick him up; he was expelled. What? My mind was racing, the school would not tell me anything else. My son may be a lot of things, but a troublemaker he was not. I got to the school and one look at my son told me had been in a fight.
The principal told me in no uncertain terms that my son had “beaten a boy to a pulp, a pulp! The boy’s father wants to press charges!”
I asked my boy, “Is this true?” Yes, he nodded. And looked so ashamed of himself. I asked him to tell me what happened. After he told me, I now understood. I told the principal, “And what is the other boy’s fate? Is he expelled as well? No? Why the hell not? This boy that supposedly is a victim had been harassing, teasing, hitting, and numerous other things to my son all year long!
And bullies usually don’t just pick on one person, they pick on anyone who they think they can, so Where in the hell do you get off awarding the bully, encouraging his father to press charges against my boy, and punishing the one boy in the whole school that whipped his ass? What is wrong with you, don’t you know I could very well sue you right now? You had better figure out why this isn’t going to work, and please call me to let me know what the outcome is going to be.”
I took my son and marched out of the building. On the way to the car, I asked my son if he had learned anything from this. He said, “Yeah. Next time don’t hit him on school grounds!”
Kids are great! BTW, the school board decided they had made a mistake, and after two days of suspension, my boy went back to school. The bully cooled his jets and was quiet and sullen from then on, and my son was the school hero!
Large US debt raises concerns about more extreme US policies and possible instability
According to a US Treasury Department report released on Tuesday, the US’ gross national debt has surpassed $31 trillion, edging closer to the statutory ceiling of roughly $31.4 trillion put in place by Congress limiting the government’s ability to borrow, AP reported.
First, it’s clear that the US economy is in far less rosy shape than what many had forecast, with debt now trillions of dollars higher than its GDP, which was only about $23 trillion last year. Starting around 2013, US debt began to steadily outstrip GDP. After 2020, it jumped to about 125% of the year’s GDP, quickly soaring up to nearly 135% in 2021. As the rate of borrowing continues to climb, the unhealthy ratio of debt to GDP is expected to continue rising over coming years.
On the one hand, the Biden administration hopes to suppress inflation, which will likely drag down the US economy and employment. On the other hand, if the government chooses to stimulate the economy by increasing debt scale, investors will face greater pressure like rising capital cost, ultimately dampening economic growth prospects. It will be therefore difficult for the US government to balance economic recovery and runaway inflation, Bai Ming, deputy director of the international market research institute at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times.
“The US debt ceiling has been raised many times, which, to a large extent, will also have an impact on the US financial markets, objectively playing a negative role by adding fuel to the fire on top of interest rate hikes.”
Second, the total debt of $31 trillion also indicates that there will be more intense political combat on issues related to congressional appropriations in Washington, which means almost all major federal projects and initiatives will be difficult to deliver, affecting the country’s internal economic vitality and its external influence. In addition, Bai noted, the last time the US debt was this close to its ceiling, the government was nearly forced to shut down, and the increasingly high debt will also harm the basic operation of the federal government.
Third, an increasing debt burden will naturally raise concerns about the ability of the US government to service the debt, and even the possibility of extremes in future US internal and external policies, such as provoking volatility, unrest or even a war oriented foreign policy to shift or even find ways to renege on its debt, which has indeed happened in US history. This sentiment alone could potentially undermine the full faith and credit of the US.
The Congressional Budget Office earlier this year released a report on America’s debt load, warning in its 30-year outlook that, if unaddressed, the debt will soon spiral upward to new highs that could ultimately imperil the US economy, according to an AP report.
Moreover, the current level of inflation in the US should not be underestimated, coupled with high oil prices, the energy disputes between the US, Europe and Russia, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other complex international situations, the challenge of a $31 trillion national debt should be considered in the context of the risky crises currently facing Washington. If the persistent upward trend cannot be resolved, the attractiveness of the US as a global pool of capital and talent will be further eroded, hitting its strength in all aspects.
However, it’s important to note the reality that the US is accustomed to adopting various policies to deflect conflicts, leaving ordinary Americans and other countries to bear the ultimate cost. The US is not playing the role of a stabilizer in the global economy that a major power should do. Instead, it has repeatedly held others accountable for the consequences when it makes mistakes. As the birthplace of several post-World War II global economic crises, the US could once again become a chaos maker at the expense of economic development around the world, given that the debt as well as its economic and monetary policies all raise the possibility of another global financial crisis in the future.
Jackie Brown: Where’s the rest of the money?
How did you first know your cat was special?
When I walked into a cat room at the shelter and sat on the floor, sad, because my home cat just died the week before. I put my purse on the floor. this Ginger cat pranced up to me and immediately laid down on top of my purse. I thought he was telling me that he wanted to come home with me.
I visited this shelter 3 X and each time, he did the same thing.
When I brought in the cat carrier the third visit, I set it on the floor and he ran over to me and walked into the carrier. The shelter personal, said, “NO NO, you have to take him out so we can take the Success story “forever home” picture…so I took him out, held him, they took the photo. I set him back down on the floor and he immediately walked back into the carrier and said, “Ok, I am ready, take me to my new home.”
What are the chances of that? Special, I say !
I passed on a gorgeous 1 year old all white male with one blue eye and one gold eye, for an extraordinary, every day normal ginger that you see everywhere.
He is so worth it.
Parmesan Sage Pork Chops
Ingredients
- 1 1⁄2 cups breadcrumbs (I use Progresso garlic and herb)
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried rubbed sage
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 1⁄4 cup flour, seasoned with
- salt and pepper
- 4 pork chops, about 1 inch thick (can use bone in or out ones)
- 1⁄8 – 1⁄4 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
- preheat oven to 425F degrees.
- Mix in bowl, bread crumbs, grated parmesan cheese, dried rubbed sage and grated lemon peel.
- Then, on a plate put flour seasoned with salt and pepper; coat chops with flour.
- Dip in egg.
- Then dip in bread crumb mixture.
- Melt butter and olive oil in a oven-proof skillet.
- Brown chops until golden.
- Transfer to oven and bake until meat thermometer says 150 degrees, about 20 minutes.
ROBIN TROWER – Alathea (1975 UK TV Performance)
Is the rest of the world going to have to choose between the US and the West or Russia and China?
The rest of the world has chosen.
They chose China and Russia.
Don’t worry the US still has 3 slave nations Germany, Japan and Korea. But they are certainly rethinking.
The US can always depends on it blood Anglo brothers though NZ is certainly rethinking. UK, Canada and Australia will sink with the US.
They still have France, Netherlands and Denmark but the rest are not a certainty.
All of Africa, All of Latin America, All of Asia and all of middle east are with China and Russia.
This is the real headache for the US, it’s vassal and its cronies. If you stay with that way where are you selling things to?
Have you ever kicked a customer out of a restaurant?
Managing and owning a restaurant for over ten years I’ve ran into many rude customers but you’d be surprised how much one loyal customer is worth to your company so I’ve always tried to make any complaint right when I can.
However there have been two occasions when I’ve kicked people out, I’ll name the most satisfying one.
