Nymphomaniac in the mental hospital

My first wife was mentally ill. Her entire family was.

It hit her really strongly around when she turned 28 years old.

And from that moment on, it was Hell.

One mental hospital after another. Threats of suicide, as well as actual attempts. Circular thinking revolving around imaginary events, false memories, and horrible imaginations.

Anyways, this particular story takes place in a mental hospital in Massachusetts. It was in North Attoboro (as I recall).

I would visit her daily. She was an in-patient.

Yup. What you would expect on the stereotypes about mental hospitals.

And my wife… well, she freely roamed with the other crazies there.

Many ill people. Many fighting their very own demons.

And you know, today I want to chat about one of them.

One was a nymphomaniac.

…

She really was. He had an extreme case of nymphomania. Oh, for certain, no one told me her diagnosis. But it was pretty obvious.

Gosh.

I was blatantly obvious.

She constantly came on to everyone. Not “come on to” in the usual sense. No.

She would prey on you and attack you.

And, you know, she tried to assault me sexually multiple times.

She was a tall chick. Blonde hair. Pale. In her 20’s.

Thin. Stick-like. Twiggy.

Not my type.

As I tend to like women shorter than myself and softer, rounder… more feminine. Even chunky. Weight isn’t a turn off for me. As long as the girl isn’t obese, it’s all good.

Anyways…

She would see me.

Like in those zombie movies, where a zombie notices the hero, and then drops everything and breaks out in a sprint towards the camera.

And she would take off all her clothes.

She was good at it. All off in three seconds.

And then this fully and completely nude chick would lunge at me and hold me squirming all over me. Humping me in wild thrusts over my groin, on my thighs, and her hands pulls out my tucked shirt and undoing my belt buckle.

Hey, guys, I do like sex.

But this was really extreme.

And no. It did not turn me on at all.

Truthfully. It scared the living shit out of me.

Christ. A chick like that would be humping everything within reach. From waste baskets to fire hydrants. She was seriously ill.

It was like she was in perpetual “heat”; in a frenzy of lust. And she couldn’t control herself. Goosebumps all over her arms. You see, it wasn’t a fake pretend lust to freak people out. No. She was seriously ill.

You can tell.

She was another person. Pupils dilated. Arms full of goosebumps. her heart beating, pulse pumping. Body trembling. Mouth open and making these internal guttural groans.

Obviously something was seriously off with her.

Oh, sure, you all laugh about this. Your fantasies get all excited on this notion. But reality is never the same as fantasy.

I feel for her.

Always unsatisfied, never to have a relationship with anyone, for what boyfriend would be comfortable leaving her alone?

Now, my wife who was in the hospital knew about this situation. And she calmly would peacefully pry her off me and call the orderlies. And it happened more than three times. She was relentless.

I guess that I must have been her “type”.

Though I suppose that a door knob, faucet or bar of soap would be her type. Sheech!

That is my story for today.

Let’s move on…

Why is China not supporting its ally Russia militarily?

Because China’s main focus is on the US, which has declared China its strategic adversary No.1.

In order to wrestle with the US, China needs to unite everyone it can.

Russia is already very friendly to China, and by the war in Ukraine is forced to move even closer to China. The potential for more China-Russian relationship growth is limited.

However, if China publicly supports Russia, it would wreck havoc on China’s relationship with Europe. China stands to lose a lot from such maneuver.

There’s also the secondary issue of international law and order. Ukraine is a sovereign nation, if China supports Russian invasion of Ukraine under the excuse of helping defend the Ukrainian rebels (Russian speakers in Eastern Ukraine), then it opens the exact same reasoning for US invasion of China over Taiwan to help the Chinese rebels (Taiwanese).

China weighed the pros and cons, and chose its current position.

Now this is just for the war in Ukraine. If Russia were to be defeated and even invaded by NATO, China would help Russia with everything it got, because China doesn’t want to share a 4000 kilometers land border with NATO.

Bacon Mushroom Quiche

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

1 (9-inch) pie crust
1/2 pound (approximately 8 slices) bacon
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
2 cups (approximately 2 medium) sliced zucchini
2 pressed garlic cloves
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon parsley
1/4 teaspoon each salt and ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place pie crust in 9 inch Pie Plate according to package directions; set aside.
Cook bacon over medium heat in Generation II Skillet. Remove bacon; drain and crumble.
Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings and sauté onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and garlic until tender.
Add bacon to vegetables and combine.
Spread vegetable mixture over bottom of pie crust. Sprinkle cheese over vegetable mixture.
Whisk eggs, milk, and seasonings together in Batter Bowl.
Pour egg mixture over cheese.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Attribution

Pampered Chef

NOW Neocons Are READY: Make Taiwan The Ukraine Of Asia | Jeffrey Sachs & Joanna Lei

Ivan Off

Submitted into Contest #282 in response to: Write a story that begins with an apology.… view prompt

Dan Morris

‘. . . Sorry, Randy . . . I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.’

Thus began his Uncle’s Donny’s letter. The letter he had found slipped mysteriously under the door of the 3rd floor apartment he currently shared with his girlfriend. The lettering was very flowery and ornate, and done by hand and in cursive with what looked like some sort of ink dipped pen. It had come in a brittle envelope that had seen better days.

Bizarre for sure, thought Randy Phillipson, age 32, as he started scanning through the letter. Like something out of a freakin’ movie.

It read . . .

‘Randy, I know the past year has been challenging for you. Especially since your parents had just died and you had to spend three weeks at that homeless shelter last November . . . You called, but I didn’t help you. I’m sorry, but it wasn’t because I was cash poor, it was because I was a different person then. I want to make it up to you. In a moment, I want you to check outside. You should be pleasantly surprised.’

Yours,

Donald J Phillipson III

The box was the size of a damn refrigerator. And there was just an excessive amount of those ridiculous, little, white, fluffy packing peanuts in there is well; as he soon found out after he stabbed the stubborn cardboard box open with the dull boxcutter that happened to be handy.

The peanuts had gotten everywhere immediately, and Tim had to stop his new girlfriend’s little long-legged chihuahua puppy from eating the delicious, crunchy, and yet highly toxic marshmallows like they were candy.

After relocating Optimus Prime to the bathroom and closing the door, Randy returned to the massive box. It looks like it could hold several bodies in this thing! Thought Randy bitterly as he returned to stab the packaging.

He wondered just how in the hell the delivery man had gotten the damned thing up that grueling three flights of stairs with a box that big.

But, even though there was no one there a few minutes ago, there was a little clipboard lying on the ground with a grueling, eye-squinting contract to sign with a nifty silver pen, (the old-fashioned type with the arrowhead tip), attached to it with a chain. And the box.

And the box was heavy! Randy wasn’t sure how to move it at first, but he finally saw that the intrepid package delivery man had left him use of a shiny, steel-looking hand truck, still in place underneath it on the other side.

He shuffled the box inside quickly with the surprisingly squeaky hand truck, before the nosy Mrs. Peterson next door got whiff of her neighbor receiving a giant mysterious package. But, then, he had to open it. He supposed he could just wait until his girlfriend got home from work, (this was her apartment), But, the giant refrigerator-sized cardboard monstrosity was clearly intended to be delivered to him. It said so, right on the box, and on the weird form he was supposed to sign it said his name a few times. He scanned it only briefly, but he was sure that his name was the only one that was mentioned in it, and not his girlfriend’s.

Tearing away the last of the murky cellophane, Randy found himself with before a tall, mannequin-looking thing. It looked like a human, but without the reproductive parts where they should be. And the joints were obviously separated by a gap of maybe less than a centimeter, so it appeared that it had the ability to move its limbs, much like a child’s doll. And its face was so peculiar . . . It looked much like one of his action hero figures that he owned in jawline cut and appearance.

Neat.

“Is there an ‘On’ button on this thing?” wondered Randy aloud, looking around it on a goose neck for some kind of switch.

“Oh, it’s holding something.”

Randy pulled the envelope from the ‘dummy’s’ hand, also addressed to him, and read it aloud to himself. It was more of that flowery handwriting, this time even more compressed.

“Dear Randy, my favorite Nephew. This is your Uncle Donny again. If you have not guessed by now, I am writing to you from the grave. I know you must be quite startled, but I assure you everything is going quite as planned. Last March I received dire news. I found out I was going to pass away from terminal prostate cancer in the next few months, and that it will be an incredibly painful death. As I am writing this to you, I can tell you that, quite honestly, I believe they may be right. I do not urinate well any more. At all. And its always painful . . .

But, I digress. As you know, I love gadgets and robots and things. I have recently come into some considerable wealth. This has allowed me to always obtain the newest products way before they hit the market.

Before you is the TX-301 model ‘Mechanical House Maintainer.’ Or MHM, for short. It is, basically, a butler that will clean your house. Or entertain you, if you let it. To turn it on, just say its name, followed by the word ‘ON’. To turn it off, just say its name, and ‘OFF’.

Yours truly,

Uncle Donny

‘P. S. – Whatever you do, don’t tell the but—’

Oddly enough, the rest was blurred out by a water smudge. Or something. What the hell wasn’t he supposed to tell it?

There was nothing on the back. Randy let the letter fall to the ground and put his hand to his chin in quiet consternation. He realized Optimus had stopped whining.

“Great, it probably pissed or shit on the floor in there. Again.”

He was more concerned about the problem of turning this thing on. Actually, at the moment, he was wondering if it was even wise for him to turn it on . . . he had read a few sci-fi horror comics that had started out just like this.

But, the face of this weird robot butler thing his Uncle had given him was very familiar . . .

“No way.”

That odd grizzled jawline . . . His Uncle’s favorite video game?

“Is your name Ivan? As in ‘Krazy Ivan’? From my Uncle’s weird old Playstation 2 game?”

It was now or never.

“Ivan On.”

The effect was almost immediate. The eyes started glowing an almost blinding bright green for a moment, then, as the glow receded, it left behind the look of something alive. Or at least, intelligent and conscious.

Its head moved from left to right, and its eyes began to move as it seemed to scan the room, but with a creepy robotic lurch that made it seem to randomly jerk.

Finally, its head stopped in line with Randy, and its eyes stared at him directly.

It spoke. With a voice of gravel.

“Greetings. You must be my new master. I have already downloaded your voice profile to my data logs. I am now registered to you.”

“Huh?” wondered Randy aloud.

The robot said nothing.

“What do you do?”

The grizzled face of Ivan replied, in a perfectly unnatural robot voice, “I am yours to command. I will obey any order that you give me. Or rather, I will attempt to. My data slot is still learning, and processing new information.”

“Oh. Uh . . .” said Randy, “You could clean my house! You’re a butler, right? You clean things? And bring me drinks and food and stuff?”

“Affirmative.”

“Cool. Can you drive a car?”

“I am designated as an ‘MHM’. If driving falls within the parameters of household duty, then I will attempt to learn this ability as soon as possible.”

“Oh, right. You’re kind of dumb now, huh? I gotta teach you things? Like a Tomagachi pet?”

“I do not understand ‘TOMAGACHI PET’ word usage.”

“It’s like a little digital pet you keep on like a tiny robot game thingy that you can keep in your pocket. You have to train it, and feed it. Stuff like that. If you don’t, it dies. But, it’s okay, it’s just a game.”

Ivan stared blankly. Randy could almost hear the robot’s brain clicking away as it processed that information.

“Master, would you permit me a question? I may ask a lot of these, as it is one way my processor can learn.”

“Shoot.”

Blank stare.

“Oh, I mean, ‘sure’. Ask away.”

“You just said you owned a robot that ‘ D I E S ‘, if you don’t interact in certain ways with it. This word is not in my data logs. What is ‘dies?’

Randy shook his head in disbelief. “Wow. It’s like I am talking to a child.”

Blank stare.

“When something ‘dies’ or is ‘dead’, it means their life functions cease. Oh, wait, no. That’s the medical meaning. Sorry, I’m in med school. No uh, I guess it just means that something no longer moves anymore. Its functions cease. Inoperable. It’s something that is usually irreversible.”

More of that brain clicking sound. Maybe Randy wasn’t imagining it. This time it was longer than normal.

“Master, it appears I was in a state of ‘death’, as you put it, before you have just turned me on. I was inoperable and did not function.”

Randy couldn’t stop from laughing. “Ha ha! Yeah, well I guess everyone is like that. Before they’re born, I guess everything is sort of ‘dead’. My girlfriend would love to argue that point with you, though, my friend. She is a Philosophy Major.

“Master, what does ‘born’ mean? This file is not in my datalogs.”

“Geez, whoever programmed you did an incredibly crappy job. You don’t even know all the words in the dictionary yet.”

“Master, what is meaning of ‘dictionary’?”

Sigh. “I’ll go get one for you right now.”

Randy turned to go back to the rear office nook where the couple kept such things as a dictionary. It always finds a way of coming in handy. Boring read, though, if one was to just read it straight through, as if it were a novel and not a reference book. From many steps away he saw the ridiculous amount of papers and books and junk almost spilling out of the office room.

This could be difficult.

“I don’t really remember where it is. Here, you pick up these peanuts while I’m gone, and I’ll be right back.

He heard Optimus scratch and bark as he passed the bathroom door. God, that dog is gonna freak when it sees the robot. Maybe he shouldn’t let him out yet.

Randy attacked the pile of intellectual debris with gusto, happily mumbling to himself as he did. “Geez, Uncle. You could have just got me a Roomba. I would have been perfectly happy with that. I wouldn’t have to teach the fucking Roomba basic words it doesn’t know by getting it a dictionary. Oh, my God. Here it is.”

Randy pulled out the dictionary, a small, ragged affair with watermarks. (Or were those coffee stains? Or both?) He held it in the air in victory.

“Huzzah! Okay, now to get back to my robot butler. Ha ha. He couldn’t have gotten into too much trouble, I hope . . .”

The chihuahua puppy scratched and growled, then bumped at the door as Randy passed it.

“Hold on, buddy. You are gonna hate this thing. Give me a second and I’ll put you in the big bedroom.”

He returned to find Ivan picking up the pieces of Styrofoam peanuts. He had gotten most of them too. He was pretty fast. All of the pieces were nearly in the box.

“You could have gotten a broom, you know. Oh wait . . . do you know the word ‘broom’?’

Ivan stopped and his eyes darted back and forth rapidly, and in a way no human’s eyes could ever do.

“A broom is cleaning instrument that could have helped me with this task, yet I have not the knowledge of one in the area.”

“Yeah . . . here, read this. It’ll catch you up. Or, I dunno, scan it or whatever.”

Ivan immediately dropped the tons of peanuts directly on the floor and accepted the book. The little puff balls scattered.

“Thank you. This will help immensely.”

Ivan opened the book and started eyeing the copyright page intensely.

“I am going to get you some clothes. You look like a naked Seargent doll from the G. I. Joe series. Except no one issued you clothes, I guess. Hang on.”

A few moments later and Randy was rummaging through the main bedroom’s closet.

“God, what is he? A size XXL? I don’t even think anything in here will fit . . . Oh, here we go. Well, not great, but it’ll have to do. I’ll have to get him some real butler clothes soon. Or at least a suit jacket. That would be cool.

Randy returned with Miranda’s Columb County Community College sweater, a pair of stretched out sweats, and grisly looking pink beach flip-flops that all probably would not fit very well, if at all.

Ivan had made it to the second page of the A section. Good for him. No . . . something was wrong here.

“You read almost slower than my Grandma, dude. Can’t you just scan the page and download it or something? I dunno, it just seemed like something that has a computer processor in its head would be able to do something as easy as that with no problems.”

Without looking up from the page, Ivan replied, “Negative. My CPU does not function like a normal computer does, nor do I learn in the same way another A. I. program would. My processor demands that I piece together the bits of logic I find when I am ‘reading’ something. I have to scan several lines of writing, then process it, then return to scanning, in order for me to properly internalize the data.”

“You’re gonna be standing there for three days going at that rate! Just put the clothes on.”

Ivan complied, in his jerky robot fashion way. It was quite comical, and the clothes fit badly. Optimus Prime could be heard howling away in the bathroom.

It definitely had shit in there. But . . .

“Oh my God! You look like a Florida Tourist! You just need sunglasses!” laughed Randy.

He couldn’t stop from going and grabbing his oversized beach sunglasses from right off the bedside table next to them.

Randy turned to run down the hall again, holding his sides as he did so. He was gonna take a phone video after this and put it on YouTube! He could see the tagline now . . . Terminator goes to the beach dressed like Grandma. Hahaha.

Strangely enough, however, the lights wouldn’t turn on in his room. Randy didn’t think much of it and went and grabbed the glasses off the nightstand.

He turned to see Ivan standing there in front of him, about a foot away. Staring down at him with those glowing green eyes of his . . . This didn’t feel right.

“Ivan? You scared the shit out of me, bro! Don’t do that!” said Randy, playfully punching at Ivan’s arm.

Ivan’s brain clicked and whirred.

“Master, why did you hit me?”

Randy shrugged, feeling a cold sweat break out on him. The robot butler was directly in his path. It would be strenuous to go around him. It looked like he had to talk semantics and social physical play with a robot.

His worst subjects that he took in college involved those two things.

“Just . . . uh . . . playin’ around man. You know. A joke.”

“What is the meaning of ‘joke’?”

“Ah, I dunno . . . you got me, man. Somethin’ funny? Oh, you don’t know that word either?” rambled Randy, starting desperately to figure a way out, but with nothing coming immediately to mind.

“Master, did you know that an Aardvark is a large, nocturnal, burrowing mammal, residing in central and south Africa, feeds on ants and termites and has a long, extensile tongue?”

Ivan lifted his right arm and cocked it back, not menacingly, but with a strange jerking motion that almost made Randy nauseous. Randy dropped the sunglasses and stepped back involuntarily, waiting for the strike that would certainly end his life.

Oh! Right.

“Ivan Off.”

Randy closed his eyes as he said this, still expecting the blow to come. But, he heard a metallic powering down noise and he opened his eyes to see Ivan’s head slumped forward, and his arms at his sides. This close, Randy could see there was something written in extremely small black print on Ivan’s neck. Almost like it was stamped there.

“WARNING: ONLY TEACH MHM BASIC HOUSEHOLD TASKS. TOO MUCH CONFLICTING INFORMATION WILL OVERLOAD THE PROCESSOR AND CAUSE ERRORS. THIS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. Coppertap Ind. —-”

Below that there seemed to be even smaller writing that Randy had to squint to see.

‘Made in Mexico.’

Randy fell, or rather collapsed, sideways on the bed, and finally he could hear the sharp, piercing cries of the dog finally reaching his ears over the immediate panic.

The dark figure of Ivan stood over him like a malignant mannequin of death. Just sleeping for now. Yeah, thought Randy, I’m sending this fucker back. I don’t care that I voided the warranty.

Randy rolled on his back and stared at the ceiling, letting out a sigh of disbelief. And relief. Then he laughed. And couldn’t stop laughing for several minutes.

“Geez, Uncle. You could have just got me a fucking Roomba.”

I was telling my bestie how i regret marrying my husband but had no idea he was listening and then

https://youtu.be/kOTS4JOsOeQ

Shorpy

“They don’t care!” Jeffrey Sachs on US approach to Civilian Deaths in Gaza and Ukraine

Lost in a Dark Place

Submitted into Contest #282 in response to: Write a story set in a world of darkness where light is suddenly discovered.… view prompt

Patrick Huber

A chaotic symphony of light and sound pop and burst until all that remains is silence and darknessYou wake up sitting in the pilots seat of a craft pod. Your perspective is limited and you hear your breathing which means you have a helmet covering your head and face. You are in a flight suit of some sort designed for distant off world travel. So far you are unable to see beyond your mask, but a blinking light brings your attention to an instrument panel just at arms length. Most of instruments are broken save for the one that blinks to let you know everything else is broken. Attempting to ground yourself, you find that you have no recollection of the events that brought you here.From what you can see out the window is not much. Your world is enveloped in darkness. The terrain looks flat but you are unable to see much more than a few yards from the ship. You open the hatch and get better view of this strange world.Without proper readings of where you are, you venture to keep your suit on until you can know if the air is breathable. Your suit can hold enough oxygen for up to 18 hours without any extreme strengths of physical exertion. Stepping foot on the ground you notice gravity appears to be similar to earth. You get first good look at the sky. Without knowing the day/night cycle you are unsure how to evaluate what you’re looking at. The sky appears to be a dark amethyst color with streaks of indigo haphazardly brushed across it. They act like clouds high up in the sky, each hiding a glowing blue moon behind it.Your take quick stock of your situation. The life boat you crashed land was a one tripper and the crash did away with any hopes of attempts at a second. Your suit appears relatively untouched from the crash and in good working order. There is a wrist band with a readout for the oxygen supply. Other than that you have your legs and your wits. With no better alternative you decide to walk away from the lifeboat.Looking over a horizon to the left, you gaze at what could pass as storms cloud in the distance. A thick layer of dark purple hangs between the orange sand and the sky. You see the clouds roll and bubble with momentum. To the right looks clear, so you go right. You do not know how long you may have before a storms hits or what that would look like here but you attempt to put some haste in your step.No destination other than survival. A purposeful walk turns to a jog which briefly jumps to a run but slows back down to a brisk walk. The weight of the suit and limited oxygen put a low ceiling on how fast you can travel. You decide a steady pace is best.You have no sense of time or how far you’ve traveled. You glance behind you every so often to check on the storm which appears to have stalled at least for now. You could measure your distance from the pod but you lost sight of it and your only point of direction a while ago.NO STAY WITH ME!A voice thundering across the surface of the planet. The vibrations knock you to your feet. You’re momentarily paralyzed by this new mystery.STAY WITH ME!The voice says again and like before the world shook.The ground stabilizes and your fear subsides. Or at least it intensifies enough to get you back to your feet and moving again. You add fearful determination into your walk with an intent of fleeing and hiding. But with nothing to see other than a dark sky and burnt orange sand you are once again fleeing with no destination.

Deep on the horizon straight head a small flash of what could be lighting popped. Unsure of the meaning of what you saw, it is a promise of something other than darkness perhaps so you continue toward it. You believe you make out a rise in elevation in the distance. Could be mountains or perhaps unnatural mounds signaling life. Either way you head towards it. The mounds gradually grow in height and you can be pretty certain they are natural mountains. This brings a glimmer of hope to your otherwise bleak situation. The change of terrain is breath of fresh air so to speak until ground elevation drops off and you find yourself on the precipice of a deep canyon. Hesitation brings you to look around for other options.

The storm still intensifies behind you, the layer of bubbling blackness is twice as large as before and growing faster. With no alternative you find a gentle enough slope for you to slide down to a lower ledge. It’s about 8 feet or so down, you slide down with little trouble. You see that your path to the bottom is a much more of the same. A series of small rock outcrops and ledges a few feet or so down that allows you to get to the bottom.

Once at the bottom of the canyon your world view becomes much narrower. Your perception is now framed by the dark 60 foot walls that could not be more than 20 or so feet apart. You stay on the move. As you hustle through a maze of dark black rock, the storm has caught up with you and there is no more color to the sky. Black clouds spill over the sides of the canyons, cascading down the rock like water down a mountainside. And just like water it continues to flow in your direction. You pick up speed. But the rush of black most catches up with you. It builds around your ankles and yet you move with ease as there is little or no reaction.

You continue through the canyon as the clouds are up past your knees. You lose notice of any color in the sky, but rather different contrasts of darkness. You are aware of no light source but still you are able to see your path through this colorless void.

The canyon walls are narrowing and the mist is high up around your waist. There is an unmistakeable mass to it now. You feel resistance in your movement. The cloud is so dense you cannot see below the surface. The density as created a pressure and it restricts your movement. It feels as if you are walking through a storm cloud with wind crashing at you from every direction. You struggle to keep moving but you know you must. If anything because the alternative is to quit and die and you don’t quit eve if it means death. Your brain starts to process what it sees in front of you. You’ve reached the end of canyon and a 100 foot wall is ahead of you.

The cloud is nearly up your chest, you have to get out of this. As you approach the wall you a see a small crack about 8ft tall and maybe 18 inches wide. You stick the face shield of your helmet into the crack to see what’s behind it. Like everything else it’s dark, but you sense depth in the darkness and from the cloud that has seeped in the ground level stays constant at least for a while.

NO! NO! DON’T GO! STAY WITH ME!

A booming voice echoed through the walls of the canyon. Sonic booms explode in the totality of the atmosphere disrupting the rocky terrain. Large rocks crumble down from the walls disappearing in the surface level clouds. You cling to the wall, not wanting to get sucked under the surface.

You have to get of there.

You attempt to escape through the crack but your helmet and your suit make you too wide. You desperately try to force metal and plastic through rock but it won’t budge. A tsunami of wind builds and comes rushing through canyon. The force of dense air presses you against the wall. Your world is enveloped by swirling black wind. Your panic pushes you to act desperately and with little thought to possible consequences.

You take a deep breath and remove your helmet and try to squeeze through. Still nothing, so you quickly strip off your suit. Wearing nothing but a monotone under base layer you take your first breath of alien air and are relieved to not immediately die. It could be oxygen but for now it’s not poison.

The narrow crack blocks most of the wind but forces you to side step most of the way. With only the side walls to guide you, you press on. Without the filter from the helmet visor you see that the world takes on a dark bluish tone. Your arms spreading farther alert tell you the gap is widening. The ground slopes so much so that you lose your balance and begin to slide. A slide forms to a roll as you travel down a hill before coming to a tumble at the bottom. You roll to your back and look up. Large spikes of black rock with dim blue glow cover the ceiling hanging down at varied length. You sit up to see the ground is not much different with opposing spikes stretching up from the ground. You’re up on your feet, feeling little effects from the fall. Unsure of where to move next you stay frozen.

A low inaudible humming voice echoes through cave before a flash of light blinds you. The brightness subsides and the cave is alive with electricity, arcing from point to point in a concerted ballet. You are able to see the cave now in its full wonder. The ceiling must be 20 feet high and the expanse looks infinite. Most interesting is a reflection you notice from a large mass of black water. You run to edge and it is indeed a lake of blackness. You bend down and put your hand in it. It’s as dark and souless as oil but with the touch of water. You stand once again at the precipice of a decision with no clear motivation. The electricity has died down so you are back to a muted blue darkness. You see no end to this lake so it could stretch on forever. You step into it to check the depth. You look back away from the shore and see the hole you fell about 8 feet off the ground and the wall, about 50 yards from the shore, marking this end of the cave.

You look around for answers. There’s always something. You venture farther from the shore but a force pulls you back. You find yourself heading back to the lake.

Again the low humming voice throughout the cave and the flash of light. It knocks you into the water before giving way to the electric current dance above.

A rhythmic pounding, weak but noticeable, emerges. It causes the spikes to hum and reverberate.

You get up and are immediately taken back by a tall cyclone of light at the back wall of the cave, stretching from ground to ceiling.

You walk towards it and feel warmth immediately. It’s the first time since you woke up that you have noticed temperature. It never occurred to you if it was hot or cold. But now as you step closer to this light, arms of warmth reach out to pull you closer.

A small black wave rushes up from the lake and swirl around your feet before reseding back. You take an another step toward the light and again a black wave comes in this time up to your knees and you feel the pull of current as the water recedes.

You move closer to the swirling mass of white illumination and are hit by another wave that knocks you to the ground and this time the current drags you back a few feet. You jump to your feet and sprint toward the light. Another crash from behind and you fall face forward down into blackness.

The current has you, it pulls you under the black water. You tumble and roll around trying to get a sense of your direction. The wave crashes back on land. Your up and sprinting hard now toward the light. You dare to look back amd catch a tidal wave building and rushing up quick.

The brightness begins to hurt your eyes and you squint but still run. You are hypnotized but the warmth as it grabs hold of you. You feel drops of water falling as you know the wave is about crash down. You push forward with everything you have left and leap forward just as the wave crashes behind you. The intensity of the wave pushes you forward into the cyclone and your world goes to white.

*****

“I have a pulse” one EMT alerts another.

“Ok she’s stable. Let’s load her up.”

It’s early morning, the sun has broken free from the horizon. Last of the night, fighting a losing battle with the sun, paint an ombré of black to blue to yellow in the sky. The virgin suns rays reflect off the fresh dusting of snow, illuminating the world.

The two EMTs secure the woman to the gurney and exit a suburban home towards a waiting ambulance.

A man, early 40s runs along side the gurney, he’s wearing sweatpants, t-shirt, and slippers, he’s holding her hand. She’s loaded up, the doors are closed, and the ambulance drives off. The man walks back over to the sidewalk and bends down to embrace two small children their eyes red and swollen, their cheeks wet with tears.

“Is Mommy going to be ok” a young girl of 8 asks her dad.

“Mommy’s going to be ok, she got lost in a dark place but she found the light again” he tells them.

The flashes of red and blue fade on their faces as the ambulance gains distance from them. The family watches as their mother heads off toward the rising sun of a new day.

Scott Ritter : Does the West Understand just how bad they’ve been beaten?

Star – Light

Submitted into Contest #282 in response to: Write a story set in a world of darkness where light is suddenly discovered.… view prompt

Chris Cancilla

Bizzy woke up like she did each and every morning for the past twenty-two years. She threw on a robe to cover her body, went to the kitchen, and made a coffee. She set it up the night before as she always did. It’s ready for her when she begins her day.Pouring a cup and splashing in a bit of vanilla creamer, she stood in front of the great window in the living room. Her apartment is on the forty-sixth floor of her building. The top level. She had secured the apartment higher than any surrounding apartments available twenty-two years ago today. She had the entire top level of the building. The leasing office had her stop by last night to sign the new lease. This time for three years. “Paperwork sucks!” She said out loud as she picked up her coffee and walked into the other room.Granted, the building narrowed as it reached the top floor, so her apartment was literally the top of the building. She even had access to a small rooftop that she used on occasion. The apartment had three rooms. Kitchen, bedroom, and living room. Off her bedroom was her bathroom, and this apartment had an added feature: running water in the shower. The manager left it active if she promised not to use it all that often. Water is included in the lease, and it is expensive. She did her best and never had a complaint.It was mid-morning. She could barely distinguish the buildings across the street as she viewed the area. The scientists think the planet is going through a shift or something soon, meaning the star will illuminate their planet for the first time in recorded history. She hated science in school; that’s why she went into the military, and after leaving the service, she found a home in security.But Bizzy knew the real story. There is a huge rock or something on a direct head-on collision with Mornaro, the planet that has blotted out the light from the star since the beginning of time. The collision is estimated to be visible simply by looking up when it hits the planet, which is three or four times larger than Arnon, her home planet. The last report has the collision at 2 in the afternoon tomorrow.Some of those science nerds believe it will knock the planet out of orbit and it will collide with Arnon. Others, more realistic, she hopes, think it will kick up a lot of dust and debris but slow the speed of the planet in its orbit by as much as 6%. Over time, we would have a day and a night like never before. The day will be bright, and only the night will be dark and normal.Bizzy said out loud, “I don’t know if I could get used to that.”She turned and went to get ready for work.She poured another cup and got dressed.

Walking through the streets towards the precinct, she looked at the people she passed. Oblivious to what was in store in their very near future. News, or more accurately, propaganda, is what you will tell the people tonight. Being a lead investigator, she is pretty high up on the information chain in the precinct. She reads stuff. She hears stuff. She knows stuff. Who is she gonna tell?

The eyes of everyone on this planet were well-adjusted for darkness. Bizzy could not imagine what it would be like when the planet is flooded with light. Would she still be able to do her job? Her eyes were more attuned to the darkness than most of the planet’s population. When she looked at something, she saw it as if for the first time. No preconceptions, her thoughts did not convolute what she was looking at. She saw no shadows; she could see it for what it was, and because of this, she could perform her job better than most. She was promoted quickly from security patrol to lead to Investigator and has excelled over the past few years. She solves more open cases than most; they know it will be closed if assigned to her.

“Bizzy!” The man at the desk said, “You’re a little early for your shift.”

“Couldn’t sleep, so here I am. What’s the word?” She asked.

Tom Bartholo waved her over, “Word is that the rock will hit tomorrow, and the light will hit us within a few days. They are putting all us uniforms on extra shifts. Worried about rioting, looting, killings, and suicides.”

She looked at him, “What about you?”

“Eh… Whatever. As long as I can sit here and talk to people as they walk in, my life is a bowl of cherries with no pits.”

They spoke for a few more moments, and Bizzy went to her desk, sat, opened her terminal, and read a few things.

“Elizabeth. In my office, now.”

“Yes, Chief!”

Chief Russel Irons motioned to close the door and sit as she entered his office. She did.

“Elizabeth.”

She gave him a side-eye look, raising her left eyebrow, the closest to him, “Yes, Rusty?”

“Sorry,” He smiled at her, “Bizzy. We just got word from the nerds. The rock that will hit tomorrow afternoon is not the first.”

“No?”

“No. It’s the sixth and smaller than a few of its leaders. The first two that will hit will be enough to slow the planet ever so slightly, and tomorrow afternoon, when the sixth hits, Mornaro will be slowed. Star light will hit Arnon, and all hell will break loose.”

“How so? What do they think will happen? When will the first hit?”

The Chief looked at the clock on the wall above his door, “10 AM and a few seconds, with the second and third hitting at 4-minute intervals. So, in 41 minutes, all life on this planet will change forever.”

She stood, “I’ll be in the streets. People are going to lose it out there.”

She left his office and went to her desk to pick up her weapon. Locking it into the holster on her belt, she looked around and saw the new people staring at her. They looked scared.

“Marc, Liz, with me.”

They were in full uniform. Fresh out of the academy.

They walked out of the building in silence. Stopping on the street, Bizzy looked at the two rookies.

“The shit is about to hit the fan,” Pausing a moment, “If you have a round in the chamber, remove it. The extra half second to rack the pistol will not make that much of a difference, and the safety factor will give us a bit of cushion in case we draw and do not need to fire.”

“At the academy, we were…….” Liz said.

Bizzy cut her off, “Not sure you noticed. This ain’t the academy. Clear your weapon, load the mag, and holster it. This is how I carry mine pretty much all the time. Stops accidental discharges.”

They both complied.

They walked for almost half an hour while looking at the sky. They walked in a circle, not straying too far from the office. The news told them about the rocks hitting their sister planet but stopped there. If you read scientific journals, you know about the slowing of Mornaro. The stars were pretty, and it was a perfectly clear morning. All three of their radios broke squelch, “Thirty seconds.”

That’s all that was said. They stopped and leaned on a cement wall, staring at the planet in plain view with the slight ring of light that provided daylight to her planet.

A moment later, they saw the first rock, maybe a second or two before it hit, and the plume of dust and debris was amazing. The cloud of dust was larger than the continent they stood on. Four minutes later, another, then another. “Looks like they all hit the same spot!” Marc said, “I wish we could see what the rocks did to that planet. I suppose we’ll be able to travel there one day.”

Now they wait.

About half an hour later, they saw it. A sliver of the star. The shadows that were cast on the area and the colors they showed on everything were new. People started screaming.

In the beginning madness, one man jumped off a nearby building and landed in view of the three from security.

Liz started to go to the man. “Wait!” Marc said. There is no way he survived that fall.” Marc looked at the place where he hit—or rather, where all the inside pieces and parts of the man were scattered on the outside. “The impact popped him like a balloon. Let’s try to help those we can help.”

They appeared in the chaos and commotion around them to be in the middle of an apparent riot. The street was in absolute chaos. People were running into each other, and Marc and Bizzy were thrown off balance more than once.

Someone screamed from the opposite side of the street that they could not go on. The world is ending, and they do not want to see it.

The screaming man saw Liz and ran to her. She thought he was going to ask for help and let her guard down momentarily. That’s all it took. Grabbing her pistol, he pointed it at her, pulling the trigger. Nothing happened. She knocked him out cold with her baton and reholstered her weapon.

“Get back to the precinct!” Bizzy yelled, “We can coordinate there and see what needs to be done.”

They took off at a dead run, and all three made it the few minutes run to the precinct doors. They were locked. They all pounded, and the doors opened. They locked the doors as they entered.

“If you had not told us to clear, I would be dead,” Liz said.

“People are basically stupid, gullible, and follow the idiot in front of them. If he had fired your weapon and you died, someone else would have done the same. We are riding on a new planet now, and we have no business being out there in the streets. Short of killing everyone, there is no way to stop something like this. Tomorrow, hopefully, people will start using their brains again.”

They looked out the door, and there was light. For the first time, they could clearly see people walking, buildings, fighting in the street, and the stars disappearing.

“I think I’ll spend the night here. Walking home will be dangerous, and that light will hurt my eyes,” Bizzy squinted as she looked out the doors, “The light is getting people off the streets. Hopefully, they will clear out and wise up.”

“Bizzy, they say we have maybe seven hours of this, what, light…. Anti-darkness. Each day, it will get brighter and brighter. The science geeks tell us that remaining in direct star light may cause skin burns. They also think our planet will warm up a lot, like next year at this time 50 to 75 degrees.”

Liz asked, “How can we survive at those temperatures? 120°! That’s unbelievable!”

“I know. But what can we do? Our little planet hovers around 40° to 50° everywhere. 80, 90, 100, 110. That is going to be a challenge.”

Chief Irons asked Bizzy, “What’s this about clearing their weapon?”

Marc replied, “She had us remove the round from the chamber. We know it is against policy, but it saved Liz’s life and maybe more. The guy who got ahold of her pistol started pulling the trigger, and he would have shot all 23 rounds, possibly killing 23 people, starting with Liz, I mean Security Officer Moore. Point blank, on her forehead.”

The Chief thought momentarily, “Security Officer Moore, you lost your weapon?” He looked at her service pistol in its holster.

“No, Chief, I mean yes, Chief. I thought the man was asking for assistance, but he wanted to use my pistol to end his life and possibly a lot more people than just himself. But, Investigor Russo had us clear our weapons in the event of what happened, happened. It saved my life.”

“Good work, Bizzy—all of you. Now, head to the briefing room. We have some planning to do. If you think people were a bit off today, wait till tomorrow morning. Supposed to be five times brighter.”

He walked away.

“You heard the man. You two are on my team. Let’s grab some coffee and help plan to save the planet from itself.”

After grabbing a coffee and a sandwich, they sat in the front row of the briefing room. A small man walked in and dropped a lot of papers on the desk, some falling on the floor.

The room was filled, standing room only. The Chief quieted the room, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the lead astronomical scientist here to brief us on what we can expect.”

As he sat at the desk, the Chief realized the light from the star was on his face. His skin began to get warm, really warm.

“Hello,” The scientist said, “I am Ricardo Isbellia. The lead scientist and the person on this planet who knows more about Mornaro and the light from the star.”

He paused a few moments, looking at the faces. He stopped on Bizzy. The look on her face was not like the others. He asked her, “Is there something….”

Bizzy was grinning, “No, nothing specific. But, there is no policy, procedure, rule, or anything to look at for a situation like this.”

The man grinned back at her, “Correct. That’s why we’re here. To create the policies, procedures, rules, and whatever else we need to do to protect the population.”

He walked to the desk and picked up an odd pair of goggles. “These will protect your eyes from direct star-light.” He put them on his face and strapped them around the back of his head.

Liz said, “Fashionable!”

People in the room chuckled.

Ricardo removed the goggles and handed them to Bizzy. She held them over her eyes, “Interesting. They make the room lighter but not painful at the same time.” She looked at the window, where the light from the star was entering the room. “It masks the star light and lets you see what is there,” She saw the plume of dust and debris from the multiple impacts. It was massive. More extensive than she imagined. She removed the goggles and asked, “What are the chances the dust and debris will affect Arnon?”

Ricardo looked at Bizzy with a look that made her not know what he was thinking. “Exactly. We believe we will be OK. But the orbits of our planets mean we have a year until we pass through that dust. We have known this was coming for more than two years. Now that it’s here, we are ready. Be careful if you are in the light for too long. Your skin will get hot and begin to burn. We do not know the other effects, but we know that the burns from the star light will be painful.

Ricardo continued the briefing, “OK. Moving on. Here is what you can expect in the next year.”

His intern passed out the goggles to everyone in the room.

How can civilians fight trained soldiers, as in the case of Ukraine?

Ukrainian troops are mostly civilians. They are grabbed by force on streets, and spend 1-2 weeks preparing in training fields before being sent to the frontlines.

Behind them, there are barrage squads of nationalists, who prevent territorial defence forces from retreating.

155 Brigade trained in France, retreated before first fight. From 2000 of prepared civilians, 1700 run away. Without barrage squad civilians usually run away from positions.

For russian artillery shel or precision bomb theres no difference how skilled soldiers who sitting in trenches.

Skilled soldiers AFU used at second or third wave. In first two come civilians with no skill. Their aim to show where defence troops are sitting.

In Ukrainian army General Syrski called as butcher. Because of using meat wave tactics. For this one no need to have skill.

The proportion of loses can be compared to the last body exchange.

08.11.24: 37 bodies of the Russian Federation for 563 bodies of the AFU,
29.11.24: 50 bodies of the Russian Federation for 502 bodies of the AFU,
20.12.24: 42 bodies of the Russian Federation for 503 bodies of the AFU.

Artichoke Frittata

Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

2 (6 ounce) jars marinated artichoke hearts
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup small curd cottage cheese
1 small onion, chopped
1/8 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon dried marjoram

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Drain the artichokes, reserving 2 tablespoons of the marinade. Chop the artichokes.
Combine the reserved marinade, artichokes, eggs, cottage cheese, onion, rosemary, thyme, basil and marjoram in a medium mixing bowl and mix well. Spoon into a greased 8 x 8-inch baking pan.
Bake for 30 minutes or until set and light brown. Cut into 1-inch squares.

Nutrition

Per serving: Calories 55; Fat 4 g; Sodium 182 mg; Dietary Fiber 1 g

Attribution

Posted by FootsieBear at Recipe Goldmine 8/26/2001 4:23 pm.

Pampered Chef

Title: Sir Whiskerton and the Case of the Bedtime Bandit

Ah, my dear reader, welcome back! I must say, your enthusiasm for these tales warms my noble whiskers. Today’s adventure is, quite literally, a personal matter. You see, even a brilliant detective such as myself isn’t immune to petty annoyances, and this time, someone—or something—has dared to invade my most sacred sanctuary: my bed. What followed was an investigation full of twists, turns, and surprises so shocking that even I, Sir Whiskerton, was briefly left without words. Briefly, of course. So sit back and enjoy the laugh-filled mystery of The Case of the Bedtime Bandit.

The Great Bed Crisis

It all began one crisp autumn evening as I returned to my favorite napping spot: a cozy, sun-warmed pile of hay tucked neatly in the corner of the barn. It was my most cherished spot, a throne worthy of my brilliance. But when I arrived, I found… evidence. Evidence of a crime so heinous it made my fur stand on end.

My bed was mussed.

“Oh, the horror,” I muttered to myself, circling the hay pile. My eyes narrowed as I noticed strange tufts of fur that did not belong to me and a faint but unfamiliar scent lingering in the air.

“Someone’s been sleeping in my bed,” I growled.

“Sleeping? Oh, how dreadful!” Doris the hen clucked, fluttering down from her perch.
“Dreadful! But who could it be?!” Harriet added.
“Who?! Oh, I can’t bear the suspense!” Lillian squawked.
“Enough,” I said, holding up a paw. “This is a matter for my expertise. I will get to the bottom of this.”

Assembling the Team

I wasted no time calling a meeting of the most capable minds on the farm—well, the most available minds, anyway.

Porkchop the pig arrived first, munching on an apple. “What’s this about, Whiskerton?” he asked. “You look… uh, more annoyed than usual.”

“Someone has been sleeping in my bed,” I said gravely.

“Sleeping?! Oh, that’s terrible!” Doris squawked, arriving with her usual entourage of Harriet and Lillian.

“Terrible! But also mysterious!” Harriet clucked.
“Mysterious! Oh, I can’t bear it!” Lillian cried.

Rufus the dog trotted in next, his tail wagging. “You called for me, Whiskerton? What’s the case this time? Missing milk? Stolen carrots?”

“No,” I said, flicking my tail. “This is far more serious. My bed has been compromised.”

Rufus raised an eyebrow. “Your bed? Really?”

“Yes, Rufus. And I intend to find the culprit. But it seems there’s more going on here than just my bed,” I said, my whiskers twitching thoughtfully. “I’ve been hearing strange reports from around the farm. Doris, you mentioned something earlier about missing corn?”

“Oh yes! The corn! It’s gone! Oh, all gone!” Doris cried.
“Gone! But who could have taken it?!” Harriet clucked.
“Who?! Oh, I can’t bear it!” Lillian screeched.

“And Porkchop,” I said, turning to the pig, “you’ve been complaining about your apples disappearing, haven’t you?”

“Yeah,” Porkchop said, scratching his head. “Thought maybe Rufus was sneaking them.”

“Hey!” Rufus barked. “I wouldn’t touch your apples. I’ve got my own stash of bones to chew on, thank you very much.”

“Indeed,” I said. “It seems we have a serial intruder on our hands. And I intend to catch them.”

The Investigation Begins

I began my investigation at the scene of the crime: my bed. Using my keen senses, I sniffed the hay and detected the faint scent of something… unfamiliar. It was musky, earthy, and had a hint of… feathers?

“Feathers?” I muttered to myself. “Interesting.”

Next, I inspected the area around the chicken coop, where the missing corn had last been seen. Sure enough, there were small, scattered kernels leading away from the coop and into the woods.

“Ah-ha!” I said, my tail flicking with excitement. “A trail!”

“Trail?! Oh, how thrilling!” Doris squawked.
“Thrilling! But also terrifying!” Harriet clucked.
“Terrifying! Oh, I can’t bear it!” Lillian cried.

“Enough,” I said, waving a paw. “Porkchop, Rufus, you’re with me. We’re following this trail.”

The Plot Thickens

The trail of corn led us deep into the woods, where we found… nothing. Just an empty clearing with a few more scattered kernels and some oddly shaped footprints. They were too large for a chicken, too small for the farmer, and definitely not from any of us.

“Strange,” I muttered, examining the footprints. “Who—or what—could this be?”

“Uh, Whiskerton?” Porkchop said nervously, pointing his hoof. “What’s that?”

I followed his gaze and saw a pair of glowing eyes peering at us from the bushes. Before I could react, a blur of feathers and fur burst out of the bushes and darted past us, heading straight back toward the farm.

“After it!” I shouted.

The Culprit Revealed

We chased the mysterious figure all the way back to the barn, where it finally stopped and turned to face us. To our surprise, it was… a goose.

But not just any goose. This goose was enormous, with wild feathers sticking out in every direction and a guilty look in its eyes. It was holding an apple in one wing and a cob of corn in the other.

“Wilma?!” Doris squawked, recognizing one of the geese from the neighboring farm.
“Wilma! But what are you doing here?!” Harriet clucked.
“Here?! Oh, I can’t bear it!” Lillian cried.

“I… I just wanted a place to stay!” Wilma honked, dropping the apple and corn. “My pond froze over, and the farmer doesn’t feed us geese as much as he feeds you lot. So I thought… why not stay here for a while?”

“And you thought my bed was the perfect place to sleep?” I said, narrowing my eyes.

“Well, it was very comfortable,” Wilma admitted sheepishly.

A Happy Ending

In the end, we couldn’t stay mad at Wilma. She was just a hungry goose looking for a warm place to rest. We helped her set up a proper nest near the barn (far away from my bed), and the farmer, noticing the new arrival, started leaving extra corn for her.

The moral of the story, dear reader, is this: sometimes, those who disturb our peace are simply in need of a little kindness. And while it’s important to stand up for your personal space, it’s equally important to lend a helping paw—or wing—when someone needs it.

As for my bed? I gave it a thorough cleaning and reclaimed it as my throne, where I can nap in peace… until the next mystery, of course.

The End.

My Girlfriend Always Keeps Bringing Up How ‘Perfect’ Her Ex Was and Even Suggested I Take ‘Tips’

A tale of Christmas bonuses and expectation in a corporate reality

The year was 1981. the company was “Edgewater Steel” located in Oakmont, PA. A steel company. They went bankrupt in the early 1990’s and this is a story of my first “engineering position” after I left the United States Navy, but before I began my training in the ONI.

It was a large forging company. They made railroad wheels. And they employed 6000 people. It was a sizable operation located on the banks of the Allegheny river north of Pittsburgh.

main qimg 87200881cde4ef89ca75a38a734084d0

When I was hired, the HR manager explicitly told me that they had “phased out bonuses for all new hires”, and myself not knowing what that meant, gleefully signed the contract. Sure, I knew that I wouldn’t be getting a bonus; but you know, all my bonuses up to that time was in the $25 to $50 dollar range. Roughly about 1/2 of a week paycheck as a laborer.

So I figured, “what’s the big deal about a mere $25?”.

So I work there, perhaps for nine months, and Christmas rolls around.

main qimg a28a07010b216f400241ec4ef798c5c5

And everyone was being handed the envelope with their Christmas bonus. And they were all happy, as the bonus was 2 – 3 times their monthly salary. This is around $3000 to $6000 in a lump check.

main qimg d771856ae378330fd6a06512385e0193

Except for me.

I got nothing. I got exactly ZERO.

I an the other six “new hires” for the year got absolutely zero. And the rest, bound by contract, and union agreements got nice plump juicy bonuses. Big, BIG money in those days.

main qimg fc20525e7e04b4ec670ac08ca150ec53

So, let me summarize for you all, in the event you are absolutely STUPID.

6000 people that I see every day; about the size of a small town. Each and every one of them; All of them, got around $6000 in a Check on Christmas Eve. Roughly around $35,000 today.

And me and six others got nothing.

…

Fair? No.

But legal. Yes.

…

So firstly, the steel company was a union shop. Everyone made “big money”, and also got “big bonuses”. And I, who had never before worked in that environment, was unaware of this. I thought that everyone would be getting around $35 checks. Not $6000.

Ah. What did I know?

So the end result was as you can expect. Lots of “ribbing” and making fun of me. Everyone was pointing their fingers at me and laughing. “Well, they told you!” they would say in a laughing sneer. They would giggle at the water cooler, and call me names to my face like “dumb kid” and “walking idiot”.

…

Of course, they could have handled this different.

Maybe given me a reduced bonus.

But no. The others (after all this was a steel company with hard beer drinkers and roustabouts, we constantly ribbing me about their bonuses. One bought a new car. Another went on a vacation to Hawaii. Yet another was going to add a swimming pool to their house.

On and on it went. And I got nothing.

Not even a little Christmas card.

…

And that, boys and girls, was my first experience with the joys of corporate life. It was a lesson that I have never forgotten.

But has since, been repeated over and over again over the decades.

Ah. It is no wonder that this gen Z has given up and “checked out”. They have peered behind the veil and see the lies and nonsense for what it actually is. And, you know, they don’t want any part of it.

Today…

Life on a Station

Submitted into Contest #24 in response to: Write a story set in the dark recesses of space where the two main characters are often at odds with each other in humorous and comedic ways.… view prompt

Corey Melin

Gorgin walked the corridors once again to make sure everything was okay.

“Why do I have to continue to check out the station when we have systems set-up to make sure everything is in order on the station?” he asked the commander of the station, Morgan.

“Just do it,” said Morgan. “You never know what can get past our systems way out here in space. There is a lot of unknown things out here. I’m tired of explaining to you each time it’s your turn.”

Now, Gorgin was walking through the corridors, and checking out room after room.

“Why such huge station for just a few people?” thought Gorgin.

Gorgin rounded the corner, and in front of him stood an alien that stood seven feet tall, green scaly skin, fish eyes, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and claws reaching out to him. All Gorgin could do is stare in shock then let out a piercing scream as he started backing up around the corner, then turning and running as fast as he could. Before he reached the end he could hear someone laughing hysterically behind him. He came to a stop and turned around seeing Dwight in the alien outfit pointing at him and laughing.

“I will be taking this to the commander!” he cried out, as soon as he went to his room to change.

“I can’t believe I have two adult men standing in front of me,” said Morgan. “The two of you clowns have been at each other since you came to this station. Should we go over everything the two of you have done to each other?”

“This was all started by Dwight,” said Gorgin. “He was the one who set the dials so I woke-up out of slumber as an old man.”

Morgan and Dwight chuckled over that one.

“That was a quick fix, but it was fun while it lasted,” said Dwight.

“It didn’t end there with the two of you,” said Morgan. “I believe the next mishap is when Dwight transported in the station and appeared in another section with three butt cheeks. Courtesy of Gorgin tampering with the controls.”

“Sitting down was quite comfy,” admitted Dwight with a grin.

“Even though, the two of you have brought much humor to everyone you need to act like adults,” said Morgan. “You think the two of you can do that?”

The two of them nodded their heads.

“Now get out of my sight and do your duties,” demanded Morgan.

Both of them left the room, staring at each other with dislike.

“I would greatly appreciate it if you could move to the other side of the station so I would see you less,” said Gorgin.

“I would say that it would be even better if you would move off the station,” said Dwight.

“Just stay away from me,” both said at the same time, and they went their separate locations.

It was a couple of days later that the two met again.

Gorgin went into what everyone called the “Pet Room” to create himself a pet to keep him company. As he entered the room he saw that Dwight was already in the room at the controls.

“What the heck are you doing in here?” he asked.

Dwight turned to him. “Looking for a pet. What do you think idiot?”

“Hurry up then,” said Gorgin.

Dwight went back to the controls and went back to pushing buttons. Time went by as Gorgin waited impatiently for him to finish.

“I think I got it,” said Dwight. “Oh wait. That won’t do.”

“That is enough,” huffed Gorgin, stomping over to Dwight. “Give me the controls.”

Next moment, both of them were fighting over the controls, pressing and clicking until there was a sudden flash that lit up the room. Both of them stopped and looked at each other with befuddled looks.

“What the heck was that?” asked Gorgin.

“Not a clue,” replied Dwight.

“We should probably check around the station to make sure everything is okay,” said Gorgin.

The two left the room, trying to call the commander, but getting no answer.

“Let’s go to command center first,” said Gorgin.

The two rushed to the command center.

“Dwight did it!” Gorgin cried out as soon as they entered the room.

“No I didn’t!” Dwight called back. “You butted in!”

But the two realized they were wasting there blame game for the commander was nowhere in sight. They looked all over, but no sight of the commander.

“He’s not in the freshening room,” said Dwight coming out after a flush.

“Strange for him to be gone,” said Gorgin.

Then the two of them heard a squeak.

“What the hell was that?” asked Dwight.

“Sounds like the commander has a pet,” replied Gorgin.

The two started looking around until the two came to the commander’s chair. Both saw at the same time a squirrel on the seat looking at both of them. It started chattering, then jumped off the chair.

“I didn’t know the commander had a pet?” asked Dwight.

Gorgin shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head. Then a light bulb popped on inside his head.

“What pet were you looking at getting?” he asked Dwight.

“I was contemplating on getting a tamed squirrel,” he replied.

It didn’t take too long for the two to figure out what happened.

“Did we turn the commander into a squirrel?” asked Dwight.

Gorgin just nodded then the two searched for the squirrel, which ran around the room.

“We need to get him,” Gorgin said.

The two chased after the squirrel, bumping into each other, and Gorgin grabbing the squirrel, but it bit him, and was loose once again.

“We need to get the room robot,” said Gorgin as he shook his hurt finger, going over to the panel.

He pressed some switches and next moment the robot came out.

“Retrieve the squirrel,” said Gorgin.

It didn’t take long for the robot to scoop of the squirrel and deposit it into a glass came.

“Now to see about the rest of the crew,” said Gorgin.

The two of them checked for lifeforms on the station, then checked the screens for each room they detected life. All the lifeforms were squirrels.

“What did you do?” asked Gorgin.

“You were the one pressing numerous buttons,” said Dwight.

“We need to fix this fast,” said Gorgin.

Gorgin released the robots in each room, and the squirrels were scooped up. The other robots were sent to the pet room.

“I hope we can reverse this,” said Gorgin as they headed to the pet room.

All the robots were in the room as the two of them tried to figure out a way to make their crew human again.

“I think I got it,” said Gorgin. “We need to get out of the room so nothing happens to us. The robots will be released once we leave.”

The two left the room, robots released, and there was a bright flash. The two went back into the room and saw everyone was human again. The only thing is that they were all naked. Commander Morgan stood up and looked at the two men with a stare of death.

“We are in trouble,” muttered Dwight.

The next day the two were put in cryosleep until the next crew came in a couple of years. Before both of them lay down for their sleep they looked at each other, and both of them grinned.

Slow Cooker Brisket Sofrito

Slow Cooker Brisket Sofrito is an excellent filling for corn or flour tortillas.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

1 (3 pound) brisket
2 teaspoons salt, + extra after cooking
2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper, + extra after cooking
1 large onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (12 ounce) jar tomato Sofrito
1 teaspoon ground chipotle chili (or more for an extra kick)

Instructions

Season brisket on both sides with salt and pepper.
Place onion and garlic in a 3 1/2 to 5 quart slow cooker. Place brisket on onions and garlic, fat side up. Pour Sofrito over brisket and sprinkle chipotle chili over sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for 9 to 10 hours or until brisket is fork tender.
Carefully remove brisket from cooker with as little sauce as possible. Place on cutting board and cut into three pieces cross grain. Shred beef with two forks and return to cooker. Stir into sauce and season with salt and pepper (and a little more chipotle seasoning if you like it spicy).
Serve with tortillas and other desired toppings.

Nutrition

Per serving: 530 calories; 23g fat (5g saturated fat; 0g trans fat); 195mg cholesterol; 1340mg sodium; 5g carbohydrate; 1g fiber; 0 g sugar; 71g protein; 2% vitamin A; 6% calcium; 20% vitamin C; 35% iron

A MM slice from the past

I generated this chart back in 2019.

What do you think? Do you think that I was accurate in my predictions?

Shorpy Goodies

A confession

This is a heartfelt true confession from the top spokesperson for the Huawei Mate 6.0—Gina Raimondo. In a recent interview, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo went beyond discussing export controls, stating that efforts to hold back China in the chip race are ultimately a “fool’s errand.” She stressed that sustained investment in domestic innovation is what will ensure the U.S. remains ahead of Beijing.

Four years after the Biden administration made chip manufacturing a priority, Raimondo explained that the attempts to restrict China’s access to technology haven’t significantly slowed the country’s progress. According to her, export controls are merely “speed bumps” in China’s drive for global technological dominance. “The only way to beat China is to stay ahead of them,” she asserted. “We must run faster and out-innovate them. That’s the way to win.”

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/china-biden-chip-manufacturing-gina-raimondo-b98c2606

Ribs in Orange and Chile Sauce (Costillitas en Naranja)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
4 pounds country-style spareribs, cut into individual ribs
2 medium white onions, cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch wide slivers
1 (1 pound) can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
2 cloves garlic
1 to 2 tablespoons ground, seeded, dried ancho chiles
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup piloncillo or brown sugar
1 teaspoon shredded orange rind
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 to 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
Orange slices, cut into halves
Fresh cilantro sprigs

Instructions

Heat lard or oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add as many ribs as will fit in single layer without crowding. Cook, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides, 15 to 20 minutes; remove to plate.
Repeat with remaining ribs.
Remove and discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings from pan. Add onions; sauté over medium heat until soft, about 4 minutes.
Process tomatoes and garlic in blender container until smooth.
Add chiles, cinnamon and cloves to onions. Cook and stir over medium heat for 30 seconds.
Add tomato mixture; cook and stir for 5 minutes.
Add orange juice, wine, piloncillo, orange rind and salt to pan; heat over high heat to boiling. Add ribs; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, until ribs are tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
Remove ribs to serving plates.
Skim and discard fat from cooking sauce. Stir in vinegar; spoon sauce over ribs.
Serve, garnished with orange slices and cilantro

Shorpy

SHORPY 1954 Ford Mainline two door sedan.preview

South of the Border Shredded Pork

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

1 (2 1/2 to 3 pound) pork shoulder roast (weight after trimmed of fat)
1 tablespoon oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 (1.25 ounce) packages taco seasoning mix
1 (14.5 ounce) can Mexican style diced tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
Tortillas
Shredded Cheddar or jack cheese
Scallions
Tomatoes
Sour cream

Instructions

Cut pork into 1 1/2-inch chunks and sear in hot oil until browned on all sides.
Add onion, taco seasoning mix, tomatoes and chiles; stir well. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Remove cover and cook 15 minutes more or until liquid has reduced and sauce is thick.
Shred meat with two forks.
Spoon filling into tortillas and top with desired fillings

Little Red Balloons

Matt Strempel

I can’t put my finger on why I murdered Jerry, because I lost my fingers in an accident.

Accident. That is to say, Jerry hit the go button on the waste disposal unit while I was fixing it, and it munched my right hand off at the wrist. To be fair, the robotic prosthetic is about a thousand times better than my real hand was, but it hurt like hell at the time. He maintains I said, “Hit it,” but what I said was, “Quit it.” I was always telling Jerry to quit it. He was the most infuriating guy in the entire universe, I’m telling you. I should know; as a DSD I’ve seen more of the universe than most.

A DSD is a Deep Space Diviner. In short, we look for water out in the dark corners of the universe in the hope of finding evidence of alien life. I used to get work out on farms and such, walking around with a curled piece of wire waiting for the thing to snap down towards the ground. That’s when I’d tell the boys to get digging. I never missed. Went all over the country helping folks get water out of the ground. I’m telling you, I could find water in the middle of a goddamn desert. Now I follow my hunches into deep space.

When I heard they were asking for water diviners to head into space I thought it was some big joke. Checked the date to see if it was April 1st and everything. But it’s no joke. Turns out it’s cheaper to have guys like me out in space than sending probes from Earth.

So anyway, they’ve had us out in Sector 35 for two years. Me and Jerry Portman. I told them I could do it on my own, but company regulations state I gotta have a partner. Jerry goddamn Portman from Chicago. I couldn’t stand him.

How do I explain this to you? I mean, how do you come across a guy that can make you feel claustrophobic in the vastness of space? Even when I couldn’t see him, it was like he was right next to me with his stale open-mouth breathing. I’ve sent countless requests to be transferred, or have him transferred, or sought permission to blast him out the goddamn airlock, but no luck. I knew nothing was going to come of all the complaints, but it was the only way I could get the frustration off my chest.

It’s true that in space no one can hear you scream, but email works pretty good.

Anyway, that opening line about not being able to put my finger on why I killed him on account of not having any fingers? That’s the type of corny gag that Jerry loved. Drove me crazy. Is there anything more infuriating than a guy who laughs at his own jokes? I must have heard him use variations of “lend you a hand”, “right-hand man”, and “second hand” about a million times. He laughed every single time like it was the first time anyone ever said, “Get a grip” to a guy who just lost their hand and was rolling around on the floor spraying blood all over the goddamn ship.

You ever see a gushing wound in zero gravity? It’s really something. It looks like the wound is spurting little red balloons. Or, it’s like looking at cells under a microscope.

Space does that. Changes your perception of size. Entire planets appear tiny, then, the next second, a speck of space rock hitting the ship could end your entire existence. Big is small, small is enormous.

Anyway, the latest thing with Jerry was he wanted to head out on this new vector. I’m telling you right now, where he wanted to go is a bust. Oh, but he’s “got a feeling”. Feeling, my ass. This guy hadn’t found a goddamn drop of water in two years. Plus, we would have had to go through a goddamn asteroid belt.

It’s not that he was bad at his job—he was terrible—it’s that he was bad at everything. I mean, literally, everything. You ever meet a guy who couldn’t even use the goddamn toothpaste properly? I mean, who squeezes from the middle? Leaves the lid open so I’ve got a tube that’s flat through the centre, with all the good paste at the bottom, blocked by dried toothpaste at the top. He was such a goddamn imbecile.

The thing is, though, medically speaking—on paper—he was a goddamn genius. Like, off the charts smart. He’s just got no common sense. Know what I mean? As in, he could solve the most complex mathematical equation known to man, but he’d set fire to his helmet. He really did that. Tried to make some modifications and shorted the regulator. Nearly killed us. He was always nearly killing us.

I’ll say it: Jerry Portman was the stupidest guy ever to be classified as a genius.

I swear he has nearly killed me at least a dozen times. Obviously, losing my hand was pretty bad, but he’s also shut off my oxygen while I was outside repairing a cracked solar panel. I was under 50% oxygen saturation when I finally got back inside. That much carbon dioxide in your lungs? You can’t take that too long. When I hit the emergency retract button on my umbilical to get back inside, well, let me just say, if I’d had the strength to even stand up, I swear that would have been it. I would have murdered Jerry right then.

I think the worst one was when he opened the bay door—that’s where we keep the drones—before I was in my suit. I know it’s against the regulations to be in the drone bay without your suit because of the potential for that exact situation, but fucking Jerry, man. The guys who wrote the regulations must have been like, “What’s the most galactically stupid thing anyone could do in any given situation?” and then they’d write a rule just for kicks. They were probably laughing their asses off the entire time. “No one could be that much of a moron,” they’d say. But guess what, fellas. Jerry Portman is your guy. It’s just lucky there’s a ten-second warning before the doors open.

You know the worst thing about guys like Jerry? It’s never their fault.

“It was an accident.”

He said it every goddamn time. It’s always an accident with these guys. Like that absolves them from any wrongdoing. As if just because you didn’t do it on purpose, all is forgiven.

Imagine opening the bay door while there’s a guy in there working on the drones.

Speaking of the drones. Jerry lost another one yesterday. This should come as a great surprise to exactly no one, but even for him, this was stupid. That’s three of our six drones lost. Don’t worry, Jerry. They’re only worth about half a billion dollars each.

“But they’re fitted with a homing device to automatically self-dock if they lose the control signal” I hear you say. Yeah, well, you haven’t met Jerry. He’s the kind of guy a car salesman tells, “Pal, if you’re the kind of guy that accidentally locks his keys in the car, then this is the car for you. You can’t do it, see? It’s impossible.”

Then, a week later, Jerry’s back and tells the guy he’s locked the keys in the goddamn car.

Can you imagine being stuck in space with Jerry Portman? I’m telling you, it’s the pits.

The first drone Jerry lost was on account of him tinkering with it. He was trying to make the water sensor more sensitive after striking out on another of his feelings. He’s always making excuses that it’s the equipment’s fault when he strikes out. So, yeah. The first drone he tinkered with—well, we don’t know what he did exactly—but the first time we took it out after he fiddled with it, it took off like a bullet and it was gone.

I can still see Jerry watching the screen as we lost the signal. He was like a kid who’d taken his model plane out for its first flight and watched it disappear over the trees never to be seen again. Only this model plane cost half a billion dollars.

The second one, I’m not sure about. He swears he didn’t touch it. For all his million faults, one thing Jerry wasn’t, was a liar. Maybe we chalk that one up to bad luck. Maybe the drone was a dud.

But the latest one? Jesus Christ. I won’t bore you with a bunch of technical crap about how the drones work, let’s just say in the simplest terms, it confirms the presence of water in any form within a given target. Most commonly, this means we find a meteorite that we feel has potential, and the drone sends out a probe to take a sample. It’s basically a drill that bores into the target and removes a metre-long cylinder of material. If there’s a trace of water—it’s ice, of course—there’s a bunch of readings and measurements done by the computer and it sends the data back to Earth for further analysis.

As you can imagine, a machine that performs this function is incredibly complex. So you don’t just open up a panel and start poking around with a goddamn Phillips-head. Well, you and I wouldn’t. But you know who would?

So, yesterday he’s telling me, “I know what I’m doing this time,” as if he’s read the manual since losing the first drone. I just shake my head and leave him to it. I used to argue with him all the time, but I learnt pretty quick what a waste of breath that was. He’s one of those guys that when they get something in their head, you can’t shake it no matter how much sense you’re making. They could be wearing a red tshirt and you say, “Nice red tshirt,” and they say, “What’re talking about? It’s blue,” and you just have to say, “Fine, you moron. It’s blue,” and walk away.

That’s what Jerry was like when he was tinkering. Maybe part of me thought he’d electrocute himself so I wouldn’t have to murder him.

When he finished playing around with this drone, he came back into the control room and placed these screws and some other little bits and pieces in a drawer. He did it as if he didn’t want me to see it, but I saw it clear as day. You know when someone gets home drunk and they’re trying to be quiet but they make way more noise than if they just stumbled around? People trying to be discrete just scream I’m up to something fishy.

So I say to Jerry, “What are those, from the drone?”

And he just says, “They’re spare. We don’t actually need them.”

Then I go off on one about how every single thing on this ship right down to the tiniest screw has been reduced in size and weight to make everything as light as possible—like, the angle of trajectory for our landing factors in the weight of the urine that will be in our bladders—but sure, Jerry. They’ve included a bunch of spare parts. “It’s not a goddamn IKEA chair, Jerry” I remember saying that to him like he was hiding some leftover dowel he forgot to put in.

Well, sure as eggs, Jerry sent the drone out yesterday and I’ll give you one guess what happened to it. You’re goddamn right it blew up. Nearly killed us.

He’s just lucky the drone was far enough from the ship that the explosion didn’t do any damage to the ship. Nothing that the self-diagnostics picked up, anyway. Naturally, I did my block at Jerry for nearly killing us again and I said someone’s going to have to go outside and have a closer inspection of the hull. Now, normally I’d be the guy that does that. I mean, you can’t leave something that important up to Jerry goddamn Portman.

Then I had a thought—maybe I would send Jerry out. It would be a real shame if his umbilical somehow untethered from the ship and he floated out into space…

Ashamed as I am to admit it, this was not the first time I’d thought about killing Jerry.

Did I tell you about the time Jerry destroyed one of my samples? You know how people who can’t cook, they say “Oh, so-and-so could burn water.” That’s what Jerry did. We got this sample back on the probe one time and it had all these microorganisms in it. The core sample was about 85% ice. Normally, we’re lucky if it’s even 5%. The core analysis told us it contained 37 different forms of bacteria plus a bunch of other unidentifiable crap all suspended in ice. It was the most exciting goddamn discovery since penicillin. So I placed the core in the freezer and looked forward to the fame and fortune awaiting those DSDs lucky enough to find something. I couldn’t sleep that cycle I was so excited.

Of course, back then I didn’t have a complete understanding of the magnitude of Jerry’s stupidity. Had I known better, I would have guarded that freezer with my goddamn life.

Now, it wouldn’t have surprised me in the least to discover Jerry had destroyed my sample by switching the freezer off by accident. These things happen to the best of us. But Jerry isn’t your average moron. No, Jerry decides he wants to take a look at the sample himself under the microscope. Only, the microscope doesn’t work with a chunk of ice, you gotta melt it down to go in a petri dish. So Jerry puts the core in the blast box—the blast box, I should explain, is this unit that works like an oven or freezer depending on what you need heating or chilling. Only, the blast box will roast or freeze something in three seconds. In hindsight, this is exactly the sort of thing you could see happening, but the designers of the blast box would have been counting on the operators being actual scientists, not Jerry goddamn Portman.

Now, someone like you or me, we’d take a small piece of the sample if we wanted to take a closer look. Not Jerry, though. Jerry Portman’s the kind of guy who takes your alien lifeforms precariously suspended in million-year-old ice and microwaves them to kingdom come. “Why the hell did he…? Oh, never mind,” I hear you saying. You’re getting the picture now. He cost me a lot that day. Maybe not money—who knows—but certainly renown. They probably would have named one of the bacteria after me.

That was two years ago, but I remember it like yesterday. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Yesterday, when Jerry was out on the spacewalk, I considered trying to make it look like an accident. But there are so many instruments taking every goddamn reading on this ship that they’d know for sure I had something to do with it. I mean, no amount of tinkering could have got the drone to accidentally deploy its probe with such surgical precision right up Jerry Portman’s goddamn ass.

I’ll be leaving Sector 35 for Earth in a year next week. When I splashdown and I get arrested on live television, it’ll be because I murdered Jerry Portman. They’ll drag me out of the ocean next to those giant orange balloon floaties and put me straight in handcuffs but I’ll be laughing my ass off. You can’t spell manslaughter without laughter, right?

I’ll be thinking about the last thing Jerry saw as he was fatally probed: me in the cockpit with the drone remote, my smiling face looking out through the glass where I’d stuck a piece of paper saying IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

Thousands of little red balloons.

I just want them to know I was provoked. I was standing my ground. I feared for my life, Your Honor.

It wasn’t self-defence, really, more like self-preservation. I’m not sure if there’re any laws about killing in self-preservation but if I didn’t kill him, he was going to kill me. I’m absolutely goddamn sure of it.

Why You’ll Hate Living in France

Jonesing for a meat loaf

I haven’t had a meatloaf dinner in over a decade.

And yeah. I kind of miss the meals that I used to have growing up as a boy.

This is an American meal, made from ground beef, eggs, bread and some spices.

It is usually served with mashed potatoes.

Usually a side of peas, corn or carrots were the norm.

And of course, my folks ALWAYS had a salad.

I used to take the bread that my mother would put on the table, and make a meatloaf sandwich from it.

I’d then take the slice of meatloaf and then get the lettuce, the tomato, and the onions from my salad, and coat it with the salad dressing that was always on the table.

Very good eatin’.

Here’s the basic idea; you get a slice of meatloaf on your plate with two or three sides…

Another thing that I haven’t had in years is American-style pork chops.

Now I eat pork commonly in China, and my wife has some great pork ribs and meals that she makes for me.

But the American style chips is what I grew up with.

We would eat “stuffed pork chops”, “breaded pork chops”, and “fried pork chops”. Always with a side of apple sauce and some peas or corn.

Maybe a mashed potato side.

American style meals pretty much ended in the 1980’s.

Oh there were hold outs, but the entire American culture seemed to eat out all the time. Yet when I grew up, we rarely ate out.

Maybe a few times a year. Yeah. No kidding.

We always ate in the dining room. Never in the television room.

We would lay a tablecloth down, and then once the meal was done, it would either be folded up or thrown into the laundry.

Staples were always a salad, a loaf of sliced bread (right out of the plastic bag no less), and a set up table settings.

Everyone got a glass for their beverage, and a glass of ice water. Mostly us kids drank milk, with our water.

Our parents drank wine, and had an after dinner coffee.

We always had a dessert. Monday through Friday, we usually had either a ice cream, or a cake or pie for dessert, with ice cream being the most common, and the pies the most desirable.

Blueberry pie!

A dessert with every meal.

This was a normal household meal.

Eating a family made meal is of great importance, and that is one of the reasons why I insist on it at home in my household.

Sometimes the meals are really simple, and other times more elaborate.

And no, my wife is not an expert chef, but she tries and some of her food preparations are great. And some just so-so.

Whatever you do. Enjoy what you have and treasure the moments together.

Memories.

Memories.

Great memories.

Who knows, one day, when you are older you will be as wistful as MM dreaming of the “good old days” in the living room.

Today…

As a nurse, what is the most tragic discovery you have made while treating a patient?

Thanks Amy Potter for asking me to answer this question. A mother brought her son into the Emergency Department. I was triaging him. She said that he just started choking suddenly,no trigger. That child was so scared, looking at me with big dark eyes. My gut was screaming that something was wrong. I was not going to miss it, whatever it was. Then – I saw it. Faint bruising developing on that toddler’s throat. In a distinct shape of a hand. I made myself say calmly, “did he hit something? Why is throat bruising up?” Then all hell broke loose. The mother cried that her boyfriend tried to choke the child in front of her but she she pulled the child away and rushed him to the nearby hospital.. So, I got them in a room by themselves, told the doctor what was up and got security to be outside the room until the police came. I remember getting upset that the mother did not want the boyfriend in trouble. I told the police that I would testify if needed about all that I saw and heard. I did not have to do that. I know the boyfriend was arrested that night, but could not follow up after that. The fear that child had in his eyes haunts me.

What impact has the rejection of Chinese trade by western countries had on China’s economy?

It has little to no effect. Don’t be so full of yourself, the US and EU is no longer the biggest market nor is it the richest market. China his the biggest trading partner of 170/195 nations on earth and US market is now at best 10% or so of the world’s demand. If the US chooses to import inflation instead of deflation that is the US own funeral. China will let the US have a long rope to hang itself! So is Europe! And so are the US slave nations!

Life battles

How will China secure its semiconductor supply without Taiwan?

Sheer Innovation

The Chinese working with AI use a method called Stack Hierarchy

In the US – A ML / Transformer AI model is trained with an average of 650 Servers each with 32 GPUs

The Chinese don’t have access to as many servers

So they first create a smaller AI Model and then use that Smaller AI Model to train and create another Smaller AI Model and in the process through Supervised Learning, evolve itself

So each smaller Model evolves into larger models and teaches other models guided by researchers

This way you can do with 70 Servers with 20 -30 GPUs each

And Guess what?

These Models work perfectly

Chinese company trained GPT-4 rival with just 2,000 GPUs — 01.ai spent $3M compared to OpenAI’s $80M to $100M

With fewer resources, you have to maximize their efficiency.

SMIC for instance could only manage 23% high quality yield for the 9010 Threaded 7 nm Chips for the Mate 60 compared to TSMC

This limited Huawei to produce only 1/3 of their intended output

However for the Mate 70 – SMIC reported a 56% high quality yield for the 9010 with single threaded 7 nm Chips and 19% high quality yield for the 9020 with double threaded high quality chips

So Huawei can produce almost 2/3 of their Intended output

Using DUV Machines rather than EUV Machines used by TSMC

My Son for instance can run a simulation only Sixteen times a week

That’s because they use a Fully Indigenous System with an Indigenous Processor so that tomorrow US can’t sanction and stop research

A Western System can make you run 1000 simulations easily

Sixty Times More

Yet Chinese Researchers are attuned to ensure they achieve all their objectives in 16 simulations and thus they use their brains in a way Americans can never imagine

Every Saturday the Engineers of the Indigenous System come and take feedback for improvements

And both sides benefit and evolve

So China manages High Quality Research without Taiwanese Input

China gets full access to Taiwanese Chips like Snapdragon for all commercial applications and for buyers like Xiaomi or Oppo

US has no objections to any of that

It’s only Chips related to high quality research that are being throttled

China responds by innovation of the type the US hasn’t seen in at least 30–40 years

This takes me back…

Not Hollywood, is what we marched to.

What are things to avoid when it comes to anti-aging?

Eating. Eating is a good thing to avoid if you are fighting aging and death.

I have read how great blueberries and strawberries are for you. I began to eat them. Till I came across an article saying that blueberries and strawberries are among the “dirtiest” foods out there. By dirty, they mean among the most heavily sprayed with pesticides. Pesticides are cancer threats. I quit eating blueberries and strawberries.

I’d read of how healthy salmon is for you. Salmon reduces cholesterol, fights inflammation, lowers blood pressure. So then I started eating salmon. Till I learned that they contain large amounts of mercury, something that can give you cancer.

I’d read recently of the wonderful benefits of watermelon. So I figured I would go the whole hog on watermelon by buying the Ocean Spray watermelon juice. I began to drink gallons of it. Good, too. Then I learned how heavily watermelon is sprayed with insecticide. Cancer again. So I threw all my watermelon juice away.

Lucky for me, I’d found an article touting the incredible benefits of olives and olive oil, one of the great Mediterranean foods, so I began eating 50 olives a day. I saw immediate results. My digestion began to improve, I felt more energetic than ever. Then I read an article yesterday saying that tests have shown that olives have the strange effect of metastasizing cancer quickly. That electrified me with fear. I was so terrified that I wanted to take an emetic to rid myself of every trace of olives and olive oil.

So here I sit with a fine pre-Thanksgiving pecan pie that my wife was good enough to make today. No fears on THIS food. After all, all the pecans in it fell from my very own trees. And I’m adding a huge shovelful of ice cream, now melting rapidly into the pie’s warm surface. Nothing wrong with ice cream. It’s the All-American treat! Now don’t ruin it for me by telling me how many calories and how much fat it has or what it will do to my cholesterol. I have found the one food I’ve read nothing carcinogenic about. And anyway, if all the fat and calories and sugar kill me, I’ll die a profoundly happy man. Much better way to go than eating olives or guzzling olive oil.

Little Black Devil Turns To A Little Black Angel After Adoption

Mississippi Delta Tamales

Yield: 7 to 8 dozen

Ingredients

Filling

6 to 8 pounds boneless meat (pork shoulder, chuck roast or chicken)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup chili powder
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin

Wrappers

Corn husks

Corn Meal Dough

8 cups yellow cornmeal or masa mix (available in most grocery stores)
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 2/3 cups lard or vegetable shortening
6 to 8 cups warm meat broth (from cooking the meat)

Instructions

Filling

Cut meat into large chunks and place in a large, heavy pot. Cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until meat is very tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Remove meat and reserve cooking liquid.
When meat is cool enough to handle, remove and discard any skin and large chunks of fat. Shred or dice meat into small pieces. There should be about 14 to 16 cups of meat.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Stir in chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder and cumin. Add meat and stir to coat with oil and spices. Cook, stirring often, until meat is thoroughly heated, 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
Wrappers: While meat is cooking, soak husks in a large bowl of very warm water, until softened and pliable, about 2 hours. Gently separate husks into single leaves, trying not to tear them. Wash off any dust and discard any corn silks. Keep any shucks that split to the side, since two small pieces can be overlapped and used as one.

Corn Meal Dough

Stir cornmeal, baking powder, salt and lard together in a large bowl until well blended. Gradually stir in enough warm meat broth to make soft, spongy dough the consistency of thick mashed potatoes. The dough should be quite moist, but not wet. Cover with a damp cloth.
To assemble the tamales, remove a corn husk from water and pat it dry. Lay husk on a work surface. Spread about 1/4 cup of the dough in an even layer across the wide end of husk to within 1 inch of edges. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of meat mixture in a line down the center of dough. Roll husk so that dough surrounds filling and forms a cylinder or package. Fold bottom under to close. Place tamales in a single layer on a baking sheet. Repeat until all dough and filling is used.
Stand tamales upright, closed side down, in a large pot. Place enough tamales in the pot so that they do not fall over or unroll. Carefully fill pot with enough water to come just to the top of the tamales, trying not to pour water directly into the tamales. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until dough is firm and pulls away from the husk easily and cleanly, about 1 hour.
If you prefer to steam tamales, stand tamales upright, closed side down, in a large steamer basket. Cover with a damp towel or additional husks. Steam tamales over simmering water until dough is firm and pulls away from the husk easily and cleanly, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
Serve tamales warm, in their husks. Remove husks to eat.

The Time Machine (2002) Full Library Scene

Bullyproof

Submitted into Contest #115 in response to: Write a story where a device goes haywire.… view prompt

Rob H

Bullyproof

Cassie Swenson had always struggled with her weight. She had come to terms with it, and her group of friends were supportive. But moving to a new town and starting at a new school filled her with a dread she hadn’t felt for a long time. She recognized and remembered the fear of meeting an entirely new group of students.

She stood looking up at the school building, dreading walking inside. She forced a smile and began to walk up the stairs. You can do this, she said to herself as she reached for the handle of the door and hesitated.

When she was inside, she went to the principal’s office to get her class assignment and then walked slowly towards the room indicated on the list where her history class was located. She looked through the small pane of glass and saw the class was deep in discussion already.

With a deep sigh she opened the door and the entire class turned and looked at her. She walked up to the teacher and handed him the paper. Mr. Wilkins looked at the paper then at her and smiled slightly.

“Ok class, we have a new student. This is Cassandra Swenson,” he said almost too happily. She leaned in and whispered in his ear that she preferred Cassie. He smiled back and stood back up. “This is Cassie Swenson, please welcome her and make her feel at home.”

“Hello Cassie,” the entire class replied with much less enthusiasm.

“Hmm, very good,” Mr. Wilkins said blandly. “Umm ok, Cassie, please take a seat and feel free to join in anytime.”

She walked down the aisle to the only seat available towards the middle of the classroom as everyone watched her. She felt instantly like she was on display and hated it.

“Ok we were discussing the possible theories regarding the disappearance of the Jamestown Settlement, who has any new ideas that haven’t been addressed yet?” Mr. Wilkins asked brightly.

Debbie looked at Cassie and raised her hand. “Maybe they got eaten,” she said coldly. Everyone in the class laughed when they realized what she meant. Cassie turned away from her and shrank further in her chair.

Later in the cafeteria, she waited online when Stacy Beacham waved her over as she stood with Debbie closer to the front. “Here,” she said slyly, “you look like you need food more than we do, just try to save some for the rest of us.” Everyone on the line laughed as Cassie turned and walked away feeling totally humiliated.

After the day was over Cassie went straight home and ran up to her room. What a horrible day, she thought as she collapsed in her chair and looked at the blank screen. She quickly logged in and looked up ways to deal with bullies at school.

As she looked at the various websites that came up on the list, one stood out from the others. She hadn’t ever seen a web address like this before and the difference intrigued her. She hesitated for only a moment and clicked on the link. Her screen blinked and crackled for a moment. A warning came up on her screen from her virus protection. You are about to enter the dark web. Please be careful what information you share.

She thought for a moment and was about to click the button to close the website when her phone vibrated. She picked it up and looked at the message. There was a new posting on the school’s website.

Since the school is looking for a new mascot, it began, we have a proposal. There was a link to a picture underneath, and she instinctively clicked on it. The pic was very familiar. She recognized the features immediately. The shoulder-length brown hair, the glasses. The face was hers, but the body had been photoshopped into a pig’s body. We will name the new mascot Swineson, the caption under the picture read.

Her heart sank and her eyes welled up. She knew a new school would be hard, but she never expected this after just one day. She tossed her phone down and held her face in her hands trying to fight back the emotions.

As she removed her hands from her eyes, she glanced back at her computer screen. The warning was still flashing on the screen but behind it she saw the words, tired of being bullied? We can help. Without caring about the virus threat any longer she closed her security warning and clicked enter on the website.

Welcome to Bullyproof appeared on her screen in bold red letters. She entered her information to sign up as a member. As usual, she skipped over the fine print agreement. Those things are all the same, she scoffed as she clicked next.

A new screen came up asking her to choose her level of protection. A circle with a red line through it labeled standard, asked if she wanted to simply monitor any references to her name. Under that was a lightning bolt with the words next to it, delete any references to your name as soon as they are identified.

That’s better she thought to herself, but I don’t know. She continued to read and at the very bottom was a skull with the words next to it, Delete Posters.

Hmmm, she thought. Deleting the poster from my social media is probably the best way to deal with it. She clicked on the skull.

Her phone vibrated almost instantly. She picked it up and looked at it. The new app icon was right there in the middle of her main screen.

Bullyproof, you have selected maximum protection click to activate. She clicked on the icon and a scanning bar appeared. It began to fill up very slowly as the app scanned the internet for what it was looking for. It moved very slowly and underneath were the words, this may take a while.

After about an hour, she decided the day had caught up with her and she went to bed.

The clock next to her bed read 1:18 am, when her phone buzzed. The app has finished its scan. Preparing to initiate safety measures, the screen flashed. Instantly the signal from her phone contacted the satellites in orbit and bounced all over the town reaching out to any device that had a connection to any posting about Cassie. It found only two and accessed their information.

She woke in the morning and had almost forgotten that her phone was still searching when she grabbed it to check for any messages. The app indicated it had one match identified. She clicked on it and the picture of the pig came up and her heart sank again. Under the picture was a name. Posted by Deborah Stratton.

She thought for a moment, that was one of the girls in my history class. The name glared out at her and made her angry just seeing it. Click apply to delete poster, the app read under the name.

Without even thinking she clicked on the button and the skull’s eyes lit up bright red. Poster scheduled for deletion. It reached out across the electronic connections all over town and linked with Debbie’s phone.

Debbie stood in front of the principal’s desk waiting for him to say something as he read the report Mrs. Applewhite had filled out. “Well Miss Stratton,” he said with a sigh. “Since you like having fun in the cafeteria, you can help Mrs. Applewhite restock the freezer after school today,” Principal Lewis said stamping the paper on the desk in front of him and smiling

“Umm, it’s Friday,” Debbie snapped defensively.

“Very good, Miss Stratton, now that you know the days of the week, we’ll have you up to months of the year in no time,” Mr. Lewis said sarcastically as he handed her the paper.

“Ughh” she sighed. “My dad’s gonna hear about this,” she snapped and snatched the paper out of his hand. She quickly turned and stomped out of the office, slamming the door behind her. Mr. Lewis shook his head disappointedly as he watched her leave.

In the cafeteria, Debbie was watching Mrs. Applewhite stack the boxes on the shelf in the freezer. Suddenly the door closed causing Debbie to jump slightly.

“Don’t worry about that, it’s programmed to do that, so the cold doesn’t get out. But don’t worry, it won’t lock,” Mrs. Applewhite smiled. “This is a new state-of-the-art freezing unit, best in the district.”

“Ughh, I’m sure it’s the greatest if you have nothing else going on in your life,” Debbie sighed and rolled her eyes.

Mrs. Applewhite’s smile disappeared. “I know you’re young and think you’re very hot Miss Stratton, but that’s no reason to be so cold to people,” she said as she pushed the door open to get more food.

Debbie followed her out. “Can we please skip the ethics lesson and get this done so I can get out of here?” She asked impatiently.

“I have a better idea,” Mrs. Applewhite said with a smile returning to her face. “Why don’t you finish this, I’m going to go start my weekend. I don’t have to waste time on this kind of thing with a person like you. Finish this and then you can go,” she said grabbing her purse and walking out in a bit of a huff.

After about 20 minutes she looked at her watch, “Ughh, 6:30?” she sighed. She grabbed more of the boxes and walked into the freezer and was stacking them on the shelf when she heard the door close again making her jump again just a little and drop the boxes. “Stupid machine,” she said angrily as she picked them up and placed them on the shelf.

Her cellphone sprang to life on the counter outside and connected with the freezer unit. The lock was easy to access and was reprogrammed so it activated.

Inside the freezer, Debbie finished stacking the boxes and rubbed her arms to get some warmth back, it felt colder for some reason. She pushed on the door handle and expected it to open just as it had done so many times before, but it didn’t budge. She pushed again this time harder but still nothing.

Outside the freezer, the digital temperature reading was accessed by her phone and began to lower. It was now 0 degrees and was rapidly going down. It passed -10, then -20, then -30.

Inside the freezer, Debbie was pounding on the door but there was no one left in the cafeteria to hear. She was screaming as the temperature got colder and colder. She grabbed anything she could find to try to break the glass, but it was too thick. She saw ice crystals forming all along it and they began to obscure the view to the outside.

By the time the temperature reached -60, her hair and skin began to get covered with frost and the temperature still fell. She sat down getting very tired from the cold and before long fell asleep.

Within minutes the temperature reached -90 and her internal body began to freeze.

Saturday morning, Mrs. Applewhite walked in and found the rest of the boxes stacked on the counter. She shook her head and cursed as she saw Debbie’s cellphone on the counter. “Stupid girl,” she said grabbing the boxes. She pulled open the freezer door, which had previously returned to its original setting, and walked into the freezer.

She screamed as soon as she saw Debbie’s frozen body in the corner.

Cassie came down in the morning and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. It was 10:30 and she’d slept late since it was Saturday, and it was such a rough week. When she walked in her mother immediately hugged her tightly. “Oh honey, I’m so sorry,” she said with her voice trembling.

Cassie looked confused for a moment when she noticed the news on the laptop on the table. A picture of her school surrounded by ambulances and police cars filled the screen. “What happened?” she asked pulling away from her mother and getting closer to hear what was being said.

“Police still aren’t sure how the girl became trapped in the freezer, but it is being called a tragic accident,” the reporter said. “The unit was installed a few months ago and appears to be working fine at this time but it will be shut down until more extensive tests can be done. A candlelight vigil is being scheduled for this evening at the school. Once again repeating 16-year-old Deborah Stratton was found this morning frozen to death in a freezer at…”

“Oh my god,” Cassie shrieked and backed away from the screen. “I knew her, she’s in my history class and..” she caught herself when she remembered the app on her phone.

She raced upstairs and grabbed her phone and opened the app. User Deleted came up on the screen. She tossed the phone down and covered her mouth to hold in a scream. Oh my god, that’s impossible, she thought frantically. It must just be a coincidence.

Most of the school turned out for the vigil that evening. Cassie walked through the crowd, who largely ignored her now with everything that had happened. She noticed Stacy at the front of the line with tears running down her face.

“Stacy, I’m so sorry,” Cassie said as she reached out her arms to hug her for support.

“Ugh, get away,” Stacy said bitterly as she recoiled. “How can someone like you get to live and a beautiful person like Debbie dies so horribly.”

Cassie listened and couldn’t help feeling totally rejected. Inside her pocket, her phone sprang to life as the microphone picked up every word Stacy had said. Cassie turned and walked away slowly with her head hung. Maybe she was hurt and just lashing out, but maybe she was just always a mean person she thought to herself as she pulled out her phone to text her mother that she was on her way home.

She instantly noticed the 1 on the corner of the bullyproof app and clicked on it. The screen lit up with the display and played the recording of Stacy’s voice. One post discovered, the app read. Press apply for deletion.

She looked at it long and hard and listened to the recording again. The words stung more than before, but what if this app did have something to do with Debbie’s death, she thought.

She closed the app and shoved the phone back in her pocket and continued walking. After a few minutes, the phone chimed again and the 1 appeared back on the app. She opened it.

You are tired of being treated so badly, you do not have to stand for it, press apply for deletion, The app wrote.

Cassie thought about it and said “no, no one deserves to die just because of what they say”, she said aloud to the phone.

It will not stop, she will continue, press apply for deletion, the app responded and played the recording again.

Cassie’s blood began to boil. “It would be nice to not have to deal with it anymore,” she said softly.

Press apply for deletion, the app displayed.

She clicked on the skull and the eyes glowed red again as the app reached out and contacted Stacy’s phone. Cassie smiled slightly and shoved the phone back in her pocket and continued home.

Stacy left the vigil and climbed into her car and began driving home. As she approached the railroad crossing, she stopped as the lights flashed indicating that a train was coming. She sighed and waited impatiently.

Her phone sprang to life and connected with her car’s onboard computer. It quickly bypassed the braking system, and the car began to slowly roll forward. In a fit of panic, Stacy reached for the door handle just as the locks went down and sealed her inside. The car continued to roll onto the tracks as she struggled to get out.

She looked out the passenger window and noticed the train lights approaching from around the bend as she struggled to break the glass to get out. The engineer tried to apply the brakes as quickly as he could, but he had no time to stop by the time he had seen her car on the tracks.

The train slammed into her car at 50 MPH dragging it along the tracks in front of it before it finally burst into flames.

Cassie woke in the morning and came down for breakfast only to notice her mother white as a sheet. “I just can’t believe it,” she said as she looked up at Cassie. “Another girl from your school died last night after that candlelight vigil.”

“Once again,” the reporter on the screen said, “another girl, 17-year-old Stacy Beacham was killed last night when her car apparently stalled on the train tracks at Madison Street, this just after 16-year-old Deborah Stratton’s body was discovered at the town’s high school frozen to death in a freezer. Both are being called tragic accidents.”

Cassie looked at her mother, “oh it’s so horrible,” she said. She turned to go back upstairs and smiled a slight smile as she patted the phone in her pocket.

The Beverly Hillbillies – Special Part 27 | Classic Hollywood TV Series

https://youtu.be/TZuE9St9sYs

DOGE Finds Complete Corruption in U.S. Treasury – CANNOT TRACK PAYMENTS

Hal Turner Nation February 17, 2025

The Department of Government Efficiency has begun its audit of the United States Treasury and the level of institutionalized corruption is staggering: $4.7 TRILLION.

In the Treasury computer payment system, there is a field called the Treasury Access Symbol (TAS). It is an identification code linking a Treasury payment to a budget line item (standard financial process).

In the Federal Government, the TAS field was optional for ~$4.7 Trillion in payments and was often . . . left blank, making traceability almost impossible.

As a result of this field being left blank, a Treasury person could go into the computer, have it issue a check or Wire Transfer for almost any amount, payable to literally anyone, anywhere, or anything – or nothing – and there is no way to trace the budget item or agency that is supposed to authorize and pay for it.

Just one HUGE pile of money going wherever they tell it to go, with no way to trace why.

As of Saturday, this is now a required field, increasing insight into where money is actually going.

INTERVIEW: Cruising for a severe bruising

Is China really as terrible as BBC says it is?

BBC is known as British Bullshit Channel the world over! I have a confession to make Up to a decade ago I would tuned on to BBC world service channel when I travel down south from Kuala lumpur towards Singapore without fail. I am an English Educated person who graduated in UK umpteenth years ago and I still feel comfortable with the British accents and loved to hear some creative journalism!

Yes you may want to know about the BBC world service? It was meant to quell communism and indoctrinate Singaporean and Southern Malayan peninsular people from the colonial days. Somehow Singapore allowed them to function till today. As I began searching for truths and facts I find it hilarious that every single word coming out from BBC on China is a hateful narrative is nothing but an outright lie and it is twisted to suite the Anglo Saxon narrative. Some decades ago I totally turned and tuned off from BBC.

It is really shameful and pathetic attempt to slur and demonised China and the Chinese race! I am sure I am not the only one who feels that way about BBC reporting. Last week I saw a podcast that exposed a BBC reporter intentionally baiting relatives of the victim of a disgruntled man due to his divorce proceedings at the time when many people were grieving. It is so heartbreaking to see the man calling him and his videographer from reporting and filming being turned by BBC into a purported police officer hiding truths.

The world must stop BBC doing shit against innocent people worldwide and throw their reporters to 30 years imprisonment each to teach them a lesson. L laws should be passed to sentence them to death for their crimes against humanity.

About A Girl

Submitted into Contest #115 in response to: Write a story where a device goes haywire.… view prompt

Philip Dmitriev

«Look, I understand… yes… yes… but I don’t have any money right now… Yes, I understand… Look, let’s discuss it in person, it’s not convenient over the phone…»

Henry didn’t have time to finish the sentence, the phone slipped out of his wet hands and fell right down the drain.

«Wonderful… beautiful rain. How I love this rain!»

***

“Mom, I’m home,” Henry said.

“Hey, how was your day?”

“It was a good day, but I drowned my phone.”

“What did you say? What are you going to do now? How are you going to live without it?”

“I don’t know, but I think I’ll be fine.”

“Are you going somewhere with your friends tomorrow, aren’t you? How are you going to keep in touch with me and the others?” my mom asked.

“I’ll text them on the computer, but I don’t know, I don’t have the money for a new phone.”

“All people are like people, except you” Mom concluded.

***

It was a sunny afternoon when Henry met up with his friends. They were going to visit one of the ancient World War II fortresses.

“That’s funny, and how are you going to be without a phone now?”

“Look, I don’t know, people lived somehow, so I’m gonna try.”

“Henry, for God sake, do not get lost, because the fortress is big, a lot of museums, halls and places. How are we going to find you?”

“All right, do not worry, mates” Henry replied.

“If you get lost, you know where our car is,” concluded one of the friends.

The fortress was truly unique and rich in historical events. Ancient fortress walls with bullet marks, traces from former trenches, memorials and monuments. The old bunker attracted the most Henry’s attention. Henry reached into his pocket automatically for his phone. Missed.

“Oh, right… Okay, there will be no photos..damn” thought Henry.

The first museum, the second, the crowds of tourists with cameras, phones, headphones, one thing led to another, and Henry did not notice how he lost his friends in the crowd. Attempts to find them were unsuccessful and Henry continued to explore the fortress alone.

As he walked out of one enclosure onto the street, Henry smiled at the sunny day and clear weather and then decided to walk to the most important place of this fortress. The place was popular because it had the most beautiful view of the main entrance to the fortress, with a large square and a memorial to the fallen defenders.

Today, the place was a welcome sight for everyone. Everyone but Henry. Lost in the crowd of friends, he stood in despair, watching all the people who came up, posed, took pictures, laughed and left. Henry lost track of time, his thoughts drifting off into that universe where he probably has a phone at this point to call his friends, find them, and then take a photo together. This effect lasted until the most beautiful voice, comparable to that of Lana Del Rey in the song “Summertime Sadness” called out to him and then tapped him on the back.

Henry turned around.

“Excuse me, aren’t you busy, can you take a picture of me?”

Henry froze, as did everything inside him. All feelings, emotions, thoughts, and heartbeats froze and stopped responding in an instant. There was a dead silence. But in a second, they were all waking up again at an accelerated pace. The most frantic pace of Henry’s life. The moment stretched for him like an eternity of the universe.

“Hey, are you here?” a girl asked.

Standing in front of him was a girl his age, bright as an angel, a little shorter than him, with a beautiful smile. This kind of smile we have of remembering the kindest and the coziest stories of our lives.

“You sleep standing up, don’t you?” she asked and laughed.

“No, no, no, who am I? Not at all! Just wondering…” suddenly came back to life Henry

“Will you take a picture of me?” she asked again, smiling.

“Yeah, sure, no problem.”

“Then here you go,” she handed him the phone.

“Are you ready?” asked Henry.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

He took a few pictures after that she walked quickly over to him and took the phone.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome, why not selfies?”

“I don’t like selfies. Who isn’t sick of them yet?”

“That’s right,” Henry pointed out.

For a moment there might have seemed to be an awkward pause between them, but the girl quickly cleared it with a question:

“Why are you standing here alone? Let’s take your picture too” she said and smiled.

Henry was embarrassed.

“Yeah, that’s not a bad idea, but I don’t have anything.”

“What do you mean?” she asked

“I mean…I don’t have-”

She interrupted him.

“Oh, I see, you don’t have a phone or a camera?”

“Yeah, I’m empty.”

“Well that’s weird, he’s standing in the middle of a museum where crowds of tourists come, but he doesn’t have a phone or even a camera. How did this even happen?” she thought to herself

“Life. This is life. It’s just my fun life. Yes, Henry, that’s how it happens. You show up at a museum without your phone, and it’s the kind of day a story happens to you that no one would believe. It’s just embarrassing, what will she think of me? How embarrassing,” Henry thought to himself.

“Look, it’s nothing, let’s take pictures on my phone and then I’ll send them to you, okay? Don’t you have a profile somewhere?” she said.

“Oh…that would be great! Yeah, sure, I have a profile.”

After taking a couple of pictures, Henry walked over to her.

“What’s your name by the way? My name is Henry.”

“Alice” she smiled, moving her glance from the phone screen to Henry.

“Nice to meet you.” Henry smiled

“Me too.” She laughed

Both looked at each other with a smile, and then Henry told her the name of his profile where she could send him pictures.

***

Henry spent more than four hours that day in the fortress, walking from one enclosure to the next, researching all the details and historical references. All this, unfortunately for him, could not be said of Henry’s friends. They had finished their tour of the fortress much earlier and were each beginning to wonder:

Where is Henry?

The boys spent about two hours looking for Henry, they broke up one by one and then walked together again conducting a search for their friend. They had no chance of finding Henry, but their conscience would not allow them to leave him here and go away on their own.

After a while they simply gave up and went back to the car, where Henry was supposed to go in case he was lost. It was early evening and the crowds of people were changing one by one, and they all sat and waited until Henry appeared on the horizon:

“Henry!” shouted one of the friends.

“Coming,” retorted Henry.

“And you think that’s okay?” inquired the friend.

“I’m sorry, guys, for what happened.”

“We had plans today and besides this fortress, and you’ve been there all day, you think that’s okay, don’t you?”

“I understand, it’s my fault. But-”

“No buts, you’re an egotist who thinks only of himself. We’ve been all over the place, where have you been?” insisted one of the friends.

“I’ve been everywhere,” said Henry.

“I have no words, we just wasted a day on that fortress because of you. What was there to look at for so long? Say what?!”

“I’m really sorry,” replied Henry sadly.

“You don’t have a phone, how did you imagine we’d find you? Tell me, how?”

“I don’t know…”

“If you had your phone with you, things would be different, you know? We’ve spent so much time looking for you, you only think of yourself. You could have called us, told us you still wanted to walk around here, we would have come back for you later. It would have been so easy if you had a phone,” one of the friends concluded angrily.

***

Thus ended Henry’s first day without a phone. The first day and already such a ridiculous situation. The thought crawled deeper and deeper into his head that it was impossible to live without a phone nowadays. The only problem was that no one asked him, he just didn’t have a phone anymore. And he didn’t have one in the plans either.

The only bright spot was his introduction to Alice. In a moment of conflict with his friends, he didn’t find a moment to tell them all about it. A couple or three days passed, and Henry was actively chatting with Alice by his computer. The days were approaching Friday, and Henry wanted to see her again, so he decided to ask Alice to meet with him.

***

For several days he thought the idea over. He chose the right words, chose the best day to meet, and finally gathered the strength to ask Alice out. It wasn’t an easy task for a guy like Henry. He was afraid. Especially afraid of getting rejected. Pulling himself together, he opened the chat and wrote to her.

“Hey, Alice, wanna ask something. What are you doing tonight?” asked Henry.

“Busy right now, not at home, but I’ll be free tonight, why are u asking that?”

“I’m going out tonight, will you come with me?” inquired Henry

“Good idea, I’m in” she replied

Henry was incredibly happy that things were working out so well. He was not the kind of guy who found new acquaintances easily, so at this moment he was overwhelmed with a feeling of happiness, and his lungs were even more greedily absorbing the air filled with joy.

“What time would be convenient for you and where?” asked Henry

“I dunno, up to you.”

“How about 10 p.m. at the cinema?” suggested Henry.

“Fine, that’s fine.”

This Friday was going to be legendary in his life. The happiness of spending an evening with a girl he liked had not visited him in a long time in his life.

“Oh, wait, Henry, are you still without your phone?” asked Alice.

“Well yeah, I’m without it.”

“And how are we going to meet up? And what happened with your phone?”

“Look, I’ll just come to the movie theater at 10 p.m., and then I’ll tell you why I don’t have my phone.”

“Okay, but how will I see u there?” she kept asking.

“I’ll be standing right in front, you’ll see me, it’s okay” reassured her Henry

“But if I get there and you’re not there… I don’t know what I’ll do to you!” wrote Alice.

Such a message surprised Henry. A girl who writes in that style is hardly going to not come.

“Do not worry, I won’t screw it up”

Evening was beginning to creep closer and closer to the city. The big red and tired sun reflected in the windows of the high-rise buildings, and the streets were filled with the Friday atmosphere and the people who breathed it. Most of them had made their way to their homes to begin the long-awaited weekend, others had left their apartments in hopes of spending this Friday night at its best. Such was Henry this time.

The pillars called “evening” had been over the city for several hours and night with darkness were stretched on them.

At that moment, anyone who wanted to see farther than the windows of the house across the street could see Henry, who had foreseen all his excitement and had left the house beforehand, so as not to be late in any way.

He bought a bus ticket, which he usually never did in his life, and went to the cinema.

He managed to get there thirty minutes early. During the ride, he stopped worrying perceptibly and got his thoughts together.

Everything was perfect.

The back of the movie theater was hidden in the night and only its facade was illuminated by lanterns under which one could see posters. Henry asked someone what time is it and began to wait.

On the door of the movie theater was written, “Open from 10 a.m to 10 p.m”

That was his reference point.

When the movie theater would close – Alice would have to come.

Time passed, and Henry walked from side to side down the lonely street. People were watching a movie at the cinema, so there were no people outside the cinema, except for one guy besides Henry.

After a while he turned to Henry.

“Listen, do you have Internet on your phone? I really need it.”

Henry turned around.

“Nope, sorry.”

It was ten o’clock and the movie theater closed. The lights that illuminated the posters turned off.

Alice was running late.

It was at this point that Henry’s sense of longing overwhelmed him. From standing around like a fool for more than thirty minutes to the fact that he had no phone.

“Why don’t I have a phone at such an important time? Why?! This life is full of surprises. How wonderful it is. I have no words. If I had my phone, I’d text or call her right now. Find out why she’s late, maybe she’s not coming at all. I mean, she was going to come. I was sure of it. What went wrong? How much longer would I have to stand? Maybe she took my invitation as a joke. Is she just laughing at me? I still don’t believe she’s not coming. I’ll keep waiting.” pondered Henry to himself.

In the toothless darkness he could only see the light from the phone held by the guy who had asked Henry about the Internet.

Henry, on the other hand, stood without any light in the dead silence.

That same legendary Friday was almost ruined.

“Look, are you waiting for someone or what?” the guy suddenly asked Henry.

To say that Henry was surprised by the question is to say nothing.

He tried to answer something.

“Yeah…you could say that.”

“Can I give you the phone? You can call to.” the guy suggested.

That’s certainly a good suggestion. Especially if you have a number. Her number.

“Thanks, but I don’t remember the number,” replied Henry.

The guy didn’t give up. Something moved him to help Henry. Something unknown. Maybe it was Lady Luck.

“I caught some internet, maybe you’ll write then?” the guy didn’t back down.

“No, thank you very much, but that won’t help.”

Henry couldn’t remember the address of her social networking page. It was a failure.

“What time is it?” asked Henry.

“10:24,” replied the guy.

“Thank you,” said Henry.

Henry looked around the street and realized: Alice was not coming.

This was the end. A sense of sadness and longing drowned not only this Friday night, but also Henry’s heart and feelings. All the organs inside clenched in horror at the sadness that filled Henry’s entire body.

He doesn’t care anymore about all these decorations and colors of such a beautiful evening. All he wanted now was to disappear. Disappear into the world.

Early the next morning Henry left the city and went to the village to visit his grandmother for a few days. To go somewhere where life without a telephone might not have the consequences that had happened to him during that week.

***

Returning home a couple of days later, still without his phone, Henry turned on his computer and saw a message from Alice.

“I am so sorry, Henry, but I overslept! Forgive me.”

He smiled.

Machine Guns vs.Tanks Full Battle Scene | Fury

Donald Trump has no legal authority whatsoever to impose a 25% tariff on anyone, let alone our closest trading partners. So, why is Trump saying he’s going to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico the day he enters office?

Understand why Trump 2.0 imposes tariff.

The big picture: US economy is “in trouble”. Its debts is skyrocket high at #36 tn as of 2024/11. Just paying interest on the debts already costs USA $882 billion in 2024 ie $3 bn per DAY (source: US Treasury Dept). Its debt increases by $8.7 bn per 24 hours.

USA makes tons of $$$ from wars. But wars only benefit MIC & Wall Street. Not USA the country because the rich dont pay tax. Hence USA must rob others, regardless allies or not.

Below is my earlier post.

Trump 2.0’s crazily high tariff on ALL foreign countries = rob & force them to feed USA.

Have you seen a mafia in movies such as God Father?

Inside USA, tariff on foreign country = tax increase on Americans because foreign sellers will add (part of) the tariff to the sale price of their exported goods to USA.

In Trump 1.0, 90% of tariff was added to the sale price by foreign sellers. That is 1 reason why there was inflation in USA in Trump 1.0 & Biden era.

In both Trump 1.0 & 2.0, Trump has & will decrease tax to attract votes. How to recover the loss of revenue incurred from tax decrease? Use tariff to cause inflation so that all Americans pay a bit ie use tariff to disguise tax increase.

Analysts suggest countries to fight back & break even. Trump tariffs on imports to USA; countries tariffs on exports to USA with the same amount. Dont feed the robber-mafia.

We must understand: 60% tariff on Chinese imports & 20% on smaller countries is crazily unreasonable. Not many firms can make 60% of profit. Not even 20% for small firms/countries. Nobody will do business with no profit. Thus, decouple & stop/reduce sale to USA is the only option.

In fact, decoupling may be the plan of Trump 2.0. Trump may want USA to start all over again by manufacturing its own products from toilet paper to Trump’s campaign cap to washer etc. Trump wants everything to be made in USA.

US wage is higher than southeast Asia. That is Made-in-USA is more expensive. Trouble is whether USA will increase the wage to catch up with the inflated consumer products. Otherwise Americans will become poorer.

Trump 1.0 failed to attract US investors back to USA. Some still stayed in China. Some moved from China to, say, Thailand to do a finish touch on the Chinese products. This disguise of made-in-Thailand products also pushes up the American consumer price.

Let us watch Trump 2.0 to roll out.

Some picture from my archives

Isn’t it a bluff that Trump can exclude trade with China and India from the US ‘wonderful’ market? If there are going to be trade in a currency other than USD in BRICS, they are already being done

Trump’s statements are made for Americans to hear; they are the only constituency he cares about because they are the only ones who can vote for him and hold him accountable.

The truth is that outside the US, markets in Asia, Africa and central and south America and Mexico are all growing. This means that the US market is becoming a small pie slice of the overall global trade market.

In Trump’s first term, he decided to use tariffs as a weapon to limit Chinese imports into the US. Even though they have not been effective in limiting Chinese imports into the US, both Trump and Biden kept them in place. Trump has said that in his second term, he will raise the import tariffs. In effect, he is doubling down on a policy which doesn’t work. This strongly suggests that the US has no effective tools to counter Chinese imports into the US.

In order to counter US trade policy, China is aggressively working to grow domestic consumer spending and to diversify to other growing markets outside of the NATO/EU nations and the US and Canada.

