When I left the United States, for China, I had to leave so many things behind. Over time they were stolen, discarded, or just junked. Others simply saw no value in the things that I had, aside from a few dollars at a “swap meet”.

One of my treasures was a historical (museum) reproduction of a ancient Greek torso. It was of a man’s chest, fragmented, and standing on a pole on a hard and heavy black square base.

It was my little treasure, and I would often feel the lines of the torso as I came back home and disgorged my keys on my hall table.

Over the years, I found it very difficult to give gifts. Often some money or a party or get together would suffice.

But, in a pinch, nothing is better (and long lasting) as a heavy cement or stone statue. I strongly believe this. It’s a present that is unique, has value, and too heavy to throw away.

Nothing too big. You know, the size of a turtle or door stop.

Whether Art Deco, or lawn ornament style, take the time to select something wonderful…

Todays.

The Sopranos – Tony Meets With Carmine Lupertazzi Jr

Tex-Mex Chili Cheese Supreme

A delicious layered Tex-Mex casserole using three different cheeses.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can tomatoes, with juice, coarsely chopped
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste
• 1 (15 ounce) carton Wisconsin ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded Wisconsin Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1 bunch green onions, finely chopped
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 (8 ounce) bag tortilla chips
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Sharp Wisconsin cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Sauté green bell pepper and garlic until tender.
2. Add kidney beans. Set aside.
3. In saucepan, combine tomatoes, tomato sauce and chili powder. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
4. Add to kidney bean mixture. Combine ricotta and Monterey Jack cheeses, chiles, onions and eggs.
5. Spread 1/4 of cheese mixture evenly in greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish.
6. Arrange 1/4 of chips over cheese.
7. Spread 1/4 of tomato mixture over chips. Repeat layer 3 more times.
8. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes.
9. Remove foil and top with cheddar cheese and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
10. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

How technologically advanced is China? Can you give some perspective and examples of how advanced in technology they are?

China is the most advanced Nation in the world in terms of Applications of Advanced Technology

They can apply advanced technology on a scale that no other nation to this day can manage

It is undeniable that China is the world’s foremost nation to apply advanced technology

By comparison the US pales with most Americans using 4G speeds and with most applications falling flat. They actually use paper certificates for vaccines

South Korea comes second in this aspect followed by Japan and Singapore

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My sons first word was “It looks like one of those Futuristic Cities shown in many 1980s Hollywood movies”

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The Key here is CORE TECHNOLOGY

Now for instance, all these wonderful apps that are being built , they are coded in a specific language right?

They need high performance servers right?

You need processors right?

Every one of these is controlled entirely by the West in terms of their Core capabilities

It was a perfect relationship with China developing the most fantastic advanced applications and developing their software at fantastic pathbreaking pace

The West sold and licensed their Core Technology for a fat fee

The whole Global economy relished the partnership

The West chose to WEAPONIZE their core technology

In a mere decade China today controls almost 11% of the World’s Core Technology and Research in various areas

They are almost on par with Europe and Japan and well ahead of South Korea

Yet THEY ARE STILL ONLY A SIXTH IN TERMS OF CORE TECH CONTROL AS THE USA

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Had the US simply shut the f*** up and simply encouraged Green Cards for Researchers from China with a 10 year path to Citizenship in 2012, China would have been in all sorts of trouble

Had the US encouraged actual competition on even grounds, the Intel and Qualcomms and Huawei would be on level playing fields and smaller Chinese entities would never have got the Billions of Yuan needed to leapfrog which would have instead gone into Real Estate & Paper

So Today China is surging ahead or at par on almost all modern commercial technologies like Rail, Green Energy, Latent Communications, Face recognition etc

Yet China is only around 16% in Control of Core Technology, far ahead than ANY ASIAN NATION IN POST WW II HISTORY but still a long way to go

Experts believe China will control 30% of all Core Technology by 2032

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Conclusion is China is on its way

He Crashed Into A Train And Died, bringing back Messages From God on the Other Side

What are some of the best conversations in a movie?

The unpopular movie First K!ll (2017) has a conversation between an 11 year old kid and a bank robber, which I consider to be the best thing in the entire movie. The bank robber schools the kid about how to deal with bullies, something the kid’s own father couldn’t do… something many kids’ parents in real life can’t do actually.

(For a small prologue, The bank robber had taken the kid hostage, but as they spent time together they started getting acquainted.)

Bank Robber: What were you and dad doing in the woods that day anyway?

Kid: He took me on a hunting trip.

Bank Robber: Ah. You wanted to be a big man hunter huh?