So it was a Sunday afternoon right after church and we were pretty darn busy. A lady left her jacket on a chair and I hustled out the door to bring it to her. As I was walking out to find her I passed a couple that was probably in their 60s. They were on their way in. I found the lady quickly and I turned around to walk back in. That couple may have had a 15 second head-start on entering the restaurant but no more than that. As I came in behind them I noticed my host was cleaning off a table, so being my manager self I took the initiative and walked up to them and this is how the convo went..
Me – “Hi folks how many do we have today? Just us two?”
Them – “Well we’ve been waiting here for 10 damn minutes, is your food going to be any better than this service?”
Now I was in shock as I knew they had not been there not even longer than 15 seconds let alone ten minutes. I decided to put a smile on and deal with it nicely so I said..
Me – “I’ll get y’all taken care of, would y’all like a booth or a table”
Them – “You’re not going to answer my question with another question, now answer me is your food going to be any better than your service?”
I was getting frustrated but proceeded to say..
Me- “Follow me I’ll get you taken care of.”
As I sat them down at our nicest and most comfortably placed booth I asked:
Me – “What can I get y’all to drink”
Again he said –
Them – “Now listen you’re going to answer my damn question and not answer it with another question, now is your food going to be any better than this awful service?”
I gave it one last try and said:
Me – “Sir I am going to take care of you. What can I get you to drink”
Them – He then tried again to say “You don’t know how to not answer a question do you?”
As he said that I ripped his menu out from his table and told him to leave the store. He got all big and puffy as he started walking out and ran up to the counter demanding to speak to the manager. THIS IS THE BEST PART!
My cashier said yes sir and pointed to me he walked back over to me and told me I want to speak to the owner I am gonna get you fired. It was at this moment I knew I had won the life time achievement award for handling an awful customer and I came back with “yes sir absolutely” I gave him the owner’s phone number and he right there in front of what had now been a decent-size crowd of people standing at the host stand and my employees pulled out his phone with this smirk on his face and called the number.
My phone in my pocket began to ring and I answered with “Hi this is Brandon Howard, owner of Smokin’ Joes how may I help you?” Everyone literally started clapping and he walked out in a fury.
It was glorious.
Observations from visiting Seattle WA container port.
A few weeks ago c1ue described the situation in Los Angeles’ container port facility. I found it useful, since container shipping bottlenecks were blamed for shortages, inflation, etc. effects on the economy. Would that happen this year, too?
This past weekend I was in Seattle, and had a few spare moments to visit Seattle’s container port on Saturday. I was able to walk along the road that runs beside the wharves. I spoke with Coast Guard, container storage-lot, and (adjacent) ferry operations personnel.
Here’s what I learned:
The port can simultaneously handle about eight ships (my visual estimate based on dock length and number of cranes). Only one ship was at-dock.
There were two other container ships anchored within sight offshore.
There was no activity at the wharves. Monday through Friday operations only at this time.
Empty containers are being collected at dock-side. There are tens of thousands of them, arriving at a rate of about a thousand per day.
There is a 1000+ person waiting list to become a longshoreman. The jobs pay in excess of $100K. There is no shortage of willing workers.
The longshoremen are union workers. The union hall (admin office and training facility) is dock-side.
Traffic at the port is expected to increase rapidly as the holiday season approaches
The port’s road infrastructure is not designed to efficiently move traffic off the major highways and into / out of the port. Roadways cross at-grade, and non-port-related commute/commerce traffic directly impedes port traffic.
BNSF’s railroad container terminal is located right beside the wharves. It is divided from the wharves by a two-lane road. The rail yard was active on Saturday.
From those observations I infer that:
a. there isn’t a labor shortage that’s impeding traffic
b. there is currently plenty of excess ship-loading capacity
c. there are plenty of empty containers ready to go to Asia
d. the port’s major throughput bottleneck appears to be poor highway design
Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Oct 6 2022 16:02 utc | 6
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules
“Kinderlandverschickung”
Russian authorities in Kherson Oblast announced that all schoolchildren will be evacuated to Crimea, to “spend their Autumn holidays.” In reality, this is, as the Germans called it, “Kinderlandverschickung.”
Officials from the region say that schools will stay closed until the 21st of October for security reasons, which also necessitate evacuation.
It is described in C.S. Lewis’ “Narnia”-series. This means, that heavy bombardment of the cities is expected, and they’re moving the kids out before it begins
HIGHWAY TO HELL With no off-ramp.
This is what’s being shared by the overwhelming majority of Russian channels. Possibly leaked from a source way up in the command chain – and/or about to be established in a position of power.
Not necessarily the road map ahead. But certainly reflecting a consensus. Don’t expect any confirmation from the MoD.
Destroying Ukraine's power supply nodes. Hitting rail and road logistics hubs. Destruction of tunnels and bridges. Destruction of all buildings housing government offices. Elimination of Ukraine's political leadership. Diversionary operations to undermine military supply, training, intelligence, etc. hubs in Poland, Germany, Romania, the Baltics, England... It should be a massive attack. Internationalization of armed forces, involvement of allies: Vietnam, North Korea, armed formations from CIS countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa, etc. Procurement and supply of troops at the expense of military allies. Nothing more to be embarrassed about. Strikes on military satellites of western countries over Ukraine. Air defense, a no-fly zone over Ukraine, REB. Destroying strategically important dams. Carrying out a tightly controlled, detailed, and coordinated offensive operation.
Why does George Soros criticize the Chinese government so vehemently?
China hurt him badly when they intervened to support Hong Kong. Soros attempted to crash the HK economy in order to make a buck and failed. He did successfully crash Thailand though, sending an entire country into dire recession. Soros is a true bottom feeder who is willing to wreck peoples lives – entire countries just to make money.
Bryan Ferry & Robin Trower – I Put a Spell on You + Will You Love Me Tomorrow [1993]
Have you ever been amazed by your kids’ creativity?
My son built elaborate road systems – with masking tape! The roads wound through the dining room, kitchen and back room. I don’t know how many rolls of tape he went through (I bought it in batches of 20!), and I still need to refinish the wood floor, but it was worth it to see him create such amazing roads and play with his cars on them. Sometimes there were traffic jams and accidents, other times the roads were clear and race cars would speed down the highway, occasionally outrunning police cars. He had more fun with this than any track system I could have bought for him.
LUCY Clip – “Learning’s a Painful Process” (2014)
https://youtu.be/UhqfvCKx7uA
From a Source in Europe:
This is from a source whose information seems to have a track record of reliability:
I wrote yesterday that the hysteria around the “use of nuclear weapons by Moscow” scares me. Unfortunately, there are other indications that there may be something behind it. Not 100%. Still… (coming soon)
https://t.me/craZybear2022/18779
https://stopbioweapons.org/imper/328-snbo-ukrainy-i-nato-gotovjat-jadernuju-provokaciju-dlja-obvinenija-rossii.html
I would very much like to draw attention to this post and maybe pass it on. Especially for journalists. A colleague of mine (a military expert, a citizen of a NATO country who served in the international armed forces) has just informed me that a nuclear provocation in the south of Ukraine may occur in the coming days. I believe this report, for reasons that I will explain in more detail below.