While Americans have an obsession with “bluffing” as a negotiation strategy, it does not work well with Chinese because Chinese will inevitably call the bluff. I assume the only reason Americans embrace bluffing so much is because it is widely used in American culture and in some other cultures.

But it does not work well with Chinese because they are willing to wait out the party doing the bluffing before they move in for the final dispatch. The Chinese always take the long view on disputes and have the patience to see something through to the end, which is a strategy Americans do not have experience dealing with in the past.

This is one reason why Americans get so frustrated that their tactics don’t work with the Chinese. The US political leadership has not yet figured out that the only way to counter the Chinese long view is to also adopt an American long view, but they are too internally divided to reach any consensus on what an American long view would look like.

The Mask | Love In This Club

TOP SOCIAL SECURITY CHIEF OUSTED AFTER BLOCKING DOGE FRAUD INVESTIGATION

Hal Turner Nation February 17, 2025

Acting Commissioner Michelle King exits the Social Security Administration after refusing to give the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to agency records needed to investigate potential fraud.

She’s replaced by Leland Dudek, who previously praised DOGE’s efficiency efforts.

This follows similar departures at Treasury and IRS as career bureaucrats resist fraud investigations.

King had been at the agency since 1994 — until now.

Who are the winners and losers in the U.S.-China trade war? Will everyone ultimately lose, and if so, who will suffer the most and why?

China don’t and won’t lose if the US carries on the trade war!

If the trade war reduce China’s growth form 6.5% to 5.0% It is only making Growth more sustainable and more manageable.

But while it may do that it is also cutting US growth by 2.5% to 1% and that for a nation with debts of 36 trillion dollars growing at 1 trillion dollars every quarter very unsustainable and it will destroy the USA!

So bring it on any day!

The world will have a market without the US overconsumption and that is a good thing not a bad proposition.

But your homelessness will grow so will unemployment and poverty!

Real income will come crashing down!

Inflation will hit 25% per annum at least!

You will waste resources producing stuffs you are not good at while wasting opportunities doing stuffs you ought to focus on!

Who is the loser, you can answer it yourself!

Why is Donald Trump continuously slamming high tariff rates on China? Does it benefit the USA in any way?

Driven by a staunch belief that a trade war is beneficial for America, Donald Trump’s strategy of imposing high tariffs on China arises from a deep misunderstanding of the complexities of global economic dynamics. By applying his notorious tough negotiation tactics—historically used in his business dealings to pressure smaller contractors—Trump now applies the same brute force in the sphere of international trade. Unfortunately, this approach dramatically oversimplifies the intricate nature of international relations and economic interdependence.

Trump’s tariff strategy is essentially his attempt to leverage what he perceives as America’s superior economic position to force China into submission. During his business career, Trump often bullied his way through negotiations, betting on the other party’s weaker position to secure a favorable outcome. He seems to believe that a similar approach will work on the global stage with a nation like China. However, this strategy fails to account for China’s significant economic capabilities and its political leadership’s resolve to not bend under U.S. pressure.

The ongoing imposition of high tariffs by Trump reflects his misjudgment of the situation—treating international trade like a zero-sum game where one country’s gain is inherently another’s loss. Unlike the small businesses he dealt with in New York, China has considerable economic clout and political strategies at its disposal. This includes the ability to impose retaliatory tariffs that deeply affect both economies, exemplified by disruptions witnessed in sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing within the U.S.

Moreover, tariffs, which are effectively taxes, not only affect the targeted foreign industries but also hurt domestic consumers and businesses. American consumers face higher prices, and businesses dealing with increased costs for imported goods find themselves less competitive, both domestically and globally. The retaliatory measures from China have also targeted critical segments of the American economy, from soybean farmers to electronics, illustrating a ripple effect that spans vast economic landscapes.

The truth is, while Trump aims to display unwavering strength and decisiveness, his tariff tactics could ultimately weaken the U.S. economy and degrade its political stature on the global stage. Navigating this tariff war requires more than bluster and intimidation—it needs a strategic understanding of global economic relationships and a more diplomatic approach to resolve conflicts in ways that mutually benefit all involved parties. The approach should prioritize long-term global stability over short-term political gains, a strategy that would genuinely reflect strength and wise leadership.

Cast Away – ending

For those of you Navy pilots who flew both the F-14 and F-18, which one did you like better, and why?

I have over 1,000 hours in the Tomcat and perhaps 450 hours in the Hornet. My Tomcat time was largely operational. My Hornet time was all in flight test. Some days I would fly one bird in the morning and another one if the afternoon or evening.

The Hornet was newer, and newer is often better. I could only pull 6.5g in the Tomcat, but in the Hornet when I burnt my fuel down a bit, I could go to 7.5g. The F404 engine in the Hornet was far better than the TF-30 that we had in the Tomcat and I never had to worry about a compressor stall with the F404. I should know as I did a lot of the initial out-of-control flight test on the 2 seat Hornet where I would intentionally depart the airplane from controlled flight.

The engines never even hiccupped at all. The Hornet was far more nimble than the Tomcat, but the Hornet did not have the range, endurance or speed of a Tomcat. Each was designed for a different mission.

I would often say to colleagues that in peacetime, I loved the agile Hornet. But were I to go into combat, I would much rather be in the Tomcat. My RIO and I were a great team. Having that extra set of eyes was invaluable.

One afternoon, my wingman and I engaged a pair of Libyan MIG23s. During the engagement, I lost sight of one of the MIGs. While I kept my eyes on the Libyan in front of me, I knew my RIO could help me to get my eyes on the other MIG. That extra set of eyes is invaluable when all hell breaks loose.

If China is near collapse, why has Congress allocated 1.6B for anti-China propaganda?

That is a very good question for asking. Why stop Huawei when China is not innovative and backward in innovation and steal technology? Why containing China if China is truly dying from Lack of child birth and slowing population? Why badmouth China using monies you bare have! if they are real bad, won’t the truth hurts?

US behaviour don’t add up! If it says US is an exceptional nation why do you need to badmouth China and knee cap it? If China’s product is so inferior why do you need to put tariffs on them? If China is weak why do you need to spend like a drunken sailor on weapons and why patrol South China seas? If you say Taiwan hate China why do you need to encourage them to be independent?

If the US really believed in Chinese doing genocide on the Muslims in China why worry about their influence in the Middle East? If you really thinks Hong Kongers are protesting on their own why pay hard cas at protest street corners using CIA and M16 monies? If the US says it is still the head honcho why bother about China?

If USD is so great why worry about BRICS? Why are your senators talking about Dedollarisation? They got nothing better to do? If you think India is really your friend and you include them in QUAD why are you upset they buy Russian weapons and energy? If Vietnam is really your friend why is your media trouble making and war mongering in Vietnamese people over China? If Russia is just a gas station masquerading as a nation why do you need long range missile? If Russia is losing as you say why do you need to send 50 billion every other months to Ukraine?

If you say Europe is all in at confronting Russia, why bad mouth Hungary? If Mexicans are rapist and robbers why threaten Mexicans? If China is so weak and you are so strong why bother with Chinese artificial islands and its power projections?

Heartbreak Ridge | We’re Going To War, Men

What screams “I can fight”?

I was sitting in a bar, with a kind of bad rep, having a beer with a couple of guys from work. Across the room are 3 guys standing at the bar. One them is big, about 6′4″ & 260/270. They’re a little boisterous.

Guy comes out of the men’s room in the back. He’s wearing work clothes & looks like he used them hard that day. He’s kind of “chunky.” I don’t mean he’s fat, though there’s a bit there. He looks like he’s put together with chunks & blocks & slabs. He’s about 5′ 9or10″ & 180. (Probably more, this guy works hard.) He has a little shuffle in his walk it’s been a hard day. He heads for the door.

Big guy steps back & bumps into smaller guy. Smaller guy steps aside & excuses himself & tries to continue. Big guy grabs his shoulder & spins him around.

There’s no hesitation. Little guy steps inside, grabs big guy’s lapels & slams their faces together twice. HARD!

Blood flows. Little guy turns, grabs a handful of napkins off the bar & goes out the door. Nobody follows him.

Could he fight? Oh hell yeah! How did I know it wasn’t his first rodeo? That handful of napkins.

How did the Chinese advance so much in software development in such a short time leaving the Indians behind?

I believe LANGUAGE was the primary reason

The Chinese had a 1.4 Billion consumer market for software including a 200 Million Middle Class in 2010 of whom almost 80% couldn’t understand or converse in English

Apart from a few major players , Western Software players couldn’t write or sell software packaged to interact with the end users in Mandarin

So there were two options for the Mainlanders

A. Learn English rapidly across 200–250 Million people OR

B. Create your own Software products packaged to interact in Chinese & Mandarin

So China created it’s own range of software products packaged in Chinese for its population

Initially they used the same layout formatting and designs of Western Products and produced “RIP OFFS” as the West called them

Then they found that writing code in English also needed a lot of graduates who had to speak the language

So they decided to start developing their own High Level Languages using Chinese to write the code rather than English

main qimg 743beb9a2ee9f83d4df2e121bbff66de

First they wrote their own Editors

Then they created their own languages in programming and ecosystems

As Aravind Varier says – Once you go into your language, innovation is more rapid and more faster

main qimg 02d392e2dfa2ae9957cdf54ee03abffb

Added to Chinas Digital Revolution & the 5G wave – it was inevitable that Chinese Developers became among the best in the world

Plus Chinese aren’t Indians

Rather than calling themselves Silicon Valley, they are still on a learning curve

They aim for 65% of Codes for Software Products to be written in Chinese Developed Languages by 2030

Today it’s only 22%

Almost 78% Code is still written in Java or Python or other Western Languages with Chinese Editors developed by Chinese Players

To summarize

A. They had the market

B. They needed Software in their own language to keep up with the modern world

C. They had a State run system that subsidized all development

D. They had enough money

India didn’t have that demand that China had

It was easier to ensure every Middle Class Indian learnt English than to start investing heavily in developing software products capable of interacting in Tamil or Telugu or Bengali

So we simply purchased Western products than develop our own

There was no need to

The Chinese needed to develop their own products because THEIR CONSUMERS DIDN’T KNOW ENGLISH

Our Consumers knew English pretty well

So the burning demand to develop Indian Software Products was not there

We didn’t have a unique market like the Chinese did where there would be NO COMPETITION from Microsoft or other players

If we created a software product, it had to compete with a Western equivalent and they had more money and a full ecosystem

Plus of course we had a poorer form of Government and that didn’t help

Scott Ritter : How Close to Nuclear War?

ATM

Submitted into Contest #115 in response to: Write a story where a device goes haywire.… view prompt

Kendall Defoe

It began at the local variety store.Overnight, someone or some company installed a portable ATM on the front stoop of Michael’s Convenience Store. Old Man Michael, who only opened the store on weekdays, did not see what happened on the previous weekend. He did not remember placing a call to have it put there, and he knew that there was still a local bank that had their machines “well up and robbing us” (as he said to any of the familiar customers who asked about it). There was no phone or serial number on it (he looked around it twice), but he could see that it was connected to the main power grid – not taking power from his store and raising his bills, he thought – and he left it there, untouched and he was unimpressed. Let them charge whatever they want if people are that dumb. He opened his store and waited to see if he would have to explain what was going on outside.It took a few days before anyone noticed what was going on. A local trucker, Matt, decided to not use “those damn debit cards all the time, if he didn’t haveta,” and took out some money for cigarettes. After he got his $20 – with no service fee; nice, he thought – the machine gave him his card…and an extra $100. He looked over the slip that popped out. No, not from his account. That was all the machine. A beautiful hundred dollar bill was resting on the tray. Guess I got lucky. He did not bother to go in for the cigarettes that night. He could hit a liquor store later and maybe see if there was a good place to eat on his route.Matt did not share his good luck, but others soon figured out what the machine could do. A group of kids, right out of school and waiting to see if there were any adults around to buy them cigarettes noticed the machine right away. One of them started to press a couple of buttons while they were trying to hide from Old Man Michael and his curiosity. That was David, the son of a local carpenter who was having trouble with his bills. And, without a card of any kind, the machine gave him a clean and unwrinkled $50. Pretty soon, they all took their turn on it, grabbing $20s and $10s and a few more $50 before the owner came out with his dog, a really nasty old terrier, and threatened to “rip them a new one” if they did not leave. But they were done. The machine hummed in the soft light of the store and street lamps.A week after the machine was installed, it became the talk of the small town. Kids knew that they could get money out of it without using a card, a secret that worked out well for the local schools until one girl snitched when her mother found her new cell phone and demanded to know how she paid for it. Soon, it was declared off limits to anyone “under the age of 18”. At a town hall meeting held after this law was passed, many wanted to know how they would enforce the law if the machine was plugged in and ran all day. No one wanted to argue about this, and Old Man Michael did not want to lose any business provided by the new machine. They all adjourned and wondered if there was some reason why this was happening in their small town.It was easy to see what some of the problems would be with a machine that spat out money every time you needed some (or did not really need any of it). After a month of the machine in their town, it was impossible to ignore certain signs. One thing that a few store owners did not like was the fact that the local teens did not want to work part-time for what they paid. It was at the end of the school term for both elementary and secondary schools. Some of the local college kids would also stay on, but they only did so if they could find work. Or money. Parents knew that their kids were taking money from the machine and were upset. At least, most of them were. A few were relieved not to have to let their sons and daughters out there looking for jobs cleaning out homes of certain people (there were a few stories about the Pattersons, especially that uncle who was always around for the holidays, staring at the local girls from the high school). Others were just glad that they would not have to hand over allowances for late nights of missing cars, calls from the local police or neighbours who had very familiar scenes on their front lawns and backyards. Mrs. Murray had a son away at school and when she revealed what happened in the town, he told her that he would be at home that summer and maybe for few other summers, too. The mayor decided to let the machine stay running, but it was growing into a problem. It was a problem that he was hearing more and more about.At the bank, tellers noticed that they were busier than ever before. It seemed that people did not want to use any of the other local banking machines. A rumour began to spread that the money would not be accepted in the ATMs provided for the community (all three of the machines left for the town). The companies that built the machines contacted the bank manager, Mr. Dennison, who in turned told his staff that they would be on reduced hours until the machines were in use again (a few people threatened to quit; some had already made quite a bit of money from the new machine). Mr. Dennison, in the middle of a bad breakup and looking at his tax return, decided to call the mayor. They had been friends since grade school, sharing the same bus when they went to the high school and even dating each other siblings (Maura was the one breaking Mr. Dennison’s heart; why didn’t Martin tell me what she was really like, he thought). The mayor had a moment to himself before he decided what to do.

It was another town meeting, but reserved for certain people who had a vested interest in putting things back to normal. The mayor invited the chief of police (his brother, another Patterson, kept an eye on who entered the office), Mr. Dennison (of course), certain vice-principals and principals (strange to see them at this time of day), certain business owners (including Old Man Michael, who never showed up), and a few others that could be trusted. It was not official. It was not on the record. And it was not held at city hall.

It was a very private meeting.

They waited for the weekend and then set out late on a Friday night to finally fix things. They all decided to walk in the darkness to the store and see if there were any potential witnesses before they began. In the dim street lights, they could see no traffic. Matt complained that they could have done all of this with his truck if they had just listened to him (he wanted to show off the new vehicle he had bought that month). They ignored him, as they ignored the chief of police’s calling for them to do it quickly before he had to arrest them (the other Pattersons in the group laughed out loud).

The lights were out over the store. Had Old Man Michael left without anyone noticing? That did not seem possible, and as they got closer, they had to agree that even if it was impossible, it had happened. There was no car in his yard (he never seemed to use the money for buying a new one or repairing what he had). Even the lights in front of the store were off (where were his security lights, thought Mr. Dennison out loud; he always had them working). If they had been on, they would have noticed what they could not see from a distance.

The ATM was gone.

The mayor ran ahead of the group, sweating with the effort and dropping his wire cutters as he saw the scratches on the wooden boardwalk. Everyone noticed that the cable that hooked up the machine to the city grid was cut through and left as a reminder of what was once there. They walked around the store property, looking through some of the nearby forest where they could see no trace of any struggle with such an awkward machine. The best guess was that Michael had taken the machine and decided to skip out of town with “his own personal moneymaker” (the mayor really did not like Matt, but he admitted he must have been right). They noted the time, went home, and decided to not talk about what they had done that night.

The summer ended, kids went back to school, and Old Man Michael’s store stayed closed. It was later taken over by a well-known discount chain store. If they had been paying attention, they would have known that this was the real problem that they should have been concerned about, not a machine handing out money. But they shopped there all the same, wondering what happened to the machine that they now missed. And also Old Man Michael, who had taken his share of money, decided to leave, and was almost forgotten by the town. It was just fortunate that the ATM was forgotten by the company, despite being listed as “a brave experiment in money distribution” by certain executives testing the water in various small towns in the country. They would have found the whole process quite fascinating.

Chicken and Dressing Casserole

Ingredients

1 cup thinly chopped celery
1 large onion, thinly chopped
1/2 stick butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can chicken broth
4 chicken breasts
2 to 3 teaspoons sage
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Make one 8 inch square pan of cornbread the day before.
Cook chicken pieces in water with salt and pepper until done. Cool, then cut into small pieces.
Cook celery and onion in butter until tender. Crumble cornbread into large bowl.
Mix celery and onion and chicken pieces all together with cornbread.
Mix all 3 soups into the mixture.
Add up to 3 teaspoons sage, salt and pepper to taste. Pour into large baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees F until done, about 30 minutes, until lightly browned on top.
Serve with chicken gravy ladled over servings, with cranberry sauce on the side.

This is a must watch video!

This video is in its original quality: 1080p.

What happens when AI turns Elon Musk into a Kung Fu master from the Ming Dynasty? 🥋⚔️

You get THIS wild viral sensation that’s got Chinese social media buzzing! 🎤

“I’ll sack those the government fears to sack. I’ll handle what they can’t—and even what they won’t!”

This AI-generated masterpiece blends tech, history, and humor into one unforgettable video.

The internet can’t stop talking about Musk’s “department of government efficiency” energy in this hilarious parody.

Which is the most admired country now that the USA has become such a laughingstock to the world?

China.

China is admired and respected by most countries, especially in the Global South. (The Global South represents more than 85% of humanity.)

Why is China so admired? Five principal reasons:

China underwent the most amazing economic miracle in human history. It grew from total impoverishment to become the world’s largest economy (by PPP) in only 35 years!
China is the most peaceful world power. It has fought no wars since 1979.
China is helping most of the countries in the world through the Belt and Road Initiative. They are extremely grateful for China’s assistance.
China’s unique form of democracy garners the highest level of support from the Chinese people. It works much better than Western liberal democracy.
China is the most technologically advanced nation on earth. It leads the world in 57 out of 64 critical technology fields. It is granted more patents than the USA and Japan combined!

Prosperity. Peace. Benevolence. Democracy. Technology. China ticks all the boxes for the most admired country.

China is a better country than the USA by every measure.

Apocalypto jaguar vrs jaguar paw

(2025 Update) A comparison between contemporaneous reality and the John Titor narrative and what we can probably expect in the next few years (duplicate)

Guys. This is a republish of my most popular post today 17JAN25. 

What is more, I am startled that someone dug out this ancient post, now, over four years old.

In this post, written in 2021, I predicted what 2025 would look like.

And, to my surprise, at the end of the post... every single one of my predictions has come true, or are in the process of becoming true. 

Except for one item: nuclear war.

Of course, we are only 17 days into 2025, so it is way to early to see THAT prediction has validity. Never the less, aside from some trivial issues, just about all of my trend-line predictions, and overall global conditions in 2025 has became reality.

Long term MM followers please take note, and you all might really get something out of this repost. -MM

A comparison between contemporaneous reality and the John Titor narrative and what we can probably expect in the next few years

Here, in this article, we look at the John Titor narrative (or predictions) and compare them to what we are currently experiencing on our own (shared) time-lines.

Obviously the dates and the events that he described are at variance with what is going on in the world today.

This is to be expected after all. He entered our world-line template with a 2% deviance from his, AND both of his two presence(s) altered our general trajectory for mass consciousness migration. So of course, what we are experiencing today and what we can expect, will be different from what his time-line described.

Two visits. — Two John Titors entered our time stream (world-line template)

I argue that while his narrative differs from our reality, there are enough similarities to be able to predict GENERAL TRENDS in our domestic and geo-Political future.

However, it is our shared consciousness that is driving the variances on the shared world-line template, and anything can happen.

Here, I will try to make some predictions on what I am observing and how they vary from the John Titor narrative.

Quick Review of terminology

Here’s a quick handy-dandy illustration to help you all from getting confused with unfamiliar terms or confusion.

The pre-birth world-line template is that surface that our travels tend to follow. We can “slide off” that surface template by techniques that I have discussed in other posts as part of the Prayer / Affirmation Campaign posts. In which case we enter a new world-line template.

Of course the John Titor narrative uses none of these terms.

We, here on Metallicman, use these terms to explain movement in the MWI. And it is with these terms that we will continue to discuss the similarities, the trends and the variances from what we observe and what John Titor reported.

Who is John Titor?

From the late 1990’s until around 2001, the Internet was “rocked” by the sudden appearance and subsequent disappearance of a Mr. John Titor. This person claimed to be a “time traveler” by using inter-dimensional travel.

He was rapidly dismissed as a hoax, in unity, by all the major debunking organizations, and his posts mysteriously disappeared off the Internet. Since then, all the sources that he posted on all found that their files related to John Titor were all corrupted and could not be reclaimed.

That was the case for over a decade.

Then, in 2014, a number of private individuals managed to piece together independently saved dialogs relating to John Titor. They constructed numerous websites that hosted these reclaimed dialogs, and posted them on the Internet for others to view.

It is the official belief here on Metallicman that the narrative by this John Titor fellow has much more validity...

... than the claim that it is simply a fictional story designed to amuse internet readers.

However, our belief is that the John Titor time-line is substantially different from the one where most (of the MM readership) reside. 

This significant difference is very important to understand the validity and accuracy of his descriptions.

Thus you cannot, and should not, take his narrative as a 100% accurate predictor of events on our world-line template. 

But instead, rather look at the TRENDS that he recounted and compare them to what we are experiencing.

If you wish to read his posts, and MM evaluations of his technology, you might find visiting the Metallicman Index on this subject enlightening.

John titor index

Is his predictions accurate?

I have no problems with the physics involved in his dimensional travel, or his “time travel” mechanism and mounting vehicle. It’s a method and a technique. It also solves certain problems that he did not get into because his readership was unaware of these other issues that crop up in dimensional travel.

One of the problems with world-line travel is the great diversity of world-lines. You can "clamp down" and lock onto very similar world-lines without much problem with his gravity sensors. But that is where you are stuck. If you wanted to go to a specific types of world-line, such as one where all Pizza has pineapple on it, you will be out of luck.

Not that it would be a problem mind you. Pizza with pineapple? Yuck!

The way around this is to additionally measure other criteria other than gravity.  The obvious is <redacted> but also <redacted> and other features similar to that are also important and can be used and are actually easy to measure. Obviously, you just need to use the appropriate filters on your sensors, and then the complete sensor kit would allow for a great deal of latitude in your world-line adventures.

His “predictions” are descriptive of [1] a completely different time-line and [2] a completely different world-line template. Therefore, it is like comparing apples to oranges. Both are fruits, but that is where the similarities end.

You simply cannot say that the future he described awaits us on this time-line. It simply does not.

But you CAN say that the same trends that he has described would be the same.

Trends and differences. — Trends stay the same while the specific details differ.

Why would our world-line template be different from his world-line template?

If both of our time-lines are different, how could the trends be the same?

It’s actually very simple. A change in trends are variances and deviations from world lines in excess of 4-5%. And he flatly described a similarity to our time-line or world-line template in the 1-2% range. Thus while the individual events, and times might be quite different, the trends would stay the same.

And what trends would stay the same?

Well, I would say that the trends that would stay the same, but manifest differently would include…

An American second Civil War
A major war with an Asian nation or two or three simultaneously.
Cultural evolution and changes such as social media.

Now that being said, we KNOW that the world-line template and time-line differs substantially from ours.

His provided dates are off by ten years or more.
Certain events that he described evolved differently.
The Geo-political relationships differ substantially from his descriptions.

Our shared template. — Our shared world-line template compared to John Titor’s.

What I know in my role with MAJ

Now for the good news.

Yes, I shouldn’t admit this. But, I do have an idea of what lies ahead – in general. Not much. Just a few, a precious few, glimpses of the future. And none of the glimpses are really bad. Meaning that, for me personally, and for my life my post-MAJestic retirement will be pleasant and tranquil.

How do I know this? Well, it's a long and complicated story, and I will write about my retirement sequence in ADC Pine Bluff in later articles. But for now, just know that my future as I have seen it, does not in any way, resemble the John Titor narrative personally.

I know that my location within China will be a safe one. And that (for the most part) where I live and retire within will avoid most all of the turmoil that the United States will go through.

I know that that is selfish, but it’s all that I have to go on. I was promised a “safe place’ from which to retire. And here I am in China. So I am assuming that all things that are said and done, that maybe the entire world will go through changes. But my “neck of the woods” will be relatively calm and stable.

But…

…I might be wrong.

Of course, there could be changes that might whisk me away from here, and go somewhere else. And maybe then this period in my life is not what I think it is. Who knows? But my “gut feeling” for what ever it is worth is that China is where I am retiring to and where I will spend the rest of my life.

We will see how correct I am. You do realize that I am often wrong. A full 50% of the time, don’t you know. LOL.

Of course, a nuclear explosion in my city could also end my life, but still fulfill the personal prophecy. LOL.

So, yeah. The John Titor narrative does not match what I have personally experienced on this world-line template, nor does it match the projections of my future.

But that is just me.

Now, what this tells me is that the John Titor narrative the Russia goes “ape shit” and starts wiping out the entire globe; Europe, America, The Middle East, and China just does NOT HAPPEN. Not on this shared world-line template.

And while we (our template and John Titor’s) share the same trends they manifest quite differently. And we will discuss that here…

Comparing some of the things that I anticipate will happen to the John Titor narrative

On the assumption that the knowledge that John Titor imparted in regards to his temporal displacement mechanism is beyond that of a casual hoaxer…

… we can assume that he is what he said he was, but that is of little use to us at all. Two different world-lines and time-lines and world-line templates have very little bearing and connection to each other.

But the trends do.

And here we will concentrate on the trends. Those 2.5% to 4% deviations that both of our world-line templates share.

And using that comparison we can extrapolate certain predictive trends.

Much the same way that we use the generational theory of the fourth turning writings to develop predictive trends as well.

And in this post we will be using both tools to look at our comparatively shared futures.

What John Titor said…

John Titor said many things that do not match the world as we see it today. In his world, way back twenty or so years ago he viewed the world as a mixture of independent nations all pretty much duplicating the trends in American (with the exception of South America).

And while his domestic and social trends seem to parallel the events that have followed since, they are often wildly wrong.

Crazy America. — 7DEC21. Trump supporters storm Congress and take over the building.

Certainly, today 7JAN21, it seems that the United States is getting embroiled in the very stirrings of a Civil War, that is not guaranteed. But it certainly does seem that way, doesn’t it?

But I can tell you’se guys personally that these kinds of details vary substantially from one world-line to the next. They mean nothing. Though the TRENDs might be maintained. Trends…

A disputed election.
A President that refuses to leave the White House.
Riots or rallies for one party or the other.
The news media freaks out.

So let’s look at what he said, then compare that to what we know, and then extrapolate from there…

John Titor made this statement…

The year 2008 was a general date by which time everyone will realize the world they thought they were living in was over. The civil war in the United States will start in 2004. I would describe it as having a Waco type event every month that steadily gets worse. The conflict will consume everyone in the US by 2012 and end in 2015 with a very short WWIII.

The only way that you can possible reconcile these dates with our time line is to add ten years to the dates. Creating this…

The year 2018 was a general date by which time everyone will realize the world they thought they were living in was over. The civil war in the United States will start in 2014. I would describe it as having a Waco type event every month that steadily gets worse. The conflict will consume everyone in the US by 2022 and end in 2025 with a very short WWIII.

Which pretty much makes sense and does agree with the Generational Theory of the Fourth Turning Cycles…

Yet, you know, if you forget the details and the dates you just look at the trends. And the trends are what is being duplicated.

Trends…

A point in time when people realize that America is not what they thought it was.
The start of a Civil War at some level of activity.
America gets involved in a World War III.

But then what?

I can, and will argue that anyone can massage any information to make it fit into what ever form one wants to justify their arguments. And that is something that we just don’t want to do here.

Let’s see some of the other things that he has said…

The United States is still a representative republic in 2046 but it was touch and go for a while.  

After the war, the U.S. had divided into 5 general areas based on their economic and defensive strengths. Many people blamed the government organization for the war and the last Constitutional Congress was held in 2020 to officially scrap the Constitution and start over.  

Fortunately, this exercise in anger pointed out how hard it was to come up with anything better.  It was decided the document wasn’t at fault.  

As a result, there have been a few small changes to the Constitution and the executive branch but you would easily recognize it. The average citizen is more educated about the Constitution and aware of the rights and responsibilities it gives them. 

Federal power has been decentralized and the focus of daily politics is in the state senates. Federal law has also been streamlined but much harder to change or make additions to.

Well, who knows what will happen? In my mind, however, this is overly optimistic given our contemporaneous events. The idea that the Federal Constitution would be maintained, and that all the State Constitutions would regain their power back from the federal government is a long-shot.

I cannot say what any TRENDS that this might represent, but rather that this little bit of trivia describes an evolutionary result within his origination life-line. And that the division of power on the many other world-lines could very dramatically diverge from this point outward.

John Titor described his “future”

Though, this sounds like is a very strong parallel with contemporaneous events.

“This is one example of a theory involving “time shells” progressing in size and intensity around a gravitational point from all matter. The more massive the object, the larger and more influential the time shells around it (like an onion). — Like an isobaric map of potential time lines and “intentions”.  

“Perhaps I should let you all in on a little secret. No one likes you in the future."

He predicted the “Federal Police”, which was the DHS that was established by President George Bush after 9-11.

From the age of 8 to 12, we lived away from the cities and spent most of our time in a farm community with other families avoiding conflict with the federal police and national guard.  By that time, it was pretty clear that we were not going back to what we had and the division between the “cities” and the “country” was well defined.

The John Titor future does not resemble our world-line template at all…

And he pretty much said that Russia would go “ape shit” and blow the shit out of American, Europe and China…

The civil war ended in 2015 when Russia attacked the U.S. cities (our enemy), China and Europe. As unusual and bad as my childhood might seem, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Africa is not a pleasant place to be in 2036 although I would characterize it as recovering.

But the thing is, on our world-line, not only isn’t Europe and China enemies with Russia, but they actively trade with Russia. The BRI from China goes into Western Russia.

While U.S. trade relations with China have soured, as each slap billions of dollars' worth of tariffs on each other's goods, trade relations between China and Russia are blossoming.

The Russian military and the Chinese military have officers in all of their HQ’s, and Europe while pretty much aligned with America has been breaking away from that tight binding alliance and getting more autonomy to trade with it’s neighbors.

Missile Notice Pact Extension is Proof That Russia, China ...
https://sputniknews.com/world/202012291081600910...

Dec 29, 2020 · MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and China’s mutual extension of the missile launch notification agreement earlier this month is an indication that the two Eurasian giants do not see each other as threats, Moscow’s ambassador in Beijing Andrey Denisov said on Tuesday.

Of course, the United States does not like this cozy situation one bit!

U.S. “not going to allow Russia and China to continue …

And the John Titor narrative does not match contemporaneous situations on our shared world-line template.

Russia and China have always had a very strange relationship. Even the news I see now indicates that continued weapons deals to allies, border clashes and overpopulation will lead to hostilities.  

The West will become very unstable which gives China the confidence to “expand”. I’m assuming you are all aware that China has millions of male soldiers right now that they know will never be able to find wives.  The attack on Europe is in response to a unified European army that masses and moves East from Germany. 

Also, please be aware that from my viewpoint, Russia attacked my enemy who was in the U.S. cities.  Yes, the U.S. did counter attack.

Me thinks he reads too much American propaganda. There are some seriously invalidated statements here. They do not match the reality of modern contemporaneous China one bit.

There are no border classes between Russia and China.
Overpopulation in China does not exist. It is crowded, but the extreme bullshit that you read in America of starvation, lack of housing and infrastructure are all lies.
“Men cannot find wives.” Total and complete BULLSHIT.
There is no “unified” EU army.
“China is going to expand outward” Never happen. This is not in their 5, 10, 50 and 100 year plans.

The John Titor narrative describes a world that does not resemble anything that exists today on our present shared world-line template. making the John Titor narrative hilarious in it’s inaccuracies.

I guess you could say that. Taiwan, Japan and Korea were all “forcefully annexed” before N Day. 

I don’t remember a great deal about media coverage during the civil conflicts. I would probably characterize it the same way you see coverage of Waco, Ruby Ridge and Elian Gonzalez.

Again. This has very little resemblance to our reality.

He continues on about the World War

And it makes interesting reading.

The “pattern” of exchange in the war will not be a surprise.

Many people will perish as a result of starvation and disease. I would also submit that you already know if you’re safe or not. 

The trick is to not turn off your fear when you’ll need it the most. 

Australia is sort of interesting in what is unknown. After the war, they were not very cooperative or friendly (can’t blame them really). 

It is known they did repulse a Chinese invasion and most of their cities were hit. They have a trading relationship with the U.S. but I would characterize them as reclusive and ticked off. 

When people use phrases like “See what I mean”, “You’re not hearing what I’m saying” or “Something smells fishy”, they are indicating the primary sense they use to process information about a situation.  

I find it interesting that my credibility and the phrases that describe it hinge on economic terms and whether or not I have something to sell. I don’t. I also don’t know how to clarify my position any better so I would suggest that if what I say angers you, it might be best to just consider it fiction. 

Soon you’ll get bored and I will leave in a few months. Either way, it won’t be an issue. The “enemy” that was attacked by Russia in the U.S. was the forces of the government you live under right now.

He said that the US attacked Russia, and Russia responded.

He said that an aggressive China invaded Australia. I find that completely and wholly at odds with our present reality. It is so far-fetched and unrealistic that it makes me embarrassed that I even post on of his “predictions” on MM.

But the distrust that Australia has with America is understandable. This trend is understandable if you are at the very least paying attention to the relationship between Australia and China. Mike Pompeo and Trump worked with Hon Scott Morrison MP to sever ties with China, and trash trade while ramping up the military This has most assuredly tarnished the trading relationship. When Trump left, the ties remained severed and the wounds hurt.

There is a great deal of distrust in the Asia-Pacific rim regarding America right now.

Yes, I think the New World Order idea tried to establish itself. I would consider them the combination of the old U.S. federal system, Europe, Canada and Australia.

He said that…

South America went relatively unharmed. However, there is still a great deal of internal conflict with conventional arms

In regards to the World War III event…

Yes, EMP took out a great number of electronic devices.  That’s one of the reasons why we don’t have reliable technology laying around. 

However, in the opening hours of N Day, the Russians did not launch any high altitude detonations. They knew we would most likely clean up after them so they wanted everyone outside the cities to be able to communicate. 

Most of the warheads that hit the cities came in threes and exploded close to the ground. The heavy EMP damage was isolated to those areas.

Scary stuff.

I’ve noticed that when most Americans think about Canada in this time, they think about pine trees, chooks and back-bacon. It may interest you to know that most Canadians in 2036 are some of the most efficient, ruthless and dangerous people I know. God help Quebec.

Interesting.

The animal Kingdom is alive and well. I’m sure it suffered but there fewer people infringing on animal’s habitats now. 

Nuclear war is a very undesirable thing but it is not the end of the world. 

There are areas and cities we can’t enter and the environment did suffer a great deal of damage but we are recovering. 

Isn’t Hirroshima a thriving city today? The major physical affects include skin cancer, infertility, infection, etc. Almost everyone has some sort of physical remnant from the war.

The entire country was affected, not just the cities on the coasts.

(5) Were only cities along the Eastern Sea port hit in the Nuclear War, or all over the country? 

Mostly cities and large military areas in the entire country.

He continues that the War affected the entire world in one way or the other.

(16) Which country gets the worst in the war? 

Again, the entire world is affected. Even if you don’t take a direct hit, dying crops and no water can ruin your day.

Well, that is interesting, but the lead up does not match what our current reality actually is…

What our current reality describes

Our current reality describes something quite different.

And these differences will shape what the TRENDS will lead us all towards.

I believe, that I cannot prove, that there are elements in the Chinese, the Russia and the American governments that do not want the John Titor scenario to occur, and to this end, they have placed “fail safe” mechanisms in place.

For instance, using China, for I am most familiar with it, the election of Mr. Deng back in the 1970’s completely changed the path and course that China was on. And the ideal for the idealistic fervor for “spreading communism” all over the world ended in the late 1970’s. Of course, no one told that to any Americans. Who still have this terribly distorted idea of what China is like. Which, of course, propagated by endless lies and distortions.

What we see today is a unified Asia falling into place.

Russia and China are teaming up. They have strong agreements with the SE Asian nations, and both the European and Middle Eastern nations.

So let’s look at this.

Firstly, what Americans think about Geo-Political relationships after four years of trump and company…

Yes, I know it sounds and looks really bad, but isn’t this the exact way it is? The declared “enemies” of the United States are Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea. And the United States is fighting eight (x8) “hot” wars in the middle east, has over 800 military bases world-wide and is involved in all sorts of hidden wars sponsored by the CIA assets; the NID and NED.

This world view is in complete alignment with the John Titor narrative. It describes how an American conservative might view the world.

Which explains why the United States has so many military bases everywhere

You know “for democracy”.

Here is a map showing where all the military bases are all over the globe.

American military bases all over the world.

This map gives a distorted illusion. It provides the illusion that everywhere there is an American base, that that nation, country or territory is aligned socially, politically and militarily with the United States. Which isn’t even remotely true.

Now, let’s look at the world differently. Let’s see it as it actually in irregardless to what America or Americans might think about it or now.

The “real” reality 2021

Now this is a very simplified map. And I did so intentionally.

First off, I did not include any of the 8x eight nations that the USA is fighting wars in to be American allies.

Were America to be embroiled in other issues (Civil War, nuclear war, etc.) these nations could quickly flip to neutral or even align with one of America's "enemies". So I did not identify them as American-client-nations.

Taiwan is colored the same color as China, because after all, by UN treaty, and by Taiwanese law, it is a State of China. So this map accurately reflects the world as it is today, not what the USA wants it to be.

Taiwan stopped being an independent nation, and became a Chinese client state  in 1972 by [1] The Shanghai Communiqué and the 1982 [2] Joint Communiqué and [3] the August 17 Communiqué. It's the 23rd province of China.

All of this his was codified and made permanent on October 1971, when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, which recognized the government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China at the United Nations and established the One-China Principle.

Smaller nations, too small to color are not colored in. This includes Israel and Hawaii.

Nations in blue are the EU.

They try to be neutral, but their leanings over the last four years has been with their Asian neighbors Russia and China. This is true irregardless to what the American media might try to portray.

Likewise, even though America has military bases in Korea, and Japan, and throughout the SE Asia, these nations align with their larger neighbors, not with far-away America. North Korea might have US bases and an American military presence, but it’s largest trading partner and economic, racial (Han Chinese) and cultural heritage is with China.

Other nations that try to be neutral or independent such as Greenland, or African nations are left uncolored.

India is trying to stay neutral, although it’s ruling class and media are firmly aligned with the United States, but it is large enough to have it’s own yellow color.

Leaving the world, more or less, resembling this kind of map if you cut away all the bull-shit, and look at things from a social-economic perspective. Instead of one related to military might and military activities.

This is the world today, 2021…

So what do we see?

Look at the map. Can you see something interesting there?

America is pretty isolated in the world today.
Major, hard and consistent, American allies include Canada, the UK, and Australia.
The rest of the world is dominated by Russia and China which hold the lion share of factories, military weapons, political agreements, trade relationships and technology.
Europe is trying to be neutral, but leans East. Poland is an exception.
Australia should flip red in the next few years with all the problems that the PM Morrison caused though his alignments with Trump and company.

This is all very interesting. Eh.

It’s not what is being told to Americans through the American media. Instead America is being told to fear the rest of the world or else they will “steal our democracy”, and that America is the biggest, the toughest and the best in the world.

Of course, you could "nit pick" my assumptions and argue that the American neocons are actually correct, and that economic and technological and manufacturing capabilities are over-rated. You could argue that nothing has changed, and that national strength is a function of real and actual strength. If you believe this then maybe you should leave Metallicman and start reading the National Review.

Now, let’s imagine the world in the next four to five years.

The world in 2025.

In this we will follow existing trend lines. We will [1] assume that the USA will spend a significant amount of time, money and resources on domestic issues and problems . Which might include a civil war, or barring that, a civil disturbance.

[2] We assume that there will be repercussions for Morrison siding with Trump in his anti-China stance. And we will see Morrison and his nationalistic party lose the Australian elections.

[3] We will see the Chinese BRI expanding, and trade opening up to Europe.

[4] We will witness a complete pull-out and withdrawal of American troops out of Afghanistan.

[5] We might as well see a changes in political opinion regarding China and India relations. India will then wish to participate in the BRI rather than isolate and trust in the “goodwill” of America.

All of these are all just assumptions and extrapolations from what we are observing.

Resulting in this map…

Thus creating a situation of a combined Asia against the United States Empire.

Now, of course this is all extrapolations with some pretty major assumptions, and of course, anything can change in the future. So we will keep things simple…

A united Asia is rising in power with global reach. It controls most of the world’s factories, a sizable and competitive technological base, and a whole lot of people.

And how America will react to these changes will determine what the future for America and Americans will be.

American reactions to a changing world

Well, we already have seen how a neocon administration (Trump) would react to a changing global situation. But their actions were not very popular. Donald Trump lost his reelection, and the global community has looked askance at the United States ever since.

What will happen in the future is unknown, but if the trends continue as they seem to be doing, then we can expect the following…

Continued unrest in the United States.

Depending upon how the various State and Federal government handle this unrest will determine whether [1] the unrest will end, or [2] get much worse. My experience with the American government is one that indicates lack of originality, an arrogance and a true lack of creative understanding of the deep and substantive issues that America is embroiled in.

My guess is that…

The unrest will get worse, and it will be aggravated by cold, uncaring reactive measures taken at the State and Federal level.

Which pretty much means that at some point in time, that…

Some kind of Second Civil War will occur in the United States. Whether organized in sides, or balkanized, or just manifest as terrorism, there will be shootings and deaths.

And I sincerely hope that this does not happen. If it does it means that the same-old same-old playbook by the oligarchy will continue to play out. Two sides will fight each other, while the rulers watch from the ramparts.

And if the various governments are not able to suppress the domestic unrest, they will “pull out the old playbook”, and attack or try to create some kind of major foreign war as a distraction. Usually, in the past this has typically resulted in the unification of the nation against a foreign foe. However this time, the conditions are quite different. And the results of this action will be terrifying.

World War III. Russia / and or China will respond to American aggression with a preemptive nuclear salvo.

Conclusions

While the specifics regarding the John Titor narrative have no actual bearing on the realities on this world-line template that we share, the trends and the trend line does. If the current situation DOES NOT CHANGE then we can well expect a gloomy outlook.

It WILL NOT be like John Titor described.

But it will be awful.

What I can say that is the severity of the war that America will be embroiled in will be directly proportional to the arrogance of the American ruling oligarchy.

We will need to watch and see what will happen.

I like to believe that the promises made to me at the ADC Pine Bluff during my retirement has validity. And if so, then what ever occurs in the future will not be as horrible as our fears believe. There will be changes, and in the long term, for our children and for our descendants, the world will become a better place for everyone.

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The blue pill feminism really fucked up boys of my generation

I have written about my one sister who was always, and relentlessly, picking on me and calling me “stupid”. I mention it now, as an older man. One who has a few hundred miles under my belt. I see things as they were, and where everyone failed.

Oh, for her, it was automatic. If she saw me do something, she would set out to destroy it. If she saw me she called me “stupid”. If I had homework, she would take and hide it. If I made something, she would destroy it. If I had a chance to go out and make new friends, she would pollute and disparage my efforts. And so on and so forth.

My parents did nothing.

So without corrective behavior, her actions got worse and worse over time.

Now, and take note; without corrections, the real evil came out. Especially when she hit her early teens. The “nightmare” years for young girls.

Her picking and tormenting me was always present in school. But the teachers just overlooked it, or assumed that it was just “sibling rivalry”, which I heard on more than one occasion.

Boys fighting; “Break it up. Break it up.”
Girl – Boy conflict; “Oh, it’s nothing. Just sibling rivalry”.

In middle school, a number of my teachers mentioned this to my parents. But nothing came of it. At least none that I know of, and she never did change her behaviors.

However, sometime around 7th grade, the teachers were starting to get fed up of her antics. (Well, to me they were antics. Perhaps to the teachers they saw this a budding problem.) People outside of the family were starting to notice the “trickle down” effect, as well as blatant instances.

She would start these actions, like chants. When I was being picked for teams in gym, she would start screaming at the top of her lungs “don’t pick him. He’s so stoooopid. Only idiots pick losers“. And all the other girls joined in.

Hive mind I guess.

And soon the entire class would join in. Everyone picking on me and making fun of me. You are in a class of sixty kids and all of the kids start ganging up on one kid in a offensive manner.

Eventually the teacher would stroll by and tell everyone to “shut up” and to “stop it”. But that was the best that I could ever expect.

Anyways, that was typical.

As always, no fatherly guidance, no big brothers or uncles to set me right and help me though boyhood. I lived in the USA. “Be a man and take it“.

The USA.

*spit on the ground*

And of course, my father always chimed in with the tired old narrative “You’re the oldest son, you have to take the hits”.

*collecting spittle in my throat and honking out a big splatter on the sidewalk*

It came to a head when my sister actively ratted on me for something innocent, and tried to make a big deal about it.

This time.

Oh, this time…

The teacher, called her out on it.

Surprised me.

In fact it was so unusual, I was stunned. Totally unexpected.

And we had a trial in the class over it.

The teacher organized everything. There was a judge, a jury, a prosecutor, and a defense attorney.

Of course, all the girls all tried to stick together but they had no arguments, as they were basing everything on their feelings. Which were, by default, against me.

He’s stupid.
Look at him. What a loser.
You can’t listen to him, he’s a nothing.

Eventually, she lost and was punished by losing some kind of social status that was important to her. I don’t remember what. As I just did my best to keep the hell out of it and was intentionally being as neutral as possible.

It didn’t change her behavior, however.

She just became smarter and sneaker in what she did. And some of the (revised) actions that she took were actually dangerous. From trying to starve me with minute portions of leftovers, to actually physically attacking me; breaking my nose (she threw a full jar of pickles at me, and hit me straight on my face) and sending me to the hospital.

*sigh*

I won’t bore you all with the details.

The point here is that the “damage” that my sister caused to my ego as I was growing up, could have been mitigated, or eliminated completely if I had parents who were actively aware of the situation, and took steps to correct it. Rather than telling a five year old child to “act like a man and take it“, as well as “don’t fight back“, and “don’t stoop to their level“.

The blue pill feminism really fucked up boys of my generation, and that caused the complete collapse of American society. It’s in free-fall now.

How’s it going for you all.

This is what happens when you allow deranged people to do things without consequence.

*sheech*

Today…

What are your thoughts on the trend of Americans labeling themselves as “TikTok refugees” and migrating to the Chinese social media platform RedNote (Xiaohongshu)?

In retrospect, the US government’s hostility towards TikTok is one of the biggest political blunders of theirs in recent years. Late stage capitalism is barely held together by bread and circus; when bread becomes unaffordable and the circus is banned due to “antisemitism/threatening US national security”, people seek alternatives.

And what better alternative is there than China? Thus, the exodus of “TikTok refugees” to Xiaohongshu.

The great thing about cultural exchanges of this sort is that both sides benefit from deeper understanding. Interacting with “TikTok refugees” has only made Chinese people more sympathetic towards American millennials and gen z – just as Americans are becoming better informed on, and more willing to humanise the Chinese.

For decades, liberals in China have been telling people that America is a paradise where you can easily strike it rich, you can be free, and your rights as an individuals are protected…you know, typical 20th century “American Dream” rhetoric. But while Chinese youngsters these days no longer hold any illusions that the grass is greener on the other side, most of them have never been to America or met any Americans, which meant they have no way of knowing what things are really like over there.

The recent influx of American users on Xiaohongshu has been an eye-opener, to say the least. For instance, one of the most popular questions Chinese users like to ask American newcomers – besides “I’m your designated Chinese spy, have you paid your ‘cat tax’ today (i.e. shared a picture of your cats)?” – is “how many hours do you work per week?”. This is no surprise, as class consciousness is observably rising among both Chinese and American youngsters, and Chinese youths have been disgruntled with the conditions of the Chinese labour market for years.

What is surprising, however, are the responses given by the Yanks.

Contrary to popular belief in China that Americans have it “easier” than the Chinese do, the reality is that most American youths are working two or more jobs to make ends meet, with one viral comment from an American user stating they were working up to 84 hours per week (for reference, Chinese tech companies’ notorious “996 system” is only 72 hours per week).

No wonder American gen z’ers are the least patriotic generation on record. If you had to work 84 hours a week just to afford food and rent (and we still haven’t factored in the ridiculous costs of education and healthcare in the US that made them so supportive of a man like Luigi Mangione), you’d find it challenging to feel patriotic too.

Speaking of patriotism, there is a popular liberal narrative in China that depicts Americans as having better “critical thinking” skills due to “more individualism/freedom” and “less nationalistic propaganda”. Likewise in the US, there is a deep-rooted perception that the Chinese are “brainwashed” and “unable to think for themselves”.

But when the youths of these two nations actually talked to each other on the same platform, the myths were debunked instantly. The truth is that in American schools, students pledge allegiance to the flag every single morning; whereas in China, students only raise the national flag and sing the national anthem once per week.

↑“For those of you who didn’t know, every morning American children aged 5 and above must stand up and place their right hands over their hearts, and recite the pledge of allegiance to the American flag. At every sporting event (professional or even children’s), before the national anthem is played, we would cover our hearts and stand up.“
“That’s shocking, when I was 5 all I could recite were textbook passages or something…”

Here in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region – where westerners constantly tell me I’ve been “oppressed” by big bad China all my life – in all my years as a schoolboy, not once did I ever have to pledge allegiance to any flag or nation (the only entity my school required me to praise was God).

Which of the two regimes is more “nationalistic” and “brainwashing”? Should be pretty obvious.

China isn’t perfect, but even as a developing country, it has done extraordinarily well for itself. Most people have a stable job, a roof over their heads, plenty of good food to enjoy, free/subsidised healthcare and education, a relatively healthy environment for dating and raising a family, and some of the safest streets in the world. This is the kind of normalcy that young Americans crave, and what their Chinese counterparts take for granted.

Even the stereotype of “oppression” is questionable. There are plenty of things you can talk about on Chinese social media that would have you censored or even arrested in America – things like the aforementioned case of Luigi Mangione, and Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinians. Which is just one more reason why so many “TikTok refugees” find Chinese social media so refreshing. Unlike Americans climbing over the Great Firewall in search of freedom of speech, and as a gesture of protest against the US government, most Chinese people only use a VPN for porn, not anti-government activities.

Chinese people are incredibly tolerant to different opinions – this is necessary in a nation of 1.4 billion. “Cancel culture” isn’t a thing, in fact there is no decent Chinese translation of this western concept. You can be pro- or anti-Israel/Palestine, you can be pro- or anti-Russia/Ukraine, you can be pro- or anti-LGBT…and even when people disagree, they tend to be more forgiving about it – maybe it’s because Chinese people aren’t naturally confrontational, or perhaps they know that life is hard enough without bringing internet beef into it. This is completely unlike Reddit, Twitter or even here on Quora.

Right now most of the American youngsters on Xiaohongshu tend to be left-leaning, but I believe Chinese internet has a place for you regardless of your beliefs or interests. China has plenty of weeaboos, wehraboos, furries, gooners and all kinds of subcultures, whatever suits your tastes.

By the way this phenomenon is quickly going global. Rednote/Xiaohongshu isn’t just the most downloaded app in the US, it’s also topping the charts in Europe and Africa. Might be too early to be sure, but this unprecedented “east-meets-west” social experiment is really starting to look promising.

American TikTok Refugees Joining Chinese Social Media App REDnote

This is a MUST watch! This is happening RIGHT NOW!

GOD!

What an amazing time to be living!!!!!

How much control do we have over our lifespan through healthy behaviors and whether our genes set a strict limit.?

As a 71 year old and a hospice volunteer, I have a huge list of people whose lifespan did not conform to what we are told to expect from healthy living, making it easy to see that heredity or something else has a lot to do with life span. But you will have trouble finding that in a PubMed paper, because the illusion of control sells medical care, whole foods, and gym memberships.

Probably like everyone my age, I can list a number of people who smoked and drank and never exercised, but lived well into their nineties, and way too many who lived the recommended lifestyle and dropped dead at 52. My own mother died at 91 and never stopped smoking or living on coffee, steak and butter. Her son, my brother (same genes), lived the clean life and died of cardio vascular disease at 52, the week after he aced his annual physical.

And as a volunteer in long term care facilities, one of my often-repeated parlor tricks is to have young CNAs and nurses gathered in the common area with the elderly patients, who include some who are 90 and 100 years old and then I ask the patients whether they ever smoked. Without fail they will say they did smoke, and the younger medical staff is slack-jawed. In the 1950s through 1970s most people smoked, and plenty lived to be 100, but the risks have been so over-stated since then that the younger generation believes that anyone who smokes will die young.

Don’t get it wrong: I don’t smoke and I don’t advise it, but I do prefer reality to fantasy, at least in terms of health and longevity.

As you’ve gotten older, do you regret getting tattoos, and do you warn young people of your regrets?

I don’t actually have any tattoos, but I remember a conversation I had about 25 years ago with a cosmetic doctor. I happened to ask him, “Do you like tattoos?” To which he replied, “Yes, I really like them.” Surprised, I said, “Oh, I didn’t realize you had any.” He responded, “I don’t, but they’re going to be my retirement. I’ll spend all my time lasering them off.”

As we continued the discussion, he pointed out that tattoos can be problematic because they often reveal a person’s age. For example, in a country like the UK, if someone has “love” and “hate” tattooed on their knuckles along with swallows, it’s likely they’re elderly e.g 70s or 80s. If they have a Celtic band, they’re probably in their 50s now. And with the full sleeves that are so popular today, who knows what that will signify in the future?

Personally, I think the main issue with tattoos is that many people believe they’re expressing their individuality, when in reality, they’re just following a trend.

Why are Chinese living standards so much lower than American living standards?

Fed up with the narrative that China’s living standards are inferior? Here’s a blunt reality check. Chinese living standards are often seen as lower than those in the United States, but this perception doesn’t tell the whole story. China has experienced remarkable growth and development, making life here in many ways comparable to, and sometimes even better than, life in America.

China has undergone an incredible transformation under the Communist Party’s leadership. The country has moved from being war-torn and agrarian to a global economic powerhouse. The focus has been on lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, building world-class infrastructure, and providing accessible healthcare and education. These improvements are part of a concerted effort to modernize China along the lines of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

When it comes to affordability, China’s got a clear advantage. The cost of living is much lower. For instance, you can get a meal at McDonald’s for significantly less here than in the U.S. Renting a decent home is far more affordable in China, and property taxes are practically non-existent. Healthcare is another area where China shines. Medical care is affordable and doesn’t lead to crushing medical debts. For example, complete cancer treatment can cost around $3000 out of pocket—no insurance needed. Compare that to the U.S., where healthcare costs can be sky-high, and you see how the Chinese system offers real peace of mind.

Quality of life in China also benefits from fewer GMOs, hormones, and pesticides in food, leading to generally healthier eating options. The air quality, while improving, generally lacks the chem-trails you often see in the U.S. The social environment here is notably friendlier and quieter, with fewer gasoline engines resulting in a peaceful urban existence. The crime rates are relatively low too, so you can walk around at night without fearing for your safety.

Education and taxes? Hard to beat in China. Educational opportunities are almost free, making a huge difference for families. Low taxes mean you keep more of your income. These elements make life in China not just affordable but also secure and convenient.

From a government perspective, China has done an excellent job of safeguarding national independence and security while promoting national development. This adds another layer of stability to daily life. High crime rates, erratic healthcare costs, and unstable job markets aren’t major concerns here. Unlike in the U.S., you don’t have to worry about losing your medical insurance if you quit your job.

While the U.S. has a higher GDP per capita, this metric doesn’t capture the full picture of living standards. In the U.S., costs for medication, housing, and healthcare can be prohibitively high for many, reducing overall quality of life. By these measures, China offers a different but competitive quality of life.

So, the next time you hear someone claim that Chinese living standards are inferior, realize that the reality is more nuanced. In many critical areas, China not only holds its own but sometimes even surpasses the U.S. It’s time to challenge those outdated narratives and see the full picture.

Why has China not responded with a full scale trade war with the US?

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The Chinese government understands just how interconnected global economies are. A full-on trade war would hurt everyone involved and disrupt the market in a way that could take years to recover from. Look at how the US has been behaving under leaders like Trump—it’s all about quick, aggressive hits that make headlines but leave a trail of chaos. China knows that such rash decisions often lead to collateral damage, and who needs that?

China’s all about long-term stability and growth. Alienating trade partners with harsh retaliations just doesn’t fit into their big-picture thinking. By keeping their responses more measured, China shows its commitment to being a stable and reliable partner in international trade, which is crucial for its long-term goals. This way, China can keep growing its economic influence without burning bridges.

Let’s talk about perception. In international relations, how you’re seen by other countries matters a lot. Acting recklessly in a trade war could really mess up China’s image globally. By showing restraint, China positions itself as the rational, dependable player on the global stage. This helps build trust and stronger economic ties with other nations, making them more likely to choose China as a trading partner over the US.

History has shown that China’s approach to dealing with international challenges is innovative and strategic rather than confrontational. When the US tried to shut China out of systems like the International Space Station or the global GPS network, China didn’t throw a tantrum. Instead, it created and deployed its own superior systems. This shows a consistent strategy of long-term thinking and resilience rather than knee-jerk reactions.

In the end, China’s moderation in this trade spat with the US underscores its broader ambitions. By not getting sucked into a destructive trade war, China remains focused on its long-term goals of economic prosperity and international cooperation. Meanwhile, the US seems more preoccupied with short-term wins and aggressive posturing. This difference in approach is clear and shows exactly why China hasn’t gone nuclear in the trade war.

So, when you look at the bigger picture, it’s clear: China is playing the long game, thinking about the future, while the US is caught up in the here and now. It’s a strategy that might not make the most noise, but it’s probably the smartest move in the long run.

What is the bravest thing you have ever seen someone do?

This is Kendrick Castillo.

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He was born on March 14, 2001, in Denver, Colorado (USA). He was in his senior year at STEM School Highlands Ranch, just a few days from graduation.

It was an ordinary Tuesday afternoon; Kendrick was watching The Princess Bride in his British literature class. An 18 year-old-male, Devon Erickson, entered the classroom and pulled out a gun demanding everyone “not to move”.

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(Devon Erickson in court. He was one of the suspected gunmen.)

[1]

Kendrick was about a foot away from Devon so he immediately lunged at the shooter to try and subdue him so everyone else could get to safety. Kendrick was shot afterwards and three other students also tackled Devon trying to subdue him while everyone else fled the classroom. Bialy, one of the other students who tackled the shooter, checked up on Kendrick after they subdued Devon. Unfortunately, Kendrick wasn’t moving. Other students tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure on the wound.

“He cared enough about people that he would do something like that, even though it’s against my better judgment,” John Castillo (Kendrick’s father) told the newspaper. “I wish he had gone and hid, but that’s not his character. His character is about protecting people, helping people.”

“Kendrick Castillo died a legend. He died a trooper,” Brendan Bialy (One of the other students that tackled the shooter) said. “I know he will be with me for the rest of my life.”

“Be selfless, that’s what my son was, and it got him killed, but he saved others,” John Castillo said.

“I know that because of what he did, others are alive, and I thank God for that. I love him. And he is a hero and he always will be,” his dad, John Castillo, said.

In a time of desperation and fear, Kendrick Castillo acted quickly trying to protect the people around him. He risked his own life to even give his fellow peers a chance of running away to safety. Sadly, he did not make it; however, who knows what could’ve happened if he hadn’t lunged forward. Perhaps there would’ve been more casualties. In that time, Kendrick gave his own life for others.

Rest in Peace, Kendrick Castillo (2001–2019).

You will be remembered and honored as a hero by millions around the world.

What would happen to the value of the US dollar if China stopped accepting it for their goods? Would they switch to another form of payment, such as gold?

China is already using other currencies in its foreign trade. About 3 years ago, the share of dollar in its foreign trade settlement was 70%. This has fallen to less than 40%. The major share is yuan at over 50%, and about 10% in other currencies, notable ruble.

If you exclude China’s trade with the US, the share of yuan rises to about 60%.

The China-Russia trade is done without the dollar. This was worth $240 billion last year, and growing at double-digit. China has many bilateral agreements that exclude the dollar. PBOC has scores of currency swap arrangements with other central banks.

China would not refuse to accept the dollar in its trade with the US. It would be fool-hardy. US is an important trade partner. China has use for the dollar even though it is not accumulating it, such as to invest in US Treasuries.

The use of the dollar in international transactions has been declining. This is not just China, other countries also. US misused of the dollar as an instrument of sanctions is one reason. Another one is the easy use of other currencies facilitated by electronics, such as blockchain and 5G. This trend is likely to intensify when a BRICS payment/settlement system is in placed. This will speed up the development of the multi-currency system.

There is no need to have a one-for-one replacement of international payment/settlement system. The new BRICS system will function alongside the dollar system. Neither one will dominate. Countries will chose the system most suitable to their needs in particular transactions.

How The Chinese See The U.S. In 2024 | Asmongold Reacts

Away Day

Submitted into Contest #243 in response to: Write a story about a character who wakes up in space.… view prompt

Jed Cope

This dream was strange, even for a dream it was strange. What was stranger was that Mo remembered the dream. Mo knew he dreamt, everyone did, but seldom did he have any recollection of where his mind wandered to at night. Of the dreams that did make themselves known to him, most were those that occurred between his alarm and the small window of snoozing. He didn’t trust those dreams as they were impossibly long for the seven minute window he had available in which to drift off. Maybe they were dreams of dreams. He hoped not, because there was a darkness therein that shamed him. A cruelty and a cynicism that made him wonder just what kind of person his subconscious thought he was.This dream was as different as it got, and now as he lay there in a state between sleep and consciousness, he held onto it for a little while longer, turning it this way and that, so he could see what it was he’d caught in his net.He shivered as he realised that it wasn’t even his dream. He’d plagiarised his nocturnal story and stolen the costume he wore as he met talking animals who were all on drugs as far as he could tell. Unless of course, it was him who was on drugs. That would make more sense. But he doubted drugs would make animals talk. And if they did talk, why in the hell would they speak the same language as Mo? He smiled to himself at that. He wasn’t as stupid as he acted. Not all of the time at least.The costume he’d donned concerned him. Was there a message there? He wasn’t a fan of dressing up, but to be wearing a dress was a bridge too far. He was sure that he hadn’t needed to adhere to that detail for the dream to work, but there he was, in a dress and he was wearing it like he really meant it. He was looking good. The best he’d ever looked and that made him wonder who the hell he really was.His dream was a dream of a story that was a dream in itself. The narrative was ladened with meaning. It was a kid’s story, but one that kids would never fully understand until they were well into adulthood and life had roughed them up plenty. There was something cruel about that. The story hung around and watched the pain train of life smash a person into something they no longer recognised, and then it stood there with a smarmy look on its face and said I told you so. It was all there in this story, if only a person took the time to think. But Mo knew that thinking was a rich man’s game. The poor and the listless were not meant to think. Not if they knew what was good for them.He lingered some more in the state between sleep and awakening, he hung around there for longer than he had any right to, and as he came back into the world of the consciously living, he thought he knew why. And it wasn’t only because his head pulsed with the pain of an injury he could not remember being in receipt of.Groaning, he wanted to scrunch his eyes shut in an abortive attempt at banishing the pain, but his eyes were fixed on something that he now could not unsee. Before him floated water droplets and arrayed around those droplets were tiny bubbles. Something caught in his chest, or in his throat, he could not be sure, as in that moment he could not be sure of anything, even what he was anymore. A fish out of water was no longer a fish. Not as a fish knew it anyway. Once it had left the reality of its existence, it was transformed into something so very different from what had once been of use, and it was that uselessness that smothered and confused it so totally that it could not find a way to be anymore.Water, thought Mo, in a distracted, spiralling state of affairs that he wanted to exaggerate and perpetuate, but could not. In his peripheral vision he saw two anaemic eels swaying in invisible currents. It took him a while to understand that these where his arms. Or rather, they had been his arms in another life. He left them there and blinked two more droplets of liquid into existence. They floated upwards and stared back at him. Two disembodied, accusatory eyes. Their accusations were a shopping list of questions, all of them barbed and coated with the poison of his own shame.Not for the first time did Mo feel like he should not be here. He’d never managed to be comfortable in his own skin. There’d been a mix up when he was made and he’d been given the wrong skin. It just didn’t fit right and it made him stand out for all the wrong reasons. Sometimes he felt people looking at him and wondering why he was infecting their view, mostly he felt the absence of any gaze. That was people mostly did. They ignored the irrelevant whilst they sought anything of value to them. Mo’s destiny was to be overlooked. He doubted he’d make it beyond this current, tawdry existence. He was in a last chance saloon and there was no destination beyond this. No reincarnation. No further credit that would send him back to the first level of the game. Never had been, but definitely not now. Not here. He was beyond hope, and he was certainly beyond reckoning.“Merv…” he’d wanted to say more. He’d wanted to curse his so called friend, but the sound of his voice was all wrong. It was the same voice he’d heard a thousand times, only now he couldn’t miss the false quality of it. This was a voice that had become unaccustomed to speaking the truth. Returning to silence was a blessed relief from an army of lies intent on storming the world.

Only this wasn’t the world, not as Mo knew it anyway. This was instead exile. Exile in a permanent dream state. That thought made Mo shudder. There was no permanency here. Any tendency towards a perpetual state of affairs was reliant upon the weakest of links and that link was Mo himself. He knew he was out of his depth. He was out of place with no notion as to how he could swim to safer and more recognisable shores.

The fact of his incompetence and weakness was exemplified by his remaining in his seat. There was no movement barring the two lifeless fronds that extended out from each side of him. His arms swaying this way and that, not wanting to be a part of this endeavour, but anchored in it all the same.

Eventually, Mo brought himself to speech once again, “Merv, what did you do?” he asked the empty space before him, for there was no Merv here. Merv was a million miles from here.

Of all the questions he could ask, this was the one that he knew the answer to. He repossessed his right arm and brought it slowly into his reality. Taking his time in case his wayward limb attempted to rebel, he touched the back of his head. Wincing, he confirmed that which he already knew. Bringing his hand around to his eyes, he saw a smear of his own blood.

Merv had really gone and done it. Mo chuckled mirthlessly and the sound of it hurt his soul. It wasn’t like Merv hadn’t told him, but Mo had chosen not to heed the truth of Merv’s warnings, using an oft used shield of rationalisation; why would he do such a thing?

Mo shook his head despite the pain it caused him. Just because he himself wouldn’t do a thing. Just because he could find no reason to do that thing. That didn’t mean that it would not occur. Sometimes people did things just because they could. More often than not, they did things because they could. Mo knew that if you could freeze time and ask a person why they’d done something self-evidently stupid, ignorant or downright dangerous, they’d stare into the void that was the mirror of their own with the eyes of a brain damaged sheep and give the only answer possible; nothing.

There was nothing.

And that was where Mo was now. He had nothing and he had plenty of time to contemplate the void that was at constant odds with meaning. The human race had been at war throughout its time in this reality. A conflict without end. They sought meaning, but the truth was that all they could really do was create meaning. But as fast as people built meaning, the void fed upon it, and the void was always hungry.

All the same, despite this philosophy of Mo’s, he reached back into his past and grasped at the offal of his time with Merv. Raising it aloft in his mind’s eye he could not help but see how diseased it had always been. The liver was shrivelled and hard. The guts pulsed with a grim, parasitic life. The cursed vision of his hindsight pained him further. Merv had not been joking around. Turned out that Merv had never been joking around. Merv was about as dangerous as it got and the punchline Mo was now living had about it a dark inevitability.

“Ignorant is, as ignorant does,” Mo whispered the words and that whisper took him back to a time and a place he had not visited in a long while. The ghost that now haunted him chilled his bones. He saw his Aunt Maud’s cruel angular face in every detail. That woman was constructed from cold metal. There was not one thing that was soft about Aunt Maud, and as though to prove Mo’s point, here he was, reliving the final words she ever spoke to him. Leaning forward as though she were bestowing a kiss upon her little nephew, she’d slipped those words to Mo, before the big man from the orphanage had tugged him away from everything he knew. An impossibly large hand wrapping itself around his upper arm to exert a sudden force powerful enough to snap the umbilical cord to a life that had died when Mo’s mother had taken her own life.

Now here he was. History had a bad habit of repeating itself. He’d yet again been torn away from the semblance of life he’d managed to achieve. The allotment of meaning he’d secretly tended to all on his own had been concreted over in the night and he was left with nothing. Worse than nothing, because all he had was himself and there was no currency there, only a debt that could never be repaid.

Without thinking about it, his hands did their work in freeing him from his seat. Mo barely marked this petty betrayal, his existence had been marred by a litany of betrayal until it had become a part of the air that he breathed. He took no morsel of joy in making his way to the window. He understood that happiness and joy were possibilities, but he’d been surrounded by such possibilities all his life and eventually he’d stopped daring to hope that he’d be gifted even one of them. Hope was not for the likes of Mo, let alone the pretty promises that it made.

Having reached the window, Mo stared out at the unreal sight of his new reality. He was oblivious to his making a little slice of history. A part of that history was that he was the first person to see Earth from space and not marvel at an overwhelming significance and meaning that could only be experienced in this moment. All Mo felt was loss, and even that loss had a hollow quality to it. Mo had lost to Merv, and Merv was just another in a long line of bullies and users queuing up to take a piece of Mo even when Mo doubted there was anything worth taking anymore.

Mo stared dispassionately out at the end of his life, and what he felt was the enormity of the void he now dwelt in. He felt the void’s inexorable and hypnotic pull and he knew in that moment that try as he might, he could not avoid gazing into it and allowing it to take what remained of him however worthless that may be.

In a stubborn act of defiance, he turned his back on the window and looked into the cramped space of his new home. He yelled with shock and surprise as a lifeless form lunged at him. Throwing his hands up instinctively to protect his face, scrunching his eyes up in a feeble act of cowardice that he’d never been able to prevent. Body language that marked him as a forever-victim deserving of each and every beating life had doled out.

As his heart rate dropped from the spike of his panic, he realised what it was that he’d been confronted by. Still he kept his eyes closed. Mo had been wrong far too many times to trust his own judgement. Gently he patted the air clumsily before him, catching something solid, he felt it float away. Now he could open his eyes. The mop hung in the air, moving across the cabin of the spaceship.

Instinctively, Mo scanned around for the bucket that the mop belonged to. Of that, there was no sign. A mop with no bucket. He sighed a sigh that juddered through his body and threatened to break it apart. His head went down. Where it belonged. Always looking down to where he was headed. Staring into the void that would consume him come what may.

There, the floor was a story that mirrored his own. Half-arsed. A clean portion and a dusty and dirty portion. He glanced up at the mop, with a mind to address the question of a job half done, but then thought better of it. Why change the habit of a life time?

Like the now pointless mop, Mo hung there, suspended in the nothingness of his own life. In that absurdly ridiculous state, he gave himself over to his emotions. Unclear as to whether he was laughing or crying. He abandoned himself to the act of giving up. His back to the world that had rejected him from such an early age. Rejecting the reality that he was now presented with.

Then Mo was laughing as he understood the meaning of his banishment from a world he had failed to be a part of. Understood why it was that Merv had done what he had done. At last he accepted his own meaning; that he was a waste of space.

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What was the most brutal military tactic in history?

It would have to be the Mongols population “thinning” tactic to subdue a regions ability to resist. It was literally a Genocidal action where they would murder (with much rape) 80–90% of an areas people. Especially men but also women and children. In some cities they even killed the pets.

One nasty trick they used was once a city was stormed and they had their little rape party followed by killing spree they would saunter out of the town and make a big show of leisurely packing their stuff and leaving. Once the dirty SOBs got a decent distance from the city they would encamp behind a ridge or forest and just quietly wait a day or two. Meanwhile all the little kids who wedged themselves between crevices in walls, women who went with their babies into dry wells, men in attics etc. would start getting hungry and come out to find sustenance and mourn their loved ones. On a planned signal the Mongol light Cavalry would mount their little ponies (tough animals that could literally run all day, some units could travel 120 miles from dawn to dusk! Edit: not routinely, in exceptional cases) and gallop the 5 miles or so straight back into the city. Likely a majority of the people would be caught out in the open, suffering from emotional shock etc., and the Mongols could have a second little orgy or rape and murder although sadly for them on a much less grand scale.

Genghis liked to leave about 10% of a subdued population (that was resisting) alive for tax and administration purposes and apparently his descendants followed his example for generations at least to some degree.

It amazes me how everyone likes to go on and on about the various “isms” of WW2. Hitler and Stalin were Putzers compared to the Mongol leaders in terms of barbarism.

“The greatest joy for a man is to defeat his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all they possess, to see those they love in tears, to ride their horses, and to hold their wives and daughters in his arms.” A flowery way of Genghis Kahn saying he really likes to rape hot women after killing their father/husband/BF.

When the Mongols butchered the people of Baghdad, the stench was SO bad, they had to move their camp not once, but TWICE as the first move wasn’t far enough from the odors of decay. Warhistory online gives the lowest estimate I’ve ever seen of 90,000 killed. Western sources traditionally give the number as 200,000 to 1,000,000 while Islamic sources quote about 2,000,000 slaughtered! That’s in ONE city! Also mind you this is when the ENTIRE world’s population was well and easily under a 1/2 billion.

Finally this last one is tragically amazing and new to me. They have discovered actual victims of Mongol genocide. In Russia an entire family was found in a burial pit, 15 in all ranging from a dear Grandmother to a Grandchild . 780 years ago, their bodies were thrown in the pit after the entire family was murdered by Mongols.

Most of my knowledge on this subject came from an excellent book titled The Devil’s Horsemen.

Here is a link to the murdered family in Russia: Gruesome burial pit from ‘city drowned in blood’ reveals how Mongols butchered entire families during European invasion

The Endless Horizon

Submitted into Contest #247 in response to: Imagine a world where exploration is forbidden, and write a story about a character who defies this rule to satisfy their innate curiosity.… view prompt

Julia Zhipa Philippova

– Luna, we need to go. Do you hear me? Luna?A small girl stood at the big round window, looking into the distance. The sun was going down slowly, making the red sand bright and lighting it with golden sparks. She was amazed at how the wind was swirling the sand grains, whooshing them up and down. She put her palm on the window and moved closer. Her nose almost touched the glass, which became wet from her breath. She was staring at how the wind became stronger and stronger as the sun went down. It was almost dark when somebody placed their hand on her shoulder.- Luna, your class started two minutes ago.Luna startled. She looked at the woman.- Oh dear, you are so pale. Do you think you are feeling alright? I think we need to get you to the doctor.Luna crumpled, lowered to her knees, and started to throw up. The woman helped her by holding her shoulders tightly. She whispered to her:- You are OK. Just breathe.Luna was exhausted when her mom brought her to the doctor. They checked her blood pressure, temperature, did some regular tests, and imaging this time. Luna wasn’t scared at all. She was reading a book, then the next one, and the next. The woman was sitting near her bed and looking at her. She was silent. Her eyes were full of tears, but she didn’t say any words. Luna was pretending that she didn’t see what was going on with her mom. She was calm.- You know, mom, this book is my favorite.- Why? – the woman moved closer to the bed and peeked inside the book.- Because this little bee was free. She made her way go anywhere she liked. She found some good friends, then she lost them. But she kept moving forward, towards her dream. – she suddenly stopped.- What was her dream?- She wanted to see the world even if it was impossible for such a little insect. She wanted to learn more about herself, to find her purpose.The woman hugged the girl. She kissed her head and lay down with her.- Have you ever thought about traveling anywhere? – the girl’s body felt weak. She looked into the woman’s eyes and rested her head on her hand. – There must be something amazing in this world, like that swirling sand out there. I don’t believe what they are saying, our teachers. Have you ever been there?- No, darling. I have not.

The woman hugged her tighter and tucked in the throw to make her a bit more comfortable. Her hands and feet started warming up.

– Have you ever wanted to go there?

– No, darling. I have lived here my whole life, learning that our survival depends on what we do. We can only survive by staying together. But if somebody decides to leave the flock, they will not be able to make it.

– Who said that? Do you really believe in it?

The woman closed her eyes, sliding under the throw. Luna felt warm and toasty. It was a good sign that the situation was under control now. They were silent for a few minutes. Luna turned to her mom and closed her eyes too.

– I feel trapped here. I do not belong in this place. You know that.

– No, darling. I think we are all here because we have to be here. We have a purpose.

– We don’t have a purpose. We live, we die. We do nothing while we are alive.

– That’s not true.

Luna has always been a bit skeptical. She was smart, the smartest girl in her class. She liked sitting in front of the window, staring into the distance and thinking about something for hours. Sometimes it seemed she was a statue. She didn’t blink, she didn’t move, she didn’t even say anything. She was traveling in her head. She pretended that the stories from her book were alive and she was the main character traveling through the pages of these books. She was a great scientist today, and an explorer tomorrow. Luna was very creative and she started writing her own book. She didn’t show it to her mom, not because she didn’t want to, but because she wasn’t sure her mom would approve. They were just different but she loved her.

– You know, you are a terrible liar. Our daddy was a traveler. I know that. And they punished him for it. That’s why you pretend that you are just nothing in this world. You live your simple life without him because… because you are afraid. Afraid to lose me.

– Luna, please stop.- The woman stood up. She burst into tears, covering her face with her hands. Luna didn’t make a move. She was still, with her eyes closed.

The woman was surprised by this dialogue with her daughter. It was something that came up unexpectedly. She lost her husband many years ago when Luna was 2 years old. It’s been 5 years since they lived without him.

– You will lose me anyway, so why lose your dream. Do you think they can dictate what you can do and what not? Who are they?

– You’re too smart, girl.

Luna didn’t answer. She took a deep breath and her heart rate dropped. The doctors came into the room quickly, made an injection. Luna started breathing a bit faster but heavily.

– It’s happening. Sorry. Unfortunately, we can’t do anything. She is dying.

Luna was lying on the bed in a star pose, giving a good look at her almost transparent skin through which you could see the ribs.

– Thank you, doctor.

The woman asked him to leave and give them some time together. He nodded, agreeing to return in ten minutes, and left the room quietly.

– Luna, stand up. Can you hear me? Stand up. We don’t have time.

She held her under the arm, another hand hugged her waist. The woman was trying to pull her to the outside of the room.

– We have just 10 minutes, Luna. That should be enough.

– Enough for what? – the girl couldn’t speak clearly. She opened her eyes and closed them again. Her legs were very weak and she hung on her mother like a bag. They were rushing through the corridors to the stairs, moving as fast as the woman could.

– To set you free like that little bee. You are free, my girl. In your mind, in your soul, in your thoughts. You can travel as far as you want. You can be whatever you dream about. And you are right, nobody can tell you what to do. I was scared. I am scared now. But I love you. Love you so much.

The woman was struggling. Her hands were tired but she kept pulling Luna. They hastened through the corridor. Stairs loomed ahead. Ten minutes. Only ten minutes left. They made it up two staircases already, one more left.

They were standing in front of the door. Just one move and they are outside. The door is unlocked because if you leave, you leave. You can’t come back anymore. You are just out of the flock. You are on your own.

Her husband is somewhere there. Maybe he found a better life, maybe he died. Maybe he is waiting for them.

The woman took a small step forward and placed her hand on the handle.

– Do not do this, mom. I am dying but you are not. Your life is here.

– No darling. My life is with you. I want to set you free because you want this. And I want to be by your side until the very end. And then…

– What then?

The woman paused:

– Then, I don’t know. But I will find out, right? I will join you when my time comes.

– I love you, mom.

The women unlocked the door, knowing once opened, there’s no return. The air was dense and stuffy. Sand made it impossible to see where they were going. Luna was weak. She was moving slowly, mostly pulled by her mom. Luna’s legs trembled with each step, her breaths short and sharp against the stuffy, sand-filled air, making each moment outside seem surreal and distant. They both were tired. But they kept moving. Luna was a little brave girl and the woman tried to be like her.

– I love you, darling.

The darkness ended. The wind disappeared. They were sitting somewhere in the middle of the desert. Luna was lying in the woman’s arms with her eyes closed. She didn’t breathe.

– We are free, Luna. We made it. This sunrise is amazing. I can tell. You were absolutely right.

She started crying, patting Luna on the head.

– I am here with you, my little brave girl. Love you, sweetheart.

If a foreigner gets a speeding ticket in the USA, what happens if they just go back to their country without paying it?

Exactly this happened to me in the early 1990s. I was visiting California from the Netherlands for business and on a deserted road, early Sunday morning, I got a ticket and a directive from the cop that I should go to court to deal with it the next day,

As it happens I had a flight back to the Netherlands the next morning which I had no intention of delaying and I asked the local secretary to sort it out and tell me what I owed.

She made a few calls without coming to a conclusion and then forgot to follow up. I heard nothing more. Until …

Fast forward about five years and I had just moved to California to live. Applied to the DMV for a driver’s license and was told “no can do, there’s a warrant out for your arrest”!

My options were (a) pay a total of about $500 in fines for the speeding ticket PLUS a failure-to-appear in court, or (b) appear in court.

Fortunately, I chose (b). The judge seemed to be in a very good mood and he waived the failure-to-appear altogether and reduced the speeding ticket since “it was an inappropriate speed limit for the road, much too low, and they later increased it”.

Moral of the story: The US legal system can sometimes do the humane and right thing, though don’t expect they will ever forget! And, oh yes – pay the ticket or don’t come back!

On the flip side:

I then later, about 10 years ago, got a speeding ticket, while driving a rental car, during a visit back to the Netherlands. When it comes to money, the Dutch are VERY efficient. Within a couple of weeks they sent me an invoice in the mail, with a photo from the camera that had taken me at speed. In this case, I forgot to pay and when visiting the Netherlands a couple of years later I was stopped at the airport and told I had three options: (a) pay the fine + late fee, (b) spend the weekend in jail and go to court on Monday, or (c) turn right around and go back to the US, cancelling my visit.

I’ll let you guess which option I chose.

BREAKING: A Nuclear Mini Explosion Took Place in ODESSA after an ISKANDER Missile Struck a NATO Ship

On the night of October 13, the Russian armed forces launched another missile and bomb attack on military facilities located in the territory of Ukraine. This time, Russia attacked strategically important military installations in regions such as Sumy, Donetsk, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odessa.

At the same time, it is worth noting that yesterday’s missile attack on Odessa may go down in history as a turning point in the current conflict that led to the outbreak of World War III.

The fact is that, unlike other regions of Ukraine, a really powerful explosion occurred in Odessa, the negative consequences of which have already begun to be felt not only by citizens of Ukraine but also by citizens of neighboring NATO countries…

As you’ve gotten older, do you regret getting tattoos, and do you warn young people of your regrets?

Personally, I think the main issue with tattoos is that many people believe they’re expressing their individuality, when in reality, they’re just following a trend.

Shorpy

China has long been portrayed by the media as a bully in the South China Sea. Why, at the recently concluded ASEAN summit, did none of the nine ASEAN countries support the Philippines’ claims? Why they are unwilling to condemn China?

Typical media cognitive bias

Many people are surrounded by media representing Western interests. The media in many countries do not have independent investigation capabilities and tend to retell the content of Western media.

This creates a cognitive bias.

This is what many people think of ASEAN and the South China Sea:

main qimg c14b5426ceff6477f097261d86dfaab0

China is trying to occupy the entire South China Sea with a red tongue, bullying other ASEAN countries with warships and coast guard ships. Use violence to oppress them and force them to give up the sea and islands. China is the bully in the South China Sea. All countries are trying to resist China’s atrocities!

This is the narrative from Western media and the cognition of most people.

At the just-concluded ASEAN summit, none of the 10 ASEAN countries was willing to condemn China’s position on the South China Sea conflict. The only countries that wanted to write the condemnation into the joint statement were the Philippines and the extraterritorial countries that supported him (the United States, Japan, India, and Australia)

Isn’t it a big contrast? The media narrative cannot explain this contradiction.

This is the real South China Sea:

main qimg 522f9b4985e65836ba1d40e58a34efeb

Almost all coastal countries have declared their own sphere of influence in this area, and these broken lines are intertwined with each other, and everyone claims that they have legitimate reasons.

China-Vietnam
Vietnam-Malaysia
Malaysia-Philippines
China-Philippines
Vietnam-Indonesia
Brunei-Vietnam
Indonesia-Malaysia

There is no region in the world where territorial/maritime disputes are more complicated than here. What’s more interesting is that Taiwan (ROC) is also involved in these disputes on behalf of China, and they are consistent with the mainland (PRC).

This is the actual control of the islands in the South China Sea:

main qimg 2522ff740a4ac4872407a35a07938518

China is not the largest controller. In fact, Vietnam occupies the most islands, and the Philippines also performs well.

China is not the only country to build artificial islands. Vietnam has implemented such projects earlier and more than China.

There are so many disputes and conflicts, but this sea area has actually remained calm. Only occasionally some fishing boats cross the border and cause security conflicts. There has never been a war or armed conflict since the 21st century. Compared with other regions, it is actually very peaceful.

This is not the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at work. In fact, this law is almost useless here. Most of the disputes were born before the promulgation of this law.

The peace in the South China Sea is maintained by the China-led Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which was signed by ASEAN countries and China.

This declaration actually elaborates on several key points

1. Countries can continue to maintain their sovereignty claims.

But don’t blame other countries

2. Don’t exploit oil and minerals in disputed areas.

No business unless the disputing parties reach a consensus

3. Allow fishermen to fish in disputed areas

Both parties can fish and avoid conflicts. Military and violence cannot be used to manage illegal fishermen

4. Ensure freedom of navigation and flight

All commercial ships and commercial aircraft are not affected here

5. Protect the ocean

Jointly implement fishing bans, coral protection and other protection measures

6. Prohibit unilateral actions

No more unilateral new military deployments and attempts to change the actual control of islands and reefs

This declaration was signed in November 2002, and the actual implementation plan was formulated in 2011, which brought long-term peace and stability.

This is actually a very clever agreement. It does not try to “completely resolve” the territorial disputes between countries. Instead, it maintains peace, maintains the status quo, and conducts economic cooperation on the basis of recognizing disputes.

This is much smarter than some Western thinking.

About the Philippines:

Aquino III (2010-2016)

Did not recognize the existence of the disputed Scarborough Shoal, believing that the area belongs to the Philippines, which triggered the Sino-Philippine conflict.

Initiated the famous South China Sea arbitration case through a court not recognized by the United Nations.

China responded to the Philippines’ actions by increasing coast guard patrols and expelling Filipino fishermen.

Duterte (2016-2022)

Returned to the framework of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and negotiated with China. Recognized the existence of the dispute in the area.

China no longer sent marine police patrols, and fishermen from both sides resumed fishing. The Philippines’ scrapped warship maintained its normal presence there, but promised not to reinforce it. Both sides promised to work hard to find a final solution to the ship.

Both sides restored peace

Marcos Jr. (2023-present)

Returned to Aquino III’s proposition, transported construction materials to reinforce the scrapped warship, and politically no longer recognized the dispute between the two sides, seeking US intervention.

China once again launched a confrontation, sending coast guard ships to expel fishermen and interfered with the Philippines’ delivery of materials to the scrapped warship.

Outside of China and the Philippines, all disputes remain calm. For example, the recent conflict between Chinese marine police and Vietnamese fishermen was quickly resolved through the visit of the Chinese Premier and consultations between the two countries.

Therefore, the 9 ASEAN countries are satisfied with the current situation in the South China Sea. After all, none of them can defeat other neighbors, let alone China.

Since China is willing to maintain peace and recognize disputes between all parties. Since there is no way to have a better result. Then all external interference becomes a negative factor.

If the dispute between China and the Philippines is limited to the conflict between the marine police between the two countries. ASEAN countries will maintain a “none of my business” mentality.

But when the Philippines tried to introduce external forces such as the United States, Japan, and Australia into the region and deploy foreign military forces in the region, the 9 ASEAN countries immediately became nervous.

They all agreed that the interference of external forces would threaten the long-term peace and stability of the region and affect the interests of various countries. Especially the introduction of military forces (such as the US medium-range missiles) has the risk of bringing war here (see Ukraine)

From the perspective of ASEAN countries:

China = maintain the status quo;

Philippines/US = change the status quo;

This makes all 9 ASEAN countries stand on the side of China, which is a bit contrary to Western media propaganda and common sense, but this is the reality.

Do cops just laugh inside when someone says “You work for me. I pay your salary”?

Yep.

As of several days ago I’m no longer in law enforcement. I worked as a tactical medic alongside a SWAT team, and though I loved my job (most days anyway) I left due to moving and soon I will no longer be living full time in the state I used to work in.

But over my 5 years of working in law enforcement, I was told “I pay your salary” many times. Sometimes during an arrest, other times settling arguments, and there’s one time that sticks out like a sore thumb.

I was working in the office, and I got called downstairs because someone wanted to talk to a member of my time. Well, she wasn’t very happy. She told me “your performance is lacking, I want to see your office and what you and SWAT does all day.” I told her sorry, we don’t typically give public tours, and when we do I get to say who goes into our upstairs office area. When you start off by telling me my performance is lacking, yet you have no evidence to back yourself up, I’ll show you where the door is.

So I told her that I couldn’t. I told her our offices were off limits, which was a valid excuse. We have information that is limited to law enforcement only, as well as things that can’t be screwed with. It was just the team I worked for in that area. We’ve got weapons, sensitive information, very expensive gear, and a k9. It was not a good time for anyone other than members of the team to be going upstairs. That was my explanation when she asked again.

Then of course the words “I pay your salary” came out of her mouth.

Technically she does not, and if she thinks just because she pays taxes she pays my salary, than I guess so do I. I pay taxes. Lots of them. I pay my own taxes as well as taxes on the business I own. Last I checked, the government gets that money and distributes it into many ways. So as life would have it, I paid my own salary, as well as the salary of other members of the team I worked with.

Thank you for paying my salary, but just because you don’t get your way doesn’t mean I don’t get paid.

Jason Bourne Ultimate TACTICAL MOVES Compilation ⚡ 4K

Has anyone done something so bad you cut them out of your life completely?

Yes, my brother and his family. I had an accident with a table saw on a Sunday afternoon in November. I looked at the mangled fingers on my left hand and knew that I would lose the top joint of 2 fingers. I put up my dogs while /I waited for the ambulance. I wrapped my hand, clenched it in a fist and kept it above my heart. The Drs in the ER said I would have to have a specialist, who was not available until Thursday, to do the surgery. The gave me multiple pain shots, cleaned the wounds, and wrapped up my hand. I called a friend to drive me home. I called my brother, who lives half an hour away, to ask him if he could help me before my surgery. He is a retired corporate lawyer who had a part time job as a bag and cart boy at a grocery store to get put of the house and get a little exercise . His wife, like me, is a retired school teacher. My brother asked me what I would do if no one came over, he has 2 young adult children, including an unemployed 25 year old son. I told him I would get cold as I need firewood to heat much of my house. The Drs did not want me carrying anything or going uo and down steps. My brother said ‘What will you do if I do not come over? ‘ I said I would be cold and in increased pain. He never came over and I did not hear from him, or his son again. This is the same brother who had asked me 2 years prior for a loan of $15,000 because the IRS had frozen all of their financial accounts. I told him I did not have that kind of cash, but I would access my home equity loan, and I drove the check over to him the next day. He eventually paid me back in full, but not including the interest I paid on the loan. This happened in 2015. We have not had any contact since then. kt

Do you think American society is becoming dumber?

I start every school year with a survey of students, asking how many books they’ve read for fun. When I first started teaching high school science, most students had read at least one book. When there was down time in class, the brighter students would pull out the newest Harry Potter or Hunger Games and lose themselves in the story.

Even the kids who didn’t like books got in the act. I can’t count how many times a student was supposed to be working from a textbook, and I caught them secretly reading Thrasher Magazine.

The last time that happened was years ago. Now, the average student has never read one entire chapter book in their entire life. It’s not just that they haven’t read a book for pleasure. It’s that many have never read a single book with chapters, even one assigned by teachers, in their life.

It’s been recently noted that many of the students being funneled into elite universities are mentally incapable of reading an entire book.

According Rose Horowitz of the Atlantic…

“College kids have never read everything they’re assigned, of course, but this feels different. Dames’s students now seem bewildered by the thought of finishing multiple books a semester. His colleagues have noticed the same problem. Many students no longer arrive at college—even at highly selective, elite colleges—prepared to read books.”

She continues…

“No comprehensive data exist on this trend, but the majority of the 33 professors I spoke with relayed similar experiences. Many had discussed the change at faculty meetings and in conversations with fellow instructors. Anthony Grafton, a Princeton historian, said his students arrive on campus with a narrower vocabulary and less understanding of language than they used to have. There are always students who “read insightfully and easily and write beautifully,” he said, “but they are now more exceptions.” Jack Chen, a Chinese-literature professor at the University of Virginia, finds his students “shutting down” when confronted with ideas they don’t understand; they’re less able to persist through a challenging text than they used to be. Daniel Shore, the chair of Georgetown’s English department, told me that his students have trouble staying focused on even a sonnet.”

Again, Ms. Horowitz is describing many of the students who get accepted to schools like Harvard, Yale and Columbia.

So what caused this situation?

Most of the students in college have never known any moment of being disconnected. Most have had highly addictive smart phones for most of their lives.

Many of them grew up not knowing a moment where entertaining stimulation isn’t coming from some outside sources.

If their parents took them to a restaurant, rather than expecting them to behave without distraction, they were handed devices to pacify them.

And the ages at which their addiction to data-driven-stimulation began is getting lower and lower.

While smart phones and tablets were a great way to give mom and dad a break from entertaining and disciplining the child, electronic pacifiers have been depriving them of the opportunity to develop the habits and skills they would need to learn.

So yes, people are getting dumber. It’s the phones, tablets and access to social media that’s making them dumber.

What is your best “one time my dad … ” story?

My Dad felt like he should go see his In-laws. They were 4 to 5 hours away, so he worked with my mother to clear a long weekend. Obviously, she was delighted for the chance to visit her mother. When Friday came, everything worked out so he was able to get off prior to lunch, instead of having to wait 4 more hours. He did not know why, but decided to take the leave instead of getting paid to get caught up in silence. He headed home and surprised everyone that they were heading out. My mother loves schedules and wanted him to wait a few hours. He agreed, but kept bugging her every few minutes that he really felt the need to get down there NOW. She finally relented and they headed down far ahead of schedule. My father was not prone to speeding at all. Decades in the military had conditioned him to precisely follow the speed limits. But this time, he kept finding himself unconsciously speeding, the only time in the entire time I knew him. They made incredible time and were greeted by confused In-laws that had not expected them for hours and hours.

As they greeted each other, a scream from next door rang out. My dad rushed to see what was going on as his miliary instincts kicked. He ended up in the neighbor’s backyard where they had a swimming pool. Floating unresponsive was a very young kid and his frozen mother. In seconds, he dove fully dressed into the water and retrieved the kid. His years as a Boy Scout swim instructor now paid off, as did his CPR training. By the time emergency services arrived, he had already resuscitated the child who had been turning blue (parents took a picture).

My father was invited and attended each of that child’s graduations up through college.

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Mother Knows Best

Submitted into Contest #243 in response to: Write a story from the point of view of a non-human character.… view prompt

Alexis Araneta

This story contains sensitive content

TW: Shades of abuse and control issues, swearingAuthor’s note: Written after an eczema flare-up. Hahaha !**Tonight, my baby Allison had me blocked again. It has been exactly the ninth time in her thirty-four years of existence she has jumped in that beat-up cobalt blue Honda Accord (safety alert!) in the middle of the night (safety alert!) and drove almost at the speed limit (GAAAAH !) to the harshly-lit emergency room of her nearest hospital.Believe you me; I tried to stop her, to protest another instance of my girl distancing herself from the shield of my protection. I bellowed to the tiny veins and capillaries around her face, commanding them to swell even more. I saw her delicate, undulating throat and gripped on it tighter, shutting off more of her respiratory tract. However, as if she were hooked on some intravenous line to a bag of determination, she marched into the bright fluorescent lights, to those ridiculous minions in scrubs coloured a disgusting mucus green, to a syringe filled with epinephrine formulated to wrestle an invisible straitjacket on me, to tranquilise me until I’m powerless.I don’t get it. I, Allison’s immune system, am just trying to look out for her, just want to ensure her safety. Apparently, though, if you were to ask her and those stupid doctors, — those twats who cannot heal her as much as I can — I should have never attacked those greasy peanuts on her dessert brownie. According to them, I’m overreacting by forcing her tissues to go on red alert against “food”, am the cause of disease as much as the one tasked to prevent it (Can you believe the audacity to say that?!). No, they don’t understand that like anyone giving life to a child, I take my job of protecting her as a matter of life and death, and that, well, Mother knows best.They don’t understand that the day Allison’s chromosomes coded me to existence inside a uterus; I was given marching orders to defend the chubby cheeked, blue-eyed life I was encased in. The day I was formed inside my baby, I took up arms, vowing to shoot any microbe, any germ that threatened to invade her organs. The day she came out onto the world, I watched her like a sniper through the viewfinder on the top half of her head and couldn’t help smiling. She looked so peaceful, so docile, and so dependent on me. It was the most perfect time knowing this pink-skinned, gurgling organism wanted me to be its bodyguard, to take care of her like the woman who gave birth to her, and well, Mother knows best.They don’t understand the sadness I felt the day of my little girl’s third birthday. As she broke into a smile when she blew those purple candles on her chocolate birthday cake, -– her choice (Ugh! I’d have preferred vanilla.)— I throbbed as if some inexperienced surgical intern were performing a coronary bypass on me without anaesthesia. As she ran across the playground with all the power in her toddler hamstrings to the large sandbox (Eww! Germs!), I wanted to yell at Allison for choosing the risk of getting ill, for not choosing me. I couldn’t help pushing her skin to break out in scarlet bumps, to try with everything I am to get her to notice me.To my surprise, once my baby girl’s birth giver saw the hives, she tsk-ed and blamed me, ME! Hey, Mama Immune System is just trying to do her job, and well, Mother knows best.They don’t understand the needle-like sting of my Allison’s betrayal two months after she turned 11. Her birth giver (I know. How could she instigate this?) had asked my baby if she wanted to see some Dr. Pell. As my baby and the woman she called “Mum” got into their car, I had high hopes, to be honest. I thought that, obviously, someone who spent more than a decade learning about the human body would firmly explain to the pair that they need to let me be, to do my job of protecting my Allison. Oh no, instead, that quack demonised me and told my baby she will try to get me under control.

Immunotherapy! That twat in the white coat suggested therapy! Before I could even protest, Dr. Pell asked my Allison to stretch her arm out and scratched my baby with a tiny lancet to see how I attack, and then, scheduled the first session of what they called “desensitisation”. They wanted to weaken me, stop me from fully protecting that child I vowed to defend from the world; that doctor wanted my girl to forget that Mother knows best.

They don’t understand the desperation pumping in me whenever I’m supressed. The round of shots that quack injected into my Allison had stripped me of my ability to pounce on pollen and dust (NO!). Her puberty hormones had further rendered my efforts futile by nullifying my attacks on eggs (NO!). Through the viewfinder on her head, I saw her paint her lips a tacky crimson, ingest those barbecued prawns that disgusted me – observed her drift further and further away from what I wanted for my baby. Any tingle on her lips, any bump on her skin I pushed into her bloodstream, she combatted with bitter pills called antihistamines and a shrug of her delicate shoulders.

I had no choice but to become stricter, more ferocious. I wasn’t content anymore with commanding the production of red rashes; oh no, I started to grip her airway shut with all my might so that in her breathlessness, she’d come home to Mama. I spun furious circles around her to raise her blood pressure, to make her remember her heart is mine. Unfortunately, all it got me was staring at her through her head viewfinder as she employed more doctors to come between us, as she took stronger drugs, as she spat at me whenever I tried to convince her that Mother knows best.

Most of all, they don’t understand how much I love my Allison, that I want to protect my baby girl more than anything, that I desperately want her to comprehend that she’s mine…even if I have to resort to drastic measures, to “Anaphylaxis” (What a terrible name. Why does it sounds so…disease like?). It will always go over those quacks’ heads that when I pull her throat shut, it’s me pulling on her heartstrings; that when I quicken her pulse, it’s me attempting to unite our heartbeats.

Then again, Allison doesn’t need to understand, does she? After all, I’m in her, she never escape me. She can block me all she wants and get as many doctors involved. She can put me in a corticortsoid straitjacket for all I care. I will always know best.

Russian Marines Ambushed and Destroyed Eight U.S. Army RANGERS Along With The ‘STRYKER’ ICV In KURSK

Were the Japanese soldiers as cruel in World War II as depicted in American movies?

The Japanese soldiers were so cruel during WWII that it beggers belief.

There is a tendency in fiction of authors trying to be impartial when depicting historic conflicts. In the 2007 film Letters from Iwo Jima we follow a sympathetic group of Japanese soldiers trying to survive in the final days of the war. They’re caught between an oppressive government, insane officers, and American soldiers more than willing to commit war crimes.

It’s a great film. And a lot of it is historically accurate. But it leaves out a lot of context in order to make its protagonists sympathetic.

It leaves out the “comfort women”, the countless women forced into sexual slavery by the Japaneae military. It leaves out the beheading contest held among officers that ran in public newspapers. It leaves out the abuse of prisoners. The crimes of Unit 731. The 50,000 Chinese killed each day in the lead up to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, most of whom were civilians.

We use the Axis powers of WWII as a visual shortcut for evil. We depict them as cartoonist, mustache twirling villains who kick puppies for fun.

And at first glance you might think that this is a bit unfair. An exaggeration made by the winners of the conflict against the lovers.

But you have to understand, they were worse. In real life they were an evil almost beyond our comprehension. An evil that has to be censored in media because the truth is so extreme that few can believe it.

But it is the truth.

Why Don’t Men “Catcall” Us Anymore?

I see many rankings of Chinese technology always ranked below the US, Japan, and Korea. Why do many people think they are leading in technology?

The Best of Chinese Technology stays on the Mainland and rarely is displayed outside the Mainland or maybe HK at the most

You have to go to the Mainland to see the extent to which the Chinese have progressed when it comes to Software Applications

We Indians have to give our Aadhar Card Or Passport every time we check into a Hotel but in China you just have to look at the camera and in seconds you can check in without needing to even open your bag

In 2023 the Facial Integrated Network was only operational in Beijing and Shanghai but now it works in 55 Cities

And it’s companies most people haven’t heard of

Iflytek for instance
Cambricon for instance
Hesai, Huobi, Horizon for instance

Likewise you have lock systems that can store upto 30 facial prints and ensure that nobody else can enter your flat or even your room

You have Lifts in high security buildings that have facial recognition systems where if you aren’t approved, the lift won’t move for you

Didi in its Chinese form is so much better than Uber or any other taxi application including an option to flag the taxi in a busy parking lot by sending a loud beep

China keeps all it’s technology within the mainland

Their English Language Apps are certainly one or two levels below the equivalent western apps

Didi English is slower and often a bit inaccurate

Likewise Iflytek Translators are superb when it comes to speaking Chinese from English and Russian and Japanese

My son uses them and they are fabulous.

You just speak into them upto 400 words like I want to find a Hotel and the translator will convert your text into perfect Chinese

When someone replies in Chinese, the words are captured and translated back in English Text

Near perfect unless some Cantonese or Hokkien words are used

So why is Chinese Technology ranked below US, Japan and Korea

Simply because for the General world – Chinese Technology they see and experience is second level or third level to what they have on the mainland

Just ride a Huawei EV in Wuhan or Hangzhou and the Chinese software is far superior to Tesla

Problem is the Best Software is banned in Europe because the Best Software Companies in China are on a US Blacklist

So as a result much of the Software in Chinese EVs is from Mediocre yet Safe Chinese Software companies

It isn’t new

When Japan was undergoing it’s miracle – the best electronics sold in Japan and the exports were always one or two levels below

Should I marry someone that I don’t love?

I did exactly that. Married someone I didn’t love.

I was coming out of a bad relationship with my ex when I met him. I used him to get over my ex. (My ex was cheating on me with multiple women and had gotten someone pregnant, he also raped and physically hit me).

I didn’t love the man i married, but he was text book perfect. He had a great job. He was a family man. He cooked. He cleaned. Respected me. Treated me right. Family loved him. And above all else he was loyal.

He was in love with me. He said to give him a chance. I will never forget his words. “I want to look after you and give you all the good things in life”.

I said yes to him with my heart aching over my Ex.

Over the years I forced myself to love him. I forced myself to stop thinking of my ex. I put all my energy into seeing the positive things that my husband was doing in my life.

And now I love him. We’ve been married 10 years. Sometimes I find myself day dreaming about him when I’m at work. Or checking him out when he’s nearby. Thinking what a handsome sexy man I married. What a wonderful father he is to my children. What a great provider. What a great helper. We have a wonderful relationship. He’s literally my best friend.

And no- I no longer think about that toxic ex. I’m glad I didn’t run with my heart.

Sometimes, your heart can deceive you. Use your mind to think through your decisions and use it to guide your heart.

What was the scariest moment you experienced in combat?

There was a friend of mine who lived in a village a couple of miles away from our mountain base. He was a guerrilla fighter like we were, but not in our unit. From time to time, he came to our base to help us and this is how we knew each other.

One afternoon, he called us over the radio and asked if anyone wanted to come to his village. There were some problems with the enemy, he stated.

I thought “why not?” and left with a group of soldiers. On our way to the village, we got updates about the situation there. They were bad news and two of the soldiers in our group stopped and said they didn’t want to continue.

There was nothing we could do as this was a purely voluntary mission and we had no orders from anyone to go there. We continued our way without them.

We came to a wooded hill where we could see our friend’s place; it was situated on another hill and all we had to do was to cross a small valley to get there.

When we descended into the valley, we left another soldier behind. We were only two now and I was in the lead. When I came out of the woods into the open, I could see our friend at the entry of the village. He waved at us.

I saw that there were plenty of other soldiers higher up on the village’s main street and started wondering: “Why is he calling us for help when there are plenty of his own soldiers around?”

I got an answer very quickly. I was now only 200 meters away from the first houses when a bullet zipped over my head. Then another one and then many more.

A machine gun was taking aim at us. We stopped and ran back. We were completely in the open and there was no cover in both directions. While I ran, hundreds of more bullets were coming in my direction.

It dawned on me: The other soldiers I had seen in the village were the enemy! Unable to fight them off alone, my friend had been gone into hiding and had called us for help. His waving at me had been a way to get my attention and to warn me! I had misunderstood the whole situation.

There was at least a complete infantry company of Serbs in the village and more and more of them started shooting at us.

I saw a small manure pile and hid behind it. This wasn’t the best cover, but there was absolutely nothing else out there.

While I lay flat on the ground the bullets kept flying towards me. They must have had a lot of ammunition! I heard how the bullets struck the manure pile and I just hoped that it was thick enough to protect me.

I looked at the grass in front of my eyes and I literally wished I was a mouse and could just hide in a tiny hole in the ground.

Meanwhile, the other soldier who had come with me made it to safety. He had run a little faster and had reached the woods of the hill. He was calling me, but I didn’t dare to move.

I was waiting for a break in the enemy’s fire to make a jump for cover. After what seemed like an eternity to me, but was maybe only a minute, I stood up and raced towards the woods.

Bullets were everywhere and I heard dozens of nasty ‘zip’ sounds while I crashed into underbrush. There was a very low stone wall where my buddy was hiding. We were safe, but we still had to wait for another five minutes until the enemy ceased fire.

Miraculously, we were unharmed. I lost my ‘Bugs Bunny’ baseball cap which I had gotten as a present from some kids just a few days ago, but that was all.

The next days, I wondered a lot about the fate of the friend we had seen in his village. Did he make it out alive?

I saw him a week later, when he came to our base as if nothing had happened. He thanked me for my good will on that day and told everyone: “I called you all for help, but the only person who came to my assistance was the German!”

I was thinking: “Yeah, but the German only came, because he didn’t know what was going on.” Instead, I smiled and said: “Anytime!”

What conversations have you overheard in a language they assumed you don’t know?

At 20 years old, I had just finished up doing a year of study abroad in France, when my father came out to travel around Europe with me. Being a (very) poor student and traveling with a very frugal father, we were dressed about as “American” as they come.

It just so happened that as this was before 9/11, it was possible to store your luggage (temporarily) in lockers at the main train station in Paris (though by just looking through an image search there may still be some available nowadays, but I haven’t seen any in person for a long time). We went to go store our luggage so that we could do sightseeing during a 10-hour stopover.

The lockers were all pre-pay, and had signs all over the place to that effect (in French – this was before the country had multi-lingual signs as de rigeur). We paid our fee, and went walking around the city.

Upon return, there were two new guys on shift, and as we came up to the desk to get our bags retrieved, I heard one guy say to the other, in French, “Watch this. This will be fun.”

He proceeded to tell us, in English, that we had to pay for the return of our bags. I explained (in English), that we had already paid, and that I had the receipt to prove it. It was very clear that he was trying to scam us and was going to pocket the money.

(As a side note, my frugal father didn’t want to spend the $50 equivalency to store the luggage. He would rather save the money and take the bags – huge suitcases designed for 2 weeks travel – around Paris, and I had to fight with him to store the bags. I was concerned that this was going to reinforce his idea that we should have taken the bags with us).

I pointed to the sign, and said that it would have been impossible for us to leave the bags without pre-payment. The guy was completely shocked that I could read the sign, and said that it was “an old sign.”

I was getting angrier at this guy, and we were getting pressed for time as we were going to miss our train (which he probably guessed). I started pointing to the other signs around the room. “Are these all old, too?” I asked

His friend behind him, realized this wasn’t going so well. “Just get the bags,” he said (in French).

The guy waved him off, and said (in French), “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got this.”

I lost it, and shot back (in French). “You’ve got what? What do you have?”

The look on his face was absolutely priceless. He was absolutely shocked, and began to stutter. “Is this the part where you’re going to have ‘fun’,” I asked, sarcastically.

“Look, I heard you talking to your friend over there behind my back, and I know what you’re trying to do.” (In French, the equivalency of “talking behind someone’s back” is an idiomatic expression that very few Americans would know, which clued him in that I was completely fluent.) “You think that just because I’m an American, that I’m stupid, don’t you?”

“Non, non…”

“I suggest that you get our bags before I contact the gendarme and tell them that you were trying to rob us.”

In the background, his friend was nearly convulsing from holding in his laughter at the other guy being busted.

We got our bags, and we were on our way.

The Great Divide of Men & Women

Don’t be the guy that needs a roto-tiller to define your boundaries

When my mother was ill with cancer, we as a family had to do something. My kid sister lived nearby and was actively trying to put her in an old-folk’s retirement home, and seize all her assets.

All in all they were (her and her narcissist husband) were terrorizing my mother. Visiting her, and yelling at her; tying to get her to sign some legal documents, and also openly stealing her property at night, and then later brazenly in the daytime.

Ugh!

I, as the oldest son, stepped in. Quit my job as the VP of Engineering in a company in Boston and moved to her home. I became her caretaker.

I believe that I wrote about this earlier, and I won’t spend too much time on it. I was a caretaker for my mother with cancer, and I used up ALL of my savings to exist on while I took care of her. Not only did I torpedo my career, but lost all my savings. Meanwhile I dealt with my mother; playing “Driving Miss Daisy” while dealing my a money-crazed kid-sister and her crazy husband.

Many adventures all set in a quiet and pastoral environment. My mother lived in a huge mansion set on a country estate, and I became the caretaker of it as well as my mother.

Today, I want to talk about roto-tillers for the garden. They are used to churn up the ground so that one can plant food, and flowers.

Now, my mother had a couple of them.