Kid: No

Bank Robber: Why was he teaching you then? A little city boy and his son bonding?

Kid: … There’s this kid at my school that keeps beating me up, and he thought hunting would… I don’t know. I tried to tell him it was a stupid idea, but he wouldn’t listen.

Bank Robber: Well, [It was a stupid idea]. Especially since you already have what it takes to handle a bully.

(Kid looks surprised)

It’s true.

See, bullies are all about one thing, intimidation; and they feed off fear. Take that away from them, and you stop them cold.

You know when you’re playing your video games, and you’re fully into it, focused, ready for anything? It’s like you’re outside of yourself, but in control of this warrior. That’s the attitude you gotta give a bully. Completely still. In your mind, you’re able to change what’s about to happen. In your heart, there’s no fear. There’s nothing he can do to you that you can’t overcome. You stare at him, think you’re unstoppable, and shake your head. No more.

That’ll back them down 99 times out of a hundred.

Kid: What about that 1 time it doesn’t?

Bank robber: Well, In that case son, you just hit them with all you got. Or run. No shame in either.

This made me want to find a bullied kid and tell him/her the same thing.

America in the 1910’s – 1920’s / 55 Rare Impressive Photos in Color

Super interesting photos of over 100 years ago. Must watch for perspective.

Putin must know that the war is unwinnable by now. Why is he doubling down on a losing hand?

Why exactly is the SMO unwinnable?

Let’s leave the Military aspects aside and see the things Russia has achieved since it started?

Is Russia a Pariah as the West hoped?

Nopes. Putin holds meetings all over the world and they listen to him. Russians haven’t been even censured by any of the 147 countries outside the US and it’s 30 odd lackeys

Is Russias Economy in dire straits?

Nopes. 2% Growth predicted, now 2.5%

Fastest Industrial progress

They just flew their fully domestic aircraft yesterday

Food Inflation at 3.9%

General Inflation at 5.7%

Lower levels than almost every European Company

Now let’s see Russias so called Rivals

Germany – Recession and Industrial Decline of the highest level in 26 years

Netherlands – Recession

UK – Recession plus Inflation

US – Near Recession saved virtually by printing money and still having inflation

Plus

The Whole world is wary of US hegemony now and ready to hedge it’s bets

All that “Decoupling and Derisking” with China is really “Derisking with USA”

The Local currency trades increasing, The Yuan trades, BRICS expansion, Oil Cuts by MBS

Putins SMO has already delivered him more victories than any he could imagine

He stands today in a better position after the worst sanctions hit him

The whole world now sees sanctions in a much weaker light.

Another major defeat to the US

The world doesn’t fear sanctions that much anymore

The normally obedient Rhamposa after meeting Nuland, still voted to expand BRICS

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Now on to the Military

The SMO seems unwinnable only because Ukraine keeps throwing body after body after body

Russia is a patient army

They kill and kill and keep killing

This is a war of attrition not territory as Brian Berletic says

Ultimately the Russians have soldiers and weapons while Ukrainians will lose too many men and weapons and the West can’t resupply them fast enough

The SMO is over

Russia has got what they wanted, they have to defend it and take around 4700 Sq Kms more

Mother secretly RECORDED teacher during meeting… HOLY.

America and the West is wholly bonkers.

The US likes to name airports, bridges, ships, etc. in honour of their beloved presidents. What would be an appropriate public facility that might be named after Donald Trump?

You know why Donald Trump is so fun to mock? Because, despite constantly insulting others, he has an incredibly thin skin when it’s turned around on him. If he had a sense of humor about it at all, it would be far less enjoyable.

Case in point: when John Oliver randomly made fun of Danbury, Connecticut on his show, the mayor of Danbury claimed they were going to name their new waste treatment plant after Oliver. The mayor later clarified that it was obviously a joke, but John Oliver was having none of it. He demanded his waste treatment plant. He publicly offered Danbury $50,000 for the naming rights, and when it was accepted, travelled to Danbury for the naming ceremony.

Point is, John Oliver is impossible to make fun of, because he happily owns the joke at every turn.

The reason I bring this up is because I’d love to see a Donald Trump Sewage Plant. Not because I think it’s appropriate (sewage treatment plants are necessary and useful pieces of infrastructure), but entirely because I’d love to see Trump’s reaction. If he could ignore it or take it in stride, it wouldn’t be funny. But I’m 100% sure he could do neither.

Casino (1995) – Blackjack Scene HD

Casino Blackjack scene.