As a reminder, at the talks between the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and the NATO command at the end of August, the use of tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) or radioactive (“dirty”) weapons in the south of Ukraine was discussed, followed by an accusation against Moscow. This should provide for a really deep breakthrough on the front and facilitate the emigration of the disloyal population of the region to Kiev. For the US, this is a pretext to aggravate the situation and force the EU countries to unite within the framework of NATO.
This could happen on October 5-10. Malka or Pion launchers, which should be available to Ukraine, could be used to shoot down the ammunition. (This option was worked out by military experts). Kiev insisted on the provision of TNW, but the “partners” were afraid that the ammunition could be stolen and insisted on making several “dirty” ammunition using radioactive material available to the AFU, possibly from Chernobyl, under the guidance of NATO advisers.
My colleague insists that the issue of a strike is decided, he just does not know whether it will be TNW or “dirty” ammunition. He personally fears that NATO will increase the deployment, and the incident could lead to a real confrontation with the use of nuclear weapons. So he writes about everything for me, maybe also for someone else.
Why is information still plausible to me:
-My colleague is a very serious person who, due to his experience and career, could have a lot of knowledge and be involved in the preparation of decisions in the military field;
-Some of my contacts in the EU independently told me that everything is being prepared for an event that will finally “kill” relations with Russia. One person wrote to me that this could be related to a nuclear threat;
-I know from open sources of persistent attacks on Zaporizhia NPP with the help of drones and long-range NATO weapons (probably with NATO calculations), i.e. the West and Kiev have undoubtedly been following a nuclear incident in the south for months;
-Hysteria is spreading in the West about Moscow’s “nuclear preparations”, and the White House has even announced its possible reaction. Taken together, these could be preparations for this kind of provocation.
I really wish that the information was inaccurate or that a wild plan of a nuclear provocation was discussed, but canceled. But I see only one way to prevent this – by writing.
To anticipate: I will not only publish this text, but also send it to Russian diplomats known to me. Whether it will help, I do not know. Unfortunately, I have no evidence and no details, and I can not name the name of my colleague – he gave his word and obviously has to face a prison sentence for trying to prevent a tragedy.
So I can only inform about this threat. I urge bloggers and journalists to share this information. Those among your readers who have connections with foreign countries should try to convey this information to the public and the press.
1989 was a dark year for China. It began with the Tiananmen Square Massacre, which saw hundreds if not thousands killed. How do you think the Chinese government has been able to keep such a dark event hidden from the public for so long?
Please grow up to understand reality.
Tiananmen is totally another of the US “colour revolution” a CIA and state department job using the western media lie to the world. And the death number if any is due to the US interference.
The CIA efforts failed and like they say the rest is history. China learnt a priceless lesson and ensure that not a single CIA operatives get to China and with that the China miracle rise started.
Do not believe even a word from the western media narratives meant to demonize China and Russia.
What is something that needs to be said?
Do you know who this is?
This is Audrey. Possibly one of the most spoiled brats ever.
It was her 16th birthday, and her mum bought her a brand new Lexus. A LEXUS.
And do you know what she did?
She started crying… “I didn’t want my car now!” “It’s not even the car I wanted!”
And this is what needs to be said.
There are children out there who are literally sewing your shoes together for less than a pound/dollar a day. There are children out there literally forced to drink bacteria-infested water every day, because it is all they have. There are children out there who have to walk miles, for hours, sometimes even barefoot, to go to school for a few hours a day, only to end up working on a farm when they are older, because it is all they have.
And here’s Audrey, crying about how she didn’t get the car she wanted.
It’s a disaster, Audrey!
If the people of the world threatened to cancel China by pressuring their nations and private industry to not buy any Chinese products, would it be enough to cause China to cut ties with and stop supporting Russia?
First of all, China is not “supporting” Russia. China has friendly, cooperative, and mutually beneficial relations with Russia, as it has with most other nations in the world.
Why should China treat any country with disrespect like USA and NATO members do? China is not an arrogant, self-righteous prick.
Second, China does not condone the war in Ukraine. However, China is working hard diplomatically to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, two countries with whom China has excellent relations.
Third, China is deeply woven into the global economy. Cutting off your nose to spite your face is really, really stupid.
Is it possible that CCP took strict measures to contain the virus because they wanted to prove that their system is better than the Western system?
The CCP took strict measures to contain the virus because they wanted to save the lives of their people. People’s lives are more important than money. That’s it.
I cannot understand why Westerners, especially US citizens, are always thinking in terms of a competition. “Better than them”. Can’t you think in terms of cooperation instead?
U.S. Purchasing $290 MM in “Nuclear Emergency” Drugs
.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is purchasing a supply of the drug “Nplate” from Amgen USA Inc. Nplate is approved to treat blood cell injuries that accompany Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) in adult and pediatric patients (ARS).
Amgen, based in Thousands Oaks, California, developed Nplate for ARS with support from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), as well as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
BARDA is using its authority provided under the 2004 Project Bioshield Act and $290 million in Project BioShield designated funding to purchase this supply of the drug. Amgen will maintain this supply in vendor-managed inventory. This approach decreases life-cycle management costs for taxpayers because doses that near expiration can be rotated into the commercial market for rapid use prior to expiry and new doses can be added to the government supply.
ARS, also known as radiation sickness, occurs when a person’s entire body is exposed to a high dose of penetrating radiation, reaching internal organs in a matter of seconds. Symptoms of ARS injuries include impaired blood clotting as a result of low platelet counts, which can lead to uncontrolled and life-threatening bleeding.
To reduce radiation-induced bleeding, Nplate stimulates the body’s production of platelets. The drug can be used to treat adults and children.
Nplate is also approved for adult and pediatric patients with immune thrombocytopenia, a blood disorder resulting in low platelet counts. Repurposing drugs for acute radiation syndrome that also are approved for a commercial indication helps to sustain availability of the product and improves healthcare provider familiarity with the drug.
BARDA is using its authority provided under the 2004 Project Bioshield Act and $290 million in Project BioShield designated funding to purchase this supply of the drug.
Amgen will maintain this supply in vendor-managed inventory.
This approach decreases life-cycle management costs for taxpayers because doses that near expiration can be rotated into the commercial market for rapid use prior to expiry and new doses can be added to the government supply.‘
As an American who has lived abroad, what do you dislike the most about the US?
I am 43 and have lived in NORTH AMERICA (both US and Canada), SOUTH AMERICA (Colombia), EAST ASIA (South Korea, Japan), NORTH AFRICA (Morocco), EUROPE (Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Spain)
My dad traveled a lot so I grew up in a fairly international atmosphere, then I got a job that took me all over the world. My lifestyle has led me to have a rather international way of seeing things, to get to the point I don’t really feel that American and when around Americans I feel out of place.
Here is a list of things I dislike.
- CONFORMISM: A lot of people in the US lack intellectual curiosity, America is a nation of consumers, not of thinkers…. A lot of Americans think life resumes to working to pay bills, saving for retirement, having kids, and running the rat race destination nowhere!