She had my kid sister’s husband use them to plow up the local garden, and flower beds. The thing was that he would then take the tillers, and sell them on e-bay for some extra cash.

What a scam.

Now, when I came onto the scene, he freaked out. He was like a parasite siphoning money from my mother one way or the other. And he made my life miserable in various ways. But narcissist are not worth wasting your time on. You just isolate from them; you stay away.

Do what ever is necessary to stay away.

Don’t be the guy that needs a roto-tiller to define your boundaries.

And that is my story for today.

Today…

Exposé – Let Me Be The One

A blast from the past. 1980s style.

What is the one thing that drives you absolutely crazy?

Living with a dirty roommate. It’s terrible.

The guy would go through 2 or 3 protein shakes a day, constantly cook, and constantly have people over, and he also ran an amateur baking business. But he did the dishes once a week if I was lucky.

He saw no need to do the dishes as long as there was still something left to eat with in the house. And the small sink didn’t bother him, since he could also pile up dirty dishes on the countertop and stove. When no clean dishes were left, he would eat out of plastic containers.

When he finally did the dishes at the end of a week or two, he would never unload the dishwasher afterward. Instead, at each mealtime, he would just take out what he needed (e.g. a plate and some cutlery). So in no time you’d have a sink and countertop piled with filthy dishes, and a dishwasher that hadn’t been emptied.

Another filthy habit of his on occasion was to leave his dirty plates on the table after finishing a meal. He’d be too lazy to put them in the sink. If he ordered takeout, he’d be too lazy to toss the eaten food in the garbage afterward. He might do that the next morning. And when he did put dirty dishes in the sink, he wouldn’t run any water over them, so the food particles would harden and need to be scrubbed off before washing.

If he used a frying pan or cooking pot it would stay permanently on the stovetop afterward until I scrubbed it and put it in the washer. And no matter how many times I cleaned up after him, the kitchen would always be a pigsty again within 48 hours.

He also dumped his clutter on all the tables and countertops, even the chairs, so it would be impossible for me to find a place to eat.

That’s just how he was in the kitchen. He was equally filthy everywhere else.

We had shoe racks, but he preferred to kick and scatter his 15 pairs of shoes all over the floor or put them on the edge of the staircase and I would always trip on them.

He didn’t toss his clothes on the floor thank God, but he would put them wherever he felt like. He’d leave them on chairs, couches, on the staircase.

Don’t even ask about the bathrooms. They were so revoltingly filthy a guy might vomit if using them for the first time. The counter, bathtub and toilets would be absolutely caked with grime and the floor would gather up dust and hair for many months. If I thought he liked to postpone doing the dishes until the end of time, I discovered he thought cleaning the bathroom even once a year was optional.

If I hadn’t cleaned the bathrooms, they would absolutely never have been cleaned. I never saw this guy pick up a sponge or toilet brush.

Despite occupying the master bedroom of the house, he would study in the dining room, and spread his property all over the table. There were 6 chairs at that dining table but no free space.

He’d sleep on the couch all the time and never pick up after himself afterwards. The couch would always be a mess, as if a huge dog had slept there instead of my roommate.

He wouldn’t throw his clothes on the floor but he’d hang them on chairs in the kitchen and dining room, and leave them on the couch and rocking chair.

Whenever I approached him about cleanliness, he’d get defensive and basically argue that he worked and studied too much to clean up after himself. How about me? I had a lot of free time, so who did I think I was, complaining about having to spend some of that free time cleaning? How often was I cleaning the bathroom anyway? Not daily. And doing the dishes was just one job, man. I shouldn’t lose my temper over it.

He also had a cat, and he was very strict about the rule that only he was allowed to change the litter box because only he knew how to do it “properly.” Of course — big surprise — he didn’t. He would never scoop the clumps, like cat owners are supposed to do every day. Instead he would just replace the litter, which is supposed to be done every two weeks maximum. But he would do it once every three or four weeks. The whole floor would stink of urine and I’d have to pester him to change the litter box since I wasn’t allowed.

I could hardly believe when he’d invite his girlfriend over. And she would use the bathroom. I don’t know how he explained it. I suspected he told her it was my fault. 🤔

The guy was the definition of filth. He absolutely hated to clean up after himself, ever. He would only do it in an emergency. It was 8 years ago I lived with him and I still wanna puke. 🤢

What should Japan, Taiwan and US allies do in light of China’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test?

Mr QPG,

Not sure what’s your intention for raising this question and your expected propaganda to create.

Here’s my simple answers but yet difficult to do once you don’t have the right leaderships —

First Step: “Stop poking this Dragon”!!!!! Obviously you will hate yourselves when this Dragon breathes fire at you.
Second Step: “Stay neutral” to avoid getting into the grass patch when this Dragon stampede on you.
Third Step: “Be good to your own people” — grow your people’s country, educate them, bring good jobs and good lives to your people.

Isn’t that easy?

The INSANE Plan to Bait China: Push Japan, Philippines Into WAR

What is the pettiest thing you’ve seen a cheap person do at a restaurant?

I’m 56 years old. One of my oldest friendships goes back to high school. My friend, let’s call him Lou, has always been incredibly cheap. I have always known this about him and, for the most part, I don’t care.

But there was one time I almost decked him.

I was visiting him in Pittsburgh, having driven from Boston to visit, when I was in my twenties.

In the course of the visit, I found a wallet lying in the street, full of all its cards and cash.

I found a pay phone, since this was before cell phones, and was able to reach the owner, who drove over to get his wallet back. When he arrived, he was so grateful, he insisted I take $50 as a thank you.

I did try to refuse it, but I was working a job that paid $25K a year at the time, and $50 felt like a lot of money. He was insistent, and I was glad to accept it.

After that was all resolved, we continued in our tour of the city, and then went to a restaurant for dinner, as planned.

When the dinner bill came, Lou took the bill and did the math to divide the cost three ways, as his girlfriend was with us. The amount he wanted us each to pay seemed much too low. There was no way the three amounts would come close to the total bill. “Lou, you can’t have done the math right.” I said.

Lou was soft spoken and a slow talker. He said, “No no, I did the math correctly. You are just not looking at this right. You see, I subtracted the $50 you were given for finding the wallet. After all, if you hadn’t come to visit me, you would not have found the wallet or received the money. Therefore, I am putting the $50 towards our dinner, as a celebration of our day together. Then, I am dividing the rest three ways.”

Again, I have no problem with how cheap Lou can be. We have a great time together and, honestly, I hate to spend money myself, so I like hanging out with a guy who prefers to do things that don’t cost much.

But this was one time I wanted to deck him.

I was young and stupid, so I allowed the $50 to go to the cost of the meal. I would not do that now.

China Urges UK to Return Malvinas Islands to Argentina

Garlic bread hamburger

Do biker gangs such as the Hells Angels, Mongols, etc. pick fights or purposely try to intimidate regular everyday people who are minding their own business, or is it not worth their time?

I walked into a group of gang members here in Florida. It was a Sunday and I called around trying to find a place that could remove a link from my motorcycle chain. No one open and back then I was using the Yellow Pages. It was a small listing I had luck with. A guy answered and told me to hold on…..this should have been a clue…another guy picked up and said “Snake here..what you need?” I told him …he said c’mon and gave me the address. So I drive over in my old jap car with a jap motorcycle chain and opened the privacy gate…to a lot with numerous Harleys and guys wearing colors and froze for a second then asked for Snake. Was told to look in the clubhouse building. Went in and asked and was told he was out in garage and did I want a beer? Large jar with sign that read “Bail Fund”. So I got a beer and put a $5 bill in and went to garage like I belonged there. Slightly nervous at this point hoping no one asked about the foreign car out front! We’ll I found Snake sitting at a workbench….picture a large man wearing colors and hands covered in grease with thigh size biceps..and handed him my chain. I know he knew this wasn’t a Harley chain but he said nothing as he removed a link for me. I asked what do I owe you? He replied “nothing brother”. I thanked him and left finishing my beer putting the empty can in a trash can by the gate. Drove home thinking “phew” and glad I hadn’t cut my long hair ponytail like the wife had been asking for! Seriously they were all non confrontational and good humoured…

In the Korean War, what caused the defeat of the United Nations army led by the USA against the volunteer army from China and was pushed back from the Yalu River to near the city of Seoul?

Simple.

Among the varied accounts of the Korean War written in this language, few explored it from the Chinese POV.

I had to read Chinese accounts before it opened my eyes to whole new possibilities.

The Americans were fighting a veteran adversary, who were victors of a decades long civil war, with the climax campaigns involving millions of men across fronts that were thousands of kilometers wide and deep.

In other words, the Americans were fighting the world’s premier light infantry units, some of the best ever seen, led by wily old heads who drew lessons from decades of warfare against technologically superior opposition that were way better supplied.

The Chinese were not only better led, but they were also cognizant of the fact that if they did not make a stand over the yalu, there would be no secure home to go back to.

The Americans could always give up and enjoy Thanksgiving turkey stateside.

1950年10月，毛泽东与民主人士周世钊谈话时，周世钊问到朝鲜局势，毛泽东指出：我们急需和平建设，如果要我写出和平建设的理由，可以写出百条千条，但这百条千条的理由不能敌住六个大字，就是“不能置之不理”。现在美帝的矛头直指我国的东北，假如它真的把朝鲜搞垮了，纵不过鸭绿江，我们的东北也时常在它的威胁中过日子，要进行和平建设也会有困难。所以，我们对朝鲜问题置之不理，美帝必然得寸进尺，走日本侵略中国的老路，甚至比日本搞得还凶，它要把三把尖刀插在中国的身上，从朝鲜一把刀插在我国的头上，从台湾一把刀插在我国的腰上，从越南一把刀插在我国的脚上。天下有变，它就从三个方面向我们进攻，那我们就被动了。我们抗美援朝就是不许其如意算盘得逞。

打得一拳开，免得百拳来。

我们抗美援朝，就是保家卫国。

In October 1950, when Mao Zedong was talking to Zhou Shizhao, Zhou asked about the situation in North Korea. Mao Zedong pointed out: We urgently need peace construction. If I were asked to write down the reasons for peace construction, I could write down hundreds and thousands of reasons, but these hundreds of thousands of reasons are no match for a single consideration, which is “cannot be ignored”. Now the U.S. imperialist spearhead is aimed directly at our country’s Northeast. If it really destroys North Korea, even if it cannot defeat the Yalu River, our Northeast will often live under its threat, and it will be difficult to build peace. Therefore, if we ignore the Korean issue, the US imperialism will inevitably push forward and follow Japan’s old path of invading China. It will even be more vicious than Japan. It will thrust three sharp knives into our country’s body; a knife from Korea into our head, a knife from Taiwan into our waist, and a knife from Vietnam into our feet. When the geopolitical wind shifts, it will attack us from all three directions, and we will be disadvantaged. Our goal in resisting U.S. aggression and aiding Korea is to prevent them from succeeding in their wishful thinking.

Land a single punch to avoid hundreds of punches coming.

When we resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea, we defend our country.

Planet of the Amazons – Super Panavision – AI Trailer

What would be the consequences for China if Kamala Harris becomes the US president?

136%

and remember this number

Chinas National Debt can rise upto 136% of their GDP and still be fiscally sustainable at 60% of their Present Trade Surplus

We call it the God Option

This means that if Chinas trade surplus plummets by even 40% and China pumps in another 80 Trillion RMB ($ 12 Trillion) over the next 6 years into the Economy – Chinas growth will average 5.35% for the next 6 years

Of course by the end of 2030 – China will enter a near saturated phase at least 10 years before schedule and will likely stagnate with a Nominal GDP of around $ 35.50 Trillion to $ 38 Trillion

It’s a path China would likely take if TRUMP does become President and impose those 60% Tariffs he threatens China with

That’s when China will be forced to give up and sacrifice maybe 20 years of long term vision and hit the economy with BAZOOKA after BAZOOKA after BAZOOKA of stimulus

Once China realizes that their Long term vision is unlikely to be reached , they will decide to party their way to an all time high

You will see even 7.50% growth or 8% Growth again and a huge vital importance to Paper Numbers

Inflation will hit 4% easily

However China will finally do what Shun Bot was waiting for

They will begin their own brutal onslaught on the US

Chinese Social Media will run with filthiest stories on Baron and Melania making out with Trump watching and the dirtiest junk on the Americans

They will flood Twitter with trolling on every US Senators threat to China by threatening his Kids or Grandkids or just abusing him (Imagine 50,000 people calling you a b****** after every tweet)

A Trump win would finally get the Chinese riled up enough to rip up their long term vision and leave the future to the others and take the present to an all time high

Not to mention Bomb the bejeesus out of Taiwan and threaten Nukes on every neighbor and terrify them

My guess is William Lai will be afraid to even come to the mic after sometime

If Kamala Harris wins – it’s Business as usual and China can look at its future and plan for the next 20–30 years in the same conservative and cautious way that it has been planning these 3/4 years

My dream house

Can you imagine discovering this estate?

As a private investigator, have you ever found a missing person?

Many PI’s have found missing people in their careers. Sometimes, when people don’t want to be found, it can go badly. Most of the time, it can be joyous.

I had been working on a case involving a 15 month baby girl. The mom and dad had a bad breakup due to mom’s use of illegal drugs.

Because the father was the only parent that worked, his money ran out constantly, trying to pay for his baby’s needs, living costs and legal fees. He decided to ask his parents for financial help in which they had no problem whatsoever.

So, the grandparents were my clients. They rarely got to see their granddaughter. They were medical doctors who had their own practice so that took up a lot of their time. They tried numerous times to make an appointment with the baby’s mom to see their granddaughter, only to be stood up again and again.

Baby’s mom would disappear for days or weeks at a time with the baby only to eventually call baby’s father to come rescue her out of a’situation’ The ‘situation ‘ always involved having to pay off one of her drug dealers and driving mom and baby home.

The court process is SLOW and father was fighting as much as he could to get custody of his daughter. The courts wanted both homes evaluated. Courts wanted lots and lots of hoops for father to jump through. I was getting evidence, little by little involving her drug use. It was just taking too long to do anything of significance.

Finally, grandparents got a court ordered visitation with their granddaughter for the day. It was just a few hours because mom’s insistence that she was still breastfeeding the 15 month old. During the visit, grandparents, being good doctors, immediately noticed that the baby had some things medically wrong! They contacted a pediatrician they knew who immediately saw the child and took blood samples. The samples would take time for the laboratory to evaluate. This was 20 years ago and labs were slow in comparison to today.

Grandparents reluctantly gave baby back to the mom when the visitation ended. They had good reason to worry, as it turned out. Part of the lab work came in the next day and what it showed, caused grandparents to call the attorney on a Saturday and get an ex parte (immediate court appearance) for the following Monday. Baby’s mom is notified as required by law of the ex parte hearing.

Grandparents, father and their attorney show up for the hearing, lab work in hand. Mom or baby are nowhere to be found and didn’t show up for the hearing. Mom’s attorney was there though, so she was represented.

The judge looked at the lab work and saw that the baby had at least THREE ILLEGAL DRUGS in her tiny body! Although mom’s attorney tried, they were unable to prevent the grandparents from getting legal, temporary custody. The problem was, where was the baby?

I immediately got to work on finding mom and baby. So did the police. The amount of drugs in the baby’s system was high enough to warrant an immediate search that the police took seriously.

I was able to find out the first name of a person that mom told a friend about. Mom said this person would hide her. With just a first name to go on usually would be almost impossible! I TRIED to work with the police but they weren’t going to have any of that. I did, however, give them the first name of the person I felt she was with.

At that time, our investigation office was one of the first database oriented offices in the country. We had a LOT of public records from all over the country. We had information, the police didn’t!

Thank God the person’s first name was unique. I found maybe 20 people in the state who had this first name. I can’t divulge how I found which name/address was the one, but grandparents and I were on the first plane we could get to Northern California. We rented a car at the airport and headed for the police station in the area where I knew Mom and baby were. The custody order was in hand. After learning of the dire situation, these police were AMAZING and we were all on our way to the address.

When we got to the house, it turned out to be a well known drug house to the police. They went in and came out with mom and four other people in handcuffs. I guess the people couldn’t hide all the drugs quick enough and when they opened the door, the police had a visual of drugs and paraphernalia, giving them reasons to go into the house. One male officer, walked out, holding the baby. This officer had tears in his eyes. It was obvious that the baby was drugged. An ambulance was called and baby girl was ultimately taken to the children’s hospital in San Francisco where she remained for almost a week!

We all stayed at a hotel for that week, going to the hospital daily to see the progress of the baby. Grandparents offered to fly me home, but I wanted to stay. We were now friends and I was going to stay and support this family however I could.

So, as a trained investigator, I was able to find a missing baby, whose mother had been drugging with her breast milk. I only had a first name of someone to go on. I always thank the higher power that led us to save this innocent child.

Father raised his daughter as a single parent. Mom, fortunately, didn’t remain in her daughter’s life. Grandparents doted on their granddaughter until they left this world about five years ago.

Diner Dreamin’

Since gun owners have their guns to protect themselves, why shouldn’t they be banned from calling the police?

Oh, that would be nice, wouldn’t it?

Some criminal attacks Bob’s family. Bob puts two rounds through the criminal’s heart and one through his head. The criminal’s biological processes are deactivated before he hits the ground.

Now, under our current legal system, Bob has to call the police. And maybe the police buy his story and maybe they don’t. And maybe the DA decides to actually apply the law regarding self-defense and leave Bob alone … or maybe he doesn’t.

Maybe he prosecutes Bob for doing nothing more than defending himself. And Bob winds up being nearly bankrupted by legal fees even if he managed to avoid prison. All because Bob had to call the police.

I like your plan better. Bob deactivates the criminal, and goes back to bed. Since calling the police is not allowed, private companies have sprung up that dispose of “wrapped refuse”, no questions asked. Bob wraps the criminal up as per specifications and calls the first of these companies that has an opening. Two nice men come by to pick up the wrapped refuse and haul it off to be disposed of.

No cops. No DA. No legal fees.

Yes. Your plan sounds like an excellent idea.

US universities losing hundreds of billions as top Chinese scientists and researchers go home

What are some disturbing ancient historical facts?

The Dark Side of Roman Civilization: Rome The Slave Society

“…to make an example to would-be rebels, 6,000 surviving slaves were crucified along the Appian Way, a major road leading into Rome…”

Slavery was deeply woven into the fabric of Roman society and culture. There were several ways that people in Roman society could fall into slavery.

To varying degrees throughout Roman history, the existence of a pool of cheap labor in the form of slaves was an important factor in the economy. Slaves were acquired for the Roman workforce through a variety of means, including purchase from foreign merchants and the enslavement of foreign populations through military conquest.

So, when the Romans prevailed on the battlefield, they would often take their defeated enemies captive and sell them into slavery as part of the spoils of war.

With Rome’s heavy involvement in wars of conquest in the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE, from tens to hundreds of thousands of slaves at a time were imported into the Roman economy from various European and Mediterranean acquisitions.

People could also become slaves due to failure to pay debts or as a punishment for crime. Roman slavery differed from American slavery in some important respects. Roman slaves could be of any race. And while American slaves generally performed manual labor, Roman slaves could sometimes be highly skilled.

Especially the educated slaves captured from the Greek world were highly sought after for tutoring children and performing clerical work.

While there was limited use for slaves as servants, craftsmen, and personal attendants, vast numbers of slaves worked in mines and on the agricultural lands of Sicily and southern Italy.

For the most part, slaves were treated harshly and oppressively during the Roman republican period. Under Republican law, a slave was property, not a person. Therefore, owners could abuse, injure or even kill their own slaves without legal consequence.

Illustration of branding of a slave

One of the harsh punishments for slaves in Rome was the branding of the slaves forehead with the letters “FUR”, which derives from the Latin word “fure” meaning thief.

Tattooing was also another common method of placing a stigma on the individual and claiming ownership. Some slaves were able to be freed after 20 years of service in the household; however, the fate of a gladiator was much more brutal.

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A mosaic showing a master beating a slave

Although slaves could technically become freedmen, slavery, in practice, was permanent, and the masters had the ultimate control of their life. If slaves tried to run away, their brands served as proof of ownership. These marks were conspicuously located on their forehand, legs and arms. Masters also used metal collars for their ordinary slaves; however, the method of branding was much more common.

As expected, many slaves resented their subservient status and inhumane treatment, and this seething resentment reached a boiling point in the form of sporadic riots and revolts.

While there were many grades and types of slaves, the lowest—and most numerous—grades who worked in the fields and mines were subject to a life of hard physical labor.

The large size and oppressive treatment of the slave population led to rebellions. In 135 BCE and 104 BCE, the First and Second Servile Wars erupted in Sicily, where small bands of rebels found tens of thousands of willing followers wishing to escape the oppressive life of a Roman slave.

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Depiction of the fall of Spartacus

While these were considered serious civil disturbances by the Roman Senate, taking years and direct military intervention to quell, they were never considered a serious threat to the Republic.

The Roman heartland had never seen a slave uprising, nor had slaves ever been seen as a potential threat to the city of Rome. However, this perception would change with the Third Servile War.

Above map shows a portion of the most famous slave revolt in Roman history, in which the gladiator Spartacus led an army that eventually grew to 120,000 freed slaves.

When the rebellion was finally crushed, 6,000 surviving slaves were crucified along the Appian Way, a major road leading into Rome.

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Certainly the revolt had shaken the Roman people, who, reportedly, out of sheer fear seem to have begun to treat their slaves less harshly than before.

The wealthy owners also began to reduce the number of agricultural slaves, opting to employ the large pool of formerly dispossessed freemen in sharecropping arrangements.

With the end of Augustus’ reign (27 BCE – 14 CE), the major Roman wars of conquest ceased until the reign of Emperor Trajan (reigned 98–117 CE) and with them ended the supply of plentiful and inexpensive slaves through military conquest.

This era of relative peace further promoted the use of freedmen as laborers in agricultural estates. The legal status and rights of Roman slaves also began to change.

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Tunisian mosaic depicting slaves serving their masters

During the time of Emperor Claudius (reigned 41–54 CE), a constitution was enacted that made the killing of an old or infirm slave an act of murder and decreed that if such slaves were abandoned by their owners, they became freedmen.

Under Antoninus Pius (reigned 138–161 CE), laws further extended the rights of slaves, holding owners responsible for the killing of slaves, forcing the sale of slaves when it could be shown that they were being mistreated and providing a neutral third party to which a slave could appeal.

While these legal changes occurred much too late to be direct results of the Third Servile War, they onevertheless represent the legal codification of changes in the Roman attitude toward slaves that had been evolving over decades.

Meanwhile, the Third Servile War was the last servile war, and Rome did not experience another slave uprising of this magnitude again.

Just as all great civilizations in history, ancient Rome, too, had a dark side behind all the glamour and luster that was built on merciless slave labor.

Let’s not forget that exploitation of fellow men is not limited to slave labor, today it continues to rear its ugly head in a multitude of unsuspecting disguises, shapes and forms, perpetuating income and opportunity inequality, thus poverty across the world.

Strip Steaks with Garlic-Ginger Baste

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

2/3 cup sweet and tangy steak sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced, peeled gingerroot or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 (10 ounce) boneless strip steaks

Instructions

Mix steak sauce, oil, ginger and garlic until well blended. Reserve 1/2 cup of the sauce mixture.
Brush both sides of steaks with remaining mixture.
Place on grill over medium coals.
Grill for 4 to 6 minutes on each side or until internal temperature reaches 140 to 150 degrees F for medium.
Serve with reserved sauce mixture.
Use your broiler: Brush steaks with sauce mixture as directed.
Place on rack of broiler pan. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat for 6 to 8 minutes on each side or until internal temperature reaches 140 to 150 degrees F.
Serve with reserved sauce mixture.

Astral Dominion; Episode 3: The Tubbies – 1950’s Super Panavision 70

Cabin Life

Richard Wolff Reveals the Impact of 100% U.S. Tariffs on Chinese EVs – Is It Sustainable?

As a doctor or nurse, what is the saddest scene you have ever seen?

It was December 23, 2018, I was working as a surgical nurse. At 3:30 p.m., the emergency room called me to tell me that a patient was arriving. A few minutes later I saw an emergency room nurse arrive and push the bed of a young patient, 28-30 years old, red eyes all around, mouth closed, I greeted him, he did not answer me, we put him in his room then I went to the staff with my colleague for the report. When he sat down, he let out a long sigh, I could feel him on the verge of tears, and began his speech:

“Mister is waiting to get treatment, so he came to the emergency room to get a prescription for cough syrup. During the exam we heard abnormal noises, so we did an X-ray, then a CT scan… He has balloon. lung cancer, we did an MRI, he has metastases everywhere, probably due to testicular cancer, but now he has metastases in the spine, in the liver and one in the brain… he is screwed, the oncologist told him that his life can now be counted in days…”.

lung cancer called “balloon release”

We remain silent… I look at her “December 23, it’s sick…” she answers “he got married a month ago, his wife is at the end of the corridor, she learns the diagnosis”.

My colleague leaves, I head to the door to let the patient in and I get stuck in front of the door… what can I say? What can I say? “How are you? Are you in pain? What would make you happy?” Everything I could say or do seemed stupid and awkward, and it was even more so when his wife arrived a few minutes later, I was there, embarrassed, doing the walk-in, they weren’t talking, both in shock. Later that day, he was repatriated at the request of his family and I never heard from him again…

BRICS is Building a Media Empire – Here’s Why the West is Worried

What are the signs that a man has it all figured out?

I had a bizarre incident happen during a Lyft ride last week.

The Lyft pulled up to our hotel.

It was at a loading/unloading zone like this one:

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Another car was about 10 feet to the front on our right.

It was parked in the luggage unloading zone in front of us.

A man was on the right side unloading luggage, with presumably his daughter.

Someone still sat in the driver seat.

Our Lyft pulled up to pass the car on the side, opposite the one they were unloading their stuff from.

Then I hear a large “CRUNCH”.

Oh shit.

The car in front of us had opened the door just as we were pulling up.

The front of our car had crunched into that door.

It was definitely not my driver’s fault. My driver was angry.

We pull back as my driver rolls down his window, saying, “That wasn’t my fault! That wasn’t my fault!”

A middle age man comes walking around from the other side, saying, “I know.”

The man’s wife gets out from the door that was crunched. She’d been the one who opened the door.

My Lyft driver got out and walked over and began exchanging information.

I could see the car owner/husband was very subtly annoyed.

I imagine he was frustrated with his wife at this situation. He wasn’t letting it show hardly at all.

My driver gets back in my Lyft car.

As we pull away I hear his wife say,

“Sorry.”

Her husband patiently says, “It’s fine hun. Let’s get the rest of your stuff.”

I admired his poise. He was probably a good husband.

Men Have Found Women’s Weak Spot

Do Chinese nationals really think China is less corrupt than any Western country, and what’s the reality?

I’m a Chinese citizen.

I was a UK citizen. I renounced in 2018.

China is about as corrupt as the UK. What’s the difference? China has consequences for corruption. I’m in Hong Kong the ICAC has teeth. North in the mainland enormous numbers of corruption cases as prosecuted.

While we hear about high profile cases in China often resulting in DEATH. The UK has corruption and politicians are yeah whatcha gonna do about it? The corruption is naked open and the politicians know nothing will happen to them if caught. They just apologise and give it back. There’s literally no consequences Starmer took a £4 million bribe… yet nobody is calling for him to be hanged …many UK people are literally defending it as not corrupt and not buying influence!

Or how Johnson wasn’t criticised for diverting 34bn into his Caymen islands bank account. Nobody was calling for his execution for some reason and he’s loved as a public hero.

China’s Tech, Economy Week. Part 2

The hits keep coming..

Godfree Roberts

Oct 10, 2024

A bonanza of technical achievements and economic course-changes this week, hence the two-parter.

Technology

Wuhan’s JFS Labs lit a laser integrated into a silicon chip, filling one of the few blanks in China’s optoelectronics technology. Silicon photonics use optical signals instead of electric signals for transmission. It aims to address the restraints imposed by current technology, as the transmission of electric signals between chips is approaching its physical limit. (See 2023 article, below).

China to launch ultra-secure quantum global communications service by 2027, with the completion of its quantum satellite constellation and its integration with ground-based networks, according to leading physicist, Pan Jianwei.

Three people with severe autoimmune conditions are in remission after treatment with bioengineered, CRISPR-modified immune cells. This is the first step towards mass production of such therapies. The first person to receive the treatment, in May 2023, was a 42-year-old woman with autoimmune myopathy, which targets skeletal muscle tissue, resulting in weakness and fatigue. Mr Gong, and another man with aggressive sclerosis started treatment in June and August 2023.

Gallium is irreplaceable for high-end radar, EW, communication, telecom & lasers. Ga is a byproduct of bauxite production, and China produces 40 megatonnes p.a., which requires 600Twh, or 15% of America’s 2023 electricity production–while America struggles to generate enough electricity for AI. Australia is shutting its Kwinana Alumina plant and Alcoa to close its Intalco Smelter, which supplied 30% of America’s needs. China has a huge energy cost advantage vs EU/JP/SK, so other countries keep closing Alumina smelters. EU lacks the electricity to keep steel plants open, and no Al production means no Ga production. TP Huang.

Washington’s $65 billion chip stimulus is failing. Samsung and Intel announced company-wide staff reductions up to 30% and may get no CHIPS Act money. US export controls slashed Intel’s China sales, once 25% of its revenue. Its European plant is on hold and it failed to install production equipment, the most expensive part of the buildout. Panic in the CHIPS Program Office.

US tech layoffs accelerate:

2022: 165,000 tech layoffs
2023: 264,000.
2024: 132,000 YTD.

China’s first indigenous superconducting quantum factory is boosting production capacity from five to 8 computers simultaneously.

Economy & Trade

Long term capital intensity policy orientation has shifted to keeping the broader economy aligned with the evolving society and workforce. Both demand-side consumption habits and supply-side skill sets and production factors evolve over time. A workforce dominated by blue-collar workers aligns well with capital-intensive sectors like construction and infrastructure. Whereas a white-collar dominated workforce aligns better with sectors like tech, advertising, manufacturing, healthcare, etc. Glenn Luk.

Beijing wants institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds to play a greater role stabilizing the stock market with more long-term capital. PBOC launched two monetary policy tools, the Securities Fund Insurance Swap Facility and The Share Buyback Increase Re-loan. This shifts the calculus of the equities market.

The middle of a war that threatens to go nuclear and a genocide is a strange time to detour into economics. But economics have a bearing on wars. The two-and-one-half World Wars of the last century each trailed periods of capitalist/imperialist expansion that were followed by crises. As was the case in the 1930s, the 2008 Great Recession caused a deeper and wider crisis of capitalism than has been admitted in the West. Rob Urie.

Giant US deficits and debt rollovers wreak havoc among BRI borrowers.

US manufacturing employment has dropped 30% since 1979, as population rose 50%. From machine tools to industrial robots to consumer electronics, American manufacturing capability has been hollowed out. Boeing and Intel are struggling. The U.S. has five large oceangoing ships under construction or on order, compared to South Korea’s 734 and China’s 1,794.

“China is a very interesting trading partner,” says Javier Milei, as Argentina seeks closer economic ties. “They do not make demands, the only thing they ask is that they not be bothered.” Both exports and imports between the two countries declined sharply after Milei’s election, as China found alternative markets in neighboring Brazil. And Argentina desperately needs investment.

Liu Run, Chinese business author, back from visiting pioneering Chinese factories in Mexico, saw them making products from furniture to home appliances, and filed this report.

Beijing allows foreign cards for transit. Arrivals surpassed pre-Covid: More Russians, fewer American. Beijing received 379,300

China started collecting 30% dumping duties on EU brandy, days after Brussels voted to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs, and signaled that it could unleash tariffs on EU cars, while continuing investigations into EU pork and dairy products.

BMW 5s, Audi A6 and Benz E class discounted prices 27% and still lose market share. What happens when their profit margin in China approaches nothing? That could lead to plant closures in China and in Europe, too.

Airbus will soon produce more A320NEO aircraft in China than China’s COMAC produces C919 aircraft. Xian AC just built its third line for producing A320 wingboxes! It hit its 700th delivery last year and now produces 9 per month. As Chinese suppliers improve, it makes more sense for Airbus to use them in the Tianjin production.

China produces 300% more carbon fiber than the US. Titanium sponge production jumped from 70,000 tons in 2018 to 200,000 tons in 2023. China doesn’t play around once it decides to scale something.

Clothes from thin air. The process begins with giant fans capturing an invisible raw material: carbon dioxide, which gleaming reactors transform into a clear, viscous ethylene glycol, which is fed into machines that spin it into fine, glistening fibers that will be woven into fabrics. Each 300 gm T-shirt will use 100 gm of CO2. Sheng Hong’s factory has developed cutting-edge techniques like direct esterification-polycondensation and melt composite spinning that yield diverse fibers like elastic, ultra-fine, and UV-resistant marvels.

Photonic Dawn

Godfree Roberts

April 18, 2023

When the US banned China from NASA projects, China built its own. When the US banned China from participating in the “international” space station, China built its own. When the US stopped China from participating in Europe’s GPS project, China built its own. When the US blocked Israel’s sale of AWACs to China, China built its own. When Trump imposed ta…

Photonic Blessings

Photonic chips require no high-end lithography and can be produced with Chinese IP on mature, indigenous technology and equipment. China already makes all the components for photonic chips, and its specialty foundries produce photonic chips for critical applications. Moreover, China is already the world’s largest optical communication market, growing from $800 million in 2017 to $2 billion today,

In addition to greatly speeding computation, integrated photonics enables lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology, putting laboratories into doctors’ hands. Amazec Photonics’ fiber optic sensor with photonic chips allow doctors to measure both cardiac output and circulating blood volume from outside the body. PICs facilitate communication between vehicles and urban infrastructure to improve driver safety, and can detect different quantities, such as pressure, temperature, vibrations, accelerations, and mechanical strain.

PhotonFirst PICs measure shape changes in airplanes, EV battery temperature, and infrastructure strain. PICs can measure variables beyond the range of the human eye, allowing the food supply chain to detect disease, ripeness and nutrients in fruit and plants. It can also help food producers to determine soil quality and plant growth, and measure CO2 emissions. MantiSpectra’s analyzer fits into a smartphone and can analyze chemical constituents of products like milk and plastics.

Chinese researchers are confident that they have solved the packaging cost problem and will open the first mass production line for “multi-material and cross-size” photonic chips this year, currently being built by Beijing-based Sintone.

Implications

The fab will give China first-mover advantage in a 21st century industry and, probably, as many decades of PIC dominance as America had with ICs.

IC demand will continue to rise, but a Chinese photonic success would alter the balance of power in the world, while simultaneously removing Taiwan as a bone of contention.

Win-win-win.

For China, anyway.

Notes

Silicon Photonics: Columbia Prof. Karen Bergman on the Why, How and When of a Technology that Could Transform HPC. Inside HPC
“Efficient photonic chip fabrication with 2.5D printing” by L. Zhang et al. (Nature Communications, June 5, 2021)
“Superior photonic chip fabrication using 2D material-coated microring resonators” by M. Li et al. (Light: Science & Applications, May 15, 2021)
“High-throughput photonic chip fabrication using femtosecond laser processing” by Y. Cheng et al. (Applied Physics Letters, April 15, 2021)

West vs East: who is the bad guy? | Lowkey

Cool Interfaces

MEET !! China’s New large Unmanned Submarine Drones, to carry and launch missiles

Is there any rational reason to explain the unusual timidity of the Song emperors in military campaigns throughout their reign? Despite having the economic resources to finance wars, why did they always take the initiative to seek peace in battles?

This involves a political balance problem that troubled ancient China: leaning towards officials or leaning towards generals.

After a long period of division between the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Sui Dynasty unified China. But the Sui Dynasty lasted for a short time, and it was succeeded by the Tang Dynasty, the most powerful dynasty in China.

The Sui Dynasty invented the imperial examination in an attempt to break the situation of aristocracy. But the Tang Dynasty was essentially established by the generals of the Sui Dynasty, so the aristocracy continued in the Tang Dynasty. We all know that the nobles in the Middle Ages were usually the owners of force, so the aristocracy was essentially similar to the vassalage in the Middle Ages in Europe. They had their own territories and armies, so they were less dependent on the central government, and the imperial examination invented by the Sui Dynasty was not further improved in the Tang Dynasty. Although the imperial examination system gave birth to the bureaucracy, the bureaucrats had a low voice.

The final outcome of the Tang Dynasty was division. A down-and-out scholar, Huang Chao (this story is a bit like Hitler being rejected by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts), vowed to completely destroy the aristocracy after failing the imperial examination. So he organized an army, captured the capital of the Tang Dynasty, Chang’an, and massacred almost all the nobles in Chang’an. This is regarded as the end of the aristocratic family politics in China. After this, although the aristocracy still exists, their aristocratic status often does not remain until the next dynasty (except for the Duke of Yansheng – they are descendants of Confucius). Every time a dynasty changes, the old aristocracy will become commoners, and new aristocrats will be born, until the dynasty collapses again. Because the capital of the Tang Dynasty was captured, the “vassal of the Tang Dynasty (they were called 节度使)” split the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty gradually perished in the following period. After a period of chaos, a new dynasty, the Song Dynasty, was established.

Because the hereditary military aristocracy that spanned dynasties was completely destroyed, the Song Dynasty began to reuse officials, and all generals were discriminated against. This practice brought a certain degree of prosperity to the Song Dynasty, but it also led to new problems: because the generals were discriminated against, talented people were unwilling to become generals, and the hereditary military aristocracy was completely destroyed, which made the Song Dynasty (especially the Northern Song Dynasty) lack capable generals. I don’t want to say too much about the military failure of the Song Dynasty here, it is a very complicated issue. The Song dynasty tried to bureaucratize the army, but it was not a good idea and was eventually destroyed by the Jurchens and Mongols.

We will not discuss the Yuan dynasty here. After the establishment of the Ming dynasty, the lessons of the Song dynasty were learned and a certain hereditary military aristocracy was retained (such as Mu Ying – he received a king-level title and became a hereditary general). Although generals were still generally discriminated against by officials, the combat effectiveness of the Ming army seemed to be guaranteed. Even in the late Ming dynasty, the field army still had a strong combat effectiveness. Of course, when the Ming dynasty fell, the Spanish colonial empire was almost at its peak, and the world had been changed forever.

What is the most clever way you have seen someone respond to road rage?

Not me, but my long time late employee, a OO driver (Owner Operator) which his nickname was Snake – he used both – the Company tractors or his (it all depended on the dispatch).

His truck was parked in the assigned parking, awaiting for the trailer to be loaded.

For some reason, someone decided to park their car in front of the truck (because there was a gap and sufficient space). This GM Opel, parked his car there. Well, the other tractors and trailers parked at their assigned location.

Well, he wanted him to move the huge long-nose Kenworth Sleeper Tractor “out of his way”. Because the Dispatcher denied (everyone’s assigned, you move when the Dispatcher gives you the clearance and what bay (dock) you hitch up to).

The guy was in a rage, he got into the car and tried to “force” that tractor to move. All he was doing was damaging the rear end of his car! (He did cause some scratches and a couple of ‘dents’ on the Bumper of the Company truck.)

Well, he was just not having it, decided to rev the engine up and go through the chain link fence (that was Slatted – PVC slats woven in the chain link fence) and wound up front first over the ravine into the creek below.

The Truckers went to rescue him out of his car, and he winds up fighting an old oak tree! Literally throwing punches at it, his voice was so slurred, beyond drunk. And he’s fighting the tree! The drivers all went down and grabbed him and pulled him up through the fence and got him on the lot when the Police finally arrived.

He was just so out of it, but Snake, he got him to “sit down” and “drink some coffee” and provided him a couple of donuts. He wasn’t going anywhere, the Cops were in no hurry to handcuff him. They looked over the fence and finds the car down there, totally destroyed.

The other officer went to review the security footage, because none of the front end guards had any cars going through. It turned out he came from the NORTH side of the property (vacant wooded 2.3 acres of land).

Then Snake realized the guy was in medical, and called for Paramedics (the Cops were on the other side investigating the trail he made getting onto the property) – once the Paramedics arrived, the guy was “almost gone”. He was partially stabilized and taken to the Hospital ER and there it was confirmed, alcohol poisoning. (The officers arrested him there at the hospital.)

This bothered Snake, partially, because he just knew this guy was not a drunk, he felt he was “set up”, he even told the Officers that, the other truckers partially believed Snake.

Well, Snake asked to be reassigned back to that Company for a reason, he wanted to follow up with Sam (not real name), he had his information as he was the one that pulled out his wallet. His dad was a Police Chief, what happened was he gave his dad the information → this guy has no driving violations at all.

I have no idea why Snake did what he did, but once he was returned to that location. He put himself on a 3-day off, and he hired a lawyer. Sam was “released on own recognition” and had an upcoming hearing (he bonded out). This lawyer and Snake went to him in person, they questioned him thoroughly.

All he could remember was he was at the co-worker’s party for his wife’s over the hill. He really didn’t want to go. But the pressure of other workers to a degree, forced him to be there. All he could remember was a couple of guys holding him down and they blind folded him, and he felt something down his throat where he was gagging and they poured what he could smell was alcohol by force. (Funneling) And he cannot handle alcohol, due to the medications he was on.

And the next thing he knew he was inside of his car, he decided to get away from there, he has no memory of what happened after that except he was feeling terrible. That lawyer hired a private investigator. Because he now has a Defense Lawyer, the Defense Lawyer postponed the hearing, due to more evidence incoming. Judge granted it.

From what Snake told me, the PI went in and got hired at the same company that he was working for. He learned through gossip from other men, which they laughed, about how they forced moonshine (illegal) and got him totally wasted (drunk). They had to put him in the car because he was having seizures and they didn’t want any responsibility, someone drove him over to a lot and left him there and they returned back.

*BOOM*

The PI asked to buy a jar of that moonshine, they actually gave him a jar and told him “Easy does it.” Then the PI took the evidence to a lab, and it was found to contain 58% APV. With the evidence in hand, and the video and audio of worker’s “confessions”.

Then the trial came up. The State Prosecution threw the case out, and the Judge ordered the arrest of the people involved. To the fact his physician made it exceptionally clear, “his patient cannot have alcohol due to the medications he’s on” (medications disclosed). The people involved were charged with “attempt murder”.

The place of the party they had was actually held in a vacant house on a rural isolated property that was undergoing foreclosure.

His lawyer had his colleague to file suit (lawsuit) against the Company he worked for. In what Snake told me, there was a very nice settlement, he was able to retire early (49 years old). He became friends with Sam. Sam knows that Snake actually saved his life, because he was at “near-death”.

Was this a road rage? Yes it was, but under the influence of alcohol poisoning where the victim was forced without consent.

BRICS Just Acquired 2 MAJOR Assets To Collapse The US Economy With New Currency

Steak with Gorgonzola Thyme Crust

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 (6 ounce) beef tenderloin or small rib eye steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick
1 large or 2 small cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled Wisconsin Gorgonzola cheese

Instructions

Heat broiler.
Spoon Worcestershire sauce over both sides of steaks; let stand for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle garlic and pepper over steaks. Place steaks on rack of broiler pan.
Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat source for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium rare steak.
Remove pan from broiler. Sprinkle thyme, then cheese over steaks.
Return to oven and broil for 2 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

Ticket Booth

This is just lovely.

Is China’s rise inevitable?

My grandmother used to tell me a story whose endpoint was: A pigeon cannot escape death by closing his/her eyes when a cat is coming towards him/her. China’s rise is certain to be inevitable. The rest of the world is just closing its eyes and believing this cat is fake, and he/she will pass. No, sir/madam: This cat is real, and it is, in fact, a huge dragon.

People usually ask such questions:

People have no clue about China and the Chinese people.
People who have no interactions with China/or the Chinese people.
People who have never visited China can see with their own eyes what it is all about.
You do not have to be a rocket scientist, brain surgeon, or Nobel Prize winner in economics to understand this simple question.
When you land in China Beijing/Shanghai, airports and your head spins at the wonder of the efficiency/punctuality/cleanliness/
You see the bullet trains circling Shanghai.
Banquet halls and restaurants serve thousands of customers with the efficiency of a Swiss clock.
You see the Olympic Stadium of 2008.
You see, the Three Gorges is one of the most significant civil projects of recent times.
You see cranes all over China putting up buildings like a Lego project.
You see state-of-the-art infrastructure, roads/bridges/
You see highly efficient public transport systems.
You see freedom of the female/gender equality/
You see a society which is almost violent and crime-free/one of the safest in the world.
You see young girls working alone in the middle of the night or walking freely in the megacities.
You see, there is plenty of food for everyone.
You see happy/rosy cheeks/giggling kids in the parks,
You see well-respected elders/retirees in the parks.
You can see some cultural events or other things in the city.
You see people dancing/exercising in the public squares and parks.
You would not see many if any, beggars/homeless/druggies/
You see the Yangtze River with ships/boats/loaded with cargo
You see commercial rigs on the highways.
You see beautiful green farms with beautiful houses
You see trucks loaded with citrus and other fruit going to the cities.
You see, even when the native son/daughter comes home after a few months, he/she cannot find a way to his/her own house. Because the speed of change is so great, the whole neighbourhood/roads/are changing quickly.

Well, the list is too long,

I do not have to look at the graphs/GDP/and all the other nonsense.
Rest assured China is real, and this storm is coming, and the world will not the be same.

At some stage, the world has to learn that this growth is real and must learn to respect and learn from this mega-success story.

BTW: The Author is not Chinese, and he has not hired the hand to do publicity, he is Indo Canadian citizen of Canada for the close to fifty years. He has worked with the Chinese Canadians at various levels and visited China several times. And when he was a baby in India from his childhood he was very interested in China and the Chinese culture. His primary school teacher sowed the seeds in him about China.

This is a dawn of new era: You want to see future please go to China, there you will get an idea, how the future will look, by standing at the present time, and one glance backward to developing China will show you the past.

Standing in the present: You will see the future and you will see the past.

The reality is that China is a new powerhouse; as my grandma said, a Pigeon is just closing its eyes to see death as the cat is approaching him/her.

I hope it helps

As a customer service employee, what was the most unusual tip you ever received for good service?

I was working at Geek Squad and I had a client who was an older woman with an old laptop (no, this is not some kind of joke); it was probably 12–14 years old. It had 256 megs of ram and was running Windows XP for reference sack. It was busted 6 ways from Sunday, dead battery, charging port that you had to really work at to get it seated so it would get power, one hinge was totally wrecked, the CD drive was missing its face plate, the drive itself was bent, the screen was cracked, and the bezel was being held on by tape… I mean this laptop had done its tour of duty three times over.

Anyway, she was emphatic about getting the screen repaired. But it was one of those situations where it would literally cost more than I could convince myself to tell the client it was worth. So I did something that 99.99% of the time you do not do in computer retail and I asked what was so important about this particular computer.

Well, it turns out her great granddaughter had died 3 years prior and the only pictures she had of her were on that computer, and no one had ever told her that it was possible to move the pictures to something that wasn’t on improvised life support.

So I worked with her for a few more minutes to get an idea of what she used her computer for (little bit of online shopping and some email), then grabbed one of the PC sales team I knew and trusted, gave her the run down on the lady and the situation and asked her to find her a good option for a replacement computer, get her signed up for a data transfer, include a 32gb flash drive then come back to me.

Got her set up with a new laptop, transferred all the files from her old computer to the new computer and the flash drive and signed her up for a 1-on-1 training session so I could help her to learn how to use the new computer, the flash drive, and get her setup with One-Drive so she wouldn’t need to worry about losing her pictures.

After it was all said and done, she was so grateful for the help and service that she tried to hand me a $50. I couldn’t take it for multiple reasons – not the least of which being it would have gotten me written up – but mostly because it was my job to help people with their computer problems and that was exactly what I had done. Well, she insisted on knowing what she could do to thank me.

Jokingly, I said “Well, we love chocolate chip cookies.” She smiled, said OK and left. I figured that was it. Came in for my shift the next day to find that she had dropped off what looked like a gross worth of home-made chocolate chip cookies.

Cookies make the best tips!

China blocks all the cargo ships from coming and out of Taiwan. China’s blockade is an act of war. What is President Biden going to do about it?

Blockade? No

What the United States did to Cuba, North Korea and Iran is called “blockade”, using military and non-military capabilities to prevent these countries from normal exchanges and trade with the outside world, thereby strangling the economies of these countries and making their people suffer poverty.

China’s siege of Taiwan often only lasts for a few days. Even if commercial ships are affected, just wait patiently. This is not a blockade and has no substantial impact on Taiwan.

Threat? Yes

Before Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022, China had always maintained restraint and understanding towards Taiwan, and their military exercises never exceeded the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

The United States cannot claim “one China” while allowing senior officials to engage in sexual diplomatic interactions with Taiwan. This is schizophrenia and is bound to anger the Chinese.

So after August 2022, they began military exercises around Taiwan, and as far as I remember, this is the third time.

If Taiwan suffered “sovereignty loss” in this process, it was almost brought about by their allies, the Americans.

When an ally constantly claims to protect you, but at the same time constantly provokes your enemies, you need to think about the true intentions of this “ally”. Look at the situation in Ukraine.

China seems to be threatening Taiwan, but in fact it is using the US provocation to implement a “salami slicing” strategy

With every provocation, they increase the pressure on Taiwan a little bit.

Maintain the median line of the Taiwan Strait > cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait > operate on the east coast > surround the entire Taiwan > enter 12 nautical miles > enter the airspace

China’s sausage has not been cut yet. Pay attention to the exercise area. Although they have surrounded Taiwan, they still respect the tacit understanding of 12 nautical miles. But it may not be the case next time.

You cannot accuse China of “aggression” because Taiwan is different from Ukraine. All countries in the world recognize that Taiwan is part of China. So Taiwan does not legally have territorial waters and airspace. Military operations can only be regarded as China’s domestic counterinsurgency operations.

US Doctor Who Studied 5,000 Near-Death Experiences Says This About Afterlife

City Chicken meets Lox and Bagels

Do you have a meal that your mother used to make, that you haven’t had in years?

I do.

How about “City Chicken”?

City chicken is an American entrée consisting of cubes of meat, typically pork, which have been placed on a wooden skewer (approximately 4–5 inches long), then fried and/or baked. Depending on the recipe, they may be breaded. Despite the name of the dish, city chicken almost never contains chicken.

History

A similar dish once known as “mock chicken” was described as early as 1908. The first references to city chicken appeared in newspapers and cookbooks just prior to and during the Depression Era in a few cities such as Pittsburgh. City chicken typically has cooks using meat scraps to fashion a makeshift drumstick from them by skewering meat chunks. It was a working-class food item. During the Depression, cooks used pork or in many cases veal because it was then cheaper than chicken in many cities, especially meat packing centers such as Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Louisville, and Pittsburgh where such cuts were more readily available than chicken.^[6]

Sometimes cooks would grind the meat and use a drumstick-shaped mold to form the ground meat around a skewer. One such mold, manufactured by AMPCO/BKI, was labeled chicken sans volaille (without poultry).

The dish is still popular in the Binghamton, NY, area, where at the turn of last century along with the growth of factories (especially EJ, cigar companies, Kilmer, etc.) the town was supplied with workers from immigrant communities abroad as well as from the coal mines of PA, stone quarries of northern NY, etc. Many or most of these were from more rural areas where farming for personal use to supplement their jobs was common (i.e. small vegetable gardens, hogs and chickens). In the tenement and row houses in Binghamton/JC of that era it was rare to have enough land to raise chickens however slaughter houses (pork, lamb, veal, and beef) could still be located ‘in town’. The idea of breading veal or pork like fried chicken became a cheaper and popular meal.

Another is Lox and Bagels…

Lox and bagels traditionally consist of an open-faced bagel topped with cream cheese, thinly sliced red onions, briny capers, and lox.

The word lox stems from the Yiddish word for salmon, “laks.” Lox is a thinly sliced salmon fillet, usually in the belly, and undergoes curing and brining process in a salty brine (not smoked). Lox comes from Scandinavia, where fishermen mastered the art of preserving salmon in saltwater brine. Native Americans also smoked and dried the fish’s carcasses for food and currency.

In 1869, the transcontinental railroad began to transport barrels of salted salmon from the Pacific coast to the rest of the country. This gave rise to its popularity in New York City, especially among the Eastern European Jewish immigrants who came to the U.S. with a rapport for cured and smoked fish.

Bagels made an appearance in China and then glamorized in Italy around the 14th century. The capers came from Italy, while cream cheese has roots in Britain. So, lox or bagels did not originally come from New York City. Nor did cream cheese or capers, for that matter. New Yorkers were the ones that put them together, and it made an excellent combination. It is a mystery as to when the fish and the bagel were first eaten together.

What is the Difference Between Lox and Smoked Salmon

Lox and smoked salmon are both varieties of salmon, but they are prepared differently. They have a similar texture, but the flavor is different.

Lox is cured but not smoked, while smoked salmon is cured then smoked. Because of this, smoked salmon is not quite as salty as lox.

Honestly, you cannot go wrong with either! Contrary to how this dish was originally enjoyed, it doesn’t have to come from the belly of the salmon but from other parts of the fish as well.

Today..

What appalls or disgusts you about America?

In sixth grade, the school found out that there was an armed man who had recently committed matricide roaming around within a 10 mile radius. We were on lockdown all day- but we were happy, because that meant we could watch movies in class for 7 hours straight.

In seventh grade, a kid told his PE teacher that he saw a man with a gun on campus. Within minutes, the entire school was on lockdown. So was the nearby high school and two nearby elementary schools. After a few hours, the police realized that the kid had fabricated the entire story to get out of running a mile.

Yesterday, the substitute teacher freaked out because a student had left to go to the bathroom without telling him. “I am responsible for all of your guys’ safety!” he exclaimed, turning an alarming shade of maroon. We fought to hide our giggles and smiles.

This morning, I got texts from multiple friends. “We’re on lockdown! Don’t come to school for office hours. Someone called 911 and said they heard gunshots.” Minutes later, they received an all-clear. It was just an air gun from the school construction site. “Who would be dumb enough to call THAT in?” was all we said. “Now I lost precious time for my test retake.”

When I lived in Texas, we had tornado drills. Here, we have earthquake drills. In other parts of the country, they have hurricane and even blizzard drills. But you know what never changes? Every school across the nation has a code red drill. We hear “code red!” and we immediately know what to do. Lights off, doors locked, silently start stacking desks and chairs against all doors and windows. Run or hide, depending on where you are. Every classroom has a bag with food and water and books. Every kid knows how it goes, no matter how young or old they are. Every year comes with the same routine.

“We’re having a code red drill today.”

“Oh, yes! Free time to just sit on my phone!”

What disgusts me about America is how desensitized we have become to gun violence.

Edit: If you’re going to comment saying your school doesn’t have code red drills but has lockdowns or shooting drills instead, don’t bother. They are all the same thing and meant to protect us against gun violence.

Minute Steak Parmesan

Ingredients

5 minute steaks
1 beaten egg
1 tablespoon water
Dash of pepper
1/4 cup soda cracker crumbs
1 (8 ounce) can pizza sauce
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

Dip steaks in combined egg, water and pepper. Coat with mixture of crumbs and half of the cheese.
Brown in hot oil; drain on absorbent paper.
Arrange in baking dish; cover with pizza sauce, and top with remaining cheese.
Bake at 325 degrees F for about 20 minutes.

Why are the average working/unemployed American citizens so poor and live miserable lives when the nation is so wealthy?

The disparity between the wealth of a nation and the financial well-being of its citizens can be attributed to several interconnected factors:

1. Income Inequality

Wealth Concentration: A significant portion of wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small percentage of the population. This limits economic mobility for the average citizen.
Wage Stagnation: Many workers have experienced stagnant wages over the past few decades, failing to keep pace with the cost of living.

2. Cost of Living

Housing Costs: In many areas, housing costs have skyrocketed, making it difficult for individuals to afford homes.
Healthcare and Education: High costs in healthcare and education can lead to significant financial burdens, impacting overall quality of life.

3. Labor Market Dynamics

Job Availability: Many low-skilled jobs have been outsourced or automated, limiting opportunities for entry-level workers.
Gig Economy: While the gig economy offers flexibility, it often lacks benefits and stable income, leaving many workers vulnerable.

4. Systemic Barriers

Discrimination: Racial, gender, and economic disparities can limit opportunities for many citizens.
Access to Education: Quality education is not equally accessible, affecting job prospects and earning potential.

5. Political and Economic Policies

Tax Policies: Tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations can exacerbate income inequality.
Social Safety Nets: Insufficient social safety nets can leave unemployed or low-income individuals without adequate support.

6. Cultural Factors

Consumerism: A culture focused on consumption can lead individuals to prioritize spending over saving, contributing to financial instability.

Conclusion

The combination of these factors creates a complex landscape where many Americans struggle to achieve financial stability despite living in a wealthy nation. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive policy changes and societal shifts to promote equity and opportunity for all citizens.

China’s Environment, Society & Propaganda

Godfree Roberts

Environment

The national carbon trading market will cover the steel, cement and aluminum sectors by December, adding 1,500 companies emitting more than 26,000 tonnes of CO2 to the ETS, adding 3 billion tonnes of emissions.

Society

Retirement age starts rising from 60 to 63 by 2040. White collar women’s retirement age increases from 55 to 58; women in blue-collar jobs will go from 50 to 55. Life expectancy is 78.6, and years of education for new labor force entrants rose from 8 years in 1982 to 14 years in 2023.

In China you know exactly who is running the show. They tell the public exactly what they plan to do, then do it. Politicians tell the billionaires what to do and they do it, too. David Ferguson.

Urban unemployment 16-24 ages, excluding students, was 18.8% in August, up 1.7% from the previous month,the second consecutive month of rising rates and a new high for the year.

Diplomacy

Leaders from 54 African countries with 30% of the world’s population attended FOCAC. Xi: “We have together built roads, railways, schools, hospitals, industrial parks, and special economic zones. These projects have changed the lives and destiny of many people”. He committed another $50 billion to continue the work and canceled all tariffs for 33 African countries. The effect will be increased exports from Africa to China.

The greatest demographic fact of our century is Africa’s exponential growth. UN forecasts say its population will grow from 811 million in 2000 to 4.3 billion in 2100, a vastly significant megatrend.

American voters want U.S. China policy to be “smart, firm, strong, and diplomatic.” Only 13% want an aggressive approach and 5% want a confrontational one. 73% say the U.S. should hold high-level diplomatic talks with China.

The UN General Assembly adopted two Chinese resolutins: The first is that July 6 will be “World Rural Development Day” (America has always been hostile to development in foreign countries and China is seeking to have development recognized as a human right). The second, the “United Nations Games” resolution, calls for convening the UN Games annually and invites relevant stakeholders to make voluntary contributions to a trust fund dedicated to the Games (a shot across the bow of the corrupt, US-controlled IOC).

Geopolitics

The United States is losing ground in important parts of Asia. “For these poor but growing countries, the American mortgage crisis was a staggering affair: why give poor people high-interest mortgages when they know they won’t be able to pay them back? Morality at zero. The irresponsibility of the United States was soon joined by that of Europe, so slow to react. In truth, it was China’s massive stimulus policy that pulled the world out of recession. The emergence of the BRICs rebounds from this double Western irresponsibility.”

By letting Jews plant bombs in electronic consumer devices, the West has undermined its own and Taiwan’s tech products and boosted China’s. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have switched to Huawei phones and telecoms, with the rest of MENA …

Two Years After Divorce Nurse Ex Is BEGGING Me Back After Lover Ditched Her…And The Baby

What was the most outrageous repair quote a mechanic has ever given you to fix your car?

Many, many years ago, I bought a beautiful, well maintained 1988 Mercedes 420 SEL. Incredible car, tons of torque, four heated, reclining seats, electric sun sccreen for the rear window and a long list of other fancy toys, all of which was working, for £500.00.

An absolute steal.

One random morning, the remote wouldn’t unlock the car doors. When I pressed the remote, the little tabs on the inside of the door would wiggle a little bit, but they would not pop up and allow access to the car.

Even though the car key would allow me to unlock the drivers door, I considered this an inconvenience.

I took the car to a mechanic shop in Bermondsey, South London. Now, that really should have been my first clue that I was about to be fleeced. For all the qualities you would ordinarily perscribe to the fine folks of Bermondsey, honesty most certainly was not high on the list.

The gentleman (in lack of a better, more suitable term) explained to me, after a demonstration of the problem that this very costly repair would involve him to check the airlines all around the car and perform various tests etc at the cost of £70.00 per hour, and the cost of whichever parts would be needed.

He explained to me that the absolute best-case scenario would be north of £800.00 with no guarantee that he could fix it.

I pondered this for about 15 seconds, and told him I would just live with the problem, rather than pay close to twice the purchase price of the car for a little irritation.

I went home, pondered this some more and started wondering what the issue could be. I decided to have a look around, and started with the fusebox under the bonnet.

It was obvious that one of the fuses had blown (but I had no idea what that particular fuse was for) so I bout a pack of 4 fuses and changed it, like for like. Then I forgot about it for a while.

The next time I drove the car, I pressed the remote button ( out of muscle memory) and the doors opened immediately.

Repair cost: £0.64.

What a fucker.

What is the most unreasonable rule an HOA has ever tried to enforce on a homeowner?

Had a friend sell his place that was in an HOA recently and the following was the main reason. A few years ago, his roof needed replacing and he had the HOA brochure for colors and went to the roofer the HOA had listed. He picked his color and the new roof was installed after the prior ones were removed since the thickness was too much. Of course, removing the old roof on a 3000 sf house is not a small job so a dumpster was needed. The HOA attempted to fine him for the dumpster and he ignored them (it was there 3 days) and had the roof installed. Then he meticulously cleaned the whole driveway to get anything that didn’t hit the dumpster and next policed his own place and the neighbor’s.

A few days after he finished, he got a written notice from the HOA lawyers that he needed to removed the dumpster (already gone after the 3 days), and that there was debris all over the place from the old roof and, by the way, the new roof did not conform to the color choices the HOA allowed. Really? He took them to court when the harassment did not stop and went in with the contractor (who hated the HOA even though they brought him work), photos time and date stamped that showed the dumpster and when it left and how the yards looked the day after the roof was done. He also had the brochure that showed his roof color was in that brochure.

The HOA had no actual evidence and thought they could bully him into paying an unwarranted fine. The judge ended up awarding the whole cost of the roof and lawyer and all court costs to my friend along with damages of $10,000 to my friend for all the trouble they cause him. In the ruling, he admonished the HOA for not following their own rules, harassment, and over eagerness for money not owed them. The HOA president and board were replace in the next election due in part to this incident and many other infractions.

My friend put his house on the market the week after the trial and is no longer in that state since he retired.

What 10 Years in China and Europe Taught This American

How strong would a resisting inmate need to be to make the staff give up on strip searching him?

Funny story about that.

When I was working county jail, I met a guy who was on “light duty”. He was confined to a desk for having blown out knees at the job. I asked him what happened.

His story was that one day, the deputies had dragged in a drunk guy on domestic violence charges. This guy was beyond obese and butt naked(of course). Being drunk, he did not appreciate the hospitality of the county jail.

Once put in the drunk tank, he flooded the cell.

Staff converged with one very trigger happy sergeant.

Now, I dealt with this behavior in maximum security prison for two years before going to county. If an inmate is flooding his cell, he does NOT need to leave the cell. He will most certainly be fighting you the second that door rolls. What you do is, you turn off the water to his cell and you put some towels by his door to mop up any water. Give him the amount of time he needs to cool off then you provide him with towels to clean up his cell and return the water. NO ONE NEED GET HURT, not you, not him.

This sergeant decided that opening the door and forcing a hasty cell extraction was a good idea.

Another trick from maximum security prison. First put on armor, so when you’re rolling around with the Blob in the cell, you don’t hurt yourself. Two, pepper spray the inmate before hand. Simply feeling the burn of pepper spray will encourage him to surrender. If you still have to go in, he will be at a disadvantage to fight you, being blinded.

This sergeant decided that he didn’t need anything but his baton. He and a couple jailers rolled the door. The Blob came stampeding out. Sarge tries to step in the way, only to get bowled over. Jailers dive on the inmate, trying to get him into handcuffs. He is not having it.

Sarge whips out his ASP baton and starts striking the inmate’s leg. The baton snaps in half and the Blob looks none the worse for wear. So you have four guys wrestling on the ground with a naked 300 lb man.

Additional staff starts running in. Problem is, when the door rolled a couple dozen gallons of water came out of the cell. Staff is slipping and sliding. My coworker runs up, slips and cracks both his knees.

I saw the footage of this and it was an absolute crap shoot. How everything got ironed out, I didn’t get to see but it did. Word was that the guy woke up the next day and had no idea what happened. He bonded out and was never seen again.

So, to give you an answer, prisons and jails will line every single officer up to make sure an inmate submits.

Who are the scariest people in history?

Narcissism raged very high with this one.

His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.

Those were official titlels he conferred himself, in addition to his unofficial stated claim of being the uncrowned King of Scotland.

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Amin was the dictator of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He charmed and promised the world that he would bring peace and democracy to the people of his country. Instead, he turned Uganda into a poverty-stricken land patrolled by death squads.

Amin was possibly the most brutal and merciless dictator of all time. His rule was characterized by human rights abuses, ethnic persecution, political repression, massacres and the expulsion of 80,000 Asians from Uganda. In my opinion, he was probably the most sadistic dictator in the 20th century.

He would show executions of people on television. Everyone was a good game for torture and execution: his country’s soldiers, government officials, teachers, artists, doctors, journalists, engineers, politicians, police officers, photographers, lawyers, business people, ordinary citizens, ministers, and children.

His henchmen tortured and killed people with sledgehammers while Amin kept the pictures for fun and amusement.

This sadistic beast relished when he buried his victims alive and would often give the heads of his enemies to crocodiles. Hundreds of thousands of dead bodies washed up to the shores of Lake Victoria. More than 4,000 people were killed by being thrown into crocodile-infested rivers. Another 50,000 people died from disease, most were children.

As if that was not disturbing enough he would cut the flesh of his perceived enemies and force them to eat it until they died. He was also a cannibal who ate human flesh and drank human blood. It is stated that he proudly admitted he was a cannibal.

His depravity came full circle when he mutilated one of his wives and had her limbs sewn upside down.

In total, it’s estimated he killed and tortured 300,000 to 500,000 Ugandans.

On the 11 April 1979, the Tanzanian Army invaded Uganda and ousted him, he went into exile in Saudi Arabia (really humane of you Saudi Arabia) for the rest of his life.

Amin died almost 25 years later in 2003. In that time Amin lived a very peaceful life.

When I think of the atrocities committed against such a young innocent country by this sick depraved man, I weep a little and feel ashamed for such human being every existed.

Scary!

SCOOBY-DOO – 1950’s Super Panavision 70

How can one person fight more than 3 people at the same time and win?

You can’t spar them. It’s not a fair fight, so you can’t trade blows. Every strike you hit might be your last, and if you get hit, it’s going to be only the first of many. So you have to be fierce.

Make sure it hurts them more: A punch to the forehead hurts your hand more than the opponent’s head. Hit where it hurts – nose, eyes, throat, groin, knees, feet. Anything goes. A nose is your best target, as it is very sensitive. Anyone not used to sparring and taking strikes to the nose will immediately get tears in their eyes, and most people lose their will to fight. If they bleed, even better! You took one out and drew first blood. The others might think twice before engaging.

No matter what, don’t let them grapple you: If someone gets a hold to your arm, you need to make them let go immediately. Twist their arm, use the grapple to get them near and use your elbows and knees to make more damage. Stomp their feet. This is the worst possible scenario, if they somehow grab both your arms you’ll lose the ability to defend yourself. If they drag you to the ground, it’s over. Make sure to punish a grappler in a way the others will prefer striking you than grappling. Knee to groin, elbow to the nose. Do anything you can to set this rule in the combat, that you will not allow anyone to grab you in any way.

Don’t try the same strategy on everyone: If you poked a finger on the first guy’s eye, the other ones will be guarded against this. If you kick someone’s groin, the next one will try to grab your leg. So you need to approach each one differently. I understand this is not something people train for, and is not easy to remember internet tips when the blood pumps and survival mode kicks in. But if you can’t think, you’re done. Think of at least one weak spot for each one: nose, eyes, throat, groin, knees, feet. And stick to them.

Don’t get surrounded: If it’s an option, quickly grasp your opponents position and don’t let them surround you. Get somewhere they can’t hit you from behind. Even if you got your back covered, when one of them fights you there will be an opening for another to hit you from behind. So it’s crucial not getting surrounded by them. If you can’t run away, at least find a 90º corner or a corridor so they can’t all at the sime time get to you.

Mess with their morale: I have avoided fights by acting weird. I have de-escalated fights using my own blood (I had this accidental cut while pushing away an attacking bully, the others thought it was his blood). Call them cowards for teaming up. Tell them you got nothing to lose. Or everything to lose – that you got a daughter that needs you. Yell at them, say you already lost so you’ll take as many as you can to the hospital with you.

Flee to a better place: Run away to somewhere crowded if you’re all alone. Get on the top of a staircase. Lock yourself somewhere. Create hurdles for them to pass, skip a fence so you can slow some of them down. Climb onto a second-story building.

Give up (true of not): You need to put winning in perspective. What is a win? The goal here is surviving, right? So if you give up fighting and show it, the fight might de-escalate enough that someone intervenes. Raise your hands to show you mean no harm. If they still engage into fighting, at least you may surprise them. They have to deal with an unexpected change of pace – at one second you’ve surrended, at the next you just defeated someone.

Don’t do it: Against everything I wrote here, don’t fight unless you absolutely have to. This is my final advice. Four muggers want your phone? It’s ok. At least you won’t get hurt. You won’t have to get surgery or physical rehabilitation. You won’t lose teeth – if you still got all your teeth, keep them. Dentures are bad. Teeth implants are expensive. Knee treatments not always work fully, you may get a bad knee for the rest of your life. You might be handicapped as a result of some street brawl. So only do it if nothing else can be done.

What is the last thing you heard from someone before they died?

I received a phone-call that my mother was on her way from her hometown to a big city cardio hospital and that it looks dire. I, because of a shorter distance and because the ambulance had to stop to stabilize Mom, beat the ambulance to the hospital and were waiting in the arrivals for them.

When the paramedics unloaded her she was conscious and responsive and I in passing said “vasbyt Mamma, sien jou nou” (hold on Mamma, I’ll see you soon.” She reached out touched my arm and said “Nee, dis verby.” (No, it’s all over) as the paramedics rushed passed me.

She was rushed to the cardiopulmonary wing ICU and we (dad, one sister and I) waited in the waiting room. At one stage I went and peeped through the gap in the doors and I could see the doctors and or nurses bussy with CPR on her. You can probably imagine the amount of dread that induced in me.

It was not a short while later that the cardiologist came to us and explained that although they did everything they could the damage to her heart was just too severe.

I, because she was awake and responsive, assumed that because we were with the best minds in medicine available that she would be okay. She obviously understood her own body better and could appreciate the severity of her condition better. She knew, “Nee, dis verby.”

I had to come to grips, not only with the loss, but also with the understanding that it must have been a most terrifying end for her, knowing that her time with us has reached its end, in some ways that have been harder, and even now bring tears to my eyes and form a obstruction in my throat.

Gone, but not forgotten, I still miss her daily.

Bewitched as a 1970s Grindhouse Horror – Super Panavision 70

Rebirth on Xenoscythe

Submitted into Contest #232 in response to: Write a story set in a world with a dying sun, or where light is a scarce resource.… view prompt

Kevin Marlow

Jagged spears of light sliced through the dome of the cavern. The planet Xenoscythe’s sun, Aerialis spun in a perpetual dance with its barren rocky surface. Its scant rays fed the underground cathedral rock amphitheaters through rifts in the crust, allowing life to survive under the surface. Vast rippling pools of fresh water were ringed with igneous rock formations bursting with gold and green mosses, giant leafed ferns, purple flowers, succulent fruits, amphibians, and tiny flitting red finches. The sounds of the waterfall splashing into the small lake murmured in Tokarov’s ear as he opened an eye and yawned.His bed was a pile of soft dark green and lavender feathers nestled in the soft powdery clay dust under a stone outcrop. He rolled over and looked at her. Marble skin hid under a silken sheet emblazoned with the same iridescent sheen that made the feathers shimmer in the dim light. Reaching out, he stroked the burgundy curls cascading down her slender shoulders. Lora Lei stirred, shifting in her sleep. Tokarov scooted his naked frame over to hers and held her, folding down the blanket and rubbing her arm, reaching to feel the growing bulge in her belly.Sitting up in a quick motion, Lora Lei stretched her long limbs and let out a noisy yawn. He was transfixed, staring at her vulnerable, supple frame as she fought off the fog of sleep.“I need to feed.” Her purple irises flashed at him as a knowing smile dotted her lips.”I’m sure some poor Grigglesneed is just waiting to have his head torn off.” Tokarov slid on his trousers and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He turned away not wanting to see it again.The Sabinarath Lora Lei transformed into was tragically beautiful and terrifying. A long beak lined with razor-sharp serrations jutted from in between two enormous purple eyeballs the size of dinner plates. Her arms stretched into wings, trailing in flowing green feathers, with legs ending in talons and scaley bird-like feet. Two steps and Tokarov felt the wind as she took flight in the cavern, swirling up into the light, landing, and disappearing into the crevice in the cave ceiling.Now alone, Tokarov slipped on his cotton tunic and bounded barefoot toward the stand of fruit trees near her lair. Flipping his dagger from its worn and humble brown leather sheath, he sliced through sinew strands of the sweet yellow-striped fruit that smelled like bananas and tasted like kiwis. Digging his teeth into the flesh, he tried to fight off the images of his mate feeding. Grigglesneeds were hearty reptilian humanoids with tails like a crocodile and legs like an iguana. She assured him, that the nutrients the fresh meat provided was necessary for their alien hybrid to grow. Thankfully, she would plunge into the water upon return and wash off the blood. He shuddered and swallowed, cutting up another fruit.He nursed the fire, blowing on it with a tube to resurrect the orange flames. Piling on some small sticks, the hearth fended off the chill of the morning. The sun provided enough light for life, but no heat in the vast cave where they lived. He ruminated on the stories of the Wombs of Xenoscythe recited to him by Lora Lei. These natural formations were homes to the trial winners, ones who fought to live, ones tasked with birthing a new species capable of surviving, capable of thriving. It was rumored the Overlords of Xenoscythe had seed planets ready. They only harvested the planets that were dying, planets like the Earth, Tokarov’s home.His mind’s eye replayed the evacuation. Long flexible tubes sucked the few dozen humans that had survived the armageddon from the surface of Earth. They were able to watch on a large digital screen in their holding area from the immense interstellar ship as a robotic arm equipped with a cylindrical head, lined with thousands of teeth tore into the Earth’s crust. A hose the size of a mountain range vacuumed the remains into a storage vessel. In a few minutes, the Earth was reduced to a molten mash of bits, simmering in a cargo ship three times its size. A loud splash jolted him back to the present.

He turned to see the surface of the water rippling. Lora Lei’s head slowly parted the water, her hair flowing in the water. Her body was like a master’s painting, flawless and timeless. She cupped a hand to her belly and looked up with a radiant smile at Tokarov. He looked away with a bashful grin.

“What are you going to name it?” The question struck him.

“Shouldn’t we decide that together?”

“We both know how this is going to end. You need to be planning, gestation with my species only takes a couple of moon cycles.” Lora’s eyes widened as she felt a movement in her abdomen. She grabbed his wrist and placed his hand on her stomach.

“I don’t feel anything.”

“In time, dear, in time.”

“What if I don’t know what to do? I have spent my adult life fighting, living the life of a warrior. I don’t know anything about raising a child.” He looked at his blade, its metal stained with the blood of enemies and friends alike.

“We are all imbued with the spirit of life, Tokarov. Death is just another part of life. An animal doesn’t need to read a book to nurture its young. We are programmed with DNA and powers beyond our comprehension. Billions of years ago rocks did not just spring to life and start breathing. We are moved and gifted with a force, a force of life that makes us want to live.” Lora sifted her fingers through his long hair, prying to confront his soul. He hid it behind his humanity, shielding his vulnerabilities.

“I’ve spent my life killing and dying, hoping for a glorious warrior’s death on the battlefield, with the gods of war smiling down on me, applauding my effort.” He unsheathed the dagger, spinning it in his hand with precision.

“What if there are no gods? What if there is only one single thread that holds us all together? What would you call it? A presence? A what? What would it be called?” She felt in her heart she had him cornered.

“Life?”

“What gives life?”

“The sun? I don’t know.”

“Spirit, Tokarov! Every culture has figured it out since the dawn of time. They call it by different names, but unless you embrace the spirit you will always be lost. You can take a man’s life, only One can take his spirit.”

“Who is the One then?”

“You have already met Him, you just don’t yet believe.”

“Will I in time?”

“You will, you will…”

Time is an immutable force that whisks us to our destiny whether we are ready or not. The weeks that followed were the stuff of fairy tales. Love, bonding, and long afternoon embraces all contained in a place that could only be compared to the Eden of antiquity. Yet not everything is as one sees, for every life there must be a death.

“Didn’t we meet just a few weeks ago?”

“And?”

“You said the gestation would take a few moon cycles. On my planet that is sixty days.”

“Well, Xenoscythe is not your planet. My offspring is ripe, ready for the world.”

Tokarov screwed up his face a bit. Lora Lei was quite large to be in her first trimester. He had felt the fetus move a week ago, yet now nothing. Her belly was stiff and bloated. As the light from Aerialis dimmed in the cavern, she stopped, flaring her fingers out with wide eyes.

“The time is now!”

Tokarov led her to the lair, to their bed, the only soft place in the cavern. He folded up his shirt and placed it under her head and neck. She pulled off her clothes and lay there naked, pulling her ankles up to her buttocks with her hands and beginning a bizarre breathing pattern, eyes staring straight up.

Tokarov watched as nature took over and her body engaged in its genetic instructions. A sweat broke over her body and her abdominal muscles undulated, like a python swallowing a pig in reverse. He touched her arm, but she was fixated on the birthing process. Curious, he looked down to see if the baby had crowned yet. In humans, one could see the top of the head and some dark hair. Yet, the birth canal revealed a shiny, white, curved surface. He stopped and caught a breath. It was then she spoke for the final time.

“You must take it to the surface of Xenoscythe. Only Aerialis can free our child. I loved you.”

A final push released the egg from her womb. Lora’s body fell limp. Tokarov touched the egg, its surface sticky with slime. He rubbed it with his fingers, momentarily forgetting about its mother. Then he stopped, his eyes wet, and looked up to her face. Emotion was gone.

Her body lay limp and lifeless, the Sabinarath had kept its word and given itself up for the birth. He racked a few selfish sobs. Not sure what to do he decided to carry her body into the water and allow nature to take it back from him. As he pushed the body out into the lake, birds in the cavern shrieked in a cacophony of sounds. He knew it was done, yet something else had begun.

There was no easy path to the surface. He could not fly like the Sabinarath. He had to carry the egg back through the caverns if he could remember the way. The egg was the size of a small watermelon. Needing his respirator to breathe in the caverns, Tokarov knew this was no minor adventure. Pulling on boots and checking his breathing apparatus, he plugged the tubes into his nostrils, spinning the oxygen generator onto his back. It sprang to life puffing air into his nasal passage. Lifting Lora’s dress from the ground he used his knife to fashion it into a sling for the egg, carefully cradling it and placing the strap over his shoulder.

He slipped through the web-covered secret entrance one last time and flicked on his headlamp. It danced back and forth as the cave yawned on. His running banged out a tired rhythm as the egg swayed and the light bounced. After what felt like a kilometer or more, a few forks in the road, and guessing, Tokarov saw the soft light of a feeding shaft in the distance. He picked up his gait to a full run and was digging in a heel to slow down when the stars burst into his eyes as he blacked out. His last thought was to protect the egg and in falling he wrapped his body in sacrifice around it.

“GGGRRR ZZZZ AAAHHHH!!!!” The familiar tongue of the Grigglesneed met his ears. Digging for his waistband he felt the dagger’s handle and wrapped it in a firm grip. The lizard man rolled him over and felt the egg, its tongue flicking out and tasting the shell. Tokarov wrapped his free hand around the creature’s throat and lunged with the blade, aiming to plant it in the center of its walnut-sized brain. The lizard heaved and shoved him.

Its strength was unbelievable. It tossed him against the rib of the cave like a doll and hissed. Arms were rippled with armor scales and flexed three-fingered palms tipped in dirty, sharp talons. Tokarov pushed himself up on unsteady feet and brandished the blade in his back hand. Looking over, the egg was cradled in its sling on the rock floor. The diamond slits of its eyes narrowed in the darkness, the light of the overhead shaft illuminating the scuffle. Tokarov saw his headlamp lying near the creature’s foot. He knew if he could blind it, even momentarily, the advantage would be his. Diving for the light, he flicked the switch, jamming it in the Grigglesneed’s eyes. The shrieking echoed in the close space and Tokarov shoved the blade to the beast’s throat, pushing it into the flesh. The lizard was too strong. It reached a claw around his forearm it pushed the knife from its throat. Shoving him back, it thrust Tokarov to the wall of the cave, its hot breath washing over his face.

“AAAAIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!” Blood burst from the creature’s head as a sword cleaved off half its head, splattering Tokarov in a mess of fluid and brain matter. As it fell back, he dropped to his knees and caught a breath trying to wipe the blood from his eyes. Looking up he saw the smiling face of Ego, his arm resting on the hilt of a double-handed claymore sword.

“Dear God, you just saved my life.”

“Not just yours, you have a species to revive.”

“You, are now Who has always been.”

“We are all just trying to survive, even the gods among us.”

“What am I to do?”

“Gather yourself and your future. I will get you to the surface.”

Tokarov sheathed his dagger and gathered himself, placing the egg in the sling over his shoulder, and looked at Ego, “What now?”

“Extend your arms and position yourself under the shaft. I will do the rest.” Tokarov complied and Ego clasped his hands together and his lips danced with ancient words, bringing realization and tears to Tokarov’s eyes. The weight came off his feet as he ascended the shaft by faith alone with his future cradled around him.

At the planet’s surface, he floated down to the rocky ground, the heat of Aerialis bearing down on him. Gently unwrapping the Sabinarath’s egg, he held it up to the sun, allowing its rays to heat the shell, not quite knowing what would happen. As the star warmed it with its rays, something stirred inside. Sitting down, Tokarov placed the egg in his lap facing the sun.

Watching as it rocked and wiggled, he gasped as a tiny finger poked through the shell. Helping it along, he broke away the hard husk, revealing what looked like a human infant. As the light reached her eyes she squealed and kicked, punching away the last of its vessel. Holding her up in the light, he looked down, yes definitely able to reproduce. Wiggling and cooing, she locked eyes with Tokarov, her purple irises beaming in the sunlight. They both smiled as he held her close.

“I will name you Evangeline.” Tokarov kissed her cheek as a tear dripped off his nose, landing on her tender forehead.

A noise broke the communion as Tokarov saw the nose of a ship edging down toward the surface of Xenoscythe. The Overlords were here, to where they traveled next only they would know.

SEINFELD | 1950’s Super Panavision 70

Some AI image generations by MM

Enjoy.

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What made you realize your life will never be the same?

I suspected but did not know if my wife was having an affair. She had been texting a guy that she said was a friend. I had been hospitalized with appendicitis a few weeks before and was still at home hardly able to walk. I heard a text come in very late at night. She was asleep. I could not sleep due to pain. I looked.

Here is what I read:

Scumbag: Sorry about pregnancy. Def me?

I was blown away. I knew immediately what this meant. I woke her up and showed her. I was too shocked to be angry or hostile. My head was spinning. I could hardly breath. She denied they had sex.

She said Scumbag didn’t know how babies were made!!!

He was a married father of three that worked in the medical field. She said she could explain it. That I was reading too much into it.

I’m sure she did think that she could talk her way out of it in the morning. She had talked her way out of many other similar, albeit less damning and concrete situations over the last few months. She took her phone and fell back asleep right away as she had been drinking quite a bit.

I knew the truth but did not want any chance for her to be able to have even a fig leaf of cover. Once she was asleep again I got her phone and texted back to Scumbag, pretending to be her.

Me for her: What do you mean by Def me???

Scumbag: Are you sure it was me that got you pregnant?

I woke her again and showed her this new evidence. She no longer denied it. She was in tears, telling me she had broken up with him weeks ago. She said when she realised I could have died from the burst appendix that she really wanted me and not him. I believed it then, briefly. We are divorced now. Of course.

What do you think of the education system in China?

I have studied with, taught and collaborated professionally with products of the Chinese education system.

My friend from beida likes to boast she placed in the top half of her faculty. She wears it with plenty of pride, because she was one of several applicants from her province that was accepted that year. She considers my intellect average at best.

Another friend from qinghua blew my socks away when he elegantly derived a molecular dynamics homework question I had spent a fruitless night on. He did not need to consult any references and wasn’t taking the class. And no, he wasn’t a physics or chemistry major.

I will say the professionally qualified in china deserve their credentials, especially the nationally recognized standards or schools.

A shanghai/Beijing academy qualified dancer/singer/actor will have the requisite skill/looks/grooming to begin a performance career. An nth grade welder will be able to make welds only a select few can nationwide. A fudan PhD possesses a rare quality of mind.

And so on.

There is incredible competition in china, across all trades and professions. And China has a systematic mechanism of identifying, developing and sifting through the stream. In certain realms such as the arts and select technical trades, the mechanism is more thorough and rigorous than most countries. For example, emcees and newscasters must obtain a practicing cert, just like lawyers in many countries.

That’s the cream of the crop. Much work remains on the other end, where millions in each cohort still skip the gaokao due to lack of opportunity.

Gilligan’s Island as a 1970s Grindhouse Horror – Super Panavision 70

This question is for the retired people. How did you get adjusted with the retired life at the initial stage? What was your routine during the first three months after your retirement?

I retired in 2017

It was a Tuesday. I had had a Dinner just the evening given by the department and had received the traditional gift. It was all OVER and seriously – i felt liberated or free – FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS.

Then i woke up on Wednesday – my first thought was mechanical. It was 6:40 in the morning – my usual wake up time and it took me almost 20 minutes to realize I was Retired.

I sat there feeling depressed for some strange reason, My routine was gone. Leaving the house at 9:20 AM after breakfast, going to the office, doing some work, participate in a handful of meetings and returning back home. IT was over.

I missed the 11:00 AM – Coffee first. Then i missed the Lunch in the Canteen at 1:30 PM. Then i missed the general talk. My wife was gone (She teaches). I had never felt so lonely in my life.

At 3:30 – I dressed up and went to my workplace. I did not care – i just decided to go. I reached there at around 4:15 and there was a flutter. Everyone was puzzled. They greeted me, milled around me. My AGM invited me into his cabin for a cup of tea. It felt Good again. I had to make up a lie about why i was there of course. Some lie about some file which i presume nobody believed.

I left at 6:30 – feeling better. It was like going home after a regular day of work.

However i knew – if i keep going back – i would soon be ignored or curtly told to go home and i did not want that.

So i had to find a way out of my boredom.

The next 2 days were Torture. Staying alone at home – watching TV, Browsing the Internet, Disturbing my kids (I would Skype them at 2 PM when it was 12:30 Midnight)

A Lot of suggestions came up – including – trying how to cook (Which was a disaster).

It was perhaps on the 15th day – that i got a call

A Local company in Bangalore was sigining an MOU with a Malaysian Company and the Lawyer wanted someone who understood “Contracts” and knew about “Malaysia and Singapore” for an outside opinion.

He couriered me the documents and i gave my first legal opinion. I got my first legal fee – Rs. 7500/- since 1983

A Few days later- the Company invited me to Bangalore. I agreed and was planning to stay with my sister when they sent an email – booking me a room in a Hotel and booking a flight ticket for me and asking me for my consultancy charges?

First experience of such things.

Of course I had to portray myself as a Top corporate lawyer. I printed visiting cards , purchased a few clothes and went on my first consultation.

Life slowly changed

I found some work – enough to keep me slightly busy with contracts from Singapore/Malaysia/US

I found Quora – and it was a huge, huge relief.

I found Movies – getting complimentary tickets for every film from my Auditor Friend who himself did not care for movies.

Now i have my latest interest in Computers and C Programming (I am now at Arrays)

So slowly you get adapted to a new life. One post retirement.

If you can get past the early days – You get used to it and then slowly begin to forget what it was life when you had a Working life.

My advise:-

(a) Always have a Hobby – Reading, Browsing. A Hobby would be very useful indeed.

(b) If possible try to get away for a Holiday soon as you retire

(d) Join Quora – It seriously was a life saver for me. I was busy only around 20 hours or so every week – the rest of the time it was Quora which saved me.

(e) If you long to go back to your workplace – Dont!!!! Have Rarity Value.

How democratic, free, and prosperous is China in the 21st century?

Chinese and westerners have very different ideas about personal and group rights, so it is impossible to give an answer which pleases everyone.

For Americans and westerners, the threat comes from an over-reaching government which wants to extend its power over every facet of personal life. So for them, the power of the Chinese government to store voice, gait and facial recognition, full access to to digital communications when needed, access to bank accounts, etc represents a typical tyranny which is unacceptable by western standards.

For Chinese though, the greatest threat came from foreign invasion and occupation. To most Chinese, the Chinese government is their guardian and protector from foreign exploitation. Most Chinese believe that the government should have access to bank records and personal data. If the Chinese government did not have free access, how would it catch criminals and corrupt officials who abuse their power. After all, if a citizen is honest, why does he care about his own privacy? He has nothing to hide!

This means that there is no objective standard for judging how democratic China is, because the west and Asians see the same thing completely differently.

The Decline of the United States: A Multifaceted Story
In Search Of Truth September 29, 2024

The Decline of the United States: A Multifaceted Story

The idea that the United States is in decline has been a recurring theme in political and cultural discourse, particularly over the past few decades. While the term “decline” can be subjective and varies depending on one’s perspective, several indicators point toward significant challenges the U.S. faces that have contributed to this narrative. From economic stagnation and political polarization to social unrest and a weakened global influence, the decline of the U.S. is a multifaceted issue. Below is an exploration of the key dimensions driving this perceived fall from prominence.

1. Economic Inequality and Stagnation

The American Dream, which once symbolized upward mobility, has become increasingly out of reach for many. While the U.S. remains a wealthy nation, the distribution of wealth has skewed sharply toward the upper echelons of society. The top 1% of Americans control about a third of the nation’s wealth, while middle-class wages have stagnated for decades. This growing inequality has led to a breakdown in social cohesion, as many working- and middle-class Americans struggle to maintain their standard of living amid rising costs of housing, education, and healthcare.

The decline of American manufacturing, once the backbone of the economy, has been another contributing factor. With the advent of globalization and automation, many manufacturing jobs have moved overseas, leaving a void in many working-class communities. These economic changes have decimated industrial towns across the Midwest and Northeast, creating a sense of despair and fueling populist sentiments.

2. Political Polarization and Dysfunction

The U.S. political system has become more divided and dysfunctional than at any time in recent memory. While the country has always had political disagreements, the partisan divide today seems unbridgeable. On nearly every major issue—whether it be healthcare, immigration, or climate change—Americans are split along ideological lines. This polarization has eroded trust in institutions and undermined the basic functioning of government.

A significant factor in this polarization is the rise of hyper-partisan media, which often prioritizes sensationalism and outrage over nuanced debate. Social media platforms amplify these divisions by creating echo chambers, where people are exposed primarily to views that confirm their preexisting beliefs. The result has been a political landscape that feels more like a culture war than a forum for governance.

Moreover, the influence of money in politics has led to a system where special interests, corporate lobbyists, and wealthy donors wield disproportionate power. This has created a sense among many Americans that their government no longer represents their interests, leading to widespread disillusionment and apathy.

3. Social Fragmentation and Civil Unrest

American society has also become more fragmented. Racial, ethnic, and cultural divides, long part of the U.S. fabric, have grown sharper. The killing of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent protests brought to the surface long-simmering tensions over police brutality, systemic racism, and inequality. While these protests represented a call for justice, they also highlighted the deep rifts within American society.

The rise of identity politics, where individuals’ political positions are based on their race, gender, or ethnicity, has further contributed to social fragmentation. While the recognition of historically marginalized groups is essential, identity politics can sometimes lead to a zero-sum mindset, where groups see themselves in constant competition for limited resources or recognition.

Additionally, the erosion of traditional community structures, such as churches and civic organizations, has left many Americans feeling isolated and disconnected. The digital age has, paradoxically, contributed to this sense of isolation, as more people retreat into virtual spaces rather than engaging in face-to-face social interactions.

4. Global Influence and Military Overreach

The United States’ global standing has also diminished. Once the unchallenged leader of the free world, the U.S. now faces stiff competition from rising powers, most notably China. In the aftermath of World War II, the U.S. helped shape the liberal international order, promoting democracy, human rights, and free trade. However, in recent years, this order has frayed, with authoritarianism on the rise and international alliances weakening.

One of the major factors in this decline has been military overreach. Following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. launched wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which have dragged on with mixed results. These conflicts have drained U.S. resources, both in terms of money and human lives, while achieving limited success in stabilizing the regions involved. The U.S. has also been criticized for its role in destabilizing the Middle East and North Africa, contributing to the refugee crises and the spread of extremism.

The withdrawal from international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal, has also weakened the U.S.’s reputation as a reliable global leader. Meanwhile, China’s rise as an economic and geopolitical power has challenged the U.S. in key areas like technology, trade, and military might.

5. Cultural and Moral Decline

Many commentators also point to a cultural or moral decline as part of the broader story of America’s fall. Traditional values, such as family, faith, and civic duty, have been eroded by consumerism, individualism, and relativism. The pursuit of material wealth and instant gratification has replaced long-term commitment to communal or national goals.

This cultural shift has affected everything from education to political discourse. The U.S. education system, once the envy of the world, has fallen behind in key metrics, particularly in science and math. There is also a growing anti-intellectualism in certain segments of society, where expertise and facts are increasingly dismissed in favor of conspiracy theories and tribal loyalties.

The breakdown of the family unit has also been cited as a key indicator of moral decline. Rising divorce rates, single-parent households, and a general retreat from marriage have contributed to a sense of social instability, particularly among the younger generation.

6. Challenges to Democracy

Perhaps the most alarming sign of U.S. decline is the erosion of democratic norms. The events surrounding the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, including claims of election fraud and efforts to overturn results, have undermined confidence in the electoral process. The January 6th, 2021 attack on the Capitol, in which rioters sought to disrupt the certification of the election, was a watershed moment that exposed the fragility of U.S. democracy.

Voter suppression efforts, gerrymandering, and the influence of dark money have further weakened democratic participation. While the U.S. has long held itself up as a beacon of democracy, it now faces serious questions about the health of its own system.

Conclusion: A Path Forward?

The decline of the United States is not inevitable, nor is it irreversible. The country still possesses tremendous resources, talent, and potential. However, addressing the factors driving this decline will require bold action and a renewed sense of national purpose. Economic reforms to reduce inequality, a commitment to rebuilding trust in democratic institutions, and a more measured foreign policy are essential steps in reversing course.

Ultimately, the fate of the United States rests on whether it can overcome its divisions and recapture the spirit of unity and innovation that once made it a global leader. Whether or not it can, remains one of the defining questions of the 21st century.

What should you do if someone pulls up in a van with a gun and asks that you get in?

Gavin de Becker discusses this situation in his book — The Gift of Fear.

I will admit, I have not read his book. But I did see him interviewed for this book. And here, 18 yrs later, I still remember his example for the scenario.

Here is how he explained it.

If someone is trying to take you to a second crime scene, they are doing it for one reason only. That reason is to eventually murder you. After all, they can rob or rape you where you are.

If you’re going to die anyways, your best strategy is to try to get away.

Suppose they have a gun? How difficult is it to hit a moving target? Suppose it’s 50/50. So you have at least a half a chance of getting away?

In tests, the chances of being hit are less than 10% (I believe this was taken from police training sites). The chances of being hit in such a way that you couldn’t keep running were about 4%. The chances of being hit fatally, were about 1-2% (again, this was a long time ago, my numbers may not be exactly what he quoted, but they are pretty close).

So your choice is get in the van, and 100% chance of being murdered. Or take a chance, and have about a 10% of even being hit.

Always run. Run and scream.

The killer Muppets – 1940’s Super Panavision 70

Why does the PRC government care if Taiwan is independent? Taiwan is a small island without much strategic importance.

Taiwan is a small island without much strategic importance.

Says who? Says you? Who the fuck are you? What make you such a fucking expert?

Taiwan is strategically very, very important for the following reasons:

It is the key island in the first island chain that blocks China’s access to the Pacific.
If Taiwan falls under the control of the USA, then US forces (including nuclear missiles) could be less than a hundred miles away from China’s coast.
Taiwan is symbolic of China’s century of humiliation. The Chinese people demand that Taiwan be reunified.
TSMC.
No country should be expected to cede its territory for any reason. Should the USA cede Hawaii or Texas? Should the UK cede the Falkland Islands?

What was the most incredibly stupid (and avoidable) error a pilot made that caused the crash of a passenger airliner?

American Airlines flight 965 from Miami to Cali, Colombia. The aircraft was a Boeing 757–200. This flight took place on December 20, 1995 with 163 onboard.

Cali airport is situated in a thin valley surrounded by tall mountains. The plane was approaching Cali at night time. There was no radar at the airport because it was sabotaged by a terror group. So Air Traffic Control could not see where the aircraft was going.

As flight 587 was coming in for the approach, the pilots were planning to land on runway 01, but ATC offered if they wanted to land straight in on runway 19. The pilots accepted the straight in approach because it was faster. The flight had already been delayed a couple of hours back in Miami. With a sudden change in approach procedures, the pilots had to quickly figure out what navigation aides to use for the approach. And since they had to descend at a steeper rate, the pilots deployed the speed brakes to help with the descent.

One of the radio navigation points was ‘ROZO,’ and it was a point on the approach course for runway 19. The pilots had to program that non-directional beacon point on the flight computer. The crew typed in the letter R, and chose the first option on the list. But the waypoint the pilot chose was ROMEO which was in a completely different direction.

The plane made a left turn, and the pilots didn’t realize the plane was turning. And since the aircraft was flying in between mountains, the plane was turning into a mountain range. The alarm went off in the cockpit telling the pilots to immediately pull up. The captain did everything he could to climb. He pulled the yoke, and increased thrust on the engines. The problem was that in those few seconds of trying to save the airplane, he forgot that the speed brakes were still deployed which hinders the aircraft from climbing. The aircraft crashed near the peak of a mountain. Investigators believed that if the speed brakes were retracted immediately, the aircraft could have cleared the mountain.

There were 4 people who had survived the crash. There were a few others that survived the initial impact, but because it took search and rescue a long time to get to the crash site, they weren’t able to get medical treatment in time and succumb to their injuries.

After an investigation, the pilots big mistake was not typing into the flight computer ‘ROZO.’ When the pilots typed in R into the computer, they assumed that the ROZO would come up because it was the closest navigation aide. But the pilots didn’t realize they had to type in the letters ROZO. Investigators still don’t understand why the pilots didn’t see what the first option was on the list. It clearly said Romeo which wasn’t the waypoint the aircraft was supposed to go to. That one little mistake cost 159 lives. And the second mistake was failing to realize that the speed brakes were still deployed.

In US Army basic training, after lights out, could you get out of bed and do a workout and go for a run?

No.

Don’t be that guy. You will get plenty of work out before the lights go out.

If you try to pull some shit like that, you will be caught, and your Drill will wake the rest of us up, with some clever ideas to make the rest of us hate life, and in return, make us hate you!

main qimg 2e9e2654eb9a8998fdd2f4773663006e lq

(The actual barracks he climbed out of)

We had a guy sneak out in the middle of the night once. Like some kind of ninja, this dude scaled down from the third story window in the middle of the night.

main qimg 3d31af9108f74be78203c22484ff5596 lq

He then ninja’d himself all the way to the vending machines with roughly $40 of money from other soldiers in his platoon.

Then this ninja dude climbed back in the 3rd story window, because the doors had alarms on them.

But instead of being a smart ninja dude, this soldier decided that since he took all the risk, he would just keep all the fatty cakes for himself.

This wall climbing troop didn’t give the other soldiers what they paid for, and decided the next day to take a nap inside of his wall locker with all of his ninja’d loot.

main qimg d761112fb10f55775ed6d8c50f97aa05 lq

Suffice it to say, the Drills were made aware of his mission, and they found him sleeping in a tiny closet with $40 worth of vending machine goods.

Three things you never want to do in Basic Training;

F*** your battle buddies
Piss off your Drill Sergeants
Get caught sleeping on duty

This ninja was 3 for 3.

The moral of the story is to not be a ninja. Go to effing sleep dude. Sleep is gold.

Cheers

The Trial

Submitted into Contest #243 in response to: Write a story where time functions differently to our world.… view prompt

Oma S. Ari

This story contains themes or mentions of physical violence, gore, or abuse.

The prison guard was an angry man, never smiling and rarely talking. He had been there for as long as Lucas could remember. Resentful and bitter he walked the corridors, giving the impression that at some point, something absolutely terrible was to happen to him. Lucas did not share his enraged aura, but he sure had the same outlook on what was to come. Whatever awaited him outside of these prison walls, Lucas was certain that it was nothing good..The same room had been his home since childhood. The bare walls had a gray-greenish color, the cracks gradually mending with time as the world slowly moved from disorder to order, from chaos to control. When he was a boy the window had been nothing but a gaping hole into the empty courtyard outside, and the wind had kept him up all night. Now, the glass covered almost all of the metal frame, leaving only a fine, glittering powder below, gathering strength and finding its purpose. So many years Lucas had spent staring into this ceiling, imagining the skies above it. Still, when the angry guard opened the door with a sharp “It’s time”, Lucas did not linger. The relief of leaving this place had been nesting in his stomach for months..Lucas knew the path through the prison, but the moment they left the main gate and headed to the sparsely trafficked street outfront, he was on new territory. The air, ground, trees, everything seemed different here, as if color had suddenly been injected into the universe. Blinking, it took him many moments to even reflect on what was supposed to follow. He did not need much reflection, it turned out, as the guard, now joined by some of his colleagues in a hostile silence, quickly shoved him into the back of a parked van. Loudly, and without warning, Lucas kneeled on the metal floor and vomited. He could feel this evening’s cereal stroke his palette as it left. The guard gave him a look of disapproval as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and shakingly sat up with his back against the wall.“Motion sickness”, another guard snickered, “the boy has never been in a car before, has he?”The door of the van slammed shut, and the engine started..There were hundreds of journalists outside the courthouse and, surrounding them, a thick layer of wrath. The sound of angry voices traveled in murmuring waves towards him as he stepped out in the sun. Lucas suspected that this week’s paper had been filled with the most hideous descriptions of his persona, and he made his best effort to not make eye contact with anyone as he was escorted through the crowd. It was a strange experience, he thought, spending the very first moment basking in the light of the real world, surrounded by nothing but a yelling mob. Further, he guessed that he was to live without his medicine now. The pills that the guards served him every morning were to stop coming. He had never known exactly what those drugs did, but as the colors and sounds of the horde around him exploded in his mind, creating thousands of blinking stars shooting across his open eyes, he thought that life was likely to be much more vibrant from now on. The sounds seemed sharper. Every sensation clearer. Lucas and his entourage struggled up the stairs. Inside, the court building was brilliantly white, with a large skylight that illuminated the great entry hall. The moment the large doors closed behind them, muffling the sound from the outside, the guards stepped backwards and a new kind of custodian took their place..

“Lucas, my name is Zaman and I am to be your lawyer throughout the day’s proceedings”

Zaman was tall, and serious looking. Lucas could not help thinking that he sounded as if he was here to offer an apology and bad excuses. Twenty four years had Lucas been locked away, and not once had he heard the name Zaman before.

“I have tried to contact you on numerous occasions through your time incarcerated”, Zaman said, “but it seemed to me and my colleagues that you preferred to have no correspondence”, he held the door open as they entered another great hall with white marble walls. Lucas felt a ray of hope glimmer faintly in his chest. Zaman continued, “I know it has been a long time behind bars for you, but you have shown great behavior throughout…”

“Will that matter?”, Lucas interrupted.

Zaman gave him a crooked, but sympathetic, smile.

“I doubt it”.

With Zaman by his side, Lucas sat in the middle of the marble hall. In front of him was an open notebook and two feather pens. Their tips looked as if made by solid gold. Lucas wondered if he was expected to use them. He had practiced a lot of basic tasks in prison, but he was no writer. As the room around them filled with people, Zaman kept giving him reassuring looks, promising that it would all be over shortly. The six judges, all dressed in black with their dark blue caps covering the better part of their faces, were seated the moment the clock struck twelve. As soon as the last one of them had put down her briefcase on the table, the trial began.

Lucas shivered. An echo flew through the room. Murder.

Murder.

“Murder”.

The judge farthest to the right had leaned forward and spoken.

“Ah!”, Zaman reacted quickly, collecting his papers and standing up “But who? That, my fellow citizens, is the question we are here to answer today”. He spoke in a calm and controlled manner, every now and then turning to the other side of the room to face the curious audience.

“Twenty four years is a long time”, Zaman stated while nodding seriously, “but is it long enough for us to consider the most heinous crimes?”

It was almost eleven when he finished and the prosecutor took over. Lucas felt exhausted and drained, wanting nothing but to stand up and leave. The whispering of the onlookers made it difficult to focus, and the voices of the judges seemed distorted and slow. At some point, he was sure, someone was going to ask him a question, and he had very little to say to his defense. He felt like a scared animal clinging to the arm of Zaman, hoping that there was something this stranger could do or say to change what was about to happen.

It was ten, and the crowd gasped.

“A child ”, the prosecutor said.

“Out of the question”, Zaman responded, “Look at him. He is nothing but a child himself”

The prosecutor’s desk was a few meters to the side, and Lucas, dizzy from the stress and the bright light, could not see her clearly. But he heard her voice, sharp and clear and bouncing from the marble in all directions. He followed it with his eyes, as the sound of her words echoed around him, traveling from wall to wall and merging with the whispering of the audience and the low rumbling from the street outside.

The crowd gasped again. Lucas could see a man close his hand over his mouth and shake his head.

“A child”, she repeated, “A boy from Houston. He is only twelve.”

The legs of a chair dragged along the floor. Steps. A halt. The prosecutor had stood up and made her way across the room. Lucas had always known that today was going to be filled with humiliation and bad news. Still, as he sat in this white room, with blue eyes watching from every direction, a sense of shock crawled up his spine. The disgust radiating from the seats around him had managed to seep through his skin, penetrating his belly and grabbing a hold of his innards. He felt it too. Disgusted.

“A child of twelve. A murder in Houston”, she said a third time, now looking directly at Lucas. The gray haired woman had a wrinkle over her eyes that made her seem troubled rather than fierce. Somewhere in her face Lucas could sense a hint of empathy. The prosecutor felt sorry for him. He swallowed the sense of surprise, having been worried that he had lost his voice in the chaotic scenes unfolding in his mind.

“Why?”, he demanded to know.

“Lunacy”, she responded softly.

Zaman had been correct, the trial was over quicker than it had begun. By the time the prosecutor had presented the gruesome details of the case and the audience had choked on their disgust enough times, morning was creeping up on them, and the proceedings came to an end.

Murder. A twelve year old boy.

“It could have been worse”, Zaman said while standing up and stroking his suit jacket, “Trust me, Lucas, it could have been a lot worse”.

Lucas was not sure he could stand. His voice was breaking as he asked:

“Worse than a dead child?”

Zaman attempted a smile, but it looked more like a grimace. Before he walked out he put his hand on Lucas’ shoulder.

“We will stay in touch. We have things to plan and discuss”.

Lucas did not turn to look as Zaman left. Alone he sat by the desk in the middle of the room until the sky light made the walls glow in a purple morning hue. Only then a janitor approached him, with the same irritated expression once carried by a prison guard that Lucas was never to see again.

“You are free to go, son”, the janitor grunted, clearly annoyed by his presence, “How about you make use of that freedom and stop wasting space in my court?”

Outside, the air was different again. Cold, early morning surrounded him and the silence had replaced the commotion from earlier. Whatever feelings that had been boiling outside the courthouse during the day had died down now. People had gone home. The journalists had finished. No one was there. For a brief moment, Lucas thought about the things that awaited. He would need to make friends, find his family, maybe even get a girlfriend. He sighed. He was not feeling particularly excited about any of it. Slowly, he started walking aimlessly down the empty street. He could get a nice home, maybe. A job. Life was long, and he needed to spend it somehow. He had always wanted to see the ocean, and he was sure there were people that worked and lived in places where you got to look at it every day. Maybe that would suit him. As he passed through the blocks, the houses changed in character. The impressive marble of the law was replaced by broken bricks and mud roads. This was a poor area. He could tell how the cracks in the facades were slowly healing, rubble from the street carefully moving towards the gates of people’s homes and gardens. Sadness and defeat hung in the air and embraced him as he walked. One day, he thought to himself, he would live in a neighborhood very different from this one.

But first, there was something that needed to be done. He had spent twenty four years in prison, and time had come to pay for it. Whatever pills the guards had given him with his daily morning meal had left his system by now, and he felt a new strength entering his body. His mind was more awake than before, his hearing more attuned. He listened to the sound of his tongue moving against his teeth, enjoying the soft melody of saliva and bone. The noise seemed to come just as much from the inside of his head as from the actual physical world it belonged to. For a long time he stood still, biting his lips and licking the inside of his cheeks, enjoying the harmony it created. A rounded, silky clicking that slithered down the throat. Then he laughed to himself. No more stalling. He needed to get to Houston.

Futures of The Past – 1950s Sci-Fi – AI Microfilm

What is the best case of “You just picked a fight with the wrong person” that you’ve witnessed?

I was pretty small and thin in high school, but wanted to play football so I worked out a lot and was strong for my size, but still barely managed to stay on the team. One spring day a guy who was playing at working out made some obnoxious comments and dared me to come outside and fight him. Coach threw him out of the weight room and I though it was over. I saw him hanging out with some friends watching us go through drills, but didn’t really think abut it. Until I got on the athletic bus to go home and saw him sitting in the back with three friends. I was the only white kid who rode the athletic bus, in a school that had only integrated about ten years earlier, but it was never a problem before that day. I did what I usually did and sat near the front with a group of friends. The guy, Don Lee, and his friends started throwing paper balls at me. They didn’t have very good aim, so it was mostly my friends getting hit, but Don Lee though it was hilarious. I figured it wouldn’t stop until I went back and got my butt kicked like they wanted me to, so I got up to go to the back. My friends told me it wasn’t worth it, but I couldn’t let them take it for me. Then as I walked to back of the bus with Don Lee and his friends laughing about what they were going to do to me, someone put his hand on my shoulder. I turned to see two of the biggest guys in the school, Bird and Kelvin. Bird told me to get behind him and suddenly the bus went deadly quiet. Don Lee started to say something smart and Bird grabbed him by the collar so that his knuckles were under Don Lee’s chin and slammed his head into the roof of the bus. It was like a scene from a comic book with Don Lee going all glassy eyed and slack jawed. Then Bird said let’s go Luke (my nickname, from Lucan the wolf boy TV show of the time) they won’t mess with you again. The next day during practice Bird told me that he’d never seen a white boy willing to fight to protect black guys and he wouldn’t let me get messed up that way.

So sometimes it isn’t that the person you picked a fight with is that strong, but they might just have friends who are.

What do you think is the worst drug?

Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but GABAPENTIN. I’m not sorry I’ve never tried cocaine, heroin, meth, crack, really anything beyond cannabis. Mushrooms once. I have enough trouble with dopamine as it is now, I cannot imagine something making that more difficult.

I took Gabapentin (Neurontin) for more than 4 years. I was taking it for a diagnosis of neuropathy, my left shoulder sucks from living, working, and it got way worse after open heart surgery at 39, I’m 46.

It has a mild soporific/anti-depressive effect, made me hurt a LOT less, but… knowing the long term effects and the considerable amount of heart and blood pressure meds made me want off of it pronto.

I went to my pain doc after deciding to come off of it. Weaning myself off of it was pure, unadulterated hell. That garbage is dangerous coming out, and from mood changes to stomach aches, to dizziness and blurred vision, and from all-day nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, that part was easy. Halfway through the process of weaning, I had body pain that was *insane* for about 72 hours, and then it seemed to be way less stressful after.