Why didn’t the Germans detect that their encryption method Enigma had been broken by the British, given that it was a natural suspect when the enemy seems to anticipate your every move as if he could read your internal messages?

The British did not get greedy. They played a long game, only using a small percentage of the information available to them. When they did use information to score a victory, they used double agents to supply the Nazis with a credible alternative reason for their success.

When the Nazis cracked (or were supplied with) an Allied code, they DID get greedy. Supplied with British battle plans, Rommel won battle after battle, driving the British East across North Africa. His results were too good to be true. The British realised what was happening and changed their codes (and brought in the brilliant General Montgomery). Rommel’s string of victories turned into a string of defeats culminating in his nervous breakdown.

Admiral Doenitz became convinced that the encryption system was cracked by the British however and so another wheel was added to the Enigma machine. Fortunately, one Nazi sub commander forgot and sent a message in the old format and then, realising his mistake, sent the message again in the new format. Bletchley Park was back to ‘business as usual’ almost immediately.

This Is HUGE!!! U.S. Commerce Secretary Begs China for Help? – China’s Ultimatum!

The urgency surrounding the visit of the U.S. Commerce Secretary to China clearly signals a plea for China’s assistance in this critical situation. The purpose behind her visit is quite transparent: the U.S. is actively seeking a lifeline from China. In recent days, Gina Raimondo, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, has touched down in Beijing, embarking on her trip to China. Even before her arrival, the objectives of her visit were evident. The main focus is on tackling the economic and trade disputes that have been ongoing between the U.S. and China. Simultaneously, the aim is to cultivate a practical and collaborative partnership between these two economic powerhouses. But What are the key factors driving the urgency of the U.S. Commerce Secretary’s visit to China and the apparent plea for China’s assistance in the current critical situation? Will China’s Strategic Divestment from U.S. Bonds Spell Disaster for the American Economy?

https://youtu.be/ZeNuyWjqG5Q

Why are nuclear power stations so unique?

Why are nuclear power stations so unique?

• Hardly anything goes into them, and hardly anything comes out of them, except huge amounts of electrical energy, and waste heat. The amount of fuel consumed and waste produced amounts to the volume of a peanut per average consumer-year of electric power.
• Given a few centuries of storage, and recycling, the waste is less radioactive than the consumed fuel, so they cleanse Earth of radioactive material.
• Their grounds make nice public parks, and the slightly warmed water makes for good fishing.

Breaking Kitchen – Episode 6

Yo guys I must warn you that I can’t outdone myself every time because that’s not the point, this episode was planned six months ago. Walter could have thrown the pizza in the first episode, but I was leading up to a moment when it would fit best so it’s not about running out of ideas. Episodes are not made on the fly but are planned months ago (Vince Gilligan style lol) https://i.gyazo.com/0a2f75de07f8c4359… It’s no coincidence that events led up to Flyn’s appearance and then to the scene in Gordon’s office, and in what order the participants appear. For example, in order to make the line in the office about the meth make sense, I had to show it beforehand. The next episode with Gus, will have a small connection to the first episode, ect. And then there’s the bigger picture which is very difficult to implement.

The Time Tunnel – Inside Irwin Allens

Short documentary about the classic 60’s SF series ‘The Time Tunnel’.

Which actor accepted a film thinking it would go unnoticed and found himself at the helm of a gigantic success that transformed his career?

When Liam Neeson received the script for Taken , he thought it was a small project. He agreed to make the film because he was well paid, but without any illusions.

In an interview with 60 Minutes , he said:

“It was really a simple little story. I didn’t find anything complex about him. He’s a guy determined to find his daughter. He goes looking for her, and then, presto, he finds her. And, presto, he kills a lot of bad guys…

I was sure it wouldn’t go anywhere, it would go straight to video.”

$226 million later, Liam Neeson becomes Hollywood’s newest action star and his career takes on a new lease of life.

Not necessarily the one he was hoping for… but when you continue to be a headliner in Hollywood at over 65, it’s already not bad.

The Sopranos – The end of Jackie Aprile Jr

Business advice.

What are some effective military tactics used by Indian army during war?

During 1960s, Pakistan was the favorite of the USA and received over 1.2 billion dollars worth of military aid in equipment and money. In arrogance of newly received modern weapons, Pakistani military dictator Ayub Khan dreamed of defeating India and ruling over Delhi. Along with other modern technology, Pakistan received modern Patton tanks by US.

1965 Indo-Pak War.

Pakistan had 15 armored cavalry regiments consist of mainly modern Patton M-47 & M-48 tanks.