- EXPENSIVE EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE: I had a cavity that was killing me in the US. I waited a week to go back to Colombia (I lived in Colombia at the time) so that I could see a Colombian dentist. The Colombian dentist did just a SUPERB JOB much better than any dentist I have ever used in the US, and it costed me 40 bucks to get my tooth fixed. In America it would have been around 800 dollars or perhaps thousands.
- TAXING AMERICANS ABROAD: There are only TWO countries around the world that tax their citizens on worldwide earned income. The US and Djibouti in Africa. Djibouti does not enforce it unlike the US. (Ironically the US claims Djibouti is a dictatorship that infringes on human freedom)
- CHARACTERLESS AMERICAN CITIES: Too many suburbs, too much sprawl, everywhere you look you notice the landscape is dotted with cookie cutter suburbs, crappy generic malls, massive billboards advertising crap, and gigantic parking lots. American cities lack excitement. (There are only three cities in the US…. NY, San Francisco, and New Orleans. The rest is Cleveland!)
- RACE: Living abroad you realize that hate is universal, and while you might find racists and bigots here and there around the world, in America “Race” is a business! Race is such a monumental thing in America that it is almost illogical. In other countries race is a thing you think about once or twice in the span of a few years and for a few seconds, but in America race permeates and defines literally EVERY ASPECT OF THIS COUNTRY.
- TOO HOMOGENEOUS – COOKIE CUTTER: This is linked to the characterless, corporate like – Home owners association loving, ambiance of the country. From coast to coast everything is corporate and looks exactly the same. Restaurants are the same, coffee shops are the same, clothing stores are the same, foods are the same, people dress the same, architecture looks the same. All that sameness has an effect on the otherwise diverse demographics, who overtime become mind numbingly homogeneous.
- FOOD IS CRAPPY, GENERIC IN TASTE AND HEALTHY OPTIONS EXPENSIVE: How is it possible that in Colombia or Spain or Morocco or Vietnam I can buy some amazing fresh organic produce anywhere for a couple of bucks… but in America I have to go to whole foods and spend a good amount of money in healthy vegetables so that I can be sure they are free of GMO’s? Not only that, in other countries, food varies based on the restaurant. In America food tastes alike all over.
- YOU NEED TO DRIVE EVERYWHERE: Not sure why intelligent urban growth is not an option here. A nation this rich could afford to build efficient public transportation no? I was reading that a high speed train between Boston – NYC – Philly – Baltimore – DC would generate billions in revenue, cause co2 decline in the region, and decongest roads in the north East. The issue is corporate lobbies in DC won’t let it happen.
- TOO MUCH POVERTY: Not only monetary but intellectual. Ignorance of the world, prejudices, stereotypes of other cultures are ok and the norm. Americans have no damn clue of how the world works and live in an alternate planet called the American bubble! On this planet, all people do is work and work and work, many with crappy wages, shitty jobs, tons of people struggle and the government is absent or hardly cares. All the while Americans convince themselves or firmly and naively believe they are LUCKY because they live in the greatest nation on earth.
- PEOPLE WALKING AROUND IN PAJAMAS, OR SOCKS AND SANDALS: Make at least a fucking effort to look like you took a damn shower! Do you really need to go out in pajamas or socks and sandals like a fucking nasty troglodyte?
- EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD TODAY EITHER CAME FROM AMERICA OR IS EXACERBATED BY AMERICAN MEDIA: Political correctness, Feminazism, Racialism, Identity politics, toxic divisions, extreme conservatism, extreme liberalism, cancel culture, shitty flag waving patriotism.
- THE INTELLIGENT DO NOT CALL THE SHOTS, THE SHOTS ARE CALLED BY THE DUMB, LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, GROSS ON SOCIAL MEDIA! The louder and dumber you behave on Twitter, the more followers you get, hence the more power to change things your way you get because spineless politicians will jump on your boat in order to get votes.
- LACK OF GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING, IGNORANCE AND BACKWARDNESS ACCEPTED AS NORMAL: Americans self congratulate on things like having a woman vice president, or having a mixed race president and think it is groundbreaking. Ironically half the planet has already had females in charge for decades, and all sorts of people with all sorts of skin colors leading! Argentina already had transgender women on tv back in the 70s! In the US people think it is so forward because we finally have Ru Paul Drag race.
- GUNS GUNS GUNS AND THE IDIOTS THAT LOVE THEM: I tried teaching in CO but I gave up after realizing what mess our education system is. During a conversation with a fellow teacher she showed me her loaded gun. She proudly stated… “This is my girl, she keeps me safe!”. I do not know how safe I would feel to have my child go to school with an armed teacher, one day she goes crazy and there goes my child and his classmates! And this is blue state Colorado! Imagine the red ones! TOO MANY GUNS…. which takes me to the next point.
- TOXIC MACHO CULTURE COMPARED TO OTHER RICH WESTERN NATIONS AND EVEN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: From the college “bro” that thinks wearing pink is gay; To men desperate to belong to pointless stupid fraternities where they can hang out and get wasted with other “dudes”; To punks that think their assault rifles make them manly; To resentful pricks that want to shoot everyone because women won’t pay attention to them; To dickheads running the show that think it is their rightful place as old straight males to dictate whatever everyone else should do! This country breeds entitlement! It is overflooding with a bunch of pseudo-alpha male, “John Wayne” wannabes; absolutely convinced they are exemplary and wise beyond words because they are men!
— Notice the contributions of straight men in this country in the last decade : Mass shootings; right wing groups like the Proud Boys, the Alt Right and their douchebag hairstyles— This level of entitlement in straight men is surprisingly rare in many places abroad (Unless you are in the Middle East.) Granted that is changing quickly but for a so called developed nation, it is terribly backwater!
Chinese DEFCON
Unlike the Defense Readiness Condition (DEFCON) used by the U.S. Armed Forces, which the U.S. forces were placed at DEFCON 3 when Egypt and Syria launched a joint attack on Israel.
China has a Combat Readiness Condition [戰備等級
] used for defense only. It’s divided into four levels:
(4) Normal – Adjust the PLA on duty, combat readiness inspection, strengthen patrols, enhance border, maintain normal communication.
(3) Mobilization – PLA on duty in standby state, strengthen communications, the implementation of reconnaissance, restricted access to military facilities, traffic, ready to expand the army, preparing for combat readiness, ready to set up positions.
(2) Training – PLA on duty to work overtime, strengthen communications, strengthen reconnaissance, expansion of the army, ready to mobilize reserves, prepare combat readiness, set up fortifications, combat training.
(1) Combat Ready – PLA on duty work uninterrupted, strengthen reconnaissance, emergency expansion of the army, mobilization of all reserve forces, ready to use ordnance, fortification position.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense will refer to the scale of foreign military operations’ impact on China, and the possibility of China being attacked to determine the levels of combat readiness. Different regions of the PLA (TCPLA
), as well as the different PLA Forces can have different combat readiness conditions.
China’s Combat Readiness Condition was raised several times to level 1 readiness:
- Nanjing Military Region upgraded to a combat readiness.