Some side effects while ON gabapentin:

Loss of libido in a huge way
Coordination and a strange gait.
Miss a dose? Get ready.
Loss of alertness because you are so damned tired all the time
Problems waking up (that have persisted after use)
I felt like I mumbled a lot, and my speech sometimes seemed slurred to me. I can’t imagine what I sounded like to a normal person.
Persistent dosing time: I had to make sure that I was taking it the same times, every day, every week, every month. Three times per day, 900mg a dose.
You can be an irritable bastard prior to getting that first dose in.
Some days, you are engulfed in a sadness that does not subside, seemingly that whole day.

Now,I also can look forward to some just purely depressing long-term side effects being NOT on Gabapentin:

Memory degradation. My short recall is pure sh*t sometimes.
Pain. Every single day from waking to sleeping, my shoulder hurts sometimes to the point where I get little akathisia (this inner restlessness that makes me have an almost “tick” to move my shoulder. So strange and unnerving. It seems to increase as my stress/anxiety increases.
Organ damage, brain and liver damage
Very weird respiratory depression
A foggy feeling sometimes

Gabapentin sucks. Please, take my story and have something else chosen for you.

China’s New Generation of Hypersonic Weapons Can Encircle the U.S. Military

What’s something small that happened in your life that everyone else probably forgot about but had a big impact on you?

**Edited to add** While I appreciate the people who took time to read and suggest edits, I am not doing this. All edits outside of basic spelling will be discarded. I’m sorry I have to explain this but I wrote this from my own perspective as a child. No child has perfect grammar. If you feel the need to change, delete entire paragraphs I suggest you please write your own story. This is mine.

************

I was with my mother and older sister in the grocery store. Kindergarten age, all big eyes and watchful quiet. I didn’t talk much, even then. I may have been small but I’d already learned that speaking only increased the pain.

My older sister had wandered off, but I stood right by mother. If I moved, even to see where sister had gone, I’d get beat later for misbehaving. It was just like me to cause problems. So I walked behind her like a little shadow. Careful, always careful to stay out of the way.

An older lady approached my mom and complimented her on how I behaved. She wore a housecoat and gray hair, just like a grandma on tv. This was so very weird – I never ever got told I did something good. I peeked out at her from behind my mom. She saw me and said “Oh how pretty she is! Look at those big eyes and long long eyelashes.” I smiled then…in my whole life no one had told me I was pretty without it being proceeded by severe pain. She made another compliment about my smile and I guess that was too much.

My mom interrupted and said “Oh you should see my other daughter. She’s the real beauty and so very good. This one’s just trouble”. My smile faded away and I looked down at my shoes. They hurt anyway, were too small. They’d been my sisters that got handed to me when she didn’t like the color anymore. They were old and scuffed and I was sure I’d be in trouble later. I never could figure out how to make the old shoes look like the new ones my sister wore.

The lady went around my mom and came and looked down at me. She said in a firm voice that allowed no disbelief “You are good too”. Then she smiled at me – just at me! and went on with her day.

She didn’t know it and neither did I, but that was when I first started to question how things had always been. When I was scrubbing the bathroom and my sister was outside because she was good enough to play I remembered it. When I got in trouble because my older sister did something and I didn’t stop her I’d remember that. Those little words got me through a lot of things and helped me learn that maybe I didn’t deserve what happened to me.

“You are good too”, such a little sentence but it started such a change in me.

What can you do to honor your wife when it is almost too late?

At about eleven years into our marriage, we were in big trouble. We were in our living room, both crying (my husband doesn’t cry, he was a Marine), and sitting in abject, defeated silence, as there was nothing left to say. It was dead. We failed. We were over. Too much pain.

Suddenly, I had an idea. I said, “OK, if this marriage is dead, let’s give it a damn funeral. And you know what? Who says we can’t marry each other again and start a new relationship?”

My husband looked at me and said, “Well, that’s just crazy enough to possibly work.”

We took off our rings. We wrote scathing eulogies to the first marriage. “Dear first marriage, I don’t know how you managed to both suck and blow, but die in a fucking fire….” We proceeded to speak to each other about our “exes,” complaining about all of the crap they did to us. “My ex left his damn socks on the floor ALL THE TIME.” “Oh, yeah, well MY ex threw temper tantrums about stupid shit.”

We lit candles. We created sacred space. We smudged our rings in sage smoke, and we said off-the-cuff vows to one another.

“I promise not to leave my socks on the floor”

“I promise not to wait until I can’t take something anymore and then yell at you”

We put our rings back on, we tied our hands together with our original handfasting cord after smudging it and adding things to it. We kissed. We made love. A lot.

We never spoke of it again. Almost twenty years strong, we are. We still make love. A lot.

Why US and West scared of China and Russia in Africa

Mediterranean Steak and Pasta with Tomato-Olive Sauce

Whole-wheat pasta is served with beef Sirloin Tip Center Steaks and a tomato and olive sauce. This one will please the adults and the kids in your family.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked whole grain fettuccine
4 beef Sirloin Tip Center Steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick (about 4 ounces each)
1 (26 ounce) jar pasta sauce with olives*
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
1/4 cup finely shredded Italian cheese blend or mozzarella cheese
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

Cook fettuccine according to package directions; drain and keep warm.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place beef steaks in skillet; cook for 11 to 13 minutes for medium rare (145 degrees F) doneness, turning occasionally. (Do not overcook.) Remove from skillet; keep warm.
Combine pasta sauce and oregano in same skillet; heat until hot. Return steaks to skillet; turn to coat with sauce.
Place steaks on fettuccine; spoon sauce over all.
Sprinkle steaks with cheese, allowing cheese to melt. Sprinkle with parsley.

Notes

* You may substitute 1 (26 ounce) jar pasta sauce with olives for 1 (26 ounce) pasta sauce + 1/4 cup chopped olives.

Nutrition

Per serving: 474 Calories; 99.9 Calories from fat; 11.1g Total Fat (3.7g Saturated Fat; 0.2g Trans Fat; 0.3g Polyunsaturated Fat; 2.3g Monounsaturated Fat;) 71mg Cholesterol; 766mg Sodium; 54g Total Carbohydrate; 10.1g Dietary Fiber; 37g Protein; 6.2mg Iron; 332mg Potassium; 4.5mg NE Niacin; 0.4mg Vitamin B6; 2.8mcg Vitamin B12; 5.9mg Zinc; 33.6mcg Selenium; 90.1mg Choline

This recipe is an excellent source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Iron, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Zinc, and Selenium; and a good source of Choline.

What goes through the mind of Chinese citizens when they travel out of China and end up on the internet seeing uncensored speech and negative factual news about the CCP?

Most Chinese foreign students I have met here in the US are shocked.

Not because they learned anything shocking about their country or government. It’s because they see how mainstream Western media present lies after lies about their home country. The place where they grew up.

As a result, most of them become more nationalistic after spending some time in the US.

You don’t have to believe me. Befriend Chinese foreign students in your city, I assume you’re a Westerner, and slowly ask their opinions of the Western mainstream media coverage of China. If they trust you, they will tell you truthfully what they think.

EDIT: I have deleted some comments from trolls and people who just want to have meaningless internet debates. If you ever use the words “wumao” or “fifty cents”, your comment will be deleted.

A stray dog rescues a buried stray cat—truly astonishing!

When you were a kid, who gave you an unforgettable Christmas present?

I have six siblings. My dad had a pretty good job that must have brought in decent money, but he and my mom (who was a homemaker) had seven kids to feed and clothe.

Every couple of months, my mom would receive bags of hand-me-downs from my cousins. It was fun sorting through the piles of clothes. I never gave up hope that something on-trend would make an appearance. Needless to say, that never happened. So, I was always attired in dated, usually over-sized clothing (it didn’t help that I was a scrawny little thing).

The Christmas I was in Grade Six, my oldest brother was working full time. He was the type of big brother that you see in the movies . . . kind, patient and generous. Many times on a Friday night he’d show up with chips and pop (a rare treat) for us kids.

On December 23rd, he showed up with a pile of beautifully wrapped gifts. I was thrilled beyond belief just by the presentation. On Christmas morning, I carefully untied the beautiful ribbon, and slid my small fingers along the seams. I savored each delicious moment of the unwrapping process.

When I finally unveiled the box, I held my breath and slowly opened it. First I pulled out a beautiful, soft, red turtleneck sweater. Hidden beneath a layer of tissue paper, I saw a tan-coloured something peeking out. It was a faux-leather jumper (a sleeveless dress), complete with a belt. The entire ensemble fit me like a glove. It was on-trend, and I was over the moon.

For the first time in my young life, I could wear a new outfit (one that actually fit) to school. I can still remember how thrilling it was to wear that gorgeous outfit. My big brother is a kind and gentle man with a family of his own, and I hold him in the highest regard.

What are some aspects of Chinese culture that may seem odd or strange to an American visiting China for the first time?

My American customer told me,

he was shocked about :

“Chinese kids are allowed to drink wine”

I told him,my grandpa forced me to drink wine when I was 6 yrs old, while my Muslim grandma encouraging me at the same table.

China is sometime so wired even for Chinese.

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What do inmates do to survive prison without going insane?

I remember going into prison, I was facing a 10 year sentence for drugs and pretty down on myself over it. But someone said something to me at the start of my stay that has stuck with me ever since.

“Every day you need some kind of victory, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. Every day, have some victory big or small.”

I don’t know if I really understood him fully at the time, but he had been in and out of the system for his entire life.

In prison, I did alot of pushups and I read alot of books. I fought noone when I could, and anyone when I had to. I played the games, chess, dominoes, cards, basketball, I even learned d&d. I made friends and i made enemies. I faced boredom and some of the most challenging situations of my life. I faced myself in the mirror, the good parts and the ugly parts. I learned alot about myself there.

Something else I remember thinking alot, almost as a mantra is a quote from the movie nacho libre. When the orphan kid is trying to comfort him and he tells him “I’ll have my hot day in the sun” there’s alot of opportunity to make your time slightly easier. Drugs of course, getting stuck watching TV, but really I’m talking about turning away from what you belive is right. It’s easy to compromise your morals in a place like that. But I had my hot day in the sun. In the long run, I think that’s better.

Just like in the real world there are alot of things you can’t control there, and there isn’t always a clear path forward… When there is you know what to do. But when there isn’t, you can still have a small victory everyday. Workout, learn something, face yourself and decide who you want to be going forward, meditate, pray, do something worth doing.

I ended up doing 3 years and 10 months before I made parole. And it’s been almost that long I’ve been out. All in all I feel like prison gave me the opportunity to become who I am now. There’s alot of people in there that got alot more time than I did. But if I had to do more, I’d try and live by that same advice ol shake gave me.

I still try and live by it now.

Anyway I’ve never done this before so thanks for reading.

I DISCOVERED MY CAT’S SECRET PURPOSE AND WHERE THEY GO AFTER PETS DIE

The once pretty became the now blight

History is interesting.

When I lived in Indiana, we spent a lot of time exploring the countryside. Because of the flat… endless flat… it’s really difficult to find nice quiet spaces. Ah. But they do exist. Interspersed between the endless fields of corn and soybeans are these little oasis between the farm plots.

Yes. These little and often tiny plots might contain a cemetery (we visited many, many of these)…

… an old Indian mound (the “mound builders” built these large piles of dirt everywhere)…

….and the occasional pile of rubbish, trash and junk.

On one of our trips we discovered an old yard that hid (what was once) a beautiful skating rink.

It consisted of a nice rural pond, big enough for skating adventures, and events we found the cement foundations of bleachers and fire pits. Oh, man, it must have been really nice back in the day.

I’ll tell you what.

But today, or when we visited it in the late 1980’s, it was filled with old kitchen appliances, a abandoned car or two. Piles and piles of household garbage and refuse, and what looked to be the carcass of a pig that was taking months to decompose. Disgusting really.

I don’t know the whole story about what happened.

Probably, or most likely, the owner of the property passed away, and relatives bought the property and sold it off to Agri-business. And neighbors probably just started dumping their trash there. It’s the American way. Don’t you know.

Have you all explored your local neighborhoods and countrysides for your own local lore?

Here’s a tombstone in the middle of a highway…

If you haven’t you should. You might be surprised at the old dance halls on the third floor of that old main street building, or the old horse-smithery behind the old bank, or the massive military tank in the garage behind the wilting mansion down the road. History is interesting.

Just driving down the road will expose you to adventure…

And let’s not even get into the history of American Indians. Many stories and history there. Quite interesting when you get into it.

Ok. For today…

What’s the most badass thing your boss has ever done?

BEST boss I ever had was the director of a large government computer center. We serviced users from all over the US. Most of whom were great to work with. Nearly 30 years later some remain close personal friends.

One of those users was extremely abusive. He left some of the women who tried to help him in tears.

He started in on me once, but I told him that after 6.5 years active duty as an enlisted Marine and an equal time as a street cop in a town noted for barfights, the only thing that offended me was the poor way he was cussing me out, “I’m going to hang up now, and I don’t want you calling me back until you can do so without cussing me out, or until you can cuss me out properly. Besides, all my programs are running, how is yours doing?”

He was nice to me.

However, our boss was incensed at the treatment he gave us. (He thought my response was hilarious.)

There was a big conference coming up, and our boss was going to see him. One of two things was going to happen. An apology, or he was going to ask the guy to step outside and settle it on a different level and kick him off the system.

I worked mostly a permanent 8PM to 4AM shift on the police department, so I could handle myself pretty well, but I would NOT have wanted to get into a hook-n-jab with him. (I went to college part-time.)

The guy wisely groveled, called and apologized to one and all (except me!), and was a model user.

When they installed the computer–this was a monster supercomputer–they sent commemorative coffee cups along. This boss created a lot of detractors because he distributed the cups to us serfs instead of the upper level managers.

How good a boss was he? I almost turned down a new job with a 20% raise because I knew I’d never find a better boss. Later he ended up at another government computer. The one I moved to for that 20% raise! Then I almost turned down a 35% raise to stay and work with him at that second site. He told me that if I did not take that job, he was going to kick my ass. I’m pretty sure he meant it.

Men and women in the USA

What is an open secret in your profession that we regular folk don’t know or generally aren’t allowed to be told about?

A large number of lawyers engage in what, euphemistically, is called “value billing.” More bluntly, it’s called mail fraud. Here’s the idea:

You’re a lawyer, and a prospective client wants you to do something. Say, they want you to draft a contract for some purpose or another.

You talk to them about your expertise. You lay on the charm. You show them the fancy awards you won. They’re on board, and you formalize your attorney/client relationship with a document called an “engagement letter.” The engagement letter sets forth the important parameters of the relationship, most definitely including how fees are computed.

Most attorneys will have a line in there that says “unless otherwise specified on a case-by-case basis, I bill at such-and-such per hour for legal services.” The client is on board with that, and they sign off. Let’s say your rate is $500/hour, just to make nice round numbers.

Now you talk with the client about what they need this contract to involve. You talk to them for, say, an hour. You now have a perfect understanding of what they need. Lo and behold, you can crib from another contract you have lurking around in your files, and adapting this template to fit your client’s needs takes, say, 15 minutes.

A lawyer who engages in “value billing” might bill, say, 4 hours for producing the contract for the client, on top of the hour conversation. Their rationale is that they’re delivering $2000 in value to the client, so 4 hours is a fair price. Besides, the only reason they have this template is because they’re such a great and knowledgeable and fancy lawyer to begin with. So, in their mind, another lesser attorney might really need to take 4 hours.

Don’t be mistaken: some things are not wrong about what the attorney is doing. It’s not wrong to crib from old work. It’s not even wrong to charge $2000 for something that only took 15 minutes. What is wrong is to tell the client you’re billing them by the hour, then fabricate your hours.

This happens from time to time, and for various reasons. I’ve personally known some lawyers (… and, to be clear, they’re the exceptions…) who do this regularly. I’ve known some lawyers who only do this occasionally, and only under special circumstances. Hell, as a young attorney I’ve been given explicit directions to do so by my supervising partner.

(In that case, the client was a bit of a pain in the ass, and created a last-minute emergency that didn’t need to be created. I did a reasonably good job in a reasonably short amount of time. Upon reviewing my work, the partner said something along the lines of, “Good job. Bill an extra 5 hours on this and take the rest of the day off.” Being BigLaw, I definitely billed the extra 5 hours. I definitely did not take the rest of the day off.)

Most lawyers know what the phrase “value billing” means. If they don’t, I’m sure they know about the practice by some other name.

URGENT: RUSSIAN MISSILES ON THE MOVE – COUNTRY-WIDE

Hal Turner World December 13, 2024
URGENT: RUSSIAN MISSILES ON THE MOVE – COUNTRY-WIDE

Something is taking place inside Russia which signals a terrifying and dangerous escalation is taking place: Numerous Russian Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) trucks have come out of storage and are traversing snow-covered back roads throughout the entire nation of Russia.

After the recent attack by Ukraine, against a military airfield in Taganrog, the Russians launched a very significant attack overnight last night, against numerous targets inside Ukraine.

But these movements of ICBM’s hint at something far bigger: a possible launch against NATO itself.

Russia has repeatedly warned that if western-supplied missiles were used to attack deep inside Russia, those missiles require western satellites to guide them to target. Ukraine does not have any satellites. So if “Ukraine” uses western-supplied missiles, and those missiles are actively guided-to-target by western satellites, then the west (collectively) becomes a “Combatant” — an active participant in the fight, against which Russia can strike back.

When they said “strike back” they made clear they felt entitled to strike western (i.e. NATO) bases inside NATO countries.

These explicit warnings came after Ukraine used western-supplied, long-range missiles back on November 19 to hit Russia.

After that strike by Ukraine, Russia unleashed a new hypersonic “Oreshnik” missile, with empty warheads, to hit a major military production site inside Ukraine. The video of that attack , using the Oreshnik with six multiple Independent re-entry vehicles (MIRV) warheads, rained down six (6) separate storms of fire and molten metal upon the military factory in Ukraine.

The terrifying fury of fire and molten metal sub-munitions coming out of the sky at over 6,000 miles-per-hour, sent shockwaves through Ukraine and the West.

Ukraine’s strikes against Russia then halted . . . until December 11, when Ukraine did it again: Hitting Taganrog, Russia with US-supplied ATACMS.

Last night, December 12, Russia struck Ukraine with at least 93 missiles and more than 200 drones. But AFTER that, all the missiles you see above, started coming out of their storage and into the field of Russia . . . ALL OVER their country.

It is now appearing that the Russians ____MAY____ strike bases in NATO countries.

No military exercises have been announced inside Russia which would account for these missile movements. They are ongoing as this story publishes at 10:41 AM EST on Friday the 13th of December, 2024.

Why do developing nations kind of trust China and Russia these days?

Whom would they trust? Their former colonial masters?

China and Russia have never invaded their territory. China and Russia have never sanctioned them. China and Russia have never interfered in their internal politics nor overthrown their government. The USA and its allies have.

China has been helping them economically through the Belt and Road Initiative. China and Russia have created the BRICS organization that is egalitarian and inclusive.

Newlywed Thought She Got Away With The World’s Biggest Sh*t Test…And Then Her Husband Showed…

What are your top 7 rules of life?

It might take the average 20-year-old lad 7 years to understand this, But I’ll try teach it to you in 3 minutes.

1. If you learn slowly, carefully & steadily, you will realize that you have the opportunity and capacity to do anything; don’t let another person discourage you. Try it out yourself and fail before admitting defeat even before the battle began.

2. Choose your spouse carefully. It’s the most important decision you will ever make, the wrong one will ruin your life.

3. You don’t need to spend $100K on a degree to build a career, learn from the internet. We are very fortunate to live in a world full of information these days. Also, remember that a degree doesn’t define your smartness. You can have a degree and still be foolish. I’ve met my fair share of these lot so believe me when I tell you this.

4. Stop blaming other people & start taking 100% responsibility for your actions. You alone are responsible for them.

5. Start investing early on. Investing helps you buy back time from your future self.

6. Regrets are a waste of time. Instead of dwelling on your regrets, make the most of available time.

7. 99% of your problems can be solved with money. Don’t listen to anyone who suggests otherwise.

Why does Malaysia fail to attract expats like Thailand?

It’s inconceivable why Thailand is “a hot place to be” for tourists from all corners of the globe— Why not Malaysia, the closest neighbor?

I admire beautiful Georgetown on Penang island as much as I value living in Bangkok the ugly city (to me) where I live, nevertheless, I stand by my principles not to brag about myself or to make Thailand look good at the expense of Malaysia and its people.

Let’s start with Bangkok and see why this mythical city in the 21st century has been popular since the 60s during the Vietnam War, although this messy and chaotic city has now been moved upmarket and some areas in Bangkok look more like New York City or London or Tokyo… To me, nothing has changed, and what you see today as compared to the Vietnam War era is —intact, baby.

Is Bangkok that attractive? Hell! No way, guys! This City where I live is weird but it must have done something right that half of the world’s population get addicted and bother to travel 8,000 miles to come and see things I hate to see.

Let’s rock! Everybody, let’s rock— here’s Bangkok where I live.

Never a dull moment the minute you enter this country regardless of the mode of your transport or where from?

By air, once you step out of the customs, chaos starts from the entry points where you get into this country— All hell breaks loose-/ you try to find your name from among hundreds of placards of names in English- you are surrounded by people who don’t speak you language. The unruly crowd is surprisingly orderly, with no shouting, no shoving, no rules, but plenty of sweat with head spinning over and again.

I heard an American lady telling her husband “ George, get the hell out of here!”

Anywhere you go, you either practice skills of bargaining cut-throat taxi fares, or make straight faces and ignore tattoo—faced Song Thaew or van drivers,

…. or damn Tuk-tuk drivers who follow you to ask you go to with them to the Floating market for 20 Baht fare or pirate van drivers and their sidekicks holding posters of sex shows keep repeating ‘no charge ‘ at the Nana area or around your hotel.

More tourists, more expats, should be more police to be seen — Nope? It’s ironic when there are no police around to bother you as bar operators as well as the touts shoo or boo them away… Seriously. Do you think the Boys in Brown have given up? You may wish that but they come with lightning raids as often as they get a tip-off.

While the expats concealed themselves, the tourists paraded to the Police Station as usual. Deported, pay the fine, or be thrown in jail

… and finally tailor touts who ask you to make suits with a free umbrella after a greeting “ Hello, hello” he did that to you every morning.( maybe evening as well)

“Hi, handsome, where you from?” A famous and classic greeting from ladyboys that passed on for the last 60 years since the Vietnam War era is still heard today.

Why does Malaysia fail to attract expats like Thailand?

Thailand spices up your life, not only Bangkok but the entire country gets you the feeling of chaos, madness, and free-for-all. Besides, you get what you need and more than what one could ask for.

Let me say to you guys, “For Pete’s sake, no one’s lookin’ now’s the chance to make a break—Everybody, let’s go and live in Bangkok and get yourself crazy, life is short.

Unchained

Where in the world should you go if you don’t want to be found?

If you are a high profile criminal or terrorist who is hiding from a bigger country’s Intelligence or police agency, there aren’t many places left for you to go. Sooner or later, they’ll find you.

Your financial status plays a significant role. If you have enough money, you can bribe the local authorities and have a relatively comfortable life in many countries.

A lot also depends on your ethnicity. If you are a white Caucasian, you’ll “stick out” in most Asian and African countries.

Let’s say you don’t have much money, no connections, you are a white male and there is an international arrest warrant out on your name for a serious crime (murder, drug trafficking, etc). Here are some suggestions for your travel destinations:

Spain. There are still some Hippie communities from the 1970s out there. People there are living in extreme poverty, their kids don’t go to school, and life sucks, but on the positive side, the cops stay away from them and nobody gives a f**k who you are and where you come from.
Alternative living communities worldwide. It doesn’t always have to be the jungle or the desert. There are autonomous groups in many Western countries that exist right in the middle of the biggest cities. In London, Paris or Berlin, there are streets where radical anarchists have illegally seized houses and live relatively unbothered by the police. These places can serve you as temporary shelters and you also might find people there who can give you advice on how to further proceed with your plans.
France. You can disappear for a while as a seasonal worker, for example, in the vineyards. They don’t ask any questions. Thousands of young people and students are doing this every year, you are paid in cash and, of course, there is enough wine for everyone.

If you have some money:

Turkey. A friend of mine lived off the grid in Izmir for many years. Just bribe the cops and nobody will bother you.
Albania. Pretty much the same as in Turkey. The good thing is that there are many people that are versed in human trafficking. You can practically go from there to everywhere in the world illegally. It’s a big transport hub for illegals.
Warzones and crisis regions. Where there’s fighting, the police is often far away. Besides that, people are busy with their own troubles and corruption is rampant. Short: a good place to hide. Countries like Ukraine, Iraq, Kurdistan, and even the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina can offer shelter for the rightfully persecuted. The downside is that you can’t go there without having some prior connections.

There are many more places, but as I said before, it all depends on how much money you have and your connections.

Richard Wolff: There is NO Way Back! How America MISSED Its LAST Chance To Maintain Global Supremacy

Who is the most corrupt and crooked scientist ever known?

Probably the most famous corrupt scientist is Andrew Wakefield.

Wakefield was (past tense emphasised) a gastroenterologist and biomedical researcher.

He gained international fame when, in 1998, he published a paper in The Lancet which established (or at least, claimed to establish) a link between the MMR vaccine, and a rise in bowel disease and autism (interestingly — only 12 children were in the study, and eight of them supposedly developed behavioural disorders. That’s an insanely small test group, and an absurdly high rate: if this data were true, over 20 million people would have been made autistic by MMR before 1998)

We identified associated gastrointestinal disease and developmental regression in a group of previously normal children, which was generally associated in time with possible environmental triggers

[1]

Yep — this guy is the origin of the modern anti-vaccination movement (“antivaxxers”).

Though the paper itself does not concretely blame MMR for the autism cases, Wakefield himself did several press conferences where he publicly claimed a causal link. This caused an uproar in the scientific community — and was labelled as “science by press conference”.

It was these press conferences (not the actual paper itself, though people used the paper as a post-hoc justification) that led to a huge resurgence of the anti-vaccination movement, and the outcry over vaccination of children.

Information then slowly began to leak out that all was not as it seemed to be with the paper, either.

Several of the families in the study were approached by a lawyer preparing a lawsuit against the firms making the MMR jab. Huh…that would seem to be a conflict of interest, right? That is pretty dodgy.

Then it was revealed that said lawyers had paid Wakefield more than £400,000

[2]

($700,000), which he had failed to disclose. This seriously raised questions about Wakefield’s motives: how can you expect a paper published by somebody funded by people suing the MMR vaccine makers to be impartial about the MMR vaccine?

In light of the conflict of interest this represented, The Lancet re-reviewed the paper, and found that it no longer satisfied them as a piece of genuine research — and they issued to following retraction:

We wish to make it clear that in this paper no causal link was established between (the) vaccine and autism, as the data were insufficient. However the possibility of such a link was raised, and consequent events have had major implications for public health. In view of this, we consider now is the appropriate time that we should together formally retract the interpretation placed upon these findings in the paper, according to precedent.

Then, in 2004 it was revealed that, prior to publishing the 1998 paper, Wakefield had applied for a patent for a replacement for the MMR vaccine

[3]

a mere few months before he began the 1998 paper which supposedly showed that the vaccine was unsafe!

No way that could possibly have influenced his conclusions in the paper, right?

Oh — you think that’s it? No, this story just keeps on going!

After this, a former student came forward and said that Wakefield routinely ignored laboratory data.

All this while, independent studies were utterly failing to reproduce the original results

[4]

, and several of them called into question Wakefield’s research methods.

In 2007, the UK General Medical Council initiated proceedings against Wakefield on the charges of

[5]

“Was being paid to conduct the study by solicitors representing parents who believed their children had been harmed by MMR”.
Ordered investigations “without the requisite paediatric qualifications” including colonoscopies, colon biopsies and lumbar punctures (“spinal taps”) on his research subjects without the approval of his department’s ethics board and contrary to the children’s clinical interests, when these diagnostic tests were not indicated by the children’s symptoms or medical history.
“Act[ed] ‘dishonestly and irresponsibly’ in failing to disclose … how patients were recruited for the study”.
“Conduct[ed] the study on a basis not approved by the hospital’s ethics committee.”
Purchased blood samples—for £5 each—from children present at his son’s birthday party, which Wakefield joked about in a later presentation.
“[S]howed callous disregard for any distress or pain the children might suffer

The GMC ruled in favour of all charges — and Wakefield was struck from the register (the harshest thing the GMC is able to do).

During this trial Brian Deer (who had previously worked to uncover many of the inconsistencies in Wakefield’s work), discovered evidence that not only had there been poor lab practices, but that data had been willfully manipulated — and highlighted the difference between the hospital records of the 1998 data, and the data published in the paper, which appeared to show significant manipulation.

[6]

OH MY GOD THERE’S STILL MORE

THEN it was revealed that the father of one of the children in the 1998 study owned a patent that would profit from the MMR/autism scare

[7]

, and that Wakefield himself predicted that they could “make more than $43 million a year from diagnostic kits” ,

[8]

where “the initial market for the diagnostic will be litigation-driven testing of patients with AE [autistic enterocolitis, an unproven condition concocted by Wakefield]”.

In light of this, The Lancet then re-retracted the initial paper — rather than just the edited conclusion I quoted above, they said:

“The claims in the original paper that children were ‘consecutively referred’ and that investigations were ‘approved’ by the local ethics committee have been proven to be false.”

[9]

This was followed by a flurry of other retractions of Wakefield’s papers — many of which sought to establish a link between vaccination and illnesses.

Seems like a happy ending, no? He got his comeuppance — and the community has rejected his ideas after a rigorous peer review process. Exactly how science is meant to work, right?

Whilst the scientific community was busy giving Wakefield’s 1998 report a jolly good rogering — there was a human cost.

You see, the everyday population doesn’t really pay attention to the proceeds of the UKGMC — and nor do they study the retractions in medical journals. But when a man in a lab coat stands up and says “VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM!” — that, they pay attention to.

Since 1998, there has been a huge rise in the so called “antivaxxer” movement — who believe the claims of Wakefield

[10]

. Several famous people have come out in support of the movement, including Jenny McCarthy (I’m not even going to cite this), and Jim Carrey

[11]

, to name just two.

This scare has led to huge numbers of children to be going unvaccinated, which compromises herd immunity

[12]

, and has led to a staggering number of children to die from diseases they would have been safe from had they been vaccinated.

I can’t 100% vouch for the methods of this website (though they certainly have a lot of primary sources from the CDC

[13]

[14]

, which is promising), which has a running count of the number of preventable illnesses (in the US) and preventable deaths caused by non-vaccination.

The current total stands at 152,763 preventable illnesses, and 9028 deaths.

Let’s just repeat that.

9028 people have died (mostly children) because of the antivaccination movement.

That website also contains a helpful counter for the “number of autism diagnoses linked to vaccination”.

Guess what that number stands at?

0. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

Normally I would avoid making potentially libellous statements such as this — but given that I have extensive back-up sources, citations — and also the fact that this has been tested in court several times (Wakefield has never won a libel suit), I therefore feel pretty darned confident in asserting:

Andrew Wakefield is the most corrupt scientist in history. He can be held accountable for the deaths of nearly 10,000 human beings, because of his fraudulent and unethical research.

He did this out of a desire to make a profit — and in doing so he compromised everything a scientist, and indeed a human being, should stand for.

Sue me. I dare you.

What is the significance of elevating China’s bilateral relations with all African countries having diplomatic ties with China to the level of strategic relations?

What does China need?

Potash
Iron Ore
Bauxite
Uranium Ore
Gold Mines
Copper Ores
Wheat
Oilseeds & Edible Oil Stock
Pork
Beef
Soybeans
Corn
Titanium Ore

What does Russia need?

Intermediate Goods
Drones
Electronic Circuitry
Semiconductor Chips between 650 nm to 45 nm
Cars
Infrastructure Equipment
Construction Equipment
Industrial Chemicals
Refined Titanium

What do African nations need?

Wheat
Oilseeds
Coal
Schools
Energy
Transportation
CREDIT at low interest rates
Affordable Consumer Goods

You see that China, Russia and Africa all have things that the others want

They have a SELF CONTAINED DEMAND AND SUPPLY HABITAT

Whatever China needs, Africa and Russia have

Whatever Russia wants, China provides

Whatever Africa needs, Russia and China provide

The US or West have NO PLACE IN THIS HABITAT

They have stolen tons of resources from Africa and paid 3 cents on the Dollar

They have instead sold tons of semi automatic guns, claymore landmines, grenades, handguns and RDX to keep the regions unstable and poor and illiterate

Thats what STRATEGIC RELATIONS means

It means each Nation is strategically poised to help each other develop and grow

China builds a Power Project in Mali

They pay for it fully and in exchange ask for Uranium Ore to be sold to them for 30 cents on the Dollar

It’s TEN TIMES WHAT THE FRENCH WERE PAYING FOR THE SAME

So why not have strategic relations ?

Mystery Of The Betz Sphere Is Finally Solved And It’s Not Good

Steak Casserole

Ingredients

3 or 4 boneless cube steaks
1 can Campbell’s Golden Mushroom Soup
1 can mushrooms (optional)
1 medium onion, sliced

Instructions

Brown the steaks in a frying pan, then place in the bottom of a baking dish.
Pour the mushroom soup over them, add the can of mushrooms if you wish.
Spread the sliced onions on top and season with salt, pepper and paprika to taste.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Serve with noodles.
Spoon the gravy over the noodles, if desired.

What countries will you never visit again?

Not a country, but a city:

I’ll never visit Berlin again.

When I was in college, I did a semester in London. Halfway through the term, my friends and I decided we’d take a Eurotrip to Amsterdam, Berlin, and Hamburg.

Amsterdam was a blast. I was asleep for most of Hamburg. (We stayed awake the entire night before.) But the most disappointing part of the trip was Berlin.

The city itself, the food, the history, was great. But what drove me away was the people. (Literally.) The Germans didn’t allow me into any of their clubs. (Except this one club that’s apparently super lame because it’s only for tourists.) I was there with three girls and another guy. We tried four places. The bouncers always let the girls in, but never me or my American male counterpart.

But here’s the kicker:

My biggest reason I wanted to go, pay for a flight, AirBnB, etc. was to go to the clubs. I was enrolled in music school at the time, and was really interested in electronic music. (Okay, I was obsessed.) And I knew Berlin was known for having some of the best electronic music in the world.

I was so excited, I did a bunch of research beforehand to learn how to behave so that the bouncers would approve of me. I wore all black. I stayed off my phone. I even remained silent.

But it wasn’t enough.

My passport gave me away. No one let me in anywhere, and I was really broken up about it. I had never really experienced rejection like that before. It’s a good thing my buddy was there.

He felt sorry for me, so we stayed up the whole night drinking beer and playing chess. He beat me every time, but I still had so much fun. The next day, we woke up around noon. The girls went to a museum, or memorial or something. My buddy and I spent the rest of the day at the Berlin Zoo until they closed.

I’m never going back 😉

What happened to your school bully?

One of my school bullies punched me in the back of the neck. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but in 2022 I filed for worker’s comp because my neck started really hurting me. Turns out I have:

stenosis
arthritis
a partially-healed fractured disc

Since all of this was clearly old injuries and degenerative, I lost my worker’s comp claim. Over the years, in hindsight, I should have known something was wrong.

It was 2006 when I was punched, and I moved to Australia in 2016.

In 2010 and 2011, when I was in college, I was an Army ROTC cadet for two years before I got discharged for unrelated medical issues. I did notice that the back of my neck often hurt a lot when I wore a helmet…

Thanks to new regulations, cars started getting pokier head rests that either pushed your head forward, or forced you to set the seat back. New head rests always hurt my neck.

It wasn’t until I got a job at a warehouse though, as an order selector, moving thousands of pounds of alcohol a day that my neck really started playing up. I found I couldn’t turn my head, even driving was very dangerous. I am now on painkillers so strong that every 6 months or so they test my kidneys to make sure I’m not getting killed by them. They’re non-opioid painkillers. Basically Celebrex and a super strong version of Tylenol, both for extremely old people.

Back to my bully… I started thinking about it, and I realised there was a greater than 0% chance this guy, back in the USA, was a millionaire wangster rap star. Maybe I could sue him?

I looked him up, and was startled, though not surprised, to see an adult version of his face, in a news article, wearing a prison jumpsuit.

I am definitely not expecting a lump sum payout.

China & Russia JUST Hit U.S. Where It HURTS… & U.S. Didn’t Expect THIS!

What was the most bizarre court appearance you’ve heard of?

Not my case, but the case before ours (hearing). The year was 1987

NOTE: This was a Juvenile Court – Not an adult court
WARNING: THIS IS THE PAST ERA, NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT IN TODAY’S STANDARDS!

Case * Information *

A 11 year old moderately retarded (mentally challenge) is brought in with shackles

JUDGE: __________________ (!!!) _________________

PROSECUTION: (begins to speak)

JUDGE: SHUT UP! I DEMAND TO KNOW WHY THIS CHILD IS IN MY COURT ROOM?

PROSECUTION: Proceeds: Destroying mops and cutting mop-heads off

DEFENSE: YOUR HONOR! (talking very loudly) I WISH TO STATE THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM KNEW OF HIS FEARS WITH MOPS!

PROSECUTION: Objection!

JUDGE: ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!

(reads the case file and it seemed to anger him)

JUDGE: LITTLE GIRL, COME FORWARD TO ME, COME HERE… (summons her to come in front of him)

He notices shes struggling with the shackles, orders them removed.

PROSECUTION: OB….
JUDGE: SHUT THE HELL UP!
Bailiffs removes the shackles, escorts her to the Judge’s side and she immediately gives him a hug!

JUDGE: Ah! Very Nice! (hugs right back) Ahhh, let’s see here, your name is Myra (not real name)
LITTLE GIRL: ME! (points to herself proudly)
JUDGE: Do you know what a mop is?
LITTLE GIRL: (her eyes widen and becomes fearful)…
JUDGE: You do not like mops!
LITTLE GIRL: Bad! BAD BAD BAD BAD!
JUDGE: I want you to sit right there in the chair (Witness Stand).
::: she scurries into the chair and mimics the Judge ::::

JUDGE: (slightly amused but quickly turns into a scowl) WHAT IS HER MENTAL STATE?

DEFENSE: Her mental state is that of a Pre-Schooler / Kindergartner – below average for her age.

PROSECUTION: OBJECTION! HAS NO RELEVANCY TO THE CASE!

JUDGE: SHUT UP! DO NOT SPEAK UNTIL I INSTRUCT YOU MAY SPEAK! THAT’S BOTH OF YOU!

Judge then summons a bailiff up, and whispers something…. the Bailiff was somewhat “objecting to it” until the Judge tells him “go – get it”.

JUDGE: Where’s her Medical Records?

DEFENSE: I have the copy right here (holding a file)

JUDGE: (waves it to be brought over, reading through the case file every now and then you would hear him say) Hmmm, Hmmmm, Hmmmm. (and he’s making notes on his ledger)

Bailiff returns – Judge holds his hand up to “wait” – then he says

JUDGE: Myra, could you please stand over there between the two podiums?

LITTLE GIRL: (confused)

DEFENSE: (walks over and points)

She runs down and stands there facing the people. Making faces.

JUDGE: Myra? Would you turn around and face me please?

She’s giggling and laughing, then finally turns around.

(Then he summons a Female Bailiff, to turn her facing the wall to the left and not to permit her to look)

Then he waves his hand and the bailiff comes out with the mop and mop bucket, but alas, it was too late, she turned and saw it and immediately charged after it and attempted to destroy it; with the Judge holding his hand “WAIT!”

He made full observation and then said

JUDGE: MYRA?! MYRA?! What are you doing?
LITTLE GIRL: BAD! BAD BAD BAD BAD! (proceeding to try to kill the mop – even trying to pull the mop strings apart)
JUDGE: Very good Myra! You’ve killed our mop! Please come up here while my assistants removes the dead mop from my court room!
LITTLE GIRL: Keeps an eye on the mop being removed and one Bailiff played it very smart – like it was truly dead!
LITTLE GIRL: BAD BAD BAD! DEAD DEAD DEAD! ME DEAD THE BAD BAD!

JUDGE: C’mere. (instructing her to stand by him)

JUDGE TO DEFENSE: May I ask what her treating physicians have to state about a Mop?
DEFENSE: I believe the notes are somewhere in the near middle-end, may I?

Judge returns the Medical Records back to the Defense – and he’s flipping through the pages. Finding it… Hands the Judge the documentation

JUDGE: (Reads it to self then proceeds to read outloud): PATIENT HAD AN OUTBURST AND PROCEEDED TO ATTACK OUR JANITOR’S MOP WHICH HE WAS CLEANING A MESS OFF THE HALLWAY FLOOR. FURTHER DOCUMENTATIONS MADE BY THE ATTENDING NURSE FOUND THE PATIENT WAS VERY AGITATED BY THE PRESENCE OF A MOP.
DEFENSE: Your Honor, I found the other document. (Hands it to the bailiff and then it’s in the Judge’s hands)
JUDGE: (reads to self and then a slight chuckle then proceeds) THE PATIENT HAS ADVERSE REACTION TO ANY MOP. SEVERAL MOPS, MOUNTED AND UNMOUNTED WERE PRESENT TO THE PATIENT. SHE REACTED IN TERROR, ANGER, AND PROCEEDED IN DESTRUCTION OF MOPS. RECOMMENDATION: KEEP ALL MOPS OUT OF SIGHT OF THIS PATIENT. IT’S UNKNOWN WHY THE MOP IS A TRIGGER.

:::: returns the papers back to the Defense :::

PROSECUTION: YOUR HONOR! SHE HAD DESTROYED $120 IN SCHOOL PROPERTY.

JUDGE: NO SH!T SHERLOCK! IT IS QUITE EVIDENT THAT THIS RETARDED (as it was known back in the years passed) CHILD, SHALL NOT BE FOUND GUILTY. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN MEDICALLY POSTED THAT ALL MOPS AND SUCH THEREOF NOT TO BE IN THE SIGHT OF THE CHILD! RELEASE HER BACK TO HER PARENTS IMMEDIATELY AND THE SCHOOL SHE ATTENDS TO SHALL BE ALERTED WITH A WARNING – KEEP ALL MOPS OUT OF THE SIGHT OF THE CHILD. IF THERE ARE MOPS PRESENT, PLEASE REVERT THE CHILD AWAY FROM THESE OBJECTS. CASE CLOSED WITH PREJUDICE!

(pauses)

JUDGE: Myra?
LITTLE GIRL: Runs up to him and giggles.
JUDGE: You may go to your mommy and daddy! You can go back to school! You’ve saved my courtroom by the Mop Monster!
LITTLE GIRL: Beaming with smiles (runs up and hugs)

This has to be the most bizarre event ever in my lifetime! To the fact, a 11 year old retarded (mentally challenge) child with such a low IQ being arrested was totally uncalled for! The Special Education School (designed just for those type of special need children), angered me personally. I filed a formal complaint against the Special Education School System → in fact, so did a lot of other parents, counselors, program directors. It caused an outburst by the Public! (One of the Program Directors reported it to the Media which that itself was published!)

Cheating Wife Thought She Got Away With The Perfect Crime UNTIL Husband Texted EVERYONE!

Why doesn’t the West face up to China, but uses public opinion to smear China?

Because it’s no longer the past.

This was 1937.

main qimg 7d87b625550fb6a6d4ec8084c0ff4d61

This is 2024

main qimg 807defc9f785fc45d2fdda5fcd16c42c

If you want to have a fucking try? Then come and get us.

We’ll hit you back just as hard.

White power types will say they don’t work, so go on then put your money where your mouth is!

We’ll die but we’ll take you along with us and there will be no future for you either.

What would happen to a recruit in boot camp that acted like Forrest Gump or Gomer Pyle?

Dale Dye is a retired Marine officer who’s gotten rich as a technical advisor for military-themed movies. He founded Warriors, Inc. If you’re making a war movie, you get this guy to train your actors to behave like actual soldiers.

One of the movies he worked on was Forrest Gump. They asked him about Gump’s chances as a real soldier, and this is what he said: Forrest Gump is the ideal private because he does exactly what you tell him to.

Forrest Gump is also the ideal trainee. If a drill sergeant were to hand him, say, a footlocker layout Gump is going to set his locker up EXACTLY the way it says to. When the drill sergeant hands him a grenade he will throw it exactly the way they tell him to. He will march the way they tell him to. His uniform will be up to snuff. When we shined boots his boots would always be perfect. He will always remember to sweep, mop, wax and buff the floor. If he’s told to fall out for formation at 0630 he’ll be there. And he’d notice that the more precisely he did all these things the less the drills will yell at him.

What you DON’T want to do is put him in combat arms. He’d wind up getting his platoon killed. He’d be a hell of a Service and Supply soldier. If you tell Forrest Gump that you need an airdrop pallet built with 48 water cans, 50 cases of MREs and ten cases of ammo…that pallet is going to be built so pretty and squared away that the riggers only have to put a net and a parachute on it before they take it to the plane. They’ll never have to restack it. A more intelligent soldier, you might have to tell him the ammo and water go on first and the MREs on top of that so the weight of the heavier items don’t crush the MREs when the pallet lands; Gump is going to put the MREs on top because his sergeant told him to.

Neocons Want MBS Gone

Shorpy

The American Condition

If most Chinese trust their government, and most Americans don’t trust their own government, when China and the U.S. come into conflict, which side is more likely to win?

If there is a war between China & the US, it will not be in North America because China does not have the power projection.

It will be a war in Asia near China. It is a war that US can never win. Not enough assets to fight China, too many are quickly destroyed, no industrial capacity to sustain it, and in a logistic nightmare.

Public trust for the Chinese government helps, but really doesn’t come into play. Chinese nationalism will assert itself. Chinese are peaceful people, but they are not afraid of war and will not tolerate an invasion.

In the US, there will be an outpour of narratives to justify the war – evil China, blah, blah, blah, the spin doctors working overtime. US public will be inundated with stories of US victories, China’s fortifications in the SCS severely damaged, Taiwan on the march, allies in full support, NATO forces preparing to set sail, US carrier fleets on the way to defeat and conquer – China in flight, the government in disarray, the Politburo divided, and a real revolt is in the offing. US victory is imminent. China’s collapse is imminent.

These are approximate stories in the early days of the Ukraine War.

Then the spin doctors run out of stories. The facts on the ground are too ugly to tell. But news can only be suppressed and black-out for a time. How can you not report that an aircraft carrier has been hit and in danger of sinking? When the news start to go south, public anger will rise. Worse that they see no body bags and realize that the war is fought at sea and the bodies are in the bottom.

If the US public does not trust the government, the war will be short. The disarray and revolt that were suppose to befall China will take place in the US, and spread quickly. Then the real war starts – in the US.

China: A Leader in Hypersonics Military Technology

What are some facts that sound like ‘BS’, but are actually true?

An ingenious man was able to turn a red paper clip into a house.

In 2005, Kyle MacDonald had no job, but wanted to live in a house. With limited options for saving money, he concocted an unorthodox plan.

Beginning with a red paper clip on his desk in Montreal, he would attempt to trade the seemingly useless item for something better. He would keep trading up until he reached his goal.

For his first step, he posted the red paper clip in the ‘Barter’ section on Craigslist. From Kyle MacDonald’s book, sourced below:

one red paperclip

This might not surprise you, but below is a picture of a paperclip. It is red.

This red paperclip is currently sitting on my desk next to my computer. I want to trade this paperclip with you for something bigger or better, maybe a pen, a spoon, or perhaps a boot.

If you promise to make the trade I will come and visit you, wherever you are, to trade.

Hope to trade with you soon!

Kyle

PS – I’m going to make a continuous chain of ‘up trades’ until I get a house. Or an Island. Or a house on an island. You get the idea.

Through a dogged and brilliant series of 14 trades over the course of one year (and greatly helped by later news and publicity of his quest), Kyle was able to successfully transform the paperclip into a new home:

Paper clip for Fish-shaped pen.
Fish-shaped pen for a hand-sculpted doorknob.
Doorknob for a Coleman camp stove (with fuel).
Camp stove for a Honda generator.
Generator for an “instant party”: an empty keg, a beer-filling IOU for, and a neon Budweiser sign.
“Instant party” for a snowmobile.
Snowmobile for a two-person trip to British Columbia.
Trip for a cube van.
Cube van for a recording contract with Metalworks.
Recording contract for a year’s rent in Phoenix, Arizona.
Year’s rent for one afternoon with Alice Cooper.
Alice Cooper afternoon for a KISS motorized snow globe.
KISS motorized snow globe to Corbin Bernsen (a large collector of snow globes) for a role in the film Donna on Demand.
Movie role for a two-story farmhouse in Kipling, Saskatchewan.

Kyle wrote a book about his experience, and even earned a place in the Guiness Book of World Records for “Most Successful Internet Trade.”

Davy Knowles w/BAND OF FRIENDS – Tattoo’d Lady/Bad Penny/Shadowplay

What is the best breakup experience you’ve ever had?

Originally Answered: what is the best breakup experience you’ve ever had?

I met this girl, Courtney, in 1999. She grew up and went to school in Buffalo, NY and I was going to school in California. We met in Michigan, at a summer program for math majors. (For foreign readers, the only thing you need to know about the geography is that all those places are very far from the others.)

It was what I call “indifference at first sight.” We met each other in the context of meeting all the eight or so student participants in the program. We got along fine, but there were definitely no romantic sparks flying. As a group, we all really got along great. Two months later, when the program was over, we all kept up with each other.

(This is more remarkable than it sounds, at least because back then there was no such thing as facebook. “Kept up with each other” meant we actually emailed or — shockingly — talked on the phone.)

About a year later, I sent an email to the group saying how I’d be going to Penn State for grad school. Courtney instantly replied, saying she would also be going to Penn State for a one-semester program. Small world! We arranged to have dinner shortly after we both arrived.

Now the romantic sparks flew. By the end of the semester, in December 2000, we were properly dating. But, alas, the semester ended and she went back to Buffalo. For foreign readers, Penn State and Buffalo are separated by about a 3–4 hour drive. However, I didn’t have a car, so for me the quickest way to visit was by an 8 hour meandering bus ride. We carried on, long distance. Despite my lack of car, my schedule was such that it was a lot easier for me to visit her than the other way around. So every other weekend (or so) I would be on that bus.

Long distance relationships aren’t that great. Maybe not in all cases, but for us, there was a pressure to really make the most out of each visit. We never really just hung around together lounging on the couch. We filled the whole weekend with stuff to do. It was fun, but it was also a little exhausting.

Too exhausting, in fact. By the time February rolled around, I was ready to call it quits. Not because Courtney had done anything wrong, and it’s not that I didn’t enjoy myself when I visited. It was just… exhausting. So one weekend in late February, I decided we’d have “the talk.”

But the timing is important. You can’t show up on Friday and start with the talk, otherwise the rest of the weekend is ruined. It has to be on Sunday, before my bus ride back. She had planned Sunday breakfast with her parents. Ugh, not ideal, but fine. So we get through that very awkward breakfast, and now she’s driving me to the bus station.

There’s that moment of silence when we have clearly transitioned from talking about whatever we were talking about, and I’m mentally firming myself up to start. Man, I hope I don’t make her too sad. Just as I’m about to begin, she says, “So… hey… listen… “

And then she breaks up with me!

She was thinking all the same things I was. We had a good laugh at that, had a nice hug, and she sent me on my way. We both resolved to still be friends.

The epilogue:

We continued talking on the phone after that — because that’s what friends do. In fact, she even went to visit me at Penn State. Because that’s what friends do.

At some point, we crossed into territory that definitely doesn’t involve what friends do. We were briefly in this awkward ill-defined relationship status, but by June, we were pretty much properly dating again. We resolved to fix the long distance problem. Different scenarios were discussed, and ultimately we ended up moving to Boston.

We got married in 2005.

Why do Chinese keep comparing China to the USA when China still hasn’t put a man on the moon, something the USA did 49 years ago?

Putting a man on the moon is not indicative of US superiority.

Today, the world has two superpowers: the USA and China. This is why they are frequently compared.

In most respects, China is ahead of the USA. China is the world’s largest economy by purchasing power parity. China surpasses the USA in most technological fields. China has much greater diplomatic influence globally, thanks to the BRI and BRICS. China has a far more effective political system and with far greater support from the people. China has the world’s largest army and the world’s largest navy. China is a major nuclear power and can deliver warheads using hypersonic missiles.

China has 232X the shipbuilding capacity of the USA!!!

New Discovery Suggests Dinosaurs Coexisted with Early Humans

Have you ever met a very intelligent person who had no clue as to how smart they really are?

Yes, I have. I owned and operated a very successful employment agency for about 20 years. And during that time I met thousands of people in all walks of life and individuals who were at all levels of intelligence, from borderline moronic to high level genius (I also advertised in the Mensa local news magazine/letter for applicants).

I sometimes gave a version of the Wonderlic test, a 50 question, 12 minute, I.Q. test to applicants. Not to all applicants, just some.

This one individual came to my office fresh from college. He was dressed in a full three piece suit. Had never worked before, and was looking for an entry job in bookkeeping, although he had a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He didn’t come from my Mensa advertising. Since he didn’t have any work experience, I wanted to place him with one of the big 8 recognizable accounting firms. But I needed more information than just a college degree to get him the interview.

I gave him one of the six versions of the Wonderlic that I had. He finished the questions in 10 minutes instead of 12. When I scored it, I gulped. He got a 45 which in those days, 1980, was equivalent to an I.Q. of about 145.

The young man was shy, quiet, and nice. No intellectual arrogance about him. Even his vocabulary was average and not peppered with ten dollar words. I couldn’t believe this guy had a genius I.Q. I tested him with a 2nd. and 3rd. version of the test. The same, between 45 and 47, to give him as high as 148 or 150 I.Q. (At the time the ceiling for a score of 50 was around 153, which included scores of 48–50)

The individual was a genius! I made up a resume of his background, which was limited, but did put in his GPA, which was 4.0 in accounting courses, but “B” grades in practically everything else. Naturally, I was successful placing him in a job.

Today he may be retired because in 1980 he was 23 years old, but I’ll bet with his background, and I.Q., that he either ended up as a controller, CEO, or just remained as an auditor because he liked it and devoted his time to his family and not to advancing and sacrificing for a career. And I’ll also bet, since he was so self effacing, that he went through life not realizing he was so very intelligent (I did tell him what his Wonderlic scores were, but he didn’t believe me when I told him that he was extraordinarily intelligent.

What disqualifies you from being a flight attendant?

These are the things that can stop you from getting a cabin crew job:

Age. Airlines have age requirements, to join the airline. The normal age requirements most airlines have are 18 years old to 21 years old. Don’t forget that you can be ‘’too old’’ to join as well. Sadly a lot of ME/Asian airlines are ageist. Most of the ME/Asian airlines prefer to hire candidates below the age of 30 years old. But thankfully EU/US/AUS/CA airlines are not ageist.
Height. Airlines have height requirements. This is because of safety reasons. If you are for example 155cm, it will be difficult for you to find an airline that would hire you. During the recruitment process, there will be a height test, etc.
Education. Most airlines want their candidates to at least have a completed high school diploma. If you don’t have a high school diploma, you won’t be able to get a job.
Weight/health. If you are not fit to fly and don’t have a healthy BMI, you won’t get the job. Your weight has to be in proportion to your height. During the recruitment, the recruiters will judge you. I say ”judge” because the recruiters are brutal when it comes to the way you look. Also during the training, your health will be checked.
Skin. As crazy as this sounds, a lot of airlines don’t hire people that for example have severe acne or skin issues. Issues that would be visible. Image is everything to these airlines. A lot of people forget that crew members act as some kind of ”PR” for the airlines. Crew members are ‘’brand ambassadors’’ for the airlines. That is why the airlines are super strict with the way their crew looks like.
Criminal background. Before you get the job, there will be a background check. If you don’t pass it, you won’t get the job.
Passport. For example, a Brazilian national can’t work for Airfrance in France if that person doesn’t have the legal right to live and work in France. You have to have a valid passport. Some airlines offer crew, work visas, doesn’t matter what nationality you have. For example, the airlines in the Middle East do that. Other than that you have to have the legal right to live and work in that country if you want to get a cabin crew job.
Medical history. Some airlines are strict with candidates’ medical histories. For example, many airlines don’t hire people with depression. Doesn’t matter if they have it now or had it before. If someone had a specific illness, even if it is healed and cured now, the airlines won’t accept that. For example, if you have any kind of sleeping issues, previous or current. Even if it is sorted out and you no longer have sleeping issues, you won’t get the job. Before you get the job you have to fill out medical forms.
Teeth. Yes, your teeth matter. To smile is one of your duties being a cabin crew. You have to have a nice smile. If you have issues with your teeth, for example, crooked teeth, you won’t get hired. Some airlines don’t even allow braces. Many airlines require dental x-rays before you join.
Vision/hearing. You have to fill out a medical form before you join. If you have issues with those, you are out. Your vision and hearing will also be checked during the medical exams during training. If you don’t pass the vision and hearing tests, you will be terminated. So better to check before you get the job.
Swimming. You have to know how to swim. If you don’t know how to swim, you won’t be able to get the job. There will be a ditching test during the training. You can’t have a fear of water etc.
Scars/marks. If you have deep surgery scars or marks, and it would be visible when wearing the uniform, then you won’t be able to get a job. Some airlines are super strict with the way their crew members look like.
Fear of flying. I know a girl who had a fear of flying, to what degree I don’t know. She went on with recruitment and got the job. The instructors found out during training. When they were having training in the simulators. She got fired.
Headscarf/hijab. Many airlines don’t allow this. For example, the airline Saudia did allow headscarves with their previous uniform. Their previous uniform looked like this:

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Their cabin crew were allowed to wear a headscarf/hijab. But this year, they changed their uniform to this:

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Now, with their new uniform, I don’t know what they did about their headscarf rules.

Tattoos. Most airlines are OK with candidates having tattoos, but as long as it is not visible when in uniform. If you for example have tattoos on your legs or arms, you won’t be able to get the job. I know many candidates who had visible tattoos but removed them to get the job.
Beard. If you have a beard like this:

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If you are not willing to shave it, you won’t get the job. Many airlines are super strict with beards. With some airlines, you are not even allowed to have a beard like that. You have to be clean-shaven at all times, during duty. Some airlines allow their male crew members to have a beard. For example, they allow this:

main qimg 4640986e412619741b1ed70da11b7031 lq

With some airlines even during recruitment, if you come with a beard for your interview, they will disqualify you.

Hair color/hairstyle. For example, you are not allowed to have this hair color:

main qimg c00fd9edd8b31fb4706fc6d8d8e6243a lq

If you go like this for a cabin crew interview, you will not get the job. They have strict rules with hairstyles and hair colors. Even if you had your hair up in a neat bun like this:

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That is still not allowed.

So many crazy and silly rules. Some rules are of course there for safety and security. Some rules I understand and I am happy that they have those rules. But for example the age rule. That is truly sad. A lot of airlines are ageist. Many things that can disqualify you during the recruitment process or in training. Even if you pass the entire recruitment process, you need to pass the training as well.

So many things to think of before you apply for the job.

Scott Ritter: Russia’s GLOVES ARE OFF as Putin Readies NATO’s Crushing Defeat, WWIII Next

How are snipers usually killed in combat?

The snipers that were killed during the Bosnian War died in very different ways:

One sniper in our platoon got shot in the head by an enemy rifle, most probably from another sniper.

An enemy sniper jumped from a high building when he discovered that we had located his position and were about to catch him alive.

Snipers were the most hated soldiers on the battlefield and when they were caught alive, they usually didn’t live very long.

We also lost a sniper when a tank shot at the house where he was positioned. A wall collapsed over him and he died immediately. It’s often overlooked that a tank makes the perfect anti-sniper weapon.

Most snipers, however, died through indirect fire from the artillery. The artillery is the number one killer on the battlefield and snipers are no exception. From all artillery weapons, the mortar is probably the most effective one against snipers.

In other conflicts, snipers also get killed by airstrikes and more and more often by anti-tank missiles. Like the tank, a modern anti-tank missile is extremely accurate over long distances and therefore, it is perfectly suited to combat a relatively small target, for example, a sniper.

MM and his AI experiments

I moved some of the visual narratives around, and changed the forum from making coffee to “holding a carved stone statue” and the location being a “bedroom”. Very interesting results.

Many imperfections, but very interesting and curious.

So it started out with a lot of kissing on the bed. No statue. But not too bad.

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Some soft nudes.

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And then everyone started kissing everyone else.

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And then things got heated up.

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And confusing…

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All are aesthetically pleasing, but none appeals to me. I am not searching for nudes and a lot of bed action. But I have taken note that you have to be very careful on what is written, and things can be misinterpreted with the strangest slight elements of sentence structure variation.

And I have no idea where the statue went.

Wife Admitted To Cheating For 10 YEARS On Annual Girls Trips, So I Said “Two Can Play This Game!”

What is the most advanced home surgery or procedure you’ve done on yourself? And how did it go?

Years ago, when I was without dental insurance, I developed quite the abscess on one of my teeth. I could not afford the procedure and I did not want to create medical debt for myself. So, ever the stubborn woman that I am, I thought, “how hard can it be?”

I looked up videos on YouTube of dentists performing the procedure first. If you’re performing surgery without surgical training you need a reference point! Then I gathered and boiled my supplies in hot water.

I pulled back my lip and face as best as I could and used a needle to pierce the very swollen infected skin tissue. Purulent puss oozed and gushed from the hole. The pain was otherworldly and not a stretch. I thought I’d pass out from the initial wave of pain that washed over me. But I pushed on and continued to squeeze out as much as I could.

I repeated the process daily for the next few days. Eventually it healed and I was able to have it taken care of again when my insurance kicked in fresh in January. Look, I knew one way or the other it would be cut open and I would’ve loved to be numbed first but hey, you do what you have to when there’s no other option.:

SWEET JESUS!.. First Time Hearing Joe Cocker – With A Little Help From My Friends

Beyond our star

Submitted into Contest #247 in response to: Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.… view prompt

Katy Heald

I have to get it working. Four hours without life support and we’ll all be dead, but that’s not the main thing. I mean, it is. Obviously. None of us want to die out here, least of all me. But we’ve also got a point to prove.They said we weren’t ready. The Council fought us every inch of the way, and I know it was only Ethan’s intervention that got our expedition over the line. Ethan’s name, really. There’s only so much can be denied to the crown prince, even by the Council.And the reason Ethan fought them so hard? Me.So we’re out here now, lightyears from home, hours from death, all because of me. All the exhileration of the launch, the adrenaline of the crew, the bombast and the posturing and the talk of guts and glory has splintered into stardust. Hundreds of accusing eyes burn into me as I pass through the ship. There might only be a dozen of us on board but the weight of those souls threatens to crush me. Their shading tells me louder than words that it’s the guts rather than the glory that currently occupy their thoughts.I’ve heard what they say about me, too. I’d have to be deaf not to, it’s not like anyone has the energy to spare my feelings right now. I’ve heard it all before, how I’m over-rated, over-promoted, a mad scientist that no one sane would let out of the lab. Usually it rolls off me, but usually I’m not holding my accusers’ lives in my tentacles. Nepo baby. Sycophant. Catamite is a new one; I’m actually faintly impressed by the erudition of the insult.None of it serves to divert me for long. Because not only is the mission my baby, the ship herself is too. The hull, the engines. The life support system. I’m her inventor and her chief engineer, and while Ethan is her captain and pilot everyone knows she’s mine to her wiring.I don’t want to die. We have a point to prove to the Council. But I have a promise to keep to Ethan which is written in more than blood.“Are you sure?” His tentacles played over mine as we lay entwined in his bed. “I trust you, Tam, you know I do, but…”“I know. It’s a big ask.” I couldn’t hide the waves of colour that swirled across my scales, hope and excitement laced with the deep burgundy of avarice. To be first, to be the one to break the barriers of the edge of our star system, for it to be my ship, my engine, my innovations that cradled my people out into the unknown? A shiver of anticipation rippled over me, ruffling my frills. “I won’t let you down, Eth, I won’t embarrass you.”He’d shaken his head, a hint of hurt staining his cheekbones emerald. “It’s not that, Tam.” I waited, confused, as he coloured with anxiety. “Is it safe?”“Of course it’s safe! You think I’d risk my own skin if it wasn’t?”He’d frowned at me, knowing me a little too well, his look all that was needed to conjour the memories of boyish expoits and youthful innovations that blew up in my face, often literally. Sheepish, I’d conceded the point. “This time. This one is safe, Eth, I swear.”“You’ll bring them all back? The crew? Every one of them?”

“I swear.” I was under no illusions about the kinds of folks who I’d be given for the voyage. Those with too little to lose, too much to run from. Or those servicing a debt so great that it could propel them beyond the limits of our atmosphere. But a life is a life, and even though Eth is a much better person than I am I was happy to promise him this. “On my life, Eth.” Quite literally, actually, since there was no question of the ship leaving the planet without me.

He’d nodded, apparently satisfied, and golden exhileration flooded my body. To be replaced by a chilling sense of horror at his next words. “I’ll captain her, then.”

More than blood, then. Instead, a vow to which I’m tied by the soul bond between me and him. Oh, there’s no deep magic here, no arcane link that compels me to obey, nothing like that. Just the fact that this man is half of my whole, and my entire heart, and nothing in this universe matters if he is not at my side. I’d be a hell of a lot happier right now, though, if he wasn’t literally at my side, but instead safely ensconced in the royal chambers in Selmat.

Is this what he expected? Is this what his family anticipated when they appointed a royal engineer to their court? It was a fancy of his father’s, I’m sure, a conceit inspired by visitors from abroad who displayed their own scientists and mathematicians like a florist bedecking a ballroom. He’d requested a physicist and a cosmologist as well and the univeristy had been only too happy to offload me, the troublesome thorn in the administration’s side, to complete the trio.

Aretha and Silas didn’t last long, their tempraments far better suited to the dusty, theoretical towers of academia than the whims of a court which demands flair and novelty more than rigour and punctiliousness. But I was in my element. Every harebrained idea I’d ever had suddenly had an audience. Nothing I could say was too out-there, nothing too outlandish to delight my avid fans.

I wasn’t expecting anyone to take me seriously.

It had never happened before, after all. Oh, I knew my ideas would work, but I’d never persuaded anyone else. Or, at least, anyone who had the wherewithal to actually get them beyond the point of theory. Not until Ethan.

Ethan listened. Not in the delighted, vapid way of the rest of the court but with actual interest. He asked questions. Intelligent ones.

It was my engine design that fascinated him the most. His father quickly lost interest in the scheme once Ethan’s questions become more detailed and my explanations less about showmanship and more about satisfying the insatiable curiosity of the crown prince. And about proving myself, of course. But that was fine, because in the face of his father’s impatience Ethan began to ask for ‘personal briefings’ on my ideas. They became increasingly ‘personal’ as we got to know each other, and for a while the whole space exploration programme risked being derailed entirely as we discovered just how much exploration we could undertake within the four walls of the prince’s bedroom.

The scene in the engineering bay, when I get there, is a horror show. A pall of smoke hangs in the air, choking the handful of crew who know one end of an induction manifold from the other and have hurried in here in a forlorn attempt to help. There’s little they can – or dare – attempt without my instruction, but they’ll stand there and broadcast their resentment in neon blue streaks nonetheless.

My orders echo around the cavernous space, chillingly unimpeded by the engine’s usual hum. Suddenly six tentacles don’t feel like nearly enough as I press reset buttons and hammer overrides and make absolutely no difference to the silently accusing power gauges.

It’s the fuel. Of course it’s the fuel. I know it, even the underqualified grunts hovering at my back know it. But none of us have dared say it yet because to go in there and deal with it, to pass beyond the containment field, is only fractionally less of a death sentence than sitting around here waiting for the air to run out.

We’re out of time, and I’m out of delaying tactics, and I’ve known for a while – since the instant the explosion rippled through the ship and the alarms began to scream and the crew was painted lime green in terror – that it would come to this. Muttering ripples round the room but I can’t spare the attention, not right now. There are supplies in the emergency locker for this, and I snag the tub of gel that I’ve never found the opportunity – or perhaps never been sufficiently suicidal – to test and start to smear it across my body.

A commotion by the containment hatch catches my attention just in time, and my panicked screech stops the youngster’s tentacle just before he overrides the security lock. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

He freezes, glares, steps into the shadows to try and hide the shade of his scales which are now so dazzlingly viridescent that they almost glow. “I’m the most junior. Sir. You don’t have to order me.”

“Order you to what?!” Panic and confusion is making my voice shrill and a couple of the onlookers wince and cover their sensitive earholes.

The youth – Derran, I recall, belatedly – looks faintly uncertain. “To go beyond the door. You… you do realise it’s the fuel, don’t you? Sir?” The honorific is tacked on tentatively, like he’s increasingly unsure it’s merited. Not that I can really blame him at this point. “That the lines are clogged?”

“Of course I do, I designed the bloody thing.” I’ve finished slicking myself with goo now and I’m feeling unpleasantly tacky and more than a little nervous, and my temper is fraying. “What makes you think I’m sending you in there?”

His expression goes flat, confusion and scorn and faint hope swirling across his scales. “Because someone has to unclog them, and it’s a death sentence, and I’m the most junior.” He doesn’t even bother with the ‘sir’ this time.

I can’t help myself. I scan the room. Half of them are staring at the floor, the rest meeting my eyes with a degree of defiant condemnation and the words are out in a jumble of hurt before I can stop them. “That’s what you think of me? Seriously?”

I’m at the door before the first of them realises my intention, and the shock as the rest catch on is almost palpable. “Don’t follow me. If I can’t do this, no one can.” It’s not hubris, it’s the bare facts from the one who designed the engine, built it from scratch, nursed it through these first dozen light years and beyond the edge of the Relean system. “Give me 20 minutes then evacuate.”

It’s an order they might or might not obey. There’s an escape pod, of course, but who will find it out here? They can jump ship, but they’ll be drifting in the void for the rest of their natural lives unless we’ve woefully underestimated the population density of this section of the galaxy. That’s not my problem, not right now. Not with the containment door looming imposingly above me and the handle suddenly heavy under my hand with the weight of what’s riding on this.

It’s a tiny comfort, as I take a final breath and step into the airlock, that Derran’s scales are shining with relief and gratitude. (A little adoration and hero-worship wouldn’t go amiss too, I’m putting my life on the line here, but beggars can’t be choosers.)

If the engineering bay was a horror show, the containment pod is a hellscape. There are no alarms blaring in here, because there isn’t supposed to be anyone to hear them. But the heat and vapour and the smell assaults me and it’s all I can do to focus on what I need to do. The goop on my scales will protect them, and I grabbed a respirator as a bit of defence for my eyes and gills, but both will falter when confronted with the scale of this catastrophe.

As soon as it happened, as soon as we felt the ship rock and heard the alarms blare, I knew what must have happened. No one is ever meant to come in here, because I built backups for the backups and the only way they could all fail was through a series of events so unlikely that designing it out seemed a waste of time. (I’m reconsidering that assessment now, you will understand.) A blockage, an explosion, the failsafe systems taken out neatly in precise succession with split-second timing; I couldn’t have done it intentionally if I’d practised for a month.

In the vanishingly unlikely event we all get out of this alive there’s a hell of a repair job and plenty of redesigning to do, but now is not the time. We can send the cleaner bots in later, but for now it’s down to me and my tentacle-tips and the rising temperature is doing little to make them any more dextrous. The ringing noise in my head and the blurring of my vision tells me the muck is already seeping into my system, and choking clouds of fog are still blocking my view of the critical parts.

In the end I have to just go for it, forge forwards into the choking miasma and rely on my instincts to guide me to the right place. Like I said to Derran: if I can’t do this, no one can.

The next minutes are a blur. Afterwards, only fractured impressions remain. The shriek of pressurised steam escaping from another rupture. The heat of the metal under my tips as I wrench at the valves. The choking stench of leaking exhaust and singed scales.

The sound fades away. Finally I realise I’ve done all I can, and there’s a protesting gurgle that sends a flood of hope through me as the fuel reluctantly starts to flow again. I stumble back to the hatchway, yank it closed behind me, and collapse in a heap on the blissfully cool deck.

Ethan is there. Of course Ethan is there. He’s there because he’s the captain, and because he’s the closest thing we have to a medic on this forsaken tin can, but mainly because he’s my… because he’s mine. I can feel the fluttering of his limbs on my body, the respirator replaced with medical masks, something sharp breaching my scales below my frill. His tentacles are everywhere, his touches reassuring and tender and a shade too intimate for a public setting but it’s not like anyone’s going to begrudge him those in my last moments.

The ringing noise in my head fades and I realise that this must be the end. Oddly, I’m no longer scared. I’ve kept my promise, after all: our ragtag little band of explorers are safe. I’ve not failed Ethan. I’ve not failed my ship. I expect to see Ethan’s scales swirling with the deep black of grief but to my shock it’s the faint crimson of irritation that I see, not deep enough to truly be called anger, but hurtful nontheless as my… my Ethan’s reaction to my last seconds. (It has occured to me more than once that we really ought to get round to naming this thing that’s between us. I guess we’re out of time, now.)

Without the ringing noise I can hear snatches of words, and their unexpectedness tugs my brain closer to consciousness. Idiot. Stupid, bone-headed, self-sacrificing… And then it occurs to me that the scene is getting clearer rather than fuzzier, and the pain is starting to recede, and the realisation that I’m not actually on the verge of death hits me like a shockwave.

“Ethan?”

There’s relief marbled through the crimson as he locks some of his eyes with mine. “Tam. Of all the stupid—”

“I kept them safe. I promised you, Eth. I kept them safe.”

Ethan glares at me and then scoops me up in his tentacles with an ease that I usually find incredibly hot but for which I am just overwhelmingly grateful right now, and bears me off to bed and healing rest. As we approach the door I’m shocked to hear the approving sussuration of frills from the others in the room, and see the shades of gratutide and loyalty, if no little surprise, that adorn their bodies.

I don’t know what we’ll find out here, beyond the edges of our home system and out in the depths of the galaxy, but it looks like one thing has changed. Our little group of court sycophants and university spies and futureless outcasts has changed into something else today. I get the hopeful sense we’re doing this as a comrades, now; teammates. And Ethan is here, and he’s holding me close, and despite the utter carnage of this morning I can’t help but feel that a lot of good has come out of today.

I settle against his chest and let sleep wash over me as his insults fade into endearments. There’s time enough to rake over today’s debacle and make sure it never happens again; for now I can rest. I need my strength back – we’ve a universe to explore together, after all.

She Wanted Open Marriage I said OK and did this

Probably a fictional tale, but illustrates the situational fiasco.

Isn’t it cool how Putin has totally ridiculed the ICC by visiting Mongolia, and doesn’t this prove that he is the greatest exponent of democracy and freedom in the free world? We could really use Putin in the U.S., to deal with the Supreme Court!

Russia is militarily strong. Putin has tight, tight, very tight security from Russia while traveling abroad.

Mongolia’s police is not capable of arresting Putin. Neither is Mongolia’s army. That is reality.

ICC is NOT part of UN.

ICC works for members who have signed the Rome statute.

As of 2023, there are 123 members. USA, China, Russia, India, Israel & more are not members. But ICC still will help its member to sue a non-member.

The 2023 ruling against Putin in Ukraine war is not issued by UN or UN Security Council.

ICC consists of 18 judges who are elected by ICC members only; not UN.

Mongolia was within the circle of USSR before USSR collapsed.

Mongolia is between Russia & China. Though USA tries to put its hands in Mongolia, it makes sense that Mongolia joins the BRI project (pipeline) to link Russia, Mongolia & China together. To make money together.

Joining US politics only makes Mongolia poor & technological behind. Look around the world.

Try that on US supreme court? Not that lucky. Because US police or army can arrest you.

Stuffed Banana Peppers

Ingredients

Peppers

24 banana peppers, washed, seeded and sliced in half lengthwise

Meat Mixture

3 pounds ground meat
3 pounds bulk Italian sausage
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups seasoned bread crumbs or bread cubes
1 1/2 cups Romano cheese, + extra to sprinkle
1 small diced onion
Garlic powder, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Seasoned salt, to taste
Spaghetti sauce

Instructions

Mix the ground meat, sausage, eggs, bread crumbs, cheese and onion.
Season with garlic, black pepper and seasoned salt to taste. Mix well again.
Fill banana peppers with meat mixture.
Lay on a wax paper-covered tray and cover with plastic wrap, place in freezer until frozen firm; transfer to freezer bags until ready to use.
Remove peppers from freezer and place evenly in a disposable aluminum casserole pan.
Pour spaghetti sauce over peppers and bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour.

CIA and U.S. State Departments Anti-Russia Internet Troll Boiler Rooms – HACKED

Hal Turner World September 06, 2024

For a long time, K Street firms in Washington, DC, operating “Internet Opinion Management” houses/boiler rooms, have been run by the State Department and the CIA. Today, two of those . . . anti-Russian operations . . . have been HACKED and their info, leaked.

Databases from the anti-Russian funds The U.S. Russia Foundation (USRF) and Free Russia Foundation (FRF) have now been leaked online. Among the leaked documents are the organizations’ payrolls, information about correspondences and their participants, and other data.

The CEO of the "U.S. Russia Foundation", Matthew Rojansky, is about as Deep State as it gets.

He is a committed Obamunist.
He TURNED DOWN a seat on Biden's National Security Council, likely because it would mean taking a HUGE Pay Cut.

From Wiki:

"He served as a director of the U.S.-Russia Foundation and founded the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Ukraine Program. From July 2013 to January 2022, Rojansky was the director of the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, which focuses on Russia and Ukraine issues."

As for the “Free Russia Foundation”, it appears to be an entirely State Department / CIA creation, run by a LONG-Time Deep State Minion, David Kramer.

Former employees of these organizations have already confirmed the authenticity of the documents. They noted that these documents were previously unpublished and likely leaked from cloud storage used for grant reports.

The documents reveal that the foundation’s employees were destabilizing the situation in Russia using a bot farm, for which a special guide was written as part of an anti-Russian campaign overseen by intelligence services.

It turned out that the employees of this “elf factory” posted calls for protests, criticized the authorities, and even pretended to be wives of mobilized men. The documents show that “elves” were essentially given ready-made messages where they only needed to insert, for example, the name of a city or square where demonstrations were planned. Bots were also encouraged to spread complaints about “local administration,” though exactly which administration was left for the employees to decide.

This is hardly surprising since they had to meet a daily quota of 100 “dumps” over an eight-hour workday.

Neither USRF nor FRF has provided substantial comments on this matter, though FRF mentioned they are “monitoring the illegal distribution of documents likely related to their activities.”

They link the leak to a recent hacker attack by the group Coldriver, which is associated with Russian intelligence services. However, the involvement of company insiders isn’t ruled out.

The revelations in these hacked documents proves the United States has been waging an information war against Russia for years; even before the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The clear intent of these operations was to sew social discord, create upheaval, and destabilize the Russian government at all levels: local, state, and national.

What is the behavior of tourists that you can’t stand to watch?

Originally Answered: What is the behavior of tourists that you can’t think of watching?

1.) Begpackers

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(picture from MSN.com)

Begpacker, a.k.a. begging backpackers. Foreigners who think they can just sit down on the streets and ask for money from locals / other people, because they either overstayed their budget and cannot pay for longer accommodation, and think that the locals are kind enough to spare them a few bucks so they can continue to “travel the world”. The picture above enrages me because, what? “Help us travel around the world”? Why should we help you?

The picture is taken in Bali. I am from Indonesia (a country with a passport that only offers ~70 visa-free destinations) and let me tell you about the process of being able to travel to countries in the West (the tourist pictured above is most likely from one of those countries): It is tough. We have to prove that we have sufficient amount of money, that we have a stable income, that we have strong ties to our home country. We have to prove that we will not be a burden to the country we want to travel to. If not, our applications will be instantly rejected.

Meanwhile, these begpackers are abusing the lax travel rules and use it to their own advantage, burdening the locals and abusing their kindness and hospitality.

2.) Being disrespectful at historical monuments / sites

When I was studying in New York, I went down to the 9/11 Memorial site on September 11th to see what the situation looked like. I was born 2 years before 9/11 happened so while I didn’t personally witness it as I was too young to remember, I had family relatives living in NYC at that time that witnessed it in real time. I wanted to pay respects to the victims. I went down alone, and mostly kept my phone in my bag except for taking the picture above. Upon arriving, I saw a family of tourists huddled together, leaning back on the name plates (like in the picture above) and smiling widely while taking a selfie with a selfie stick. Around them were people standing in silence, clearly mourning, and some of them were in tears. The names on those metal plates are of real people, real victims.

How could someone be as ignorant and oblivious to what was happening around them that they’d take a picture for their personal amusement while hundreds of people around them are in mourning? And no, it wasn’t just that family of tourists that were doing it. There were many tourists at the memorial, on September 11th out of all dates, taking selfies, smiling and posing.

This can also apply to tourists who pose, smile, and take “cool” selfies at other sites like the Auschwitz concentration camp, or sacred sites like temples, etc. I wish some tourists could just read the room, and could tell if a certain action/activity could be deemed inappropriate.

3.) Blocking the way for others for the sake of a photo op.

Fyi, I am a tourist myself! I love seeing places I’ve never seen before, documenting things I find beautiful, and traveling to historical or cultural places. But please, know when it is appropriate to do some things you want to do, and when it is inappropriate to do so. Don’t cause congestion on a busy street, don’t be disrespectful at memorial sites, and please, don’t be a begpacker.

—

ETA: Some people disagree on my stance on begpackers. “If you don’t want to give your money, then don’t.” The thing is, the kind locals would. Southeast Asians are known for their kindness and hospitality, and probably just want to help. Another sad part is that you have literal local beggars on the streets begging for food/money because they are actually poor. Then you have a privileged first world tourist who think that travelling is a must for them, not a privilege. I think that’s outrageous. Travel according to your budget. Don’t become a burden to the locals.

As for annoying tourists and photo ops: the picture above is in The Bronx, between residential buildings. Could you imagine peacefully living in your apartment, then to find out the next day that it became a tourist attraction? Wouldn’t it be bothersome? “But people adjust! Live and let live!” Well, I know for sure I wouldn’t like it if I lived there.

People are entitled to have their own opinion, and so am I. Cheers 🙂

“America is facing its RECKONING and no one is ready” Col. Douglas MacGregor

Jammin’ with the Wailers

During our “van days”; that period of time in between the discharge from the US Navy and when I was picked up with MAJestic…

…we were living in a van, working as a cook in San Louis Obispo, California and just doing the best we could with the little that we had.

And during that time, we lived in a broken down van; inoperable, dead, and even the door locks didn’t work. We climbed in and out though the sunroof. It was parked in a the tail end of the church parking lot. And so life moved on. We would exit the van, walk to work and walk back. It was tough, but we managed.

It was a time of great frustration, but of greater hope.

THis was years before the mass layoffs that gave all of America a taste of what a layoff actually was. And so, we were surrounded by “know it alls” who had no sympathy for us, as we plodded on.

One day, as we were walking to and from the van, we noticed another overloaded station wagon (late model and older) with tons of gear piled on its roof. So we kept on our walk and some of the guys offered us some marijuana.

Normally we wouldn’t take, but they looked like they were from Jamaica (they were) and so we chatted and hit some of their ganja. The group was The Wailers. Though, at that time, Bob Marley wasn’t with them.

They were fine and we had many a rambling and insightful conversation; that unfortunately I have long forgotten. *sigh*

They gave us free tickets to their concert, but we were too stoned. We thanked them, as they were starting to set up at the pavilion. Instead, we just smiled and just walked back to our van.

And that is the story of how my wife and I met The Wailers. Just some travelers just like us. When you get off the beaten track you will meet all kinds of people. And you will have all kinds of experiences.

Today…

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming

Why do Hong Kong people not fight back when they are discriminated against in the UK?

Hong Kong separatists suffer racial discrimination in the UK, but for them, the nightmare does not come from Anglo-Saxon racism, but from the actions of the Tiandihui (also known as the Hongmen) to punish Chinese traitors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiandihui

Chinese abroad often rely on 3 kinds of civil society organizations for help: clan associations, hometown associations, and the Tiandihui.

Chinese embassies and consulates abroad are official institutions of the Chinese government overseas. They usually coordinate with government departments in the host countries through diplomatic means and are unlikely to intervene in private affairs.

Without the help of civil society organizations, overseas Chinese would not be able to gain a foothold in Chinatown.

The Tiandihui was founded by Ming loyalists in the early Qing dynasty to resist the Manchu invasion of China. This is an ancient organization that is still in operation today and it has become a multinational organization that also has branches in the UK.

Tiandihui members worldwide continue to observe certain common traditions: they all stress their patriotic origin; they all revere Lord Guan, a deified historic Chinese figure who embodies righteousness, patriotism, and loyalty; and they all share certain rituals and traditions such as the concept of brotherhood and a secret handshake.

Chinese Traitors in the UK are also divided into different levels:

Taiwan separatists have higher emotional intelligence. Although they are Chinese traitors, they will not show it on the surface.
Hong Kong separatists are 100% slaves of Anglo-Saxons. Even if Anglo-Saxons fart, they think it smells good.

Of course, Taiwan independence elements and Hong Kong independence elements are of no use. They only dare to be rebellious at home and remain calm abroad.

Tiandihui is a secret civil organization with many branches and complex structure, and does not conduct public activities.

Don’t expect the inefficient British police to protect Chinese traitors; they just need to accept their punishment honestly.

Dried Beef Casserole

Ingredients

2 cups dry macaroni, uncooked
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups milk
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons Durkee’s French fried onions
10 ounces dried beef, chopped
5 hard boiled eggs, sliced

Instructions

Combine soup and milk and stir until creamy, then add remaining ingredients except eggs. Mix well, then fold in eggs.
Cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight.
Bake uncovered for 1 hour at 350 degrees F.
If desired, add more onion rings to top ten minutes before removing from oven.

BREAKING NEWS: ISRAEL SEIZES CRYPTO-CURRENCIES OF ALL PALESTINIANS – – – TERRORISM

Hal Turner World August 26, 2024

Israel has ORDERED the crypto-exchange “Binance” to SEIZE the crypto-currencies of all Palestinians pursuant to Israeli Terrorism Law!!!!!

Israel did this by declaring the Dubai Exchange Company in the Gaza Strip, which is the only lawful crypto-currency entity allowed to operate in the Gaza Strip, to be a “terrorist organization.”

All Palestinians were required to use the Dubai Exchange Company for all their crypto-currency transactions.

Since the Israeli government declared the Dubai Exchange itself to be a “terrorist organization” all the money transferred by or through that company is then considered to be the property of the “terrorist organization” and thus subject to being seized!

Palestinians have APPEALED this mass seizure. Those Appeals are ALL being denied.

The DENIAL letter appears below in original Hebrew language, which has been machine-translated as follows:

BEGIN MACHINE TRANSLATION:

“In accordance with the authority delegated to me by the Minister of Defense, according to Section 61(a) of the Law on Combating Terrorism, 556- 2016 (hereinafter: “The Law on the Fight against Terrorism”) and further to your application as a reference, I would like to inform you that your claims against Seizure of property by virtue of an administrative seizure order (T56/23) signed by the Minister of Defense on November 1, 2023, by virtue of his authority according to the law, were examined by and rejected for the following reasons:

1. Section 56(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Law states, among other things, that the Minister of Defense may issue an order on Temporary seizure of property of a declared terrorist organization, as well as seizure of property that was used to commit a crime Serious terrorism or property where a serious terrorist offense was committed.

2. At the basis of the administrative seizure order (Tt56/23) is reliable intelligence information that teaches that wallets of cryptocurrencies, including one that is registered in your name, funds have been transferred by an organization — the declared terrorism of the Dubai Exchange Company in the Gaza Strip (declared on March 7, 2022, published in the 10084 p. 2505 on 4.4.2022.

3. According to the anti-terrorism law, cryptographic currencies that have been transferred by a declared terrorist organization constitute property of a declared terrorist organization and cryptocurrency wallets to which it has been transferred. Said property constitutes property that was directly used to commit a serious terrorist offense of providing a service or Establishing measures for a terrorist organization, as defined in the Law on Combating Terrorism, and therefore in accordance with the instructions The law allows the Minister of Defense to order their seizure by administrative order in preparation for their confiscation.

4. In light of the above, and if nothing is found in your claims to contradict the information that formed the basis of issuing an order The seizure, I intend to recommend to the Minister of Defense to order the confiscation of the property for which the seizure order was issued, In accordance with the authority of the Minister of Defense according to section 66(a) of the law.

5. According to the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Law, an appeal against this decision will be submitted as a petition to the Court of Matters administrative.

END MACHINE TRANSLATION —–

So the Israelis are considering ALL Palestinian crypto-currencies to be “terrorism” because they all went through the only lawful crypto exchange in the Gaza Strip, and Israel has now seized all that crypto-currency from the wallets of the people who sent it or received it. Whether that person was a “terrorist” or not, does not matter because the crypto-exchange itself was declared a “terrorist organization.”

Any of you who have Crypto-currencies, being held in a wallet that can be accessed by any exchange, should dump that crypto-currency absolutely immediately and get your money. What Israel has just shown is that they (or any other government) can simply make a declaration that the Exchange itself is a “terrorist organization” then grab all the crypto wallets that have ever been used via that exchange!

You would lose all your crypto, and automatically be considered to be “related to terrorist activities” with the stroke of a pen by some government lackey.

Remember this, too, when they start trying to get you to use “Central Bank Digital Currency.” They could do the exact same thing with that! You would find yourself cut off from all money. Try “appealing” anything when all the cash (you no longer have) is only “digital” and they just grabbed it all!

Today, as you scan your regular “news” sources, see if there is any reporting at all about this?

The TRAGIC TRUE Story Of The $280M Lottery Winner

A nightmare.

Shorpy

Parenting Gone Wrong: Spoiled Child Leads Family to Deadly Consequences At A Hotpot Restaurant

Have you ever caught a mechanic lying about a repair they claimed to have done to your car? What happened?

We recently bought out my wife’s company car, a Subaru Legacy, which we got a great deal on. Shortly before, while the car was still owned by fleet, we had taken the car in to the dealership for an oil change. This was before it got warm enough to need the air conditioner. Along comes summer and we notice the AC isn’t putting out cold air. I pop the hood and notice the wires to the compressor have been cut. I took a number of pictures from various angles and took the car back to the dealership and acted stupid, as if I had no idea why the AC was suddenly not working. An hour later they called to let me know they discovered that the wires had been chewed through, probably by a rat and said the entire wiring harness needed to be replaced at a cost of somewhere around $400–600. I lost my cool and told them they were lying to me and said it was obvious the wires had been cut. The service manager then told me they had found evidence of a rat’s nest under the hood. I told him I had taken a number of pictures of the engine compartment and that I had not seen any evidence of any rodent and said the wires were cut far too clean for them to have been chewed through and that it was pretty obvious this had been done when the car had last been in for service.

Thankfully my wife had a good relationship with the fleet manager and called him and asked for advice. He said to give us an hour and he’d get back to us. The dealership reached out shortly afterward and said they would be taking care of the damage at no charge to us. Apparently the fleet manager told them it seemed as though they were trying to take advantage of the fact that it was a fleet car (as it would have been had we not bought it out), had likely cut the wires expecting the fleet would be covering the repair bill (as they would have done had the car still been a fleet vehicle) and he was prepared to recommend blacklisting Subaru over their actions.

We will never take our car back to Carter Subaru in Shoreline (Seattle) again. Clearly they’re not to be trusted.

** Update: This answer must’ve recently been included in a digest email because it’s received a lot of attention. I figured I should probably update it with a couple of pictures I took before bringing the car in to the dealership. It clearly shows evidence of the “rat” that chewed, err, sliced through the wiring harness.

Which country has better fighters than the US? Are Russia or China known for having strong fighters?

Regarding the gap between fighter jets of China, the United States and Russia, the most appropriate objects of comparison are the three heavy stealth fighters: J-20, F22 and Su-57.

If we rank the number of the three types of heavy aircraft: J-20>F22>Su-57.

J-20, 100 new aircraft are produced every year
F22 has been discontinued for a long time, with only about 180 in total.
Su-57, no more than 10 are produced every year.

The combat effectiveness of the three heavy aircraft is ranked as follows: J-20>F22>Su-57.

The performance indicators of the fifth-generation fighter jets should be in order of importance:

Super perception (including informationization and intelligence): The maximum detection range of the F22 airborne radar is 250 kilometers, and the maximum detection range of the J-20 airborne radar is 300 kilometers.
Stealth: The J20 is more delicate than the F22. The J20 can adapt to various environments, whether it is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau or the western desert. The J20 only needs an ordinary hangar to be deployed, unlike the F22, which needs a constant temperature hangar for maintenance. Finally, regarding the Su-57, I think if the Su-57 is optimized, the stealth performance still has a lot of room for improvement.
Supercruise and supersonic maneuverability: The F22 should be the one with the best supercruise capability at present because of its engine advantage, but the J-20’s supersonic optimization is the most thorough. After replacing the new engine, its supercruise and supersonic maneuverability will far surpass the F22.
Multi-purpose performance (including payload range): Theoretically, the multi-purpose performance of Su-57 should be the strongest, its bomb bay is deeper, and the front and rear columns are also convenient for arranging large missiles. Compared with the F22, the J-20 has a longer fuselage, larger fuel capacity, and a larger bomb bay, so its range and multi-purpose performance are greater than those of the F22. The comprehensive comparison is Su-57>J-20>F 22.
Subsonic maneuverability (including supersonic maneuverability, also known as super-stall maneuverability): This is the most controversial issue at present. The domestically produced Taihang improved engine currently installed on the J-20 is only a transitional version of the WS-15 engine. Its thrust is barely enough for the J-20, so its over-stall maneuverability is definitely not as good as that of the F22 and Su-57. However, with the advent and deployment of the WS-15 engine, these problems will be solved.

The US military itself knows very well that they are losing their air superiority!

Young Connecticut Man Will Only Give His GF A “Symbolic Wedding” To Safeguard His Hard Earned Wealth

Interesting. Phew! What a crazy life.

Good Job

One day, while I was working upstairs in my office, my German Shepherd came upstairs, stood in my office doorway barking at me.

Then he walked over to the top of the staircase barking as he looked down the stairs. He lifted his head, looked towards me and continued barking.

He walked back and stood in the office doorway again looking at me, barking.

He did this repeatedly for a few minutes while I worked. It became obvious he wanted me to follow him downstairs. I got up and asked him, “What’s the matter?”

As soon as I asked this our house began to shake.

Everything on my walls and shelves were rattling.

I did not understand exactly what was happening, but we both ran down the stairs while I yelled, “Let’s get the hell out of here!”

We got outside and I felt the ground moving.

Then it stopped.

We had just experienced an earthquake. They are practically nonexistent in our region. Somehow, my boy knew it was coming and came upstairs to warn me.

He did many intelligent things in his lifetime, but that was the most amazing.

Suspects That LOSE IT During Interrogations

Brutal.

Ukraine Develops ‘Its Own’ Cruise Missile

On the Ukrainian independence day former President Zelenski announced that Ukraine’s forces would soon use a “rocket driven drone”:

On 24 August, during the Saturday ceremonies for Ukraine’s Independence Day, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that today, Ukrainian forces for the first time targeted enemy troops with a new long-range drone.- This is our new method of retaliating against the aggressor. The enemy was hit. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. All the developers, manufacturers, and our soldiers. I am proud of you, Zelensky said during his speech, quoted by the Ukrainska Pravda portal.

The rocket-drone system, produced indigenously by Ukraine and gracefully named “Paljanica” (like the traditional Ukrainian wheat flour bread, which symbolizes hospitality and happiness), is a military innovation. During the official ceremonies, Zelensky stressed that it is a weapon of a “completely new class”. He emphasized that “it is difficult to counteract it, but very easy to understand why.”

The work on the rocket-drone was carried out in secrecy.

Zelenski published a video that shows a second of the cruise missile in flight.

HI Sutton of Covert Shores created this picture from it.

This is not a drone but a turbojet driven cruise missile. Ukraine announced that it has been tested and could be used soon:

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov promised Monday the weapon would be used again soon in response to the overnight attack on Ukraine.“Ukraine is preparing its response. Weapons of its own production,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “This once again proves that for victory, we need long-range capabilities and the lifting of restrictions on strikes on the enemy’s military facilities.”

A Ukrainian military video hinted that its range is up to 700 kilometers (430 miles) — on par with the U.S.-supplied ATACMS. It showed a map with various airfields, including Russia’s Savasleyka air base, which lies within that range, adding that the Palianytsia can reach at least 20 Russian airfields.

Russia has expected longer range missile strikes for some time and its defenses are positioned appropriately. Another Ukrainian ‘wonder weapon’ will not impress it. Ukraine claims that the cruise missile was developed by itself:

One of the specialists involved in the long-range missile project said it was “a completely new development, from scratch” that began about 18 months ago.“This is not an extension of an old Soviet project,” said the specialist, speaking on condition of anonymity to safeguard the project’s secrecy. The missile has a solid-fuel booster that accelerates it, followed by a jet engine, the specialist said.
…
The specialist and Fedorov said each missile costs less than $1 million, and the military is turning to the private sector to bring down production costs further. “The private market generates solutions incredibly quickly,” the minister said.

I doubt that Ukraine has created its own cruise missile. There are too many parts of such systems, especially the navigation and targeting modules, that need high end solutions to be able to counter Russian electronic warfare measures and to deceive Russian air defenses. It expect that these will be derivatives from western projects.

Aside from that all Ukraine’s weapon and especially missile manufacturing facilities have been hit several times by Russian missiles. This morning a new large missile and drone attack again hit “the critical power infrastructure of Ukrainian defence industry”. Next to other infrastructure today’s strike damaged three irreplaceable 750 kilovolt transformer stations and several 330 kv stations.

The new Ukrainian cruise missile was probably designed by the U.S. or UK and its various modules will likely be assembled in Poland instead of Ukraine. Still, it will be a hassle to produce many of these. That is likely the reason why the Ukrainian leadership is begging daily to allow it to use long range missiles produced by the U.S. or Britain to hit targets within Russia.

So far the U.S. has blocked such moves because it fears retaliation by Russia. Russia has threatened to deliver such weapons from Russian production to U.S. enemies should the U.S. proceed and allow Ukraine to hit with U.S. weapons within Russia.

A “Ukrainian” cruise missile would of course eliminate that problem.

Posted by b at 16:01 UTC | Comments (153)

What happened in your office that became the stuff of legend?

We were getting calls from a lot of vendors about past due invoices – for MONTHS. This was so weird as our branch was doing very well and we just could not figure out why our vendors weren’t being paid. Invoices were posted in the AP and this should not have been happening. It got so bad that one of our major suppliers wouldn’t provide any more material until they were paid. This was bad – we had a MAJOR project going that we could not not have material.

We had what was called an Imprest Checking Account. We had a checkbook and could write checks for things like permits, licenses, etc. The cap per check was $500.00 with a monthly “allowance of around $3,000.00 per branch.

To avoid credit hold that month, our Branch Manager told the office manager to write a check for $30,000.00. Done and delivered, material is on the job site. Got a call from HQ/Co. President telling us we did a bad thing and not to do it again because overdraft fees.

Our AP admin decided to do some investigating. Holy carp – we were going gangbusters and collecting a lot of money every month but almost ALL of our AP was aging towards or past 120 days. So she looked in to the HQ office. Gee, all of their bills were being paid on time. So she took this info to the BM who called HQ and read them the riot act.

Next month, same drill – no material from the vendor for the project until they were paid. BM directed AP admin to write a check for $60,000.00.

A week later, same phone call from HQ President. BM invited us admins in to his office and put him on speaker so we could listen. Pres. was yelling and screaming at BM who just sat, calmly, nodding and listening. Pres ended his tirade with “What do you have to say?!” BM, very calmly, replied “Pay our fuickin’ bills.” Silence on the other end followed by unintelligible grumbling and a click. BM just sat there and smiled at the phone and the three of us were in awe. That man, our Branch Manager, was a legend.

After that, our bills were paid on time. I still tell that story and am still in awe of, perhaps, the best boss I ever had.

Wife Spent 5 Months On OnlyFans Before Confessing To Husband & The Reddit Army WENT CRAZY When He…

The term “relationship” has taken on new meaning these days. Not judging, but it is a bit of a shock to my 1960 era sensibilities.

How do you view the popularity of “Black Myth: Wukong” and the spread of Chinese culture?

Black Myth: Wukong” has shattered multiple global gaming records on its first day of release. As of 10 PM last night, it reached over 2.22 million concurrent players on Steam, topping the Steam concurrent player chart and setting a new record for single-player games. Additionally, “Black Myth: Wukong” has been the best-selling game on Steam globally for the past week, sweeping the charts in 12 regions including the United States, Singapore, Canada, and Italy.

“Black Myth: Wukong” sold over 3 million copies on Steam alone yesterday, and with sales on Epic, WeGame, and PS5 combined, the total surpasses 4.5 million copies, generating over 1.5 billion yuan in revenue. This figure is hundreds of times higher than the pre-sales of previous domestic single-player games (which typically reached around 100.

To be honest, no domestic single-player game has ever demonstrated such a terrifying dominance. Changcheng Securities even predicts that “Black Myth: Wukong” could catch up with top-tier games like “Elden Ring” and “Dark Souls” in terms of sales.

This is not blind optimism. With over 4.5 million copies sold in a single day and total sales exceeding 1.5 billion yuan, “Black Myth: Wukong” has set a new benchmark. For comparison, “Cyberpunk 2077” had 8 million pre-orders upon its release in 2020, and “The Last of Us Part II,” the 2020 TGA Game of the Year, sold 4 million copies in its first week. Moreover, “Black Myth: Wukong” reached 1 million concurrent players within 60 minutes, surpassing “Cyberpunk 2077.

“Black Myth: Wukong” is rich in traditional Chinese cultural elements, even featuring傩面 (nuò miàn,傩 masks).

Black Myth: Wukong” represents a significant milestone in the global dissemination of Chinese culture, offering a visually stunning and culturally rich gaming experience that has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. By examining the game’s portrayal of Chinese mythology, its impact on the global gaming industry, and its potential to foster cultural exchange, we can gain a deeper understanding of the role of video games in shaping cultural perceptions.

How will I survive prison being a 48-year-old male? I am awaiting sentencing in less than 23 days and I am facing up to 9 years in total in feds. How will I survived having ever been in prison before?

All right, sit down and listen. Jim Van Derlin wrote 10 things. do not forget any of it. Great stuff. Now, I was like 58 going into a Fed prison. I did time in 4 prisons including the Penitentiary at Victorville, CA and finished out my time at FCI Tucson, a medium-high that was rated as High due to it being a transfer point/holding site. Os some shit like that.

So, 9 years. Make amends. Payoff any debts you can. Say goodbye. Sell your car, cancel everything you can, your family won’t need it. If you have family, you will need to connect like never before because IF you get visits, they are hard. I didn’t even want my family coming to fucking prison. The penitentiary is surrounded by a 40′ wall lined with piles of razor wire. The inmates all look like they would eat your face just to stay busy. So you don’t think I’m insulting anyone, a big dude once asked me why I looked so mean, while we were in the visiting room. I think his daughter got scared. I was like ‘bro, you’re 6’9″, 325 pounds and have a face only a mother could love and you think I’m mean looking?

Before this fiasco, a speeding ticket ruined my month. I was not from the hood, I was not connected nor was I a fighting machine. So to reiterate a few comments from Jim, unless you want your asshole the size of a cucumber, DO NOT DO ANYTHING that causes you to owe money. $5 past due, a few homies come by, you no gots??? You trade for sex. It won’t necessarily be your choice. If Someone wants to give you a hit on a smoke, or a joint, DO NOT take it. Do not be surprised that the hit you took went on your tab. Yeah, the tab you didn’t know you had.

Respect others. Expect it back. If something goes sideways and nasty talk starts, you have about 10–12 seconds. If the other dude calms, let it rest. If he ain’t calm, expect an attack immediately. You will never argue more than 15 seconds before the shit flies! Be ready and swing back.

Carry yourself with confidence, but not arrogance. you can nod or a small half smile of acknowledgement to peeps you know from other races but do NOT think you can walk up and join a convo with another race. you’ll be sorry with a quick lesson.

My advice, do not be friends with the first guys that approach you. They will be conning you out of something. Hopefully, your bunkie or a guy from a close cell walks you down to the chow hall. Listen, answer questions honestly, and do not try to be someone you are not. Take it slowly. Be friend-LY with people but it takes months before you should trust or rely on others.

After the mental meltdown of the admitting process and the first few days of living in a parallel universe, you will start to go through your life. There is little you can do inside. I’m still married, somehow. Don’t expect to be. If you are and she waits, you are blessed.

I made it through my whole sentence until the last year. Something happened, I had years of being fed up. I started yelling about something. There were a couple of COs close by. The boys I was pissed at didn’t like being barked at in front of others. An hour later I got a visit at my locker. 5 dudes. A little talking, a little pushing. I counted and got to 11. I knew this was it. Early on in my sentence, I had decided that if I ever got hit by a group, it was gonna hurt. So I figured, I’m going to concentrate my “love and attention” on 1 guy. I wanted at least one dude besides me to walk with a limp, or a hanging arm, or a fucked up face! You’ll be in pain, but make 1 guy remember you. Word gets around.

China Threatens EU Dairy Economy, Argentina Gold In London, Major Bank “USD Big Crash Bets”

Tit 4 tat.

A HK story

So I rung my uncle in Hong Kong because I heard he had a fall recently.

He has to sit in a wheelchair for a while but he was in good spirits.

He was almost gleeful to share about Nathan Law’s recent travails.

Apparently, the white masters are cutting him loose and he is in a bit of a bind financially. His family and supporters are in trouble for sending him money. His mum even lost the subsidized housing unit due to rent arrears.

He wants Nathan to come back and face the music so the family don’t have to.

But he knows that is wishful thinking, because the man is a “chickenshit coward”. His original description is a little too colorful to print here.

He hates the leaders of the 2019 riots because his little side business went under during the mayhem, and incurred a tidy loss.

I don’t blame him.

I wish him a speedy recovery.

Why is China lagging behind India while its GDP is higher than India’s?

It’s commonly believed that India’s potential could soon eclipse China’s, but the real story is quite the opposite. While India’s GDP figures are catching eyes, China’s strategic investments in high-value sectors show that it is leagues ahead in sustainable economic growth.

You see, China isn’t just about huge GDP numbers. It’s about how they’ve managed to turn those numbers into substantial value through smart, forward-thinking strategies. Decades ago, China’s economy heavily relied on exporting low-margin goods. But today, the game has changed. China now focuses on high-tech manufacturing and mastering key technologies, earning significantly more per unit of export. For instance, a Tesla made in Shanghai leaves a big chunk of profit within Chinese borders, which wasn’t the case with the lower-margin goods they made years ago. The same goes for Huawei smartphones, which now rake in higher profits compared to the earlier contracts with Western brands.

Meanwhile, India’s economic landscape is in a different phase, more focused on assembly and service-based tasks. Even though India’s exports are expected to rise, the value they add to the economy pales in comparison to China’s high-tech exports. India finds itself deeply engaged in refining oil, assembling electronics, and providing software services. These sectors don’t bring significant value back home; most of the profits end up with the foreign owners of these technologies.

Another big part of the story is how each country invests in its people. China has poured resources into its education system, subsidizing costs and providing numerous scholarships, creating a skilled workforce geared toward innovation. On the flip side, Indian education remains expensive, burdening graduates and their families and making it challenging to cultivate a wide pool of talent needed for a tech-driven economy.

China’s economic prowess also stems from continuous investment in infrastructure and technology. The nation has heavily invested in electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and wind energy, sectors that promise not just jobs but also position China as a future leader in these critical industries. India’s investment in high-tech sectors and infrastructure has yet to meet the same level of effectiveness.

Social factors can’t be ignored either. China has nurtured a meritocratic environment with a focus on achieving technological advancements. Meanwhile, India’s societal focus on celebrity culture and ongoing brain drain diverts attention from the systematic nurturing of its economic potential.

So, if you’re asking why China’s GDP doesn’t tell the whole story of its economic superiority, it’s because of these deep, structural investments and strategic choices. Despite China’s substantially higher GDP, it’s the focus on high-value, technology-driven sectors, education, and infrastructure that sets it apart. For India to bridge this gap, there would need to be a massive shift in educational policies, a serious dedication to infrastructure, and a move away from traditional economic activities toward more innovative sectors.

In essence, while India’s GDP growth might look promising at a glance, China’s underlying economic strategies make it a more formidable force on the global stage. This difference in developmental focus and investment is why China, despite what headlines might suggest, continues to pave the way for a more stable and prosperous future.

American’s can’t comprehend living like Chinese..

So interesting, making fun of Americans. Actually a really good video pointing out the importance of LIVABILITY where you live.

What is the craziest sale you’ve ever made?

I bought a Jeep for $250, drove it a half mile, and sold it for $2,500…unintentionally.

My roommate blew an axle out of his truck, so as I was taxiing him around, he had me take a shortcut. On that back road, I saw this Jeep next to someone’s house. A real Jeep, a 1986 CJ-7, the year before Chrysler took the company over and ruined it. Since I learned the shortcut, I kept going that way, and kept seeing that Jeep, for probably 3 months, although it had clearly been there for years.

It was the homeowner’s son’s Jeep, and he’d moved across the country. He abandoned the Jeep there and ended up sending his father the title to get rid of it. Since I convinced the father I wasn’t a junk car guy or planning on scrapping it, I gave it a good hard closeup look and asked for a price. He said the scrap car guys belittled it and said it was only worth $250 max. Since I genuinely wanted to fix it up for myself, I could have it for that price, which I had on me.

I paid for the Jeep, jump started it, and surprisingly it ran. The brakes were crap, and this Jeep looked horrible, but I saw potential. I stopped at a gas station, and the guy there was mesmerized by this rusty hunk of a Jeep covered in tree crap. He asked me if I would sell it, to which I said I doubt he’s make it worth my while. He then offered me $2,500. I almost crapped my pants. I drove it about a half mile and made 10 times what I paid for it. My plan was just to make sure it had enough gas to get home since the gauge read empty, but instead I made it home with a lot more than I planned on.

After I thought, if he shot me $2,500 right away, he may have been willing to pay more, but I was so shocked I didn’t think of it until later. Who knows…

Is it possible for missiles to defeat the Close-In weapon System (CIWS) like the Phalanx system on a ship?

Yes. The Phalanx fires at 3,000 rounds per minute to 4,500 rounds depending on model.

These are designed to shoot down sub-sonic missiles.

Chinese research shows that in order to shoot down high supersonic missiles (missiles traveling at Mach3 – Mach 5) you need a CIWS that fires at 10,000 rounds per minute.

Also if the missile is maneuvering in terminal phase then the faster the firing rate the better. You also need better radars and powerful computers to predict the missile trajectory and get there first with the gun.

Current Chinese CIWS fires at 11,000 rounds per minute.

Everything in in-place. What event – or false-flag – will be used to trigger Actual WW3?

Hal Turner World

Just to clarify, so there is no misunderstanding . . .

Armies are in forward positions.
Scenarios were run through computer simulations (AI to use more trendy expression).
Alliances were decided and consolidated.
Legislation was put through legal process.
Politicians who will run things were selected.

Everything is ready.

Now it is a matter of using an event or creating an event to start WW3. What will be the spark that causes the explosion of war?

I guess scenarios that were run through computers did not give satisfactory results and that is a reason for delays.

But, everything is ready . . . for world war, version 3.

Ukraine was a beta test.

5,500 Dead! Ukraine’s Invasion into Kursk, Russia

Hal Turner World

Ukraine has lost 5,500 troops, 71 tanks, 30 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 57 Armored Personnel Carriers, and 372 Armored Combat Vehicles in their two week long misadventure into Russia’s Kursk Region.

The staggering losses in such a short time reveal the complete idiocy of this maneuver by Ukraine, or the factual realization that any NATO planners involved, were utterly incompetent.

Medellin: The Sex Tourism Capital Of Colombia | Is This A Passport Bro Paradise Or Nightmare?

The war on “passport bros” has entered a new cycle; as a sexpat.

What is it like to be the child of a billionaire?

A friend of mine was born to rich (not billionaire) parents. His Grandad had started a company with nothing, his dad had taken it on and made it bigger and more profitable. He was the eldest son.

I met him when he was 22. He was a graduate from an elite university, and had a got a lucrative government sponsorship to study accounting, and I’d got sponsorship at 18, to do the same. Which is where I met him. I’m from a more typical background, 2 parents, working 9–5 jobs to pay the mortgage and put food on the table.

We talked about the differences between us, on and off, over the next year or two.