On the other hand India had comparatively less modern Centurion Mk 7s and Sherman tanks. During the start of war, Patton tanks proved their superiority and soon captured Khem Karan, an Indian town which is 5 kms inside the the international border.

Pakistanis were riding on sophisticated American weaponry and were confident they could maintain the same pace.

They were eyeing Amritsar. They knew the importance of Amritsar. If Amritsar fell, it would be difficult for India to negotiate.

After the fall of Khem Karan, Major General Gurbaksh Singh ordered the division to fall back and assume a horseshoe shaped defensive position in Asal Uttar in the sugarcane fields and ordered to fill the fields with water.

The fields were filled with water for 2 days and soil became very sticky. Indian forces lured the Pakistan tanks division towards their position. The defensive position was equipped with Centurion tanks and 106 mm recoilless guns mounted on jeep.

Pakistani Patton tanks were unaware of the swampy fields and were lured to the horseshoe trap. Soon these tanks were slowed down. By the time they could understand the Indian plan, many of them could not move because of the muddy slush.

In a few hours, the fields were covered with Pakistani tanks all stuck in the swamp, making them an easy target for Indian troops.

More than 100 Pakistani tanks were either destroyed or captured and the defeat of Pakistan Army in the battle of Asal Uttar was one of the greatest defeats suffered by Pakistan forces in the history.

Casino (1995) – Cheater’s Justice HD

“Throw him out in the alley and just tell the cops he got hit by a car.” CLASSIC!

Who stands out as the most morally reprehensible person in your experience?

The grifter is the worst, most morally reprehensible type of person in my opinion. They come in many shapes and forms. They cross ethnic, religious and political boundaries. Think of a man like, say, Joel Osteen. He wants your money. He tells you all sorts of reasons why you should give it to him. God is good to those who give, that sort of nonsense.

He’s a conman, his only love is money, but he’ll hide behind a thin veneer of religiosity and peddles “inspiration”, neatly packaged, to the masses. The way a Trump would have the masses pay for his legal defense and campaign costs, a man like Joel Osteen sells salvation, he sells eternity to you on a golden platter. And all you have to do is reach for your wallet, and it can all be yours.

Oh, he’ll save you, alright! And he’ll laugh all the way to the bank doing it… he’ll live lavishly off of the donations of his flock. These types always do. Fast cars, big mansions, private jets. His lifestyle is that of a celebrity. Like a Kardashian, but one who uses the words “God” and “Jesus” every second or third sentence and doesn’t say curse words.

Of course the grifter will go on shows like Oprah Winfrey’s, telling about his success, pretending to be humble as he counts his blessings… the grifter, to me, is the very worst humanity has to offer, because he sells hope. Hope for a better future. A better world. An eternity of peace. An ideologue at least has genuine passion, he wishes to see change. Be it a right-wing or a left-wing ideologue, there’s real drive, true desire to improve the world and organize it to his idea of perfection…

…not the grifter. Never the grifter. All he wants is the insides of your wallet. He’ll pretend to love God, when all he loves is money. Pretend to love people, when all he loves is his own smiling reflection. I can forgive a great many sins. But I will forever side-eye those who get rich over the backs of the faithful, manipulating their beliefs for personal gain. This, to me, is the worst type of person out there.

I have some personal experience, too, with such grifters. After all I lived for years in the Philippines, where a cult named Iglesia ni Cristo is active. Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) literally translates as “Church of Christ”. Oh, the hubris! It’s leader, Eduardo Manalo, is the grandson of the churches’ founder. Each leader is the son of the one before him, kind of like North Korea. I remember a kid in the town I used to live in. He was sad after a service once. I asked one of his friends, why he was sad.

“He wasn’t able to pay his tithe… the monthly ten percent he’s supposed to pay…” his friend explained to me. Essentially, all members, no matter how young, have to give ten percent of their monthly income to the church. Even if you’re a kid, you have to give your allowance money, your lunch budget, whatever. If you don’t give it, you’ll get scolded. You’ll get shamed. Asked by your pastor if you “really love the Church”, or if you “really love God” because if you did, surely you would have spent a little less on your lunch yesterday at school? Bought a little less candy, perhaps, or one less lumpia?

It’s morally reprehensible to me. Because while the poor flock is told to “pay up and not ask questions”, the leaders always live lavishly. Huge family compounds. Enormous mansions in gated communities, private jets, expensive cars… and those who pay for it are indoctrinated from an early age to give, without question. The consequence of not giving? Hell, and eternal damnation. Because the way of the grifter and his minions is the only way to salvation. I cannot think of worse people.