- 2011 Kashgar attacks –
- China’s Xinjiang Kashi City, two consecutive violent terrorist incidents, the PLA implement martial law, and its combat readiness level was raised to a combat readiness.
- 2001 Hainan Island incident –
- US Navy EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft collided with a Chinese F-8II fighter jet in the South China Sea. PLA readiness level was upgraded to a combat readiness.
- 2008 Taiwan presidential election
- – The PLA readiness level near the Taiwan Strait rose to a combat readiness.
- 2013 in North Korea –
- Sino-Korean border area readiness level upgrade to a combat readiness.
- 2016 South China Sea Arbitration
– The southern theater-level alert, the Navy South Sea Fleet, the Rockets and Air Force into the pre-war state; strategic nuclear submarine force into the first alert.
Holy SH*T, they just admitted US is ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine | Redacted w Clayton Morris
Easy Crusty French Bread
Ingredients
- 2 1⁄4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar (use honey if you prefer)
- 1 1⁄4 cups warm water (300g)
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 1⁄2 – 3 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting (360g)
Directions
-
MIX THE DOUGH & FIRST RISE (1 HOUR):
- Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water in a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
- Let the yeast proof for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is foamy.
- Add kosher salt and flour to bowl. Mix with your hands or a sturdy spatula, or mix on low speed with your stand mixer until all flour is incorporated and dough has just started to pull away from the sides of the bowl. For best results, mix until no dry bits of flour remain. Please note: This is a relatively slack (wet) dough, so it may seem a bit shaggy and sticky at this point. Don’t worry – it will become more smooth and elastic as we go!
- Lightly flour all sides of your dough (don’t mix the flour in – it’s just to keep the dough from sticking!) and turn it over inside the mixing bowl to coat with flour on all sides. Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise on the counter for about 1 hour, until dough has doubled in size.
-
SHAPE THE DOUGH & FINAL RISE (30 MIN):
- When dough has risen, lightly flour a large cutting board.
- Tip the dough out of the bowl and onto the cutting board. DO NOT PUNCH THE DOUGH DOWN – you want to keep all those nice air bubbles intact so you have an airy, delicious loaf of bread. (Note: If the dough is sticking to the bowl a little bit, wet your hand with a bit of cold water and gently separate the dough from the bowl to get it all out).
- Sprinkle a bit of flour across the top of the dough, then begin shaping it into a round loaf. Pull each corner of the dough in towards the center (like you’re folding an envelope) and repeat until the dough feels tight and begins to resist your folds. Flip the dough over and tap it into a round loaf.
- Flour a proofing basket or a medium bowl and place your loaf into it seam-side down. Cover with a tea towel and let rise another 30 minutes or so while you preheat the oven.
-
HEAT THE OVEN :
- While bread is rising, place an empty dutch oven (with the lid on) in your oven and heat to 460 degrees Fahrenheit.
- BAKE!
- When the oven is hot, you’re ready to go! Use oven mitts to pull the dutch oven out and remove the lid.
- Lay a piece of parchment paper down on your counter or cutting board (optional – it makes transferring the bread easier!).
- Tip your bread dough gently out of the proofing basket onto the parchment paper. Make sure the seam side is up this time – this is what will create those beautiful cracks on top of the bread!
- VERY CAREFULLY (without burning yourself!) use the sides of the parchment to lift the bread up and place it into the hot Dutch oven.
- Put your oven mitts back on, place the dutch oven lid back on the pot, and slide the whole thing back into your hot oven.
- Cook bread for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, remove the lid from your dutch oven. The bread should be taller, crusty, and very lightly browned. Continue cooking the bread, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes more until the bread has deepened in color and you have a beautiful brown crust.
- When bread is done, use oven mitts to pull the pot out of your oven.
- Use a long spatula or the corners of your parchment paper to lift the bread out of the dutch oven and onto a cooling rack. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into it.
Bangkok Hilton – The Execution
What countries support China’s One Party Rule?
Why are people concerned about China’s governance of their country? Be it 1 party or not.
Democracy calls for mutual respect & coexistence with the different. We do not tell our neighbors how to manage their home, do we? Same for governance of a country. To force western values onto others who has a different situation & culture is DICTATORSHIP.
Why is the West paranoid (China-phobia) about Communist China? Vietnam is also communist. Why no paranoid about Vietnam?
Haha. Right away, we know US propaganda is at play.
Why USA bad-mouths communist China & communist N Korea? But not communist Vietnam. Because China is rising. It is militarily & economically challenging USA’s #1 status in the world. Not only does Vietnam not challenge USA, USA needs Vietnam’s geographical value as a stepping stone to create troubles for China.
N Korea also has geographical value to USA. But USA already has S Korea. That is why USA must bad-mouth N Korea too.
See, nothing scary about communism. Everything to do with US paranoid (China-phobia) & dictatorship.
Like religion, propaganda manipulates people’s mind. Look: all cultures have creators. All creators made the same sun, rain, humans, animals, plants etc. It is the same creators. Different wisdom will develop diff religious practices & myths. You use flour to bake cake. I make noodle. Diff wisdom. Diversity. But some religion propagates their creator is the true one. Others are false & evil.
Let say it was USSR who won over USA, ie communism/Marxism won over democracy. Then democracy will be propagated as evil.
A smart Quoran added an adjective “communist democracy” to settle an argument.
Communism & democracy are 2 different things. But we can put the 2 together by using an adjective eg communist democracy or democratic communism.
Communism/Marxism, socialism & capitalism refers to distribution of public fund/assets. Socialism is less extreme as communism/Marxism. Most western countries in Europe & Canada today are socialist who have a generous welfare system. In capitalist USA, a Harvard research revealed that 20% of Americans owns 80% of US assets. Among the 20%, 1% owns 25% (a lot). 20% of the middle-class owns 5%. 40% of the bottom poor owns zero. In some cases, the middle-class is worse than the bottom poor because their income may not pay off their debts ie negative asset while the bottom poor has zero asset.
Democracy has 2 parts: election & spirit. Democracy spirit calls for …
1, for mutual respect & coexistence with the different. We do not tell our neighbors how to manage their home, do we? Same for governance of a country. To force western values onto others who has a different situation & culture is DICTATORSHIP.
2, for compromise. Today’s political parties fight with each other for votes. Oppose for the sake of opposing. Never think for the welfare of the country as a whole. Each party acts like a dictator.
Not many countries practise 100% democracy. Hence, democracy generally refers to election.
All western socialist countries have elections. They are called socialist democracies. USA is a capitalist democracy.
A communist country can also run elections & should hence be called a communist democracy. Those who are less communist but have elections should thus be called socialist democracy eg Chile, Venezuela & more.
In China, the ruling party is called Communist. But they have evolved to have democratic elections. Regions below provincial level have general elections. Provinces or above have representative elections. At the same time they practice socialism with Chinese characteristics (ie mix of Marxism & capitalism). Therefore, instead of “communist China”, China should be called “socialist China” or socialist democracy today. Westerners have not updated their knowledge & think China is like a bible that never changes.
Why not just call “China”, without an adjective? Like we call USA, UK without an adjective.