Most of us have to go to work to earn money, support our family, and we keep turning up because if we don’t, we might get sacked. Those who don’t put the effort in, don’t get the bigger, better jobs. None of this applies to “daddy’s boy”. He knew if he wanted it, he would be MD of the family company. If not, the family would appoint a manager or sell the business, and he could live off the profits.

His dad was conscious of this, and had asked him the question a couple of times:

At 18 – Nope, I want to go to Uni

At 21, Nope I want to study to be an accountant

at 24 – I’d like to work in the private sector for 2 years.

Even at 26, his dad did his best to dissuade him:

You have a good career ahead of you, outside the family business. You can do well. You don’t need to take this on if you don’t want to. I can get a Professional manager.
You know, whatever you do, people will say you were “given it”. You will never get any credit.
It won’t be easy. I won’t give it to you, I will give you a couple of jobs, and if you goof around, I will leave you there. People’s jobs and their families depend on this company, and if you become MD, you need to take that responsibility seriously.
Once you come in, you will struggle to get a job outside the company again, as companies will always look at your CV and say “No point taking him on. All we’ll be doing is training him up for when he goes back to the family company.”
If you make a mistake here, people won’t let you forget. You can’t move jobs, and leave it behind.
You are giving up a lot of (government) benefits, if you come here, more than I can give you, and without the responsibility.
When you are MD, it’s pretty lonely. It’s not like being one of the workforce. It’s just you. People will give you advice, but they have their own agenda, and it’s only you who has to live with the consequences.
There’s always the risk that the company will fail, despite your best efforts. Then you’ll be stuck.

It was during this time that I started to realize that there were downside was well as upsides to being born in to his family.

When he did take it on, his dad was as good as his word. He gave him proper jobs. He made him make the decisions, stand behind them, and if he made mistakes had to own them. Sadly, his dad passed away when he was only 56, so my friend became MD at 30, which was earlier and sooner than his dad and him expected or planned.

He enjoyed it, and did very well. Took the business on to the next level. Increased sales, increased profits, added new product lines, won new customers, put a new computer system in place, trained up the senior team, introduced new production technology, and moved the factory to a new site double the size of the last one, but it was a very demanding role. He was the only family member working in the business, and the wider family seemed to add to his stress, not share the burden. I did some benchmarking on pay rates, and was surprised by his remuneration despite his stellar performance. I advised him that he well below market rates. The family were very reliant on him, but didn’t seem to recognise his performance. In his 40s, he developed some stress related health issues, and stepped away from the business.

After a couple of years sabbatical, he opted not to go back, and took a less stressful and more supportive, and appreciated career, and the company did get a locum manager, and still has it to this day.

The New “Anti-Woke” Visa

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What does a prisoner who is in solitary confinement do in a 24-hour period? What time do they wake up and eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, take a shower, go to work, and exercise? What does a day look like?

Here’s how a day in Z-9 Ad-Seg goes down, from the horses mouth

Sunrise:

The day starts early with medical pass at 0600. We kick things off getting the medicals handled first. By 0620, it’s chow time, and in Ad-Seg, that means meals served straight in the cells. The sergeant handles this personally, making sure it’s all by the book. Food goes through the tray slots, no face-to-face interactions. If it’s Ramadan, we’ve got specific procedures to follow, but the routine stays locked down tight.

After breakfast, inmates get their cleaning supplies through the slot. They’re expected to keep their cells up to standard—no exceptions. Hygiene checks happen regularly, and if someone’s slipping, it gets dealt with. Sometimes, it’s hard to see what’s going on in the cell because inmates like to put cardboard on their windows. That’s only allowed if the inmate’s an IEX’r (indecent exposure), otherwise, we’re not having it.

Mid-Morning:

Around 0800, it’s shower time. In Ad-Seg, showers are solo—no exceptions. Inmates get cuffed and escorted to the shower, where they have about 10 minutes. Then it’s straight back to the cell, still cuffed. No free movement here—everything’s on lockdown. If there’s a medical appointment or legal visit, it’s the same routine: cuffed, escorted, and back to their cell.

Afternoon:

Lunch comes around 1200, following the same procedure as breakfast—through the slot, no hassle. After they eat, they get a bit of in-cell time. Inmates might read, write, or get in some exercises. It’s a small break in the day, but they know the rules. If there’s any legal business or visits, it’s handled individually, under strict supervision.

Yard Time:

Yard is limited in Ad-Seg—only three hours a week. When it’s their time, they’re cuffed and escorted to the yard. It’s the only chance they get to stretch out a bit, but it’s still tightly controlled, with eyes on them at all times.

Evening:

Dinner rolls around at 1700. By now, everyone’s in the routine—food through the slot, no drama. After dinner, the day starts winding down. Mail gets handed out, and if they’re lucky enough to have a TV, they catch a bit of programming before lights out.

Night:

By 2100, it’s lights out. We lock down the unit for the night, making sure everyone’s where they should be. There’s no movement unless it’s an emergency. We do our rounds, checking cells, making sure everything’s in order. The night settles in, and it’s quiet—just the hum of the unit.

In Z-9 Ad-Seg, everything’s about routine and control. Medical at 0600, chow at 0620, showers, meals, and the limited yard time all follow a strict schedule. Whether it’s dealing with cardboard on the windows or getting the yard in, it’s all about maintaining order—tight, controlled, and always by the book.

What is a family secret you didn’t know as a kid, but now as an adult you do and when you look back it explains a lot of things?

My father was often not around when I was a young child.

But I remember an argument one dinner time with the 4 (my dad, mum, myself and my younger brother) of us sat around the dinner table, I would be around 8/9 my brother 5.

Things had been strained most of the day. Something was said and that led to an argument, I remember dinner plates being thrown, food going all over the place, i slid under the table and grabbed my brother and held my hands over his ears as words were being said I knew he shouldn’t hear.

They separated about 18 months later. The Divorce was messy to say the least and we were forced to spend time with him and his “new girlfriend” who had a little girl so she became our step sister… They ended up getting married a couple of years later and separating a few years after that….

My mum and brother were killed by a drunk driver in 1997 and my Dad who I had barely seen in 15 years given he was a violent drunk died in 2012.

It’s only relatively recently that I got back in contact with my stepmother to find out I had a half brother who was 35 years younger than me and born just before my dad died. But after that bomb shell we discussed memories and I worked out that dining table argument was him telling my mum that he had got her pregnant and that she wasnt my step sister but half sister.

That was the same conversation I discovered I potentially had other siblings too.

As it turns out I did…..6 in fact from 4 other relationships some from the same time he was married to my mum.

I’ve now a relationship with 5 of them, and in the process of adopting one of them, hes 12 and currently living in a kids home.

Leaders talk

China is the only permanent member of the United Nations Security Council not involved in any international conflict in recent years, demonstrating its commitment to peace, said Timor-Leste’s President Jose Ramos-Horta during an exclusive interview with CMG’s Leaders Talk.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Timor-Leste’s president paid a state visit to China from July 28 to 31. This is Ramos-Horta’s first visit to China after he took office in 2022 and the first state visit of Timor-Leste’s president to China since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

During the visit, the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations, with Ramos-Horta saying China’s remarkable economic growth and commitment to global peace have drawn Timor-Leste to seek closer ties.

“China is a global power, it’s the largest economy in Asia, second largest in the world. Over the years, China pursued several strategic tracks, one is building China’s economy to these impressive heights, which make China a global economic power, a global financial power. The modernization of its defense force adds to that, and that creates some jealousy among those who view China as a rival. And sometimes the jealousy is exacerbated, and they try to repeat what was a failure of the 60s and 70s, the so-called ‘China containment’,” the president said.

“China was never involved in any of the major wars in recent decades. Whether the war in Afghanistan, the war in Yemen, in Iraq, Libya and in the ongoing one in Ukraine. China is the only permanent member of the Security Council that is not involved in an international conflict. So for us, its common sense to have strong relations with an Asian power, an Asian country that is also a global power. And I know the history of China going back many centuries. What China was then, particularly before World War Two, after World War Two, a lot of upheavals in China. But long before that, wars waged by foreign powers against China like the Opium War,” he said.

What is the most satisfying thing you have done to someone who blocked your driveway?

I decided to spraypaint my fence.

Some bloke pulled in front of the drive about 10 minutes before I was due to go out, locked his car and started walking away. I called to him to ask him not to park there and was told to “fuck off and deal with it.”

My drive is not on a road where you can get round a car parked like that. I was stuck. So, I called SWMBO and told her I’d be late to our appointment and to give my apologies.

An hour later the driver wasn’t back and I was going to miss my appointment. So I decided on revenge and decided to do one of the jobs SWMBO had been badgering me to do. Repaint the fence… using my new-ish sprayer. I didn’t use it very often as it’s not a very efficient way of painting, as it releases a lot of paint and on breezy days, it tend to drift… a lot.

Our chosen colour was a cedar red… don’t ask… so I alerted my neighbour as she had washing on the line and set up to spray the fence. I managed to get two coats on the 4 six foot fence panels either side of my drive… plus some excess on the ground inside the garden. It drifted outside as well, but I needed to do the outside as well. Outside the garden isn’t as sheltered as inside so the spray drifted a bit more… right onto the gleaming black Subaru Impreza parked across the drive. I only managed to get 1 coat onto the panels outside before it got too dark to see properly for painting, but not too dark to clean the ground inside and outside with a few buckets of water. It’s a water soluble paint after all. I didn’t see what time he left but would love to have seen his face the next morning when he saw his pride and joy splattered with dried on red fence paint.

SWMBO however was more than happy that I’d painted the fence finally.

Wife Who DEMANDED Separation To “Look For Something Different” Gets Reality Check When Husband…

Reminds me of a time in my life that I have tried to forget…

The Celestial Hope

Submitted into Contest #247 in response to: Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.… view prompt

Rob Taylor

The Celestial HopeBetween the fabrics of existence, where the threads of reality intertwine, a universal truth persists—an unyielding axiom, as constant as the cosmos itself. Amidst the grand cosmic ballet where galaxies waltz and stars orchestrate an eternal symphony, a saga of boundless proportions unfurls—a tale that transcends the constraints of time and space.Eternity, an expanse beyond mortal comprehension, stands as an ever-present enigma, an eternal observer untouched by the transient choreography of moments. Here, within the unfathomable depths of cosmic vastness, a fellowship known as the Chosen Wanderers embarks upon an odyssey that defies the very essence of their immortal existence.At the helm of this eternal odyssey strides Captain Thalara, a figure of unwavering strength and profound sagacity. Her presence is a beacon of determination that pierces the veils of time, carrying upon her shoulders the monumental weight of leadership—a mantle forged in the crucible of unending epochs.By her side stands Lyndor, a spectral enigma whose eyes hold secrets as ancient as the cosmos itself. An heir to arcane lineage, he wields powers inherited from generations long past, now intertwined with his very being.Elysia, a luminary scientist ignited by an insatiable curiosity, graces the crew with her brilliance—a constellation of knowledge that shines even in the darkest reaches of the universe.

Completing this ensemble is Kaelen, a dauntless pilot whose hands navigate not only the cosmic currents but also the tides of destiny. His courage is a vessel that carries them through the currents of eternity, as he guides them toward uncharted horizons.

Through the collage of galaxies, where stars bloom and fade like cosmic flowers, their starship “Celestial Hope” navigates, leaving ripples in the very fabric of existence. The void echoes with the remnants of ancient civilizations—whispers of lives long gone, reminders of the impermanence of all things. Amid this journey, nebulous clouds of despair and tempests of doubt swirl, seeking to engulf their spirits in shadow. Yet, in defiance of the abyss, their camaraderie burns like a supernova—a radiant beacon against the inky blackness of space.

In the heart of this boundless expanse, Thalara’s voice resounds—a harmonious blend of weariness and unyielding resolve. “In the face of time’s inexorable tide, what path do we forge, when life’s embrace clings without release? Millennia have woven themselves into our very essence, as we traverse the chasm between universes, charting a course through the untamed cosmos.”

Lyndor, a specter of enigmatic wisdom and innate power, leans against the console, his gaze an ancient mosaic painted with the memories of eons.

“Within the currents of our veins courses the venom of eternity,” his voice carries a mournful timbre, heavy with the weight of choices made. “An oath, once taken with eagerness, now binds us with chains of regret—a curse woven into the very fabric of our being.”

Elysia, her fingers dancing across the luminescent constellations that map the celestial canvas, murmurs with reverence in her voice. “Recall the epoch when our predecessors glimpsed the unfathomable—a revelation of multiple big bangs, an eternal existence that defies all comprehension. Even the deities themselves pale in the face of such boundless expanse.”

Kaelen, the intrepid pilot who courts the cosmic unknown with audacious fervour, leans back with a half-smile that masks the weight he carries.

“Gods or no gods, our universe bowed to its inevitable conclusion—a requiem sung as stars winked out. Yet, we remain—ephemeral echoes in the aftermath, seekers of sanctuary in the wake of dissolution.”

As they negotiate wormholes that spiral like cosmic whirlpools and cross dimensions that shimmer like astral gateways, they traverse not only space but also the fabrics of existence itself. Their dialogues resonate like distant echoes through the corridors of the colossal starship—an intricate symphony woven from threads of hope, fear, and unwavering resolve.

“Sworn to a hope, we journey as bearers of the ages,” Thalara’s voice emerges as a soothing echo as the ship navigates the currents of the cosmos. “We are the chosen, tasked with the survival of ages.”

Lyndor’s eyes, impossibly ancient and eternally watchful, hold a depth of understanding that spans eras. “To comprehend eternity is to wrestle with its revelations—a truth more profound than any verse etched into cosmic parchment.”

Elysia’s gaze lifts toward the uncharted constellations beyond the viewport, her voice carrying both lament and wonder. “Our universe, once a cradle of myriad existences, now languishes—a relic adrift in the vast detritus of time.”

Kaelen’s fingers glide over the star maps he has charted, a testament to their journey’s wonder and weariness. “Yet, we endure, undaunted by the ceaseless ebb of eons that slip through our grasp.”

As their odyssey continues, a cataclysmic event unfurls—a singularity, born from the final gasp of a dying universe, threatens to consume them in its voracious maw. Amidst the concerto of alarms and the kaleidoscope of flashing lights, their voices rise like beacons in the tempest.

“A universe born anew, an era unseen,” Elysia’s breath catches, her voice a whisper amidst the maelstrom.

“An epoch that hungers to sunder us,” Kaelen’s voice is a resolute call amidst the chaos.

“Take any action necessary! Steer us away!” Thalara’s command cleaves through the tumult like a sword through the dark.

“Aye, captain,” Kaelen’s hands fly over the controls, each gesture a testament to his indomitable will.

Yet, the singularity’s maw widens beyond escape.

“Wormhole generators at full capacity in mere moments,” Elysia announces, her voice carrying both urgency and the weight of time itself.

“An eternity encapsulated within fleeting seconds,” Thalara’s mutterings become an indomitable mantra within the storm.

As alarms wail and the ship shudders beneath the onslaught of forces beyond mortal reckoning, Thalara’s call rings out with resolute clarity.

“Hold fast, all! Prepare for the impact that bridges being and oblivion!”

Lyndor’s incantations weave through the air, a desperate plea to mystic forces woven into the very fabric of reality.

“By the threads of existence, we stand resolute!”

Elysia’s voice, a poignant blend of awe and trepidation, pierces the chaotic symphony.

“Here, on this precipice, we straddle the boundary between existence and the void!”

Kaelen’s hands dance with an orchestral precision, their movement a symphony of defiance against impending annihilation.

“Falter, we shall not! Not now, not after traversing the rivers of time itself!”

Emerging from the cataclysm battered yet resolute, they find themselves adrift in the enigmatic embrace of eternity’s realm. Now the farthest off course that could be conceived, a billion light years have cascaded through their grasp, slipping like stardust through the hourglass of existence.

Thalara’s voice, a potent blend of determination and weariness, breaks the stillness that envelops them.

“Amidst the boundless expanse of eternity, we stand as sentinels—an embodiment of unyielding will. Though the search may seem to be at an end, the journey persists, for we are the very bridge between ages.”

Lyndor’s gaze, a window into stages long past, holds a glimmer of hope, a spark that transcends the barriers of time.

“Eternity may have claimed our lethargy, yet it has not extinguished our essence. We’ll make the proper repairs captain Thalara.”

Standing amidst the cosmic void, their silhouettes etched against infinity’s canvas, the echoes of their odyssey resonate through the corridors of existence—a harmonious melody that reverberates through the contexture of time. Their journey, one that challenged death’s dominion, embraced the abyss, and defied the very fabric of the cosmos, has become an indelible verse in the cosmic motif.

For even as they languor for a billion years, cradled within the timeless embrace of eternity, the saga of the Chosen Wanderers echoed across the cosmos—a saga woven into the very cosmic strings of existence. In the midst of interstellar ages, voyaging through the unfathomable vastness, the Celestial Hope and its devoted crew lay suspended in a timeless repose, a testament to their unwavering resolve in the face of unending existence.

The story of the Chosen Wanderers, forever inscribed in the cosmic annals, teaches that even in the ceaseless dance of stars and galaxies, in the unyielding expanse of eternity, the essence of mortal and immortal alike can forge pathways that transcend the constraints of time and space.

And now in their long great slumber, they tread upon the dreamy shores of a lush world untouched by the journals of history, the weight of countless eons finally lifts. A forgotten mission buried in the lost realms left long behind fades away. Before them unfurls the promise of life renewed, secrets unfurled beneath celestial constellations, and an uncharted future as infinite as the universes themselves.

But that too would be another story.

Enchilada Squares

Ingredients

2 (19 ounce) cans Las Palmas enchilada sauce
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can sliced olives
1 pound ground beef
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
27 corn tortillas

Instructions

Brown ground beef.
Drain oil and add salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder.
While meat is browning, heat enchilada sauce in medium size pan.
Heat oil in skillet. Place a tortilla in hot oil for 1 minute, then turn over and fry 1 more minute. Do not allow tortilla to become crispy.
Take fried tortilla and place in hot sauce for approximately 2 minutes, then take out and place in a 9 x 13 inch greased cake pan.
Repeat again until you have a layer with 9 tortillas.
Sprinkle half of the meat, 1/3 cheese, onion and olives.
Repeat another layer of tortillas dipped in oil and sauce as before.
Sprinkle remaining meat, 1/3 cheese, onion and olives.
Repeat another layer of tortillas.
Spoon leftover sauce atop.
Add remaining cheese, onion and olives.
When cool, cover pan with foil and refrigerate.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 1/2 hour or until cheese melts.
Cut into squares and serve.
If serving immediately, place in oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

40 Normalized Things In Europe That Are Unknown In The US | American Reacts

Yeah. This is very good. So, so, so many things int he USA are fucked up right now.

What was the shortest interview you’ve had that led to a job offer?

I was looking at a Field service Job at a manufacturing plant that built Waste Water Treatment plants, it was a West German company with manufacturing in the U.S.

I knew absolutely nothing about waste water plant machinery.

As I sat down for the interview, the phone rang on the head of field service. He said excuse me but I have to answer that phone. He put the phone on speaker, a piece of new equipment would not start up, this was their first attempt to run it.

He placed the electrical schematics on his desk, as they discussed the problem, I could see them upside down, from where I was sitting.

Finally he says , I will get s tech there ASAP, and hung up the phone. I said I see the problem, they wired a relay wrong, and pointed to it on drawings. It should be normally closed, not open.

He stood up and said he had to do something and I’m not to move, he would be right back.

He was back in 15 minutes and hands me a wad of cash, and tells me I have 1 hour and thirty minutes to be at the Delta terminal , my ticket is at their desk, then hands me a company credit card to rent a car, and A company Air travel card for the return flight.

He said we will fill out your employment papers when you get back.

The problem was in Up State New York , I was in Birmingham Al.

Now for the “rest” of the story

The service manager called the plant with the problem once he Knew I was on the flight to NY, and told them a tech was on his way. Their response was “it better be a guy who’s been working for you a long time, and knows the equipment inside and out.

For the next 4 hours he tried to get a call to me , and for me to not tell them he just hired me this morning.

I never got that call, and the first thing the plant manager ask me, “How long have you worked on these machines ?”. My answer was “To Damn Long” and we both bust out laughing.

In 5 minutes the machine was running perfectly

Then he told me to call my boss, He’s been trying to reach you.

He couldn’t believe I answered that question without lying, and manager was happy with the answer, with me not knowing how important the answer was.

What are some of the most morally justified crimes ever committed?

Recently, Shane Goldsby, a 26-year-old U.S. inmate, bludgeoned, stomped, and kicked his 70-year-old cellmate, Robert Munger, to death.

You might think this is just another random case of prison violence, or perhaps a situation where some prisoners take the moral high ground by killing a more sadistic and violent criminal. Indeed, the latter was the case, though it was a more isolated incident. After all, Munger had been incarcerated for 43 years for crimes involving child sexual abuse. Anyone might feel justified in wanting to see him punished severely.

Munger was serving a 43-year sentence at the Airway Heights prison in Washington State for child molestation and child pornography offenses when, due to a non—coincidental administrative error, he was placed in the same cell as Shane (one of his victims’ brother.)

Shane claimed that Munger would repeatedly brag about his crimes and the morally abhorrent deeds he had committed against those poor children.

“I had so much stuff going on in my head,” he told the station. “I wasn’t stable at that point. I wasn’t. I was getting to that point because [Munger] kept wanting to give me details about what happened, what he did – about the photos and the videos of him doing this stuff. It was building up.”

Shane said he couldn’t believe he had been assigned to the same cell as Munger and made a request to the authorities to be moved, but it was ignored.

“I completely feel like this is what they wanted to happen,” he said.

“I was in shock,” he added. “I was like, ‘what the f***?’… This stuff doesn’t happen. You’re talking the same institution, the same unit, the same pod, in the same cell as this dude. That’s like hitting the jackpot in the casino seven times.”

“They put me in a position that I shouldn’t even be in. This shouldn’t have happened at all. You’re talking about this dude, who did some sick, twisted things to my little sis. My family. My blood. My life. And you want to put me face-to-face with this dude?” Goldsby said.

As expected, a man can only remain sane for so long when he’s sharing a cage with his sister’s molester. Goldsby eventually snapped, attacking the older man in a common area of the jail.

Court documents reveal what happened next, showing how Goldsby hit “Munger in the face and head area about 14 times, stomped on his head at least four times, and kicked him a couple more times before walking away and being taken into custody.” Munger died three days later.

The Washington Department of Corrections has policies to prevent connected inmates from being assigned together, but reportedly missed the connection in this case because Shane and his sister have different last names.

“There was no clear indication in the documentation regularly reviewed for housing assignments that there was a potential conflict,” DoC spokeswoman Janelle Guthrie told the Spokesman-Review newspaper.

In court, an emotional Shane stated:

“You put me in the same cell as this dude. I feel set up. I’m the victim.”

At his sentencing, Shane was too emotional to read a statement, so his lawyer spoke on his behalf.

“I’m ashamed of my actions. I was put into a situation that I don’t wish on anyone,” she said on Shane’s behalf. “I have a lot of fixing to do.”

“I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose a loved one in this kind of way,” Shane said through his lawyer.

“To his wife and his whole family, I apologize. I am so sorry, and I hope you are able to heal from what I caused.”

Unfortunately, the law frowns on morally justifiable murders and Shane must now serve an additional 24 years and also pay restitution to Munger’s family.

AI generated kingly pictures

Today’s AI developments…

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Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore, delivered his first National Day speech, saying that Singapore is not a western society. What does this mean?

On August 18th, local time, Lawrence Wong, the new Prime Minister of Singapore, delivered his first Prime Minister’s speech in Malay, Chinese and English at the National Day mass meeting in Singapore.

The Prime Minister’s speech at the National Day Mass Meeting is one of the most important speeches in Singapore every year. During the speech, Lawrence Wong’s speech in Chinese caught my eyes.

Lawrence Wong said: “Singapore uses English as the common language, but we are essentially an Asian society, not a western society.” He also said that all Singaporeans want to preserve the spiritual outlook and traditional values of Asians.

Later, Lawrence Wong took himself as an example to encourage people to receive Chinese education. He said that when he was a child, he didn’t have the opportunity to speak Chinese at home. He didn’t start learning Chinese until he went to school. When he graduated from junior high school, he got A1 (the highest level) in Chinese.

Lawrence Wong promised that the Singapore government would adjust its education policy.

“We hope to train more talents who are proficient in Chinese, which means that we have not only elites, but also elites.”

Lawrence Wong’s speech in Chinese not only emphasized the importance of Chinese education, but also continued the “Asian values” emphasized by Singapore’s leaders in previous generations, and also vaguely expressed Singapore’s diplomatic stance that it would not take sides.

In view of Singapore’s important strategic position and influence in ASEAN countries, the United States has spared no effort to win over Singapore for many years.

Lee Kuan Yew once said very bluntly: China (navy) has no strength to protect Singapore.

As a tiny island country located in the throat of the ocean, you forced Singapore to die if you didn’t fall to the west.

Understandable.

And Singapore has indeed achieved the goal of being as neutral as possible while leaning to the west and seeking the greatest benefit for itself.

Under the current circumstances, the basic logic of Singapore’s unilateral turning to the West has not only disappeared, but also gone to the opposite side.

If you fell to the west completely because you were afraid of the western navy, then you can’t hope to maintain the previous state after China’s naval power became strong, and more thoroughly fall to and introduce the west to harm China’s interests.

Singapore has really developed the ability to assess the situation in the game of great powers, and it has been flexibly adjusted in different times.

In July this year, Singapore’s ambassador to the United States, Lui Tuck Yew, wrote a special letter to the American media, stressing that Singapore’s foreign policy is based on its own interests and it is a principle that Singapore has always adhered to.

Before taking over as Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong made it clear in an interview with The Economist that Singapore would not choose between China and the United States, but would give priority to its own interests.

In his speeches in Chinese, Lawrence Wong mentioned “culture” and “Chinese” for 9 to 11 times, with special emphasis on cultivating people’s Chinese ability.

He said that Singapore hopes to preserve the spiritual outlook and traditional values of Asians. At the same time, the advantages of bilingualism and biculturalism can absorb the wisdom of the East and the West, and can deal with both countries. This is Singapore’s unique competitive advantage.

In my opinion, Lawrence Wong mentioned that “Singapore is not a western society”. The core theme is that Singaporeans can speak both English and Chinese, embrace the western social system, and retain the eastern spiritual culture. They can get along well with the United States, Britain and China. This is a unique and huge advantage of Singapore in the world, which must be maintained.

Forbidden Planet – Miranda Likes to Watch – Reaction

Ha ha ha. Have some fun.

The tale of the cathouse

When I was growing up I had friends who lived up the street from me. They were two brothers, and I have written about them before.

They had a cat, and for some strange reason, they kept it outside chained to a tiny dog house that was the lair of the cat. Oh, he was a mean cat. For sure. Not being allowed to be a cat; to run around and do cat stuff.

I really wanted to let him get free, but I never had the gumption to do so. So year after year, he just sat there or paced around. It was a solitary and boring life for a cat. Not only that but he was ignored. Never getting petted, or loved. He was just chained out there and fed. What a horrible, horrible life.

Poor kitty.

He died when I was in university.

They just picked him up and threw him into the dumpster. Poor, unappreciated, and unloved kitty.

Guys. Please treat your pets with dignity and care. It’s what you should do. Whether you want to or not.

Today…

What are some life hacks that we can use in our daily life?

Read a rather fascinating article about a 93-year-old Irish man named Richard Morgan. He is an excellent rower, a world champion in the older-age competitions. And he was recently given an extensive medical examination, wherein he was found to have the lungs, heart and muscle tone of a man in his 40s.

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[1]

Now the coolest thing about Mr. Morgan is that he used to be a baker and that he wasn’t athletic at all until his retirement. And that he didn’t pick up rowing until he was already 70. But when he did, he started going at it rather intensely. Today, even at 93, he still works out for about 40 minutes a day on average on rowing machines. He does weight training thrice a week, too. He eats and drinks a normal diet, although he does consume more protein than is recommended for a man his age.

Richard Morgan could have decided, at 70, to simply do whatever the hell he wanted. Health be damned, fitness be damned. He may have had a jolly good time, but he’d have very likely be done. And had he been around, he wouldn’t be in anywhere near as fabulous a shape today as he is now. Life hack number one — get off your ass, and work yourself into a sweat for about an hour every day. What is one hour out of 24 hours in a day?

Footnotes

[1]

Richard Morgan, age 94, body 40

Messages from Dnipro Residents after Russian ICBM Strike

Hal Turner World November 23, 2024

Messages have been coming in from people who reside in and near Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk) Ukraine, describing what it was like during and after the Russian ICBM attack.

According to the messages, the Yuzhmash manufacturing plant was attacked. This was an industrial giant, the leader in rocket production in the former USSR. This plant manufactured many space and intercontinental missiles for the USSR.

According to the messages, the Yuzhmash plant no longer exists. In its place there is now just a mountain of dust.

In addition to ground level workshops where attack drones and rocket engines were currently manufactured, the plant had extensive underground workshops where missiles were assembled from Western components, which were stored and then labeled “Made in Ukraine.” They say there were at least 3 sub-floor levels beneath ground level, each 6 meters high.

Now, all of this is gone, there is just a pile of dust and rubble.

Other messages describe the impact, saying “it was so strong that apartment buildings several kilometers from the plant cracked. Now there is no water or heating in the entire city – all the pipelines that ran underground cracked and failed.”

Other residents say “the explosion was like an earthquake. Everything was shaking, furniture was falling in people’s houses, dishes were falling out of cupboards.”

Lastly, the messages confirm “Communications in houses are also out of order.”

All this from just ONE Russian ICBM missile without a nuclear warhead. It was merely conventional.

What is the biggest turn-off you’ve ever had on a date?

He texted me earlier that he would meet me at the restaurant at 8.

I agreed, got ready and reached the restaurant at 7:58 (I’m a punctuality freak), to find that he’s not there. So I got a booth and decided to wait.

And I waited. And waited. And waited.

And finally, after 25 minutes, he arrives and stares at me in horror. “You’re here already?! Aren’t girls always late?”

“Not me.” I reply.

We order food and spend the next 1 hour staring down at our plates. Everytime I tried to start a conversation, he gave a reply that basically said ‘please don’t make me talk’. We continue staring down at our plates.

He got a text message and after reading it, he seemed to be in actual physical discomfort. I asked if he was okay.

He replied “It’s my ex. I cant stop thinking about her. It’s been just 2 years since we broke up” and covered his face with his hands.

WOW.

Pepe Escobar : Will China Help the Palestinians?

People who grew up poor and are now in a higher social class, what are the biggest or most surprising differences you’ve noticed?

I qualify!

Dirt poor then. Top 1% now.

There is good news and bad news.

Have you heard these?

Rich people want to keep poor people down.
Inequality is bad.
Rich people have rigged the system.
Wealthy people control politics.
Money leads to unjust outcomes in the legal system.

The first one is completely false. 0% true.

The second is 20% true.

The third is 30% true.

The fourth is 40% true.

The last one is 80% true.

If you are a poor person in the court system, you are cooked.

Good News

Rich people do not want to keep you down. Not at all!

They greatly admire poor strivers.
They respect people who arise at 5 AM to work at McDonald’s.
They want other people to be successful!
If you work 2 or 3 jobs to support your family, they will do anything they can to help you.
They appreciate hard work and diligent effort.
Wealthy people love rags-to-riches stories.

Bad News

Many Americans believe the wealthy are indifferent to welfare recipients.

Actually, it is much worse than that.

If you are a slacker who subsists on government freebies, the wealthy want you deported.

As in expelled from the country.

Don’t call us. We’ll call you.

Some of the wealthy would give you a free ticket!

But only if you promised to never return.

This is the mindset of the wealthy…

You live in the United States.

There is more opportunity here than anywhere else on Earth!

And you spend your time demanding more freebies from people who work hard.

You are begging for handouts like a dog.

Where is your self-respect?

Where is your work ethic?

You are bad news — practically and morally.

Bottom Line

Anyone can go from bottom to top in America. My brothers and I did it!
Rich is better than poor.
I no longer buy day-old bread, patch holes w/cardboard, buy gasoline with dimes.
Meritocracy works! Any attempt to reduce meritocracy harms our country.
Welfare, DEI, and other forms of redistributive justice lead to good outcomes for the bottom 25% and terrible outcomes for the other 75%.
Economic growth is more important than economic equality.

Good luck to you!

MEN ARE SO SIMPLE MINDED| Mark Grungor | Men and Women’s Brain – NOTHING BOX (REACTION)

Yes. The box theory.

Will Bangladesh drift closer to China now?

Being friendly to China is a policy formulated by the Bangladesh government out of consideration of national interests.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India instead of China, which shows that she is pro-India.
Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is likely to become the new prime minister of Bangladesh. He is pro-American.

Sheikh Hasina stepped down due to protests, and the most angry person was Indian Prime Minister Modi.

Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India, claimed that the reason for the riots in Bangladesh was the intervention of the US Department of Defense. Because she refused the request of the US Department of Defense, the CIA led the riots in the country.

Specifically, the US military took a fancy to Saint Martin’s Island in Bangladesh and asked Bangladesh to hand over the island to the US military to establish a naval and air base. The US promised to ensure that Hasina would continue to rule Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina accuses the US: What’s the significance of St Martin’s Island? | World News – Times of India

South Asia News: Explore the history and geopolitical significance of St Martin’s Island in Bangladesh, including its maritime boundary disputes and strategic location near the Bay of Bengal. Learn about the island’s role in international relations and recent allegations of foreign interference in Bangladeshi politics.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/sheikh-hasina-accuses-the-us-whats-the-significance-of-st-martins-island/articleshow/112446885.cms

Sheikh Hasina hints at US role in ouster: ‘Had I surrendered sovereignty of Saint Martin Island…’

Everyone knows the result of the incident. Starting in June 2024, there were large-scale demonstrations in Bangladesh, which eventually led to Hasina’s escape to India by helicopter.

India has been supporting Sheikh Hasina, who spent years in exile in India after her entire family was assassinated in 1975.

India-Bangladesh relations have shown signs of cooling since Sheikh Hasina’s departure.

According to local Indian media reports, non-essential staff of the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh have been withdrawn after Sheikh Hasina resigned.

Bangladesh is currently led by an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner and economist Muhammad Yunus.

Some Indian news outlets have been claiming that Pakistan and China are behind the protests and have exaggerated the scale of attacks on Hindu minorities following the protests.

But Muhammad Yunus is not pro-China, he is pro-American.

He has close contacts with American politicians and is also the candidate favored by the US State Department for the new prime minister of Bangladesh.

Whether he is pro-American or not can only be known after Muhammad Yunus is formally sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh and whether he will hand over St. Martin Island to the US military as a military base.

If the US military establishes a military base on Saint Martin’s Island, the US military will enter the Indian Ocean.

Saint Martin’s Island is very close to Kyaukpyu Port in Myanmar.

Kyaukpyu Port in Myanmar is the port of entry for the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline.

The US military can use Saint Martin’s Island to block the entrance of Chinese oil and gas pipelines in the Indian Ocean.

It can be said that the reason why the United States is eager to obtain Saint Martin’s Island is to contain China.

even if Myanmar’s Kyaukpyu Port ceases to operate, China still has Pakistan’s Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea as an entry point for oil and gas pipelines.

Of course, the country most affected by the establishment of US military bases in the Indian Ocean is still India.

After all, India has always regarded the Indian Ocean as its own backyard, and Indians feel even more threatened by the United States.

Saint Martin Island : Will A US Military Base Threaten India or China? | Indian Defence News

The Varsha nuclear submarine base under construction in India, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy and the Abdul Kalam Island used for tactical and strategic missile testing are not far from St. Maarten.

Bangladesh’s military strength and military technology are simply not comparable to those of the United States.

If the U.S. military establishes a military base on St. Martin, it will be close to India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent, a major weapons testing facility and naval headquarters, directly touching New Delhi’s major red line.

If the US military establishes a military base on St. Maarten, then the Indian military will have no secrets from the US military, and all Indian military bases are within the coverage of the radar stations and missiles established by the US on St. Maarten.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Naval_Command

Strategic Base for Nuclear Submarines

https://www.spsnavalforces.com/story/?id=505&h=Strategic-Base-for-Nuclear-Submarines

What China loses is commercial interests, and what India loses is defense interests.

Russian Officials Believe That “NATO Has Gone To War With Russia”

November 18, 2024 by Michael

Now Joe Biden has really done it. By giving the green light to long-range missile strikes deep inside of Russian territory, he has brought us closer to nuclear conflict than ever before. As you will see below, Russian officials have become convinced that “NATO has gone to war with Russia”. I feel like I am watching a slow-motion train wreck that I am powerless to stop. I have been warning about this for so many years, and now it is here. Steve Quayle, Henry Gruver, Dumitru Duduman, Marty Breeden and so many others have also warned America about what is coming. If we stay on the path that we are on, nuclear weapons will be used. Do we really want to go down that road?

The corporate media here in the United States is trying really hard to convince us that Joe Biden’s decision wasn’t really a big deal.

But the Russians sure do think that it was a big deal…

In Moscow, meanwhile, senior lawmaker Leonid Slutsky slammed Mr. Biden, accusing him of deciding “to end his presidential term and go down in history as ‘Bloody Joe’.”

Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov, meanwhile, told Russia’s state-run Tass news agency that Biden’s decision represented “a very big step toward the beginning of the third world war.”

The official newspaper of the Russian state, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, warned “the madmen who are drawing NATO into a direct conflict with our country may soon be in great pain.”

And according to the Washington Post, one former Kremlin official is warning that “Moscow now believes NATO has gone to war with Russia”…

A former Kremlin official told The Washington Post that Moscow now believes NATO has gone to war with Russia and that “they will proceed accordingly.” The official spoke on the basis of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

That is rather chilling.

Of course that language echoes something that Vladimir Putin said himself back in September…

Putin had personally warned against the eventuality previously, issuing a warning in September that U.S. permission for Ukraine to fire American-supplied long-range missiles at his country, “would mean that NATO countries, the United States, and European countries, are parties to the war in Ukraine.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov referenced that previous statement by Putin when he was specifically asked how the Russian government is viewing the latest developments…

“And here the position of our President, the position of the Russian side, was very clearly and unambiguously formulated by our Head of State in his statement that he made in St Petersburg.

“It says everything very clearly. I simply recommend that you read these words of the President once again.”

Wow.

War with Russia is here.

Sergey Markov was asked if Vladimir Putin would actually use nuclear weapons once long-range missiles start falling deep inside Russian territory, and he warned that in a worst case scenario “nuclear war happens before Christmas of this year”…

Asked if Putin would use nuclear missiles in response, Mr Markov said ‘not now’ and said it was more likely that bases in eastern Europe could be hit by smaller, tactical nuclear missiles.

But he added: “I think Biden, Macron and Starmer want escalation which could lead to, from my understanding, in the worst scenario, the nuclear war happens before Christmas of this year.

“Probably you will not be able to say ‘Merry Christmas’ because you will stay in the hole trying to hide away [your] family from the nuclear catastrophe. It can develop very, very quickly.”

Personally, I don’t think that it will happen quite so fast.

But we are definitely on a road that leads to nuclear war.

After Biden’s announcement, U.S. Representative Thomas Massie stated that Biden had just committed an impeachable offense…

By authorizing long range missiles to strike inside Russia, Biden is committing an unconstitutional Act of War that endangers the lives of all U.S. citizens. This is an impeachable offense, but the reality is he’s an emasculated puppet of a deep state.

I agree with Massie 100 percent.

But there won’t be a move to impeach Biden now.

Most Republicans in Congress are way too lily-livered to do anything like that.

Donald Trump Jr. was also horrified by Biden’s decision…

Trump Jr., 46, tweeted that the “military-industrial complex” is trying to undermine his dad before he takes office by pushing the war further into chaos.

“The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives,” he tweeted.

Yes, Joe Biden is still in the White House, but this was a decision that Donald Trump should have been allowed to make.

Trump needs to come out and immediately denounce what Biden has done, but if he does that he will be accused of “colluding with Putin” and that is something that Trump very much wants to avoid.

But Trump can’t be concerned about what others will think at this point.

We are literally on the brink of nuclear war, and we are running out of time to reverse course.

In fact, Sweden is so concerned about the possibility of nuclear war that it has “issued five million pamphlets warning its citizens to stockpile food and water”…

Sweden has issued five million pamphlets warning its citizens to stockpile food and water – just hours after Volodymyr Zelensky’s chilling video address to Vladimir Putin warned US missile strikes “will speak for themselves.”

If our leaders had any sense, they would be doing the same thing.

But instead, they keep assuring us that the Russians are bluffing and that they would never actually use nuclear weapons.

In the end, we shall see who was bluffing and who was not.

Interestingly, on Monday it was being reported that Internet cables under the Baltic Sea have been “suddenly disrupted”…

Two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea have been suddenly disrupted, according to local telecommunications companies, amid fresh warnings of possible Russian interference with global undersea infrastructure.

A communications cable between Lithuania and Sweden was cut on Sunday morning around 10:00 a.m. local time, a spokesperson from telecommunications company Telia Lithuania confirmed to CNN.

Did the Russians do that?

Were they trying to send us a message?

I just wrote about how vulnerable our undersea Internet cables are last week.

Cutting two cables is not going to disrupt much, but what if the Russians started cutting dozens of cables?

We really are in uncharted territory.

Hopefully cooler heads will prevail, because right now the road that we are on only leads to pain.

Be the Rufus

After Hitler, which dictator was the worst in history?

Hitler wasn’t the worst. My vote goes to Pol Pot. He was the dictator of Cambodia 1976–1978.

His claims to infamy:

Killed more people in proportion to the size of the nation than any other dictator
Killed most people in shortest timeframe
Destroyed the economy of Cambodia
Destroyed the intelligentsia of Cambodia
Effectively rendered Cambodia back to the Bronze Age
Destroyed the infrastructure of Cambodia
Caused a man-made famine in Cambodia
Obliterated literacy in Cambodia
Deurbanized and deindustrialized the country completely
Sowed the land full of land mines, making 30% of the fields of Cambodia uncultivable
Founded the largest extermination camps ever and coined the concept “killing fields”.

Finally his ambitions went too far when he attacked Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge military, already starving and badly armed for anything else than terrorizing unarmed people with eyeglasses, collapsed in front of the Vietnamese military (who had just kicked the arses of both USA and China).

Never before has a foreign conqueror been welcomed so heartly than in Cambodia, and never before has a war turned so quickly into a humanitarian rescue operation as in Cambodia.

No Man’s Sky: Brilliant New Update Makes This Game’s Biggest Redemption Story

Shorpy

Are there any non-Han Chinese on Quora?

I am of Hui ethnicity, currently living in Jiangsu Province. My family is a pure-blood Muslim family. My parents’ ancestors came from Jining in Shandong Province and Dangshan in Henan Province, both of which are major Muslim communities in central China.

In addition to that, we also have relatives in Xinjiang and Qinghai, but as the older generations passed away, we have grown distant from these relatives, who live thousands of kilometers away.

My grandfather was an imam in the Xuzhou area. From a young age, I learned a lot about Islam from him. His home was right next to the mosque, so I essentially grew up in the mosque.

Back in the 1980s, the old mosque in Xuzhou had a large courtyard, and I would play there every day after school. I knew all the imams at the mosque, and because I was a good student, they all encouraged me to attend an Islamic college when the time came to choose a university.

Having been brought up in Islamic teachings from a young age, I still follow most of the Islamic practices today, even though I am now in my 40s.

My grandfather, as an imam, maintained a close relationship with the local Han Chinese community. He was not only eager to help Muslims but also willingly assisted Han Chinese people. Sometimes, he would give the beef that Muslims gifted him to some of his poor Han neighbors. If Han Chinese people came to him for help because of poverty, he would even give them money, expecting nothing in return. Because of his kindness, both Hui and Han people respected him.

I still have a photo of him from when he was 90 years old, standing by the mosque’s gate. I remember the gate had calligraphy written in both Chinese characters and Arabic: “Respect Islamic teachings, and love China.”

I believe these memories of mine are a small reflection of the close relationship between Han Chinese and Muslims in China.

While I did not end up attending an Islamic college, I earned dual degrees in sociology and psychology, and eventually became a programmer.

I am aware that in recent years, there have been some tensions between the Hui and Han communities in parts of China. I don’t think these incidents are significant. From a young age, I learned from my grandfather what it means to see both Hui and Han as fellow citizens, looking out for and respecting one another. Therefore, while I respect my own ethnic background, I have never considered Han people to be “different” from me.

Later, I had a child, who is also proud to be Muslim. Every time we travel, he insists on visiting the famous mosques along the way, and he also enjoys reading books about Islam.

However, I believe he should be well-rounded and expand his perspective. In the past few years, I’ve recommended many books from other religions to him—Bible stories, introductions to Catholicism, biographies of Buddha, Buddhist basics, biographies of the Dalai Lama, Taoist texts, Zen writings, and more.

Since my child is free to make his own choices, I’ve shared with him everything I know about Islam, my personal religious experiences, and all the stories about my grandfather. After that, I will respect whatever path he chooses.

Beef Stroganoff Casserole

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) package wide egg noodles
2 pounds round or sirloin steak, cut into 1 inch strips
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, in zip top bag
1 (16 ounce) package mushrooms, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1 tablespoon paprika
1 (13 3/4 ounce) can beef broth
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

Instructions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
Place uncooked noodles in a 2 1/2 quart casserole.
Coat strips of steak with flour by putting a few strips at a time in zip-style bag and shaking well.
Arrange coated meat on top of noodles.
Arrange chopped mushrooms evenly over meat.
Sprinkle the onion, nutmeg, parsley and paprika on top of mushrooms.
Pour beef broth over entire dish.
Cover and bake for 1 hour.
Stir in sour cream, and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

What is the worst job experience you ever had?

Working as an Amazon driver. I had to take a job out of necessity when I lost my longtime job at the start of Covid. I was 45 years old and took a job as a driver for Amazon. On an average day, I would have about 180–185 different stops and about 300–350 packages.

The vans always had something wrong with them. Broken seats, no AC, cracked windows, etc. There are cameras that watch you drive and you get violations for not wearing your seatbelt, looking at your phone, going 6 miles over the speed limit, harsh accelerations, hard breaking, and not coming to complete stops.

I had so many packages that I often could not use the rear or side doors. I had to wiggle out through the drivers door. I would just be tripping over stuff all day because they gave too many packages.

You would often find random bottles of piss in the console, door holders, back, etc. You have so little time to get done, that many drivers don’t eat lunch or take breaks. A lot are forced to pee in bottles so they can finish their routes on time.

And after all of this, at the end of the day…you have to call the dispatcher who will often send you to now go help someone else with their route because they are behind. That is your reward for doing your job well.

I lost 45 pounds working there. Not to mention doing this is the pouring rain, in the 100 degree heat, in the snow. But the worst part for me, was doing all of this in the dark. Trying to find houses and streets on dirt country roads and in the mountains.

We didn’t leave the facility to start until 11am or noon. to start! So in the winter, half of your day is delivering int he dark.

It was the most inhumane job I’ve ever had…and I was in the Army.

My Wife Pulled A Bait-And-Switch About Kids, Said My Son Isn’t Enough, So I’m Filing Divorce…

What meal from your childhood did you dread being served?

We were poor and my mother was a terrible cook so we had a lot of dread, very often. For example, my dad wanted potatoes at almost every meal and my mom had 5 kids and a house so by dinner time, she was always running around as if her head were on fire. Frequently, the potatoes burned before they could be mashed. Didn’t matter. We had to eat them anyway. Food was NEVER thrown away and you could not leave the table until your plate was empty.

On the very rare occasion that milk went sour, we had to drink it anyway. If the oatmeal was burned, we had to eat it anyway. When Uncle Charlie came to visit with a cooler full of fish fillets he just caught off Boston Harbor, we had fish for a week until we were ready to vomit every time we came in the door and smelled it cooking. Oh, and my uncle was not fastidious about deboning.

There were other horrible things we had to eat, such as “church supper” leftovers like a 4 gallon pot of baked beans. I will never eat anything with kidney beans or baked beans again. Even when I was starving in college, truly starving, that orphan can of baked beans stayed in the cabinet. I will never, ever, ever eat chili or baked beans ever again. Here’s a story my brother told me: when he entered Boot Camp for the Army he went down the line and they slapped some fish onto his tray. Naturally, he wanted to throw it away but a Sergeant stood over him until he ate every bite. To his astonishment, the first bite was delicious. He downed the whole thing and had it at every meal. Even the Sergeant was astonished – the fish was garbage. That gives you an example of how bad my mother’s cooking was.

Once, someone gave us some veal. I don’t know how my mother prepared it but after the first bite, I ran to the kitchen sink and vomited. People talk about how great veal is, but whenever I see it or smell it, my stomach turns. I hate veal – and not for emotional reasons. Another of my mother’s favorites was Liver and Onions. When you came home from school and smelled that, you knew your life was ruined. You WANTED to be in Detention. I can’t ever, ever eat that now. Or kidneys. My mother LOVED kidneys. Just the look of them made me want to be sick. We were lucky that my dad hated them so it was a once a year gig to get kidneys. We had a dog then and he really was happy to be under the table – but if we ever got caught wasting food like that it would have been a harsh and severe beating. Food was precious and it was never, ever wasted; burned, rotten or unloved – it had to be eaten or you couldn’t go to bed. I remember my brother sitting at the table one evening until midnight with the swill still on his plate – and then in his breakfast dish the next day. He tried to outlast my dad. He failed. He had to eat that garbage completely.

There were a lot of miserable meals in our home. You ate what was on your plate and you didn’t complain. Both my parents knew the hunger of the Depression and when I went to college and starved, I appreciated their reasoning a lot more.

British Police To Arrest Jimmy Dore Over Twitter Post!

Why is the U.S. heavily reliant on China for many products? Is it possible for the U.S. to stop buying from China and produce these products domestically?

We all know banana publics in South America. Even though we undergo huge inflation, the price of bananas is still relatively low. Yet nobody complains that the US relies on South America for bananas.

So to understand this issue, we must remember that today’s capitalism is the financial monopoly capitalism. The capitalists in the West after five hundred imperialism and colonialism exploiting the Global South, don’t need to produce everything to have a luxurious life. The Global North can just sit on its accumulated huge capital to “finance” the global economy so it can live on interest from the capital. That’s the world economic order after WWII. The US industry was not offshored to China, it offshored first to Japan, then Japan offshored the manufacture to South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and finally the Four Tigers offshored manufacturing to China. This process of offshoring manufacturing has undergone for half a century already.

Since 2008, since Obama, the US has tried hard to bring manufacturing back to the US but filed. If Americans can have white-collar jobs, why let white-collar jobs become blue-collar jobs? In the 1970s, when the US offshored manufacturing to Japan, the US was very happy to celebrate the post-industrial society. The Global North can sit in the office and let the Global South toil in sweat. The Noth-South economic order since WWII has been implemented with Bretton Woods institutions, such as the World Bank, IMF, and WTO.

After China entered WTO, the North-South world order was tropicalized as Made-in-China-Comsumed-in-America. For every dollar of made-in-China one paid in shopping, only fifteen cents go to China, other eighty-five cents go to Japanese patents, European design, American brands of marketing and logistics, and retail services. The US went to post-industrial service when the service GDP was higher than the manufacturing GDP. Today,

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Capital floods in Fintech, technology advancement is first used in finance and military industry. See the green portion at the upper-right corner of the graph above? it includes the military industry.

Service is hard to offshore. One cannot use other countries’ transport for transit, and going to other countries for health services is rare. If the US can offshore service, it will, such as offshoring telemarketing to India and the Philippines.

When Americans consume, they pay more for financial services than for real goods and services. When they visit doctors, they pay more for insurance services than the medicine and doctors. When using a car for 20 years, they pay more for insurance than the purchase of the car. American consumers cannot escape the financial services, the insurance, the mortgage, etc. That’s financial monopoly capitalism.

It is letting the Global South do the labor, don’t blame the Global South for “stealing the jobs”. You cannot eat the pie and have the pie. You cannot keep the jobs without doing the jobs.

After the failures of onshoring manufacturing, the US resorted to nearshore. Such as NAFTA to have manufacturing in Mexico. The US also resorts to friendly shoring, and encourages imports from ASEAN and India. But what’s the difference? The manufacturing is not going back to the US, and it is China’s turn, following Japan and the Four Tigers, to offshore its manufacture to India and ASEAN.

The US cannot help but feed the greed of Wall Street and the military-industrial complex. It is capitalism, The political system is by the capital, for the capital, and of the capital. It is the capitalist system and the capital become monopoly.

14 Year Old Killer Thinks He’s Going Home

https://youtu.be/sBZpcEQJT6A

Many Hong Kong buildings (particularly residential apartments and hotels) have hollow, open floors that look like a big hole halfway up the building. Is there a functional reason for this or is it cultural?

The fire safety laws in Hong Kong state that buildings of 40 floors or higher are required to have a “refuge floor” built, and for every 25 floors thereafter another refuge floor is required. A refuge floor is basically an open, empty floor with bare minimum structures, and a fire sprinkler system.

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The purpose of these refuge floors is to act as a safe refuge for people to escape from fire and to gather there awaiting rescue. Another purpose of these floors is to act as a void between floors to prevent, or at least slow down, the spread of fire from lower floors to higher floors.

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If you are talking about the vertical holes in some of the buildings in Hong Kong, then they are not refuge floors. Some of them are part of the architectural design, some of them are there for Fung Shuǐ reasons, and some have the specific purpose of preventing the “screen barrier effect” – whereby the width of buildings are so wide that they act like a screen barrier and obstruct light and air flow in the area. Some also have a hole in them to minimise the effect of wind force on the building during a typhoon.

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Edit 20/9/2019: After replying to a comment from Mr. Faraone, I have added this to my answer.

Fung Shui Myth:

The hole in the building in the above image was designed specifically so that the passages of the “dragons” flying from the sea towards the hills behind, and vice versa, are not blocked. Apparently the building was built bang in the middle of the passage of the dragons and without that hike their passages would be blocked.

What are some particularly creative ways that students cheat?

In Fall 2009, Professor James Simpson of Harvard University was assigned to interview Harvard senior Adam Wheeler for his Fulbright Program application.

The Fulbright Program is an extremely competitive and prestigious fellowship program. The program pays for the selected American citizens to conduct research, study, or teach abroad. Each year, 8000 Americans receive a Fulbright grant. Recipients range from students to professional scientists and artists. Fulbright alumni have collectively won dozens of Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes.

Student applicants to the Fulbright get nominated by their school before moving on to the national level. In Wheeler’s case, this meant he had to clear the superstars at Harvard.

Before their interview, Professor Simpson looked over Wheeler’s application. It was extremely impressive. Wheeler was the author of multiple books (some in collaboration with Harvard professors), a lecturer at six academic events, a creator of Harvard courses, and a brilliant student with a nearly perfect GPA and glowing recommendations.

Simpson moved on to the personal statement. But something was off. The writing felt… familiar. After a bit of digging, Simpson found what he was looking for. Harvard professor Steven Greenblatt’s piece from Essays on General Education in Harvard College.

The piece matched almost exactly with Wheeler’s Fulbright essay. Simpson quickly called Harvard’s chair of the Fulbright nomination committee. Wheeler was notified, and he quickly and quietly left Harvard.

From there, Wheeler’s story unraveled. The personal statement wasn’t the only thing faked in his Fulbright application. The GPA was fake.

Wheeler’s records on Harvard official showed that he had transferred from MIT at the beginning of sophomore year. Due to a rocky start with a D-plus in his first semester, Wheeler had just over 3.6 GPA at the time of his Fulbright application.

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Wheeler’s self-reported transcript for his Fulbright application.

Wheeler’s self-reported transcript claimed a 3.99 GPA after three years at Harvard. He had only been at the school for two.

The recommendations were fabricated. The books were never written. The lectures never happened.

But it didn’t stop there.

David Smith, Wheeler’s resident Dean, and Jay Ellison, then head of Harvard’s Ad Board (which handles cheating) continued looking. He checked the rest of Wheeler’s file. Wheeler’s Harvard forms listed his birth year as 1987. Wheeler’s passport read 1986.

As Smith kept searching, everything about Wheeler’s identity fell apart.

On Wheeler’s application to Harvard, the transcript was fake.

The perfect SAT scores. Fake.

His resume. Fake.

The 16 AP exams. Fake.

Adam Wheeler had never even been a student at MIT.

Wheeler hadn’t even stopped after the Fulbright incident. After he left Harvard, Wheeler had applied to Stanford and Yale. Smith was notified.

Eventually, Harvard’s Police Department took over from Smith and Ellison, trekking through the web of Wheeler’s lies. Prosecutor John Verner, in early May, decided there was sufficient evidence to charge Wheeler with 20 criminal counts, including identity fraud, falsifying approval, pretending to hold a degree, and larceny.

Later that month, Adam Wheeler was arrested in his home state of Delaware.

Russia’s final warning to NATO – you’ll get your war, but it’ll be over in 15 minutes

Drago Bosnic, independent geopolitical and military analyst

We are inches away from a global thermonuclear war. And no, this isn’t a meaningless, overused catchphrase. Quite the contrary, it’s as serious as it gets. We have reached a historical boiling point. At no other time in human history have we been closer to the scenario of annihilation, not even during the so-called “Cuban” Missile Crisis. It should really be called “Turkish” or something along those lines. And it’s important to note that we’re not digressing from the topic by mentioning this.

Namely, the mainstream propaganda machine just loves maintaining its narratives that essentially whitewash the political West and denigrate the actual world. This is why the fact that the United States initiated the “Cuban” Missile Crisis by deploying nuclear-tipped missiles in Italy and Turkey back in 1961 (although some sources claim it was as early as 1959) is ever so “conveniently” forgotten. The USSR waited a full year (at the very least) to respond by placing its own missiles in Cuba.

Thus, it’s perfectly clear who initiated that confrontation. And yet, as previously mentioned, modern historiography remembers the event as the “Cuban” Missile Crisis, sending a subliminal message that it was initiated by the Soviet Union and Cuba. Why is this important? Because the same people are now telling us that Russia “escalated” the NATO-orchestrated Ukrainian conflict by “firing missiles at a democratic Ukraine”, once again “forgetting” to mention the preceding events.

Namely, as we all know, the political West gave the Neo-Nazi junta the go-ahead to use long-range missiles against targets deeper within Russia.

And they just did.

In the last two days, approximately a dozen ATACMS and “Storm Shadow”/SCALP-EG missiles have been used (on the same day Moscow updated its nuclear doctrine, mind you).

So, how did the “evil Kremlin”, led by the “crazy, bloodthirsty tyrant Putin”, respond to this?

Well, not with nukes, as we’re still here, even though the doctrine allows it.

However, Russia did fire what is technically an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile). This marks the first time such a weapon was used in a conflict. And while ICBMs normally carry thermonuclear warheads, this one was conventionally armed. To better understand what sort of weapon this is, we have to go back a decade or so, specifically to the RS-26 “Rubezh” program that was supposed to deter NATO’s crawling aggression in Europe and the post-Soviet space.

Namely, the RS-26 was envisaged as the successor to the formidable RSD-10 “Pioneer” IRBM (intermediate-range ballistic missile). Essentially a shortened version of the three-stage RS-24 “Yars” ICBM, with one stage removed (and some other modifications), the RS-26 had a shorter range, but was no less deadly. In fact, it carried more powerful warheads than the “Pioneer” (at least four 300 kt instead of the latter’s three 150 kt ones), while also being more accurate and impossible to intercept.

This enabled it to target even massive underground command centers or any other high-priority targets across NATO-occupied Europe. However, there was a (geo)political problem with the RS-26. Namely, it was made at a time when the INF Treaty was still in force (banning all missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km). So, for the RS-26 to formally comply with this, it had to have a range greater than 5,500 km. Otherwise, it would violate the INF Treaty and be designated as an IRBM.

To avoid this, it was designed to achieve a maximum range of 5,800 km, just enough to be designated as an ICBM. However, this created another problem, as it affected the New START treaty. Namely, this would force Russia to reduce the number of its, so to speak, “purebred” ICBMs such as “Yars”, R-36M2 “Voevoda” and RS-28 “Sarmat”. As a result, in 2011, the program was postponed for a period after 2027, with most resources diverted to the development of Russia’s new hypersonic weapons.

However, on August 2, 2019, the US unilaterally withdrew from the INF Treaty and started developing previously banned intermediate and medium-range missiles, prompting Russia to respond. These programs accelerated significantly after the start of the special military operation (SMO), resulting in new designs, as well as massive improvements to the existing ones. However, we still didn’t hear almost anything about the RS-26, indicating that the program might have even been scrapped altogether.

But, on April 12 this year, Moscow tested an “unnamed ICBM”. To this day, the Russian military is yet to publicly reveal the exact type of the missile launched that day. At the time, I argued that the missile was actually the RS-26, as it had striking similarities with the previously mentioned RS-24 that the “Rubezh” was actually based on, including the way it conducted wobbling maneuvers designed to confuse NATO’s ABM (anti-ballistic missile) systems, making it virtually impossible to intercept.

For seven months, no news came through about this “mysterious ICBM”. Until the early hours of November 21, that is. Initially, the Russian military didn’t reveal what missile it was, letting NATO contemplate what to do next. However, the “mysterious ICBM” was soon not only uncovered, but actually named – “Oreshnik” (“Hazel” in Russian). However, solid information about the missile is extremely scant, fueling all sorts of speculation, wild guessing and outright misinformation.

For instance, the Pentagon insists the missile that hit Dnepropetrovsk was fired from Kapustin Yar, a testing site in the Astrakhan oblast (region) in southern Russia, located over 1000 km to the east. This distance is too short for an ICBM, raising questions about the veracity of the US military’s claims. Then, videos from Kazakhstan emerged, specifically over the city of Satbayev, which is 1,500 km to the east of Kapustin Yar. Even more interestingly, some 450 km to the southeast lies Sary Shagan.

This place is home to one of the largest and most important missile test sites in the former Soviet Union, with the Russian military still using it extensively, including during the aforementioned April 12 test. It’s simply impossible to see “Oreshnik” fly over Satbayev if it was fired from Kapustin Yar to Dnepropetrovsk. However, it’s certainly possible that the missile was fired from Sary Shagan. Still, NATO doesn’t want to reveal that it flew nearly 2,400 km before hitting its targets with pinpoint precision.

Even more interestingly, videos over Satbayev also show that the missile is wobbling and maneuvering just like the “mysterious ICBM” tested on April 12, further reinforcing the notion that the “Oreshnik” could actually be a conventionally armed “Rubezh”. In addition, its maximum range exceeds 5,000 km, which puts virtually all of Europe in range. And indeed, it makes little sense to get a completely new missile if you have the “Rubezh”, as it’s already a largely finished product.

Technically speaking, there are several possibilities when it comes to the “Oreshnik”. First, it doesn’t even have to be a regular missile and could be some sort of MaRV (maneuverable reentry vehicle), MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle), HGV (hypersonic glide vehicle), etc. or perhaps even a hybrid, with the “Rubezh” being the primary missile carrier. The “Rubezh” itself can already carry the “Avangard”, so if the “Oreshnik” is an HGV, it shouldn’t be a problem for the “Rubezh” to deploy it.

Another possibility is that the “Oreshnik” is a completely new missile (not necessarily ballistic, but likely a more advanced hypersonic, maneuvering weapon) that has its own MIRV/MaRV/HGV warheads. There are no definite claims about this at present, simply because very little is publicly known about it. However, personally, I am more inclined to believe that the “Oreshnik” is a conventionally armed HGV that can be carried by nuclear-capable ICBM/IRBMs like the RS-26 “Rubezh”.

The reason is quite simple, because why would someone make something completely new when they already have a finished project that can immediately go into production (the “Rubezh” uses the same production lines as the “Yars”)? This reinforces the notion that the RS-26 is a highly modular design which can be equipped with various types of warheads, including conventional ones. It also harkens back to President Putin’s vision of Russia’s strategic preemptive strike capabilities.

One more thing that should be noted about the “Oreshnik” is that it was certainly an overkill against the Neo-Nazi junta. Russia’s more tactical and operational level missiles could’ve easily conducted this. However, given the fact that Moscow is faced with the increasingly delusional and aggressive West, it just had to demonstrate its firepower, prompting Putin to authorize the long-range strike on Dnepropetrovsk. This is a particularly important message to both the US and EU/NATO.

In terms of the functioning of the missile’s warhead, the available footage shows at least 30 smaller projectiles divided into five groups (six in each). The lack of visible detonations (although at least one was seen) suggests these are probably advanced kinetic penetrators capable of annihilating heavily defended and dug-in positions. This means that any NATO base anywhere in Europe and/or elsewhere would be in range, but Russia wouldn’t need to rely on its thermonuclear arsenal to deter aggression.

Source: InfoBrics

Some MISC pictures for fun enjoyment

Key European NATO Bases in Reach of Russia’s Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile

In his remarks unveiling the Oreshnik missile system on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow reserves the right “to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow using their weapons against our facilities.”

Russia’s new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile has a 2.5-3 km/s flight speed, a 1-1.2 ton payload, is equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, and is designated as an intermediate-range missile, which means a firing range of up to 5,500 km. During its test combat deployment against a Ukrainian military-industrial target Thursday, the Oreshnik was thought to have traveled 1,000 km or more to Dnepropetrovsk from Russia’s Astrakhan region.

Here are some key NATO facilities within reach of the new hypersonic intermediate-range missile:

Eastern Europe

Poland

Lask Air Base (home to permanent US Air Force detachment)

Forward Operating Sites Powidz, Zagan and Poznan (US Army weapons and equipment storage)

US Army Garrison Poland (V Corps Forward HQ), Poznan

Redzikowo Base (home to US Aegis Ashore missile defense site)

Estonia

Amari Air Base (situated in Harjumaa, northern Estonia; deemed key for NATO “air policing” operations over the Baltic Sea)

Latvia

Selonia Military Training Area (touted as the largest NATO training camp in the Baltic)

Lithuania

Rudninkai Military Base (future home of Germany’s first permanent base abroad; set to station some 5,000 Bundeswehr troops when completed)

Romania

Deveselu Military Base (another US Aegis Ashore site)

Mihail Kogalniceanu Military Base (NATO’s easternmost base in Europe, home to US Army Area Support Group Black Sea regional command)

Bulgaria

Bezmer Air Base (key potential storage site for US long range aircraft)

Novo Selo Range (major NATO training base)

Graf Ignatievo Air Base

Kosovo

Camp Bondsteel (set up in 1999 after the NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia and occupation of Kosovo. Largest US base in the Balkans)

Map showing showing rough locations of major US and NATO army bases, air and naval facilities throughout Europe.

Northern Europe

Finland

Mikkeli (future home of NATO Multi Corps Land Component Command HQ, as little as 150 km from Russian border)

Sweden

Karlskrona Naval Base (key to NATO calculations for establishing total control of the Baltic Sea)

Western Europe

Germany

Home to by far the largest US garrison in Europe and the second-largest US deployment abroad, besides Japan. Home to some 35,000 troops and support personnel.

Ramstein Air Base (largest US and NATO air base in Europe, key to US operations in the region and Middle East, including the once secret US drone program)

Spangdahlem Air Base

NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen

Buchel Air Base (stores US nukes)

US Army Garrison Ansbach

US Army Garrison Bavaria

US Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz

US Army Garrison Stuttgart

US Army Garrison Wiesbaden

Belgium

US Army Garrison Benelux

Kleine Brogel Air Base (stores US nukes)

Netherlands

Volkel Air Base (stores US nukes)

Italy

Another key US garrison country in Europe. Jumping off and/or transit point for US and NATO military operations in the Middle East and North Africa, including the 2011 aerial aggression against Libya, which triggered a wave of migrants and refugees flooding into Europe via Italy.

Aviano Air Base (stores US nukes)

Ghedi Air Base

Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily

Naval Support Activity Naples (HQ of US 6th Fleet)

US Army Garrison Italy

Greece

Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete

UK

Royal Air Force Lakenheath

Royal Air Force Mildenhall

Royal Air Force Alconbury/Molesworth

Royal Air Force Croughton, Fairford, Welford (common stopover site for US strike and strategic bomber aircraft)

Royal Air Force High Wycombe (RAF HQ)

Portsmouth Naval Base (home to two-thirds of Royal Navy’s surface fleet)

Spain

Rota Naval Base (permanent home to six US missile destroyers). Key strategic facility for US operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

Moron Air Base

Portugal

Lajes Air Base, Azores Islands (key NATO transatlantic logistical hub, targetable if Oreshnik can be redeployed from Astrakhan region to new launch locations somewhere west of Moscow)

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/key-european-nato-bases-in-reach-of-russias-oreshnik-hypersonic-missile-1120975768.html

温泉女子】カメがいるお座敷露天風呂から熱湯甲子園　コスパ最強鄙び宿【限定版は概要欄】渋温泉郷シリーズVol.2

This is a girl in Japan going eating, and taking a public bath in Japan. I like it because it is almost like you are there and experiencing it for yourself. A nice escape and adventure. No sexual anything. Just wholesome stuff.

(If you want the “sexy stuff” you can join her fanclub. It’s a mix of Japanese kinds of stuff. Not to my liking, but you all might want to go down that rabbit hole.)

UPDATED 7:43 PM EST — EXPLOSIONS IN KURSK AND IN ROSTOV, RUSSIA . . . CLAIM: ATACMS — AGAIN

Hal Turner World November 23, 2024

Since about 3:00 PM eastern US time today, Saturday 23 Nov 2024, reports have been coming in saying there have been numerous explosions in Kursk, Russia. Those reports **claim** American-supplied ATACMS were used by Ukraine — again.

Other reports say “it may be Drones.”

Additional reports are also coming in claiming explosions in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

I have received video of what is purported to be a residential area of Kursk, Russia, and the video clearly shows large flashes of light and the loud boom of a significant explosion. So the reports of “explosions” in Kursk seem to be true.

There is no official verification (yet) that the weapons used were ATACMS. I am endeavoring to grab the latest Intel on this, and will report what I find out; but here we are at 5:33 PM EST and for the past two and a half hours, multiple, consistent, reports are saying it WAS American-supplied ATACMS.

It was just two days ago that Russia responded to a different ATACMS strike, by launching a brand new ORENSHNIK Intermediate-Range Missile against Ukraine’s city of Dnipro.

If, in fact, Ukraine is once against hitting Russia with ATACMS, then clearly they didn’t learn any lesson at all from being hit with an ICBM and a larger act of retribution/deterrence might have to be delivered by the Russians.

How fast that may take place is anyone’s guess.

UPDATE 7:43 PM EST —

The explosions in Kursk ARE confirmed. It was a Ukrainian attack.

According to the Governor of Kursk, 27 Ukrainian UAVs and two “missiles” were shot down over the Kursk region.

No word on what type of “missiles.”

Beef and Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients

4 to 6 large bell peppers
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 (20 ounce) can whole tomatoes
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 to 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds. Parboil in salted, boiling water for 4 minutes. Drain and cool.
Brown meat in skillet with onion. Drain oil.
Add tomatoes that have been mashed.
Add Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
Add rice. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Add Cheddar cheese, stirring until melted and well blended.
Stuff mixture into peppers.
Top with Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees F about 20 minutes or until hot.

Notes

If freezing peppers, do not bake. Wrap individually and place in a large freezer bag. Thaw well before baking.

When did you realize that your childhood was not normal?

I never had this big “aha” moment where it dawned on me all at once. But I’d say I first realized something really wasn’t right when I was around 9 or 10 years old. That’s about the age I started making friends on my own, spending time at other people’s houses without my parents also being around, etc. It was hard not to notice the differences between my house and most of my friends’ houses.

I saw parents who not only loved each other but openly expressed affection for one another. The fathers actually seemed to want to be home with their wives and kids. They certainly didn’t have random women in their lives that they openly dated and carried on with in front of their children.

Meanwhile, the mothers seemed to genuinely enjoy being mothers and to love their kids. They didn’t sit around all day pouting and drinking, alternating between ignoring their children and either yelling at them or criticizing every little thing about them. Instead, they were fun, and happy, and pretty, and generous. They smiled. They laughed. They had little busy things they liked to do with their spare time.

My friends’ mothers would even invite me to help them in the kitchen or sit and watch cooking shows with them in the mornings if I spent the night and happened to be up early. Their eyes would light up when they smiled at me. I had the impression that they genuinely liked me and enjoyed being with me. And when they’d tell me I was a pleasure to have in their homes and that I was welcome anytime, I could tell they meant it.

That’s also around the time I started lying and making up stories about how things were at home when asked about it by other people.

For example, we were always being given school assignments that required us to write about things like what our families liked to do together over the holidays or special things we did with each of our parents as far as quality time. I realized these were things that were supposed to be happening in family homes or else we wouldn’t be asked to write about them.

I also assumed the whole situation with my parents clearly not liking each other (or me) was somehow my fault, I was ashamed, and I didn’t want my teachers to know about it. So, I’d write about things my friends did with their parents as if it were me and my parents instead. Sometimes I’d just invent complete fictions that I thought sounded good — whatever I thought would make us seem normal.

And I lied to my friends, too. Like, I remember this one incident where I got a really high score on a big test — only one answer wrong — and my best friend at the time insisted my parents were going to buy me something or throw me a party to celebrate because that’s what her parents would do.

What actually happened when I showed my mother the test was she grilled me about the one wrong answer, demanding to know why I didn’t get all the answers right. So, I wasn’t praised for doing well. I was scolded for doing badly. But when I got back to school on Monday and my friends asked what kind of reward my parents treated me to over the weekend, I lied and said they threw me a giant pizza party and bought me a bunch of presents. I was too ashamed to tell them what had really happened.

Because before all this, I just thought my home and family were normal. I thought it was normal for parents not to love each other and to low-key hate their kids. I thought it was normal to just want to spend all your time alone in your room reading, and drawing, and writing, and retreating into your imagination because trying to connect with your family instead just made you feel… bad.

To this day, it’s still hard for me to think of parenthood as anything other than a waking nightmare to be avoided at all costs. There’s a part of me that will probably always worry that my parents were right to feel the way they did, to be so miserable, and to blame it on their kids. (I, unsurprisingly, never wanted children myself or had any. I didn’t want to wind up like my mom.)

As an adult, I naturally get that those things weren’t normal or healthy on any level. I logically know the situation at home between my parents wasn’t my fault and that it was very wrong of them to ever allow me to feel like it was. I also came to realize that my friends’ parents and families had problems and secrets of their own — huge ones, in some cases. They just weren’t airing out their dirty laundry in front of guests or anything.

But it’s still weird to think back on. That was a very confusing period in my life during which I felt pretty isolated and very confused. I thought I was literally the only kid in the world dealing with anything like that.

It was both a relief and a disappointment to find out that I wasn’t. I was relieved to know that I wasn’t alone and that I was far from the only kid who grew up in a dysfunctional home or had emotionally unavailable parents. But I missed believing in the fairytale that there was such a thing as a perfect family or a household where everyone got along 100 percent of the time.

My Last Breathe Close to Mars

Submitted into Contest #247 in response to: Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.… view prompt

Raven Rhodes

Ever since I was little I wanted to explore space and explore my curiosity of a world unexplained. After I graduated high school I told my parents how passionate I was of going to college for astronomy and astronautics. They weren’t proud nor happy and thought little of the accomplishments of NASA and told me no. They were not even willing to help me pay my way through college. So I took the pain of rejection and I remember crying and looking at old books and exploration tapes because it was not fair.That’s when I decided that I was going to try anyways and I applied to the Emory-Riddle Aeronautical University. I waited for months and my father told me I received a letter, so I remember grabbing it happy and disappointed because I was too afraid to feel just one thing. I was accepted, I was literally accepted and I was finally happy with life.I studied astronautics for 4 years and was granted a chance after college to be apart The NASA Exhibition for a space launch. The date is set for March 06, 2041 that was eight months ago today. I have been in space now for six months exploring Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, that is red in color but dessert like with fridge temperatures makes Mars hard to explore. The exhibition is set to last for a year and a half hitting places like Europa and the Titan next. I wanted to be the first to try and manipulate the gravity of Mars. The closer The Space X spaceship gets to Mars the closer the camera set on shows me in this spaceship the features of Mars. I was already warned by NASA that the closer we get to Mars the worst it could potentially affect the spaceship.In each camera we see dessert grain red sand. I keep reporting in happy showing the team of the cameras that are landed on Mars. I know my parents are in NASA’s domain looking at me and my team. Until one of my team members noticed the hydro fuel that keeps are spaceship safe from Mars radiation is becoming low. Worried Jack runs to me telling the team that the hydro fuel was never made to get low because the kind of fuel affects the generator system of the spaceship. The whole team not knowing what Jack was talking about we start asking him again to explain further. He expresses that the closer we get to Mars the spaceship will blow up due to the level of radiation on Mars. The beeping starts to become erratic and the team starts to cry and NASA operator’s check in and start demanding we follow instructions. How can the best day of my life possibly be the last day of my life?NASA operators tell us to turn the spaceship around William with Cindy start quickly to change directional paths but are losing control over the system because the spaceship runs on hydro fuel which is running low. Mandie tells us there is a force filled around mars due to its lack of gravity and the hydro fuel is running to low to move the spaceship. Which meant we were stuck miles into Mars force filled of radioactive heat with nowhere to go. Soon as the hydro fuel runs out the spaceship will become un-functional. The spaceship starts to tremble and Luis is praying and i’m terrified. Jack tells us that NASA says with no place out the radiation we will soon be exposed to its toxicity in matter of hours and eventually die. I can’t feel anything but the tears falling down on my face. My parents are going to watch me die with my crew in less than 5 hours. My crew has family and kids and they are never going home again in less than 5 hours.It’s 3 hours in and two of my crew members have passed, Cindy and Maddie, Luis is wheezing bad and me and Jack are panting heavily. Its 4 hours in a Luis is finally pronounced dead I start trying to keep Jack up and NASA keeps checking in on us. He tells that I’ve always been like a brother to him and whenever he needed encouragement from his screwed life to become an astronaut I was there for him, motivating him. I told him I loved him like a brother and after I said this I watch my brother take his last breath at 4:45 pm. I cry and say Jack I’m not strong enough for this the minutes feel like hours my lungs feel like a truck it is repeatedly being run over and the smell of Mars radiation fills the spaceship. I cough and hear NASA operators asking me are you okay? we are checking in on you. And thats when I couldn’t breathe I see my vision cloud and hear the engine rumbling as I cough I can smell the smoke. I feel nothing and everything all at once. I try to mouth whisper my ‘parents’ to the NASA Operators the best I could. I want to tell them I love them and I wish I could explain my thoughts but I was becoming short of breathe and then my parents say “I hear I love you Michael we love you, your gonna be okay.”The fire from the engine room starts to blow up to the lower half of the spaceship and I know it’s only a matter of minutes before I’m engulfed by flames or dead. This makes the radiation harder and harder to breathe in. As I feel me slipping away the waves of heat touch my skin first and I’m starting to loose consciousness. The only thing I knew in this moment I was blessed to live out my dream. As young boy I was always playing with a spaceship, a space shuttle, reading space books and watching space movies. As the flames engulf me as I start to die I will forever know that dreams are real but only as real as you make them.

Beef and Mushroom Casserole

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 (5 1/2 ounce) package risotto mix with garden vegetables
1 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Instructions

Prepare risotto mix according to package directions.
Meanwhile in a large nonstick skillet, brown ground beef, mushrooms, bell pepper and garlic over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, breaking beef up into small crumbles.
Pour off drippings.
Season with salt and pepper.
Stir risotto into beef mixture.
Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

Is your last day as a police officer (before retirement) uneventful?

My last day as a police officer was June 10, 2010. I had been a member of the police department for 33 years.

On my last day I went to work at 8:00 AM, and soon after my arrival several officers came into my office to congratulate me on my retirement and to wish me luck and health. They were joined by some of the civilian staff, and a few sergeants and other commanders.

I didn’t get a lick of work done. You’d have thought I was giving out lottery tickets.

By about 10:00 AM the chief came in and shooed everyone out of my office. My chief (Mike) was a very large man, the very picture of an old time Irish American cop, with a heart of gold and a sense of humor the size of the solar system.

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When he chased everyone else out of the office, he closed my door, and turned around to face me. He had tears in his eyes. He gave me a big hug (he was not capable of small hugs), and he kissed me on my left cheek.

Then he said, “This will always be your house.”

And then he said, “Now get the hell out of here.”

Mike made my last day eventful. He died a year later, and I miss him terribly.

What are some of the most famous unsolved mysteries?

The mystery of Simpson’s predictions:

Simpsons predicted the famous Siegfried and Roy tiger attack.

Simpsons predicted that a friendly white tiger would attack two brothers when they perform in a show. The episode was telecast in 1993 and the Siegfried and Roy tiger attack happened in 2003 .

2. Simpsons predicted Facetime in 1995

Even before the internet became essential, The Simpsons telecasted a episode featuring Homer Simpson speaking with his wife visually. Apple introduced Facetime in 2010.

3. The Simpsons predicted faulty voter machines used in the 2012 US President elections

When Homer tries to vote for Barack Obama, the vote falls to John McCain. The incident turned out to be true in the elections of 2012 where Mitt Romney was the competitor for Barack Obama.

4. The Simpsons predicted the mass of Higgs Boson particle and thus discovered the existence of the God’s particle:

In the episode “ The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace” aired in 1998, Homer Simpson is a inventor and is shown to be solving an equation. That equation predicts the nano mass of Higgs Boson which was discovered in 2012.

5. The Simpsons predicted the NSA spying scandal:

In 2007, The Simpsons predicted that US people are being spied by the NSA. In that episode Marge Simpson says to her daughter that the government does not listen to anybody’s conversation. At that time a humanoid seems to record the information. The NSA spying scandal was revealed on 2013.

6. The Simpsons predicted the possibility of Outbreak of Ebola virus in America:

The Simpsons telecasted in 1997 about Ebola virus which was not popular till the 2013 Ebola virus Outbreak in America

7. The Simpsons predicted the FIFA corruption Scandal:

In March 2014, The Simpsons predicted the FIFA Corruption Scandal which was actually found out in 2015. They also predicted the finals of World Cup 2014 and the possibility of future world cup being held in a desert. The desert is Qatar where the 2022 world cup is going to take place.

8. The Simpsons predicted the Disney’s take over of 20th Century Fox:

Predicted in 1998 and happened in 2017

9. The Simpsons predicted the 9/11 attack:

This one might be a coincidence but the 9$ and the silhouette of the World Trade Center resembling 11 gives an eerie feel.

10. The Simpsons predicted the Syrian uprising:

The Syrian uprising was also talked about in the Simpsons way before it already happened.

The Simpsons also predicted the 3 eyed fish from the Japanese nuclear waste, Lady Gaga Superbowl show, The shard in London , Smart watches and many other events.

Thus, Matt Groening ( The creator of The Simpsons) is the ultimate and unsolved human prodigy.

Edit: Dipyaman Uzir and User-11191801878614068370 asked me about The Simpsons predicting the Trump as president in 2016 US elections. I have searched in the internet about this and here’s what I found.

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The Simpsons predicted it 50% right. I say it because,

The Simpsons predicted Trump in 2015, not in 2000 in the episode “Trumpastic Voyage” which was telecasted after Trump announced his presidential nomination.
In 2000, The Simpsons telecast an episode “Bart to the future” where a joke about Trump becoming the president in the future is mentioned. Since Donald Trump was flirting with the idea of making a presidential run in 1999, this is a solved mystery.
However the prediction about the electoral map still remains a mystery. The electoral map predicts the map for Mitt Romney but it became true for Donald Trump.

Sources:

It is coming.

Listen to me. This is REAL.

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Have US Sanctions Failed? The Answer Will Shock You!

Remember, you are not what you do, and if you are in trouble… reach out for help.

Breaking News

Today Russia responded to the missile attack on Russian territory.

The response was a demonstration of what is in store for European and US bases if Washington’s provocations of Russia continue A Ukrainian base was destroyed by a hypersonic ballistic missile carrying conventional warhead. The missile is designed to carry nuclear warheads. The Russian response was a demonstration of the utter destruction that awaits the stupid and foolish NATO countries Reports are that Trump is urgently seeking communication with Putin. The evil Zionist Neoconservatives are coming very close to destroying the Western world.

Several members of America’s Ignorant Foreign Policy Community Challenged my Statement of the superiority of Russian missile and nuclear capability. As usual the “experts” had no idea what they were talking about. Their ignorance is a disgrace and a danger.

It is beyond belief the European governments are so utterly stupid as to be members of NATO.

UPDATED 6:58 AM EST — RUSSIA FIRES ICBM AT UKRAINE; SAYS NEW U.S. BASE IN POLAND NOW A PRIORITY TARGET FOR DESTRUCTION

Hal Turner World November 21, 2024

Ukraine’s air force reported that an ICBM had been fired from a base in Russia’s southern Astrakhan region on the Caspian Sea early this morning. It struck Dnipro, Ukraine. This is the FIRST ICBM to be fired in war, in all of human history.

Russian authorities have not yet confirmed the launch, but it would be the first time such a powerful missile has been deployed in the war.

The Ukraine air force did not specify which ICBM had been fired, but its launch comes mere hours after a Russian military analyst said Moscow’s forces could unleash its fearsome RS-26 ‘Frontier’ missile in retaliation for the Storm Shadow strikes.

The Frontier missile is a terrifying, nuclear-capable weapon weighing roughly 50 tons with a range of up to 3,600 miles.

It has never before been used in combat, but analysts said it could be deployed with a conventional warhead in a strike that Ukraine’s air defenses would be powerless to intercept.

Reported video of the ICBM attack seems to show a significant number of “re-entry vehicles” slamming into the ground in Dnipro. It is important to point out these were NOT nuclear warheads, merely conventional, but the hits were severe nonetheless:

Kyiv has not suffered an ICBM strike since the war began in February 2022, with Russia’s military deploying smaller, slower Iskander missiles and a handful of hypersonic Kinzhal projectiles alongside hundreds upon hundreds of attack drones.

The Russian attack this morning also included other types of weapons which targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in the central-eastern city of Dnipro, the air force said.

The Kremlin deployed Tu-95MS strategic bombers to launch cruise missiles and MiG-31K fighters to fire hypersonic Kinzhal rockets in a calculated bid to plunge Ukraine into darkness as a bitter winter approaches.

Reports said Yuzhmash, a prominent Ukrainian state-owned aerospace and defense manufacturer – was also hit in this morning’s assault.

Some Russian missiles also reportedly struck the towns of Kremenchuk and Myrhorod, while areas in Kyiv, Odesa, and the Sumy regions suffered blackouts as the electrical grid gave out.

STORM SHADOW ATTACK AGAINST RUSSIA

This morning’s bombardment of Ukraine also comes less than 24 hours after Kyiv launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Kursk.

Fragments of the missiles that struck a military facility in the Russian town of Marino were recovered by military bloggers on Wednesday afternoon, with unverified pictures (one shown above) shared widely on social media.

New U.S. Base in Poland Now a “Priority Target”

Russia this morning mentioned US air bases in Poland saying they can be targeted with ‘advanced weapons.’

Moscow said the opening of a new US ballistic missile defense base in Redzikowo, Poland, near the Baltic coast will ‘increase the overall level of nuclear danger’, adding it had been added to a list of possible targets for Russia.

The facility, opened on November 13, forms part of a broader NATO missile shield called ‘Aegis Ashore’ designed to intercept short- and intermediate-range ballistic weapons.

‘This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies,’ Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said of the airbase’s unveiling.

‘(The base) has been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons,’ she concluded.

Both Poland and Romania are hosting onshore versions of the Aegis ballistic missile defense systems The system is also used on many US naval vessels and carrier groups patrolling around Europe and serves primarily as a defense network against nuclear missiles.

The base certainly would have seen the ICBM that Russia launched against Ukraine overnight; and could do absolutely NOTHING about it.

That’s the “rub” with so much of this “missile defense” spending; they can SEE the missiles but can’t do anything about them. Yet these bases cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and we have bases all over the world. Billions spent on this . . . . and it can do nothing about missiles like the one(s) Russia fired at Ukraine overnight.

UPDATE 6:58 AM EST —

When an ICBM is used to target a relatively close target, it goes much higher up — way into space –before coming back down on the target at screaming speed.

Even though the distance from its; launch point in Russia to Ukraine was only about 650 miles, it did not go “inter-continental” but the missile __can__ go inter-continental.

MORE:

Russia launched a single RS-26 “Rubezh” road mobile missile.

Analysis of imagery of the attack indicates the RS-26 carried six independent warheads, each in turn deploying several submunitions.

This warhead package is exclusively for conventional attack.

Russia had not been previously assessed to outfit the RS-26 with a warhead of this design.

By unveiling the conventionally armed RS-26, Russia is changing the qualitative nature of the conflict, something promised by President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine and its Western allies must now evaluate the destructive potential of this weapon, and understand that Russia can deliver this warhead to any target in Ukraine or Europe knowing there is no defense against it.

The RS-26 is produced in Votkinsk. It is assessed that the production of the RS-26, which was halted in 2017, was resumed this past summer.

With production rates estimated at 6-8 missiles per month, Russia could have accumulated an arsenal of between 30-40 RS-26 missiles.

Although described as an intercontinental ballistic missile, the RS-26’s range actually depends on the warhead package. If armed with a single warhead, it can exceed the 5,000 kilometer threshold used to differentiate between intermediate and intercontinental range missiles. The RS-26 did not go into serial production because of this ambiguity; at the time, Russia was a signatory to the INF treaty, which prohibited intermediate range missiles. It is assessed that the six warhead conventional warhead package used against Dnipro would have made the RS-26 used fall into the intermediate range for classification.

Donald Trump withdrew from the INF treaty in 2019. If the United States had remained in the treaty, this version of the RS-26 would not have been available for use by Russia.

Pago Pago

When I was in Pago Pago, I was employed to build a couple of hospitals, and entry holding facilities for the immigration office there.

While I was working on the Immigration Holding cell building, I struck up a conversation with a plumber who arrived to help us sort out the hydrant situation.

He was an enormous Samoan. Big massive man, in a tiny, tiny sub-compact automobile.

As we talked he made an apologic statement. He said “well, I’m not really a plumber, I am a trained EMT, but I was laid off, and I am doing this for now.”

And so we got straight to the most in-depth conversation that I had had with a person in years. Man, he was depressed, and hurting.

And I had to tell him, as a “BRO” (and I took on the older uncle role, as well) that …

You are not the work that you do.

Us men we go though different jobs and careers in our lives. We adapt, we survive, we endure and we keep on moving forward. We never quit, we never give up, and we keep on keeping on.

He told me that he had a girl friend in Hawaii, and I asked him why he wasn’t with her.

He told me that he felt ashamed that he was no longer an EMT and that he felt that he could not live up to her expectations.

To which I told him; “Nonsense!”

As a trained EMT he shouldn’t have any trouble finding work in Hawaii, and as a bonus, his girlfriend was local.

He could get a flight to Hawaii, and immediate have contact, connections, a place to stay and opportunities. He just needs to reach out.

So I told him…

Reach out.

And things will start coming together.

And that was that. Let it be understood that four months later he was in Hawaii, and sure as shit, he got settled and all sorts of doors opened up. He did have to take a training refresher course, but he was hired in his profession.

And last I heard from him, he was doing well. A whole new world opened up for him.

All because of our little chat that day at the build site.

Remember, you are not what you do, and if you are in trouble… reach out for help.

You might be surprised at the results.

Today…

How are the Chinese dealing with China’s defeat to the US in the Olympics? We are seeing reports of propaganda and disinformation being spread throughout the country, telling its netizens that China won.

China participated in 114 Events in the Olympics 2024

They won 91 Medals

That’s a 79.82% Success Rate

This means China had a 80% Success Rate of ensuring a medal in every event they participated

USA participated in 171 Events in the Olympics 2024

They won 126 Medals

That’s a 73.68% Success Rate

This means US had a 74% Success Rate of ensuring they won a medal in every event they participated in

Kudos to both countries

They both did very well in the Olympics

US had more events so 74% is equally impressive as Chinas 80%

Others who did very well include :-

South Korea – 74.68%
Japan – 71.43%
Germany – 66.77%
UK – 65..49%
Netherlands – 68.42%

A Surprise is Kazakhstan which bagged a 64.70% success rate in the Olympics

India participated in 57 Events and won 7 Medals

Thats a 12.28% Success Rate

(I willl Assume Vinesh won a Silver because she was the only the second wrestler left undefeated until her disqualification)

Pakistan participated in 7 Events and won 1 Medal

That’s 14.30% Success Rate

Yet both nations are making the most noise after the Olympics

China won 40 Medals in Gold and tied with US for the top sport in terms of Gold Medals alone

They had two unfortunate incidents

Wang Chuqin the favorite to win a TT Medal lost in a shock upset
Their 73 Kg Weightlifter screwed up real bad and was expected to breeze

The US also found 9 Gold Medals lesser than they expected with Dominica, St Lucia and Botswana taking surprising wins against US Athletes

Plus China beat them in the 4X100 m Medley as well

It was an equal performance by both nations who left the others FAR FAR BEHIND

Very similar to the famous USSR and US taking all medals in Pre Barcelona events and the rest always being far behind

MM has competition

Here is a guy that is also using AI for classical realism. Nice work, but I think that the art needs better form…

EU menacing letter to Musk ahead of Trump X Spaces

What is the craziest story about North Korea? I heard that when North Korea played in the World Cup, the citizens of North Korea were made to believe that North Korea had won the World Cup and that Kim Jong-Il was the team’s coach.

Originally Answered: What is the craziest story about North Korea?

On August 18, 1976, after notifying the nearby North Korean command post, five South Korean Service personnel entered the DMZ under the protection of a small contingent of unarmed US and South Korean soldiers, to trim a tree that had repeatedly been used for cover by North Korean operatives crossing the DMZ to attempt to snatch prisoners. Weapons are not allowed in the DMZ, which must be kept clear under the ceasefire agreement in effect since the 1950s.

A few minutes later, a small contingent of North Koreans appeared. They observed for 15 minutes without comment or interference, then demanded the trimming stop, claiming Kim Il Sung had personally planted the tree and nourished it and it was growing under his supervision.

After being ignored, the North Koreans stormed off in a jeep, then returned in a truck with 20 soldiers armed with crowbars and wooden clubs. In a short melee, the North Koreans bludgeoned one guard to death and chopped up another with an axe.

The North Korean government immediately started petitioning various organization to condemn the event as an unprovoked attack by the US.

Three days later, 23 US and South Korean vehicles entered the DMZ–unannounced. Two eight-man engineering teams armed with chainsaws commenced to bringing down the tree under the protection of two 30-man security platoons armed with pistols and axe handles. Simultaneously combat engineers and armored vehicles prepared to destroy “the bridge of no return” should the North show its face, and South Korean commandoes, disguised as unarmed tai-kwon-do teams, unloaded rafts, M-16s and grenade launchers. Some of these commandoes strapped claymore mines to their chest and stood on the bridge, shouting and daring the North to attack.

Behind them, 20 Hueys and 7 Cobra gunship helicopters circled. Behind THESE, B-52s, F5s, F86s, F4 Phantoms, and F111 bombers appeared over South Korean skies. US and South Korean regiments armed with Hawk missiles and medium to heavy armor poured into view along the Southern side of the DMZ. In Washington, the President let it be known that he was sending 12,000 troop to Korea, starting with 1,800 comandos ready and waiting in Japan.

In response, about 200 armed North Koreans rolled up, mostly in buses. The US called the gunships into view and had C130 gunships nose to tail in Japan, ready to support if needed.

The North Korean soldiers got out and set up machine gun positions.

The tree came down in 42 minutes. The US and South Korean forces retreated, taking with them two illegal barriers previously erected by the north. The North Koreans went home and Kim Il Song, without admitting fault, withdrew his idiotic charges and expressed “regret of the incident.”

The moral of this story? If you don’t want war, make sure your adversary knows you are prepared to win one.

The other moral of this story? North Korea is bat shit crazy.

What is the relationship like between China and Vietnam?

The relationship between China and Vietnam has been complicated, and continues to be complicated. It makes sense to look at it from several different angles:

Historical:
China has occupied Vietnam for more than 1,000 years; the Chinese name for Vietnam was Annam (安南）。At times, the Vietnamese invaded southern China too. In all instances, the Vietnamese overthrew their Chinese rulers and established their independence.

For many practical purposes, there is no significant difference between Chinese and Vietnamese. Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese leader was fluent in Mandarin, and taught at the Huangpu Military Academy in the 1920s.

Cultural:
On the cultural side, the two countries were very tightly integrated. The Vietnamese adopted Chinese writing, wear Chinese style clothing, celebrated Chinese holidays, eat Chinese food, read Chinese classics and poetry. Vietnamese children learn Chinese folktales, even to this day, in their schools.

Sometimes the closeness makes the Chinese angry because they feel that being so close to China culturally, the Vietnamese should be happy to be part of the big Chinese family.

This makes for a very complicated political relationship.

Politics:
The close history and culture makes the Chinese and Vietnamese strange political bedfellows.

In recent years, the Vietnamese and Chinese helped each other in fighting the French and the Americans. But China felt betrayed when Vietnam sided with the Russians after the end of the Vietnam War.

Recently, the Chinese have acted with impunity over territory claims in the South China Sea. Basically, the Chinese are showing the Vietnamese who is boss in the region.

The Americans think that they can form alliances with Vietnam and the Philippines to curb Chinese aggression, but there is a saying “Faraway water cannot put out a nearby fire.”

This is why even after the recent disputes, the Vietnamese premier visited Beijing to defuse tensions.

Wifey Material

Do Chinese women give permission?

Hi, Cory Michael. Thanks for the interesting question.

Well, I live and work in Chengdu, so I am surrounded by Chinese women every day! 😀

Last month, one of my colleagues brought her cat to work.
Her mother and grandmother had gone on a trip together, so there was no one at home to take care of her cat.
So she decided to bring her cat to work.

Her cat is a she, and goes by the name of 地瓜 (Dìguā), which literally translates to “Sweet Potato”.

I haven’t a clue about cat breeds, so I have no idea what sort of cat she is, but she’s just over a year old.

Now, I never pet someone else’s pet unless I have their permission.

So I asked my colleague whether I could pet her 地瓜 and she said sure, go ahead.

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My colleague had brought 地瓜 to the office wearing a leash on a cat harness.

I was a bit amazed, because I had never seen a cat taking to a harness-and-leash combo before.
I thought all cats hate being walked on a leash.
And she (the cat, not my colleague) went about it so obediently.

So I asked my colleague for permission to walk 地瓜 for a bit after work.
My colleague happily obliged ^^

地瓜 was very patient with me during out short walk together 😀

Conclusion:

In this context, my colleague, a Chinese woman, gave me permission to pet and walk her pet cat.

Hope this answer helps with your question, Cory Michael !

Lisa’s Crispy Chops

Ingredients

6 pork chops
3 eggs, beaten slightly
2 cups crushed soda crackers
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Instructions

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
Dip pork chops into egg, then roll in dry mixture.
Fry over medium heat in a small amount of oil until dark, crispy brown.

106. Hoe_Math – The Michael Sartain Podcast

The War of the Feather Duster

Lily Kingston

“I never thought it was possible for a person to be so damn arrogant!” Zed screamed as he slammed the front door of his house. “Your ass better stay on your own damn asteroid or I’ll kick it all the way to one of Jupiter’s moons!”Through the blinds of his window, Zed glared at the abyss of space outside his personal asteroid upon which his house sits. His eyes zoned in on the house of his one and only neighbor, Mandy. Across the asteroid belt, he saw Mandy’s front door fly open and her step out in a space suit with a brick in hand. She threw the brick and shattered Zed’s window as it landed in his living room. A tight vacuum sucked in from the broken window. Grumbling under his breath, Zed slapped some Flex Tape ™ on it. “Crazy woman,” he muttered, then looked down at the brick. There was a note on it.Crouching down, he picked up the note. I didn’t steal your damn duster! Zed scoffed. “That’s just what a duster-stealer would say,” yelling louder so Mandy could hear him this time, he added. “I know you stole my duster ten years ago! I bet my house on it!”“As if!” Mandy hollered back.“That duster took forever to be shipped here from Earth, Mandy! I’m getting it back!”“I ain’t no thief!”“Yeah, right,” Zed remarked under his breath.Staring at the mess of glass in his living room, Zed realized he had spent enough time arguing and definitely has to swept up this mess. “Damn, when does that woman ever stop causing problems for me.”Zed glared at his closet door. Space-spider webs covered the knob. He hasn’t cleaned anything in years. Signing, he twisted it open and saw its crooked shelves propped up by a singular wooden broom. Slowly, just as he thought the broom was free from being Altas, and was about to carefully make his exit, the shelves can clamoring down.“Juck!” He cursed as debris cluttered at his feet.Something tapped his ankle. As he looked down, his eyes widened. It was the feather-duster.“Oh, juck.”Zed paced around his living room with the blinds closed and the duster in hand. “Oh, juck. Oh, juck. Oh, juck.”What the juck was he supposed to do? Apologize for his wrong actions? Admit he was wrong? To Mandy??No! Those were all horrible options!Then, he stopped pacing a sly smile grew on his face. “What if Mandy never knows it was here?” He cracked open his blinds and peeled at Mandy’s house. “Because I’m going to sneak it into her house before she ever finds out.”Zed didn’t bother to wait until ‘night’ or anything because what night? He’s in space! Instead, he immediately suited up and floated under the asteroids, out of sight, to Mandy’s house. He entered through a window in the basement. His weak muscles barely pulled him through the vacuum as he flopped onto the floor. “Man,” he mumbled as he stood up. “These houses were not designed for space.”After fumbling around looking for the staircase upstairs, Zed just ended up wiggling off a loose vent panel and shimming his body through the vent. He peeked out the occasional vent, using it to navigate through the house. Finally, he found himself in Mandy’s master bedroom while she was taking a shower.Zed pounded his fingers through the vent and tries to shake it off, but the metal held firm. “Juck!” He cursed as he heard the water turn off. Mandy would come out of the bathroom any minute now.Rushed to get out, he left the duster inside the air vent and shimmered back to the basement, went out the window, and made his daring escape by floating casually back to his house.Goosebumps run up and down Mandy’s arms. “Why is it so cold in here?” She asked herself as she pulled on a second sweater. “Geez, don’t tell me there’s something wrong with the furnace again. Ugh! It’s going to take so long to get a repairman here!”Mandy drastically pounded on the thermostat, but the temperature stayed the same. Then, she heard a quick rat-a-tat-tat-tat coming from her air vent. Slowly, she crept over to it, wondering if something was inside. She used her nails to unscrew the vent and remove it. Inside, she pulled out… the feather duster. Mandy went white.“Oh, juck. Oh, juck. Oh, juck. Oh, juck.” She softly cursed to herself.She had been the one with the feather duster, she thought. Mandy began pacing. What the juck was she supposed to do? Apologize for her wrong actions? Admit she was wrong? To Zed??No! Those were all horrible options!Mandy’s Mind scrambled for a solution. Wait a minute, she thought, if I hide it in Zed’s house, he’ll never know…Mandy broke into Zed’s house from a sky light on the roof because I guess just juck breaking and entering laws in space, right? Tiptoeing around, she looked for any convincing hiding spot to but the duster. A hungry stomach lead her to the kitchen.

As she stole all of Zed’s leftover pizza, an idea hit her. Underneath the fridge! Who cleans under there? Quickly, she stuffed the pizza in her mouth and the duster under the fridge as Zed’s footsteps approached. She dove behind the couch for cover as Zed opened the fridge looking for his leftover pizza. “What?” He asked himself. “I don’t remember eating it…”

Mandy nibbled on the crust in silence.

Zed tsked and closed the door. Instead, he grabbed a glass and filled with ice. Mandy’s eyes widened in horror as a cube slipped and slid under the fridge. Zed groaned and swiped underneath… only to have his hand find the feather duster.

With a fearful expression of his own, Zed pulled it out. Oh juck! I thought I hide this in Mandy’s house! What is this some kind of boomerang duster? Zed thought.

Swiftly, Zed grabbed his space suit and headed out the door. After it slammed shut, Mandy emerged from her hiding spot and watched from the window Zed hiding the duster back inside her house. “That punk!” She exclaimed, ironically. “How dare he tried to shift the blame and hide the duster in my house!”

Zed came back inside his house to find a Mandy with a crooked grin sitting on his couch. “What are you doing here, Mandy?” He asked.

“What were you doing in my house?” She remarked.

His face paled. “Nothing.”

Mandy wagged her finger in front of his face. “I don’t think so. You were hiding the duster because you were the one who had it along.”

“Ok, fine!” He confessed. “I found the feather duster but–wait a minute, how did you get into my house without me knowing? And how did you get back here just as I hide it?” He stepped closer. “And how did you know I was even hiding it, or that I had it?”

“I–well,” Mandy stuttered.

“You hid it in my house first!” Zed declared.

“I so did not!” She shouted. “How do I know you didn’t hide it first!”

Zed gasped. “Like I would ever do something so scandalous as that!” He lied.

“I just saw you hiding it,” she snapped.

He crossed his arms. “That doesn’t prove anything. You don’t know if it was originally in my house!”

“And you can’t prove it was in mine!” She hollered back.

“You wanna bet!” Zed screamed with a red face.

Mandy stuck her finger in Zed’s face, opened her mouth to say something before a confused expression flickered across her face as something outside the window caught the corner of her eye. “Wait a second, where’s the duster now?”

“It’s in your house.”

Mandy glanced back at the object. It was the duster. Just floating in space. “No it’s not.” Mandy pointed. “It’s right there.”

Zed twisted his neck to see it. “Oh, juck.”

I must have forgotten to close the window all the way.

“I guess that’s one way to solve the problem.”

Bronco Billy Saves the Day!

What seemingly insignificant event had a big impact on World War II?

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HMS Griffin

On a gloomy 24th April 1940, two British destroyers, HMS Griffin and HMS Acheron, were carrying out routine searches of merchant ships traversing the North Sea. Their mission was to prevent German resupply vessels reaching Andalsnes and Narvik, where British and French troops were fighting a loosing battle during the invasion of Norway.

They intercepted an innocent looking Dutch trawler off Andalsnes, halfway between Bergen and Trondheim on the Norwegian coastline. She turned out to be a disguised Kreigsmarine surface raider Schiff 26 – the Polares.

Among the mines, concealed guns and two loaded torpedo tubes Polares was carrying to disrupt the allied force, HMS Griffin’s boarding party also discovered a cache of intelligence documents. They had been hastily thrown overboard in a weighted bag, which failed to sink. These included some of the German Enigma coding machine keys for the period 23–26 April, and the procedures for scrambling the rotors.

Signal Rating (later Lt. Cmdr.) Geoffrey Jones, a former gentleman’s hatter from Liverpool, received a Distinguished Service Medal for his bravery in assisting the bomb disposal team to disarm the novel magnetic mines carried by Polares after she was towed to Portsmouth. Jones went on to command antisubmarine trawlers and became a teacher and headmaster after the war.

This was the first break that Bletchley park had in defining ‘cribs’ that could be used to enable the Bombe electro-mechanical computers – developed to operationalise Alan Turing’s decryption technique – to attack the German Enigma codes. With this intelligence they succeeded for the first time in retroactively decoding Enigma traffic between 22–26 April. While this revealed little useful intelligence it proved the potential of the Bombes to crack the German codes and sparked a concerted effort to gather new cribs and to mass produce the Bombe computers.

And the rest is, as they say, history.

Edit: The capture of a new 4 rotor naval Enigma machine was by another British destroyer, HMS Petard, on 30th October 1942 (after she in company with three other destroyers, a Sunderland flying boat and an ancient Wellesley patrol aircraft had spent 16 hours hunting and depth charging U-559 to the surface off the coast of Egypt – arguably a more important victory than the Battle of El Alamein which was going on at the same time not far away).

Two of three men who boarded the abandoned and sinking U-559 to retrieve the Enigma machine failed to get out before she sank, and were awarded the George Cross posthumously (the highest British honour for bravery not in the face of the enemy). The survivor, NAAFI canteen assistant Tommy Brown, received the George Medal (surely an inspiration to check-out clerks everywhere).

By that time Bletchley park was routinely reading the older 3 rotor Enigma machine messages (which were used by most of the German armed forces).

The first Enigma machine was ‘acquired’ by Polish intelligence in 1938 (by setting up a fake German arms company and ordering a civilian version!) and handed to British and French intelligence in 1939. The original machine was lost, but an accurate copy was reverse engineered from Polish drawings by Bletchley Park technicians.

HMS Griffin’s success was probably more important, as it proved the system and ensured it got high priority and funding, although cracking of the 4 rotor codes, using the improved Mammoth and ground breaking Colossus computers, certainly doomed the U-boats.

Incidentally, German documents uncovered after the war revealed that they were very concerned about the loss of the Polares, and that the possible discovery of Enigma codes may have revealed their plans for the invasion of France. However, as the codes she carried did not extend up to May, they thought they were safe (they were, as it took a little longer for Bletchley to crack the system wide open). However it did not occur to the German cryptographers to imagine that they might be used to help develop a system that could read most of their secret communications for the rest of the war.

EDIT 2: in answer to a good comment on why did it matter?, especially in relation to why Ultra did not improve allied intelligence in advance of the Market Garden operation and German Ardennes Offensive in 1944….

The Germans did not use radio messages encrypted by Enigma machines for communications within Germany. Instead they relied largely on the domestic landline network using teleprinters and telephones. Without radio messages to intercept Bletchley Park had nothing to work with. During the last stages of the war, this internal ‘phone based system was dominant as most Wehrmacht forces were based inside Germany, and this explains why Ultra intercepts were not available in useful quantities for Market Garden and the Ardennes Offensive.

Nevertheless, there are literally hundreds of occasions when Ultra helped the Allies gain the advantage in ways that contributed decisively to victory. For example Ultra intercepts were used to inform the Soviets about the exact German dispositions before the Battle of Kursk in the Summer of 1943, ensuring that Hitler lost the element of surprise and the Soviet defences were well prepared.

Planning for the Torch, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Normandy landings were all helped by Ultra as was Operation Cobra (the Normandy breakout), El Alamein and numerous Soviet victories. As you said it was decisive in the Battle of the Atlantic too, and breaking of the naval codes in late 1942 allowed Allied naval forces to rapidly defeat the U-boat threat in 1943. There were few allied operations between 1941–45 that were not assisted in some way by Ultra.

There were some occasions when good Ultra intelligence was not used – usually when concerns about protecting the source made Enigma intercepts difficult to distribute (cover stories about agents penetrating the Wehrmacht could only go so far), or when the distribution was so restricted that those who needed it most did not get access or mistrusted the intel provided (the Dieppe raid in 1942 is an example). As the system evolved and expanded, so did more effective distribution methods and greater user confidence in Ultra intelligence.

Ultra intelligence was shared with the USA (the US shared intelligence from its codebreakers in the Pacific in return), Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand and to some extent with the Soviets and Free French. The intelligence sharing arrangements for Ultra are the origin the modern “Five Eyes” system between the US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Man Discovers Fiancée Is No Saint And BLINDSIDES Her By Taking Back The Ring!

Why doesn’t Russia just use tactical nukes to stop the Kursk offensive?

Not needed

The Kursk offensive was elegant but ultimately a disaster as everything else

Imagine India invading and taking over large tracts of Pakistan and in exchange Pakistan captures 42 Rajasthani Villages across 5 Districts – 14 of which have already been liberated inside Five days with a minimum of 2500 Dead Enemy Soldiers and 150 pieces of equipment

The Ukraine supply line is cut off at SUMY where Russia is bombing FAB after FAB

This extends the Supply line from 7 Miles to 55 Miles

That alone means Ukraine cannot keep equipping their Soldiers who are in Kursk

This means Ukraine will send more troops across the Borders into Belgorod but again without supplies they will end up becoming TERRORISTS and holding hostages

Meanwhile Ukraine will leave their own territories where Russia will advance with impunity and capture more settlements and destroy more Ukrainian equipment and people

The Gamble was that Russia would be so worried about the loss of Civilian Lives in Kursk that they would immediately sue for peace

Unfortunately Russia is angrier now and regard Kursk as Terrorism against Civilians and will be even less determined for any peace

Yesterday 71% Russians voted on Telegram Groups to Kill Ukrainian women and Children against 8% on 30.06.2023 and 11% on 31.12.2023

It was a bungled offensive

You just don’t have the supply line to feed soldiers into Russia because Russians have Airpower and Artillery Power and Tank Strength

Plus they have the numbers

They can mobilize 200,000 Soldiers from their Reserves within a week

Ukraine is utterly exhausted and these are it’s BEST RESERVE TROOPS who are getting sliced into salami in Kursk

Why use Nukes?