Derby Day Burgoo Stew

Burgoo is a mishmash of meats and vegetables. You might call it the “kitchen sink soup.”

Yield: 8 to 10 main course servings

Ingredients

• 1 pound mixed cooked meats (beef, lamb, pork, chicken, etc.)
• 1/2 gallon chicken stock
• 1/2 gallon beef stock
• 1 ounce Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 small green bell pepper, diced
• 1 large potato, diced
• 2 large carrots, diced
• 1/4 cup peas
• 1/2 cup okra
• 1/4 cup lima beans
• 1/2 cup yellow corn
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer for two hours, skimming the top as needed.

The Rocket Launch. A Super 8 mm home movie from the 70’s.

Takes you back.

I know the beach has a seaweed smell. Does Venice, Italy have a smell to it also?

Actually, “Venice stinks” would be a way of describing the nauseating stench emanating from the hundreds of canals and backwaters of “La Serenissima”, especially in summer. “La Puzzona” – the little stinker – would be a better name.

This is due to the fact that Venice, to this day, does not have a functioning sewage system or sewage treatment plants. Until the 1960s, the sewage was slowly directed into the so-called “gatoli”, a brick sewer system that eventually led into the canals and that was developed as early as the 16th century.

These tunnels were built of clay bricks and were designed so that the heavier sediment sank to the bottom while the liquid part flowed into the canal. Today’s septic tanks operate on a similar principle. The solid parts of the “gatoli” were constantly emptied.

In order not to clog the outlets of the gatoli into the canals, they were raised further and further. As a result, they were exposed at low tide, which had quite unpleasant consequences: stench, terrible hygiene conditions in the canals, rats and swarms of insects – especially the “Chironomide”, a species of non-biting mites. The last major outbreak was in 1987, when I visited Venice and was appalled by the swarms of insects that covered the glass walls of the Vaporetto stations.

A few years later, at attempt was made to map the gatoli, but that proved almost impossible in the end because the system had been changed many times over the centuries. It was also sometimes difficult to understand into which channels the sewage from the houses was actually being emptied.

Today there are more than 7,000 septic tanks in the city which effectively constitutes a fragmented, decentralized sewage system. The septic tanks allow wastewater treatment so that the liquid part floats on top and is cleaned before entering the canal. The solid part, on the other hand, must be removed manually. You can see the special boats that empty septic tanks almost everywhere.

Septic tanks are mandatory for all establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, museums, hospitals, offices, etc, but they can also be found in private homes, (where, however, they are not mandatory).

Septic tanks are not always feasible in Venice since they need space and cannot be built on public land or near the supporting walls of a house. The volume of septic tanks is calculated based on the number of people that live in a building, and often that proves impossible.

And even if there is space, digging in the foundations of the houses often expose their supporting piles, hastening their decay, so septic tanks aren’t built if it would seriously jeopardize the stability of historic buildings. In this case, owners have to fall back on the old “gatoli” system.

Living in Venice therefore also means accepting the stench. Of course, organic detergents and eco-friendly toilet paper can help a bit, and most inhabitants would welcome it if Venice were to stop discharging sewage into the canals. But the plan to provide Venice with a centralized and modern sewer system had to be abandoned in the end, as Venice would have had to be more or less completely demolished and rebuilt from scratch.

A compromise was finally reached that calls for a combination of septic tanks, maintenance of the existing “gatoli” and dredging of the canals. Nevertheless, large amounts of fecal matter, waste and, above all, toxic industrial residues and garbage still enter the lagoon. So if next time you visit La Serenissima and the stench gets particularly bad, just hold your nose.

Tony Soprano || The Scientist

“Man, this is one of your best works! All are so good put together, this songs really fits Tony. The effort you put into this is incredible, I know you took time doing this and for that, for that this is art. The song you choose for him was a good decision, this song is very melancholic and nostalgic, you are so talented at editing man, seriously. it was worth the wait for these wonderful 4 minutes, keep it up Alex.”

Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Chili

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chili

• 1 box Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice
• 2 3/4 cups water
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey
• 1 (15 or 16 ounce) can kidney beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14 1/2 or 16 ounce) can tomatoes or stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Optional

• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
• Sour cream
• Chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. In a 3-quart saucepan, combine rice-vermicelli mix, special seasonings, water, chicken, beans, tomatoes, green pepper, chili powder and cumin. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered, about 20 minutes or until rice is tender, stirring occasionally.
2. Top with cheese, sour cream and cilantro if desired.

1940s USA – Fascinating Street Scenes of Vintage America [Colorized]

Posted before, but just great.