We learn not to label people by religion, skin color or ethnicity, eg Muslim, black or Jewish. Can we do the same for a country?
Who call China a dictator despite China has election? The one who breaks democracy spirit ie the US-led West.
Democracy calls for respect & coexistence with the different. We don’t tell our neighbors how they should manage their home, do we? Same for governance of a country. To force western values onto other country who has different situation & culture is DICTATORSHIP.
If a country is a democracy, but the leader is not pro-USA, USA will say their election is fraudulent, or the leader is corrupted, Then declare the elected govt is illegitimate. Then incite a coup & put a pro-USA person as legitimate govt eg 2011 Egypt. 2014 Ukraine & more. … It is god of USA who chooses the leader for other country & not elected by local people. … US democracy = dictatorship
For countries that do not have western styled elections, all leaders are called dictators & evil & must be overthrown by USA. Except communist Vietnam who has geographical value to USA. Haha
… it is US benefits. Nothing to do with communism or democracy/dictatorship.
A Harvard survey that has been conducted regularly for the past 10 years shows that over 90% of Chinese approve their leader. It is not up to westerners to rate other countries if they truly believe in democracy. Democracy calls for respect & coexistence with the different. We do not tell our neighbors how to manage their home, do we? Same for governance of a country. To force western values onto other country who has a different situation & culture is DICTATORSHIP.
Democracy also calls for compromise. The 2 US parties oppose for the sake of opposing without compromise for the welfare of the country. USA looks more like a dictator by definition.
To be fair, China did have times when they used dictatorship. China’s 1st revolutionist who used democracy to overthrow the Qing emperor, Sun Yat-sen, was a dictator after revolution. Why? He (& his successor Chiang Kai-shek) has to unite a country that was divided during revolutions. Same for other revolutionist eg Mao Zedong. The only difference between Sun & Mao is the slogan. Sun shouted democracy. Mao shouted Marxism/communism.
France’s path to democracy also mixed with dictatorship eg emperor Napoleon.
To summarized: today’s China has elections & freedom. It is not a dictator. But because China is rising, the West is worried & thus propagated hatred & fear toward China. That is all.
Guest FREAKS OUT News Hosts With TRUTH About Pipeline Attack!
OPEC Snubs Illegitimate Biden; Cuts Oil Production 2MM B p/Day
.
The Organization of Petroleum Export Countries (OPEC) met in Vienna, Austria and agreed to CUT oil production by two million barrels per day, despite strong input from the United States seeking an increase in output.
A group of some of the world’s most powerful oil producers on Wednesday agreed to impose deep output cuts, seeking to spur a recovery in crude prices despite calls from the U.S. to pump more to help the global economy.
OPEC and non-OPEC allies, a group often referred to as OPEC+, decided at their first face-to-face gathering in Vienna since 2020 to reduce production by 2 million barrels per day from November.
Energy market participants had expected OPEC+, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, to impose output cuts of somewhere between 500,000 barrels and 2 million barrels.
The move represents a major reversal in production policy for the alliance, which slashed output by a record 10 million barrels per day in early 2020 when demand plummeted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The oil cartel has since gradually unwound those record cuts, albeit with several OPEC+ countries struggling to fulfill their quotas.
Oil prices have fallen to roughly $80 a barrel from more than $120 in early June amid growing fears about the prospect of a global economic recession.
The production cut for November is an attempt to reverse this slide, despite repeated pressure from U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration for the group to pump more to lower fuel prices ahead of midterm elections next month.
The White House said on Wednesday that ‘it’s clear’ the OPEC+ oil alliance ‘is aligning with Russia’ after it announced a massive production cut of two million barrels.
It stands to be a big boost for Moscow, despite the West’s efforts to choke off oil and gas revenues as a source of cashflow to fund Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile American drivers could face another increase in gas prices in what could end up being a massive setback for the Biden administration.
Wait, what the F*CK did Bolton just say about Julian Assange?
Where is the world going in 2023?
The world is dumping the US dollar in droves in 2023. The world will avoid the western financial institutions in 2023. The world will move firmly and securely into a multi-polar world where the US and its few partners will merely be just one of them.
The world is going into a post US dominated world. The world is moving away from a western centric model in 2023. The Ukraine war is the final nail in the coffin for the US being the world’s biggest hoodlum.
In other words the world is going into a better place.
Butch DeConcini attacks Tony Soprano
https://youtu.be/nRNpOuVGh4U
SVARGA LOKA´s MUSINGS FROM GERMANY
Guest Post by Svarga Loka
1) Masks
It is getting old and boring to write about masks after all these years and months, but I figured that my observations might be interesting. I flew to Germany from Boston a few days ago to visit my family. This is the first time in 1.5 years that I did not have to get a Covid test either direction to fly. Masks were not required from Boston to Ireland, and only about handful of passengers out of 250 or so chose to wear one. Of note: the line for security at Logan was INSANE. It wrapped all around the perimeter of the terminal, which I have never seen before.
I am not sure if numbers of travelers are up, or if number of TSA officers are down. There were signs advertising that the TSA is hiring those (something along the lines of “Do a job that makes a difference”). The plane for the transatlantic flight was completely full. Since I was traveling with children, our entire party did not have to go through the side scatter scanner or whatever technology they use nowadays, which is what always happens when you have children with you. On other flights in the past when I was by myself, I always opt out of that.
To my surprise, when I got to the connecting flight from Dublin, Ireland to Germany, there were signs and announcements that masks were mandatory for the entire duration of the flight. In the waiting area, just like on the prior flight, only about 2-5% of the passengers wore masks. When boarding, all of them put their masks on, except me and my children. Our boarding passes were checked and we entered the plane. On the plane, again, multiple announcements that masks are required. I simply pretended to only speak Kroatian or something and I ignored the announcements. Of note, I carry a simply piece of paper with me, written by myself, that states “Mrs. Svarga Loka is not allowed to wear a face covering for health reasons.”, signed and stamped by myself.
I briefly considered to tell the flight attendant that I have an exemption and show her my paperwork, but I decided to just wait and see. None of the flight attendants ever said anything. Clearly, they have been instructed to not confront any non-masked passengers. Meanwhile, of course, I could feel the piercing, angry looks by the other passengers, but I have learned to not care.
Next on the journey: The train ride. Again, I knew that there is a mask mandate in the trains. There were signs that you will have to pay a 150 Euro fine if you are caught maskless and will not be warned and given a chance to put on a mask. We sat down and waited to see what happened. Other passengers giving us the evil eye again. A group of four, about 60 years old talked about how their friend or sister currently has Covid, that they are not as scared as they used to be any more, given that they are now vaccinated, but “no, they will not take the fourth shot any more”.
The conductor shows up and says “If you don´t have an exemption, please put on a mask immediately”. I tell him that, yes, I do have an exemption and give him my ticket along with the 4 pages of mask exemption. Then, he was OVERLY friendly, told me that I can feel free to put my luggage next to the other seats and the kids could lie down to sleep and wishing us a pleasant ride. My suspicion is that he was extremely relieved that I did not give him a hard time, had the right paperwork and therefore did not cause any trouble. The fact that he is asked to be an enforcer of rules he may or may not agree with must be the worst part of his job, and he never knows when someone gets confrontational.