Bronco Billy | 1980 | Clint Eastwood | movie review

Is Joe Biden Trying To Start World War 3 Before He Leaves Office? The Decision To Use Long-Range Missiles To Strike Targets Deep Inside Russia Is Insane

November 17, 2024 by Michael

As if everything that Joe Biden has done so far was not enough, now he has decided to push us to the brink of nuclear war. On Sunday, Joe Biden decided to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the United States to hit targets deep inside of Russia. This is a bombshell. I don’t know how else to put it. The Russians have already warned us how they will respond if long-range missiles provided by the United States and other NATO countries start raining down on their cities. Sadly, most Americans have no idea what a direct conflict with Russia would mean.

When I first heard what Joe Biden had done, I reacted very emotionally.

I am still feeling very emotional at this moment.

Everyone needs to clearly understand what just happened, because this is a major turning point…

President Biden has given the OK to lift restrictions that will allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News on Sunday. The move is a significant change to U.S. policy in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The easing of restrictions would allow Kyiv to use the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to hit targets inside Russia. The move also comes as some 10,000 North Korean troops were sent to Kursk near Ukraine’s northern border to help Russian forces retake territory.

One of the reasons why I am so upset is because this wasn’t his decision to make.

We just had an election and his side lost.

The American people elected a leader that wants to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, but now Joe Biden is trying to make sure that nobody is going to be able to end this war.

According to CBS News, one of the reasons why this decision was made was to “put Kyiv in a better negotiating position when and if peace talks happen”…

The U.S. decision could help Ukraine at a moment when Russian forces appear to be making gains and could put Kyiv in a better negotiating position when and if peace talks happen.

It also comes as Mr. Biden is about to leave office and President-elect Trump has pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and ending the war as soon as possible.

Are you kidding me?

That is nonsense.

Donald Trump needs to come forward immediately and denounce this move, because we could be facing a scenario where events spiral out of control before he even has the opportunity to take office.

When Vladimir Putin was asked about the possibility that long-range missiles provided by the U.S. could soon be used to hit targets deep inside Russia, he responded by warning that such a move would mean that “U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia”…

“We are not talking about allowing or not allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons,” Putin said Thursday in comments to propagandist Pavel Zarubin. “We are talking about deciding whether NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict or not.”

“This will mean that NATO countries, the U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia,” Putin said. “And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.”

Joe Biden just called Putin’s bluff.

We just crossed that red line, and there is no going back.

Now we will see if Putin was bluffing or not.

Later in September, Vladimir Putin explained that a “joint attack on the Russian Federation” could trigger the use of nuclear weapons…

A new nuclear doctrine would “clearly set the conditions for Russia to transition to using nuclear weapons,” he warned – and said such scenarios included conventional missile strikes against Moscow.

He said that Russia would consider such a “possibility” of using nuclear weapons if it detected the start of a massive launch of missiles, aircraft and drones into its territory, which presented a “critical threat” to the country’s sovereignty.

He added: “It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation.”

The Russians have told us that allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles deep into their territory could cause a nuclear war.

But Joe Biden did it anyway.

Just imagine how we would feel if some foreign power was firing long-range missiles into Washington D.C. and New York City.

If someone did that to us, we would nuke them.

I want everyone out there to understand the gravity of the scenario that we are facing.

Of course the Russians have been escalating matters as well.

In fact, they just hit targets all over Ukraine using “120 missiles and almost 100 drones”…

Ukraine said it would introduce nationwide emergency power restrictions Monday after a “massive” Russian attack further damaged its already fragile energy grid ahead of a much-feared winter, with nine civilians also killed across the country on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow launched 120 missiles and almost 100 drones, targeting Kyiv as well as southern, central and far-western corners of the country.

Civilians were killed in the Mykolaiv, Lviv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions in what officials in the capital called one of the biggest barrages in the almost three-year Russian invasion.

Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East threatens to spiral completely out of control.

On Sunday, Zero Hedge was reporting that Israeli troops were seen fighting at a location that is 3 miles north of the Lebanese border…

The Israeli military has reached the deepest point in Lebanon since the ground offensive began about six weeks ago. This has been reported by both Lebanese and Israeli media, amid raging battles with Hezbollah on Saturday.

“The state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli troops temporarily captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Shamaa, about five kilometers (3 miles) from the border early Saturday, before later being pushed back,” Israeli media reports. “The outlet claimed soldiers detonated several buildings including a shrine before they withdrew.”

The IDF has also been bombing Syria on an almost daily basis, and we are waiting for the next Iranian attack on Israel which could literally occur at any moment.

Even though we could see these wars coming way in advance, nobody has been able to stop them.

Now Joe Biden has brought us to the brink of nuclear war with Russia even though he has very little time remaining in the White House.

It was not his decision to make, but he made it anyway, and it could end up having very serious implications for every man, woman and child on the entire planet.

Some AI lessons on MM image generation

It took me a while to figure out, but these images of people with this thing out of their mouths is what the AI interprets as “drinking”.

It also has a problem with size relevance.

@@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(10)

Changing the AI model can result in dramatic changes in the resulting picture… Some are good, and some aren’t.

Here’s one AI model …

##Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(13)

And here is a different AI model…

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(18)

If you are not careful, all the individuals will look like clones…

ORB Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(15)

I really like how it creates backgrounds, but you MUST be specific for a background to be generated… some fantastical backgrounds come with undesirable subject matter.

BG Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(19)

It does seem to have a problem with sheer and wet clothing. Only generating edges, and ignoring the rest. Which is interesting, but not what I am looking for.

Sheer Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(20)

Sometimes, it looks fine. But the AI really has a problem with hands; number of fingers, and left vrs right…

Imperfect Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(9)

The fellow on the left is using a right hand on his left arm. Though the girl seems to be just ok.

Nothing worse than an extra arm to throw off the art…

#Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(11)

Why does some of the world not recognize the United States as the “good guys” in most situations, when they have been consistently trying to spread democracy around the world?

Here is the story of a democracy.

The Prime Minister of this country refused to allow a British oil company to control this nation’s oil reserves. He wanted the oil to benefit his people, he was an elected representative after all.

In response, the British boycotted this nation and asked the Americans for help.

The determination was to over throw this nation’s government. The CIA helped design a coup to overthrow this democratic government [1].

And the CIA succeeded and installed a dictator who was beholden to the United States to stay in power.

Now obviously this nation wasn’t thrilled about this and 26 years later the people of this nation protested and ended up successfully overthrowing this dictator to form a theocratic republic.

Since then, the US has flirted with the idea of going to war with this nation.

This nation: Iran

Yes, the US created the Iran we know today because the US installed a dictator.

The US does this stuff all the time, the US overthrew a government over the price of bananas [2].

The US supports 73% of the world’s dictators [3] .

The US does not spread democracy, the US supports people who support the agenda of American imperialism even if that is a dictator.

Also the US created the issues we have with Iran, so it is hilarious when Presidents complain about their ‘behavior’ because it was the United States that created the problem to begin it with interventionism… yet chuckleheads in the White House seem to think further interventionism is the answer.

Footnotes

[1] CIA Confirms Role in 1953 Iran Coup

[2] 1954 Guatemalan coup d’état – Wikipedia

[3] US Provides Military Assistance to 73 Percent of World’s Dictatorships

I can’t get a job to save my life (1500+ applications) | Tech 2024

Have you ever returned from the store and realized that the cashier did not scan one of your items?

Once, I bought a multi-roll package of toilet paper. I had it on the bottom of my shopping cart, on the little shelf. I told the cashier it was down there. She rang up my purchases, I left the store and went home. Later I was looking over my receipt, and noticed that the toilet paper wasn’t on there. She hadn’t scanned it.

That little devil sitting on my shoulder said, “Well, consider it your lucky day”. But the little angel on the other shoulder said, “You know you have to do the right thing”. So the next day I trooped down to the store with the toilet paper and my receipt and stood in line at the customer service desk. When it was my turn, I told the cashier what had happened, and she said that she wasn’t going to charge me for the toilet paper. She said that by then, the cashier’s drawer (the one who checked me out) had been counted and put in the days receipts.

So I took my toilet paper home and lived happily ever after.

Another time, I bought a weedeater for my husband. He told me exactly which one to buy, and it was on sale. So I go and find the weedeater and buy it, and take it home. When I got home, and looked it over, I realized that it was a much, much nicer weedeater than the one on sale had been. I realized I had been pretty drastically undercharged. So, I called the store and told them what had happened and that I would take it back and get the one on sale.

So that’s what I did. It was a small Mom and Pop business, and they were decent people. I couldn’t take them like that. They were appreciative, and gave me a little gift certificate.

Husband comes home from work, we’re talking about the weedeater, and I tell him what had occurred. He was furious with me. He said I was stupid to take the expensive weedeater back, when I could have just played dumb. And then he would have a better heavy duty weedeater. It caused a big argument between us. I tried not to, but I lost a little bit of respect for my husband over his attitude regarding that weedeater.

I was raised to do the right thing. To do my best to be an honorable person. I have failed miserably many times, I know. But I like to sleep at night, and I like to have a clear conscience as much as possible. So I try to do the right thing. Simple as that.

ANXIOUS Arrival In Shanghai, China 🇨🇳 This Country SHOCKED ME! 英国人抵达中国上海

Will Boeing ever return to a time that their commercial aircraft was the gold standard of the airline industry?

Can they? Yes, there are lottery winners every week.

But will they? Unlikely, and even if they do, it’s a long slog ahead.

Boeing can’t catch a break, not since the first 737 max crash.

A string of troubles later, Boeing has bled immense quantities of cash, but finds itself in a QC mess, road map delays, a stuck starliner in space, union troubles, legal and fed oversight issues and one 737 Max crash from the mother of all PR storms.

Evidently, boeing has big problems executing as an engineering and manufacturing firm.

Unfortunately, Boeing is a no-option too big to fail node. The American government will step in to save it. And molly coddling will help Boeing stay up but hardly improve its competitiveness.

The culture needs to change. Unfortunately, financialization and cheap credit has played havoc with American competitiveness in the 21st century. Hard engineering is too slow for quick money’s taste.

Twenty years ago, pilots preferred Boeing’s yoke for its sense of familiarity. Today, airbus’s sidestick has revolutionized the cockpit’s ergonomics and workflow, introducing class-leading safety while reducing pilot workload.

Boeing has its work cut out, especially with the emergence of comac.

I am of the opinion Boeing’s economic model is too extravagant and there is too much fat in the supply chain. But it will require the competition to lay bare the fact customers are paying too much for what they are getting.

But that’s 20 years down the road, due to the product life cycles of airliners.

I wish Boeing luck. It is unlikely to disappear, but I won’t be surprised if it weakens further.

Shorpy

The Truth About China |老外眼中真实的中国

What impact will Russia’s defeat have on China?

Let me tell you the truth, all Chinese people believe that if Russia fails, China will also fail, because the US will use Russia as a springboard to invade China. We won’t let that happen.

Don’t think the defeat of both Russia and China is a good thing. You in front of the screen are actually standing in the same position as us.

Here’s the history about your economy.

On August 15, 1945, when Japan unconditionally accepted the Potsdam Declaration and surrendered, and the world finally moved towards peace.

That was also the beginning of the golden age that MAGAs believe in.

Five years later in 1950, Washington DC announced the completion of its industrialization goals. In order to address the vested interests of the military class and become a world hegemon, the Washington DC launched the Cold War against the USSR. In order to ensure that Europe and East Asia were on the same front as itself, the government launched the Marshall Plan in 1947, transferring industry to allied European countries around the USSR, plus Japan, South Korea, and so on.

Washington asked, and Moscow answered.

The USSR provided comprehensive social security from cradle to grave, including free healthcare, education, housing, and employment security. As a result, Washington expanded its Social Security Act, Americans had Medicare and Medicaid at the first time. Assistance for low-income groups, housing plans, and strengthening public education, all of them was made during the cold war. The last time oligarchs gave such preferential treatment to workers was at Ford Motor Company in 1914, half a year before WWI.

The policy of the Washington DC towards the Moscow benefited the American workers, however there’s a flaw of the US itself: the social welfare system pushed the pressure to capitalists, and American domestic capital flee and become international capital. Industrial hollowing began from then on. Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea rose later, at the cost of the Rust Belt in the Great Lakes region. The 1960s. The end of the golden age.

But that was far from over.

If the existence of the USSR cannot make you realize what you have gained because of it, at least the departure of the USSR may make you realize what you have lost. With the collapse of the USSR, American capital was no longer under pressure, and labor welfare plummeted.

Companies led by Wal Mart began to actively reduce workers’ wages and welfare benefits. Despite ongoing inflation in the US, its minimum wage for labor remained at $5.15 per hour from 1997 to 2007. Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1996 forced low-income workers to choose unstable jobs, people no longer have sufficient welfare. Right to Work Laws drived workers away from the union, making the union no longer represent the interests of workers, but gradually become a dual rival between companies and workers. The limit of industrial hollowing out is marked by NAFTA and China joining WTO.

The rich took too much, and the poor had no ability to buy. enterprises went bankrupt. Financial crisis, again and again.

The USSR brought American workers the golden age. The USSR also protected them staying in the golden age. When the USSR left, American workers became orphans abandoned by the government. The irony is that few American workers appreciate the USSR. They would rather believe that it is the kindness and conscience of the wealthy who have brought them a superior life, than believe in the common beliefs and struggles of millions of people.

Now take a look at China. We have achieved a living standard similar to or even higher than yours with resources far below the world average and per capita GDP on the world average – as you can see from the expected life expectancy.

Look at history and ask yourself. If no country in the world can resist the capitalist oligarchy of the US, after the popularization of AI and industrial robots, as manual laborers, what bargaining chips do you have to negotiate with them?

Or, let me ask in a different way, how much longer do you have to wait before you will fight for your own life rather than relying on others’ efforts? The clock of average people is ticktocking, since the popularization of industrial robots will be realized in your lifetime.

I FINALLY GOT A JOB! (1-year search | Tech 2024)

How does India get benefits if the world starts a war with China and Tibet gets independence?

The fact is, India is an expansionist country. They make every possible excuse to enlarge their territory.

As a Nepalese, I know it as a fact that Indian politicians have always dreamed of making Nepal an Indian state. Many Indians themselves do not know about it. They come to us and warn us to be careful about China. However, I’ve never met any Chinese who told us to beware of India.

That is why Nepalese people don’t support the Free Tibet Movement. If we don’t have a strong neighbor that can challenge India, we’re gone for good.

Personally, I’d rather Nepal be a part of China (because I am a Tibetan by ethnicity). I see nothing in common between my people and the Indians. Last I checked, Indians are as poor as us. Why would we want to join a poor nation? Why would anyone want to join a poor nation? I think what Indians need to do is develop their economy and infrastructure first. While they are at it, they should stop telling us how to run our country and whom to be careful about. We like China more because they did just that.

Lastly, some Nepalese people love India. That can’t be denied. However, we all hate the Indian media complex. Those people have no class at all. I’d rather appreciate if freedom of speech is suppressed in India. Thank you China for doing just that.

What happened in a courtroom that gave the judge a belly laugh you will never forget?

A true story of 40 years ago, with all parties dead now so it doesn’t matter:

Back when I was a child, my parents were friends with one of our neighbors. This lady — to this day — has my utmost respect as she had a command of the English Language that was put a drunken sailor to shame! Her insults, curses, and epitaphs were utterly astonishing as she’d put adverbs and adjectives that one would never expect together to form mind-boggling descriptive vulgarity for any common situation.

As was her nature, not everyone could handle her brash attitude and obscene vocabulary, so she ended up in court with the neighbor on the other side of the road from us. We went to watch the precedings, and all started out well and good — right up until the point where the other woman started to speak.

Her accuser said something quietly and abashedly, like: “Umm.. She threatened to hurt me and my kids…”

To which point, my mom’s good friend slammed her fist on the podium and yelled, “I OBJECT!! She’s lying, your honor! I told that GI-Gangbanged bitch that if her unsolicited mistake of Satan’s substance ever fucked around with my girl again, I was going to knock the bastard graveyard dead, bake his balls in a pie, and serve it to her for dinner!”

A moment of silence followed. Everyone blinked stupidity to process out outrageous her outburst was, and then chuckles filled the courtroom.

Brash. Yep!

Descriptive. Yep.

But a liar? Not one bit!!

Cost of living in Da Nang, Vietnam (World’s cheapest Country)

Why do Chinese trolls always fantasize that Japan and South Korea are American colonies? How can we cure their delusions?

Some 80% of Japan land is used as US military bases.

When you have foreign military base in your country, you lose 1/2 of your strategic sovereignty. If this is not colonisation, what is it?

Only people in denial will say Japan is not a US colony. Same for S Korea.

Do you know who wrote Japan’s constitution? U S A after WW2.

More, Japanese emperor used to be worshiped as god’s agent. After WW2, USA made Japanese emperor to tell Japanese that he was a man & not god. … If Japan was & is not a US colony, what is it?

I can tell you more but let us talk about 2024.

US Treasury secy Yellen made Japan buy US debt (China did not buy any). When Japan sold US debts to save its economy, Yellen warned Japan not to interfere the free market. … Japan cannot decide for itself. If this is not a colony, what is it?

Not fixable

Today’s MM work

I’m not that pleased with the results for today. I’m trying to perfect the form, but somethings are missing. I need more refinement.

Here’s the key elements of the prompt;

Create a anatomically-accurate, photo realistic, Baroque-style oil painting. 

Four different and unique Thailand women are facing Bacchus and proudly anointed . end of the day entering dusk on a very hot Summer. 

dramatic. theatrical. expressive faces showing emotions. facing a stone portal to another land; a lush land, with pastoral and tropical settings and wonder. 

they approach the camera with anticipation and expressions of great interest. 

they are yearning and full of desire facing the camera, and presenting themselves is a pleasing manner. 

motherly handsome women who would make great mothers. anointed by cupid

The images generated are mostly nudes, which isn’t really what I asked for, but the Baroque-style oil painting is overwhelmingly nudes historically.

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(26)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(27)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(25)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(23)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(19)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(16)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(15)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(9)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(9)

Here’s some men for a change…

I really like this one…

This one is even better…

This is also good…

Why Everyone Is Quitting The 40 Hour Work Week

This is a brilliant video. It really is.

Bye bye USA.

SpaghettiOs

Kids will love this homemade version of a favorite canned pasta.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

1 (26 ounce) can tomato sauce
3 cups water
1 cup milk
2 cups Cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
8 ounces ditalini or pasta of choice, uncooked

Instructions

In a large pot mix together the sauce, water and milk. Bring to a boil.
When it reaches a bowl, stir in the cheese and turn it down to a simmer. Continue to stir until the cheese is melted.
Add the garlic and stir.
Pour in the uncooked pasta. Simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally during the first 5 to 6 minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Check the pasta after 20 minutes, if it’s not as soft as you would like, cook it a little longer. Sauce will thicken even more over time.

Punny

Is Xi Xing Ping really a wonderful, loving, and supportive leader?

Yes, Donald Trump is a great leader. I don’t like America but I like Donald Trump. He has charisma. He has a story. He’s honest, and it’s clear that many Americans adore him.

Xi is different. While Trump has an American and capitalist story, Xi’s story is different. He has an Asian story. He went through the most important and tumultuous period of modern China. While Trump’s story is about making profits, Xi’s story is about China’s struggle.

Mao Zedong taught the Chinese people to be unite. Deng Xiaoping taught the Chinese people to prosper. Xi, on his part, taught the Chinese people to be proud of China.

Unlike American presidents who rarely interact with their own but poor citizens, Xi visits every corner of China. He communicates with the villagers of China, sits with them, and participates in the activities of a Chinese person’s daily life. He makes the Chinese people feel like the government cares for them. He empathizes with them. He champions the spirit of ordinary men. In contrast, Trump champions the spirit of capitalism and profit.

Xi visited the Tibetan Autonomous Region and many Tibetans gathered to welcome him. He even said “Tashi Delek” at the end, which has won him countless Tibetan fans.

Also, the US is helping him. To make a complete story, there must be a villain whom the hero must fight. The US is the villain, who the world knows is corrupted beyond redemption. Xi himself never chose to fight. He is forced to fight, so that has won him support from around the world.

So. In conclusion, Xi is not the leader China needs but the leader the world needs. After a thousand years, people will talk about our time. They will refer to our period as “China’s revival”. The man they will talk most about is not Trump but Xi.

A friendly contest

What is the saddest thing a casino dealer has seen at their table?

The saddest? A two way tie.

A kid in his early 20’s gains access to a trust fund his grandparents set up for him. Six hours into my shift his mother is behind him begging him to come home before he wastes everything at the table, tears and all. He calls security over to remove her from the area for harassing him. Sadly, he is technically correct, and security escorts the mother from the area. Congrats kid, you lost your future and your parent in one night at the tables.

Second was a 30 something female playing way above her head. No strategy, no quit. Wouldn’t take advice from me because “you work for the house”. She loses about 2-3,000, and goes straight to the ATM. Foxwoods ATMs charge $4 for every transaction, up to $400 per. She has $2,000. Ten minutes later, she’s in tears telling everyone she just gambled away the mortgage, and her husband is going to leave her. She leaves less than an hour before my shift ends. On my way home traffic is unusually heavy (5am mind you) and I see why. Distraught, she was walking along route 2 and decided to step in front of a bus. I found out it was her the next day.

Kay final scene

Why would Shanghai, a poor city in China, compare itself with New York?

For a poor city, it has the world’s largest metro system. 20 lines and counting. Completely safe. No drunks, homeless or druggies in sight.

Shanghai has the only commercial maglev train, allowing you to travel from the airport to the city center in 8 minutes. It travels at speeds over 400 km an hour.

You never need to look over your shoulder for your own safety. Even at 3:00 am you can walk the streets without fear.

You can eat anything your heart desires. From inexpensive street food all the way to Michelin Starred restaurants.

You never see traffic congestion because the city uses advanced smartcity technology so traffic moves very smoothly.

Your question should be why would New York, a poor and unsafe city, compare itself to Shanghai?

I’ve been to both cities. Have you ever visited Shanghai?

What’s the shortest amount of time you’ve stayed at a job and why did you quit?

Not me. But someone hired in my office.

Years ago I worked at a management consulting firm in Austin. It was an awful place to work. Ridiculous hours, bad management, and nepotism lead to an extremely high stress environment. Most of the employees had advanced degrees, but because of the horrible work environment, no one stuck around for more than a few months.

One morning, several of us got on the elevator with a new person, who pressed the button for the our floor. Someone asked if she was going to work for “XYZ.” “Yes,” she happily chirped. Everyone groaned. “You really don’t want to do that,” said one of the analysts. Everyone else nodded agreement.

We reach our floor. Everyone except her gets off. She stands in the doorway for a second. “Nope,” she says, and presses the button for the lobby.

A few hours later, the boss comes into a room where several of us are working. “Where’s the new girl? She was supposed to start today.”

“She quit.”

“What! When?”

“In the elevator.”

The boss looks at us and growls, “Shit! What did you say to her?!!!”

Bronco Billy – Final Scene

What are some interesting/funny facts about medieval France and Spain?

During the 100 Years War, the French countryside was devastated, lawless and full of unburied corpses. It was a paradise for wolves.

“In all the lowlands of the Loire, the sheep were gone — devoured, destroyed. The cattle that were left were herded by peasants and defended with such weapons as were at hand. By night, they were safe corralled in barns or high stockades.”

People did not dare to venture outdoors at night, when the wolves would prowl village streets, killing any man or animal they found. Outside of Paris was a piece of rugged ground that had been cleared of trees. The wolves made it their home.

“Here it was known that many wolves had their dens, and each year new litters of cubs were born, to be a terror on the roads that led to the great city. It was many generations before the place was cleaned up; and the only memory of its savage denizens left today is the name, the same but shortened, that attaches to the place – the Louvre.”

The wolf king, leader of the pack, was a huge wolf called Courtaud (“Bobtail”) who led a small army of wolves in raids on herds of sheep and cattle. When the herdsmen tried to defend their animals, they were killed too, and soon Courthaud developed a taste for human flesh.

The Dubois family, bringing their sheep to market, took the precaution of putting them in a horse-drawn cart decked out with bells, tin pans and other noisemakers, but it didn’t help. They were overwhelmed by wolves. All three were killed and eaten. After that, the wolves would only eat people, leaving behind the sheep and cattle.

For a time, English longbowmen kept the road to Paris open, but then they were withdrawn, and the city was effectively besieged by wolves. In the hard winter of 1439, there was so much snow that neither wolves nor men could find food. Parisians retreated behind their walls and listened to hungry wolves howling outside.

But the walls were not secure. There was a gap between the iron grate at the river and the frozen river itself. The wolves came through and ran through the streets, killing 14 people before retreating.

The captain of the city guard, Boisselier, was fed up. He ordered cattle to be slaughtered in the town square and left there. The smell of blood attracted the wolves who again rushed into the city, but this time, they were cornered and killed with arrows and stones. That was the end of Courtaud, but wolves remained a terror to the countryside for many years.

Why did the northern nomadic barbarians who once invaded China all became assimilated into the Chinese culture?

Classic joke:

What would happen if Russia invaded China?

On the first day: One million Chinese surrendered to Russia

The next day: Two million Chinese surrendered to Russia

The next day: Three million Chinese surrendered to Russia

The next day: Four million Chinese surrendered to Russia

……

Russia ultimately achieved victory,and Russia changed its name to China and announced that Russians are the 57th ethnic minority in China

Imagine you are a war lord riding a warhorse, wielding a sword, and possessing a thousand cows

You suddenly became the emperor of a place called China

You became the emperor because the original emperor here was too foolish.

You have recruited your loyal Prime Minister, and you have decided to establish your own dynasty and civilization.

You: I want the people here to use new language!

Prime Minister: Sorry, the people here use language that is longer than the history of your tribe. If you replace their language, the entire country’s system will collapse，Great emperor, you don’t want your tax order to be passed on to people thousands of kilometers away, but theybelieve it’s just a piece of paper filled with mysterious symbols

You: I want them to wear my clothes!

Prime Minister: Your clothes are only suitable for the environment on the grasslands… Look, here are deserts, grasslands, snow capped mountains, plains, oceans

You: I want them to eat my food.

Prime Minister: Sir, even you are unwilling to eat your food. Their food is much more delicious. I guess you, who live on the grassland, haven’t studied the methods of shark fin and sea cucumber

You: I want them to accept our culture.

Prime Minister: Really? Do you want your people to learn from your culture of conquest and war, rather than their traditional conservative and submissive culture? The previous emperor here finally taught his people to obey the emperor’s orders. Do you really want to teach them how to conquer and overthrow the emperor like you do?

You: I want them to read our book!

Prime Minister: Hmm… You’ve been busy fighting and don’t seem to have many books. Even if they do, they can’t understand them, and they have tens of millions of books

You: I want them to live in my house!

Prime Minister: Are you serious… Do you want to move out of this magnificent palace and live in your tent full of horse manure?

You: Damn it, why do they have such a long history!

Prime Minister: My Emperor, you see, the region where these people live is bordered by deserts and plateau snow capped mountains to the west, mountains and seas to the south, and only the ocean to the east. In this natural fortress, in ancient times, we on the grasslands were the only threat to this civilization, unless a group of people can invent airplanes and warships in the future to destroy this fortress.

But before that, this civilization could exist freely in this fortress for thousands of years… Of course, this also limited their desire to explore the sky and sea too much, so in the future your dynasty will be severely kick ass by a group of white skinned guys – and they will blame you, the ruler of another ethnic group.

You: so…… how did we conquer this country

Prime Minister: As you can see, living in this country, if you are an emperor who has everything you want, it is difficult not to become an idiot,Just like your future children, they have never experienced your efforts and hardships in conquering a country. Under our foolish feudal system, they will soon become addicted to pleasure, after all, there are much more fun here than on the grassland,Otherwise, why did that crazy giant Mongol Empire ultimately choose to stay here and establish the Yuan Dynasty

You: Then I can let them change to my hairstyle, right

Prime Minister: Of course… but the cost is that hundreds of years later they will still use this as one of the reasons why you are a tyrant… and countless rebels will use it as an excuse to rebel against you

You:there are always some of them willing to accept all of the above!

Prime Minister: Indeed, so future museums will have information about your artifacts

You: I’m going to kill them all!!!!

Prime Minister: Really? You killed them, who will give you a gorgeous house, delicious food, beautiful women, and a group of men willing to cut their own dick to serve you? Are you really willing to give up such a beautiful life and spend the rest of your life killing and fearing being assassinated

You: I choose to join them

Prime Minister: So, enjoy your brief imperial life, at most for a few hundred years they will take everything away, and you will fall in love with the life here and become a minority of China, If a snake swallows an elephant – it will only transform itself into the shape of an elephant, What you can kill is only the emperor, not this huge civilization

you see, these people are all native Chinese now

Men Are RELAXING As It All Collapses

Has it ever happened where someone acting as their own attorney ever worked out, they did a great job and got themselves off the hook?

Not exactly an “off the hook” situation, but I did go to court against an attorney and won.

The high school my youngest son attended denied him entry into the National Honor Society, even though he fit every bit of the criteria. It seems he was “black balled” by one or two of his teachers over personal grudges. I looked up the rules for admission to the society and found that black balling was forbidden. I asked to see the votes and vote tally records. I was told I was not allowed to see them. So, I filed a FOIA suit against the school.

A couple of days after filing the papers, I got a call from their “high-powered” attorney from our state capital. He wanted contact info for my lawyer. I told him I didn’t have a lawyer. He told me to get him the contact info when I hired my lawyer. I told him I had no intention of hiring a lawyer.

He then tried to bully me by telling me there was no possible way I could win, and that I would have to pay the school for his attorney fees. I ignored his threat and ended the conversation.

About 4 days before the hearing was set, the attorney called me again. He asked again for my attorney. I again told him I had none, and had no intention of getting one. Same old bullying started again. I ignored it again.

The day before the hearing, he called again and asked if we could just settle this. I declined.

The day of the hearing, I met this attorney at the courthouse. He entered the courtroom before I did, and introduced himself to the judge. As I entered, I looked at the judge and said, “Hi, Jim.” He responded with, “Hi, Eric.” I could see the attorney’s face, and the look was priceless. As the old saying goes, he didn’t know whether to shit or go blind.

I prevailed in my suit and the school was told they were required to give me the info. They said they didn’t have it. It must have gotten discarded. I pointed out to them that the National Honor Society rules required them to keep the information for at least 12 months. I let them know that I could contact the society and have them drop the entire school from their program for breaking this rule, with the implication that they were still allowing black balling of students. I received some apologies and promises that they would read the rules and follow them in the future.

My son was inducted into NHS the following year.

By the way, I had been denied membership in NHS by the same school some thirty or so years earlier. I didn’t complain. Even though I was valedictorian, they were correct in not inducting me. I was too ornery to fit the mold. My son did fit, it was just that a couple of teachers didn’t like him.

NEIGHBORS HATED THE COLOR OF MY HOUSE AND REPAINTED IT WHILE I WAS AWAY — I WAS ENRAGED & TOOK MY REVENGE.

My house is on a corner lot. Two years ago, a newlywed couple moved in next door and immediately made weird comments about my house’s yellow color. Soon, they outright DEMANDED I paint it a different color. My house has always been yellow; I love it, and there’s no rule against it.

They called the police and the city on me, but both told them to back off since I hadn’t done anything wrong. They even tried suing me (the suit got tossed, and they had to pay my legal fees) and attempted to rally our neighbors to form an HOA to force me to repaint. Our neighbors told them to get lost, so now they’re alienated by everyone.

I had to go out of town for two weeks, and when I got back, my house was GRAY. I almost drove past it because I’m so used to my yellow house. The neighbor from across the street came over and showed me pictures he took of the painting company setting up and doing the work. He and another neighbor called the police, but the painting company had a valid work order and had been paid, so the police couldn’t do anything.

It seemed everything done to my house was legal and no damage was done. But I was enraged and planned my revenge. Next day, I… repainted it yellow.

Putin TV Address: “Entitled to Strike” Nations Giving Weapons to Ukraine

Hal Turner World November 21, 2024

“Russia considers itself entitled to use (hypersonic) weapons against facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against Russian facilities.”

Those are the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin in televised remarks today from the Kremlin in Moscow. Here is a brief video showing him making the announcement:

NUCLEAR ATTACK WARNINGS TRIGGERED THIS MORNING!

Russia’s ICBM launch at Ukraine this morning triggered early warning systems – – – and such launches are, by default, assumed to be nuclear. So for a short time, the US and Europe thought Russia was nuking Ukraine.

They only knew that it was not nuclear by checking to see if the city of Dnipro was still physically there after the impacts.

Essentially, If Russia decides to nuke Ukraine … the west will watch because they can do nothing other than that.

Second important thing to note: Russia has proven that it can deliver a conventional or nuclear payload to any place without a problem.

Which brings us back to President Putin’s address to his nation just hours ago . . . . NATO member countries have already supplied weapons being used to strike Russia. Among those weapons have been: Tanks, Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Rockets, Missiles, Speed-Boat-Bombs, and Drones.

The United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and other nations have long ago provided such weapons that have been – and still are – used to attack interior Russia.

That Russia has now announced they are “entitled” to strike seems the clearest indication yet that utterly massive escalation is coming in very short order. Not necessarily in Ukraine, but on the territories of the countries who have been supplying weapons.

Hal Turner Analysis

Today’s use by Russia of an ICBM against Ukraine, albeit with only conventional explosives, should make clear to any RATIONAL person that the next step would be to use those same missiles with nuclear warheads.

There is no other RATIONAL interpretation possible!

Will the collective West see reality for what it is, or are they so immersed in their own echo chamber, that reality can no longer penetrate?

It seems to me that if the collective West does not stop what it’s doing with Ukraine, Russia is going to strike. VERY soon. Maybe before Thanksgiving.

For the almost three years that this Russia-Ukraine Conflict has gone on, I have implored readers of this website, and listeners to my radio show to get prepared: Emergency food, water, medicines you need to live on, a way to cook without electricity or utility-supplied gas, a way to heat your home without utilities (Fireplace, wood-burning stove, etc.). I have urged folks to get a generator and have spare fuel stored outside, to run that generator, to keep your refrigerators running and maybe a light on in the house. I have recommended a flashlight in every room of your home, or at least one for each family member, with plenty of spare batteries for those flashlights. I have recommended a portable AM/FM/SW radio for local news and info and spare batteries for those portable radios. I have urged people to get COMMUNICATIONS Gear, a CB, HAM, or GMRS radio, so they can communicate locally if everything goes down. I have advised folks to get a FIRST-AID KIT for minor cuts and bruises, or, God Forbid, major war wounds.

Now that an ICBM has actually been fired in Combat for the first time in Human History, a threshold has been crossed. Things go downhill VERY FAST from here.

If you don’t have the prepping items I mentioned above, you are totally screwed.

Please, I IMPLORE YOU, get “prepped” right now. Today. As best you can. There seems to be very little time remaining before you will need those preps.

8 hard truths I learned after 8 years living in Japan…

American Corporate Cost Savings

In the late 1980’s and entering into the 1990’s there were all sorts of cost saving efforts undertaken by the corporate clowns running the companies. Some were truly curious, interesting and astounding.

When I worked at <name redacted>, they had replaced the roll toilet paper dispensers with a “public toilet” type. This was a cam based locking mechanism that only permitted one toilet paper sheet at a time. Oh! My! God!

Talk about getting everyone upset and hot and bothered. It was so frustrating that people started to bring their own toilet paper to work. And to compensate for using their own personal toilet paper stash, the employees started to steal pens, pencils, and erasers. It got so bad that there was a meeting about this, and the owner came in to explain why it was necessary to do this.

As a result of that meeting, some new changes were implemented.

A new parking space next to the front door for the owner to use, and no one else.
Removing the water fountains, and replacing it with a vending machine that sold ice cold bottled water.
Removal of the free coffee in the office.
An expansion of the hours at the company canteen so that people can buy coffee during the work-hours.
Removal of department bonuses, but they were replaced with a coupon system. You can advocate or recommend someone to get a “atta-boy” coupon. Each coupon is worth one free cup of coffee at the company canteen.

Look, as I get older, all this seems so trivial. Why fight for pennies, when the bosses get hundreds of thousands of dollars in a yearly bonus?

So this period of time is now in “hush” mode. Not too much is written about this time. Maybe a rare movie or two, and that is about it.

But, I won’t forget.

And let’s all learn from these mistakes and adapt. What do you say?

Today…

Isn’t it time the UK ignored what China wants and formally recognised Taiwan?

UK can try & see what will happen.

I bet, I bet, UK wont dare!!!

In the Paris Olympics, Taiwan separatists got warned by French guards/police. Below were few incidents.

1, In 1 stadium, one (Taiwanese?) woman stood on the stairs & held a green banner with Taiwan island on it. French guards/police warned the woman. She ignored warning. A man grabbed the banner from the woman in front of the guard/police & left.

2, In another occasion, a French guard/police grabbed a white & green banner from Taiwanese (?) sitting in the stadium. During struggle, French guard/police tore the banner.

In both cases, Taiwanese separatists dared not do anything against the guards/police.

See, France follows thru the ONE China policy & suppresses social nuisance caused by Taiwan independence.

Of course, these are Taiwanese (?) are actors who are paid to put up a theatrical show. These people only talked tough on the mouth, & held a banner. But facing a guard/police, they are chickens.

Back to UK. UK under Sunak was a US puppet. Like Taiwanese, Sunak talked tough to stage a theatrical show to its puppet master. When comes to action, I do not see anything concrete.

Dont be fooled by politicians’ tough talk; it is just a show.

Have the police just shown up to your door unexpectedly?

Yes, this happened quite a few years ago before cell phones were as popular as they are today.

We had just came back from the store where we had purchased a new set of wireless phones. For some reason my wife wanted me to program 911 as speed dial number 1. I read the instructions, made a number of attempts and determined it wasn’t working. A few minutes later the doorbell rang along with a definite knock. I could see through the glass door it was a couple of officers. One was at the door while the other was a few steps behind him with his hand resting on his firearm.

I opened the door and the lead officer said that there were a number of 911 calls with hangups and they were sent to investigate. I explained about the attempts at programming the phones and he asked if they could come in to see the phone. I let them in and showed them the phone. About that time my wife came into the room to see what was going on. Upon seeing the two officers she was a little surprised. The situation was explained to her and we bid the officers a good day.

A little while later my wife suddenly exclaimed that she just realized that the officers wanted to come in to ensure she was okay. The whole thing was embarrassing for me but rather humorous.

She Laughed After Being Charged with This

What are some potential challenges faced by Filipino soldiers in operating and integrating HIMARS into their defensive strategies in response to threats in the South China Sea?

If the Filipinos are stupid enough to volunteer to be a US proxy. It won’t be like Ukraine.

You realize that The Philippines is over 1,000 miles from China right?

HiMars range is well under 250 miles. And it’s not an air defense system.

The only thing the Filipinos will see is Chinese missiles raining from the sky. So no amount of integration is going to do anything.

HiMars will be target practice for Chinese missiles or glide bombs.

So integrating won’t do anything. Unlike the Russians, the Chinese are fully prepared to go to war with the US, NATO, Japan, SK, and India at the same time. Adding the Philippines is just desert for China. I hope the Filipino people get their heads out of their ass because the US will turn the Philippines into a death field just to get propaganda points.

The question is do the Filipinos want to die for the US so the US can do propaganda stories against China?

“Let me tell you why 7 of us quit on the day of our company pizza party.

At the beginning of the year all of us employees (13 of us) took a voluntary pay cut to help our owners keep the doors open on our little plumbing supply company. You see the Old man who ran the place died at the end of last year and his kids took over. By years end our little company was in turmoil as the college educated heirs didn’t know a thing about actually running a plumbing supply company. Out of respect for their deceased father, we all took a pay cut so the company could survive on the promise that when the ship was righted we would all get a 5 figure bonus which would more than cover the pay cut we took. After this bonus we were to get our regular wages back plus ten percent on top of it.

Well after the latest quarterly report came out, we had actually turned a hefty profit as a company for the first time since the old man’s passing. Finally we would get our bonuses!

We all received an inter-office memo to meet in the conference room. We knew what this was about and were ready to celebrate our combined success!

Our bonuses…

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The absolute nerve of these college educated a-holes! They said since we were raking in record profits that they didn’t want to rock the boat and put the company in a financial bind by shelling out for bonuses or to reactivate our former wage statuses, let alone a 10% increase in pay on top of it.

So they LITERALLY got us pizza and soda as a “thank you”.

Myself and 6 others walked out right then and there.

You cannot treat people like they did and expect things to be okay! Between the 7 of us, there was over 80 years of experience working for their father’s company.

Let them see how hard it will be to replace our knowledge and experience. Maybe they didn’t learn in college manners or how to treat employees as family. Maybe they will think a second and third time in the future before doing something like this again.

Meanwhile, 3 of my fellow co-workers who quit and myself, will be starting our own plumbing supply company and we have every confidence that we will succeed.

We’ll start off small and there will be lean times, but there is nothing on earth that will shake our integrity and treat people like our former employers did.

Another DEI DISASTER As Fantasy & Science Fiction Publication DIES After Hiring WOKE Black Editor

This is a very interesting video.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Calzones

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 pound)
1 cup sliced, fresh mushrooms
1/2 medium onion, chopped
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (17 1/2 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
8 thin slices deli ham
4 slices Provolone cheese

Instructions

Place chicken in a greased 2 quart dish, cover with water.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until juices run clear.
Meanwhile in a skillet, sauté mushrooms and onion in butter until tender.
Combine cornstarch and milk until smooth, stir into skillet mix.
Add basil and seasonings.
Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes until thickened.
Drain chicken.
Cut pastry sheets in half widthwise.
On one side of each half, place a chicken breast, 1/4 cup mushroom mixture, two ham slices and one cheese slice.
Fold pastry over fillings and seal edges.
Place on a greased baking sheet.
Brush tops with milk if desired.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until puffed and golden.

As a police officer, has someone you pulled over ever threatened to call “Daddy”?

Originally Answered: As a Police officer, has someone you pulled over ever threatened to call “Daddy”?

I once had “daddy” show up at the scene of a DUI crash. Daddy tried to interfere with the field sobriety tests of his (uninjured) son.

When I politely asked him to step away and let us get on with our business, Daddy ignored me. When I said it as an unequivocal order, he ignored me. When I told him I would place him under arrest in 5 seconds if he didn’t back off, he reminded me that he was friends with my Sheriff.

I told him he would be free to call the Sheriff from jail.

Daddy pulled out his cell phone and showed me that he had the Sheriff’s number stored in his contact list. I told him I had it in my phone too and that his 5 seconds were up. Go over there and call the Sheriff if you want or go to jail. Your choice. I have work to do.

Daddy walked away.

Daddy’s little boy got arrested and lectured me all the way to the jail about how I would lose my job because Daddy is friends with the Sheriff.

Daddy showed up at the Sheriff’s office the next day.

Daddy was buddies with the Sheriff, so he got unusual access to my reports and crash scene diagrams right then and there on the Sheriff’s desk. He made his arguments about why I was wrong.

I got called into the Sheriff’s office, later, to hear “Daddy’s” objections from the Sheriff himself. The Sheriff asked me to respond. I did so.

The Sheriff said, “Good job. I’ve been friends with that guy for years, but he really is an asshole sometimes.”

Daddy’s little boy (in his 20s) was convicted of DUI.

This is why I’ll NEVER Move BACK to the UK – I LOVE Living in CHINA as a Black Brit

A Tale of Opposites

Cassidy Caldwell

Deep in the darkest corner of space lived a pair. They lived together on the planet of Lenunculus, a silly place full of creatures of every kind. The pair, however, were opposites of each other in every way.Weesnorp was mountains tall, with wide wonderful eyes. He had feet the size of a football field, and could run miles in a single step. His body was covered in pom-pom ball fur, with more colors than the human eye can see. Despite his larger-than-life appearance, Weesnorp had the voice of a mouse. No one could hear what he was saying, even if they were standing directly at his football field feet.Parvus, on the other hand, was smaller than a peanut. If a human were to look at him properly, they would require a magnifying glass of some sort. His eyes were covered by long, dangling black hair that went down to his feet. All that was visible on his body was one large, pointy, purple, round nose. In every way that Weesnorp was quiet, Parvus was loud. His voice could be heard on the other side of the planet at half its volume. Attempts to whisper meant whole towns heard his cry.As Parvus was too small to live safely on the planet, Weesnorp allowed him to live peacefully on his broad shoulder. In return for his kindness, Parvus would call out to those below on behalf of Weesnorp. The two appeared perfect together, and would spend years and years at times without an argument of any sort. One day, though, Weesnorp and Parvus quarreled so furiously that their lives were changed forever…Weesnorp was talking to his faithful companion when another creature crossed his path. His name was Amasius, and he was the most beautiful creature Weesnorp had ever seen. He had shimmering locks of blonde hair, with piercing orange eyes that shined against his darker skin. Amasius was the second tallest creature on the planet, so he was the closest to reaching the mighty height of Weesnorp. Weesnorp fell in love at first sight.“Parvus,” said Weesnorp. “Do you see that lovely creature yonder?”“Indeed,” Parvus whispered to his best ability.“Might you talk to him for me? I would tell you what to say, but I cannot find the words,” Weesnorp pleaded. “The creature cannot see you – it would be as though I am talking through you. My lips can match your speech!”

Parvus was pleased at this request. He often found himself to take pride in his own matchmaking abilities. “Very well, my good friend. I will do all that I can. You there!” He raised his voice a bit to get the attention of Amasius.

He was successful. “Yes?” Amasius answered, his voice deep and soothing.

“Are you from these regions?”

“Alas, no.” A hint of sorrow grew behind the dazzling eyes of Amasius. “I am from the far regions of the mountains. A large storm blew across my home, and I am here to find the necessary supplies rebuild it.”

At the sound of this, Parvus had an idea. “Might I help you with this endeavor, friend? I am quite tall. You can hand me the supplies, and I can use my height to reach your homeland on the mountaintops.”

Amasius cheered at this. “You are kind, sir! My name is Amasius. What might I call you?”

“Weesnorp,” Parvus answered.

“How wonderful. Thank you so kindly so your help. The supplies should be this way…”

The two followed Amasius to a forest where they could collect wood to build his home. Parvus spoke on behalf of Weesnorp, telling great tales of his friend’s many talents and marvelous abilities. Amasius was very impressed, and began to grow more and more fond of him as they walked. When they arrived, Weesnorp used his great strength to pluck the large trees from the ground, carrying a dozen in his arms all at once to bring to the mountains. They made their way to the spot Amasius wished, and Weesnorp set to constructing the home above the clouds, where he could see. Amasius spoke to him as he built:

“Weesnorp, would you care for some ungula to eat as you work? I have just caught some, and would gladly prepare it for you. It is a small gift of thanks.”

Weesnorp tensed. He could not eat ungula. It caused him great pain. To his disbelief, though, Parvus responded by saying he would gladly eat it.

He spoke to Parvus in his most powerful voice: “Parvus, I cannot eat that. It makes me sick!”

Without knowing that Weesnorp was speaking, Amasius tried speaking to him, asking, “Would you like a large portion of it? I have plenty, but I know ungula has quite the ability to cause illness. I do not wish you any harm!”

Parvus responded to Weesnorp: “It does not make you sick! You are a liar!”

Amasius was taken aback. The voice of Parvus was so loud that he believed Weesnorp was speaking to him. He could not hear the real voice of Weesnorp. “I am terribly sorry to insult you, friend, but I am well practiced in the ways of preparing ungula. My people have eaten it for centuries. I do not think I am mistaken.”

The two could not hear the cries of Amasius, as Weesnorp was so entangled in his own anger. Weesnorp retorted at Parvus: “I am no such thing! I am an honest creature, and I say that my abilities are greatly hindered when I eat ungula! You must believe me!”

Parvus had completely forgotten about Amasius, and turned his attention completely to Weesnorp. “I do not believe a word you say!” he challenged. “Your abilities do not serve much good, with or without ungula!” His voice was rising in volume as he argued further.

At this, Amasius was wholeheartedly offended. “How dare you insult my wisdom! I am a prudentia, a species of great power and knowledge! My people have studied ungula for centuries, and I am mightier than you could ever imagine!”

His cries were no use. He could not break the argument between Weesnorp and Parvus, and the two continued to bicker. “My abilities lack? No, Parvus. It is you who do not serve much good! You could not walk two steps without being crushed by a creature of larger stature! You are nothing without me.”

This was all Parvus needed. His tiny body swelled with anger, filling his lungs with as much breath as he could hold. He yelled with all his strength:

“NO! YOU ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ME!”

As he did this, he sent out a large gust of wind across all of Lenunculus. Entire seas became instant tsunamis. Mountains were torn from the land and thrown into the air. Worst of all, Amasius was lifted from the ground and hurled into the farthest reaches of Lenunculus – farther than any creature had ever dared to travel. The planet was turned upside down in a more disastrous manner than it had ever before seen.

To this day, Weesnorp and Parvus continue their mighty battle, ignoring any creature that tries to interrupt them. Winds blow throughout Lenunculus every now and then when Parvus becomes incredibly angry, but none will ever match the magnitude of that fateful day.

What is the most unusual and incorrect reason you’ve had the police called on you?

The police have not been called but the threat has been made. A few months ago a couple showed up at our house, my husband knew the man in passing.

To make a long story short, they were homeless, had lost everything in a flood, it was January they were cold, wet and hungry. They wanted to stay in our backyard storage shed for a few days.

We let them. Fed them the night they arrived, provided dry clothes and blankets. The shed has electricity and heat.

Fast forward a few days, they are bringing all kinds of things on the property including two dogs.

We suspected correctly that they were stealing. The left when we confronted him about this but the girl stayed a few more days claiming she didn’t have anything to do with stealing. We didn’t necessarily believe that but the weather was still bad and the guy was bad for her. We encouraged her to split from him and get help with her drug addiction but that didn’t happen and within a few days she was gone.

We still had two dogs and several large trash cans of trash that they left. Clean up took several days.

We then find out she is in a mental health facility. After about a week she gets out and comes to get her dogs…they leave.

Life goes back to normal.

A couple of weeks later her teenage son shows up with one of the dogs and asks if he can leave the dog in our fenced yard for an hour…never saw him again.

A couple of days after that the other dog is dropped at our house.

That was in March it’s now July. We have feed the dogs, gotten their shots etc. Under NC law if you have cared for an animal for 2 weeks or more it’s considered yours.

We first heard from the girl about 3 weeks ago. A letter explaining that she is in jail in SC with a $150K bond for multiple drug charges. She asked for money and asked about the dogs. We ignored the letter.

The next week another letter, again asking for money and wanting us to read letters to the dogs. The dogs were not interested in the letters.

Friday, another letter. Why haven’t we responded. She wants a video call with the dogs. If we don’t respond soon she is going to take action.

So here’s where the police being called comes in…she’s going to call the police, from jail, for a wellness check on the dogs!

Unbelievable!

Why was Leningrad not captured by Germany and Finland?

Originally Answered: How was Leningrad not captured by Germany and Finland?

About Finland: The Finns wanted to exact revenge on Soviet Russia for invading Finland in the winter war of 1940, that’s why the Finns helped Hitler in his invasion of Soviet Union: Revenge and Recover territories lost to the Soviet.

But by winter 1941 and early 1942, Hitler had failed to capture Moscow, so it was crystal clear that Hitler couldn’t pull off a quick victory over Soviet Union with one blitzkrieg blow and the Wehrmacht would have to go through a war of attrition with the Soviets. And although the Soviets had suffered catastrophic losses and would continue to suffer even more (they would probably even lose Leningrad), in a war of attrition against Nazi Germany, the Soviets would achieve the ultimate victory.

The Finns were well aware of the situation. They wanted revenge, but they also knew the country would be extremely vulnerable to future Soviet aggression. So they never completely cut off Leningrad from the rest of Soviet Russia. Some bare minimum supplies could still get to Leningrad through Lake Ladoga in the northeast of the city. The Finns agreed with Hitler to move close to Leningrad, but just enough to recover Finnish territories yielded to the Soviet in the Winter War. The Finns never took part in a direct attack on Leningrad itself, they never moved beyond the Mannerheim line.

Soviet trucks moving through the ice roads of Lake Ladoga to supply Leningrad.

Now the Wehrmacht.

German Army Group North – one of the 3 Army Groups crossed the border of USSR in June 1941 – was responsible for the capture of Leningrad. But Army Group North was simply not equal to the task, Field Marshal von Leeb did not have the necessary manpower and armored forces to carry out a large scale offensive operation into Leningrad.

For example:

In October 1941, General Hoepner’s 4th Panzer Group was redeployed from the Leningrad front to join the attack on Moscow. Thus, Army Group North was deprived of its only Panzer Group and most of its tanks.
The heavy siege guns (the 800mm Dora, the 600mm Thor and Odin … ) were brought to Crimea to attack the naval base at Sevastopol during a 9-month siege of 1941-1942. These massive guns would never be moved to Leningrad to support Army Group North’s operation.
In 1941, Army Group North suffered heavy casualties but received only 60,000 troops as replacement. Meanwhile, 131,000 replacement troops were sent to Army Group Center and 119,000 sent to Army Group South.
In terms of allocating fresh division from the German Supreme High Command Reserve, the situation was even less favorable: of the 21 fresh divisions released from the reserve, Army Group North got just 3.

Clearly, Leningrad was only of secondary importance to Hitler. The most decisive battles were being fought elsewhere, some around Moscow, Rzhev, some near Stalingrad, Sevastopol … and so the majority of German force was allocated to Army Group Centre and Army Group South. The soldiers of Army Group North therefore referred to the siege of Leningrad as “an eternal war of the poor men”.

The Soviet, on the other hand, tried desperately to defend Leningrad. The city wasn’t just a spiritual center of Soviet Russia. It was also an important sea port, the home base of the powerful Baltic Fleet. If German had taken Leningrad, essential military aid from the Western Allies transported by the Arctic convoy wouldn’t have reached the port of Murmansk. Without the Lend-Lease military aids, the Soviet Union would have encountered even more difficulties throughout the war than they already had.

Half-hearted Finns, understrength Germans, together with fierce Soviet resistance, that’s why Leningrad was never captured by Germany and Finland.

The Problem With Society is: Most men don’t own anything, so they don’t give a F*ck.

Ownership.

Great point.

Have you ever had a person who knew nothing about your job tell you how to do your job?

“Listen, I am not a teacher, but. . .”

“This is how it should be done!”

“The best way to teach that is. . .”

“The only way to make them learn is. . .”

I have been an ESL teacher since forever (over 40 years). I welcome suggestions, new methods, change.

But my students’ responses to what we are doing in class are what my lesson plans and methods are based on.

I have had HR managers, VPs, CEOs, Army Colonels, politicians, janitorial staff and parents of adult students tell me how to do my job.

I smile, say “Thanks” and get on with what is needed.

Have I ever been confronted for not doing ‘as ordered’?

Oh, yeah.

I usually invite the ‘commander’ to attend a class or two; S/he may observe or participate. I also make it clear to the participants that THEY are not being evaluated (very important here in Thailand).

We go through a normal lesson, with its wins, problems, misunderstandings and ‘aha!’ moments (beauty and blemishes?).

If the ‘commander’ is at least at the English level of my students, s/he is eased into participating.

What I love most is when we reach the end of class, and the ‘commander’ is surprised that time has passed so quickly and successfully.

No ‘commander’ has ever come back at me, except to ask if s/he could come again.

I love my job!

Dangerous (and very few of you know it)

The Sanctions Are Working

In March 2022 I predicted some consequences of the sanctions imposed on Russia:

The first [map] shows the countries which banned Russian airplanes from their airspace. Russia in turn denied its airspace to operators from those countries. It will cost quite a bit for U.S. and EU airlines as their flight times and cost to and from Asia, which typically fly through Russian airspace, will now increase. Carriers from Asian countries will now easily out-compete U.S. and European airlines on these routes.

ukrsanct1 s

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As British media reported yesterday:

British Airways is temporarily scrapping flights to Beijing until at least next year.From October to at least November 2025 the carrier will not fly to the capital of China, although flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong will continue.

European carriers are not currently able to enter Russian airspace which makes flying to China more challenging as it takes a few hours longer than it used to.

Russia’s civil aviation authority introduced the restrictions in February 2022, in retaliation to a British ban on the country’s Aeroflot airline as part of sanctions for the war in Ukraine.

A spokesperson for British Airways said: “We will be pausing our route to Beijing from 26 October 2024, and we’re contacting any affected customers with rebooking options or to offer them a full refund. We continue to operate daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong.”

The route only resumed operations on the route in June 2023, following a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time, British Airways described London-Beijing as “one of our most important routes”. The airline did not provide a reason for the suspension.

It is one of many Western airlines avoiding Russian airspace, which is adding to their flight times, fuel costs and complexity over how they deploy crew and aircraft.

British Airways isn’t the only one.

A simple look on the map explains the issue:

biggerAs I continued on sanctions:

The second map shows those countries which enacted sanctions against Russia. The secondary effects of sanctions are likely to hurt these countries as much as they hurt Russia. The absence of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Central and South American countries is quite telling.

It does not look like ‘the world’ or the ‘international community’ is backing the ‘west’.

ukrsanct2 s

biggerThe U.S. also sanctioned all imports of oil products from Russia. President Biden has blamed Russia for the price increase that will inevitably follow. I don’t believe that mid-term voters will accept that reasoning. European countries can not follow that step as their economies depend of imports of oil and gas from Russia and will continue to do so for years to come.

Which fits to this other recent headline:

French imports of Russia’s liquified natural gas surge, and Ukraine supporters seek a stop

Shipments of Russian liquified natural gas to France more than doubled the first half of this year, according to new analyses of trade data, at a time when Europe has tried to pull back from energy purchases that help finance the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.Europe has restricted oil imports from Russia, but natural gas is still allowed. And while companies in France are importing the most, one analysis found EU countries overall imported 7% more Russian LNG, natural gas that has been chilled and liquified for easier ocean transport, in the first half of this year compared to the same period a year ago.

Meanwhile in Germany, which currently has a rather crazy government, industrial production is further declining while bankruptcies have reached a record height:

Germany, with its energy-intensive industry and shortage of raw materials, has been particularly affected by the rapid rise in energy prices. Large corporations such as BASF are closing factories because management no longer believes it can efficiently produce essential chemicals. There is a trend of deindustrialization.The volume of orders from German machine-building and engineering companies decreased by 12 percent in the first half of 2024, according to the industry association VDMA. year to year in real terms. Orders from Germany itself fell especially sharply – by 18 percent. Orders from foreign companies fell by 9 percent. Metallurgical corporations are also suffering, as demand for their products is also falling.

All this could be fixed with some sanity and the discarding of useless sanctions.

Posted by b on August 10, 2024 at 10:36 UTC | Permalink

Shorpy

What do small towns in China look like?

My hometown which is a small town in rural area of China. This is the main street in winter.

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Update:

I didn’t expect someone may even say above picture is propaganda. My hometown is even not as beautiful as those small town in the rich part of China. I took pictures during Chinese Spring Festival when I was back.

I miss my hometown, and I miss my relatives there.

During that Festival most of my cousins came back from other cities in China like Wuhan/ Shenzhen/ Suzhou/ Beijing..

I am a very ordinary Chinese person who was born in a small town, and witnessed the huge change in the past decades.

Because feeding a homeless person rewards them for not working, do you realize you are assisting in solidifying their condition?

There’s a homeless guy I often saw, almost every day on my walk to school. One day I decided to sit down next to him and say hello. I introduced myself, said I went to school nearby, and offered him the change I had in my pockets, apologizing for walking past and pretending he was invisible for the last few weeks.

He smiled and said not to worry—it was far kinder than kicking his crutches or his money tin over out of spite. He said his name was Christian.

He used to be a chef, once upon a time. Really nice, fancy kitchen, and then the building got bought out to be converted. He lost his job overnight, and it was during that time he was also starting to develop a limp.

Nobody wanted to hire a man who was about to be unable to walk, and he had nobody from his old job to help him get set up somewhere else, possibly as a supervisor or a restaurant manager.

He’s never been turned away by a doctor (thank you, NHS), so he can at least still get treatment for his condition, but he still lost his savings on rent and food while trying to find a new job. He’s been on the streets for ages now.

It’s a vicious cycle, he says. He can try to clean himself up for interviews, but it’s never clean enough, and if he does clean himself up for an interview that he knows will be a bust, people won’t drop money in his tin because he doesn’t look homeless enough.

I took him to coffee and the chat ended up turning to my own life. I told him about my film projects, and he wrote down a list of interesting places in the city he’d seen while on the streets.

I stopped by to see Christian again last week and gave him a fiver. He looked fairly content, bundled up with a new sleeping bag someone had given him, reading a book about vampires.

He’d had a job interview earlier that day and his hair was combed, his face shaven. His money tin was empty. He hadn’t gotten the job.

“But this book I found has been quite good,” he said, changing the topic. He pretty obviously didn’t like to dwell on his bad luck.

I leaned back against the wall and pulled my own coat closer around me. “Want to tell me about it?”

With a hidden recorder, he overheard me mocking him. His response changed everything.

What are the disadvantages of living in Thailand compared to other countries like Malaysia or Singapore?

Yeah, the problem of too long a stay in Thailand (especially Pattaya) is immeasurable. I mean it’s like a two-edged sword, either the pros versus the cons or disadvantages versus advantages.

main qimg 165343eb43f1b5098459932585f73ed4

What about the disadvantages?

After living in Thailand for too long, you are done with your life when you go back to your home country, you turn over a new leaf and become a lawless, a drunk, violent person, mischievous, a monster on the roads, a lazy bum, a cheat, and a good-for-nothing, basically is bad by any standards.

News of many Kuwaiti youth escape the heat and come to Pattaya, Thailand. Instead of finding a sanctuary, they have become “too hot to handle” and sparking street fights between Thais and Kuwaiti tourists in Pattaya.

News of drunk Westerners creating scenes leading to a fight and getting beaten up by the ‘Bouncers’ for refusing to pay the exorbitant bar prices of booze and beer which is expected in places like lawless Pattaya.

That daily news among hundreds of news of badly behaved guest visitors versus die-hard Thais —Never a dull day in Pattaya.

Let’s look at the advantage too?

Plenty! You will be influenced by the warmth of Thai hospitality and taking home with you the gracefulness of the Thai culture. You have turned over a new leaf having great patience, resilience, and fine etiquette of public display of oneself to your compatriots back home.

There is no disadvantages of living in Singapore, you‘d better be good.

Before any mischief or a fight starts, the ever-ready ‘Special Police Forces’ come and take you away in less than 7 minutes.

You will either be sent home or thrown in jail, the morning after.

Is Beijing a safe city for foreigners to live in? Are there any areas or neighborhoods that are considered unsafe and why?

Beijing is an extremely safe city. While all of China is quite safe, Beijing is clearly more tightly managed.

Sometimes it even feels excessive, for example, the entire city of Beijing does not allow drones to be flown…

The density of police and surveillance cameras is probably also the highest in the country.

Americans know that trees in Vietnam can speak.

But I have personally experienced trees speaking in Beijing.

One time, I was running in a forest in a wild park, about 20 kilometers outside the city, when a tree next to me suddenly said, “You have entered a surveillance area.”

Only then did I notice a solar-powered surveillance camera and loudspeaker on the tree… Shocking!

A girl, alone, at 3 am, is safe anywhere in Beijing,it is TRUE.

I haven’t heard of any theft in many years.

There are even a very small number of shops that are completely unattended. You go in, buy what you want, and pay by scanning a QR code with your phone. These shops are very rare, but they do exist.

The main dangers come from accidental injuries, especially for bolder tourists.

This is a 3D map of Beijing.

Although it is located on the North China Plain, there are many mountains around it.

This is a famous tourist spot near Beijing, called Yesanpo.

After the Ming Dynasty fell, some Han people who did not surrender went into the mountains here and continued to resist.

The entire Qing Dynasty tried to wipe them out, but due to the rugged terrain, they were never successful.

It wasn’t until 1929 that the thousands of households living here learned that the Qing Dynasty had been overthrown for 18 years，they resisted for 285 years here.

Even near the capital, the Qing Dynasty couldn’t completely wipe them out, which shows how complex the mountainous terrain is.

It sounds like a joke, but it’s not.

The following is an excerpt from the memoirs of the former Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army:

“They never interacted with the outside world, were not under government control, and didn’t even know that it was now the Republic of China. They were still insisting on “overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty”…

……When the Kuomintang soldiers came, they captured and killed them. After the troops of Tang Enbo and Wei Lihuang retreated from Nankou, they passed through this area and had a battalion of guns seized from them, and over a hundred people were killed… Zhang Zihu, the section chief, and Wu Guangqi, from the local work team of the district, were both buried alive by the people near Yesanpo…”

It can be seen that mountainous terrain is very complex.

If you go to the Great Wall, there’s no problem. It was actually rebuilt after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. (It’s all a scam to fool foreigners,eh…. I’m not talking about you)

When I go to the Great Wall, I go to the wild Great Wall that hasn’t been restored. In theory, it’s a cultural relic and climbing is not allowed, but who can manage that far? It’s the Great Wall, stretching for thousands of miles. It’s impossible to manage it all.

Feel free to climb, it’s fine.

But you are responsible for any danger. You could fall and get injured or die, encounter a venomous snake, etc.

This is a mountain next to Beijing, East Ling Mountain,with an altitude of 2303 meters.

It can’t compare to Tibet, but it’s quite high for North China. It’s called the “Mount Everest of Beijing.”

But even this small mountain, with artificial slopes, people climb it during the day, camp at night, and descend the next day. It seems like there’s no problem, but almost every year someone freezes to death.

One year, seven people froze to death, including on the wild Great Wall.

So, I personally choose NOT to go there in winter.

I highly recommend climbing this mountain, but be sure to camp overnight at the summit. If you just climb up and down in a day, it’s not difficult at all because of the artificial trails.

But if you camp overnight at the summit, you can see a beautiful starry sky!

Light pollution is very serious in China now, and even in rural areas it’s hard to see the brilliant starry sky I used to see as a child. As for residents of Beijing… forget about it.

But if you climb this mountain, you can see a beautiful starry sky, it’s so beautiful!

highly recommend！

This is Miaofeng Mountain. It’s right in Beijing city, and any Beijing cycling enthusiast is familiar with it because it has a 21-kilometer uphill climb..

I’m not talking about cyclists falling and dying on the uphill or downhill, this is unavoidable.

But an experienced hiker actually went missing here?

It’s unbelievable, but he really disappeared.

The search and rescue team found a skeleton during the search… Obviously, it wasn’t him. The next day, they found another skeleton… Still not him…

It wasn’t until eight years later that a hiker found a skeleton in a cave, but DNA analysis showed it wasn’t him either…

I find it terrifying. A mountain with an altitude of 1300 meters, only 20 square kilometers in area, and people can go missing. And it’s clear that more than one hiker has died here…

I’m sticking to cycling and never leaving the road!

There are quite a few wild environments around Beijing.

Logically, they shouldn’t be so dangerous, but the fact is that people die there every year.

I think it’s because they’re so close to the city that people feel very safe, which leads to disaster.

Who was the craziest leader in history?

It should be Gao Yang (526-559), the Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi.

Northern Qi was a short-lived dynasty that lasted only 28 years.

After Gao Yang established the Northern Qi Empire, he was a great monarch for the first few years. He worked diligently and governed the country very well.

But a few years later, his temperament changed drastically.

He became extremely cruel and absurd, and spent his days drinking. He once married a prostitute named Xue as his concubine (which is very rare in Chinese history).

One time, he got drunk and remembered that this concubine had been with too many men. He was very angry and chopped off her head… At a banquet, Gao Yang suddenly pulled out the beautiful woman’s head from his bosom and began to carve the meat with a dinner knife. Everyone present was stunned. Later, Gao Yang ordered the musicians to make a pipa (a Chinese musical instrument) out of Xue’s leg bones, and he played and sang: 《It’s hard to get a beautiful woman again》(A very famous Tang poem)

At Xue’s funeral, Gao Yang burst into tears again and was extremely sad.

The entire Gao family was like this. According to historical records, they were extremely capable, but they would go mad. For example, his brother once r*ped Gao yang’s wife, but his brother was very powerful at the time, so Gao yang could only endure it.

When he ascended the throne, Gao yang couldn’t retaliate against his brother because his brother was already dead, so Gao Yang r*ped his sister-in-law…

There are countless such absurd things.

For example, he drank every day, and when he got drunk, he would kill people randomly, including his ministers.

He also walked naked on the streets of the capital in winter, showing off his certain big organ… This is something that no emperor in history has ever done.

In short, many people today believe that the Gao family had a genetic mental illness, and the whole family was like this, very intelligent and very scary.

（Gao yang）

From 1988 to 2002, there was a serial murder case in Gansu, China (which belonged to Northern Qi in ancient times). A total of 11 women were killed, and the murderer was never found.

In August 2016, a DNA test was conducted for another small case, and it was found that the DNA of the serial killer was related to this person. Finally, the serial killer Gao Chengyong was caught.

（Gao chengyong）

Some people say that according to the genealogy, he is a descendant of the Gao family of Northern Qi.

I suspect it’s possible.

His two sons both passed the entrance exams to China’s top universities, which is extremely difficult in China. You need to have a very high IQ at least.

And his behavior… is very much like the cruel but intelligent Gao family in the history books.

Linda’s Prime Rib

This is SO tasty. The leftovers make wonderful roast beef sandwiches also.

Ingredients

Garlic powder
Seasoning salt
Mrs. Dash Seasoning
Lemon pepper
Fresh rosemary (optional)
Prime rib roast

Instructions

Heat oven to 500 degrees F.
Rub seasonings into the prime rib. Sprinkle with fresh rosemary, if desired. For medium rare, cook 5 minutes per pound. For medium, cook 7 minutes per pound.
Turn oven off and do not open oven door for whatever time remains of 2 hours (total cooking time).
Serve with Yorkshire Pudding, if desired.

Notes

When we serve this, it is always served with Yorkshire Pudding.

Have you ever met someone who seemed normal but you just knew deep down that something was not right?

I thought my brother’s wife was really “suspicious” at first, and then I later upped my opinion to her being an actual sociopath. At first, she wanted my brother to up his life insurance when they were just dating and eventually tried to get power of attorney. Once my brother moved in with her she showed herself to be a liar, and prone to manipulation and attention-seeking behavior. She disliked my mother and me before she even met me, and always feigned illness or “bad days” when my brother and I (three hours apart) made weekend plans or when he was down for Christmas or on course, as he was in the military.

She could not hold a job because of her mouth and leeched off my brother’s earnings while complaining they could not afford the honeymoon they wanted, or top-of-the-line bikes when my brother found two perfectly fine ones for a deal. After being married for a year, my brother discovered she was having an affair basically since before the wedding and said she was leaving and would take the house and he was gonna support her since she is now a student, having just started a new course online.

After being chipped away at for so long, my brother, one of the most life-loving and outgoing guys, shot himself. She only texted me and my mother when it was too late saying he was threatening it knowing that I was in another province and my mom was 4 hours away, she called no one else to go over. She played the grieving widow at the funeral, crying when she was seemingly supposed to but spent the rest of the time laughing with her friends and family members like some family reunion. To cover her tracks she claimed no affair (despite extracted proof from the link in my bio), that my brother was suffering from PTSD (wives get 500,000 if it’s deemed true) and, that he was an alcoholic and she had been seeking help for him for a long time – no proof of this.

His will is mysteriously missing and she has since blocked my family on Facebook while ignoring what little items we asked for from the house. I hear she is selling everything now to pay for what she won’t be able to afford with her part-time Tim Hortons job she may or may not have. A psychiatrist my mother visited later said she sounded like a sociopath. I spent years witnessing my brother give everything to this monster until there was nothing left and she is continuing to drag his name through the dirt to look like a peach and profit further.

Killer Daughter Thinks She Got Away Until Boyfriend Turns Her In

The London mayor said he faced racism as he grew up, but he had no idea racism was still so alive in the UK in 2024 due to the riots. He said his own daughters are afraid to go outside now. Whats your opinion about this?

The London mayor said he faced racism as he grew up, but he had no idea racism was still so alive in the UK in 2024 due to the riots. He said his own daughters are afraid to go outside now. Whats your opinion about this?

It’s easy, he fell into the trap that I literally fell into as did many of my cousins.

Note I was BORN in the UK.

When I was young I mean in school it was OK, I do remember three incidents to this day as does my dad. In school the teacher said what are you a p*ki or a n*gger? A school teacher said this to me. Also remember I spent a few years in China with my grandparents. I am fluent in English (lots of uk people attempt to gaslight me and say you’re not using any english you can’t be understood at all). Another teacher asked my dad if I was handicapped. Later on when I got a nose bleed which wouldn’t stop, a doctor said my dad had beat me up as we were all like that apparently.

Anyway, growing up and going into high school it changed on day. There were constant slurs to go back to your own country and violence oh so much violence. My nose was broken so many times it’s crooked to this day and I knew the doctor who put it back by first name. I would get racist comments on the bus, so I cycled home… but this just got racists driving past me screaming racist comments out the windows and throwing stuff at me.

I was even hospitalised and beaten badly at one point. We moved away that year and always kept guns after that.

The violence subsided at 6th form college, but the slurs didn’t… as I wrote prior I did not go to university immediately and there was all sorts of casual racism as it was so normalised.

Then something changed.

There was less violence, there were less slurs. Had the UK changed? No, I had changed.

I got a UK driving license and a car. This meant that there was simply less opportunity for people to be racist to me.

I no longer had to wait for a bus – where racists would lurk.
I no longer had to travel by bus – where racists and nutters would use.
I literally drove up to places parked right outside and walked in.

Amazon and mail order started to become big too and I gained a small niche of what seemed to be friendly people. So yet again there was less opportunity for people to be racist to me. This all came to a head when in 2016. My car needed to be fixed. So I dropped it off at a garage and made the mistake of walking the mile into town. Normally I would park in the NCP car park… but that day I didn’t..

And somebody tried to kill me by smashing my head in with a brick – most british people are cheering at this point – and I’ve had many commentors say I deserved it! I’ve even had people say I should have let people attack me because I was bold enough to fight back. My car wasn’t fixed for a couple weeks and I was attacked again.

I decided to leave the UK and shortly after renounced my UK passport.

Back to the OP statement

Something similar likely happened to Khan. He moved into some sort of bubble where others simply didn’t have the opportunity to be racist to him.

Take for instance some of the middle england writers on here. They live in leafy suburbia away from the rough town centres and see very little of the inner cities and think there’s nothing wrong at all! You’re just imagining things.

What was the best revenge you’ve ever gotten?

Originally Answered: What was the best revenge you've ever given?

I am a frequent flyer, but at this time in my career, I wasn’t getting frequent upgrades to business class. I prefer the aisle seats, and was settling in for a long flight across the country, when a very annoyed woman informed me that I was sitting in her aisle seat.

I was embarrassed after taking a look at my boarding pass and seeing that I actually had been assigned a middle seat. Middle seats are the worst seats on the plane. You play elbow jockey with not one but two people in your row, and you still have to ask permission from the person in the aisle to use the rest room. It’s a crummy way to take a long flight.

I apologized and took my proper seat.

As she sat down, she said something to me like “I bet you wish you were in the aisle seat.” I replied sheepishly that I probably did.

She went on to say that she was a frequent flyer and only sits in aisle seats. I mumbled something in semi-polite response, but it was clear she was gloating.

All of a sudden, in what seemed like perfect timing that only happens in a movie, a gate agent magically appeared in our row looking for me. She asked me if I would be interested in an upgrade to business class.

With a look of unbridled joy on my face, I responded “Why yes thank you, I would love an upgrade to business class.”

I gathered my gear, pulled my carry on luggage from the bin, and headed up to the front of the plane…but made sure to look back and wink at the woman in the aisle seat.

What is the saddest thing you’ve ever seen?

It was my 12 year old niece as she headed into school shortly after her mother died from breast cancer. I stayed to help out after my sister’s funeral for several days. My niece put off going back to school as long as possible, but finally her dad said it was time to go back. I offered to bring her to school. We arranged to bring her in shortly after school started. She didn’t want to arrive at the regular drop off time because she didn’t want to deal with kids staring or trying to talk to her. She just wanted to go into class as it started and make it through the day.

I pulled up to the school and went to get out of the car and walk her in the building. She stopped me and said, “You don’t need to come. I can do this by myself.” I said it wouldn’t be a problem, but she insisted that she needed to do it on her own. I saw her start to walk to the doors and stop a few feet away. It was just a small gesture, but I saw her shoulders slump down and her hand wipe her eyes as she paused for a few seconds. I was going to get out of the car and help her but my husband held my hand and stopped me. Then she straightened her shoulders, stood tall, and entered the school. I know it may seem minor, but to me it was one of the saddest things I’ve seen. Up to that point someone in the family has been with her since the funeral to help her through things, this was the first time she faced something alone. Her mom had been the one to drop her off at school in the morning and now that was gone from her life. That small incident has stayed with me and when I think about it, it still brings tears to my eyes.

2:11 PM EST — About one hour ago, U.S. President Joe Biden GRANTED permission for Ukraine to use long-range weapons to attack deep interior Russia.

Developing very fast, check back for updates below.

UPDATE 2:15 PM EST —

There are differing reports coming in regarding this issue. Some of the reports say “long-range missiles” while other reports say “long-range ATACMS”

WHAT ARE “ATACMS?”

The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a supersonic tactical ballistic missile designed and manufactured by the US defense company Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV), and later Lockheed Martin through acquisitions.

It uses solid propellant and is 13 feet (4.0 m) long and 24 inches (610 mm) in diameter, and the longest-range variants can fly up to 190 miles (300 km).

The missiles can be fired from the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

An ATACMS launch container (pod) has one rocket but a lid patterned with six circles like a standard MLRS rocket lid to prevent an enemy from discerning what type of missile is loaded.

EFFECT ON RUSSIA

The immediate effect upon Russian military forces engaged in the Ukraine conflict is severe. Russia has much of its Ukraine supply lines and spare forces WITHIN RANGE of the longest-range ATACMS.

The ma below, created by the Institute for the Study of War, shows how much of western Russia can now be attacked by Ukriane, using ATACMS:

UPDATE 2:35 PM EST —

The the New York Times is now reporting this story, saying “the Biden Administration has for the first time authorized the Ukrainian Military to use U.S-Supplied Long-Range Missiles, including ATACMS, against Russian Territory.”

So it is not simply ATACMS, it is also Long-range missiles.

It was just last week that the Russian FOreign Ministry took the unusual step of reminding the collective West that allowing Ukraine to use west-supplied, long-range missiles to attack deep interior Russia would make the collective west “parties to the conflict” because those long-range missiles require satellites to guide them to target. THe Foreign Ministry reminded everyone that Ukraine does not HAVE any satellites.

So in order for those missiles to hit targets in Russia, the missiles need active satellite guidance from US/EU/NATO satellites, and that active guidance makes the West “combatants” against Russia.

The Foreign Ministry then said “there mere granting of permission for the use of such missiles will result in an imminent and devastating response against the West.”

As of about 1:00 PM eastern US time today, Sunday, 17 November 2024, that permission has now been given.

Welcome to World War 3.

UPDATE 3:04 PM EST —

Multiple confirmations that Ukrainian forces are preparing for their initial long-range operations against Russia.

(PUBLIC UPDATES CONTINUE BENEATH THE GREEN SHADED AREA BELOW)

COVERT INTEL

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UPDATE 4:35 PM EST —

France and Great Britain have now ALSO allowed Ukraine to fire UK and France-supplied SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russia.

By these permissions, first from the US, then from UK and France, the collective West has taken the decision to become active parties to the conflict and as such, Russia can now respond militarily to those countries.

We should expect to get bombed here inside the US, from Russia. For months, Russian submarines have been off the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Coast. They are also up around Alaska. Submarine-launched missiles would have very brief flight time before impacting US targets.

Moreover, we in the US do NOT have “Over-the-Horizon” radar protecting us from missiles launched from the south. Such missiles could cross over our coastline and impact deep in Middle America and we wouldn’t know a thing about it until they impacted and detonated.

This decision is the direct responsibility of President Joseph Biden. He is starting world war 3 because his Party lost the election. If they cannot keep power, they clearly intend to burn the world down.

As our cities get bombed by Russian missiles, as our friends and family members get killed, as our way of life gets irrevocably smashed, REMEMBER who caused this when you see the politicians slithering out of their Bunkers, trying to blame everyone but themselves for what has taken place.

THEY are responsible. THEY are guilty.

UPDATE 5:05 PM EST —

As of 2:59 PM eastern US time today, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer is on a PRIVATE JET heading to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

What does THAT tell you? It indicates to me that he KNOWS what’s coming, he’s getting his ass far away from the wreckage he thinks is coming. ALL CAUSED BY HIM AND HIS POLITICAL PALS IN THE US AND NATO.

He’s apparently isn’t the only one who knows. At 1:04 AM this morning, I published a story highlighting the strange number of aircraft departing the United States in the wee hours of this morning.

I pointed out there were several HUNDRED aircraft flying out into the Atlantic at 1:04 AM. (Story Here), and that it was very odd to see such a massive number of planes leaving the US on a Saturday night-into Sunday morning.

Given today’s developments, it appears to me the rich muckity-mucks all seem to have gotten “the word” to high-tail it out of the country last night.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SON KNOWS . . . .

The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives.
Gotta lock in those $Trillions.
Life be damned!!! Imbeciles! https://t.co/ZzfwnhBxRh

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 17, 2024

UPDATE 5:24 PM EST —

North Korean leader ORDERS military to ‘raise readiness for possible war.’

UPDATE 5:31 PM EST —

RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS WARN OF WWIII

Washington’s approval for Ukraine to strike Russia with U.S. long-range missiles triggered warnings from Russian lawmakers.

A senior member of the Federation Council, Andrei Klishas: “The West has decided on such a level of escalation that it could end with the Ukrainian statehood in complete ruins by morning.”

First deputy head of the Russian upper house’s international affairs committee, Vladimir Dzhabarov: “This is a very big step towards the start of World War Three.”

Chairman of the State Duma lower house’s foreign affairs committee, Leonid Slutsky: “Strikes with U.S. missiles deep into Russian regions will inevitably entail a serious escalation, which threatens to lead to much more serious consequences.”

UPDATE 6:14 PM EST —

The video representation below shows what is now at-stake for Russia as a result of the US, UK, and France decisions made tonight. The areas in color show the effective range of the weaponry now made available to Ukraine by the West:

As Russia starts being hit by these Western weapons, and Russians start being killed, it is already fully known that Russia will hold the West responsible AND STRIKE BACK.

Tonight the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a special statement on these developments reiterating “If Western weapons strike deep inside Russian territory, our response to the West will be devastating.”

UPDATE 9:33 PM EST —

My son and I high-tailed-it from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to pick up my wife and get her out of here. Too close to NYC.

While we were on the road, I got a call from a source who told me Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in the air from Moscow for about an hour, on his way to the URAL MOUNTAINS where Russia has it’s nuclear bunker. Bear in mind Russia is eight hours ahead of the US east coast, so when I got told this around 7:30 eastern US time, that made it 3:30 in the morning over in Moscow, Russia.

The President of Russia does not board a plane from Moscow to the Ural Mountains at about 3:30 in the morning for drill.

In addition, all of the Russian military’s top brass — AND THEIR WIVES — are boarding planes for the Urals as I type this. They don’t take wives if it’s a drill.

Earlier I reported that UK Prime Minister Starmer was on a PRIVATE JET flying to Brazil Strange that he didn’t use the typical UK military plane. I found out, Joe Biden is down in Brazil as well.

I am now leaving my North Bergen home with my wife and son to head back up to Pennsylvania. It will be a three hour drive. PennDOT has Route 80 all screwed up for construction. They close five miles of road down to one lane, so they can put three trucks to do road work at the end of the five miles. Traffic is a nightmare.

I will update this again when I get to PA.

Hal

UPDATE 12:42 AM EST – MONDAY

My wife, our son, and I, have arrived safely at our home in Pennsylvania. Stopped to fuel-up the two vehicles before coming to the house, so everything is topped-off.

Will make a quick review of all the Intel Comms and info. Updates (if any) to appear below within 30 minutes.

UPDATE 12:55 AM EST – MONDAY —

Zelensky has notified the world – that they are prepping the coordinated strike with those loing-range weapons inside Russia.

Putin in September this year on the update to their nuclear doctrine – will assume NATO is behind the coordinated attack ( target intel, targeting, equipment supply, equipment manning ) and may engage tactical nukes and will consider such an attack as NATO getting directly involved in war with Russia, we have various response options he said.

On Sunday, Russia launched 120 drones/missile in a large attack on Ukraine infrastructure and military targets. It is now widely being stated this attack was just a first immediate response to Biden’s move on long range missiles.

It is now also CONFIRMED Zelensky told Trump: Either promise us NATO or we will go with the nuke option within months.

RF response – we will not allow Ukraine to build nukes, period.

The TRUTH about the SOUL TRAP… (The Astral Plane was Corrupted?)

My grandfather should of gone to Fiddler’s Greene

My Paternal Grandfather was really interested in detective, and true crime stories right before he died.

When he was 74, he ended up with cancer, and started to spend a lot of time in the hospital. While there, he asked everyone to bring him the true crime stories. He read those things like a voracious wolf.

Then, he got worse and passed on.

What I think this meant was that he was preoccupied with death, Heaven and the life “beyond”. I cannot say that I blame him. We all feel that way. But, I find it interesting that this is how he wished to spend his last moments; reading about gruesome deaths.

Don’t do that.

Lots of better things to do with your time.

Fiddler’s Green is giving away free paper-plane card models. These can be scaled up and used as plans for foamie RC planes:

Google search results for Fiddlers Green plans here or search for threads by Vyceroy, was the master of this style.

Currently it is a ME-109 and Corsair. It changes every few weeks.

So super cheap. And a fun waste of time. Not into planes, cars, ships? No problem. Try their house and town models…

Today…

What is the best case of “You just picked a fight with the wrong person” that you’ve witnessed?

My story is essentially a movie trope now. I was sitting in my local pub with my dad who was in a wheelchair, it was during the midweek (in Scotland), early evening, so it was pretty quiet, just a handful of middle aged guys, me and my dad. 4 young yob lads came in, if you’re in the UK you know the type, baseball caps, tracksuits, swaggering like Liam Gallacher, thinking they’re hard men.

They’d obviously had a few drinks before coming in, and after a few pints and us putting up with their shit tunes on the jukebox, they started getting a bit rambunctious, getting progressively louder and more aggressive as the evening turned to night.

One of the old guys, having gotten sick of their “doof doof” dance music crap got up and stuck a few quid in the jukebox, putting on some old 60’s 70’s rock music. One of the young team took offence to this, and got in his face, he started mouthing off at the old guy, who just stood there, impassive, and after a couple of minutes of this abuse the young team joined in, so one of the other regulars got up off his bar stool and stood behind the young team, and as if on some unseen signal, the old guy who was backed up against the jukebox just stuck the head right on the lad who was in his face, while his friend grabbed 2 of the young team and pulled them away, as the boy who’d been nutted reeled back, the old boy went for his friend, knocking him out with a left in the gut, and a hard right to the side of his head as he doubled over.
Meanwhile his friend had knocked one guy out with one punch, and when he turned his attention to the last guy, he blocked a punch and hit the boy so hard he flew over the pool table!

Turned out both of them were class fighters in their day, and some things you just don’t forget.

Morale of the story is, be respectful to people you don’t know, because you don’t know their history, and don’t know what they’ve done or been through.

Never saw those lads in the pub again, and they weren’t missed!

To Die for Beef Roast

This is one of the best roasts you will ever taste. Carrots, potatoes and celery can also be added, if desired.

Ingredients

1 beef roast (any kind)
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix
1 envelope brown gravy mix
1 envelope Italian dressing mix
1/2 cup warm water

Instructions

Place roast in slow cooker.
Mix contents of all 3 envelopes and sprinkle over roast.
Pour water into the bottom of the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours.

Robert Bigelow Tells Bob Lazar Stories

What would cause someone to walk out during a negotiation with a car salesman?

A simple negotiating strategy is “take it off the table”.

it works both ways: I am the car salesman, you are looking at a $45,000 car. We talk about it, test drive, you are looking at it, I hear and see buying signs. I want to test the waters. “John, look we are having a special sales “spif” this month and I really need to sell some cars. Let’s cut to chase here. (Looking over my shoulder to make sure no one else hears) I can sell you this car, today only, (scarcity) and knock off $10,000. $35,000 and you are out the door. What do you say?”

If the buyer balks, he’s not sure, looking at other deals. I say “okay, I get it. I’m going to withdraw the offer.” if the buyer is jumping in, then he was never a buyer.

I am a buyer… I find a car that I like, its a slightly used Lexus, $45,000 sticker. Salesman walks up, “Can I help you?” I say “Yes, I’m liking this GS 350 here. Do you have the mileage? “ he says “Let me get that for you. Want to drive it? I’ll get the keys.” He comes back and we test drive the car, rides like a dream, smooth, nice interior… I’m sold. We get out I make him stand in the hot sun, facing the sun. “How hard is that sticker price?” He says “we have a little wiggle room.” “Okay, my offer is $39,000, lets write up” I say. He says “not that much wiggle room.” I take my business card, write on the card… “Green GS 350, $39,000.” hand it to the sales guy. “Call me when this offer is good.” and leave…

Or better: I say “Okay my offer is $39,000.” He says “Oh, we don’t negotiate here, the price is the price.” I say “Yeah, I don’t either. Here is my offer. call me when its good.”

They will call “we have a blue Toyota / we have a white impala / we have a red tundra.”

Finally they will call, “the best we can do is $42,000.” I say “You are almost there.” click.

Is it safe to say that China is at least 30 years ahead of India?

Very safe! In fact, you can increase that number to 40 or 50 and it will still be true.

I lived in a Chinese village with a Chinese family for one month as part of a homestay program. I started my journey from Shanghai airport, and the entire stretch of road leading to the village was smooth, with no potholes, no litter, and not once did I see anyone driving their vehicle on the wrong side of the road, or see stray dogs and cattle hold up vehicles.

Every house in the village had an attached toilet, 24×7 electricity, and the houses all had modern appliances like washing machine, refrigerator, TV, Wi-Fi etc. And I had visited quite a few houses.

Every classroom in the village primary school had a TV which the teachers used to teach their students. The secondary school had Wi-Fi.

All the villagers wore helmets while riding their electric scooters. Every single one of them could read and write Mandarin, and none of them littered or spat or peed in the open.

The women all wore jeans, dresses, skirts etc. and no one judged them and shamed them for “aping the west”. What mattered was their ability, not what clothes they wore.

It was completely safe to wander around the village after dark. No one got harassed for their gender, nationality etc. None of the female participants in the homestay program ever mentioned that they felt uncomfortable, or were stared at by men for wearing shorts. None of us faced any racist taunts.

I’m not saying that China has no problems, but this Chinese village had better services than most Indian cities (we can still only dream of uninterrupted power supply, or 24×7 water, or pothole-free roads).

I cannot say with authority that all villages in China are like this, but I would wager that many of them are. The cities are of course in a different league. I stayed in the suburbs to the north of Shanghai for a few days, not a tourist area. The neighbourhoods were clean, with excellent roads, and footpaths were not cluttered by hawkers. People followed traffic rules. I went to a side street where there were stalls selling street food, and it was clean. No one littered, there was no garbage anywhere.

It’s not just their GDP or infrastructure. It’s their mentality too that has helped China zip ahead.

Scott Ritter Discloses: How the Russian Hypersonic Missile Changed the Game in Ukraine!

Why does this YouTuber named “serpentza” go to such lengths to stigmatize China? Especially when so many tourists come to China?

There are many like him. China Uncensored, one Asian guy who speaks fluent English, one old aunty. All are on YouTube. I know these four because I have been following them for a long time. There’s also a news site called Bitter Winter.

All of them focus only on China. They never tell good things. They even exaggerate the tiniest bad thing about China. They don’t only talk about how bad the government is, but also how bad the Chinese people are. They go to such great lengths, making lies and twisting facts. They don’t care about their own credibility. The sole purpose of their existence is to spread hate on China.

Something is definitely wrong. Why are such news sites allowed to exist? Why do they have a wide following? From where do they collect all those information? Plus, they don’t look like solo artists but more like lowly funded news organizations.

Based solely on what they themselves are sharing, it’s right to call them US propaganda machine. Also, they stay shut about Palestine, but I once watched a China Uncensored video where he sided with the Israelis. Otherwise, it’s just wrong to talk bad about a whole country without ever showing an ounce of respect. It’s like their hobby is to slander China.

Does media like them exist for other countries? No matter which country you are from, if there were people like them always talking bad about your country and your people, how would you feel?

Edit: I checked YouTube and here are the ones I have mentioned and one more: China Observer, China Insider with David Zhang, China Insights. There’s one anti-China aunty that I have mentioned but I’m too lazy to search and I forgot her channel name.

At what stage in your life did you realize, “No, I can’t do this any more” and walk out? Why?

My step father came into my life when I was 8, and treated me and my siblings badly without a word of interference from my mother for the rest of my childhood. I left home at eighteen, and got together with the woman I’m married to at age 25. She had two children, a boy of three and a half and a girl of six months, so I got an entire family in one fell swoop. A year later we had been on holiday with the children, and dropped by my mother’s cabin on the way home. We were supposed to sleep there before driving the long way home.

My step father was drunk, and proceded to be nasty to our son. I got mad as a wasp, and informed him he was not allowed to talk to my children like that. There was a huge quarrel, he and I shouting, my mother claiming “He didn’t mean it”, the children crying, my wife watching it all with her mouth open, utterly appalled. It finally calmed down, but he kept mumbling nasty remarks through dinner, so we decided to leave. I also decided I would no longer spend time in his company. After that I have seen him at weddings and christenings, and that’s it.

I wish him well, but will not allow his poison to infect my life any more.

Pennsylvania Dutch Chili

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 pound homemade noodles or 1 (12 to 16 ounce) bag wide egg noodles
1 can baked beans
1 cup spaghetti sauce or less (or 1 small jar)

Instructions

Brown ground beef and onion.
Cook and drain egg noodles.
Combine everything. You may need additional sauce if you have leftovers and warm them up later. Chili should be thick, not soupy.
Serve with crusty bread.

911 Call for Help Leads to Horrifying Discovery

https://youtu.be/_BvrwyR4dCM

Shorpy

BILL PAXTON DEATH IN DETAIL AT 61

He was young, and a favorite actor of mine.

Can a time come when coaching institutes will be banned?

Absolutely

Coaching Institutes in India and the Coaching Culture is REGRESSIVE

It may produce rankers but it doesn’t produce Quality Engineers

It essentially gives false hopes to thousands of students who would otherwise face reality of their own abilities and get on with their lives productively

They must be REFORMED

Lets see come Chinese Reforms and whether or not they would be adapted to India :-

Videos of Lectures by Tutors CANNOT be commercialized for an Annual Cost that exceeds 3200 RMB a year in TOTAL (Previously they charged as much as 11999 RMB a year per subject). Thats a 90% Price cut mandated by law
No Coaching App can seek venture capital or funding for any Tier 1/2/3 rounds unless the said App matches the Coaching Fees charged by Individual Tutors for 150 Hours a year (3000 RMB a year to 4500 RMB a year instead of 30,000 RMB a year)
Pictures of Ranking Students cannot be advertised by Coaching Institutions or the Institution will be fined and penalized criminally and Any Student who misrepresents his rank by taking money from a Coaching Institute will face a 3 Year Ban in entering any Institution in China
Teachers who teach in Private or Public School are forbidden to take Coaching Classes exceeding 8 Hours a week and their maximum hourly rate is capped (I don’t know how much but it’s way lower than what it was)

Xi broke the entire Industry single handedly

No more teachers who could charge the world and ignore school for private coaching.

Everything was Capped and at very low rates that bankrupted half the coaching institutes

Advertising was entirely based on mouth to mouth endorsements and no billboards or photo publishing of students getting top rank based on cash incentives

Such Students who took money to claim they took their training from so & so coaching institute would face a 3 year ban from any course

This encourages Group discussion

Right from the Youngest Age – they have divided students into study groups and have Wechat groups to discuss Projects, Assignments and Group Work

Private Tutors are allowed on an Hourly and they teach you at some dollars per hour rate

Professors and Teachers VOLUNTEER at CLCs and Community Coaching Centres where students can learn for free

We need to bring in a similar model adaptable to India

First we need a rule that students who fail more than 2 Attempts at NEET or UPSC or CAT or JEE cannot be enrolled in Coaching Centres or if they are, their enrollment must be FREE

Second we need to CAP THE COACHING FEES for all these exams

Third we must deduct tax right from the Coaching Fees like a TDS and impose 35% that the Coaches must bear

Fourth, we must mandate a cap on Online Coaching Fees which must be no higher than 33% of the Offline Fees

Fifth, we must offer large tax subsidies to free coaching offered on YouTube and other channels

Sixth we must impose a ban on School Teachers working for Coaching Classes unless their Tuition fee is capped at a certain hourly rate and no longer than 8 Hours a week

Maybe some of this is practical and some of this isn’t

I don’t know

I am saying things at the top of my head

However I do know that

REFORMS ARE CRITICAL AND MUST BE DONE NOW

To really find out how – you need to study the entire scenario , talk to students and find out and then begin a series of reforms

Students are becoming Rankers rather than Quality Engineers or Administrators

That must be stopped at any cost

Have you ever sold used cars for a living?

Sorta kinda.. when my older daughter was born 40 years ago my wife went on maternity leave and I needed to replace her income.

I started raising money by selling two extra cars I owned. I ran classified ads in the newspaper and dealt with customers. It was fun. Then my friend was going to junk a decent car because he was too lazy to sell it. I gave him the $100 the junkyard would have paid. I sold it for $600 with little effort.

I was on a roll! I drove around town looking for cars for sale or just sitting unused. I’d inquire and buy them cheap if I could. I’d check the newspaper ads early every day. I’d do minor repairs, clean and polish them to make them more attractive. One car had an entire garbage pail of trash in it!

I got to the point where I had two cars for sale in my driveway at all times. Guys would watch and inquire about different cars. I even sold one to my neighbor.

I did this the entire year until the weather got cold approaching winter. I figured I’d quit while I was ahead and before the cops or DMV figured me out. I did sell a car to a cop though!

It served me well. I replaced my wife’s salary and then some!

Is Intel becoming more and more like the feeling Boeing brings to people?

In terms of losing its engineering chops and becoming an overfinancialized blue chip play?

Yes.

However, Boeing’s problem ia execution, whereas Intel’s business model is facing obsolescence.

Both are in danger of ebbing away in the uncertain future ahead, though Boeing’s decline will be back stopped by the government, given its role as a key arms contractor and America’s only builder of airliners.

Boeing is one or two crashes from a PR nightmare, especially if it happens on the Max.

Intel’s product mix appear unsuitable for an ai-heavy world, and arm is projected to make huge inroads to the windows ecosystem in the coming years.

Intel needs a radical rethink, because the chips act cannot save it from drowning when the market moves decisively against a product portfolio. This is made worse by the poisonous politics that has reshaped demand in East Asia.

I don’t envy Intel at all.

Breaking: Undefeated US Indicator Signals “Full-Blown” Recession

Deng Xiaoping famously told British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that ‘China could take Hong Kong in a day.’ How serious was this threat? And were the Chinese at all concerned about the UK invoking Article 5 of the NATO treaty?

“How serious was this threat?”

Let me put it this way: the People’s Liberation Army could have taken back Hong Kong during the Chinese Civil War, long before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and long before Deng met Thatcher.

The 44th Army of the PLA chased the fleeing Kuomintang forces all the way to Shenzhen. Their troopers were at one point gathered at Hong Kong’s Lo Wu border. They were literally one river crossing away from the British colony. Hong Kong only had a few thousand colonial troops stationed at the time. The battle-hardened 44th could have easily taken the city in about a day with a single well-timed bayonet charge. Two days at the most.

Sir Alexander Grantham, who was the governor of Hong Kong at the time, recalled that the PLA didn’t even need to attack. All they had to do was cut off food and water supplies to the colony, and the British would have to surrender in less than a month.

But neither of these scenarios ever happened. Chairman Mao ordered the army to stop the attack and turn back, stating that he had “other plans for Hong Kong”. Premier Zhou Enlai himself personally oversaw the situation with Hong Kong, and made sure that nothing went amiss with its supply of food and water.

History vindicated Mao’s decision to not take back Hong Kong immediately. He had the vision and the sense to play the game of geopolitics.

Mao knew that China was poor and underdeveloped, and was soon to be sanctioned by the United States and the rest of the imperialist west for being a communist nation. A gateway to the west was desperately needed.
The British Empire, likewise, also needed Hong Kong to serve as its gateway to the east. By letting the British keep Hong Kong for just a little while longer, Mao prevented China from being isolated by an anti-China alliance of western powers completely, which was what would have happened if the British had been beaten and sent home crying to Uncle Sam.In 1950, the UK became one of the first capitalist countries to formally recognise the PRC.
Mao was worried about the overwhelming influence and control the Soviet Union had over the Chinese Communist Party. He did not want a communist China to be freed from Fascist Japan and the Imperialist West, only to answer to a red Russia. Having Hong Kong as a gateway to the west, meant that China would not have to depend entirely on the Soviet Union.History proved him right, as evident in the Sino-Soviet split in the 1950s, and the fall of North Korea in the 1990s.
Just because Mao let the British lord over the people of Hong Kong for a while longer, doesn’t mean he had forgotten about the welfare of its predominantly Chinese populace. The city’s status as a gateway between east and west was the sole reason its economy flourished in the 20th century.Hong Kong’s success was never a “miracle” or the result of British rule, but a by-product of the times, geopolitics, and external factors greater than the city itself – a lesson most people in Hong Kong, both young and old, have forgotten

Article 5 of NATO would not have been China’s main concern, because the article could only be invoked in case of an attack on a NATO member’s own soil (i.e. Europe or North America). In fact, the first time it was ever invoked was after the events of 9/11.

In any case, China did play a major part in the Korean War, fighting the coalition forces of the United Nations to a standstill, so I doubt the formation of NATO would have changed the course of history too much – and that’s assuming NATO was willing at all to waste money and lives defending the British Empire’s interests. There’s a reason why Article 5 was never invoked during the Falklands War.

The fact remains that the PRC never planned to take back Hong Kong by force in the first place. They had no illusions that the sun would never set on the British Empire. They knew Hong Kong would become Chinese again eventually.

Addendum:
Chiang Kai-shek actually wanted to take back Hong Kong from the British after the Second World War. He rightfully saw the the Treaty of Nanking as humiliating to the Chinese people, and negotiated with the UK and the US to have the treaty abolished in 1942. The British Empire rejected the proposal, Chiang refused to relent, and so the matter was dropped from the agenda.

However, another agreement was formed that whoever entered Chinese territory previously under Japanese occupation first, would get to keep it for themselves.

When Japan surrendered in 1945, both the British and the Kuomintang scrambled to send forces to Hong Kong. KMT soldiers were apparently the first to enter Hong Kong’s New Territories, which was disputed by the UK.

The UK referred the matter to the US. President Truman wanted to ally with the UK against the Soviet Union, so he betrayed Chiang by declaring Hong Kong was never part of the deal. The KMT had to withdraw their forces, and Hong Kong soon became a British colony once again. So close, and yet so far.

This is actually a snapshot into what China was like under the Kuomintang government. Yes they were founded on great ideas by great men, but they were also de facto puppets of the Imperialist West, and therefore unable to give the Chinese people the rights, liberty, dignity and respect they deserved.

Hong Kong would very likely still be British today, had the communists lost the civil war.

Just In! Burkina Faso Forces Launch Ambush Operations Against Insurgent Groups!

Blue Moon

John K Adams

Dril entered from the air-lock. Myr looked up from the vid-screen.“Brrr, it’s cold out there.”“Don’t you wear your suit?”“Of course I do. You think I’m crazy?”Myr raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer that.“I remember reading it is always cold out there. It’s the moon, silly.”“I know it’s the moon. I got us this gig, remember?”“That I do.”“I mean, who better than us to prospect the best sites for mining delicious moon cheese?”“No one I can think of.” Myr sighed. “You know what you forgot to have delivered?”

“What’s that, Honey Pie?”

“Some new material. You have told a variation of that joke at least once daily for the last year.”

“Except, mining for cheese is serious business.”

“Please stop.”

Dril smiled at Myr. “You want me to cook dinner tonight?”

Myr sighed again. “Is it dinner time? I know what the clock says, but it doesn’t feel like dinner time. The sun is still out.”

“You know how this works, Myr.”

“Of course I do. I get it intellectually. But a month of sunshine followed by a month of darkness?”

“Actually, it’s more like two weeks.”

“Really? Who came up with that schedule?”

“Uhm… God?”

“I need a break, Dril.”

“What do you say we take a week and go to the Sea of Tranquility? Or to the mountains?”

Myr put her hands up to her ears and shook her head. “No. No. No. No. No.”

Dril passed on this opportunity to, once again, make a joke about American cheese and the flag left behind by the first men to land here.

“Let’s dance.” Dril moved toward Myr with a rhythmic step. He started singing. “Blue Moon… You saw me standing alone…”

Myr shrugged off his embrace. “Don’t you dare start about Kate Smith.”

Dril put his hands up, in frustration and surrender. “I’m trying to make the best of a…”

“Cabin fever. Isn’t that what you call it?”

“On the moon, it is called ‘existential angst’.”

“Thank you, Dr. Freud.”

Dril touched Myr’s elbow. “Come on, Babe. We never look at the earthrise anymore.” He waved his hand and the shaded, domed window automatically brightened. The colorless moonscape spread before them with Earth’s blue orb peeking from behind the distant mountains.

“Stark.”

Dril shook his head. “Look at the Earth, Babe. We’ll be going home before you know it. Think how much you’ll appreciate being back.”

“Are we there yet?”

“You’ve heard that you can’t go home again?”

“Watch me.”

Dril stood back. The moment had passed. “I’m going to go out and check the sensors.” He pointed to the counter stacked with various tools and gizmos. “Would you hand me the razzafraz?”

Myr looked at the disorderly mess Dril called his workbench. She picked up the tool on top of the others. “You mean this?”

“No. That’s the franaham… Next to the thingamajig.” Myr picked up another tool at random and held it up. “Thank you.” He took the tool from her and moved toward the airlock.

“Will you be long?”

“No. You know, routine maintenance. Never can say when some asteroid will wreak havoc on our survival systems.”

“I hate when that happens.”

Dril chuckled and ducked through the bulkhead door. He stepped into his suit, secured the safety devices and donned his helmet. Taking his time, he checked the vid-feed and sound system, a routine as ingrained and natural as brushing his teeth before bed. All systems were a ‘go’.

Not that Myr would be monitoring his progress. Lately, her heart wasn’t in it.

He checked the seals on the interior door and activated the exterior door. The small room filled with steam for a moment as the air froze and then escaped into the void.

Dril scanned the bright horizon. It still quickened him to take in this alien moonscape. It never changed. But he did. Each day, his perception of this perpetually static scene seemed fresh by what he brought to it. The frozen nature of it grounded him somehow.

And of course, he thought of what ‘phase’ they were in. He could never shake the earth-centric perspective. But now, Dril would also note Earth’s phase.

After watching Earth’s rise above the horizon, Dril checked the various monitors distributed around their home base and the outer shell of their home. With few variations, all seemed in order.

He chuckled at his own joke. “The barometer seems stuck. Weird, no air pressure at all.”

When on the frontier of space like this, Dril always celebrated an ordinary day.

Seeing the giant ‘S. O. S’ scrawled in the dust by Myr, always made him smile. That happened after their first few weeks on base.

Dril remembered watching her shuffling around in an aimless manner on the landing pad near their base camp. Or so he thought.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Sending a message to anyone who might be paying attention,” she answered.

Then he recognized the letters, wide as Stonehenge. Gigantic letters to be read by someone, anyone above them in the sky.

They read, “S. O. S.” Sans serif.

He knew she meant it. Keeping her morale up kept him busy. That was his hardest job.

Myr watched the airlock door shut. Though a daily occurrence, seeing Dril go out distressed her. What if something happened to him?

Of course, she knew all the routines and procedures. But to be alone out here on this rock… She shuddered at the thought. At first, it seemed a romantic adventure. Like being on a desert island together. Dril called it their ‘dessert island’. She never imagined how desolate the whole thing would be.

Myr entered the conservatory. She spent most of her time there. The humidity, greenery, and oxygen-rich air kept her sane. She loved caring for the plants more than anything. They were her life.

She liked the sunshine streaming into the greenhouse. The windows filtered the harsh light to a level the plants could tolerate. And she had artificial light to accommodate the long lunar nights.

Though primarily their source of fresh food, Myr lobbied for authorization to also bring decorative and flowering plants to their outpost. She prevailed by arguing an environment lacking in beauty would be better tended by a robot. Myr insisted ‘practical’ was broader in scope than ‘edible.’ A garden could include a feast for the eye as well as her belly and wouldn’t unduly tax their limited resources.

Myr had maintained even a guinea pig deserves a home and not merely a box filled with hay. Someone agreed and Myr received permission to transport seeds of her choosing, within strict guidelines.

Now she had a garden, her little paradise. But without apples or snakes. She cared for it with a passion.

The apparently spontaneous generation of certain insects and pests amazed Myr. They required constant monitoring, lest they damage the food crops. Myr understood they must have stowed away on the seeds or the soil. They were unwitting aliens on this unwelcoming stone.

Curiously, there were also spiders, who allied with her to maintain a balance within the garden. Life begets life.

She gathered a variety of tomatoes and other ripe vegetables for their dinner.

Indicator lights and a signature chirp told Myr that Dril was back. She felt calmer now and went out to greet him.

Dril already stood in the living zone when Myr entered from the kitchen. He smiled at her and they embraced. However brief his sojourns outside, Dril’s homecoming always caused her joy.

Dril asked her, “Tell me, how do you know when the moon is full?”

“You never think it is full.”

“No. Work with me.”

“Oh, a joke. Uhm… it’s always half empty?”

“No. It says, ‘hold the cheese’.”

Myr did not react. The new joke felt very old.

“How about this…? What flavor is a ‘blue moon’?”

“Dril, I was feeling better…”

“Roquefort!”

“Please?”

“Alright… One of these days I’ll make you laugh.”

Myr shook her head. “When that happens, you’ll know I’ve become a bonafide lunatic.”

They looked at each other for a moment and burst into laughter. They embraced and kissed warmly.

Dril looked into Myr’s eyes. “How do you do that? You always make me laugh.”

“My little secret, love. Let’s eat.”

They walked hand in hand into the kitchen.

Here’s some of MM’s latest artwork generations

The theme is closeness and intimacy, but those are flagged on the free subscription, so I performed some creative work-arounds.

Of course, figurative nudes, and tradition are in my interest set.

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(22)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(21)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 2(14)

@@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(20)

@@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 3(14)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(17)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(16)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(14)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(11)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 3(9)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 2(8)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(10)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 3(8)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(8)

What is the worst violation of firearms safety you’ve ever witnessed?

I’m sure I’ve told this story before…

Quite a number of years ago I was out shooting at a public range when a family showed up. Mom and dad, two kids, and even grandma.

They pile out of a pickup truck… and, well, to complete the visual here, they looked straight out of central casting as a Mariachi band. Now, I’m like “you do your thing, I’ll do mine”, but to say that this group was attention getting understates it by several orders of magnitude.

Dad had some cowboy guns, a revolver and a lever action rifle. They also had a grand total of one set of hearing protection between all of them. No eyepro is present.

They proceed to set up their “targets”, which are just a bunch of milk cartons filled with dirt…. Whatever, it’s a public range and people shoot all sorts of random shit. The boy takes a couple of them downrange, sets them down, and steps about three paces to the side.

Dad starts blasting. Yes, kid is still downrange as fuck.

I immediately decide that I don’t want to have to deal with the paperwork when one of these idiots shoots someone, and start packing up. But I’m doing it slow, because I’m keeping one eye on these guys, and keeping my very loaded rifle slung and ready because I’m also somewhat concerned that I’m going to have to shoot one of these idiots myself if the stupidity level goes up another notch, and I want it to be very obvious that if they point a gun at me they are pointing a gun at a man with a clearly loaded AR.

After they blast some rounds in the dirt, the kid eventually comes back behind the line, and the kids pull out the revolver to take turns shooting.

The boy walks up to the line with the revolver and the girl sits on the bench next to him, looks right at him, and I see the next few moments in slow motion. The boy pulls the trigger and the girl gets an absolute face full of cylinder gap, and screams.