Later, I figured, I should show my unmasked face to as many people as possible, so that other people may feel emboldened in the future. Even though I did not have to pee, I walked the entire length of the train toward the bathroom, so that other people would see me. I was kindof hoping that anybody would confront me, but nobody ever did. Whether it made anybody think, I will never know.
2) Cost
Naturally, I talked to my parents about the energy situation here. On the news, yesterday, they talked about a small business owner of a butcher shop, who needs to cool his sausages and cold cuts 24/7 and his electricity prices have gone up 10fold and he does not know how to pay the bills, but he went wrong by asking the government to fix it.
My parents live in a house that was built in the 1960s, poorly insulated. In the basement, there are two 1500-L oil tanks for a total capacity of 3000 liters. In a typical 12-month period, they go through about 2500 L. Last year, they paid 70 cents per liter, and right now it is 1.60 Euros (US $ and Euro are roughly at parity right now, which makes calculations easy). The high point for oil costs was over 2 Euros per liter in April 2022. So the total annual heating costs for my parents went from well under 2000 Euros per year to about 4000 Euros. I asked them what they will do when oil doubles in price and my Dad said “They can´t do that!” We shall see.
You have to realize that the typical income and cost of living in Germany are very different from the US. Certain items are much cheaper here and some are much more expensive.
I looked up the income for certain professions (per month, before taxes)
Hairdresser 1800
Car mechanic 2800
Nurse 3200
Software developer 5000
Physician 8000
The average governmental retirement benefit is 1600 Euros.
All these monthly salaries are before taxes. You will have to subtract roughly 50% for social security contributions, taxes and health insurance, so that the net pay is about half of what is listed above, although the lower incomes have no or little taxes and social security payments.
So if you know that a nurse might have about 1600 of “spending money” every month, you can easily see that it would be difficult to absorb an increase in heating costs by, say, Euros a month.
For retirees it is even more difficult. I do not want to disclose the income of my parents, but let´s just assume that they are average. Then, my Dad would get 1600 of monthly social security payment. My mother never worked and always stayed home with the children, so she gets nothing (unlike in the US, where someone like her who has never contributed would get 50% of her husband´s social security retirement). They could live on the 1600 Euros per month, but the increase in heating costs as described above from 2000 Euros to 4000 Euros would be a real hit for them.
If my Dad would die, it would leave my Mom seriously poor, because surviving spouse benefits are 60% of the benefits of the deceased, so 60% of 1600 Euros per month, which makes it very difficult to pay rent, food, electricity, water and heat.
As far as food costs are concerned, food has always been much cheaper in Germany than in the US, but I have noticed a marked increase in the last 6 months. A yoghurt went from 40 cents to 60 cents. A pound of apples from 50 cents to 80 cents. A pound of carrots from 30 cents to 50 cents. Meat is always much more expensive than vegetables, a pound of chicken breast now costs 5 Euros.
On the second day of our trip, we went to the local water park/swimming pool. It has a wave pool, lazy river and three slides. Think a smaller version of Great Wolf Lodge, but without the hotel. We always go to that water park when we come here, so I know when it is crowded and when not. Usually, it is really, really empty on school days in the morning, as expected. On weekends, it is crazy crowded, and on school vacation weekday, it is somewhere in between. Note that fall school vacation started this week, so when we went there on a weekday, I expected it to be at least moderately crowded. It was DEAD! Even emptier than I have seen on schooldays. I even said to the lady at the cash register that I was really surprised how empty it was. She answered that she is, too, but that people are probably travelling.
I doubt it. I think people are saving money and foregoing things like this water park, which cost me 21 Euros for the family ticket and 12 Euros for 3 fries. Total fo 33 Euros that many families do not have lying around any more.
Next day, I went to the local ice cream store. It is owned by an Italian couple who come to Germany selling ice cream during the season from May to November and spend the winters in Italy. They serve the most delicious Italian gelato, 45 flavors of it. I ordered our ice cream to go, and then told them that their ice cream is one of our favorite things to do when we are in Germany and that we live in the US. Essentially, I told them, we are flying half way around the world, in part for their ice cream, which made them smile. Then, I asked them how business was this year? Are they feeling it, that people are not flush with money any more? They said that, no, this summer was actually quite good because the weather was very hot, but right now, this month, is when they are noticing a marked downturn. I told them that I also think that it is NOW that people are starting to cut back.
Then, the wife asked me: “So what is it like in the US?”
How do you answer that? What IS it like in the US? In 2-3 sentences? (Please write your answers below)
I decided not to say “We are waiting for the apocalypse. Should be any day now”, but that, well, we are not as worried about our energy supply there, but (I decided to say something they can relate to) that it is strange to see that people appear to be hurting for money, and yet it seems to be impossible to find employees, across all types of businesses. The husband responded that he noticed that, too, that it was always hard to find waitstaff and restaurant help, but that now, every hairdresser, car repair shop and shoe store seems to not be able to find workers. Why is that? He didn´t know.
On Sunday, I am planning to take our kids to the local amusement park. For German income levels, it is expensive, at 30 Euros per adult and 25 Euros per child. If my theory is correct, it should be completely empty there.
My theory is as follows (it is not anything new, and not rocket science either): There was always that segment of the population which has barely enough money to make ends meet and put food on the table. Going to that water park was never an option for those. But NOW, we are experiencing for the first time since the economic boom of the 1950s-60s that those that were solidly middle class (nurses, accountants, small business owners etc) starting to be really worried about not being able to pay their bills, cut back on unnecessary expenses. They will not TELL you about it, even if you know them well, but you can see it by the emptiness of these businesses.
That waterpark had all sorts of Corona restrictions over the last 2 years. First, no mask but you had to leave your name and address for contact tracing. Then, masks but no contact tracing. Then, only vaccinated allowed. All of that time, to my surprise the pool was very crowded. Now, The corona measures are gone, and the pool is empty for economic reasons.
Mission accomplished by those that want nothing but to harm us by any means possible.
The Sopranos – Silvio And Adriana Go For A Ride
It’s all a lie.
According to Google, Australia is the most free country on Earth. What can I do in Australia that I can’t do in the USA? This is not an attack.
You can see a boob with a nipple on TV.
If you need an abortion you can get one, you can also get contraception so you don’t need an abortion, all through Medicare and the PBS.
You can believe in whatever religion you want, or none, without social stigma.
You can go to bed with any other consenting adult you choose.
You can vote (and will at least turn up) in elections without obstacles being put in your way (unless you a currently serving a prison term of five years or more.)
You can also get and education or healthcare without being bankrupted, shot or denied because you can’t pay. As a side note I was flabbergasted when I realized that the victims of shootings in the US had to pay for their own care, I mean WTF!
You don’t have the right to incite hatred or violence, but then that supposed right impinges on other peoples more basic freedoms to live their lives free from persecution.
And yes you have to prove you are a responsible adult with the capacity to properly store a firearm as well as a sane reason to want one in order to own firearms.