I chose that moment to exit, stage left, but that whole scene is burned into my brain, as assuradly as hot gas was burned into that poor girls eyes.

Hunter Discovers 29 Human Body Parts in the Desert

https://youtu.be/AFboKFzJza4

Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

12 large leaves cabbage
1 cup cooked white rice
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup minced onion
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

xr:d:DAGAaqI9iis:37,j:8728398767535521041,t:24032415

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil cabbage leaves 2 minutes, just until pliable; drain.
In large bowl, combine rice, egg, milk, onion, ground beef, salt and pepper.
Place about 1/4 cup of meat mixture in center of each cabbage leaf, and roll up, tucking in ends. Place rolls in slow cooker, seam side down.
In a small bowl, mix together tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over cabbage rolls.
Cover, and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours.

Foreign Woman Meets American Women & NOW Understands Why Passport Bros Exist!

The look on their faces when she said she understood why men are traveling out the states. The salt was real in that room!!!

Why did the Prime Minister of Bengal quit her post and fled the country?

She has no choice but to fly away; the country has already fallen into a downward spiral.

On the surface, the recent unrest in Bangladesh appears to be due to civil service positions being skewed in favor of military families, but this is just a trigger. Even if there were zero reserved positions for military families, there would still be hundreds of thousands of university graduates competing for very few positions.

The essence of the problem is economic decline and public dissatisfaction.

Bangladesh is in deep trouble.

Firstly, there is a population explosion. With such a small land area, it has 170M people. China has a large population, but Bangladesh’s population density is nearly ten times that of China! Russia’s land area is 116 times that of Bangladesh, yet its population is 30 million less.

The total population of these red areas on Earth, compressed into a very small point, is Bangladesh.

With such a large population, the vast majority are engaged in agriculture, which has very low added value.

Bangladesh is the second most disaster-prone country in the world (the first is the Philippines).

Previously, population growth was slow, relying entirely on the harsh adjustment of natural disasters.

During the last major famine, 10 million out of a population of 40 million in Bangladesh died of starvation.

After entering the modern era, pesticides, high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and vaccines have caused a sharp increase in the agricultural population.

Unlike China, which has implemented family planning policies, a democratically elected government in Bangladesh cannot do the same. As a result, the population continues to grow while land area remains fixed, and frequent natural disasters make it difficult to develop a secondary industry on a large scale.

The world’s largest and most dangerous ship-breaking yard is in Bangladesh, but it can only accommodate 200,000 workers, and the value added to production is extremely low.

The country’s pillar industry, the textile industry, has little technological content and faces extremely fierce international competition.

In fact, it is at the bottom of the international division of labor.

Another mistake is the excessive emphasis on higher education. At this stage, the country should focus more on basic education rather than higher education.

After receiving higher education, many young people are unwilling to settle for low-income jobs.

What’s worse is that the country has invested significant resources in cultivating a highly educated population, but most of them are liberal arts graduates.

In China, for example, when I was taking the college entrance exam, the ratio of STEM students to liberal arts students was about 8:1 to 9:1.

There was even some discrimination against liberal arts students at that time; those who failed to compete in STEM fields were the ones considering studying liberal arts.

Even today, the ratio of STEM students to liberal arts students in China is still about 1:1, and STEM students generally have better job prospects and salaries compared to liberal arts students.

(To this day, on the Chinese Internet, the phrase “Are you a liberal arts student?” is still clearly mocking and contemptuous.)

(I believe Vietnam should also learn from this. Today, in Vietnam, the ratio of STEM majors to liberal arts majors is about 1:2, which is far too high for liberal arts students.)

With so many liberal arts graduates, who have broad perspectives, they are naturally unwilling to engage in hard work after graduation, leading to unrest.

Democratic governments and parliamentary politics are not very suitable for late-developing countries.

If Bangladesh cannot make the most of the remaining value of manual labor before AI and automation technologies become dominant, and cannot push for more industrialization, the future of Bangladesh will be very concerning.

GUANGZHOU IS SO MODERN! | An INDIAN’s First Time In CHINA

Diggin for fun and other’s profit

I once took a couple of anthropology and archeology courses at Gannon University to flush out my humanity requirements at Syracuse.

These were fun courses, and I pretty much spent all Summer digging up old relics and stuff from the past in and around Erie, PA. Lot’s and lots of “arrow heads”, “scrapers” and ancient hearths.

We would sometimes go on remote digs, perhaps an hour or two drive out of our way.

In one such dig we encountered a few coins.

We carefully dug them up, and duly recorded them. Ah. It was a grand discovery!

Because of their location, and the history, we suspected that a hoard must have been buried nearby. But it was getting late, so we all packed up and left.

The dig was an old 1700’s era trading center with one main house and a few low buildings. All were long gone, but we were digging there because a damming of the local stream would cause the entire location to be under water.

We came back the next day, and some dunder-head (maybe the dig supervisors) came with a metal detector and unearthed quite a hoard.

We didn’t actually know, but given the size of the hole, perhaps 200 to 300 old coins.

*Sigh.*

I would have loved to be part of that discovery. Now, some leach that sat by on the sidelines took the swag that we so carefully researched and dug up.

It’s like Working for a corporation in America, eh?

You do the labor. Someone else gets the swag.

*sigh*

Still, I enjoyed the experiences, and they were really fun and interesting to me. I will never forget them. If you all have an opportunity to, take a course in this kind of stuff a the local community college. You might discover how much fun that you will have. I’ll tell you what.

Today…

Have you ever been in the presence of a celebrity but didn’t know who they were at the time?

About 5 years ago, I was delivering food, in the Dallas area. I knocked on the door of an apartment, and a bald headed, muscular man answered. He told me the food wasn’t supposed to come there, but he didn’t seem too upset. I gathered that he had ordered for someone else, but neglected to change the address. But anyhoo, he asked if I’d like a tip. Sure! I replied. He starts digging in his wallet, and I’m expecting a couple of bucks. He pulls out a nice, crisp Benjamin ($100 bill). Now that’s a pretty generous tip, for an order that wasn’t for him in the first place. Then he starts looking, with very penetrating blue eyes, at me, and says “ Remember me. I’m Steve”.

I don’t follow wrestling, but known people who have. I believe it was Stone Cold Austin. Why he was alone in an apartment (not a luxury apartment, but not a crappy one, somewhere in the middle) in Dallas I dunno. He is from Texas (I researched him afterwards), but Victoria, on the Gulf side of the state. Perhaps he had a girlfriend there, or one of his kids, or just a hideaway, when in Dallas. The bill was genuine. It spent at the self checkout at Kroger.

The Thing (1982) | First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Asia and BJ

What blew your mind today?

This.

So I was reading a book called ‘The eyes of darkness’. And another called ‘end of days’.

This book was written in 1981. (Keep this info in mind). It talks about a virus coming in 2020, from China, wuhan and some of it (not all) seems all too familiar. I just found it interesting.

Now I’m not saying the book is all correct. Maybe it’s just probability or coincidence. I think everyone has different beliefs, the virus hasn’t suddenly disappeared yet, but we’re not at the stage where the end is near.

Everyone thinks differently, I’m into conspiracy theories and bipolar doesn’t help, maybe I’m delusional. Not sure, take from it, what you will 🙂

I just posted because I thought it was interesting, it is a fictional book after all.

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Here’s the book if you want to read it. It also predicts mental health issues being the worst and the most increased in the 21st century and a bunch of other stuff which has actually happened.

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Edit: I think the comments are clearly missing my point, as usual (this is quora after all). Yes, there’s plenty of predictions and it’s probably just by chance. Yes not all of them are spot on. I never said this was fact, as it’s a fictional book. I just found it interesting ffs. Not saying you have to believe it. Maybe it’s my bipolar or too many punches I’ve had, like many rudely told me in the comments 😂

Some of these comments, which I’ve reported have been horrible and personally attacking. I didn’t know something I found interesting could offend someone that much😂😁.

I just found it interesting, calm yourself 😉

Putin SHOCKED The WORLD! Russia Dealt a Cold-Blooded BLOW on the U.S. in ARCTIC!

What are the best examples of people who have “gamed the system”?

Originally Answered: What are some of the best examples of people cheating “the system”?

This is from cracked.com, whose writers always seem to be able to find the strangest examples I could never even dream of

In the late 1960s, Leonard Casley grew way too much wheat, which could only ever be a serious problem if you live in Australia. You see, Australia had wheat quotas at the time and Hutt River (the province where Casley and other families grew) had inadvertently surpassed it, meaning they weren’t allowed to sell any of it. When they petitioned for the quota to be raised, the governor responded by saying, “No,” and filing a law to take their land away. THAT’S how serious Australians are about wheat.

In a desperate attempt to delay the legal process, the five families of Hutt River seceded from Australia under the Treason Act of 1495. This would have been as pointless as that time you were five and told your mom you were leaving home… if the government hadn’t accidentally referred to Casley as “Administrator of Hutt River Province” in official correspondence, which actually gave him legal recognition as a ruler under Australian law. Yes, in Australia, calling someone something magically turns them into that.

Taking full of advantage of the mistake, Casley declared himself His Majesty Prince Leonard I of Hutt, meaning it was now treason, under Australian law, to charge him with any crime or interfere with how he ran his new country.

Could Australia have stopped him? Sure. But by the time they got around to it, the statute of limitations had run out. So as of 1972, The Principality of Hutt River had officially seceded from Australia and stopped paying income taxes.

As of the modern day, Hutt River is still separate, while Australia treats it as a private business that doesn’t pay them taxes and just tries, really hard, to pretend it’s not there.

Jumpin’ Jack Chili

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Chili

1 cup onion, diced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 (15 ounce) cans great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped (rotisserie chicken can be used)
1 cup (4 ounces) Wisconsin Monterey Jack Cheese*, coarsely grated and divided
1 cup (4 ounces) Wisconsin Colby Cheese, coarsely grated and divided

Toppings

Crushed corn chips, sour cream, chopped green onions, olives, chopped tomatoes, oyster crackers, goldfish crackers, bacon

Instructions

Cook onion in hot oil in heavy stock pan (Dutch oven) over medium-high heat, stirring until tender.
Add green chiles, garlic and cumin; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add beans and chicken broth, stirring well. Bring to boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add chicken, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack and 1/2 cup Colby Cheese; simmer over low heat for 10 minutes more.
Ladle chili into bowls. Top each serving with remaining cheeses and desired toppings.

Notes

* Or use Pepper Jack or Jalapeño Jack

Why Eastern Europe Is Safer And Better To Raise A Family In Than The West

Who supported the military coup in Bangladesh? Did it also happen before?

Who is behind the coup? We as an outsider dont know yet.

I only notice 1 thing:

Bangladesh went to China & signed an infrastructure deal with China.

The moment she went home, she tore the deal with China & accepted a contract/agreement with India to build a bridge or something.

Case closed, we thought No, a riot/coup broke out.

Both USA & India are notorious to instigate riots/coups in other countries so as to make others bow down to them. USA, global. India, southern Asia. Both do assassination too.

History will tell us who is the culprit. Let us wait.

Sri Lanka experienced a riot too when it joined an infrastructure project with China. It took a few years before the truth surfaced, after American scholars did a research. In the case of Sri Lanka, it was India who instigated the riot. But it was USA who spread the fake news re Debt Trap. Now the Debt Trap has proven fake after 10 years. But riots/coups still can happen.

On the Way to Paradise

Cory Pines

“You told me this would be a short trip. We’ve been on this wretched ship for twelve years!” Halo roared.”I know, but I broke the digital map and-“”I don’t care what happened! I paid you a good handful of money and I expected to be home long before now!”Halo had the perfect life back on Earth, but he just had to pay Mirabella almost three billion to take him to Tariphor, the most beautiful paradise planet in the galaxy. The trip was only supposed to be nine years in total, but the journey to Tariphor had stretched out to twelve! Halo had spent most of the time in hypersleep, but they had recently hit some strange turbulence that woke him.”Sir, I told you before we left that I was only an amateur pilot. I just got out of flight school, too,” Mirabella tried to explain.”That was twelve years ago! You should be better by now, Mire,” Halo complained.

They had left Earth when Halo was only 23 years old. He had spent his golden years of life in hypersleep and he was just as close to Tariphor as he was when still on Earth’s surface.

Mirabella wasn’t that happy about it either. She was 19 when they left and, unlike Halo, had actually begun to age. She wished she could’ve been the one frozen in some fancy tank. She missed her family more than anything, wishing she could just turn around and head back to Earth, but she didn’t know which way home was anymore.

“Well, what would you like me to do about it?” Mirabella asked. She didn’t mean for it to sound as angry as it did, and was simply curious, as she had run out of things to try and was willing to do anything to get back home.

“Well, you’re the pilot. You should know what you’re doing!”

“If you don’t have anything to contribute, you can just go back to bed,” Mirabella stated flatly.

“You’re insane if you think you can tell me, the youngest self-made multi-billionaire, what to do,” Halo said, “Now, where can I get a bite to eat?”

“We ran out of food three days ago,” Mirabella admitted.

“Were you not rationing it properly?” Halo asked.

“I made food for nine years last for twelve, I think I did a fine job rationing,” Mirabella said defensively.

“What about that?” Halo asked. He pointed to a small blue cube placed on the chair next to Mirabella’s. He had never seen anything like it, but it looked a little like Jell-O. He hoped it was edible. After all, the backlash of waking up from hypersleep gave him quite the appetite.

“Don’t you dare try to eat him. he’s some sort of space creature, not food. I think he’s sleeping,” Mirabella said.

“It looks delicious.”

“You’ll probably flip your organs inside-out if you eat him. Then, I’ll have to find a way to revive you, and suddenly kill you again for your stupid decision… After that, I’ll revive you a second time since I really don’t want to be alone in the endless abyss of space.”

“Could you even do that?”

“Not at all. In reality, you’d just stay dead,” she shrugged.

“How did this thing even get on the ship?” Halo asked.

Just as Halo was finished speaking, the blue Jell-O like creature, opened its eyes. They were huge, covering half the creature’s boxy face. It hopped up onto Mirabella’s shoulder.

“I let him in,” Mirabella said.

“What if that creature tries to kill us?” Halo asked.

“He’s, like, five inches tall. How would he?” she asked.

Halo eyed the creature warily. He didn’t really trust the thing, but Mirabella was right; it was small and Halo knew he could easily overpower it if he needed to.

“At least tell me you didn’t name it,” Halo said.

Mirabella didn’t answer.

“Oh my God, why? Why in the world would you name it?” Halo asked.

“I call him Berry,” Mirabella admitted, fiddling with her hands.

The creature, Berry, looked up at Mirabella when he heard his name. Halo watched as the creature snuggled down and began to purr. He had to admit that Berry was cute, but that still didn’t mean he trusted the thing.

“You shared our food with it,” Halo said.

“I couldn’t just let him starve!” Mirabella replied.

“I mean, you could’ve. Then at least I would have something to eat,” Halo said. Halo was a little upset that Mirabella cared more about feeding a space creature than a human that paid her three billion dollars.

“Come on, just look at him, he’s so cute,” Mirabella said. Mirabella picked the creature up off of her shoulder and held it in her hands.

“I don’t see it,” Halo said.

Suddenly, a loud buzzer went off and the ship started to flash red.

“What in the world is happening!” Halo shouted over the buzzer.

“I don’t know, the ship hasn’t acted like this since the map broke!” Mirabella shouted back, “I need you to hold him.” She passed Berry over to Halo who took it slowly and held it as far away from his body as possible.

Mirabella rushed over to the control panel and began to fidget with the levers and buttons. Halo approached her slowly, still holding Berry at arm’s length, to watch.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I can’t tell, just give me a sec,” Mirabella replied.

At that point, Berry hopped out of Halo’s hands and landed on a small square button. Suddenly the sound stopped, though the lights of the ship were still flashing.

“I know what it is,” Mirabella said.

“What, what is it?” Halo asked, dying to know.

“We’re almost out of fuel, the ship is warning us that we need to find somewhere to land,” Mirabella explained.

Halo looked around the ship and through the large windows. Outside all he saw was blackness, stars, and the occasional comet, not of which were big enough for their ship.

“How can we do that, there is nothing but space out there!” Halo shouted.

“Duh there is nothing but space. We’re in space, Halo!” Mirabella shouted in response.

“We’re going to crash, we are going to crash and I am going to die. I still had my whole life ahead of me. Finding a partner, raising a family, adopting a hundred and one cats just because I can,” Halo complained. He began to pace back and forth, rushing his hands through his hair as he spoke.

“You’re probably right,” Mirabella said, “I don’t think there is any way for us to survive this.”

“That’s not what I wanted to hear!” Halo shouted. He paused from the pacing to face Mirabella, “Instead of living out my perfect life, I am going to die in space. With nothing but you and that creature to keep me company.”

“Well, what do you suggest we do instead?” Mirabella asked.

“I don’t know Mire, I’m not a pi- hold on what is that thing doing?”

Mirabella turned to see than Berry’s Jell-O like skin was changing from blue to red. He was also growing.

“He’s never done that before,” Mirabella admitted.

They stood back as Berry grew more and more until he went from 5 inches tall, to 5 feet. The thing was huge.

“What do we do, what do we do?” Halo asked, quickly hiding behind Mirabella.

Mirabella slowly walked up to Berry with her arm outstretched. The cube eyed her cautiously as she reached out and placed her hand on its head. That must have really ticked him off because his skin began to change quickly between colors, and it seemed to scream out in pain. Mirabella quickly backed up to the edge of the ship were Halo was cowering.

“What did you do?” Halo shouted.

“I just touched him,” Mirabella said.

“That’s it, we’re going to die,” Halo said.

“Yes, we already agreed on that.”

“Mire, we need to get outta here,” Halo said.

“We can’t leave Berry though, he’s my friend!” Mirabella said.

“Your friend is a space monster, now come on!” Halo announced.

He grabbed her hand and yanked her through the ship’s door to the hypersleep pods. He quickly locked the door behind him and only seconds later they heard a Jell-O like squish banging on the door over and over.

“Alright, what’s the plan?” Halo asked.

“Maybe we can just let Berry in and the three of us can talk it out,” Mirabella suggested.

“Mire, I’m not sure if you’ve realized this or not, but that thing is trying to murder us,” Halo said.

“He’s just scared,” Mirabella said.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me the first time, that thing is trying to murder us!” Halo said, his voice rising until he was shouting at her.

“This is all your fault. If you had never woken up, Berry wouldn’t be so upset,” Mirabella stated.

“My fault, you think this is my fault? You were the one that woke me up when you hit turbulence, you have no one to blame but yourself,” Halo replied.

“Maybe you should have been nicer to Berry.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have brought on a weird space creature.”

“Maybe you should-” before she could finish, the door was knocked down and the giant, now green, Berry bounced into the room.

“What do we do, and don’t try and approach it again, that just made it angrier,” Halo said.

“Hey, Berry,” Mirabella said, “How are you buddy. I know that Halo can be kinda mean sometimes-”

“Hey!”

“Shut up,” she whispered harshly before continuing, “But just because he’s a little mean, it doesn’t mean you should kill him. We can talk through this, I just need you to shrink back down, okay buddy?”

The creature took a step closer to the two humans. Halo grabbed Mirabella’s hand and tried to pull her back to him, but she stayed standing in front of Berry.

“I don’t think this is working…” Halo said.

“What do you suggest we do instead, we are going to die anyway, either by this creature or by crashing!” Mirabella shouted.

“So we should just give up?” Halo asked.

“Why not? It’s not like we have anything left to fight for. Even if by some miracle we manage to get out of this, we still have no idea how to get home,” Mirabella said.

“We can figure that out,” Halo said. He couldn’t explain this sudden spark of hope came from, but he really didn’t want to die here, especially at the hands of a blue cube. He wished he would have thrown out the cube while it was still small, but it was too late now for ‘what if’s.’

“I’m gonna let him eat me,” Mirabella said. She yanked her hand away from Halo’s grasp and stood her ground.

“You’re gonna what?” Halo asked, shocked.

“I let him onto this ship, the least I can do for it is provide him with a final meal,” Mirabella said.

“What about your family?” Halo asked, trying to convince her to stay.

“It’s been twelve years! Halo, what’s even the point of going back, nothing will be how it was. People have probably forgotten all about us,” Mirabella said.

“How could anyone forget about me?” Halo asked.

“Halo, listen, we don’t have a plan to get back to Earth. We don’t have a plan to land the ship. We don’t have a plan to calm down Berry-”

“We could kill him,” Halo suggested.

“We are not killing him. My point is, in the last moments of our life, we might as well do something for this little creature.”

“I wouldn’t call him little anymore.”

“Are you with me or not?” Mirabella asked.

She held out her hand for Halo to take. This was insane! He couldn’t believe that he was actually thinking about joining her. Mirabella was crazy to even want to let Berry eat the two of them, and yet, Halo couldn’t stop himself from grabbing her hand.

Mirabella smiled before the two of them turned to face Berry. Halo closed his eyes as they walked towards the creature. He could feel himself being absorbed into it before he lost all control over his body and blacked out.

Halo awoke with a gasp, he was breathing heavy. Did he really just do that? Was he dead? Was this heaven? He was sitting in a bed, hospitalized. He looked around the see Mirabella was laying in the bed next to him. There were wires and tubes all around them, some of them going into his body.

Then Halo spotted it. Berry was sitting on the nightstand, once again five inches tall. He had taken back his original blue color and was staring up at Halo. Where was he? Had this all just a dream?

The door to the room opened and a doctor walked in holding a clipboard.

“Ah, Mr. Tharen, you’re up,” the doctor said.

“Please, call me Halo, and can you explain to me what happened?” Halo asked.

“Of course,” she began to walk around the room, checking the tubes and making small notes of her clipboard, “It’s been fourteen years since you left Earth, though, by the looks of it, you barely aged a day. Most people here thought that you were dead, died in a crash or something, but two weeks ago, this creature-” she nodded her head over to Berry- “brought you back. We’ve been reviving you and Miss Miller ever since.”

“You mean to tell me that creature… saved me?” Halo asked.

“Yes, it appears to have a soft spot for you. It never even left your side. Tell me, are you feeling alright? Do you need anything?” the doctor asked.

“Just some water,” Halo said.

The doctor left. Halo turned and stared at Berry who just stared back blankly. A small smile appeared on Halo’s face.

“Thanks,” he whispered, “Thanks for bringing us home.”

Neocons closer than ever to war with Iran

People say that there is more oil production under Biden and then there was under Trump. But if that’s the case why are our energy prices and gas prices so high?

There was once a time where doe-eyed Americans thought that capitalism was a just system that rewarded hard work and innovation. Supply was dictated by demand. Seemed simple, right?

Then Ronald Reagan came along and lowered corporate taxes from 70% to 28%. The theory was that companies would make more money and those profits would “trickle down” to the consumers.

What ACTUALLY happened was that corporations could now set whatever prices they wanted and the rich could store their wealth in offshore tax havens. The money would get to the top and be shipped overseas, only to be used by the wealthy to influence policy, and further exploit the worker in exchange for lavish lifestyles and ridiculous qualities of life.

The government continues to subsidize oil companies despite them posting record profits year after year. Why is the government doing this? Hmm….

Gas and oil prices can come down 30% and the suppliers would still make a profit, but the consumers would enjoy a better quality of life. That’s not what the rich want. They want more. It doesn’t matter if the poor suffer, they’re getting theirs.

The president has nothing to do with gas prices other than to propose policies to congress that would regulate those prices more… but then lobbyists come along and petition representatives to ignore regulations and increase tax cuts. trump cut taxes to companies from 35% to 21% and we lost 2–3 trillion dollars (depending on who you ask) from the budget. That money went straight to the top, but congress will tell you that adding 2 trillion to the federal budget in the form of healthcare and student loan forgiveness is unsustainable.

Know what’s unsustainable? UNFETTERED FUCKING CAPITALISM! That’s what.

Bernie has only been perfectly correct for about 45 years now.

MM’s latest works

Still playing around. Lots of nudes, and trying to mess around a bit with historical themes.

Angels…

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(17)

Ancient Chinese rulers…

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 2(13)

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(12)

Crete and cooking…

@Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 2(11)

Female Bacchus….

Same theme, but at a pool taking orders from a cat.

Now as a man, instead of a woman…

Russia successfully tests ” Burevestnik ” global range cruise missile, US panics

Why is China so obsessed with conquering Taiwan when Taiwan is a peaceful country that just wants to be left alone and has never done anything bad to China?

1.) Do you recognize what is this place?

Old Summer Palace – Wikipedia

Here is the description from wikipedia:

Widely perceived as the pinnacle work of Chinese imperial garden and palace design, the Old Summer Palace was known for its extensive collection of gardens, its building architecture and numerous art and historical treasures. Constructed throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Old Summer Palace was the main imperial residence of Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty and his successors, and where they handled state affairs..

This was looted and destroyed by the joint Anglo-French expedition in 1860 in the opium wars of the British against the Chinese. If you visit a French or English museum, one can count how many of those museum items came from the Old summer Palace. It is difficult to grasp the implication of this by just looking into the ruins in the picture. This is almost an equivalent of destroying an area and significance almost as big as the National Mall in Washington with all its buildings including the White House.

Here is a reconstruction of what might the Old Summer Palace looks like today if it was not destroyed.

In 1890, 35 years after the destruction of the Yuanming Yuan (圆明园) (the Chinese name of the Old summer palace), Japan seized the opportunity of the weaken Qing China and seized Taiwan and repeatedly attacked China all the way to WW2.

2.) Do you know why the Chinese authorities did not attempt to rebuild this place even today with all the wealth by China? Nor did the authorities convert this valuable real estate into something profitable development area. This is to teach the Chinese and future Chinese descendants how much the country was humiliated and suffered by foreign powers when the country was very weak. See that green area here, all of those are part of the old summer palace. That is how valuable this real estate is relative to its surroundings.

The Chinese diaspora to all over the world in the late 1800s to early 1900s, is the testament of how much the Chinese people are suffering by foreign hands.

3.) In 1949, a glimmer of hope arose in China and unified once again this ancient culture. A peasant named Mao Zedong, against all odds was able to unify China after the bloody Civil war. It took almost a century from the Opium wars until in 1949 that there was a sense of unity and hope in this ancient land.

4.) In 1950, Mao tried very hard to recover Taiwan from the retreating Nationalist forces, but the Korean war erupted and US and UN forces pushes all the way to Yalu river and war was knocking in China doorsteps. The Chinese leadership was forced to respond to the Korean war. Thus the campaign to recover Taiwan was pushed back. The Korean war, and the loss of mainland China to the communist, lead to an isolation of China from the 1950s to 1970s.

5.) Fast forward today in 2021, Taiwan is still not reunited to China. Foreign forces are still colluding to make Taiwan separate from China. This collusion of foreign forces, the Anglos, the Japanese and now the US, is the same theme as it was when Qing China was attacked, bullied and humiliated in the Opium wars.

Sure some or most young Chinese within China or the descendants of the Chinese diaspora outside China do not care anymore with this historical event that happened 170 years ago. But if you talk to Chinese parents or grandparents how their parents and grandparents suffered because of this foreign humiliation, you will realize almost all Chinese two to four generations ago suffered so much and paid dearly to unite China. Personally, I will never forget how my grandfather told me his story that they have to remove the leather of the shoes, put some water to have something to eat during those Japanese invasions. He told me this story when I was 10 or 11 years old, and I also tell this to my children. They sacrificed so much for us Chinese descendants to have better lives than they had. These kind of stories are repeated in millions of Chinese.

The division of China and Taiwan is the reminder of the imperialism of foreign powers. The remaining symbol of suffering of the Chinese people. This is even visible with North and South Korea, which echo the same thing, division of people of same culture because of foreign imperialism.

So these are the historical, cultural and emotional reasons why Taiwan must be reunited to China. It is the remnant of the humiliation and suffering of the Chinese people from foreign powers. Uniting Taiwan back to China will provide a closure of this painful past.

Joe Rogan: “What They Just Found Hidden In Egypt SHOCKED U.S. Scientists”

Can’t the Chinese feel their lack of freedom?

I am a Chinese national. George Orwell’s novel *1984* paints a bleak picture of a totalitarian regime. My son first encountered this novel in the fifth grade. He gave up after reading only 15 pages. He told me that the book felt overwhelmingly gray, like the color of concrete, which left him feeling depressed and unable to continue.

If you’ve read this novel, you can always sense the oppressive nature of totalitarianism through its myriad details: the dilapidated living conditions, the meager food rations, the extreme control over language, the state-level lies, and the eradication of sexual desire.

This book is perhaps revered by anti-communists worldwide. During the Soviet era, it was lauded as a vivid portrayal of Stalin’s rule. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, it has occasionally been used by critics of China as a metaphorical critique.

Coincidentally, today marks the first sunny day in my city, Xuzhou, after several days of heavy rain. The blue sky and sunshine felt especially precious after the long spell of gloom. While driving to the supermarket at noon, I noticed several pedestrians taking photos of the Xuzhou sky with their phones. I joined them, taking pictures at every traffic light.

Interestingly, these photos inadvertently captured street scenes of Xuzhou. Let’s compare Orwell’s depiction with these freshly taken photos (just two hours ago) and see if you can find any hints of “China lacking freedom” in them（Since I took the photos through my car window, the UV-protective glass filtered some of the sunlight, making the colors in the images appear slightly darker）.

I was driving on Zhongshan Road in downtown Xuzhou, named in honor of Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China. Yes, the same Dr. Sun Yat-sen whom the Taiwanese refer to as the “Father of the Nation.” You can see the Audi and Volkswagen cars in front of me, both with green license plates. In China, there are three colors for license plates: blue for gasoline-powered cars, yellow for trucks, and green for electric vehicles (EVs). In my city, EVs are rapidly replacing traditional gasoline cars. Ordinary Chinese people have dozens of car brands to choose from.In recent years, promoting environmental protection, ecological preservation, and love for the Earth has been one of the primary focuses of the Chinese government’s public campaigns through all forms of media:

The square building on the right is the largest bookstore in our city. The first to seventh floors are open to the public, while the upper floors are office spaces. The bookstore is called “Xinhua Bookstore,” which means “New China Bookstore.” It is currently the largest bookstore chain in China. This place holds the fondest memories of my childhood; I always asked my father to take me there every weekend to read, though we rarely bought any books because we were very poor. Nowadays, children don’t see buying books as a joyful experience. To attract more visitors, this bookstore has dedicated areas for foreign imports and textbooks, along with numerous seating areas, bakeries, and cafes where customers can sit on sofas, enjoy some cake, and read books:

This 52-story skyscraper is the tallest building in Xuzhou. It is designed as five skyscrapers of varying heights arranged in a specific pattern. The other four buildings, which are only 15-20 stories tall, are obscured by the taller structures. This design was inspired by the shape of Buddha’s hand in Buddhist tradition. The skyscraper is a commercial complex that includes a hotel, shopping mall, dining center, office spaces, an ice rink, a cinema, and more. It is the fashion hub of Xuzhou. Some film companies occasionally recruit fashionable girls there. The building is named “Suning Tower.” “Suning” means “sun” in English, and in Chinese, it signifies “peace in Jiangsu Province.” The investor, a large home appliance retail chain, is based in the capital of Jiangsu Province.

At night, the entire glass facade of Suning Tower transforms into a screen, displaying commercials and messages of love throughout the night. Yes, if you spend some money, you can have your girlfriend’s photo or name projected onto this giant screen, letting the whole city see your love for her:

The black skyscraper in the center of the image is currently under construction. This building is being funded by the famous Chinese food company “Yurun Group.” Unfortunately, shortly after completing the podium, the group experienced a financial crisis and filed for bankruptcy protection. This left the skyscraper’s fate uncertain. After a two-year halt in construction, a government-funded investment company took over the project and partnered with the renowned Chinese commercial enterprise “DeJi” for its development. As a result, the building was rapidly completed and is now set to open soon. With approximately 60 floors, it will surpass Suning Tower to become the tallest building in Xuzhou:

I checked the temperature, and it’s 37 ℃ outside the car. When I was a child, this would have been unimaginable. The many days of heavy rain haven’t cooled the weather. As soon as the sun comes out, the temperature quickly rises to an unbearable level:

The building on the left is the city’s “University Student Entrepreneurship Service Center.” Xuzhou is home to several universities, including China University of Mining and Technology, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu University of Technology, and Xuzhou Institute of Technology. Each year, a large number of graduates are welcomed. The government encourages them to use the skills they acquired in university to start small businesses. Most students receive loans based on their business plans, with varying amounts of funding. These loans, provided by the government, come with low or zero interest rates, aiming to help young entrepreneurs develop competitive businesses. Key industries in Xuzhou include pharmaceuticals, construction machinery, and polysilicon:

The Current Status of the Deji Plaza Construction:

On the left side, you’ll find a hotel and an art school. The high-rise on the right is a continuing education college affiliated with a university. Since the main campus is located far from the city center, the university has rented this building in the city to make it more convenient for students to attend classes during their spare time:

One of the businesses is a travel agency called “International Travel Agency,” indicating that it handles outbound travel services. The other is a store that specializes in selling “wǔ liáng yè,（五粮液）” a renowned Chinese brand of liquor. This is a high-proof spirit:

Crossing this intersection leads to Jianguo Road, the financial district of Xuzhou. The street is lined with banks, numbering in the dozens. In China, banks are categorized into three types: state-owned banks, private banks, and foreign banks. The tiered building visible in the photo is a branch of the Agricultural Bank of China in Xuzhou.

The pink high-rise behind it, along with the surrounding streets, is Xuzhou’s computer products district. During the PC boom, the pink building was a favorite spot for local youth. Many young people, obsessed with the internet, would play games at night and sleep during the day. Some restaurants capitalized on this trend by staying open late to cater to those working in the internet industry. Although PCs have been replaced by mobile internet and business in the computer district has declined, the nearby restaurants continue to thrive and have become one of Xuzhou’s popular food districts:

Xuzhou Metro Line 2’s “Xima Tai Station.” Xuzhou currently has six metro lines, with three already in operation and the other three under construction. Additionally, there are plans for four more lines that are currently under government review. In China, only the State Council has the authority to give final approval for metro projects. This is because metro construction requires a substantial investment, and once operational, it necessitates ongoing large expenditures. As a public transportation system, it may not be profitable. Therefore, only cities that meet stringent criteria in terms of size, population, economic output, and traffic volume are eligible to apply for metro projects.

The name of this metro station is “Xì Mǎ Tái,（戏马台）” which is a historical site. About 2,200 years ago,Xiàng Yǔ（项羽）, a renowned monarch and tragic hero of the Han Dynasty, trained his war horses on a nearby hill. Since then, the phrase “training war horses in the cold autumn wind” has become a well-known Chinese idiom. In Chinese, this story is written as “秋风戏马,（qiū fēng xì mǎ）” which evokes the image of a hero, aware of his inevitable failure, preparing diligently with his horses amidst the chilly autumn wind, ready to face the battle without fear of death:

This is the “Street Police Station” in Xuzhou. This small glass booth serves as a police station and is set up at several major intersections. There are three main purposes for these stations:(1)They enable quick dispatch to handle emergencies and sudden incidents.(2)Each station is equipped with multifunctional computer systems where citizens can manage various personal affairs, such as reporting or applying for an ID card, handling traffic accident reports, obtaining government documents, applying for passports, and dealing with driving-related matters.(3)They also provide amenities like hot water, common medications, air pumps, umbrellas, and reading glasses for the public’s use.

I am familiar with these police stations because they have a fourth function: traffic violation education. I once forgot to wear a helmet while riding my electric bike and was required by the police to attend a 40-minute traffic safety education session via online video at this station. Sometimes, people must also complete an online test on their phones before they are “released”:

After turning left at the intersection, I entered Liberation Road. The Yellow River crosses this road, and China’s first major east-west railway line, the “Longhai Railway,” also runs across it. Consequently, a bridge and a railway underpass have become major traffic congestion points. A few years ago, the Xuzhou city government constructed an overpass that spans above both the Yellow River Bridge and the Longhai Railway Bridge, effectively alleviating the traffic congestion in the area.

During the construction of the overpass, there was a small “protest.” Before the new overpass could be built, an old bridge over the Yellow River, known as the “Dike Bridge,” needed to be demolished. The name “Dike Bridge” carried historical significance. However, after the new bridge was completed, the government named it something new. Local residents disagreed and prevented the construction workers from installing the new nameplate. In the end, the government yielded to the protest and restored the name “Dike Bridge” out of respect for its historical importance:

I originally planned to capture images of drug users, robbers, people urinating in public, slums, and thieves in Xuzhou. Unfortunately, I can’t photograph things that don’t exist. So, I ended up taking random photos and sharing an overview of an ordinary city in China with you. I apologize!

p.s.

My city, Xuzhou, is a tragic city. Historically, over 400 battles took place here among all the wars in China. It has been a military stronghold and a core area contested by ancient emperors. A Yuan Dynasty poet once described Xuzhou in his poem:

古徐州形胜，消磨尽、几英雄！

想铁甲重瞳，乌骓汗血，玉帐连空，

楚歌八千兵散，料梦魂应不到江东。

空有黄河如带，乱山回合云龙。

汉家陵阙起秋风，禾黍满关中。

更戏马台荒，画眉人远，燕子楼空。

人生百年如寄，且开怀，一饮尽千锺。

回首荒城斜日，倚栏目送飞鸿。

This is the translated version:

From ancient times, Xuzhou’s location has meant it could never escape the ravages of war. Countless heroes have lost their lives here!

The general, clad in iron armor and riding a host of prized horses, had barracks so vast they seemed to stretch into the clouds. When his soldiers fell, his own spirit could not return home, leaving only the Yellow River and a mountain rising like a dragon in the clouds, here in Xuzhou.

The Han Dynasty emperors’ tombs were constructed in the chill of autumn winds, and no one can ultimately escape their fate.

The high platform where the hero once played with his war horses has been desolate for a thousand years. The passionate beauty has long passed away, and the grand tower where she waited for her lover now stands empty.

Life feels like staying at an inn. Why not drink joyfully and have a thousand cups? After becoming drunk, look back at the endless wilderness beyond the city walls, and as the sun sets, lean on the railing and watch the distant wild geese depart.

“You’re Being Slaughtered & You Don’t Realize It!” – US Dollar Collapse

This insight is gold. 2008 was when it all hit.

What if I think China is a genius for winning the Korean War by gaining territorial claims to Korea?

On November 25, 1950, the U.S.-ROK allied forces occupied half of the Korean Peninsula and were about to reach the Yalu River border between China and North Korea.
On July 27, 1953, the Chinese and North Korean allied forces again drove the U.S. and South Korean allied forces south of the 38th parallel.

The Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) started at the Yalu River and ended at the 38th parallel. This was a very successful victory.

The death data of 197,653 Chinese soldiers is indeed greater than the death data of 54,246 US military personnel. The death data of Chinese soldiers is 3 times that of the US soldiers.

But is the death figure of 197,653 Chinese soldiers smaller than the total US+UN (non-human) death figure of 683,079?

I’m not good at math and can’t tell the difference between the size of the numbers, so I invite netizens to compare. 😅

In addition to American soldiers, those who participated in the Korean War included soldiers from South Korea, the UK, Canada, Turkey, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand, Ethiopia, Greece, France, Colombia, Belgium, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Soldiers other than the US military were not human beings. They were completely wiped out by the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) and were not worth mentioning at all. 🤣

All I know is that by the time the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) entered the Korean battlefield on November 25, 1950, the North Korean army had suffered most of its casualties.

most of the battles after November 25, 1950 were fought by the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) .

New Paternity Law Has Modern Women Fuming!

The Farthest Reaches of Space

Lucille Greye

“Who would believe that I, the great Lish Ryn, would be brought to my knees by the little Nadyr?”Telen Fogg, the tall android sighed. “Lish. How many times have you said that exact same thing? Look. So what if Nadyr got the Zarkot first? My friend,” Telen smiled, “this can only be good. We can easily steal the Zarkot back from him. It’s most likely in his ship, the Angyl, and it probably isn’t even protected.”Lish spun her pilot’s chair away from the cockpit’s window and faced Telen. Her long, golden hair framed her face. With the combination of her hair and bright green eyes, she stood out against the white leather and silver computers behind her. “And how do you propose we do that?” Her voice was flat, angry. “I am completely tired of being humiliated and undermined by that Bos’ii snake! He took my Zarkot and left me stranded in a tree!”Telen chuckled. “He may be a Bos’ii snake, but he is not a wise one-““No, he is!” Lish thundered. “Every plan, every scheme I have, he somehow finds out about it… and every time, he brings it to ruins! I wonder how that happens?”“Lish, please don’t tell me you suspect me?”

“I-” Her gaze jerks up to glimpse a flash of color dart behind one of the navigational devices at the back of the room. “Vorrha?” She asked, incredulous. “I wouldn’t have imagined you to be the traitor in the midst.” This, of course, was rather likely, as the only crew members on the Aalya Meriet were herself, Telen, and the humanoid mechanic Vorrha. It was possible that Telen was the information leak, or Nadyr had planted a spy-droid on the ship, but Telen was very dedicated to Lish, and Nadyr rarely had access to the ship to plant a droid. It was doubtful that Nadyr even had that type of technology. The planet Jayjar was located in the farthest corners of space, hardly touched by the technological advances of the planets Mirima or Qud, and Nadyr never left Jayjar. The only suspect could be Vorrha, and she was hardly being sly about it either. She had no reason to sneak about the very ship that she repaired daily.

Vorrha slunk out from behind the computers, and the small hominid shriveled under Lish’s glare. “Nadyr offered Vorrha m-money, more than Captain Lish could. Vorrha needs the moneys, you see, b-because Vorrha’s mother needs the treatment for the sickness.” She stammered. “Vorrha is so sorry.”

Lish growled quietly. “A little meelvat in our midst, taking precious information and leaking info to Nadyr. I would throw you into space from the airlock, but I’m not that heartless. No, I think I’ll drop you off on Arboga, maybe in-”

“Lish.” Telen muttered.

“What do you need, Telen?”

“There’s an incoming ship on the radar. Big one.”

“Nadyr’s?”

“No, bigger. Could it be-”

Lish shoved him aside. “It could be the Narrtor, Kon Laari’s ship.”

Telen’s face paled. “The Kon? Here? He must be thousands of miles from the planet Okrak!”

Kon Laari Antrus, the cyborg crime lord, or The Kon as he was known by many, was the leader of the galaxy’s largest criminal organization. He was head of the Antrus Clan, a group of thieves, pirates, and smugglers. Okrak, a dry, mountainous planet, about three thousand miles from Arboga, was his home. It was rare that Laari left that area, generally sending off his minions to do his work.

But for some reason, it was his personal space cruiser, the Narrtor, that Telen saw.

The comm crackled to life and an authoritative voice could be heard faintly. “Aalya Meriet, this is the pilot of the Narrtor. Please prepare to be boarded.”

Vorrha dropped her head into her hands, muttering some type of prayer in her native language.

“What are we gonna do?” Telen asked. “Maybe we could light up the engines and fly out of here-”

The comm hissed again. “Any signs of resistance or attempts to escape will be taken as a threat and the Aalya Meriet will be annihilated.”

The large hatch of the landing dock opened, and the pilot of the Narrtor took over the auto-controls of the Aalya, steering her into the landing dock. The gate hissed shut behind them.

“Trapped like a fly in a Cath spider’s web,” Lish muttered. “Stuck… Our only hope of escaping is to play along with this. See what Laari Antrus wants, give him it, and get out of here.” With a short, decisive motion, she pressed the button to open the loading hatch below. “Compliant, that’s the look we’re going for.”

Vorrha whimpered quietly.

The sound of footsteps quickly grew loud, and in seconds, a group of five men, four carrying guns and the fifth a data pad, came into the cockpit. The man with the data pad glanced up. “Yes. Those are the ones. Seize them.” The armed men grabbed Telen and Lish by the arms. “Comply, or be shot,” the tall one, who seemed to be the leader, continued.

Lish’s face was red. “On what grounds can you arrest me? I am Lish Gir’ryn, best pilot in the galaxy, not some girl to by toyed with!”

The leader glanced down at his pad again. “Lish Gir’ryn? And, I assume, Telen Fogg. And whoever that little mouse is. You, Ryn and Fogg , are both under arrest,” he paused to clear his throat, “by order of the great Kon Laari Antrus. Do not speak again, unless you would like to be killed.”

Lish was bursting with fury, but she kept her angry words to herself.

The trio was marched not towards the top of the ship, where the ship’s cockpit was, but towards the back.

“Where are you taking us?” Lish asked, both frustrated and curious.

The head of the guards, or whoever the tall man that was leading them was, frowned. “Towards the prison deck. Where else would we be taking you?”

“But why?” Telen burst out. “Why are we being arrested? What have we done to anger Kon Laari?”

The tall man with the data pad sighed, and glanced down to read the arrest warrant. “The smugglers Lisk-” he paused, closely scrutinizing the pad. “Lish Ryn and Telen Fogg are under arrest for inhibiting and interfering with the business of Kon Laari Antrus. He personally came to oversee their capture.

“It is by Antrus’ law,” he continued, “that all smugglers, robbers, pirates, and any others involved in criminal dealings are under arrest by the Kon and are sentenced to three years of work in the planet Okrak’s mines. I, Timothy Halos, have been placed in charge of these dealings.”

“Why is he capturing all of the… hard workers?” Lish asked.

Timothy frowned. “I have not been given leave to reveal that information.”

“Oh, what a shame,” Lish spoke smoothly. “Second only to the Kon and yet, still rules being placed on what you can and cannot say?”

“I- I must obey Antrus.”

“Yes… but, well, I don’t see Antrus around.”

“I cannot speak of something the Kon has forbidden me to speak of.” But there was a slight hesitation in his voice, as if he really did want to speak.

“No one’s here to tell Antrus.”

The guards escorting the prisoners exchanged glances, but said nothing.

Timothy sighed. “Very well, but you must not tell anyone. Antrus’ plan is strictly confidential. He is searching for a type of stone, or mechanical device- none can say which -but he heard that a smuggler in the Outer Reaches had gotten hold of it. He began to capture and arrest any criminals he came across, hoping that one would have it. He did this under the pretense of ‘cleaning up our galaxy.’ Of course, he told me, his most trusted advisor, what was truly happening.”

Lish, of course was quite pleased, as her plan to get information was going quite smoothly. “A stone? Why a stone?”

“Not just any stone. It’s the Zarkot.”

Lish scrunched her face up, as if confused. “The Zarkot… I know I’ve heard the name somewhere. Tell me more!”

Timothy Halos was blind to the fact that Lish was easily dredging up information from him. “The Zarkot is a stone said to posses magical powers, or extremely advanced technology.”

Lish changed her expression to in awe. “Really? What can it do?” Of course, she already knew how it worked, she just wished to see how much he knew.

“Many things. It is said to be a translator, able to detect different alien languages and make them understandable to the superior humans. It can command other ships’ controls, many at once, even if the ship that is overriding them does not have the technology to countermand other ships, and it even-” he stopped. “Ah! We have arrived!” With a flourish, he opened the door. “Welcome to Cell Block B, your new temporary home.” He turned to the guards. “Escort them to the nearest empty cell. That should be B7 or B8. I will be taking my leave to go report back to Antrus.” The guards nodded their heads to Halos. They drug Telen, Lish, and Vorrha through the doorway and down the hall to cell B7. “Hope you enjoy your new home,” one of them grunted, shoving them into the room and slamming the heavy iron door behind them.

“Well. That was rather intersecting,” Lish said, in surprisingly high spirits.

Telen grunted in response.

Lish surveyed their surroundings, looking for a possible escape route. The door, which seemed to be the only entrance or exit, was a stout iron door. There was no handle, and the door opened outwardly, so the door screws couldn’t be taken off somehow. The door itself looked like a large slab of metal. The rest of the room seemed to be a smooth cube, with only two grated openings between each cell.

“Hello?” Lish called through the grates. “Anyone else in here?”

“Hello!” A young man, who looked to be around the age of seventeen or eighteen, popped up in front of one of the great. He had short, curly hair, bright blue eyes, and a contagious smile.

Lish yelped in surprise. “Nadyr?”

“The one and only.”

“What are you doing here?” She hissed.

“I could ask the same of you, but thing is, I already guessed why you’re here. And that’s the same reason why I’m here. Except I have no idea why I’m here.”

“Antrus is searching for the Zarkot.”

Nadyr’s jaw dropped, but his smile quickly returned to his face. “Is he really?”

“Yes. Which would be fine, if you hadn’t taken it from me. I would have it with me right now, and I would be able-”

Nadyr scoffed. “In your dreams. We all know you’re not competent enough for that. If you had it with you, Timothy would already have found it.”

“Like you could have done better!”

“Actually,” Nadyr held up his hand, curled into a fist around something, “I did do better.” He opened his hand to reveal a small blue stone, dangling from a silver chain. “Please, hold your applause. It was quite hard to smuggle it in, but I managed.”

Lish sighed. “Bested again.”

Telen chuckled. “Bested again indeed. Now, Nadyr, do you know how to use it?”

Nadyr shrugged. “To be frank, no, I don’t.”

“Alright. Then shall we make a deal? If you give it to me, Lish can use it to get us out of here. Then, we sneak back to the Aalya Meriet. We use the Zarkot to override the Narrtor’s security systems, fly out of here, and maybe head to the Center Planets. We can sell the Zarkot, split the money, and then stay out of each other’s paths from then on. Is that a deal?”

“But,” Nadyr asked, face twisted with indecision. “How can I trust you to let me out?”

Lish spoke up. “You can trust us, because if we don’t let you out, you can just yell for the guards. Deal?”

Nadyr shoved his hand through the bars, and they shook hands. “Deal.” He pushed the stone through. “You sure you know how to use that thing?”

“Very sure.” Lish pressed the stone to the center of the cell door, and spoke the command word for the Zarkot. She could hear the gears grinding as the locking mechanism was overridden. The door swung open, hanging loosely from its hinges.

“Ready?” Telen asked, and Vorrha, Lish, and Nadyr nodded silently. “My memory databases tracked the turns we took and the distances between them to get from the Aalya Meriet, so all I have to do is reverse it and I can get us out of here.”

“Being an android must be nice,” Nadyr commented.

The foursome ran through the hallways, ducking to the side when any of Antrus’ men came down the hallways.

Within minutes of their escape, alarms began to shriek.

Nadyr smiled. “Nice to know I’m worthy of alarms.”

Lish laughed. Her mood had become quite cheerful. It seemed that adventure had banished her irritable nature to the recesses of her conscious.

“There!” Telen said. “That’s the entrance to the docking bay. But it’s heavily guarded.”

Nadyr smiled. “Lish! Remember how Liz used to distract the kitchen guards?” He asked, referring to the days when him and Lish were in the orphanage on Arboga.

Lish nodded and smirked. “You distract. I’ll take them out.”

Nadyr strolled around the corner, directly in front of the guards. “Hello, gentlemen.”

Four barrels of four guns jerked up to point at him.

Nadyr put his hands up. “Whoa, no lets not be too hasty.”

And then chaos reigned.

Lish darted up behind the guards, grabbing two and smashing their heads together. Nadyr disarmed the other two, shooting them both with a blaster he stole from one.

“All done!”

Lish nodded, teeth gritted into a smile, hand gripping her shoulder.

“Lish, what happened?” Telen asked, worried.

“Stray blaster shot. It’s nothing. Don’t worry about me. Just get back to the ship.”

They filed through the door, and Telen jabbed the button to open the Aalya Meriet’s loading hatch.

“All aboard!”

Later, they sat in the cockpit. Lish’s shoulder was swathed in bandages, and Nadyr was reprogramming the ship’s computer system to accept the Zarkot.

Nadyr sighed. “If only we didn’t have to leave the Angyl.”

“All we have to do,” Lish said, ignoring him, “is hijack the computer system of the Narrtor long enough to open the landing hatch. Then we zip out of here. That’s all. Antrus didn’t ‘tie down’ the Aalya Meriet in any way.” She stood up and walked towards the controls. “Plug the Zarkot here,” she reached down and pointed, and Nadyr stuck the little stone into the slot made to fit it. “And now,” Lish pushed a few buttons and typed a destination into the navigation system. “And now, we’re free.”

The huge hatched opened, and the little Aalya Meriet darted free of the Narrtor’s clutches.

The flight to the Center Planets was not a long one, but the foursome’s adventures on the planet Qud were worthy of a second tale. But, alas, that tale must be saved for another day, because for now, the story of Lish Ryn and her friends must be given a rest.

How Joe Biden Passed the Most Sanctions in American History

What is the meaning of “如何51吃瓜北京朝阳群众热心吃瓜”?

You might not have copied the sentence completely.

“如何51吃瓜北京朝阳群众热心吃瓜”

Do not know what does that mean.

But I’d like to explain a bit.

“瓜” here represents “watermelon,”西瓜， literally meaning “western melon.” Clearly, this is not a native Chinese species; the character “西” (west) here signifies its Middle Eastern origin. For example, “胡” (barbarian) in terms like “二胡” (a traditional Chinese string instrument) also has this meaning, indicating it came from the Middle East.

There are many species introduced to China that are not native. For instance, “番茄” (tomato) and “番薯” (sweet potato), where “番” means foreign. So these are not indigenous Chinese crops.

Even chili peppers are not native. They were only widely cultivated in China during the Ming Dynasty.

However, Chinese people love chili peppers just as much as they love——

Watermelons!

The watermelon production in China is so high that… the yield is just immense.

Because of the high water content, they are not easy to transport. So, while watermelons can be relatively expensive in supermarkets—around $3 per 5 kilograms—if you go to the production areas, they are practically free.

Sometimes, they are even used to feed pigs.

I am an outlier among Chinese people,do not like eating fruit,eating watermelons, but my fellow countrymen love this fruit so much that Chinese people refer to themselves as “吃瓜群众” (melon-eating masses).

The phrase means: I’m just here to watch the fun, holding a melon and eating it, while watching the excitement.

“朝阳群众” (Chaoyang masses) refers to another concept.

Chaoyang is a district in Beijing. There are some middle-aged and elderly women there who have helped the police solve many drug cases, especially involving actors and celebrities, as there are many film and TV stars living in that area. This area became a hotspot for drug problems.

Later, “Chaoyang masses” evolved into a term for “enthusiastic informants who report drug use,” and eventually became known as “China’s most powerful intelligence agency”! People joke that the U.S. has the CIA, the Soviet Union had the KGB, and China has the “Chaoyang masses.”

That’s how it is.

Italian Chili

Yield: 12 cups

Ingredients

1 pound bulk Italian sausage
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups onion, diced
1/2 pound pepperoni stick, cubed
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (26 ounce) jar tomato sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 (15 ounce) can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons chili powder, or more to taste
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Salt, to taste

Instructions

Sauté sausage in oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When brown, drain off fat and add onions, pepperoni and garlic; cook for 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes, tomato sauce and broth, bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.
Stir in beans and seasoning and simmer until heated through.

Ah. Here’s some more of MM’s artwork…

I just been working on the system. Still, not really “jumps out” as spectacular.

I played around with South East Asian history. With the bath and anointment rituals…

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 2(15)

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(19)

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(18)

Then, I started to look into European Biblical traditions.

Here’s some work regarding angels…

Off to Ancient China.

Here’s some efforts regarding ancient kings and their palace court…

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 1(15)

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 3(15)

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(14)

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 0(13)

Default Create a anatomicallyaccurate photo realistic Baroques 3(13)

“Wing And A Prayer” (1944) – Complete WW2 Naval Warfare Movie

Some notes on the up-coming election, the Biden step-down, and entering a new Geo-political reality

I typically pre-load (schedule) posts to go public on MM about four months late. This serves various needs, but essentially it allows the “filter of time” to let the reader to process events out of the context of the major news cycles of the MSM propaganda machines.

I find it useful for purposes of perspective.

For instance, when someone tries to warn me against China’s 6G technology I plop them in a time machine and tell them about all the warnings of 5G (makes your brain explode), 4G (steal your data), 3G (gas pumps explode), and 2G (planes fall out of the sky).

I think it adds perspective.

The 2024 election is gonna arrive any day now. Woo Woo! And everyone is expecting big changes. After all, Biden was nothing more than a sock-puppet under the control of a bunch of ivy-league schoolboys now fast-tracking to oligarch-hood.

I am of the opinion that yes, things will change. But the systemic issues that rest bend the curtains will not. The United States is still in a tail-spin, but still at least someone is trying to land the plane. For Pete’s sake.

As I write this, “president” Biden has “decided” to not run for reelection.22 JULY 2024. The sarcastic side of me has a lot to say about this, but I’ll give it a rest for you all. In any event 2024 has been one Hell of a Dragon year. Sheech!

OP-ED -- As reported on this website on July 18 (Story Here) Joe Biden has DROPPED-OUT of the Presidential race and will NOT seek re-election.

The deceitful, lying, sleazebags that make up a majority of the Democrat Party, have been in chaos since the Biden-Trump Debate, because they could no longer hide Biden's deteriorating mental condition, which they intentionally hid from the public for the past two years.

So craven are the Democrats to keep power, they were willing to engage in elder abuse; ganging-up on the poor old man, harassing him out the door of the campaign.

It ought to be interesting to see who these power-hungry vermin try to promote as their candidate for President now that we're less than 100 days from the election.  I suggest that washed-up, has-been, old hag, Hillary Clinton, with trans-gendered "Michelle" Obama.  I think an old Witch and a trans-gendered freak would epitomize what the Democrat party stands for nowadays!

Now, of course, Biden becomes more dangerous than ever.  He can implement, via Executive Order, all the radical-left-wing (Romper-room-level) ideas because he doesn't have to care at all whether anyone likes it or not.

Don’t get too caught up.

Lots and lots of strange “puzzle pieces” show up and disappear in the night. Our worn out and tired brains let them wash over us. But many are too alarming to dismiss.

Cloud Strike complete failure all over the West after an “update”.
Zelenskyy is in Utah.
Democrat political party in a cash-fighting frenzy.
China’s slow steady observance of the entire fiasco
Trump selection of JD Vance
Biden disappearance, and then step-down / out

So what is really going on?

Forged signiture on stationary announcing Biden step down

Let me tell you.

The deck chairs on the Titanic are all being rearranged, but the ship still is slowing sinking into the dark, dark abyss.

Everything else is theater.

Today…

What’s a historical fact that would shock most people to find out?

In 1980, a family of four moved into an apartment in a newly built building in Ukraine. However, just within a year of moving into their new house, the elder child who was 18 years old became severely sick. She was taken to a hospital and was diagnosed with leukaemia, a type of cancer that targets the body’s blood-forming tissues and bone marrow. The girl soon passed away within a few months of being diagnosed with cancer.

In less than a year, the younger child of the house who was 16 years showed the same symptoms. He was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with leukaemia. He passed away soon after. Very soon the mother also lost her life and she was also diagnosed with leukaemia. Leukaemia being hereditary is very rare and it is highly unlikely that it was passed on from the mother to the children but at that time, it was declared that the reason those three patients had blood cancer was due to family genetics.

Gradually, other residents of the building too started to fall sick. None had any life-threatening diseases but they weren’t fully fit either. The man, having lost his family sold his house and moved away from there. Locals started to call that apartment ‘cursed apartment’. A new family moved into that cursed apartment. In 1987, the eldest son of the family passed away and he was diagnosed with leukaemia. While he was being cremated, the younger child of the house was in hospital and he was being treated for leukaemia as well. The boy also passed away soon after.

Meanwhile, the father got to know about the history of leukaemia of the previous residents and it was evident that there was something wrong with the house. The city council started to investigate in 1989. Radiologists found air samples highly radioactive and just as they entered the building, they were recording ten times more radioactivity than normal. They found the source of the radioactivity to be a wall just beside the bed where the family members used to sleep.

The wall was covered with lead sheets and cut out of the house and inside the wall, a capsule of radioactive Caesium-137 inside the concrete was found and that was emitting this ridiculous amount of radiation over the years. The capsule had a serial number which was traced to a densometer that was used in a stone quarry to measure the density of stones. One time, the Caesium-137 capsule got misplaced from the densometer and it wasn’t found. Turns out, the Caesium capsule got mixed with stones which were used to make the concrete that was made into that wall of that “cursed apartment” which took the lives of 5 people and severely affected 17 other in that building.

What companies have gotten destroyed by their business competition?

How do you win a war?

Just ask Netflix

Reed Hastings (founder of Netflix) had a big fight ahead of him. He had just finished watching the movie he rented called “Apollo 13” and he returned it to Blockbuster six weeks late. They charged him for returning the movie late.

Hastings launched a new company called Netflix in complete anger. He did not believe people should have to pay for returning a movie late!!!

Hastings had a plan.

Netflix realised that people wanted as many movies as they could get delivered to them. Therefore, Netflix started as a DVD rentals-by-mail service. Netflix was smart and they made a huge discovery.

Perhaps DVDs don’t have to be delivered physically.

Netflix came up with a genius idea that would change the way they did business. They would start a streaming subscription service where someone could watch movies on their computer or another streaming device.

Netflix started to win the market. Hastings believed that he could make money from selling Netflix. Hastings took Netflix and made a pitch to Blockbuster.

Netflix has seen tremendous growth in previous months and we will offer you Netflix for $50 million.

Blockbuster laughed.

Nobody wants to go to Netflix! People like to physically go to a shop and pick out the DVD they want to buy.

Hastings walked away with nothing. Once again, he was angry. He started marketing Netflix and grossly undercutting Blockbuster on price.

Little by little, Netflix grew its customer base and started to outcompete Blockbuster. Blockbuster tried everything to stop Netflix. Hastings famously said that Blockbuster was throwing “everything but the kitchen sink” at Netflix.

A few days later, Blockbuster physically delivered a kitchen sink to Hastings’ house. The Blockbuster era was over.

In the summer of 2010, Blockbuster declared bankruptcy and Netflix became one of the most recognised brands globally with an annual gross profit of $5.8 billion in 2018 (59.21% increase from 2017 according to macrotrends)

If you are interested, I will leave a few Netflix tips in the comments. I hope you enjoyed the story!

As a landlord, what was the most bizarre thing you found after a tenant moved out of your rental?

There are so many bizarre things that I have found as a landlord….

One time we took over a house after an old widow passed on.

The 95-year-old woman died. Her home—the upstairs anyway—was pristine 1960s-1970s decor and appliances.

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She still had the green shag carpet from 1972—well cared for and in good shape. The Avocado-colored stove and fridge were there and still worked. There was even a console stereo with record player, AM/FM and a reel-to-reel tape player.

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In addition to this there was an overflowing library of Jehovah’s witness religious materials, tracts, Baptist literature, and MORMON Bibles. There was Catholic and Jewish materials. There was pagan literature. Maybe she couldn’t make up her mind?

It’s just, that—there was a lot of all of this — piles of all of it.

The cream of the crop was a King James Version Bible from 1801.

Inside of the record player pocket, I found LP (long play) albums by Beethoven, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash—AND—get this…RUSH 2112, A Farewell to Kings, Caress of Steel, and Fly by Night. The old woman was a Rush fan! Incredible!

Fairly clean house—but I kept wondering—-What is that smell?

Then I went to the basement level.

This home had a walk-out basement, with a garage door and garage bay on one end.

Here is where I had to go full haz-mat. Someone had tossed down a 100-pound sack of cat food and left the door open.

I found no fewer than 38 feral cats. All with mange, some with eyeballs missing or hanging out—dead opossum and mice and rats, birds, squirrels and other critters everywhere…Inside the garage.

All of these dead animals, including at least a dozen kitten skeletons, were in differing modes of decomposition. There was everything from recently dead to full skeleton.

SHIT was everywhere. Ankle deep shit—everywhere. Feral kittens, half starved, ribs showing—flea infested, covered in mange, open sores and cat shit.

I had to call animal control for help. They helped me to trap the worst of the lot, and hauled them off for euthanization. Some of the kittens were eventually adopted out.

The majority of the feral animals that couldn’t be caught were destroyed by shotgun.

It was the humane thing to do.

It took me three days, five gallons of concentrated industrial bleach, ten gallons of gas, a power washer, five gallons of liquid soap and a lot of elbow grease to clean up that mess.

It was 100 degrees out and I had to wear a haz-mat suit the entire time.

I even had to get a tetanus booster shot.

In the end, the smell had even permeated the sheet rock in the lower level, so we had to gut the entire place.

I think to this day that the old woman’s heart was in the right place, even if her head was in the clouds.

Chicken Club Sandwich One-Pot Pasta

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup panko crispy bread crumbs
3 1/2 cups chicken broth (regular or low-fat)
8 ounces (3 cups) uncooked rotini pasta
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded jack cheese
12 ounces thickly sliced cooked chicken or turkey breast (1/4 inch thick), cut into bite-size strips
8 ounces fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 cup cooked, chopped bacon
1 cup chopped plum (Roma) tomatoes

Instructions

In 5 to 5 1/2 quart Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat; add bread crumbs. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until bread crumbs are toasted and light brown; remove to small bowl.
Add chicken broth and pasta to Dutch oven; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 12 to 14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most of liquid is absorbed.
Add shredded cheese and chicken or turkey, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
Gradually add spinach, stirring constantly, until starting to wilt. Remove from heat; stir in mayonnaise, bacon and tomatoes. Top with toasted bread crumbs before serving.

PhD AI student explains how China already have won in AI

Shorpy

A milestone in RMB internationalization: Russia’s full adoption

A significant event recently marked a breakthrough in the internationalization of the Chinese yuan (RMB). According to Bloomberg, the RMB now accounts for 99.6% of Russia’s foreign exchange settlements, making Russia the first major country in the world to conduct almost all its import and export trade in RMB.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. In 2015, the RMB was included in the IMF’s “basket of currencies,” initiating its internationalization process. However, until the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, Russia’s use of the RMB remained limited. After the US and EU imposed financial sanctions on Russia, it was forced to seek alternatives, with the RMB emerging as the best option.

In June 2024, the US further tightened sanctions on Russia, closing all financial loopholes. In response, Russia announced the complete abandonment of the US dollar and euro, requiring all countries trading with it to settle in RMB. This decision rapidly increased the RMB’s share in Russia’s foreign exchange market to nearly 100%.

This development is significant for China’s efforts to promote RMB internationalization. Russia, as a major world power and primary resource exporter, fully adopting the RMB for settlements provides a powerful example for other countries. It demonstrates that international trade can be maintained and economic growth achieved without using the US dollar.

However, this shift also brings new challenges. Due to Russia’s severe shortage of RMB, China-Russia trade growth has already reached its limit. From January to May 2024, China-Russia trade volume increased by only 2.9% year-on-year, far lower than China’s growth rates with other major trading partners.

Meanwhile, China is actively promoting RMB internationalization. Although still receiving large amounts of US dollars in foreign trade, China chooses to quickly use these dollars to help other countries repay their dollar debts, while signing new agreements for repayment in RMB. This strategy not only promotes the use of RMB but also expands China’s trade with these countries.

In conclusion, Russia’s full adoption of the RMB is an important milestone in the process of RMB internationalization. While this was partly facilitated by special circumstances, it has laid the foundation for the RMB to play a more important role in the global financial system. As China continues to advance this strategy, the international influence of the RMB is expected to further increase.

Chinese University Dorms will SHOCK you!

Multiple bridges are collapsing not only in Bihar, but also in China. Do these collapsing of bridges happen due to the effect of global warming causing unusually heavy rains?

There is no comparison

I checked

The Rains in India averaged 247 mm
The Rains in China averaged 718 mm

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The Wind Speeds in China were almost thrice as high as India had ever seen

The Rise in River Levels were almost 250% higher

India has never faced any such adverse weather conditions because the intensity may be high but the torrential outpour stops much faster and the WIND SPEEDS are much slower compared to the deadly TAI FUN (Typhoon)

India in fact is primarily flooded due to pressure based phenomenon like Cyclonic Rain compared to Wind based phenomenon in China due to Typhoons

In China – the weather phenomenon has drastically changed

Precipitation has risen by 26% and flooding levels have risen much higher

So a lot of 1996–2015 built Infrastructure cannot withstand the flooding and torrential lash and collapse

Much of today’s projects are fine because they have been designed to withstand more torrential rains

In India it’s pure corruption and nothing else

The Bridges were all new and yet collapsed

Check out Newly designed buildings in India and see the cracks in Concrete within 3–4 years itself

It’s compromising Quality for price and speed of delivery of projects

Vintage Illustration

The Media Lied About Safety in China?

What are the most interesting facts about human behavior?

Originally Answered: What are the most interesting facts about human behavior ?

Wanna get some attention? Stop chasing that person and start ignoring him. He’ll shower you with attention.

2. Want someone to confess something? Stop talking and stare at them and they’ll do the needful.

3. Validate the words of someone by just looking into their eyes. Mostly while telling a lie, they tend to look away from you and smile more often than needed.

4. Intelligent people tend to have fewer friends.

5. Look at their feet while talking. If they’re not facing you, they aren’t probably interested in what you are telling them.

6. Are you sad? You can trick your mind by pretending to smile and in no time, you would be smiling for real.

7. Your body language changes with the person you are talking to. Your body language tends to be relaxed and flowy when you are talking to someone you like whereas it tends to be stiff if it’s someone you are not much fond of.

8. You can sustain that high level of concentration for not more than just 10 minutes.

9. Speak a line to yourself daily about what you wish to do or become. You would see it turning into reality.

10. Your brain has more potential than you realise. Never give up on your dreams.

How long will the CCP remain in charge in China?

I am an ordinary Chinese person.

The Chinese people are the least likely to be deceived by political slogans. With over 3,000 years of monarchy and more than 20 dynasties, the Chinese have experienced hundreds of emperors. This long history has endowed them with the ability to recognize the tricks of any ruler, whether they come in the form of words, policies, laws, or political movements. The Chinese can quickly see through the deceptive promises.

No individual or party can sustain a lie for long. To prove one lie as “truth,” ten new lies are needed, creating an astronomical system of deception. The objective reality about “rulers and lies” is clear: no one can govern through lies. Such an elaborate system will inevitably develop cracks and collapse. When these lies are exposed to the light of day, the ruler’s legitimacy vanishes, signaling the end of the regime.

The above paragraphs illustrate a key logic: sustained deception is bound to be exposed, and China’s long history makes its people particularly sensitive to such tactics. The Chinese are not easily fooled.

As of a few years ago, the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrated its 100th anniversary. In its first 20 years, it nearly faced extinction several times (1920s-1940s). Over the next 30 years, it made several grave mistakes that almost led to societal and economic collapse (1950s-1970s). The CPC then attempted to learn from these errors and reform itself. However, during the following decade, the world’s major communist states collapsed (1980s-1990s), and “socialism” became a relic of history. China emerged as one of the few remaining socialist countries. In 1990, the Chinese echoed Deng Xiaoping’s words, “We must cross the river by feeling the stones,” humorously adding, “If the stones are gone, how do we cross?” Realizing this issue, the CPC began to develop its own theories. China’s economic boom started around that time.

Imagine you are wealthy and have a poor neighbor who has been hungry and poorly clothed for generations. Their frail bodies are swarmed by flies, and they seem on the verge of collapse. The parents of this poor family are determined to improve their situation but don’t know how. Anger and frustration have led to strained family relations. After the chaos subsides, they sit down and ponder how to feed their family.

Initially, the father helps others move, works as a loader, and cleans floors. These jobs are exhausting and pay little, but he endures the physical strain and earns every penny with sweat. Eventually, the family can eat three meals of bread daily, although there’s no beef, jam, or fruit. To save money, they eat only two meals a day, using the savings for education to learn skills like textile work, shoemaking, and knitting. After some time, he acquires these skills and starts new jobs, which, though still demanding, offer indoor work free from harsh weather.

Years pass, and this once-poor family now works as skilled artisans. They continue to save money, thinking of future needs like weddings and births. The third generation grows up in a modest but not impoverished environment, aware of the wider world through trade. They begin to wonder, “Why can’t we have what others have?”

By the fourth generation, they’ve mastered advanced technology and use their ingenuity to propose better scientific solutions. Their ambitions reach for the stars, aiming to uncover the mysteries of the universe.

Over 100 years, from the first impoverished ancestor to the confident children of today, this family has never resorted to killing or invasion to gain even a penny, enduring hunger in silence.

As the family’s fortunes rise, they remain thrifty, never forgetting their past hunger. They save diligently and always question their expenses. However, outsiders with weapons surround them, demanding they return to poverty without reason.

Now, tell me, whose side would you choose? The one who has kept this family intact through it all is named the CPC.

Lylia, Malou, and the Intangible Impossibility of Imperceivable Physics

Submitted into Contest #24 in response to: Write a sweeping romantic tale of two lovers who must overcome the horror of being hunted by an unseen foe.… view prompt

Tori Routsong

“Dr. Niwwel, if you summoned the thing, why can’t you just send it away?”Lylia held her tongue. It wasn’t that Malou was stupid, and most of the time it wouldn’t even bother her, but she was running out of ways to explain an unexplainable being. “I didn’t summon it. I just created a way for it to access our world.” She peaked out at the dark hallway—the problem was there was no precedent. Did it matter if there was light? Could the creature even see light? And would staying quiet even matter? Lylia stroked her long, blonde hair as she thought.“I’m sorry. You must be getting tired of all these questions.”It was so hard to be mad at someone who kept acknowledging their flaws. “It’s okay. I know it must be confusing.” Lylia couldn’t help but feel guilty. It was her fault Malou was still in the building to begin with. Not that it really mattered. The creature wasn’t particularly bound by the same matter-based confines that Earth creatures were. Maybe nowhere on the planet was safe.“Can we stay here? Are we safe here?” Malou popped her head out as well, peering down the hallway for signs of the plasma colored of burning light, the only visible material the creature left behind. “I don’t see anything.”“I don’t think we’re safe as long as we’re still here.”“Do you think it’ll leave the building?”Lylia didn’t know how to tell Malou that the creature didn’t even exist in the building as it was. “I hope not.” Cautiously, she crept out into the middle of the hallway. It felt silly to be sneaking around, but she couldn’t help it. It was so human to only feel safe when walls were around to support and protect. “I don’t think it’s coming. Hurry. We can go down this hallway. It’ll lead to the stairs.”Malou nodded and her dyed green hair bobbled in its pigtails. “After you, Dr. Niwwel.”“Really, Malou, you can call me Lylia.” Being called Doctor by someone her own age was weird, but being called Doctor by someone who’d been in every one of her elementary school classes was even weirder.Malou followed. “But you worked so hard for your doctorate. The least I can do is show you the respect you deserve.” Malou smiled and Lylia did her best not to melt. She’d promised herself when she started tutoring Malou in physics that she wouldn’t let that smile get to her anymore, but Malou was so earnest, so… so genuine, that Lylia almost couldn’t help it.She was so dazzled by Malou’s smile that she almost didn’t catch the blazing light splatter behind her. “Malou, look out!”A cabinet behind her suddenly became corrupted, spitting sparks and shuddering in and out of existence before half of it was suddenly away. Lylia felt the hair stand up on her arms. “Run!”The air stung of burned metal, rasping away at the back of Lylia’s throat. Malou was faster than her by far, but she kept pace. “Come on!”After a while, Lylia felt her heart start to pound more and more. If only she didn’t work on the top floor—they’d be out by now. They made it close to the stairs, and Lylia grabbed Malou’s arm right before she went down the stairs, dragging her into a broom closet.“What’d you do that for?”“Going down won’t help,” Lylia wheezed. She needed to work out more. “It’s not… I mean, it’s not confined by floors.”“It can go through floors?”Lylia bit her lip. They seemed safe enough now. Maybe she should try a third time to explain that the creature she’d released wasn’t going through the floor, it was completely apart from the floor.She hadn’t meant to become a doctor in the first place. It just seemed like the only way she could continue to study and to learn about what the emptiness in atoms really entailed. She’d always been fascinated by the way humans always seemed to accept nothing but truth, but didn’t question the truth they knew.

“But what’s in between the electron and the nucleus?”

“Nothing,” her professor had snapped. “Quit asking that. This is just where we are in science right now, okay? Sorry it’s not good enough for you. Finish your work.”

Her curiosity had developed from wondering what the emptiness really meant to wondering if there was a separate way to exist. When she argued for her dissertation, a hypothetical reconfiguration of matter that didn’t involve atoms or quarks or any subatomic particles humans could conceive of, the faculty had been confused and baffled. One professor had gone so far as to declare that it was more science fiction than true science. However, she’d gotten her doctorate anyway, and away she went.

The experiment wasn’t supposed to even work. Lylia had long given up on her own theory, but the premise behind it still stood, in her mind. Countless graduate students flocked to her, to hear her crazy lectures about worlds within our own atoms. The machine she’d fashioned wasn’t supposed to be capable of creating real atomic disturbances—the only other atomic disturbances the world had ever known were military based, so there was no way they’d ever give her something with real power. She’d had the grad students (and Malou, although Lylia still wasn’t sure why she was there) gather around her as she fiddled with it, answering their questions the best she could and firing back some of her own. The machine had never done anything before, no matter what she did, so there was no reason anyone would expect it to do much of anything other than look science-y.

So when the machine had malfunctioned and spewed black smoke and the… the thing (Lylia called it a creature for Malou’s sake, but it wasn’t like any creature or any being that had ever been noted in any way before) seeped into this world’s atomic formation, it had caught everyone by surprise.

At first Lylia, like any good scientist, was fascinated. She had proof! Proof that our physics weren’t the only physics out there—matter didn’t work in the same way, physicality didn’t work in the same way, and the universe wasn’t empty after all!

It was a glowing moment for science.

Until suddenly one of the grad students’ arms disappeared. The blood that splattered the ground flecked Lylia’s shoes as she should there, shocked, helpless as bits of the floor spluttered and vanished and the building’s infrastructure suddenly turned to nothing against the impossibility of a physics-less being. Chaos ensued, filling the hallways with shouts as the being engulfed everything it encountered, turning it into a form of matter imperceivable by humanity, intangible in the same regard. Later, hiding under her desk (not the smartest plan, she knew, but she panicked, okay?), Lylia figured out what she’d unleashed—a being able to interact with the physics and composition of this world, but unable to be interacted with by the physics and composition of this world. It was enough to make her head spin, so explaining it to Malou… Calling it a creature was just easier.

“I’m sorry,” she told Malou now, holed up next to the stairs. “I can’t… I can’t stop it. It defies all nature, it defies all… rational thought. It’s not of this world and it shouldn’t be here now. I’ve released it and I’m so… I’m so sorry.” If she hadn’t been so terrified, Lylia thought she would cry. Even now, with fear freezing her blood, Lylia felt tears well behind her eyes and in the catch in her throat.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault.”

“It’s my machine. My lecture. My experiment. It’s literally my fault.”

“You didn’t know this would happen. Nobody knew. Nobody could know.”

“You should’ve gotten out when you had the chance.” Malou hadn’t evacuated with the others, she’d rushed to Lylia’s office instead.

“I couldn’t leave you.”

“You should have. You’ll die here. I can’t tell you anything about this… creature. I could have doomed the entire Earth.” Lylia began to cry, tears and snot dripping down her cheeks. It wasn’t the time or place, she knew, but she still felt bad for how ugly she must look. “You’re going to die, and everyone I know is going to die, and it’s all my fault.”

“The world was doomed anyway,” Malou said. “And you don’t know that you’re going to die. I mean, you said the creature wasn’t from our physics. Maybe it’ll… make us like it.”

That was highly illogical, but so was everything. “Maybe, but even then our entire lives, everything we know, will be taken away. I wish there was a way I could… I could distract it somehow, so you could escape but I…”

“I couldn’t leave you,” Malou repeated. “I couldn’t.”

“We’re going to die here.” Lylia’s sobs echoed down the hallway, and she no longer cared if the creature was able to perceive sound or not. “We’re going to die here and I never—”

“You never what?”

Lylia didn’t know. There were lots of things she’d never done. She’d never snowboarded, or owned a bird, or bought homeowner’s insurance. She hadn’t told her parents goodbye. She’d dated boys in high school and undergrad, but she’d never really felt in love with any of them. She’d never told Malou how beautiful she was.

The thought popped into Lylia’s head before she could stop it. She’d promised herself she’d never admit that to anyone—not even herself.

But if there was ever a time, now was it.

“You’re pretty,” she said, her voice squeaking like a grade schooler.

“Wait—what?”

“I just wanted you to know you’re really pretty.” This was so dumb. This was remarkably dumb. Lylia wanted to say more but she couldn’t.

“Oh.” Malou stared at Lylia. “I don’t know what to… I—oh. Thank you. You’re… you’re pretty too.”

Lylia felt the blood rush to her face and knew it must be a violent red by now. Violent red with puffy pink eyes—Malou was just being nice. “I’m sorry, I made things weird, it’s weird now, it’s our last hours on Earth probably and I’ve just made it so weird.”

“So?”

“So I’m sorry! We’re up against a unseen, intangible something and I just made everything weird.” Lylia hiccupped. She’d stopped crying, but her face was still a mess, she knew.

“Well, I’m glad you did, or I was going to.” Gently, Malou put her rough, calloused hand over Lylia’s.

“What?”

“I like you,” Malou said, the left corner of her mouth turning up into a grin. “I think I’ve liked you since we were in grade school together. That’s why I wanted you to tutor me, I wanted to get to know you better. That’s why I went to all your lectures. I like you.”

“Oh,” breathed Lylia. “Oh.”

“So I guess, if this really is our last couple hours on this planet”—Lylia didn’t bother correcting her—“then I guess I want you to know. I like you a lot. I think you’re funny and kind and so passionate about everything. So… yeah.”

“Oh,” repeated Lylia. “I don’t know what to—”

“You don’t have to say anything. I know this is probably a weird shock, but I didn’t want to disappear without you knowing, okay? I just needed you to know—”

“I like you too,” Lylia spat out. “I like you too.”

“Oh.”

For a second, the two sat in silence, listening to the sparking of a light that the being had absorbed half of earlier in the day. Then Lylia began to cry again.

“Oh! No! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you—”

“No, no, I’m happy,” Lylia said, frantically wiping her tears. “I mean, I am a little. I’m just sad that we’re not… we’re not going to see the future that would come from this.”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

“I just wish we had more time.”

“Well, we have time right now. And who knows—maybe when the creature takes us, we’ll end up together in its dimension.”

Not a dimension, Lylia’s brain blathered, but it didn’t matter at all. Tentatively, she turned her hand up and laced her fingers though Malou’s. “There’ll be no tomorrow,” she warned.

“It sucks,” Malou said, nodding.

“But right now we’re together.”

“Makes it suck a little less.”

Lylia laughed. Yes. Every action they took should just be to make things suck a little less. “Of all the people to die with, you’re not a bad choice.”

“And at least we know that wherever we’re going, we’ll go together.”

“Together.”

Lylia wept as the creature’s plasmatic flickering came into view a little down the hallway and bits of air and floor disappeared, leaving behind blank nothingness of the physics that Lylia couldn’t perceive.

“Together,” Malou murmured into her ear, and they closed their eyes.

Very interesting clips

The “scary background music” is a minus, but the content is worth your time.

What kind of karma will happen to China for being so evil for so long? How can such evil exist?

Hello, I’m from China, and I am a paid promoter for the CCP.

As the Titanic was about to collide with the iceberg, the ship’s impending sinking was a tragic fate for the main characters. However, for the lobsters waiting to be cooked in the Titanic’s kitchen, it was a miraculous moment.

Similarly, the so-called “evil existence of China” is seen as a tragic threat by Western imperialists, Jewish fascists, and Japanese militarists. But for the countries of Southeast Asia, most African nations, Latin America, and other poor and chaotic Third World countries, it represents an opportunity to end internal conflicts and focus on development.

A strong China will allow us to witness the following in the future:

The decline of the US as a military and diplomatic superpower;
The awakening of the American people and the restructuring of their government;
The Five Eyes countries, excluding the US, gradually adopting independent foreign policies based on their national interests;
The EU possibly gaining autonomy in diplomacy and military matters, or becoming a regional power;
Several traditional Third World countries reaching the threshold of industrialization;
Rapid socio-economic development in Southeast and South Asian countries;
Green energy becoming the primary component of the world’s energy mix;
A fairer and more reasonable carbon emission scheme for Third World countries;
Urumqi, as the geographical center of Central Asia, playing an increasingly important role in international finance and trade;
Japan and South Korea, the two American colonies in East Asia, becoming mere dishes on the table;
Some African countries emerging as newly developed nations;
A united Asia and Latin America;
The elimination of global war hotspots;

Mao Zedong once said, “Before listening to someone, first see where they stand.” China is slowly trying to tell its own story. This process has been fraught with difficulties. However, today, through platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Quora, and through “China Travel,” rather than through official Chinese efforts, China’s story is beginning to spread among people worldwide. These stories and visions instill fear and anxiety in those in the West who are full of prejudice and hatred.

So, “my delicacy is your poison.” To those who wish for the disappearance of “evil China” from the earth, I hope you exercise well and maintain a balanced diet so you can live a long life. If you live as long as a tortoise, for 500 years, you can personally verify whether “evil China” has vanished.

Therefore, haters, I wish you longevity like a tortoise. In China, this is the most beautiful metaphor.

Is it true that martial arts are useless in a street fight?

As others have said, the first thing a martial arts instructor will tell you is ‘don’t get into a street fight’. My judo instructor took it further: get fit and outrun the threat.

At the age of 19, with 8 years of judo instruction, and some unarmed combat training, I spent a summer in Manchester. I didn’t know the city, and found myself in areas that were not safe. This was in the early 80s, around the time of the most violent riots the city has seen in modern times.

Every time a situation looked dodgy, the others scrambled to get out of my way. I’m average height, and while I was very fit at the time, I was not visibly muscular or aggressive-looking. I just looked like I could handle myself (I could). That’s the second lesson: if you can’t avoid a situation, look like you’d be a problem.

The third lesson: take charge of the situation and de-escalate.

I was in a ground-floor student flat in a less salubrious part of Birmingham. There was a crash from the kitchen. I rushed into the corridor, to find myself face-to-face with a guy who looked like a serious boxer, just coming out of the kitchen. I was between him and the front door. He took a swing at me. I deflected the punch into the wall, and he stopped, uncertain.

I asked him who he was, why he was in my flat, and what had happened in the kitchen.

A flatmate of mine had flirted with the guy’s girlfriend through the kitchen window. Our boxer suspected the girl was cheating, and thought he had found the culprit. He found the front door unlocked, walked into the kitchen, and knocked my flatmate off his feet, and over the table. By the time he’d explained all this, he had calmed down a great deal. We went back into the kitchen, established that my flatmate was not the sought-for Lothario. Everyone shook hands, apologised, and there was no more trouble.

None of this used specifically judo moves, but the training gave me both the confidence and the reflexes, so no, martial arts are not useless.

Have you ever taken the law into your own hands?

My neighbor is a big-shot lawyer. One night, his dog was outside my house. I didn’t know it was his dog and had to ask around. I was told it was “the lawyer’s dog.” I noticed that the dog was terribly skinny and, in general, just didn’t have the bounce in her step like most black labs do.

I left her at my house and knocked on the door. I told him I had his dog. He didn’t seem concerned. When it appeared he wasn’t going to come outside, I asked him if he expected me to deliver the dog to him. He got all huffy and said, “Fine!” His beautiful and very, very sweet wife and four little girls were thanking me but he was just pissed that I interrupted his “pizza and movie night with the family.” He begrudgingly followed me home.

I am a retired humane officer and still have a lot of influence at animal control. But I didn’t want to sound arrogant and threatening so I didn’t mention it. I just asked if the dog was okay as she seemed a little gaunt. He told me to mind my own business.

I asked him if the dog had been to see a vet lately and he said, “What’s with all the g-damn questions?” Since I had had this very same exchange many times in my career, I didn’t get mad. I just smiled and said I was concerned about the dog. He again told me to mind my own business. I said “Okay, well, if you’re not going to talk to me…” and trailed off.
The dog was less than enthusiastic to see him and he had to actually pick up the dog .

The next day, bright and early, two uniformed Animal Control officers knocked on his door, demanding to see the dog. He got a seven-day warning to get the dog to a vet or be fined. Seven days later they came back and were shown a letter from a vet that the lab had been seen and is now under treatment for a pancreatic disorder.

My neighbors asked me how I was so bold and stupid to make an enemy out of a big-shot lawyer.

Right makes might. I had right on my side.
I will never be afraid to speak out on behalf of a dog. In my career I had dealt with hardened criminal dog fighters and my anger gave me courage.
I gave him the chance to talk to me, and I would have offered to take the dog to the vet since I know he and his wife are busy, but he shot me down so fast.
My husband is a big-shot lawyer, too, but this guy doesn’t know that.

I called in a favor from my old colleagues and showed this guy that he didn’t intimidate me and that “Failure to render treatment to an animal in need” is a crime and not even a big-shot lawyer is above the law.

Do you think there is such a thing as the worst Hollywood celebrity decision ever?

A virtual unknown, Australian actor George Lazenby was cast as James Bond in 1969, taking over the role from Connery in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. Lazenby was young, inexperienced… and honestly not that great an actor. But when he played the part, he kind of killed it. And although initially panned by critics, in later years in fact his performance has been hailed as one of the finest. This role could have forever changed his life.

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And yet, out of thin air… Lazenby called it quits. Told the studio he would NOT be apearing in another Bond movie ever again. This was positively unprecedented. The role had made his predecessor a millionaire, a household name around the globe. It would have been Lazenby’s claim to fame. He’d be set for a lifetime. And yet, he bucked. And quit his job, in style. He said the studio “made him feel mindless” and that whenever he made suggestions for the role, he was dismissed, which he disliked. The young Australian didn’t want to “just be a product”. It was all the more shocking because of all the effort he had put into getting cast in the first place, bluffing his way into getting the part.

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As filming came to an end, George Lazenby grew a beard. Grew out his hair, too. He looked more like a hippie than the famous suave secret agent he was portraying. By the time the premier came around, Lazenby was ordered by the studio to shave his beard, cut his hair, “look the part”. He flat-out refused, and not only kept the beard, he even put on a massive fur coat to further enhance his image as the enfant terrible of the Bond universe. Everyone gave Lazenby a hard time for his choice:

“I much prefer being a car salesman to a stereotyped James Bond. My parents think I’m insane, everybody thinks I’m insane passing up maybe millions of pounds. Nobody believed me. They thought it was a publicity stunt. But it’s just me doing my own thing”

He wouldn’t budge. George Lazenby became James Bond, played the role once, and never again. His film career failed to take off after this, and in later years the actor went into real estate, making a fortune for himself off-screen. He could have been one of the world’s most major movie stars… instead, he went from Bond, to hippie, to dude who flips houses for a living.

Do not forget about CloudStrike and it’s roll in the July 2024 shutdowns

The election is gonna be on line in a few days. Keep your eyes open.

What was the most blatant scam a customer has ever failed to get away with?

I used to work at a running store in a suburb of Denver, Colorado.

One day, a guy and his girlfriend/partner came into the store while I was working. They bought a few pairs of shoes and some running clothes and signed up for a local race. There was nothing unusual about any of this, and they were quite nice.

The only odd thing was they both clearly had lower-than-normal IQs. Just imagine the person you know who best fits the phrase “not the sharpest tool in the shed” and add in a little more dullness, and that’s them.

Anyway, the next day the store owner comes in and starts asking us about this couple (he hadn’t been there the day before). After we answered a few questions, he told us that their checks (one for the gear, one for the race) had bounced. We were now out several hundred dollars of product.

The owner, a New York City native, was not one to take things lying down, so he did a little digging.

My old boss: not a sucker

The first thing he discovered was that the guy had used checks with his actual name and address on them. The guy’s last name was unique—“Pfeffenschmecker” or something like that. Now as you can imagine, there were only about five Pfeffenschmeckers in the whole phone book (yes, this was back when we still had phone books), so my boss started calling them all.

He quickly found a relative who said, “Oh yes, they have done this before. They use checks from an old, closed-out account to steal from stores.”

Armed with that knowledge and their home address, here’s what my boss did next.

He went to their house late that night and took a steel pipe with him. He banged on their door with the pipe and started yelling at them with his strongest New York accent from outside the house, telling them in no uncertain terms that he wanted his stuff back…or else.

They never came to the door, so he eventually left. But the next morning, there were several bags in front of the store when he got there.

They had returned all the merchandise and, one hopes, learned a very valuable lesson: don’t steal from a New Yorker, but if you do, don’t use your real name and address as part of your scam!

What is one thing that I can learn from you today?

One day, me and my girlfriend went out for lunch. After finishing our lunch, we called the waiter to get the bill. The waiter kept the bill on our table and then he left.

My girlfriend took the bill and checked it. There was some mistake. We had ordered 6 Rotis (Indian Bread) and only 4 were mentioned in the bill. She told me about this and I checked the bill again. She was right.

Then she said that we need to ask them to add 2 more Rotis in the bill and I was like, “Dude, don’t try to be Raja Harishchandra”. She asked, what’s wrong with that? As there was a difference of only 30 rupees, I answered, “Chalta hai yaar kabhi kabhi” (it happens sometimes). But she said, “No. It’s wrong. We must not do this. It’s someone’s hard earned money. We have ordered it and we have to pay for it.” I was surprised to hear that (just because of her maturity) and then I said, “Okay, you win.”

She immediately called the waiter and told him that we have ordered 6 Rotis and only 4 are mentioned in the bill. And asked him to kindly add that in the bill and get an updated one. The waiter said thanks to her and then went to the bill counter. He got a new and correct bill this time. We both checked it and a random conversation started between us.

During the conversation, I pulled out my wallet and picked out 2 five hundred rupee notes and gave it to the waiter with the bill. I was so lost in the conversation that I forgot the bill amount was 474 Rupees only. And instead of giving him a single note, I gave him two. Neither I was aware of this, nor my girlfriend and suddenly the waiter came and said, “Sir the amount is only 474 Rupees and you gave me 2 five hundred rupee notes. Please take one note back (and then he returned me one note).

I immediately checked my wallet and I was shocked that yes he is right! I had 3 notes in my wallet and there was only 1. I thanked him for this and also praised his honesty. He also got a decent tip from us. Then we left the place with a smile and a lesson. The lesson is,

Do good to get good

If you do a good thing, then something good will happen to you.

Thanks for reading.

Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

This Chicken and Mushroom Pasta is flavor packed and loaded with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, veggie pasta and chicken. It’s a 30 minute meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights!

Ingredients

8 ounces spiral veggie pasta (rotini), cooked (reserve 1/2 cup starchy pasta water)
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup white onion, diced
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Pinch of red pepper chili flakes (optional)
1/2 cup Half-and-Half
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 cups cooked spinach, fresh
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a sauté pan and add in mushrooms, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and seasonings. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Add in the Half-and-Half, chicken broth and pasta water, and bring to a boil. Turn down to simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally (pasta water will help thicken the sauce).
Lastly, add in the cooked chicken, spinach and Parmesan. Stir until combined.
Serve warm.

19 HOUR Layover In China (Guangzhou visa-free transit)

Is President Trump the new Theodore Roosevelt?

Don’t be ridiculous. Theodore Roosevelt was a 250 pound mountain of self-made muscle who gave a speech, got shot into the chest and, spitting out blood with a smile, told the alarmed crowd: “It takes more than that to kill a bull moose!” He then proceeded to give his speech anyway as if nothing had happened. It’s the type of scene that would make people roll their eyes in an anime series and say: “Gee, those Japanese cartoons sure are over-the-top bombastic and unbelievable!”

When Theodore Roosevelt was born, he was weak and sickly. Doctors said he’d surely die. His father believed otherwise. As soon as his son was old enough to understand, he told him: “God gave you a strong mind, but not a strong body. So you must build that body yourself.” He nodded and internalized that message. Started a fitness regimen of insane intensity, including calisthenics and bodyweight exercises. He climbed mountains. Fought in multiple wars. Knocked down several men at a time in bar fights, and rode horses and trekked through the roughest of terrain. His band of men was called “the Rough Riders”. About as close as a 19th century politician could be to being in a biker gang…

When Theodore Roosevelt was nearly assassinated he survived with a bullet lodged in his chest for the rest of his life. It did not, in any way, shape or form, slow the man down. His very first concern, after telling the crowd he was fine, was for the would-be assassin — he told police not to rough him up too bad. If the shooter had merely nicked his ear, Roosevelt would probably have asked him to come up close and said: “Mediocre! Come, have another go!”

Pre-Historic Underground Megastructure Found in Russia – Khara-Hora Shaft

This is amazing.

What was the most bone-chilling sentence a loved one ever said to you?

When I was 24 years old, married with my first baby, my husband and I were driving my mother home after she had visited us. A bit of an argument broke out between mother and me, over something inconsequential, and she said, coldly and clearly:

“I adopted you to save my marriage, and when he loved you more than me, I got rid of you. I sent you to boarding school.”

I was adopted at 2 years of age and packed off to boarding school when I had just turned 7. I spent the rest of my childhood and teenage years at boarding school, only coming home for school holidays.

She would do humiliating things such as putting a notice in the local paper that I was coming home for the school holidays when everyone knew it was holiday time. She would force me to wear my school uniform to town (Father had a sheep property) so “that everyone can see what a good school I sent you to.” Running into my school “mates” dressed in my formal school uniform in the holidays ensured that I was totally humiliated and bullied.

I never forgave her for this and never forgot what she told me that evening when I was 24. Even though I am now 80, it still hurts.

One final thing. Two years ago I discovered that I have a sister who is 16 months younger than me. We were in the orphanage together, and there is NO WAY that Mother didn’t know about her. She never told me about my sister and it was only by chance that I found out she exists. Sadly, she is not keen on meeting me, saying she has “issues” that have to be resolved. I am so sad, because at 80 and her turning 79 in July, time is running out for us to know each other. I have prayed and prayed that she will contact me again, but I fear this will not happen.

NOTE:

Thank you all for your kindness and care. I am sure there are many of you who have upvoted this who can relate to cruelty by parents who, sadly, are damaged people either from their own childhood or as a result of their own actions. Only a parent can inflict this type of deep grief which stays with us for the rest of our lives.

Do you consider America or China a superpower? Can you give me a good answer, opinion or comments?

America and China are both superpowers. In fact, they are presently the ONLY superpowers.

Both countries have enormous economies, far surpassing third-place Germany and fourth-place Japan.

By purchasing power parity, both economies are also enormous, far surpassing third-place India.

China is indisputably the world’s only manufacturing/industrial superpower.

Both countries have enormous militaries. In fact, China has the largest army and the largest navy by number of ships. China has the second largest aircraft carrier fleet.

Both countries have large nuclear arsenals. Officially, China has 500 nuclear weapons, but unofficially this number is believed to be closer to a thousand.

Both countries are technological superpowers. In fact, according to the ASPI, China leads the world in 37 out of 44 critical technology fields (America leads in 7).

China is granted more technological patents than America and Japan combined!

According to the CWTS Leiden Ranking, China has about half of the world’s top universities.

China dominates the world in 5G. China dominates the world in EVs, batteries and solar panels.

America and China both exert enormous global influence economically, militarily, and technologically. This is why they are superpowers.

What are some short stories that discuss a moral dilemma?

The story of Stéphane Passet always rather haunted me. An amateur photographer, Passet was hired to photograph the world around him — in particular, the Orient, a mysterious place few in the West knew much of. He would go deep into the most remote corners of the world, and photograph what he would encounter. At some point on his travels, he encountered a woman in Mongolia.

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She was trapped in a box, in a desert. There was a hole in the box, large enough for her to poke her head out, and an arm. But far too small for her to ever dream of escaping. Every once in a while, perhaps once every two days or so, a guard would appear. Give the woman some water, a little bit of food — she was meant to die in that box, and the nourishment given to her was only to further prolong her suffering. Passet looked on, in horror.

“What has she done to deserve this fate?” he asked his guide.

“Adultery…” was the answer.

To take a photograph of this moment in time felt almost… obscene, to Passet. Her slender arm, shaking. The sun mercilessly beating down on her. He was watching a woman die before his eyes. It could take days. Weeks, even. But she would die and there was nothing in the world he could do.

Stéphane Passet could not intervene. Could not save her, he was completely powerless to do anything for the poor soul. Still, he took his camera. And took her picture. After that, he went away, knowing she would die. And yet he did something for her — by taking her picture, he ensured she would be remembered. Most nameless people who shared her fate would never have been captured on camera. She died, but through Passet, she lives on.

Why does everybody like Thailand?

Many factors, they have all the 10 conditions qualified, most countries can’t even reach 5:

1)People are nice and kind, probably due to their religion and culture which believe in Karma, and the core and basic Buddhism knowledge is taught in schools and their boys and men stay in a Buddhist monastery as a novice or temporary monk for at least once in their lifetime. Many foreigners found love 💝 💝 in Thailand.

2)Attractions and sceneries: from natural to man-made, they have everything. Pattaya alone is enough for anyone to live for a lifetime.

3)Shopping: their malls and markets are the best and better than most countries. Even their 7/11s is better than their neighbors with either better facilities, better services or selling more things,

4)Food: Thai food from spicy to non-spicy are all good and international food is easily available too. Even better are their desserts and sauces that makes a perfect meal. There is one Thai sauce that have all 4 tastes in one: spicy, sweet, salty and sour, the only kind in the world.

5)Entertainment and nightlife: their cinemas are better than most countries and their nightlife needs no introduction: males, females, middle-sex and homosexuals are easily available.

6)Massage: Both Thai traditional massage and sensual or sex massage is available everywhere. I think no other countries have them, not even a proper basic massage.

7)Transportation: This is most important as transportation is similar to the blood circulation of a body. Bangkok have the most transportation systems in the world: buses, skytrains, underground trains, car taxis, motorcycle taxis, river ferry transport, canal boat transport, tuk-tuks, songtheaws and samlors. Even remote areas and islands are reachable with public transportation systems and you don’t need to hire a private car.

8)Restaurants and cafes of many international food and budget options are easily available everywhere. You can buy a 120 baht fresh coffee in a cafe to as cheap as a 25 baht coffee from a takeaway stall. Even sushi is available in most night markets.

9)Costs: still affordable now although it keeps increasing.

10)Fairness in treatment: all people are treated fairly. There is no racism treatment, all religions are allowed(even Pope is allowed into the country to hold events) although this is not a good idea long term, dual pricing is practiced for many attractions entrance.

I may have missed some factors but I think those above are enough.

As a realtor, what was the shadiest thing you saw a home seller do?

I was young and had wanted to break into the real estate industry since I was a baby. My dad had been an agent and my grandpa had been a house flipper. My grandpa had taught my dad everything about houses and how to fix them and flip them. Dad only had me, a girl.

Dad was undeterred and taught me everything grandpa had taught him and even brought me on showings. I had also studied woodworking, metal working, business administration, accounting, real estate, drafting and various other housing-related things while still in school. I was ready for my career in real estate.

However, I made one heck of a bad move right out of the gate. I signed on with a broker whom I didn’t know was shady. He seemed OK to me and he was Italian like me but I was naive and blinded by my dreams of working in the housing industry. Soon it was obvious that something was wrong. My broker refused to allow me to work the front desk where agents were able to take walk-in clients. He also refused other avenues that would help grow my career. I was completely frustrated to say the least. I was basically getting nowhere fast. It was as if he was deliberately trying to stop me from growing in the business.

What my broker didn’t count on was that I was persistent. So I finally, through my own avenues, got a potential buyer and two potential sellers. I was figuring out my career path, no thanks to my lousy broker. My broker was extremely upset that I was getting anywhere and I quite frankly couldn’t understand why he wanted to destroy me so bad when he hardly knew me. What kind of threat could I possibly be to him!?

So I’m getting ready to show my buyer a house and am getting the listing sheets etc together. Suddenly my broker says, “Oh, that house you’re showing, you need to know that the boiler is about to blow.” I thanked him for giving me the head’s up but was stunned when he added, “It is our secret! The seller and I know and the agents in the office know but no potential buyer is to know about this at all!!” Angry I responded, “Isn’t that illegal and immoral?” His response, “They will never know until after it is sold then the buyers can replace it at their own cost!”

I was beyond livid at that point! I outright refused to lie to my buyer and was asked to part ways with the company as a result of my “insubordination” to my broker. I was more than happy to do so even though it meant giving up my lifelong dreams. I was raised to be honest and forthright. I simple couldn’t bring myself down to that level no matter how much my dreams meant to me.

As I left the broker said, “By the way, I took you on because of your last name and then realized you couldn’t provide ‘favors’ for me afterwards. So basically it was a mistake having you here at all!!” I got what he meant, my uncle was Charles Luciano, AKA Lucky Luciano, the famous mobster. He thought I could get him some mob ties!!!!!

I looked him square in the eyes and said, “What are you, stupid? My uncle has been dead since before I was born! How the heck did you think I was going to pull any favors for you?” I stormed out. A few years later his business went belly up. I cannot decide if it was due to his shady dealings with his sellers or if he was simply a victim of the real estate market crash. I’m guessing it was his shady dealings to be honest.

So what happened to me? I found the man of my dreams and it turns out he builds chimneys for a living. Suddenly I found myself back in the housing industry that I love so much, running our own chimney company. And this company is not run on “favors” and shady dealings. This is one housing company that is run on honesty and integrity. And yes, I use all the education my dad handed down to me and all the schooling I took, on a daily basis, to run this company. The best part? I’m happy.

Norwegian Politician Reveal Shocking SECRET About China in 2024

What are the strangest or most eerie true crime cases you have read about?

From 1974 until 1986 a serial killer who became known as EARONS (East-Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker) terrorized a massive spree of terrible crimes. He committed at least twelve murders, fifty rapes and one hundred and twenty burglaries as well. In April 2018, the man was arrested… his name? Joseph James DeAngelo. A 72-year old retired cop.

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When they arrested DeAngelo, he appeared to be a kindly old grandfather. He lived in a house he shared with one of his adult daughters and his oldest granddaughter. When officers tried to arrest him, DeAngelo said he “had to go inside for a bit because he had a pot roast in the oven”. The cops then took him down, suspecting he was plotting to reach for a gun and either kill himself or engage them in a shootout…

There was no pot roast. What there was, however, was a house full of evidence. A shocked family who, for a year, never broke their silence in utter disbelief. And a computer, open, up and running…

Now DeAngelo was a terrifying killer. The type of killer who would go into houses, brutally attack sleeping couples and tie up husbands in the hallway with plates and cutlery on their backs as he would rape their wives nearby… and stab, shoot or bludgeon to death the poor husband if he made an attempt to escape and save his wife, causing the cutlery to fall on the floor…

He was also a former cop who “kept tabs” on the case. He stopped in the late 1980s around the time when DNA became a more commonly used source to solve crimes. Aware of his crimes, he even followed online, made accounts on message boards that recorded the case and tracked it’s development.

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Joseph James DeAngelo also stalked his victims and their families for years after the attacks. A prowler, he would get a thrill out of repeatedly entering and leaving their homes on nights prior to his home invasions, getting to know every detail, nook and cranny of his future crime scenes. After raping and murdering family members he would find their phone numbers and call them, breathing down the line and uttering profanities. On one of his last such phone calls, somewhere around the 1990s, the victim heard children in the background. This caused law enforcement to look into the possibility that their suspect may be a family man — they had previously looked for a deranged bachelor without a family.

The fact that one of the most prolific serial killers and rapists went undetected for decades and was so… seemingly normal? Terrifying. You expect some sort of freak who talks to demons in the head and dogs possessed by Satan. Not a grandfather who takes his friends fishing by boat, who lives with his daughter, is happily retired and with-the-times enough to operate a computer and browse the internet successfully in his seventies, keeping up to date with the latest police techniques. Thank God for ancestry websites… it’s how she got a match with a distant relative of DeAngelo.

DNA took down the killer. On April 24, 2018, Joseph James DeAngelo was taken in at long last. But the most chilling detail, for me? Some accounts on the case message board for internet sleuths stopped posting altogether on the day of his arrests. And one never logged in again since. The monster lurked on the forum. Chatted the people obsessed with his case and even may have “thrown them hints” here and there. Chilling.

Italian Beef Pasta

Ingredients

1 pound beef tenderloin, cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 red bell peppers, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 pound sliced mushrooms
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 pound rotini pasta

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat sauté beef strips in hot oil until no longer pink.
Add prepared vegetables and Italian seasoning to skillet. Cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes or until onion is softened.
Mix together broth and cornstarch until smooth. Add to meat mixture in pan; cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil and is thickened.
Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package.
Spoon beef mixture over prepared pasta; garnish with fresh basil if desired.

Why Asia doesn’t want warhawk Kamala in charge

What is something in the world that you feel the need to give attention to, something everyone needs to be aware of?

I want to highlight today the sad tale of Mr. Paco Larrañaga. He was convicted to die in the Philippines in 1997 for a murder and rape he not only didn’t commit… but couldn’t possibly have committed. Why? Because he was not there. Two girls were raped and murdered in Cebu in 1997, the Chiong sisters. They belonged to a rather influential and shady family. Larrañaga, on the other hand, was just a young culinary school student hoping to one day be a chef. Despite having nothing to do with the case whatsoever, he was accused, perhaps for political reasons.

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The murder took place on the island of Cebu. Larrañaga was nowhere near — he was in Manila, studying to be a chef. The night of the crime there are records of him leaving a club in Manila. Early the next day he sat for an exam. Over forty fellow students and teachers testified to this. There were no flight records of Larrañaga flying to or from Cebu at any time near the murder. And the man who claimed he was present, Rusia, a “state witness”, showed up only ten months after the event, having never even met Larrañaga. Physical evidence linking Larrañaga to the crime was never produced. No DNA, no fingerprints, flight records, nor witnesses except for this one state witness who the defense was only allowed to interview for a mere ten minutes(!) while Larrañaga was grilled for hours on end…

The judge said every single testimony from the teachers, the students, the bouncer of the club and even the airlines could not be used by Larrañaga because “they were his friends”. He was sentenced to death, later changed to life in prison when the death penalty was abolished in the Philippines. He was just nineteen years old when they arrested him and his life, for all intents and purposes, came to an end. Today, he is 45. He has been in jail for 25 years. It’s an injustice and it needs to be said. Only a presidential pardon could save this poor man’s already ruined life, but pleas seem to fall on death ears. I’ll link a petition you could sign, and would appreciate it if you did.

This is one of the most shocking cases ever to me. For some reason it gets to me, ever since I watched the documentary “Give Up Tomorrow” made about the subject. I have seen reviewed and researched the case extensively and I am appalled and astonished that a man who has been proven beyond reasonable doubt not to have been anywhere near a crime scene is still in jail wasting away for having committed that crime.

Why are U.S. entrepreneurs flying to China now?

Why do people have a problem with Ambanis and Adanis getting richer?

The China Real Estate Syndrome

Why do you think it happened?

Why a Property that cost 350K RMB in 2004 rose to cost 3.5 Million RMB in 15 years time?

At 17% per Annum

It wasn’t due to demand and supply

It was due to RAPIDLY RISING INCOME INEQUALITY between 2005 and 2017 in China

In 2005 – the Top 0.1% Chinese earned 182% of what the Median Chinese earned

By 2016 it had risen to a whopping 568%

The Richer Chinese didn’t earn their money through manufacturing or factory work

They earned their money by PAPER WEALTH

They made real estate killings, reinvested into the same real estate

They made speculative killings and invested it back in speculative markets

Luckily for the Chinese , they had a great leader like Xi Jinping who saw the situation and decided to curb it

And has brought down the number from 568% to 342% in the last 7 years

Has kept real estate prices constant so that the apartment now costs 3.28 Million RMB instead of 5.25 Million RMB that it could have risen to

It’s still not hunky dory

However China has dodged a Major Hypersonic Nuclear Weapon and managed to get hit with a dozen bullets instead

India is heading the same way

Except that in India – State does not even own the land

Our 0.1% in the last 3 years from 2021–2024 now have 1186% more rise in wealth than the Median group

In China it was 293%

In US it was 313%

In Japan it was 181%

In India it was 1200%

You catch my drift?

If this keeps up, resources will become all the more expensive and the ownership will become even more exclusive

In 20 years – we could virtually be slaves of the 0.1% unable to grow or develop even a fraction

We talk of Middle Income Trap with China

We could fall into a Low Income Trap

Solution?

In the next two decades – the 0.1% should see a wealth growth of 275% of the Median Group

That’s the only way to ensure INEQUALITY IS CONTAINED

If they keep getting richer like today, India is finished

China woke up in 2018 – luckily

We need to have woken up five years ago, given that we have a bureaucracy while they can change the rules in twenty minutes

Unless Ambani and Adani can create latest technology and earn from it

And they are too Moron to do that

A 10-year-old cat abandoned, stays at the owner’s door unwilling to leave

How effective are Taiwan’s Wan’an civil defense drills at simulating a Chinese missile attack?