You see we are grown ups like most of the rest of the world and believe that with rights come responsibilities; not toddlers who think they should be allowed to do whatever they want and hang the consequences.
We also don’t think the rights of the few to be mega-rich are more important than the rights of the majority to have their basic needs met.
We also think if you are old enough to get killed for your country you are old enough to have a drink if you want it.
You see we have freedom of thought having not being indoctrinated at a young age to believe we are both the best and freest in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. And we use this freedom to try and ensure we have what we actually need not get sold the pup of mythical freedom just because we can buy a handgun or automatic weapon.
Are Xi Jinping and his CCP regime losing trust and control over Chinese citizens?
Please!!!
This is China we are talking about
The Country is so layered that you have various levels of leadership all the way to Xi Jingping
Most of the Citizens care primarily about
- Food Prices
- Energy Prices
- Consumption Prices
- Cost of Money
- Public Transport
- Entertainment & Consumer Demand
- Healthcare
- Banking
- Communications
The CPC has ensured that the above things are very comfortable for the Average Chinese Citizen.
Nobody gives a damn about Free Speech or Democracy or any of that stupid nonsense. These are concepts that the Average Chinese look at with scorn and contempt
The Chinese loves inequality, the competition , the fight to rise to the top and always acknowledge that Society is made up of Superiors and Inferiors. Thats 5000 years of Chinese Culture.
Not a Country that looks too kindly upon the theory that everyone is equal and a frocked homosexual with zero talent can be someones boss simply because of the homosexuality
Yes People are irked – Power Cuts, Covid Lockdowns etc
However most of those resolutions are made by Provincial or District Level committees and decisions are made by them too. So Anger if at all there is any will be directed towards the Regional Leaders rather than Xi jingping.
however the fact that People express their annoyance is proof that the People expect CPC to do something and most of the time CPC delivers near instant results.
Chinese Citizens have fullest faith in Xi Jingping and the CPC
SEINFELD | NBC Guy’s Daughter Molly | The CLEAVAGE Stare
What did your boss ever say in the office that caused you to resign?
I worked for a one- man gardening business. I came to work 5 minutes late on a Monday and was told I would lose an hours pay. On Tuesday, I was working miles from home and we worked an extra hour to get the job done, rather than coming back next day.
On the Saturday, the boss was going on his first holiday in more than 20 years., because he had never had anyone to cover his job’s. Friday night arrived and he had to pay me. He stopped the hour for Monday, but did not pay me my hour extra for the Tuesday, saying he does not pay overtime. I accepted my wages, wished him a great holiday, and left. He was flying to Spain at 11.00 hrs on Saturday . I phoned him at the airport, to let him know I was leaving and would not cover his contracts! That was his holiday gone, lost flights/ hotel etc. He was very unhappy, but as I told him, you treat your employees unfairly, this is what happens. I started with another company on the Monday.
BOMBSHELL – CLASSIFIED RAND Corporation Executive Summary Research Report January 25, 2022: Weakening Germany, Strengthening The U.S.
Damning and frightening.
Check it out HERE before it is deleted.
JONATHAN BANKS | Madrigal Electromotive | Better Call Saul
https://youtu.be/IWsUEMgD5ls
Movie on China’s evacuation of overseas Chinese leads National Day box office, shows national pride and confidence in turbulent world
One movie that took the lead in both the box office and the viewers’ ratings for the National Day holidays was Home Coming. The movie tells a story of two unarmed Chinese diplomats delving into a rebel force-controlled area in a fictional war-wrecked African country to lead 125 Chinese citizens safely back home, and it has sparked a strong sense of national pride and confidence amid a turbulent world experiencing major changes.
Some moviegoers may have entered theaters expecting a Warrior Wolf-like movie, but were offered the cruelty of war and the most difficult part of diplomatic and consulate work in contrast to the traditional impression that diplomats are “clean and decent.” However, the two main characters’ deep love for their country and their people, strong sense of responsibilities and the greater group of Chinese diplomats in the new era they represent, touched many viewers.
The movie, starring veteran actor Zhang Yi and idol Wang Junkai, not only showed how the two diplomats, one seasoned and one new, protected their people with courage and wisdom, but also depicted different roles of common people, including stranded Chinese compatriots and locals in the fictional African country with whom Chinese people stationed there have developed deep emotional bond.
Some diplomats engage in fierce wars of words with their foreign counterparts, some are stationed abroad and interact with local communities on behalf of China, some have their life in danger in a war-hit country, but they all speak and work for the interests of China and the Chinese people, read one comment on social media platform Sina Weibo.
“There are not many cool action scenes, but thrilling in a sense that the story is in a fictional setting but not really fictional,” another Weibo user posted.
Home Coming prompted many people to recall Chinese Embassy’s evacuation of more than 30,000 Chinese nationals from turmoil in Libya in 2011. Behind this sentence were many heroic stories and unswerving efforts of many Chinese diplomats. Many news reports have revealed some details of the eye-catching evacuation, and people are curious of how those touching moments can be translated into screen language.
A viewer, who gave the movie 5/5 on Chinese rating site Douban, recalled his personal experience 11 years ago of being evacuated safely from a different country “because of holding a Chinese passport.” “We are the lucky ones because we are well protected, because we have a strong motherland,” the viewer said.
The movie is not perfect in terms of some parts of the storytelling and acting, but it struck a chord among viewers at the timing of National Day holidays, Shanghai resident Gu Sen told the Global Times on Tuesday after watching.
The stronger the bond between Chinese overseas and local people in Numea (the fictional African country), the more tragic when the rebellion pushed friends’ fate onto two different paths, one to home and the other to homelessness and even deaths, the moviegoer said.
A comment liked many times on Douban reads, “Chinese passport might not get you anywhere you want, but it can always bring you back home.”
A Beijing-based movie critic who preferred not to be named told the Global Times on Tuesday that the “industry cold winter” has encouraged many insiders to make quality main melody works and such genre has been leading National Day holidays box office for many years.
The success of Home Coming not only proves big theme can be delivered by down-to-earth roles and stories, but is also attributed to the growing national pride and confidence Chinese have in their country at a time when unrest occur every so often worldwide, the critic said.
Home Coming has raked in 600 million yuan ($84 million), topping the National Day holidays box office ahead of newly released movie Ordinary Hero’s 90 million yuan and Steel Will’s 38 million yuan.
Can you please stop posting dumps of “content”? Lately, you just copy paste lots of irrelevant stuff. It’s like you’re not even trying anymore.
Stop cheating on your Chinese wife with prostitutes. Don’t you have any shame or a sense of honor? It’s very bizarre that you post articles about being a “rufus” and sometimes, in the same article talk about your “preparation” involving dick pills and alcohol for your “business meetings”.
Hey. You haven’t given me a fucking penny. Who the fuck do you think you are?
If you don’t like it. Go away.
Awww! Sounds to me like you got offended, sdfasdffg. Do you need a hug? Poor little fella!
Isn’t this just an automated troll?
Thanks for this. It’s a positive “shot in the arm”. Thank you.
Who made you the “master of morals” sdfasdffg, well yourself.
If you don’t like it the door is wide open mate, f—ing use it.