Unless they’re simulating 12,000 MLRS guided rockets like a smaller version of the ATACMS in one hour. It’s completely useless.

It’s like practicing against 50 people when 10,000 will show up. What will that do? Will that really help?

You decide.

China brings a whole new dimension to modern warfare. Not only do they have advanced weapon system that is equal or better than the US, they have them in ridiculously large numbers.

They have been preparing for war with the US. So do you think Taiwan can do anything?

Right before I went into the US Army, the US invaded Panama. Operation Just Cause. Did Panama manage to fend off the US?

And Panama is over 1,800 miles. Taiwan is 100 miles off the coast of China. With no intervening nation. While Panama has the whole of Mexico between it and the US. Did that bother the US or stop the US?

Americans visiting CHINA for the first time!

As a nurse, what is the most disturbing story you can tell about a patient who was living in extreme poverty?

I was a patient in the hospital myself, which was an eye opening experience for me as an RN. I was there for a week with what turned out to be psitticosis from my new pet parakeet. (Not a fun experience.) During that time, I got to know my roommate very well.

My roommate was a widow in her mid thirties, and she was dying of cancer. She had three young children who had recently entered the foster care system. She had no friends or family to help her, and no one willing to take her kids in. She had done nothing wrong as a mother except to become so sick with cancer that she could no longer care for her children. To complicate matters, she had recently been evicted from her apartment due to the loss of her income as a result of her ongoing illness. She was now homeless.

She was also uninsured, which is why her breast cancer was left untreated until it was too late. The cancer had been detected by a routine mammogram paid for by a woman’s health clinic. She was then referred for a biopsy, then to an oncologist. The oncologist was willing to see her free of charge, yet he could not afford to pay for her chemotherapy. He informed her that she needed to try to get on Medicaid, so that the expensive chemotherapy could begin. At that time she was still working, and she made too much money to qualify for Medicaid. She made far too little money though, to purchase health insurance. (This was in 2004, before the ACA, or even Go-Fund-Me came about.) She kept working as long as she could to feed her kids while the cancer spread throughout her body.

Soon after being told that she was terminal, she received word that she had been accepted into a charity drug program paid for by the Disney corporation. They agreed to pay for her chemotherapy, except now it was too late.

While we were in the hospital, she told me over and over again that she desperately wanted to see her children. She was embarrassed by her appearance though, because as the cancer overtook her, she became so weak that she would occasionally faint. One of those falls had chipped two of her front teeth close to the gum line. This was very noticeable. When her mouth was closed, she looked normal. The minute she spoke, smiled or ate, the missing teeth were very, very apparent. Her children had never seen her without her front teeth, and she feared that she would frighten them. She longed for a partial plate or crowns to correct her appearance before her children saw her, yet she had no money for this. As a result, she planned to wear a mask over her mouth when they came instead. Sadly though, her young children were never brought to see her. Calls by her to the social worker in charge of her children’s foster care placement went unreturned. I tried to get our hospital’s social services department to help, yet nothing was ever accomplished.

My roommate had been a pre-school teacher. This isn’t a high paying job, yet it is an important one. The job, sadly, offered no benefits. Plus, due to her cancer, she had by this point not been able to work for several months.

By the time I was discharged, we had become the best of friends. I was still quite weak from my own illness, yet my hope was to have her live in my spare bedroom when she was discharged. As a nurse who only worked part time, I knew that I could care for her.

Whether she came to live with me or not, I also planned to help get her teeth fixed so that she could at least die with the dignity of a beautiful smile. I even had a dentist lined up who was willing to help. Most importantly, I planned to find some way to have her children visit regularly. I never got the chance to do any of those things though. I went to see her two days after my discharge, only to find out that she had passed away suddenly the night before, alone, homeless and toothless.

Keanu Reeves

While shooting the movie “The Lake House”, he overheard the conversation between two costume assistants, and a woman was crying because she would lose her house if she didn’t pay a sum of 20 thousand dollars. He deposited it into her account.

On his birthday in 2010, he went into a bakery alone and bought a cupcake with a single candle. While he ate it outside, he offered free coffee and bread to all customers. This was his luxury birthday.

With what he earned from the Matrix trilogy, he distributed 50 million dollars to the special effects personnel, because according to him, they were the real heroes of the films.

He almost never used stuntmen, except for very specific things like stunts, and for this reason he recognized the work of his stuntmen by giving each of them a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

To this day, he regularly uses the subway and other public transportation systems such as the bus when necessary because it is the most practical thing, and he is never ashamed.

A large number of hospitals say they have received tens of millions of dollars from him.

He donated 90% of his salary in some films so that the production could hire other stars.

In 1997, a paparazzo found him on the street sitting next to a homeless man, listening to the homeless man’s life and having breakfast with him.

All the good we know about Keanu Reeves was not told to us by him, but by those who benefited from him. He never declared anything.

For everything he has experienced, he could have had a sadder and more pessimistic view of life, but despite this he chose to be that something good among all the evil there is.

American greed…

What happened? Since when did money become EVERYTHING?

My GOD. What a great video.

Massage, drinking whiskey, a very hard touch, and soft relax afterwards

One of my little pleasures here in China is the massage.

There are all types of massages. From a nice foot massage after soaking in a super hot herbal bath, to “happy ending” massages that are 100% legal inside of China.

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The prices are entirely reasonable, and really, it’s a four hours or so well spent.

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In the ‘States, I never had or experienced a professional massage. The best that I could get was an amateur massage from a favored girl or two.

But really, as I get older, having a massage…

spa for men

one that involves drinking whiskey, a very hard touch, and soft relax afterwards. Followed by a fine smoke is truly special, and it is one that I really do appreciate.

I don’t know if you can ever get something like this in the USA unless you go to a private spa. Ah, many ladies use these services I know. But not so much foe the men.

If you all ever get an opportunity, take it.

Today….

We Haven’t Seen A “Historic Surge” Of Corporate Bankruptcies Like This Since The Great Recession
July 10, 2024 by Michael

We continue to get numbers that indicate that the U.S. economy is steamrolling in the wrong direction as we approach the most chaotic election season in our history. Needless to say, the performance of the economy is going to play a major role in the outcome of the election, because millions upon millions of Americans are really suffering right now. Homelessness has been growing at the fastest pace ever recorded, hunger and poverty are exploding, and we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis that doesn’t seem to have any end in sight. Unfortunately, there are signs that things will soon get even worse. For example, we experienced a “historic surge” of corporate bankruptcies during the first half of this year that was worse than anything we have witnessed since the first half of 2010…

There is a “historic surge” of corporate bankruptcies underway in the U.S., as debt-saddled companies struggle to adjust to the new era of high interest rates.

New figures published by S&P Global Intelligence show that 75 companies filed for bankruptcy in June, the highest number recorded in a single month since early 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. That pushed this year’s total number of bankruptcies so far to 346, which is notably higher than comparable levels seen in the past 13 years.

Before this, the highest half-year figure recorded was in 2010, with 437 companies filing for bankruptcy from January through June.

During the first half of 2010, we were just coming out of the Great Recession.

Do you remember how painful things were in those days?

Sadly, I believe that what is ahead of us will be even more painful.

The unprecedented measures that our leaders took to prop up the economy worked for a while, but now cracks are starting to show all over the place.

And a lot more big businesses will go belly up during the months ahead.

Earlier today, I was quite saddened to learn that Big Lots is on the verge of bankruptcy…

Discount retail chain Big Lots said it will close up to 40 stores this year and may declare bankruptcy.

The Columbus, Ohio-based company wrote in a quarterly Securities and Exchange Commission filing it expected further operating losses and has “substantial doubt” it can continue as a functioning business.

Big Lots last month reported a net loss of $205 million in the quarter ending May 4, 2024.

When I lived in Virginia many years ago, I would shop at Big Lots quite a bit.

And it always seemed to be doing fairly well.

But now times have changed.

Today, most Americans have very little discretionary income. In fact, surveys have shown that the vast majority of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck at this point…

A 2023 survey conducted by Payroll.org highlighted that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, a 6% increase from the previous year. In other words, more than three-quarters of Americans struggle to save or invest after paying for their monthly expenses.

Similarly, a 2023 Forbes Advisor survey revealed that nearly 70% of respondents either identified as living paycheck to paycheck (40%) or—even more concerning—reported that their income doesn’t even cover their standard expenses (29%).

There is no way to spin those numbers in a positive manner.

Any way that you look at them, they are absolutely horrible.

The middle class is being ripped to shreds, and those that are running the system seem to be all out of answers.

Young adults in particular are having a very difficult time in this environment.

According to a survey that was recently conducted by Bank of America, almost half of all adult members of Generation Z “are relying on financial help from their parents and family members”…

A new survey by Bank of America finds that nearly half of adult members of Gen Z are relying on financial help from their parents and family members to get by.

The survey for Bank of America’s Better Money Habits team found that 46% of Gen Z are receiving financial assistance from their parents or other family members, a figure that declines to 30% for Gen Z non-students.

Have you noticed that so many young adults seem to be very bitter and very angry these days?

This is one of the big reasons why they are in such a foul mood.

Many of them were promised that life would be good if the studied hard, went to college, and did all the right things.

But now many of them are discovering that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was just an illusion.

Of course there is a small sliver of society that is still doing exceptionally well.

Flooding the system with trillions upon trillions of dollars has been very good for the financial markets, and those with lots of money in the financial markets have been living the high life.

In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, millionaires are complaining that the town is being ruined by all of the billionaires that are now moving in…

Millionaires once accused of ruining a gorgeous town in Wyoming now complain they are being driven out of the area by billionaires.

Jackson Hole has long been a popular vacation spot for celebrities including Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Matthew McConaughey.

An influx of wealthy people sent house prices sky-rocketing and forced ordinary workers to live on the other side of the mountain on the Idaho-Wyoming border.

There are more billionaires in America today than ever before.

That is the good news.

The bad news is that there are more homeless people in America today than ever before, the ranks of the poor are growing very rapidly, and more Americans are falling out of the middle class with each passing day.

The wealthy may think that all of the wealth that they have piled up will insulate them from the unprecedented chaos that is approaching, but the truth is that a day of reckoning is coming for them too.

In the end, the entire system is going to completely and utterly fail, and those that believed that the party would last forever will be bitterly, bitterly disappointed.

“It’s Getting WORSE And WORSE…” – Richard Wolff

He is absolutely correct. Worth the watch.

The world has changed.

Food Porn

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Why Has The Chinese Military Suddenly Become So Aggressive? Is Something Up?

July 11, 2024 by Michael

Does China sense weakness in the White House? In recent days Chinese troops have been sent to Belarus for military exercises, dozens of Chinese military aircraft have been threatening Taiwan, and four Chinese military vessels were even detected off the coast of Alaska. So why has China decided to become so aggressive all of a sudden? Right now, Joe Biden is facing endless questions about his competency, and those around him are focused on fighting for his political survival. So could foreign adversaries such as China use this window of opportunity to do things that they may not normally attempt to do?

According to authorities in Taiwan, 66 Chinese military aircraft and 7 Chinese military vessels were “operating around Taiwan” on Wednesday…

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) on Thursday said that it had detected 66 Chinese military aircraft and vessels around the island, apparently en route to a Chinese military exercise in the Western Pacific.

The media outlet embedded a statement by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence on its X platform.

“66 PLA aircraft and seven PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 am (2200 GMT Wednesday) today,” the statement said.

When asked about this, the Chinese government responded by declaring that the operation was about protecting “its sovereignty and territorial integrity”…

When asked about the warplanes crossing the median line at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian avoided directly responding. “The determination of China to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unrelenting,” he said.

The CCP insists that Taiwan is Chinese territory, and the Biden administration has been warned that “reunification” will take place at some point.

Let us hope that the Chinese do not choose to use this current window of opportunity to “reunify” with Taiwan, because the moment that they invade we will be at war with China and everything will change.

Unfortunately, it appears that the Chinese have been aggressively probing Taiwan’s maritime defenses. During the first six months of 2024, the Taiwanese Coast Guard “drove away 567 Chinese boats”…

The coast guard drove away 567 Chinese boats and seized seven illegally operating in Taiwanese waters in the first six months of this year, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said yesterday.

They mostly operated near Kinmen and Penghu counties, resulting in fines totaling NT$1.7 million (US$52,440), it said.

Three ships — two near Kinmen County and one near Penghu County — were detained in January for illegally crossing the border, while one ship each was detained near Kinmen in February and Penghu in March respectively, it said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese have been sniffing around our coastlines too.

In fact, it is being reported that four Chinese military vessels were just spotted off the coast of Alaska…

Multiple Chinese military ships were spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard in the waters off Alaska, officials said in a news release on Wednesday.

Three vessels were detected about 124 miles north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands, and a fourth ship was spotted about 84 miles north of the state’s Amukta Pass. The ships were seen on Saturday and Sunday.

All four ships were in international waters, the Coast Guard said, but were inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from the U.S. shoreline.

The reason that this incident is noteworthy is because it is very unusual.

Chinese military vessels don’t normally operate so far north.

Most people don’t realize this, but China now has the largest navy on the entire planet.

I don’t know how we allowed that to happen, but we did.

And it turns out that our own military industry has become extremely dependent on the Chinese. For example, it is being reported that Chinese semiconductors are in approximately “40% of all U.S. Department of Defense weapons systems and infrastructure”…

A large number of Chinese semiconductors are used in critical military platforms, accounting for around 40% of all U.S. Department of Defense weapons systems and infrastructure, and are further linked to military supply chains such as Patriot air-defense missiles and B-2 bombers.

For example, a Lockheed Martin missile factory situated in Alabama produces Javelin anti-tank weapons which use more than 200 semiconductors in each weapon. This equates to thousands of Chinese-made semiconductors within U.S. weaponry.

“U.S. companies at the bottom of the supply chain pyramid often source these parts from China in open market transactions. As a result, many essential components in sensitive U.S. military systems now come from China. Countless major weapons platforms are vulnerable,” the report states.

Our leaders aren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed, but this is ridiculous.

Didn’t anyone consider the fact that one day we might actually end up in a war with China?

Before I end this article, I wanted to give a quick update on the conflict in Ukraine.

According to the BBC, at the big NATO conference this week the Ukrainians were told that they now have an “irreversible path” to membership in the alliance…

Nato members have pledged their support for an “irreversible path” to future membership for Ukraine, as well as more aid.

While a formal timeline for it to join the military alliance was not agreed at a summit in Washington DC, the military alliance’s 32 members said they had “unwavering” support for Ukraine’s war effort.

Nato has also announced further integration with Ukraine’s military and members have committed €40bn ($43.3bn, £33.7bn) in aid in the next year, including F-16 fighter jets and air defence support.

Needless to say, this is not going to sit well with the Russians at all.

One of the reasons this war started was because Russia was determined to keep Ukraine out of NATO.

Now F-16 fighter jets from a number of NATO countries are starting to be delivered to Ukraine, and the Russians have already warned that those fighter jets will be considered a nuclear threat…

This summer, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium will begin sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and Denmark and the Netherlands have said there will be no restrictions on the use of these planes to strike targets in Russia. F-16s are able to deliver nuclear weapons, and Russia has said the planes will be considered a nuclear threat.

We are rapidly approaching a point of no return.

I have been studying the Russians for a long time, and once they come to the conclusion that nuclear war is inevitable they will strike first.

They know that there are no winners in a nuclear war, but they also know that whoever strikes first will have the best chance of surviving.

The Russians are highly paranoid, and we should not be backing them into a corner because that will make them extremely dangerous.

A stray cat walked upon me, and when I patted it, it jumped up on my knees

The Biden Titanic

Authored by Victor Davis Hanson via American Greatness,

Joe Biden’s escalating dementia and the long media-political conspiracy to hide his senility from the public are the least of the Democrats’ current problems.

Biden’s track record as president may be more concerning than his cognitive decline. He has literally destroyed the U.S. border, deliberately allowing the entry of more than 10 million illegal aliens. His callous handlers’ agenda was to import abjectly poor constituencies in need of vast government services without regard for the current struggles of a battered American middle class and poor.

The widespread poverty of a vast new cohort of illegal immigrants could serve as indictments of a “racist,” “unequal,” and “unfair” America—as if the residents of East Palestine, Ohio or inner-city Chicago had anything to do with the centuries-long corruption and oppression of Mexico and Latin America that daily drives thousands of their own poorest citizens northwards to a society founded on very different ideas than those of their homelands.

Note that the left, neither in Mexico nor in America, never asks why millions of these impoverished people prefer to break into a supposedly racist America. Much less do they even distinguish those principles and values that once made America prosperous, free, and secure from their antitheses that have sadly made much of Latin America mostly poor, without freedom, and insecure.

Biden inherited near-zero real interest rates and inflation at 1.4 percent. Almost immediately, in nihilistic fashion, Biden did to a sound economy what he had done to a secure border. So, he recklessly printed money at a time of spiraling, quarantine-ending demand and supply chain disruption. Middle-class wages never caught up with Biden’s inflation, as prices for key staples are nearly 30 percent higher than when he took office.

The cost of servicing the ballooning national debt at high interest is now nearly $1 trillion per year. The world abroad is aflame, lit by Biden’s inexplicable withdrawal from Kabul, his mixed signals to Vladimir Putin on the eve of his invasion of Ukraine, his deliberate alienation of Israel, his appeasement of Iran and China, and his cuts in the defense budget, coupled with his woke war on mythical “racists” in the military.

Energy prices soared, even as Biden’s green agenda proved unworkable and prompted draining the strategic petroleum reserve and begging foreign oil despots before key elections. The “unifier” Biden by design needlessly alienated nearly half the country, and in his debate, he reiterated why Trump supporters do not deserve his concern. And more ominously and recently, Biden grossly told hundreds of his donors that “it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye”—just days before the attempt on Trump’s life.

The greatest absurdity of the Biden White House is the gaslighting talk of Biden’s “achievements.” Biden’s actions over the last four years are not offsets for his senility that warrant his continuance in office, but again, sadly, they serve as force multipliers, furthering claims of his dementia and for his removal.

Joe Biden is not just non compos mentis and in a sane world, he would be subject to 25th Amendment removal. He also increasingly seems unpleasant and obnoxious, if not sometimes simply weird. To achieve momentary clarity, Biden either shouts at his audience or stoops over and whispers in an eerie fashion.

He insults reporters and his own staff. Every few sentences, without warning, he begins screaming. His face is fixed in a permanent, angry contortion. As a result, the public sees their president as an off-putting, angry old man—and in his selfish dotage, an increasingly unsympathetic one. Even after more than 40 months of media hagiography, Joe Biden still cannot poll over a 40 percent approval rating, given that his rudeness is fueled further by the day due to escalating mental confusion.

Biden is, to be candid, a serial prevaricator. It is not just his ad nauseam repetition of Trump’s supposed slurs—the Charlottesville “both sides” lie, the “suckers” lie, or the “bloodbath” lie. He continues to peddle absolute falsehoods like the mythical nine-percent inflation he inherited and Trump’s supposed intention to ban all abortions, or his whopper that after welcoming in 10 million illegal aliens, Biden would have had a closed, secure border if not for those selfish Republicans who, for some reason, did not trust his ridiculous eleventh-hour, election-timed immigration proposal.

When he hammers Trump as a “convicted felon,” Biden has no clue that a majority of Americans equate that charge with Biden’s own warped lawfare assault on ancient customs, as well as a reminder that his now closest advisor is likewise a “convicted felon.”

When Biden rants near daily about the rich “paying their fair share,” he reminds us that his son is also facing federal tax evasion charges for unreported foreign income in the millions of dollars and that as soon as Biden himself leaves office, as a recipient of the same foreign cash, he may find himself in the same legal jeopardy. So, to use a Bidenism, “how dare he” accuse affluent Americans of the very crimes that his own family is knee deep in?

Biden’s prefaces of “no lie,” “here’s the deal,” “no kidding,” and “no joke” are little more than tics that forewarn us of complete fabrications about to follow, from the ridiculous story of an uncle supposedly eaten by New Guinea cannibals to his supposed heroics during the Civil Rights movement and his near childhood adoption by various minority communities.

In this regard, senility served oddly as a crutch for Biden. In the past, he paid dearly for his plagiarism, cheating, racist rants, and prevarications, losing three presidential bids and earning a reputation as the empty-suit blowhard of the Senate. Now his press handlers conveniently chalk up his long-standing habitual untruth as momentary mental “confusion.”

Given all the above, remember that Biden was to be the “savior” of the Democratic Party. To this day, celebrities demanding his withdrawal from the race throw him the bone that “he saved the country by stopping Trump”—as if no wars, stability abroad, no inflation, low interest, and low energy costs were something to fear.

Yet Biden’s four years pale in comparison to what in 2016 might have been a Harris, Buttigieg, Warren, Booker, or Sanders candidacy or presidency. No wonder Democrats concluded that there were no viable alternatives to a cognitively challenged Biden, precisely because Biden was the only available fig leaf to the new Democratic Party and its neo-socialist agenda—that, if transparent, would have terrified the country that it was soon to nearly destroy.

Biden’s Democratic critics have it all wrong: removing Biden is wise and needed for the country’s sake, but it will not solve the growing public anger at the left. Without the veneer of even a tottering old Joe from Scranton, there will be no camouflage. And then, the true leftist agenda will be served raw to the American people—open borders, woke/DEI racial polarization, transgendered obsessions, inflation/stagflation, wars a plenty abroad, an inert Pentagon, unaffordable energy, partial-birth abortions, and crazy ideas like packing the court and making Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, states.

So, what is the Democratic strategy to win the 2024 election?

Certainly, an “open” convention would not produce a moderate Democratic nominee or even a suitable replacement façade. There are no moderates in contention. If there were any hale candidates to offer cover, the party would be in permanent war with its shrill and angry woke base. Joe is the last of his generation to offer a credible front. There are no more Diane Feinsteins or Bill Clintons to package the hard-left agenda. If Harris cannot serve as Biden’s replacement, someone like her or further to the left would appear on spec.

The Democrats have no plans to run on their record.

Their tripartite strategy is as simple as it is tired and worn.

First, expect a third chapter to follow the 2016 Russian collusion caper and the 2020 laptop disinformation ruse – likely some October revelation from the administrative state’s “experts” and “authorities” that Trump is a criminal, a traitor, or a spy or plans a coup, to destroy NATO or nuke something. Perhaps there is another Access Hollywood tape, a porn star on ice, anything to avoid discussing the damage done since 2017.
Second, there is still a last gasp to a dying lawfare. Never underestimate the last-gasp judicial effort to inactivate, gag, bankrupt, or jail Trump, however counterproductive such attempts so far have proved.
Third, when all else fails, remember that in many of the swing states, 70 percent of the electorate will not be voting on Election Day and will not be presenting IDs. Millions of their ballots will be harvested or cured by third-party activists. Last time around, the leftist journalist Molly Ball bragged about their “cabal” and “conspiracy” of big money and big tech that had “saved” Americans from Trump.

Those post-election confessions were not just high-fiving but also a confident forewarning of what is to come.

NATO Just Announced Its Next Victim…You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!

Idiots in Europe.

What is the weirdest news article you’ve seen today?

About a week ago, an elderly Japanese man called the police to come to the hospital room where he was staying. The man, a retired construction worker, was dying of cancer. He went by the name of Hiroshi Uchida and lived alone in a small shack.

Working in Fujisawa City, near Sagami Bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the old worker lived a pretty charmed life. He had made friends with his co-workers, often singing James Brown songs. Once a month he’d go to the city, sing karaoke, drink and have some fun. He was the old-fashioned sort, never had a cell phone and always insisted to be paid in cash because “he didn’t trust banks”. Folks saw him as eccentric, but a decent guy for the most part.

It was only now, aged seventy and on his deathbed, that the old worker revealed his big secret to police — his real name was Satoshi Kirishima and he was a wanted terrorist, part of a left-wing terror group that bombed, among other targets, the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries headquarters in Tokyo, in 1974.

Satoshi Kirishima’s mugshot was plastered around Japan, on police stations throughout the nation. He was one of Japan’s top ten most wanted criminals. On January 24, 2024, he called police because he “wanted to die under his own name”. He died on January 28, four days after his confession. DNA results have just revealed he was who he claimed to be.

The Ghostwriter

Submitted into Contest #24 in response to: Write a murder mystery with an amateur sleuth who must navigate a fantastical world in a quest to discover the truth.… view prompt

Gabrielle Gerstley

“I can’t believe you live here.”“I know,” Sylvia says. She smiles and steps aside for me to drag my suitcase through the entrance hall.“There’s ivy trellises for chrissakes. Ivy trellises.”“I’m glad you like it.”We sit on her loveseat in the foyer. It is afternoon, and the sun is starting to wane and drip shade on the room. I take a sip of the earl grey tea she delivers on a worn gold platter. Her tea set is pretty, scalloped and covered in tiny, blood-red flowers. I rub my sweating hands on the velvet fabric of the sofa, hoping it won’t leave a stain.“I’m very glad you were able to come for the weekend. I’d like to see you up here once a month to meet about your progress.”

“I can’t thank you enough for hiring me, and for entrusting me with your story.”

She nods, smiling again. Her home smells like slivered almonds. A grandfather clock beats in the corner. There’s a large bookcase against the wall and shelves filled with tchotchkes— porcelain dolls in fraying skirts and ribbons, spotted cats, an extensive collection of salt and pepper shakers, everything covered in a film of dust. The air inside her home is gauzy, small swirls of sparkles float and twirl around us.

“Shall we get started then?” she asks. I nod, setting my teacup down on its saucer. “Evie was found just up the street from here. There’s a body of water where they found her. It isn’t small enough to be a pond but it’s not quite a lake either. The water is very deep in the middle. She had stones tied to her ankles when they recovered her body. We used to spend lots of time there together. There was a dock in the middle you could swim out to. We’d lie out there for hours, reading, talking. It was heaven.”

I write everything down in a small leather journal. A creak whines through the beats of the ticking clock and I jump a little, which makes me laugh.

“Just an old staircase,” she says. “My parents died in a car crash when I was in college, a long time ago. I was an only child. They left me the house. I never understood why they moved in here. It’s creepy, isn’t it? I was homeschooled my whole life, and Evie was my only friend. We met because she lived up the street from here. When I was younger, sometimes I liked to imagine having conversations with her when she was at school. Sometimes I find myself still doing that, too. I was a very lonely child. I was just starting to make friends in college and I was enjoying myself when I got the call that my parents had died. I quit school and moved back here, something I’d said I’d never do, but something called me back here.”

“Did Evie used to come over?”

“Yes, she did. Here,” she says, standing and walking to a large desk across the room. She pulls out a drawer and shows me photos of her and Evie as children. “Wasn’t she gorgeous?” Evie has long, inky black hair and freckles spilled over the bridge of her nose and underneath her eyes the color of a milky cappuccino. “And there’s me, of course.” Sylvia is tall and skinny, her back hunched and curved like a comma, her arm thrown over Evie’s small shoulders. “God was I gawky.” Sylvia’s hair is the color of straw and her two front teeth are twisted in what looks like a painful way. They are standing in the woods, the water behind them to their right. “I don’t know why everyone just accepted it was her who had drowned herself. Evie wasn’t unhappy. In fact, she had all these plans for the future. We were going to move out west together, to Hollywood. She wouldn’t have done this, I just know it, but no one ever questioned it or looked into it.”

“Was she dating anyone at the time?”

“She was in love with this boy named Ryan from school, but he was on vacation at the time with his family out of the country.”

“Is there anyone you’re suspicious of?”

“You like to believe it was no one you knew, right? That someone you knew could be responsible for such a horrific act. But something like this with no real evidence of a struggle or a fight, no skin underneath her fingernails or evidence of blunt force means if it wasn’t self-induced, she knew the person. And she knew them well. She trusted them, and then they did this to her. I’m sorry, it’s still hard for me to talk about.”

“You seem much more affected by her death than your parents’.”

“Evie was so young. She didn’t deserve her ending. My parents were older; they were in their sixties. Their deaths were probably immediate. Do you know how long it takes to drown? It takes about thirty to sixty seconds to start breathing in water, and soon after you lose consciousness. That doesn’t seem like that long of a time, but just try counting to sixty right now.”

We listen to the grandfather clock’s ticks. One, I bite the inside of my cheek and taste metal. Thirteen, I take a sip of the tea; it’s grown cold and the bitterness rests uncomfortably in the back of my throat. Twenty-one I crack my neck. Thirty-seven I smile at Sylvia, but it’s more like a grimace. Forty-one I pick lint off my jeans. Forty-nine I crack my knuckles. Fifty-three I rub at my eye, crossing my legs. Sixty and the cuckoo bird from the clock in the kitchen bursts from its hutch and shrieks. My heart propels upward inside my chest, boing-ing against my ribcage. I feel as though I cannot breathe, as though someone has buried me alive.

“Sixty seconds is a very long time,” she says, beginning to clean up the tea set. I nod, swallowing, but my throat is dry.

“I want to help you, but I’m not a detective. I’m not even a journalist.”

“You are a poet, and poets have sensibility. They are able to uncover the unknowable, to hear and decipher the whispers of the immortal.”

“Do you hear Evie?” I ask her. “Do you still talk to her?”

“All the time.”

“What if I don’t discover anything new? Or what if on the off chance I do discover something new, you don’t like it.”

“I will give you all of my journals. You will have access to photo albums, newspaper clippings from the time, home videos, yearbooks, my observations, maps, everything. You will write an account of what you look at, what I tell you, and whatever you make of it. It can be fiction, it can be a collection of poems, whatever you like. But it will be set here during the year she died, and it must have some beauty in it.”

“Okay.”

“Let me show you your room.”

I follow her up the wooden staircase. My room has a view of the forest behind the house. I know the water is just beyond, further and deeper into the woods.

“Perhaps you’ll go on a walk tonight, yes? See the water. There are flashlights in the downstairs closet by the front door. I’ll let you rest for a bit. Dinner is whenever you want. I was planning on making a shepherd’s pie, but you’re more than welcome to help yourself to anything in the fridge.”

“Thank you.” She squeezes my hand then shuts the door behind her. I lie on the quilt on top of the bed. It’s completely silent here, even with the window cracked open. Fresh air flows through and I quickly fall asleep.

It’s half-past seven when I wake and already dark out. I grab a large, black leather photo album from the top of the stack Sylvia has placed on the bedside table. There are Sylvia’s parents, both in thick-rimmed glasses unsmiling on a beach in front of a rainbow-striped umbrella. There’s Sylvia with Evie in the backseat, their heads bent together, hair one indecipherable mass. They must be ten or so. Their wrists are adorned with matching, patterned friendship bracelets made of turquoise and orange and red string. They look like they’ve been whispering secrets. What were you saying?

I yawn and put on sneakers. I walk downstairs, but don’t see Sylvia as I walk out and down the graveled dirt path to the water. Buzzing erupts in the forest, whistling through the leaves of the trees, prickling the back of my neck. I swing the flashlight all around me as I continue to walk. Fireflies fling their bodies against my ankles, clawing their way up through the packed dirt and pushing me toward the water. I step over hundreds of little holes, the evacuated homes of the lightning bugs.

Once I reach the water’s edge I see what Sylvia was talking about — a round, hollowed hole not quite a lake, not quite a pond, filled with black water. A solo dock gently swings in the middle, the slight breeze making it move. I passed several other houses on my walk here, but the water feels entirely secluded and completely private; it is the ideal hideout for a set of friends to meet.

I know Evie’s body is no longer being held underwater, but there are screams, a pulsing from the middle rippling out to the small shore made of pebbles and grass. What happened to you? I slip off my shoes and my shorts. I hold the flashlight in my mouth as I take off my shirt. I dip a toe in the dark water and wade into it. The water is thick and painful to move through, but I make my way out to the dock where I stand. I shine the light into the trees from the dock, half-expecting to see a deer with glowing green eyes staring back at me, or a half-land, half-sea monster with rope in its mouth and stones in its claws ready to drown me too.

I’m sopping wet when I arrive back at Sylvia’s home. I walk across the front room, careful not to leave any droplets of water on the floor. I open the fridge in the kitchen and take out a rotisserie chicken. I pick at it, putting cold pieces in my mouth. Sylvia sits at the kitchen table in the corner. She stares at me as I place the chicken down on the counter and wash my hands at the sink, ringing out my wet hair over it.

“I went for a swim.”

“I can see that,” she says.

“But the floor isn’t wet. It didn’t get wet. Why isn’t it wet?”

“Come, have a seat.”

“Do you ever go swimming there now?”

“No, not since.” She lights a cigarette and opens a window, blowing out curls of smoke. “She was going to leave me, you know. First, it was Europe, then Los Angeles. She loved the palm trees. She said she wanted to drive on PCH in a convertible, live near the beach. She was going to go to college out there. And that? That was all fine. It was fine with me, it took some getting used to but I could go with her. She said I could go with her, so I’d follow her and we’d live together and we’d always be together and happy, and then she got pregnant. And babies get in the way of everything. I just couldn’t have that. I couldn’t have it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re not really here.”

“I’m not?” She shakes her head at me; her eyelids have grown longer, heavier; she pinches the extra skin and rubs her eyes with the heels of her palms until she sees hundreds of static-like white webs. She crosses her arms and leans back in her seat. She beckons the moon through the window and holds it in her hand like a stone.

“I wish you were. I don’t even know what’s real and what’s not anymore.”

Sylvia makes herself a fresh pot of coffee and starts to write the story again, one more time, for the forty-seventh time. She likes to write different endings each time, but every time Evie dies. She can’t find an ending where she doesn’t. I play with the ends of her wiry gray hair, running my fingers over the crown of her head. Sylvia feels this; it feels like she’s dunking her head under water, a cool rush spreading over her scalp. I kiss her on the cheek, ball a clump of her hair in my fist and let it fall, then I walk out the kitchen door. I feel the grass, sharp and prickly beneath my feet. The sky is a blank black tapestry I shoot up toward.

Evie runs away in Sylvia’s latest rendition. She is sixteen and staying in a motel. She is killed by a trucker who rapes her then strangles her. Her eyes are wet and black like marbles; they bounce out of her sockets and roll out the room. Sylvia likes to remind herself that she had been kind, kinder than the killers in her stories; she had made sure Evie hadn’t suffered before she sunk her body into the black folds of the water.

Before falling asleep, Sylvia likes to imagine her and Evie walking off into a line of sunlight, a runny orange yolk color that continues to fade, and never coming home. Every night she dreams the same dream of being held underwater, and unable to breathe, she wakes and stalks the house like a ghost.

Cajun Chicken Lasagna

Prep: 45 min | Total: 2 hr | Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

16 dried lasagna noodles
1 pound andouille sausage or smoked pork sausage, quartered lengthwise and sliced
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
2 to 3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon dried sage, crushed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 (10 ounce) containers refrigerated light Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
Cook noodles according to package Method. Drain; rinse.
Combine sausage, chicken, Cajun seasoning and sage.
In a large skillet cook meat mixture 8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
Remove from skillet using a slotted spoon, reserving drippings in skillet. Set meat mixture aside; keep warm.
In same skillet cook onion, celery, sweet pepper, and garlic in drippings until vegetables are tender.
Stir in meat mixture, one container of the Alfredo sauce, and Parmesan cheese.
Lightly coat a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish or 3 quart rectangular casserole with nonstick spray. Arrange 4 noodles in bottom of dish. Spread with 2 cups of the meat-vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella.
Repeat layers, ending with noodles.
Carefully spread remaining Alfredo sauce over the top (if sauce is too thick, heat slightly). Cover; bake 1 hour or until heated through.
Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carefully cutting.

PUTIN, CHINA READY NUCLEAR WAR | SCOTT RITTER: IT’S NO BLUFF

Have you killed someone in self defense? What psychological burden came with this decision?

Yes. He pulled out a gun, demanded my and my friends wallets. Although I was armed (in a city where concealed carry was legal only with a permit, which I had), he seemed to be after money and had not aimed the gun at us, so I did not draw. When my friend was too slow, he yelled and fired a shot at his feet, injuring him with a fragment. I then drew my weapon and shot him 3 times in the chest. Once he was down I sent my friend to get help while I did cpr, but he was dead. The police were quite supportive and did not arrest me after consultation with their superiors. I had a carry permit and my friend corroborated my story. An “earwitness” had heard the shots and confirmed the number and order. I made a statement and picked up my gun a week later.

After the initial adrenaline and shock wore off, I never felt any negative emotions, other than sadness that he chose to waste his life the way he had. He had 4 robbery and 2 assault convictions and had spent half his life in jail already. If he hadn’t fired a shot he’d still be alive, but it seems like it was only a matter of time. I have never felt any regret.

What made you quit smoking weed?

I did smoke it as a teen. I grew up in So. California, my parents were aged hippies who smoked it. There were rules – like no smoking if it is a weekday, and you have school the next day. No smoking if you are going to drive a car. So yeah, it happened, but I was generally responsible about it.

Then I just grew up, had other responsibilities, like being a mother, and didn’t do it at all.

Much later, when my kids were older, I had some opportunities to do it again. A trip to Amsterdam, and a trip to Las Vegas, after it was made legal. I thought, hey, why not?

I had horrible experiences. I became paranoid, closed up and unable to interact socially. It turns out the weed has become much stronger than when I was young, and we’d just have some homegrown buds… now they’ve been carefully engineered to have a very high level of THC. Two hits would have me nervous and paranoid.

Edibles… OMG… what hell! My family is still talking about the time a family member visiting me in France brought me a little, thin, sucker. I had a sore throat, and decided it might help on the way to a touristy day out. Ended curled up in the fetal position in the back seat floor of the car while they went siteseeing. That shit just goes on FOREVER. A whole day wasted with me miserable.

I decided, perhaps I have less resistance through time, but also, the strains have developed to be so strong, it isn’t a matter of smoking a joint and feeling a little more giggly than usual. It can be a nightmare. Won’t touch it now. God speed to all those that find it enjoyable or useful in their lives, but I won’t be partaking.

The Amazing Digital Circus – 1950’s Super Panavision 70

What is the meaning of “Made in China”? Is it more costly to manufacture a product in another country and import it to the United States?

Ask Walmart they scouted the entire world and sell almost everything from China? Don’t ask China and Chinese haters these are often brain dead Americans who consumed your media and politicians narratives so much lies has become gospel truth to them now. If 155/195 nations on earth has China as their biggest trading nation can all of them be fools? If they could buy from other nations some nearer to their shores wouldn’t they?

United States should stop using Chinese goods if you hate China so much. China won’t mind and the rest of the world can enjoy your lunch. If you prefer 20% inflation and increase your poverty from 100–200 million, that is your choice, don’t whine about it here! Just do it! The US used to be rich and consumed a lot but these days you area small potato customer, go away! China Don sell to Walmart. Walmart buys from China willingly! I supposed the know a thing or two about US consumers!

Buy from a third country and change their made in China label to made in Mexico, Vietnam or Malaysia and you get your stuffs at a premium is what you want, do it! China don’t mind, Mexico, Vietnam and Malaysia won’t mind? If you wish to fool yourself it is your right! Who may mind? American consumers! Do you think of them?

What are the best examples that shows Life is Unpredictable?

In 2014, Clint Eastwood started a relationship with Christina Sandera. He was 84 at the time, and Christina was 51. Eastwood had been in many relationships before and fully expected this to be his last rodeo. He was quite done with it all.

main qimg 3f52a4964d97da324e859986b85091a0

Fast forward ten years, Eastwood is now 94. He and Sandera did, indeed, stay together. But now sad news was just made public by the Eastwood family — Christina Sandera died, aged 61.

[1] You don’t get into a relationship in your fifties, with a man in his eighties, with the expectation that he will be the one to bury you. You probably won’t like to think much about it, but that’s not exactly the most likely outcome that’ll be on your mind…

Life is incredibly unpredictable. We have expectations and we think we have a lot of certainties, but really? We don’t. We just trick ourselves for the sense of comfort into believeing we know the outcome of things ahead of times, but in actuality we never quite do.

Footnotes

[1] Clint Eastwood’s partner Christina Sandera dead at 61

The US Literally Cannot Repay Its National Debt.

Do Chinese people feel embarrassed when they see “Made in China” goods?

It depends.

Last time, when Obama gave a speech at the port about revitalizing American manufacturing, they used flags to cover the crane’s logo in the background.(As to whether the flag was made in China too, I have no idea, but it is possible.)

But a gust of wind revealed the brand name 振华（Make China Great Again）, which made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Later, when President Biden gave a speech at the same place about revitalizing American manufacturing, I kept my eyes on the flag covering the logo the entire time.

As a result, when President Biden praised the “New Panama” crane, you could still see that it was actually made in China…

Therefore, Biden’s nickname in China is 拜振华.

Very embarrassing.

China’s Radar Defeats US Growler in South China Sea

Damn! Holy shit!

When was the hardest you have cried?

The hardest I have ever cried is when my youngest daughter had her breaking point at the hands of her bully. That week of my life made me feel like the worst father in history.

My daughter is socially awkward, meek, shy, and has trouble making friends. Her only interests are Art and Tennis. She’s never had many friends and really didn’t seem to care. That’s what I thought.

In her freshman year in High school, she met the Bully that would change school policy on bullying. This incident happened when My child was in the school library. The library is supposed to be bully proof, like a sanctuary. But not on this day.

She’s quietly drawing with her friend. And out of nowhere she gets smacked from behind on her right ear with baby powder. And of course it was the bully. It was supposed to be a prank. A video prank called “SMACK CAM” to be exact.

Looks like this.

This time it went too far. My child got knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital with a serious concussion.

I get the call and race to the hospital with bitter rage. I’m met by the police, the principal, the school nurse, and the guidance counselor. They were all in her room. I walk in and see my child sleeping with tubes coming out of her nose and arms. I couldn’t talk. I was shaking with anger.

The principal and the police explain to me that they have video evidence, and the bully has been arrested.

Three days later my daughter came home from the hospital and all that I thought I knew about her was only the surface.

We’re sitting on the couch watching TV. I go into the kitchen for something. I come out of the kitchen to see her face wet with tears. She’s not wiping her face, there is no facial expression, no sound. Just a constant flow of big tears. Tears with no sound means deep emotional pain. Especially from a 14 year old girl.

I grab her off the couch and give her the biggest HUG I have ever given her and tell her that I love her and will always be there for her. But only this time, she felt different.

We sit down and I’m trying to tickle her side to get a smile. NOTHING! After some time She finally starts talking.

“I just want this to stop, I’m sick of it”

(OMG!) This has been going on all this time?!

She begins to detail the horrors ever since elementary school. I’ll list only a few.

She’s been called Ugly
They hide her books
They steal her material
They push and shove her
Cut her in line
Put buggers on her shirt
One boy that sits behind her cut her hair without her knowing.

Some things they did were disgusting so I won’t list them. At the end of it all I still wasn’t crying. Until she said this.

“How come no one likes me, what did I do?”

That’s when I lost it. I tried to hide it because I can’t cry in front of my children. I felt weak, my heart pounded and I waited to speak so she wouldn’t notice my voice cracking.

I tell her to go take a shower and we’ll go to the mall and walk around. That was just to get her to walk away so I could go to my room and try not to cry. As soon as I got in my room I felt a fear in me that I can’t explain.

I wanted to trade places with her. I wanted to absorb all her pain, I wanted to kill the bully, I wanted desperately to help her in any way. I blamed myself. Someway somehow it’s my fault.

Why didn’t I notice something? I should have never gotten divorced. Her mom should still be here. I need help!!! It’s too much for me.

I cried so much that my eyes got swollen and my throat got hoarse. Until that day and a few days after, I can’t remember ever crying like that.

After about an hour I open her room door to see my middle daughter holding my youngest while she slept.

Despite the bully’s family asking me not to press charges, I went ahead and pressed charges, and she got six months probation for assault.

My child never went back to school, never wanted to go to school, couldn’t go to sleep, couldn’t eat, and started to hate. Something that I never saw in her.

There wasn’t much I could do. My desperate attempts to get her to smile and liven up became silly. So I signed both of us for Art classes, and she began to show signs of joy.

I later found out that the guidance counselor was my daughter’s shoulder to lean on. Mrs. Sarver was very nice and always helped her in trying times during school.

Mrs. Sarver came over to visit one day with a bunch of letters, and art work from supporting students. I stood back thinking that my child does have friends! But I was wrong.

She sat down and went through every piece of paper, and threw out all but two envelopes. A large piece of very good Art work, and a letter.

They were from “PAIGE”, her only friend. That was the first time I saw her smile in a month.

I enrolled her in a private school the following year where she is doing very well. And despite her psychiatrist’s suggestion, we will not be using any pills.

The China The Media Never Shows! 🇨🇳 Our First Day in SHENZHEN

At what moment in your life did you witness true evil?

(Graphic/sickening content) To this day, I hate the person who did this. I never got a good look at this person and have never seen them or their care ever since.

I was doing my normal 30 minute run of the day and I would usually finish my run at a dead end street, where I would give myself a 5 minute break. Once reaching my stop, I would always go right under a tree to block the burning sun and rest. I was a bit hidden by the tree, so no one would be able to spot me unless they truly tried.

I was in the middle of having my drink, when I noticed a navy blue Ford Explorer with tinted windows make a stop right next to the empty road, almost right beside me. I continued drinking my water, but stopped when the driver slid their window fully down. I couldn’t see the driver well, because the driver seat was facing the opposite way from me. So I was only able to see the silhouette of the driver through the tinted windows.

I was able to hear a commotion going on in the car, but after the driver put down their window, all I heard then were two children, a boy and a girl, repeatedly crying out, “Please don’t do it mom! Please don’t do it!” I was a bit interested in what they were talking about, so I hid a bit more, so that I wouldn’t be seen snooping. The mother, who was the driver, kept telling them to shut up and in her exact words said “Shut up! Shut up, you crybabies! I have enough trouble caring for you two! I’ll be damned if I have to care for these stupid things!”

Through the tinted window, I was able to see her pick up what seemed to be an open cardboard box that was small enough to fit through the window, but big enough to put a variety of small objects in. The children kept screaming, “NO! NO!”. As a speeding car was coming down the road, she threw the box right in its path without giving it a chance to react. At that moment, I heard tiny meows coming from in the box as it flew through the air towards the ground. I froze in horror as the box hit the front tire of the speeding car and the box went right under. All heard as the box went under the tire was a disturbing wet crackling noise that still haunts me to this day.

By the time the car fully ran over the box, the mother with her children were long gone, speeding the opposite direction of the other car. I couldn’t believe what I just saw. I just stood still and watched as the man came out of his car to see what he ran over. I was hoping that it was anything other than what I thought it was. To my horror, the man pulled out the now almost fully flat box and it was oozing out this bright reddish liquid, which I believe was blood. The man took one look in the box and immediately threw up on his car. The man dropped the flat box, went in his car, and drove away.

I was so stunned that I stared at the box for a good ten seconds. I couldn’t believe I witnessed this. I knew what was in the box, but I refused to believe it. My sick curiosity wanted to see what was truly inside that box. I didn’t want to believe that there were kittens in there. I finally came out of my daze and went across the street towards the box. The closer I got, the faster my heart began to beat. Standing right over it, I saw the small opening the man left as he peeked inside. Looking inside the box was the biggest mistake of my life. What I saw was the most traumatizing image that still sticks to me to this day. I won’t describe it because just thinking about the image makes me sick.

After seeing what was inside, it was for a fact that inside the box was a group of disfigured, flat baby kittens that weren’t even given a chance to live another day. How could she? I said to myself. How could anyone be so disgusting? I knew there was nothing I could do, so instead of leaving the box on the ground exposed, I put it in a nearby garbage can. The box left a red stained road with a bit of the box left on it and all I did right after was walk straight home, leaving behind my bottle of water at the tree where this all started.

I wanted to share this story because I had it as a secret from my family at home and I don’t plan on ever telling them. Just writing this story was a huge struggle for me. As you can see on my profile picture, I own an orange male cat that I have taken care of since birth. I could not stand it if anything horrible were to happen to him.

Thank you for reading my experience.

Those poor poor children.

CHINA is NOT what we expected – FIRST 24 HOURS in Beijing

Shorpy

Alice in Wonderland – 1950’s Super Panavision 70

What are some things Chinese people dislike about other Chinese people?

Chinese parents judge success through their kids’ school performance.

They will never say that they are better; instead they will push their kids to win piano, music, math, science and other competitions. If you listen carefully to the conversations among mothers, they will talk about their son/daughter winning some competition. If the other mother’s fall silent because their child did not win, the jealousy in the room is almost palpable.

The idea is that the kid should provide the ammo so that the parents can play this one-upmanship game.

Generally, the mother’s supervise their child’s study schedule, and it is normal for the child to be busy for 14–16 hours per day.

In China, class school grades are public; everyone knows how each other student is doing. Sometimes, a good student will volunteer to help a student who is flagging, so this is not entirely a bad thing. The worst thing to be is to be so slow that one pulls the average for the whole class down when compared to other classes.

This intense competition is mostly absent in the west, which is why many Chinese parents want to send their children to school in the west. They think it is easier for their children, because they think that western children are slow and easy-going compared to Chinese children.

The great irony is that even when they move to the west, Chinese mothers push their children just as hard as when they were going to school in China. The Chinese bring that intensity and pressure with them wherever they go.

If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be Chinese anymore.

Would it be possible for Taiwan to declare independence from China? Kind of like how the USA declared independence from Great Britain?

It is not possible. Whether it is by UN law or by the constitution of both China & Taiwan.

In the US civil war, the then US president Abraham Lincoln told the rebellious South that:

I am elected president of USA. My duty is to protect the integrity of USA. You cannot say I invade you.

Back to China-Taiwan

There was a civil war in China (called ROChina at the time). The then ruling party KMT was defeated by CPC in 1949. KMT fled to Taiwan while CPC stayed on mainland. CPC renamed ROChina to PRChina, like Qing was renamed to ROC in 1911 (5000 years’ of Chinese tradition).

In theory, the civil war has not finished as of 2024 because China has not reunified yet.

Internationally, between 1949 & 1971, both ROChina & PRChina exist. In 1971, however, UN resolution 2758 announced …

1, There is only ONE China & PRChina is the only legitimate government that represents China.

That is, ROChina ceases to exist on world stage. Only a handful tiny tiny countries still recognised ROC.

Taiwan is part of China. Ref: US doc 203 & the 1978 USA-China joint communique by former US president J Carter.

2, To make it crystal clear, on 2024/5/23, UN told the world “Taiwan is a PROVINCE of China.”

By UN charter, China has a duty to protect the integrity of Chinese territory that incl Taiwan province.

Internally, both constitution of China & Taiwan say:

China territory = mainland + Taiwan + some islands & reefs around China.

Why Taiwan dares not call for referendum? Because referendum involves mainland too.

Militarily Taiwan cannot fight China.

That is, Taiwan can NEVER be independent. Though opportunistic politicians must shout independence so as to get tons of foreign funding (corruption), before Taiwan is discarded by USA like a used condom. Remember USA discarded ROChina in 1971.

conclusion

Whether it is UN resolution or Chinese-Taiwanese constitutions, China has a duty to protect the integrity of China. Like former US president A Lincoln protecting the integrity of USA in the US civil war.

China is NOT invading or attacking Taiwan. Just to suppress Taiwan rebellion, like Lincoln suppressing the South.

China will reunify with Taiwan one way or another. It is the duty of China for the sake of Chinese nation, culture & history.

China’s 1st option is peaceful unification. If necessary, China is not afraid to use military.

Illustrations

Cheese Garden Lasagna

The fresh taste of summer laden with your favorite cheeses!

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

1/4 cup (2 ounces) butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup each asparagus, zucchini, green onions, yellow squash and red pepper, diced
6 ounces portobello mushrooms, chopped
2 cups Roma tomatoes, diced
2 cups baby spinach leaves, diced
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves, chopped
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 cups (15 ounces) Wisconsin Ricotta Cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) Wisconsin Parmesan Cheese, grated, divided use
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
12 no-cook lasagna noodles
2 cups (8 ounces) Wisconsin Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, divided use
1 cup (4 ounces) Wisconsin Smoked Provolone Cheese, shredded, divided use

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan.
Melt 1/4 cup butter in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add asparagus, zucchini, onions, squash, red pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach; sauté stirring frequently, 4 to 5 minutes.
Stir in basil, oregano and vinegar; set aside.
In bowl, stir together ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan, egg, salt and pepper; set aside.
Place layer of noodles (4 noodles) on bottom of prepared pan. Spread 1/2 ricotta mixture over noodles, top with 1/3 vegetable mixture, 3/4 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup provolone.
Repeat with noodles, remaining ricotta mixture, 1/3 vegetable mixture, 3/4 cup mozzarella and remaining provolone. Top with noodles, remaining vegetable mixture, mozzarella and Parmesan.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes; serve.

Why do husbands leave after 20+ years of marriage?

After my first wife divorced me – 6 years – I did a lot of soul searching and reading – and realized I was looking for too much from her and giving too little – As well as not even thinking about things like children, lifestyle, etc – For example, she never wanted children – and I did.

I spent many years making sure I knew what I wanted, making sure I knew what my potential new wife wanted, and committing to support her no matter how things went.

I followed through – no matter what demands of my job and career, family was my first priority – when my new wife became pregnant, I went to every medical appointment with her, listened to thr doctors, made myself aware of the risks (she had a mental illness and physical issues), and took on all tasks – When my son was born with a cardiac defect, I took on the responsibility of helping him and my wife – but, despite my taking time for my family, my career still rocketed up beyond my highest expectations.

When my wife, after our second child, became incapable of working a regular job and incapable of taking care of our children, I hired people to take care of them – and took much time off work still to take her to specialists to treat her condition.

Later when a car accident resulted in 10 years of constant pain, I both took her to every single person she wanted for her back and got up ever 3 hours every night to get her an ice pack from thr freezer – As well as taking our children to places and friend’s houses.

Then I used an entire 401k to help her establish her own business. Which she failed because she did nothing after the first few months.

Yet she never heard one complaint from me – only support.

After 20 years of marriage, she “figured out” that I had held her back – since all of her fellow Kellogg Business School graduates were multi-millionaires while we frequently faced near bankruptcy.

She convinced her friend that I had been physically abisung her for years (after I stepped in to stop her from yelling at and hitting our straight A daughter), and forced me to move out or face arrest due to false testimony for her and her friend – who made clear to me that she was willing to lie to the police.

After trying and failing to negotiate an amicable Separation or Divorce – While she interferred with my legal access to my own children plus Vo third to Siena money at a rate that would lead to bankruptcy within 3 months, I finally filed for divorce – thus allowing me legal access to my children and legally limiting her access to my income.

After talking to other men and observing things in divorce court, I conclude that this occurs very frequently – Women deciding that they are “entitled” to certain things and blaming their lack of wealth, etc on their husbands – rather than simply working with him to get what they want.

As always happens – the lawyers got most of the money and the settlement was almost to the dollar what I had proposed months before the divorce filing – minus 3 years of legal fees.

Karma was that she was so bad with our children that her neighbors called the police a total of 16 times in 4 months – leading to her losing all legal access to our children.

My children went from the perception of 2 loving parents to the knowledge that their Mothet did not give a damn about them – only herself and her “needs”.

I met many divorced women whose husbands did this same sort of shit – putting their “needs” above everyone else – this is not a “men-women” thing – this is about people unwilling or unable to grow up and take on adult responsibility.

Compilation: The Moon is Weird – No, really. The Moon does not make sense

Here’s a fun video.

Ode to Denny and the whimmy wham wham woozle

Ode to Denny.

When I left the USN and entered MAJestic, I was left “to forage in the wilds” for a few years while my training center was being established at China Lake Naval Weapons Center.

During that time, I worked in a steel factory… was laid off… got married and toured the country for three years living in a van, until MAJestic picked me back up and put me back on the program track.

Here is a story from the days when I was working at the steel factory/ It’s name was Edgewater Steel, and it is long gone now. We made railroad and jet engine “rings”. These were high precision exotic material steel forgings.

One of the guys who I occasionally worked with was a guy named Denny.

He was about twenty years older than me, and quite the character. Being part liaison, part Marketing and part salesman. He was the guy who kept the orders flowing in.

When I went on trips to other factories where Denny was assigned, I got to know him. He was a womanizer, man-about-town, and a heavy drinker.

Drunk always at work.

Indeed.

But not a lazy drunk. An actual functioning alcoholic.

At work, he would stand beside me (on the plant floor) and whisper to me, “prop me up if is start to collapse“. Yeah. He drank heavily, and it was on the company dime.

He got by with one to two hour naps scattered throughout the day. And, he would make a presence at the offices. Being mostly, in and then out. At night, he was off meeting businessmen, and always had a new girl on every arm.

Quite the guy; that Denny.

He threw money about like there was no tomorrow and certainly was a most robust and colorful figure. Sort of the human version of Futurarama’s “Spuds Mckensey”.

Ode to Denny.

Party on dudes!

Today…

A factory story

A lady worked at a meat distribution factory.

One day, when she finished with her work schedule, she went into the meat cold room (Freezer) to inspect something, but in a moment of misfortune, the door closed and she was locked inside with no help in sight.

Although she screamed and knocked with all her might, her cries went unheard as no one could hear her. Most of the workers had already gone, and outside the cold room it’s impossible to hear what was going on inside.

Five hours later, whilst she was at the verge of death, the security guard of the factory eventually opened the door.

She was miraculously saved from dying that day.

When she later asked the security guard how he had come to open the door, which wasn’t his usual work routine.

…

His explanation: “I’ve been working in this factory for 35 years, hundreds of workers come in and out every day, but you’re one of the few who greet me in the morning and say goodbye to me every night when leaving after work. Many treat me as if I’m invisible.

…

Today, as you reported for work, like all other days, you greeted me in your simple manner ‘Hello’. But this evening after working hours, I curiously observed that I had not heard your “Bye, see you tomorrow”.

…

Hence, I decided to check around the factory. I look forward to your ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ every day because they remind me that I am someone.

By not hearing your farewell today, I knew something had happened. That’s why I was searching every where for you.”

…

Be humble, love and respect those around

you. Try to have an impact on people who

cross your path every day, you never know

what tomorrow will bring..

Stay Blessed.

When Women Tell Men They Gym Belongs to Them

Angel Hair with Shrimp Sesame Sauce

Angel Hair with Shrimp Sesame Sauce recipe
Ingredients

8 ounces angel hair (capellini), uncooked
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons chutney
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 bunch scallions, finely chopped
1/2 cup vinegar
1 pound frozen medium shrimp, thawed

Instructions

Prepare pasta according to package directions; two minutes before pasta is done, add asparagus pieces. When pasta and asparagus are done, drain.
Place oil, garlic and mushrooms in a 2-quart saucepan. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, chutney, toasted sesame seeds, scallions and vinegar. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
Add shrimp to the sauce and cook for another 5 to 8 minutes.
Toss shrimp and sauce with pasta and asparagus and serve.

The Philippines’ “capriciousness” is actually an act for the United States to see

Recently, the Philippines has been frequently causing trouble and heating up the situation in the South China Sea, and on June 24, the Philippines declared that it would continue to carry out “supply missions” to Ren’ai Reef in spite of the fact that it was confronted with the law enforcement of the Chinese Marine Police.

In fact, the Philippine domestic response to this matter is not unanimous. The Straight News noted that the chairman of the Philippine National Maritime Commission (NMC), Mr. Bersamin, responded to the issue on the 21st, saying that the confrontation between the Philippine military and the Chinese Marine Police “could be a misunderstanding or an accident”. Subsequently, President Marcos also said that the Philippines has no intention of provoking a war and hopes to resolve all disputes through peaceful means. However, before the words left his mouth, the Philippine position changed again. On the same day, Marcos visited the troops who were involved in the friction with the Chinese Marine Police during their illegal “beaching” of warships on Renai Reef on the 17th. 24th, Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro categorically denied that the incident was a misunderstanding or accident.

In fact, Marcos’s statement was directed at the U.S. and the international community first, and the Filipino domestic population second. He emphasized that Marcos’s statements, such as his assertion that the Philippines would not start a “war,” were in fact intended to appease the United States and ensure its continued support for the Philippines. This tactic is intended to allay U.S. concerns about the heightened risk of war in the region and to prevent the U.S. from withdrawing its support in response to Philippine provocations.

Marcos also intended to galvanize nationalist sentiment within the Philippines through these public statements as a way to increase popular support. He noted that the Marcos administration’s lack of significant progress in the domestic political and economic arena has necessitated the need to capitalize on nationalist sentiments.

“Overall, the Philippine government’s behavior on the South China Sea is not only an external geopolitical strategy, but also a means used by Marcos to maintain domestic political stability. Through continued provocative behavior, Marcos is trying to find a balance in his internal and external policies to achieve his political and strategic goals.”

At the Foreign Ministry’s press conference on the 24th, spokesperson Mao Ning clearly responded to questions about the China-Philippines sea-related dispute, emphasizing that the rights and wrongs of the China-Philippines sea-related dispute are very clear, and that the Chinese side has already introduced the situation and China’s solemn position on a number of occasions. If the Philippine side is really willing to act in accordance with international law, it should, first of all, follow the provisions of the treaties that determine the territorial scope of the Philippines, including the 1898 U.S.-Southwest Peace Treaty, and abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. As an archipelagic country historically colonized by Spain and the United States, the Philippines’ territorial boundaries are defined by a series of historical international treaties, such as the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain, which, however, did not include China’s Nansha Islands and Huangyan Island as Philippine territory. The erratic behavior of the Philippines is partly attributed to the U.S. exploitation of the Marcos government.

Marcos is seen as a “tool or puppet in a regional proxy war” for the US. Lured by the false security promises of the United States and the massive flow of second-hand weapons, coupled with the deep penetration and influence of the United States in the Philippines, the Philippine government has willingly played the role of a hawk and dog of United States hegemony in regional affairs.

Although the U.S. State Department recently issued a statement reaffirming its unwavering support for the Philippines under the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, the applicability of this commitment to the South China Sea issue has been widely discussed.

Some U.S. media outlets have cited a paper from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. “clarifying” that the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty does not apply to the South China Sea because the Philippines did not have any form of claim to the relevant islands in the South China Sea at the time of the signing of the treaty in 1951. in 1975, then U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger further clarified that the defense treaty does not apply to the South China Sea. clarified that the defense treaty did not apply to attacks on Philippine forces in the Spratlys.

In addition, U.S. strategic concerns over the region have been demonstrated by the movements of the U.S. Navy. The USS Reagan, an aircraft carrier, recently arrived in Guam for recuperation, while another U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Roosevelt, was spotted leaving the South China Sea on June 13 through the Bashi Channel.

The “common defense” is a means for the U.S. to control its allies, whose fundamental purpose is to serve U.S. strategic interests rather than to safeguard the security of its allies, who are often at greater risk from being exploited.

Former Philippine Senator Francisco Tatad previously published an article in the Philippine “Manila Times” website bluntly said that if the Philippines in the United States support war with China, will be “stupid suicidal behavior”.

Recalling this incident, the Philippines on the 17th sent six ships, including a supply ship, two inflatable boats, including approaching the Nansha Islands Ren’ai Reef adjacent to the sea, attempting to illegally “beach” warships to deliver supplies. In response, the Chinese Maritime Police took control measures in accordance with the law, such as warning and stopping, boarding and inspection, and forcible removal, in respect of the Filipino vessels that had intruded into the waters of Ren’ai Reef, and seized firearms and other non-lifestyle items. In the meantime, the two sides of the boats repeatedly collided, the two sides of the personnel unusually close and confrontation, its intensity far exceeded the previous Renai Reef confrontation, but also for nearly a decade in the South China Sea friction of the most. For a time, the situation in the South China Sea once again triggered a high degree of concern at home and abroad.

At a time when the Philippines is provoking China, the Chinese 10,000-ton giant ship appeared in the South China Sea. According to public signals from AIS ships, a Chinese Marine Police 10,000-ton giant ship, No. 5901, has appeared around Zhongye Island in the afternoon of the 19th.

Wife Booked an Affair Trip but Didn’t Update the Contact Info. Divorced Her, Lost Her Job…

Cappeli D’Angelo with Parmesan Sauce

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter
1 pound Capelli D’Angelo, cooked al dente
1 1/2 cups freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
Salt
Freshly-ground black pepper

Instructions

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
Add pasta and cheese and toss constantly until butter and cheese cling to noodles.
Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Notes

Variation: Combine 1/3 cup each freshly grated Bel Paese, Gruyere, Fontina and Parmesan cheeses and toss to above directions.

Just before serving, stir in 1/2 cup whipping cream and heat through.

Serve immediately with a sprinkling of minced chives if desired.

YOASOBI「アイドル」 Official Music Video

Five minutes of pure Japanese…. something.

Why foreigners come to China

A great variety of people come to China for a great variety of reasons.

Japanese/Korean – Many Japanese and Korean people are sent here by companies back home. One Japanese guy once told me that he enjoys living in China because the culture here is more laid back and has an “anything goes” feeling to it. There is also a large number of Japanese/Korean business owners in China.
Southeast Asians – People from Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos want to come here to find work. (Possibly marry, possibility immigrate)
White Western Europeans / Americans – Some come here just as a “gap year” between graduation and finding “career related work”. Some are backpackers and just do odd jobs as they travel throughout Asia. Some are sent by large multinational corporations as upper level management or executives (with the rest of their family). Some are sexpats. Some are looking to start businesses or find money making opportunities. Some are just foreign exchange students. Some come here to teach English and just remain teachers here because they don’t know what they’d do back home or they don’t know how to find other jobs here.
Africans – Most Africans here are doing textile and electronics trading. Some of them might try to marry a local in order to live here — although I think they’ll find the discrimination here quite steep. (Their numbers seem to be diminishing as of recently, especially in Guangzhou)
Arabs / Indians – Like many Africans here, they’re mostly here to do business and trade. In my experience, these people tend to be older than the westerners and tend to have established families, households, and businesses.
Eastern Europeans / Russians – Because the economy here is still stronger than in their home countries. Many Russians end up in China’s “gig economy” hopping from teaching to fighting to acting to foreign trade to company spokesman to modeling, or to prostitution. I’ve met some Russian men who do MMA fights for cash, then do modeling jobs or “face” jobs where they’re paid to just show up in a suit and be white. (The Americans and Western Europeans do this, too.)

Trump says that Taiwan should pay for US defense rather than US defending Taiwan for free. Doesn’t that show Trump is in China’s pocket as well as Russia? Wouldn’t Taiwan be better off if Trump was taken out in Pennsylvania? Taiwanese support Biden.

Regardless who is US president, Republican or Democrat. It will be the same. USA is using Taiwan as a tool to destabilise China & thus slow down China’s rise. That is all.

Trump is more straight-forward while Biden is more rhetoric to hide his motives. That is all.

It is in the DNA of USA to suppress any country that will surpass USA. USA wants to stay dominance in the world.

USA suppressed UK after WW2, USSR in 1991 & Japan in 1980’s (economically). USA also suppressed EU’s economic rise too.

One reason USA waged a Ukraine war was Euro was higher than USD.

People scolded at Russia for invasion of Ukraine. Actually there are lots of things we do not see on the surface.

Back to Taiwan. Taiwan is just a US tool. But Taiwanese refuse to hear about it.

Cozy

Did Yamamoto immediately realize his gamble of striking Pearl Harbor provoked an unstoppable war machine for no real strategic gain when his pilots reported that no US aircraft carriers were present or damaged?

Actually, he realised that before the operations were even launched.

Before Pearl Harbor, he wrote: “Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians, among whom armchair arguments about war are being glibly bandied about in the name of state politics, have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.” -letter to businessman Sasakawa Ryoichi

He also warned the Japanese Government about what would happen:

“If we are ordered to do it then I can guarantee to put up a tough fight for the first six months, but I have absolutely no confidence as to what would happen if it went on for two or three years.” -Statement to Japanese cabinet minister Matsumoto Shigeharu and Japanese prime minister Konoe Fumimaro, 1940

In September 1941, he warned them again:

“For a while we’ll have everything our own way, stretching out in every direction like an octopus spreading its tentacles. But it’ll last for a year and a half at the most.”

Right after Pearl Harbor, he wrote to a colleague:

“Britain and America may have underestimated Japan somewhat, but from their point of view it’s like having one’s hand bitten rather badly by a dog one was feeding. It seems that America in particular is determined before long to embark on full-scale operations against Japan. The mindless rejoicing at home is really deplorable; it makes me fear that the first blow at Tokyo will make them wilt on the spot.”

Also:

“A lot of people are feeling relieved, or saying they’re ‘grateful to Admiral Yamamoto’ because there hasn’t been a single air raid. They’re very wrong: the fact that the enemy hasn’t come is no thanks to Admiral Yamamoto, but to the enemy himself. So if they want to express gratitude to somebody, I wish they’d express it to America. If the latter really made up its mind to wade in on us, there’d be no way of defending a city like Tokyo.”

So yes, he absolutely knew, well before the operation commenced, and he wasn’t the only one.

Shorpy

The Possum

Submitted into Contest #24 in response to: Write a magical realism story that takes place in the Wild West.… view prompt

Amanda Lewis Silva

The whiskey stung going down. Sheriff Houghton coughed back the cheap swill and took in a deep breath through his nostrils, taking in the scents of Old Delilah’s saloon. That one sniff carried with it the musty memories of liquor, twice chewed tobacco, and the unmistakable truth that it had been weeks since the bartender before him had seen a bar of soap. He quickly rejected the breath, pushing it out from his mouth with great force and slamming his empty glass onto the table.“You’re doin’ nobody favors here, Kipp.” The words came out in a drawl croak, still recovering from the whiskey’s hard punch to his throat.On the other side of the bar, Kipp poured another stream of the fiery potion into Houghton’s glass. He smiled with his mouth, but his eyes ran cold. He poured the man another drink. “You got that right. I ain’t doing favors for nobody, cuz I ain’t hidin’ that boy on your poster, Sheriff. Never seen ‘em, don’t know ‘em, and he ain’t my business.”The sheriff grasped his glass tentatively, but did not drink. He stared down into the swirling golden liquid as he contemplated the barman’s lie. He knew Kipp to be an honest man who paid his fines and did his time in the Sunday pew, yet Houghton knew there was a history between Kipp and the boy’s mother, Susie. For him to say he had never known the boy was a bald-faced lie. If this man were hiding the boy, then it was only a matter of time before he would break. “Alright.” Houghton said. He threw up his hands in surrender. “You don’t know ‘em. He wasn’t here.”Kipp lowered his defenses and relaxed his jaw. “Like I said.”The room went silent for a time. The sky outside had gone black, the streets deserted. There was only one other man in the building, seated at the farthest table from the bar. Kipp had only just now noticed him, due to his lack of movement and the tan duster he wore, which acted as camouflage in the dusty saloon. “Last call!” Kipp shouted across the room. “Last call, Fella!” When the man showed no signs of life, Kipp walked over to him and placed an empty glass near his nose, checking for breath. He examined the fog on the glass carefully, then cleared the man’s table and left him to continue his rest.As he returned to the bar to clean the glass, he glanced at the sheriff again and grumbled. “What’s there such a price on that kid for anyhow? He ain’t more than ten or so.”Houghton returned his hands to his full whisky glass. His right eyebrow curled. “How is it you know he’s ten, iff’n you don’t know the boy, Kipp?”Kipp, now back behind the bar, brushed the notion away with a rag he was using to polish the glass. “Oh now, Sheriff, I was just lookin’ at that great doodle you’d done of ‘em. I was just supposin’ he was young from it.”Houghton, still unconvinced, pushed his glass away and sat up straight onto his barstool with crossed arms. “You were supposin’?”“Yessir. I was supposin’,” Kipp defended. “And supposin’ he’s that young, wouldn’t you suppose he’s got some folks? They’d sure know his whereabout’s wouldn’t they.”Houghton leaned forward, resting his elbows on the bar counter top. “That’s an awful lot of supposin’ on a kid you don’t know, that you’ve never seen, that’s none of your business.”There was a tumbleweed silence as the men examined one another with grave suspicion. Houghton knew Kipp, and he’d all but decided on trusting him, but he couldn’t help but wonder. An anxious sweat broke out over his face. Behind that unwashed beard, those lazy grey eyes, and the gap-toothed smile, could there be a man capable of harboring a fugitive?The sleeper in the corner broke Houghton’s thoughts short with an unconscious chortle as he broke wind. The sound filled the otherwise empty space, and the smell was enough to make even Kipp, in his unwashed glory, turn up his nose. The two men shifted to glance at him, then returned to one another, the tension broken with a shared smirk.“I worry for his mama is all.” Kipp said, putting the glass away. “Must be worried to high heaven if she don’t know where he is.”This sentiment amused Houghton. He wasn’t sure if this comment confirmed he knew Susie or if it secured his innocence. He choked down his still full glass, voicing his distain for the beverage with a breathy gasp. He stood and brushed his pant legs, returning his hat to his head and offering Kipp a well folded bill for his trouble, which he declined with the wave of a calloused hand as he poured himself a whiskey.“On the house, Sheriff. Here’s hopin’ you get your man.” Kipp raised his glass in a toast to Sheriff Houghton, with a smile that cast even more suspicion.Houghton still had one more card left to play. He decided that if he told Kipp enough of what the boy had done, perhaps he could elicit a confession of some kind. He didn’t tell him all of it. Truth be told, so much of it didn’t make sense. All that blood on her with no open wounds, the bullets found laying in the dirt near the body. The sobbing boy who was there one minute and gone the next. He was beginning to think it was all just the heat. That he had imagined it all. He wouldn’t tell Kipp everything. Just what he needed to know.

“I wouldn’t worry much for his mama now. She won’t be missin’ him much, being as she’s dead. Her blood’s all over the kid, if you believe the stories.” Kipp’s eyes widened, his face pale. After a careful study of the bartender’s stunned expression, Houghton decided that it was best to simply end the evening and let his words stew. He would return tomorrow and see if Kipp was ready to talk . “Like I said, you’re doin’ nobody favors if you know where he is.”

With that, the Sheriff adjusted the hat on his head and turned to leave.

Kipp stood still a moment after the saloon door swung closed. He wanted to move but couldn’t. He wanted to shout, to curse his grief at anyone who would listen. Somehow he had a feeling that his last lone patron in the corner wouldn’t wake if he did. Still he just stood motionless. What in the Sam Hill have you gotten yourself into now, Kipp? What the hell has you done? What has HE done?

He’d always thought of himself as a good man, an honest man, and yet here he was, lying to the law, implicating himself. And for what? Some kid. Not just some kid. Susie’s Kid. Susie. She was dead now, gone. He’d never told her, but she was the closest thing he would ever have to a daughter. He had wanted to cry, to break down when Houghton had said the words. Still, he protected the child. That is what Susie would have wanted, even if the child had been her undoing.

After several attempts to awaken the man in the corner, Kipp decided that the man was nothing to bother with and would likely see himself out when he woke. He checked the body again for signs of life and locked up his establishment, casting a cautious glance outside to ensure that Sheriff Houghton had gone. He stood in the room a moment, taking in the scent of dust, wood, and mildew.

His shock had been simmering, and now it had come to a slow rolling boil. Anger filtered through all of his thoughts, clouding them. He walked behind the bar to a small storage room and slammed his clenched fist down on a mildewed whiskey barrel. He spoke to the air. “Now you wanna tell me what you done that has Mr. Law barking at my door at all hours, or should I ask ‘em back here to tell me his own damn self?”

From inside the barrel came a shuffle and a knock. The lid tumbled off and a tuft of ash blonde hair rose up from the inside, followed by a pair of bight blue eyes and a soot covered face wearing a scolded expression. It was as if he had been caught drinking the communion wine and had come to seek his penance. His body trembled and his eyes swelled. He opened his mouth a bit, but no words came.

“I’m waitin’.” Kipp barked. He tapped his foot impatiently. “Why you wanted, kid?” His voice rose with urgency. He shook the paper in the child’s face. “You kilt your momma?” Did you kilt Susie? My Susie? Is that her blood on your trousers? You kilt yer momma, and then you come here and ask me to hide you. Is that it? You gonna have a go at me too?” His voice was now a rolling thunder that filled the full saloon. He imagined it would wake the man in the bar, but figured it would likely not matter much what a lazy drunkard heard.

“I ain’t kilt my momma.” The boy mumbled.

Kipp put a hand to his ear. “Eh?” He’d heard well enough. He just wanted to hear it again.

“I said I ain’t kilt my mama!” The boy’s voice cracked and warbled, he wiped away a variety of fluids from his face with his soiled sleeve. Kipp gestured to him to continue, eyes wide with impatience.

“I was too late to help her. She was gone dead when I got there” The words were coming out, but they were muffled and broken. He stopped a moment and sobbed into his filthy hands, dirt mixing with the salty water and stinging his raw cheeks. “Real dead.” He said. “Can’t be helped kind. There was no going back.” Kipp allowed the boy a moment to continue his tears. He kept repeating that last part. “No going back.” It was a mantra to him, keeping him in his grief. “No going back.”

Kipp fought back the urge to embrace the child. He tried not to recall the day his own mother died, when the fever took her and left him with nothing at just fourteen years old. He didn’t want the kid to see his sympathy, but it was there. He knew this child couldn’t have killed his mother. There wasn’t any way this whimpering mess of a boy could do that to anyone.

“Then why you hidin’? Kipp asked, finally. “If you ain’t done it, then go to Houghton and tell ‘em true. You ain’t done it. I believe you. He’ll believe you. Hell, He believed me, and I’m the worst damned liar this side of the Mississippi.” Kipp laughed a little, but the boy didn’t.

There was a still darkness in the boy’s eyes. His grieving abated for now. He was still inside the barrel, but standing erect in it, stone still. There was fear in him. Real fear. The kind that you can’t shake.

“I ain’t hidin’ from the law.” He said. There was a tone to it, an ominous one. He said the rest with his eyes, burrowing them into Kipp with gritted teeth. The truth of it hung in the air, haunting them both. The boy hadn’t killed sweet Susie, but whoever had certainly wasn’t going to leave loose ends.

Before further explanation could come, the creak of boots on floor boards sent the boy back into his whiskey barrel. Kip covered the barrel and turned around to find himself eye to eye with the darkened well of a pistol barrel. Even more startling than the gun itself was the man at the other end. Standing at his full height, with his eyes wide open, the man appeared much more of a threat than he did earlier, when Kipp had checked his vitals and declared him harmless. “Now, I thought you was sleepin’?” Kipp choked.

They called him “The Possum”. Only once Kipp had heard of him before and it was never told whether the man who stood before him was an outlaw, a bounty man, or a murderer. The only consistency amongst all the rumors was that the Possum only ever wanted them dead and never alive. It was said that he never flinched at the thought of killing anyone, even a woman or a child. His namesake was earned by his reputation to “play dead” until the time was right, hidden in plain sight. Sometimes he was a dead body, or an unconscious man you just stepped over in brawl, and sometimes he was just a drunk, huddled in a corner, so fast asleep that one might think he was dead.You never called on the Possum if you wanted your money back. You called him when you were done waiting.

“All right, son. Common out where I can’t see ya or I kill ‘em!” The Possum spat as he shouted to the room. His word’s came out in raspy broken spurts as he struggled to keep a piece of tobacco lodged in his cheek. “We can do this easy or hard, kid! Your mama’s time was up! She shoulda paid the man what he was owed, and you, well you was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now I don’t know how you done the thing with the bullets, or how you got away like you did, but I got yah now. I can’t let you be. Wouldn’t be responsible, lettin’ a motherless little bastard run around. Better yah get shot quick than starve to death in the heat.”

Kipp placed a shaking hand over the barrel of the gun and met eyes with the man. “He’s with me now, cousin. We ain’t gonna say a word. You can rest assured he’s safe and silent.” He thought perhaps a friendly tongue would calm the man, talk his finger away from the trigger.

He thought wrong.

“Ain’t your cousin.” The man replied. He fired a shot into Kipp’s palm. The ensuing explosion surprised Kipp as a thunder clap filled the room and specks of blood splattered his vision. Kipp look down at his ruined hand and saw a blackened tattoo around a stone sized hole, now filling up with blood. Kipp fell to his knees on the hard floor and snapped his eyes shut, praying that if he closed them tight enough, he might disappear. The Possum’s gun was now pressed to the bartender’s head. “The boy!” The Possum shouted.

Kipp, his eyes still closed tight, pointed shakily with his good hand in the direction of the whiskey barrel. He felt the Possum’s pistol moved away from his skin. Warm liquid trailed down his leg.

Kipp could hear the struggle, the barrel opening, the muffled sounds of such a small and helpless body fighting against the strength and muscle of a full grown man. The air stung his nostrils with the scent of blood and sweat. The floor was hard beneath him as he stayed there, crouched, eyes closed, waiting for it to end.

The gun fired again, and the room went cold and still. It smelled of lighting before a storm. All of the sounds simply stopped. There was no struggle anymore, no crying or shouting.

Kipp opened his eyes.

Time was still. The bullet had stopped, suspended into mid air. Kipp and the boy remained in motion, while everything else appeared stagnant. The boy was backed up against the barrel, a bullet within an inch of his red and watery nose. Kipp watched, stunned, as the boy reached a shaking hand towards the bullet, picked it carefully with his thumb and index finger, and turned it on its axis to face his assassin. The boy gave a deliberate wave of his right hand and the bullet continued on its new course, punching a hole into the Possum’s stomach.

The gunman fell, bleeding and dropped his weapon. He coughed and sputtered, unsure of how he had come to be shot. The boy kicked the Possum’s gun into the corner of the room and came to stand over the injured man. He made a clockwise gesture with his index finger over the man’s stomach. The Possum jerked spasmodically on the floor, his body cracking and crumping in a series of sharp spurts coughs and moans. Then he was still. What would have been an agonizingly long ordeal of bleeding out and waiting for death had been condensed into 10 short seconds. Kipp had been wrong about the boy. He did have it in him to kill.

The boy came to crouch down beside Kip. “Gimme your hand.” He said. Kipp hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he could trust the boy, or if he was even a boy at all. “I ain’t gonna hurt ya.” He said impatiently.

Kipp held out his disfigured hand and the child examined it before pointing his index finger at the wound. This time, the boy’s hand motion was counter-clockwise. Kipps hand itched and tingled with the bites of a thousand mosquitos as the wound sealed itself. When the boy finished, the hand was covered in blood, but otherwise looked and felt as normal as it did an hour ago. The boy gave a slight grin, reminding Kipp once again that this was Susie’s child.

Kipp reached down and picked up the bullet that had passed through his hand. He placed the blood soaked souvenir into his pocket and turned to thank the boy, but he and the body were gone.

Who do you think is, or was, the unluckiest person on Earth (fictional or non-fictional)?

Abraham Shakespeare was born in Lakeland, Florida in 1966. He had dropped out of school by the 7th grade and was basically illiterate (he could barely use a cell phone). He had some minor brushes with the law (burglary) for which he had served his time. He spent his days working as a day laborer.

In 2006, at the age of 40, Abraham’s luck appeared to change. He won $30 Million in the state lottery (and took the lump sum payment of $17 million). He bought a million dollar home, brand new car, Rolexes, etc. and by 2008, he had blown through most of his winnings. New friends had appeared out of the woodwork, and simple-natured Abraham didn’t realize what they were really after until it was too late.

Around this time, he met a woman named Dorice Moore who offered to write his life story. Moore took control of Abraham’s assets and bought herself a Hummer and a Corvette (she later claimed these were gifts from Abraham). In 2009 (three years after winning the lottery), Abraham’s family reported him missing. Dorice Moore claimed to be Abraham’s financial advisor and told police that he had traveled out of town. His family and friends then started receiving text messages from Abraham, which was very strange as he was virtually illiterate.

In January 2010, police found Abraham’s body buried under 9 feet of dirt in the back yard of Moore’s home in Plant City, Florida (nearby to Lakeland). He had been shot to death. Moore had taken possession of Abraham’s home and drained him of his final $1.3 million lottery winnings.

Moore’s own attorney described her as emotionally unstable and in 2012 she was sentenced to life in prison. Moore continues to deny all charges and claims she is innocent.

Dude Runs Away on Date When She Brought Her Friends!

Drones soar into wider application in China

Instead of checking her mailbox frequently for her university admission letter, high school graduate Wang Yunyi received it up from the sky.

On Monday morning, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the first time delivered four college admission letters issued by the South China University of Technology to the hands of four students in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. The drone trip took about 30 minutes, covering 25 km, forming a new scenario for China’s UAV application.

“I was amazed to see my admission letter sent by a drone. It was like a movie scene coming to real life,” said Wang.

Guangzhou Post, the drone operator, has been delivering college admission letters for over 40 years, handling about 550,000 letters annually.

“In the future, more students can experience technological advancement with their admission letters sent by drones,” said Zou Liwen, a manager at Guangzhou Post.

In recent years, drones have become increasingly common in video clip productions, express and meal deliveries and fleet shows as China strives to expand its low-altitude economy, which was included in the country’s government work report for the first time in March this year.

Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) show that China had 1.27 million registered drones by the end of 2023, up 32.2 percent compared with the previous year. Civilian drones accumulated 23.11 million flight hours in 2023, representing an 11.8 percent year-on-year growth.

Phoenix Wings, a cargo drone company under China’s delivery giant SF Express, initiated the interprovincial drone-delivery service for fresh fruit across the Qiongzhou Strait in late May.

This new mode of transport is 70 percent quicker and 30 percent cheaper than conventional cross-sea transport, enhancing the freshness of the lychees and the economic benefits on all sides.

CAAC data shows that the scale of China’s low-altitude economy exceeded 500 billion yuan (about 70 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, and is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan by 2030.

More drones in the sky have also expanded the spectrum of applications. While many parts of China are battling floods in the summer, UAVs are seen at the forefront, patrolling embankments and delivering disaster relief supplies in water-stranded areas.

In central China’s Hunan Province, where a dike section breached earlier this month at China’s second-largest freshwater lake of Dongting, fire and rescue teams in the province deployed a fleet of 47 UAVs for flood control and disaster relief work.

Liang Shixin, a member of the telecommunication team for emergency response at the provincial fire and rescue headquarters, said he operated a UAV a dozen times a day as a complementary means to monitor the embankments.

Unlike conventional drones that are mainly equipped with cameras, the UAV has thermal infrared and lidar sensors, being capable of quickly scanning embankments to capture signs of pipe bursts and leakage hazards even in the darkness, said Liang.

Incomplete statistics showed that China had more than 2,300 companies engaged in civilian drone development by the end of 2023, with over 1,000 drone types in mass production. In 2023 alone, over 3.17 million civilian drones were delivered in China, and the general aviation manufacturing industry generated an output exceeding 51 billion yuan, an increase of nearly 60 percent year on year.

In April, the Chinese drone maker EHang Holdings Limited obtained the production certificate for its passenger-carrying autonomous aerial vehicle system from the CAAC. It is the first production certificate issued in China for an autonomous passenger drone and also the first one in the global electric vertical takeoff and landing industry.

He Tianxing, vice president of the company, noted that the expansion of the low-altitude economy will further drive the development of upstream and downstream industries, such as new infrastructure, spare parts, energy storage, cultural tourism and education.

Traces of cyanide are found in the blood of Vietnamese and Americans found dead in a Bangkok hotel

https://youtu.be/bZzjpUd84S8

Chicken Breasts with Spinach Cream Sauce

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 1/2 cups Alfredo pasta sauce
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh spinach
8 ounces angel hair pasta
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Cook chicken in a sauté pan in 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat until browned on both sides and cooked through (165 degrees F), about 15 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat sauce in a small saucepan. Add spinach and cook for 1 minute; remove from heat and keep warm.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well and toss with remaining butter; set aside.
When chicken is cooked, place in an 11 x 7 inch casserole dish and top with sauce and Parmesan cheese.
Place under the broiler for 5 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and sauce is hot and bubbly.
Serve over hot pasta.

How do you feel about the USA-China trade situation escalating?

American farmers have taken the brunt of this trade war, and let me explain why.

The US grows two main crops, corn and soybeans. Corn is usually processed into animal feed, ethanol, and other food ingredients. Most of it is used domestically. We do export corn, but not to China.

Soybeans is either processed into soybean meal or soybean oil. On that note, we export over 50% of our entire soybean crop, which is the second largest in the world. Out of the billions of bushels we grow, nearly 67% of it is exported to China.

Exports are by far our largest market for soybeans. Between China and the rest of the world, the US exports more soybeans than we actually use domestically. China was our biggest market for our crops. Recently, Trump impossed tariffs on China, and as us farmers all expected upon hearing that devastating news China put tariffs on soybeans.

main qimg e4afb5ad79990b2194e1a91b8c9e28be lq

Surprise surprise.

The affect has been devastating for farmers. This is how the price of soybeans has trended since the tariff talk began.

main qimg e1f14d453d91c74a1e182a912184580b

As you can see above, soybean futures peaked in late May at a high of $10.50/bushel. Since tariffs were talked about and set in stone, prices have fallen nearly $2/bushel.

But it’s only $2 right, that’s not a big deal?

Wrong, that’s a massive deal.

Let me give you an example of a small local farmer I deal with, Frank.

Frank farms 700 acres, and he splits it for 350 acres in corn and 350 acres in soybeans. He usually grows 55 bushels per acre on his beans, which means he produces 19,250 bushels of soybeans every year, out of the billions of US produced soybeans.

That $2/bushel price drop costed him $38,500 AT LEAST. It’ll actually cost more, since local prices will plummet compared to futures prices. With 2/3rds of our export market in the damn toilet, domestic companies have little competition from overseas.

Farmers got shit on by Trump

But farmers voted for Trump!

True, I didn’t, but many did. They didn’t vote for him because of tariffs, they mostly chalked that up to ballsy talk by a big talking businessman. Most of them didn’t expect a trade war between our largest soybean customer and our President.

But it happened, so here we are, with a shit ton of soybeans, tens of thousands of dollars in losses for individual farmers, and an empty promise that Trump will somehow “help us out.”

Let me tell you, farmers aren’t happy with Trump right now.

Little Red Balloons

Matt Strempel

I can’t put my finger on why I murdered Jerry, because I lost my fingers in an accident.Accident. That is to say, Jerry hit the go button on the waste disposal unit while I was fixing it, and it munched my right hand off at the wrist. To be fair, the robotic prosthetic is about a thousand times better than my real hand was, but it hurt like hell at the time. He maintains I said, “Hit it,” but what I said was, “Quit it.” I was always telling Jerry to quit it. He was the most infuriating guy in the entire universe, I’m telling you. I should know; as a DSD I’ve seen more of the universe than most.A DSD is a Deep Space Diviner. In short, we look for water out in the dark corners of the universe in the hope of finding evidence of alien life. I used to get work out on farms and such, walking around with a curled piece of wire waiting for the thing to snap down towards the ground. That’s when I’d tell the boys to get digging. I never missed. Went all over the country helping folks get water out of the ground. I’m telling you, I could find water in the middle of a goddamn desert. Now I follow my hunches into deep space.When I heard they were asking for water diviners to head into space I thought it was some big joke. Checked the date to see if it was April 1st and everything. But it’s no joke. Turns out it’s cheaper to have guys like me out in space than sending probes from Earth.So anyway, they’ve had us out in Sector 35 for two years. Me and Jerry Portman. I told them I could do it on my own, but company regulations state I gotta have a partner. Jerry goddamn Portman from Chicago. I couldn’t stand him.How do I explain this to you? I mean, how do you come across a guy that can make you feel claustrophobic in the vastness of space? Even when I couldn’t see him, it was like he was right next to me with his stale open-mouth breathing. I’ve sent countless requests to be transferred, or have him transferred, or sought permission to blast him out the goddamn airlock, but no luck. I knew nothing was going to come of all the complaints, but it was the only way I could get the frustration off my chest.It’s true that in space no one can hear you scream, but email works pretty good.Anyway, that opening line about not being able to put my finger on why I killed him on account of not having any fingers? That’s the type of corny gag that Jerry loved. Drove me crazy. Is there anything more infuriating than a guy who laughs at his own jokes? I must have heard him use variations of “lend you a hand”, “right-hand man”, and “second hand” about a million times. He laughed every single time like it was the first time anyone ever said, “Get a grip” to a guy who just lost their hand and was rolling around on the floor spraying blood all over the goddamn ship.You ever see a gushing wound in zero gravity? It’s really something. It looks like the wound is spurting little red balloons. Or, it’s like looking at cells under a microscope.Space does that. Changes your perception of size. Entire planets appear tiny, then, the next second, a speck of space rock hitting the ship could end your entire existence. Big is small, small is enormous.Anyway, the latest thing with Jerry was he wanted to head out on this new vector. I’m telling you right now, where he wanted to go is a bust. Oh, but he’s “got a feeling”. Feeling, my ass. This guy hadn’t found a goddamn drop of water in two years. Plus, we would have had to go through a goddamn asteroid belt.It’s not that he was bad at his job—he was terrible—it’s that he was bad at everything. I mean, literally, everything. You ever meet a guy who couldn’t even use the goddamn toothpaste properly? I mean, who squeezes from the middle? Leaves the lid open so I’ve got a tube that’s flat through the centre, with all the good paste at the bottom, blocked by dried toothpaste at the top. He was such a goddamn imbecile.The thing is, though, medically speaking—on paper—he was a goddamn genius. Like, off the charts smart. He’s just got no common sense. Know what I mean? As in, he could solve the most complex mathematical equation known to man, but he’d set fire to his helmet. He really did that. Tried to make some modifications and shorted the regulator. Nearly killed us. He was always nearly killing us.I’ll say it: Jerry Portman was the stupidest guy ever to be classified as a genius.I swear he has nearly killed me at least a dozen times. Obviously, losing my hand was pretty bad, but he’s also shut off my oxygen while I was outside repairing a cracked solar panel. I was under 50% oxygen saturation when I finally got back inside. That much carbon dioxide in your lungs? You can’t take that too long. When I hit the emergency retract button on my umbilical to get back inside, well, let me just say, if I’d had the strength to even stand up, I swear that would have been it. I would have murdered Jerry right then.I think the worst one was when he opened the bay door—that’s where we keep the drones—before I was in my suit. I know it’s against the regulations to be in the drone bay without your suit because of the potential for that exact situation, but fucking Jerry, man. The guys who wrote the regulations must have been like, “What’s the most galactically stupid thing anyone could do in any given situation?” and then they’d write a rule just for kicks. They were probably laughing their asses off the entire time. “No one could be that much of a moron,” they’d say. But guess what, fellas. Jerry Portman is your guy. It’s just lucky there’s a ten-second warning before the doors open.You know the worst thing about guys like Jerry? It’s never their fault.“It was an accident.”

He said it every goddamn time. It’s always an accident with these guys. Like that absolves them from any wrongdoing. As if just because you didn’t do it on purpose, all is forgiven.

Imagine opening the bay door while there’s a guy in there working on the drones.

Then, a week later, Jerry’s back and tells the guy he’s locked the keys in the goddamn car.

Can you imagine being stuck in space with Jerry Portman? I’m telling you, it’s the pits.

That’s what Jerry was like when he was tinkering. Maybe part of me thought he’d electrocute himself so I wouldn’t have to murder him.

So I say to Jerry, “What are those, from the drone?”

And he just says, “They’re spare. We don’t actually need them.”

Well, sure as eggs, Jerry sent the drone out yesterday and I’ll give you one guess what happened to it. You’re goddamn right it blew up. Nearly killed us.

Then I had a thought—maybe I would send Jerry out. It would be a real shame if his umbilical somehow untethered from the ship and he floated out into space…

Ashamed as I am to admit it, this was not the first time I’d thought about killing Jerry.

Of course, back then I didn’t have a complete understanding of the magnitude of Jerry’s stupidity. Had I known better, I would have guarded that freezer with my goddamn life.

That was two years ago, but I remember it like yesterday. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Thousands of little red balloons.

I just want them to know I was provoked. I was standing my ground. I feared for my life, Your Honor.

Were you deathly ill but didn’t know until you went to the hospital and they told you?

My husband had been up on 20 foot ladder trimming trees in the yard for the last couple of days. He came in on the third day and said he was really tired and went to bed early. The next morning we talked for a little bit and he said he was just gonna stay in in bed and rest. I had to run some errands and I came home and I found him stumbling around the bedroom and he told me he was lost. I wanted to call an ambulance for him, but he just told me to drive him to the doctor. I’ve then discovered he was also blind. I rushed him to the emergency room and they took him back immediately to run some tests. A couple of hours later, the doctor came with the test results and said “I’m afraid his cancer has spread.” “What cancer?”we both asked the same time. The doctor informed us that my husband had pancreatic cancer that had already spread to his liver and his brain. They told us he had days to live. They sent him home with hospice. I called our kids and my husband’s siblings and they all came from various states to see him. My husband chatted with him like there was nothing wrong. He passed away nine days later.

Ram Jam “Black Betty” Best of Reactions Compilation

I just closed on a foreclosed bank owned property with the previous owner in it who will not leave the house. What is my best course of action to make them move so I can move in?

Same thing here- I purchased a foreclosure.

The deadbeat tenants had not paid any rent to the bank in 10 months, but the bank didn’t want to evict, probably for fear of damage. I wasn’t afraid of them stealing the appliances, etc- they actually did do that- because I was going to gut the place anyway.

I told them they could have 2 months free rent, and had to be out then, or I would sue them for rent (I had it legally done, hired a lawyer who is good at that type of thing). I went ahead with the eviction process anyway, and they were served an eviction notice, just so they saw I was serious.

They left after the 60 day period, taking with them lights, appliances, even thermostats! I was fine about it, since, as I said, I did a complete to-the-studs gut of the house. It cost about $5K to get rid of them (not including my carrying cost- but I could not get started on redoing the house for 60 days anyway- I was doing the redesign, hiring the GC, etc), so I just folded that into the cost of the reno.

The result?

Fantastic house, reno finished on time, and all that is in the rear-view mirror.

Moral of the story?

You have to hire a good local attorney who does evictions, and establish a budget for the legal work. Then cut the deadbeat tenant a deal- lead with a carrot, follow with a stick.

EDIT: As a note- when we did the demo, we carefully removed the cabinets, toilets, even the windows. We donated everything possible to Habitat For Humanity, which was able to use the stuff in homes. We see so many people doing renovation who just allow the demo team to destroy everything- it cost a little more to have cabs unscrewed instead of just sledgehammered off, but then they go to good use. And you have less stuff in the dumpster.

What is the most disturbing thing in the Bible that you have found as an atheist?

I can tell you the thing that totally pushed me over the edge.

I was at a SciFi convention in Georgia, which was at the same time as a gay parade was. At the parade people were passing out “chick tracks” which are like these small comics of Bible verses, the one they were passing out was their Sodom and Gomorrah track.

I took it back to my room and read it. The story was basically about some gay person being handed that exact chick track and told the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, of course in their little story the gay man repented because if the story. It had been a while since I’d been to Christian school so I read it over and was horrified at what Lot considered an appropriate solution.

A little back story for me, I was molested and raped by my dad, I was in my early 20s then and still really messed up.

In the chick track version , since the intent was to try an convert gay people, the focus of the story was the version people like to use as anti-gay propaganda. (If you actually read the Bible verses, God was actually mad about their lack of charity and care for their fellow man) In this version, and indeed what you often hear, God sends a couple of angels down to Lot, and the crowd decided they want to take and rape said angels. This is what a lot of the anti-gay rhetoric is hinged on, which is sad and kind of funny, as angels aren’t supposed to have genitals. (Seriously, look up the description of biblical angels, it’s something else) So not only are they not all that rape-able, they aren’t technically men. Anyway, Lot decides he can’t let this happen, but is willing to give the raping crowd his VIRGIN DAUGHTERS.

This stupid comic was handed out ti try and say being gay is bad…. But somehow allowing people ti take and RAPE your virgin daughters was okay?!

No I thought, no damned way could that be in the Bible. Being in a hotel I grabbed the Bible to check. It really is. That was an acceptable solution, to allow the rape of virgin daughters so that creatures with NO GENITALS don’t get raped.

No. That is not ever acceptable for me. I was already questioning my faith, but that killed it. I could not believe in a religion that allowed that. I could not follow or listen ti people who thought that was okay, and used it to try and say homosexuality was wrong. I couldn’t believe in a faith that was okay with the kind of stuff that had scared me.

I’m closing comments because I am not interested in anyone trying to explain how this is okay, or trying to tell me I’m over reacting, or frankly argue any of this horrible story that is so often intentionally misunderstood to use as a club against people. Yes. I’ve had people try that before. In case you are one of those people, you should know this story will never EVER be acceptable to me, and there is no way you can spin it that will make it acceptable to me.

U.S. Ultimatum Hits Japan & Dutch Semiconductor Giants – Cut Away All China Trade Or Else

Ah…

The plans of the idiotic.

Check out the video…

Chicken Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 pound angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook red, yellow and green bell peppers in 2 tablespoons olive oil with garlic until just tender. Stir in diced tomatoes and diced tomatoes with chiles, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes. Remove to a serving bowl.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
While pasta is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Cook chicken in butter mixture until juices run clear, 5 to 10 minutes.
Place cooked chicken over tomato sauce and sprinkle with basil, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder and Parmesan.
Serve with cooked pasta.

What was your reason?

What are some unfortunate ways people have lost their lives?

🚨Disturbing post ahead!!🚨

Here are some unfortunate ways people have lost their lives :-

In 2013, Ye Mengyuan, a 16-year-old girl, managed to survive the crash of Asiana Flight 214 in San Francisco. However, she was later fatally struck by a fire truck responding to the accident.

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Newlywed Samantha Miller lost her life in a car crash just moments after leaving her wedding venue. Her husband Aric was also injured but survived. The crash was caused by a drunk driver.

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In 2002, during a hockey game, a puck deflected by a player flew over the protective glass and struck 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil in the head. The impact resulted in a fractured skull. Brittanie passed away just two days before her 14th birthday.

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In August 2005, a tragic incident occurred in Benidorm, Spain, where two sisters, Mildred Bowman and Alice Wardle, lost their lives in a horrifying accident. They were trapped for four days when their fold-up Murphy bed collapsed, leading to their untimely demise.
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In 2007, 24-year-old Oakland, California, resident Humberto Hernandez was hit in the back of the head by an airborne fire hydrant when a passing car struck it, and the water pressure shot it at him with great force.

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In 2009, dog breeder Diana Durre met with a couple at a Taco Bell to sell them a dog. As they stood “right underneath the big Taco Bell sign,” a powerful gust of wind caused the sign to break free and fall onto Diana’s vehicle, fatally crushing her.

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In 2012, Anthony Hensley, 37, was kayaking when he encountered an aggressive swan. As he attempted to handle the situation, he fell out of his kayak. While trying to swim back to shore, the swan continued to attack him, leading to his drowning and tragic death.

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In 2013, Roger Mirro was crushed by a trash compactor while looking through a dumpster for his phone.

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In 2014, A chef in Foshan, China, called Peng Fan was bitten by a cobra’s severed head, which he had cut off 20 minutes earlier while preparing soup. He died shortly after.

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A Brazilian man died after a cow fell through his corrugated roof and crushed him while he slept. 45-year-old Joao Maria de Souza, initially only suffered a fractured leg but later died of internal bleeding while waiting to see a doctor.

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May their soul rest in peace

This really is funny

The South China Morning Post said that Microsoft’s stroke has little impact on China, and China’s self-sufficiency policy in the field of information security has achieved results. What do you think about this?

An Indian addresses why the entire Western world was shut down by a global-wide IT failure on Microsoft systems, but China and Russia were unaffected. -MM

The difference was crystal clear

HK which used Microsoft in their Airport applications had to go to manual mode while Mainland China that uses Xinshi, it’s own Indigenous Linux Rooted system in Airports and Xongsha, Huaweis own indigenous system in Ports – had zero blips yesterday

Surprisingly Russia also had zero blips because they had their own slightly more basic version due to Sanctions

India saw 65% flights cancelled or rescheduled. I am in Bangalore now and while returning to my hotel after a morning walk, I met Indigo staff who are returning to Kempegowda only now for a flight that should have departed yesterday afternoon

India along with 98% of the world is utterly rooted to Western Applications and Systems

Microsoft, IBM, Google, Amazon WPS , Dell & Cisco – they together or individually form 99% of our entire Core Computing Systems and their upgrades, patches, reinstallations are what runs our country

This includes our Aadhar Database as well, Income tax database, Sensex and Banking systems

Likewise Nokia, Siemens, Sony – Ericcson, Cisco & Alcatel – they form the core of our entire digital communications on 4G+ platforms while Huawei, ZTE – form the core of our entire digital communications on 4G platforms

Also GPS is the ground root of our entire ground cartography system

What have our Top Industrialists been doing?

Given that when we started our forway into Software when China was scrambling around for Cheap Analog technology from Taiwan – SHOULDN’T WE HAVE SOME EQUIVALENT IN THE GLOBAL MARKET?

Instead after 30 years – we are still basically software coolies, writing code or managing people who write code and creating systems that run on core technology developed by the West

Sure these days we live in Condominiums with Gym and Swimming Pools, use Amex cards and swank around in Oakley or Raybans as Software Architects

Yet the ground reality is we are primarily COOLIES just like we were a century and a half ago

Yesterday was evidence of that

Some Western Entity makes a mistake and 300 Million Indians could suffer

Time to firmly join Russia and China and begin to move to an Indigenous platform in every sphere

I suppose banning Tiktok was fine but the fact that we could be decimated by sanctions if we rub the US the wrong way – that never struck us at all

US Tariffs Destroying The Chinese Economy?? Who Does It Really Hurt??

It’s no time to die

Today, I’ve got a complete 007 James Bond movie at the end. Please stick around and enjoy it. It’s a recent movie too. “It’s no time to die”. It’s well worth your time to carve out and watch.

Now, on to other subjects…

You know, I inherited my father’s desk. Actually I inherited all of his desks, as he had three. And my mother’s desks.

And in my struggles of life, my siblings and relatives came and looted them away. All of which were sold to strangers for a pittance.

at home projects 2020 10 Sylvia Worsnop desk before tagged

Maybe they were able to buy a pizza for the $2000 desk they sold for $5.

Some of them were really nice too.

Now, today in China, I don’t use a desk. I have various tables that I use. And I fight with my daughter for desk space. LOL.

I have long argued that all men should have a desk. It’s a place to plan, to work, and to organize. The old roll-top desks with all those little drawers, and cubby holes were perhaps the highlight of this item of furniture, but over time, as I have become more mobile and recognized that for each move, I would lose some of my possession, I now have a smaller list of “needs”.

It’s 2024.

I don’t carry a wallet, or anything like a watch any longer. I have a few notebooks and a handful of pens, but that’s all about it.

Ah.

But electronic reliance comes with it’s own troubles, hassles and problems. I will say this again…

But, you know, supreme reliance on a computer of cell phone comes with its own problems. And You all, should know what that means and what they are.

After so many hard drive crashes, system reboots, stolen products and police extractions, I do not trust data storage and histories on the computer at all. In fact, a actually loath them.

Anyways, back to my narrative…my father had his boy-hood desk stored in my paternal mother’s house attic. It was a glass bookcase, with a pull down writing desk. I thought that it was cool. You could store your books and treasures on one side, and then go about your business on the other side., and when you were done, you could lock everything up.

Pretty cool huh?

I still think that it is important to have a “space” a secure place that is free from intrusion and prying eyes. As well from a virus, or an electrical discharge. Call me old fashioned, but there is a certain beauty of having a quite space all your own, where you can set your coffee, tea, or whiskey down and think, read or write.

A desk.

About Desks

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Do you dream about sitting down to write at an antique desk? Do you imagine being able to channel all the creativity of the people who have used the desk before you, and that somehow their words become yours?

What makes an antique desk so appealing is its tangible history. The marks, scuffs, and etchings of the people who sat there before you all add to its beauty.

It’s why these desks remain so popular with antique collectors and consumers alike – both looking for a piece of furniture steeped in character to complete their study or hallway.

What are the most popular antique desks?

When you think of an antique writing desk, you probably imagine a grand partner’s desk with ornate detailing or a slender ladies writing desk.

Antique desks date back hundreds of years, but the most popular styles were conceived between the 16 and 18th centuries, when furniture design really flourished.

Cabinet-makers like George Hepplewhite and Thomas Chippendale made their name during this period with designs that are still sought after today.

There are so many styles to choose from that it’s easy to get lost in the number of options:

Pedestal desks
Partners desks
Bonheur de Jour (ladies’ writing desk)
Secretaire desks
Roll-top desks
Bureau à Gradin

Every style of desk has its own defining set of characteristics that make it easy to identify (but a word of warning, these pieces aren’t easy to date so do your homework and make sure that what you’re buying is a genuine antique before you hand over your money).

How to identify an antique writing desk

In this section, we look at some of the most popular antique desks and their characteristics.

Pedestal desks

The antique pedestal desk has a flat writing surface with two pedestals on either side, that usually contain drawers. You might also see it referred to as a kneehole desk (so-called because of the space between the pedestals for tucking in a chair). The kneehole desk dates back to the Georgian period.

Partners desks

This type of desk was designed for two people to use at the same time with a large work area and drawers on both sides. Because it looks good from both sides, this desk would make a grand centerpiece in the middle of the room (just make sure you’ve got the space before you invest!)

Ladies writing desk

This elegant desk with slender legs shot to fame in the second half of the 18th century in Paris. It’s also known as a bonheur de jour, which is French for daytime delight.

This desk has a raised back that forms a kind of cabinet with a nest of drawers or sometimes open shelves with a mirror. An English-style desk will typically have mahogany drawer liners, but French models are more likely to be oak-lined.

Secretaire desks

Antique-style secretary desks are typified by their drop-down writing areas which usually have hinges. Some are made from exotic woods like rosewood, tulipwood, and kingwood, but other hardwoods became popular later.

Roll-top desks

The late 18th-century roll-top desk is usually made of oak, mahogany, or walnut. These desks are popular for their storage which includes drawers, shelves, and pigeon holes. Typically this storage is hidden behind a rolling door or a shutter, which retracts vertically.

Bureau à Gradin

This type of antique writing desk has tiers of small drawers and shelves along the back of the surface area. The Carlton House desk is the most famous example of a bureau à gradin, which was reportedly designed by George Hepplewhite for the Prince of Wales. What makes the Carlton writing desk so popular is the drawers that wrap around the desk in a U-shape.

How do you pick an antique writing desk?

When it comes to choosing a writing desk, consider how you’ll be using it. If you want a desk that you can sit at for long hours while you work then look for something that is big enough to fit your screen, a keyboard, and a laptop.

Today’s workspace is full of 21st century equipment that needs to be stored somewhere, not to mention the tangle of cables that come with it. Antique writing desks are not designed to accommodate electrical items, so think about where you’ll put your printer and other devices.

Of course, if you’ll only be sitting at your desk occasionally then you can buy something to suit the room’s decor without worrying about the functionality of the furniture. Consider how much space you’ve got available and whether the desk is designed to be positioned against a wall or whether, like a partners’ desk, it’s intended to be used as a grand centrepiece.

The juxtaposition of new meets old in interior design can make an impressive statement, but that doesn’t mean any old chair will work with your antique desk. To get the most out of it, choose your chair carefully. There are plenty of antique desk chairs out there that fit the bill.

Late 19th century swivel desk chairs with upholstered seats are some of our favourites.

Antique writing desks – the bottom line

Sitting down at an antique writing desk feels very different to sitting at an MDF table from a big budget store. When you sit at an antique desk, you’re joining a long line of people who used it before you to do something similar.

Whether you’re working, paying a bill, or writing your Christmas cards, doing it at a desk with a long history feels like it carries greater importance.

Is it the Marcos’ family has their entire assets in US and the US court is threatening them with freezing such assets unless follows US interest and goes against China? If is true, can this ruins the Philippine growth and prosperity or the other way?

Marcos’ huge inheritance in USA has been frozen by USA long before his father Marcos Senior died. Marcos Sr was a notorious corrupted pres in the world.

Instead of USA threatening to freeze his inheritance, it is more likely that USA may have used those frozen assets as a bail to fish Marcos Junior.

Money is 1 thing. Marcos Jr also had an arrest warrant in USA related to the his inheritance. He is temporarily lifted while he is president.

He was supposed to appear in a US court after his father’s death & while Marcos’ junior was still living in exile in USA. But he fled & sneaked out of USA & returned to PH.

If there were a threat, more likely it is not the frozen assets but his arrest warrant. I would guess.

Of course, Marcos is working for his personal interest at the expense of PH & Filipinos.

When former PH pres Duterte had no problems with China, there is no reason Marcos should have problem with China. There is no reason Marcos should provoke China because China has no problem with PH fishing in PH’s EEZ

Marcos conveniently twists UNCLOS & interpret fishing right in EEZ as sovereignty.

Anyway, Marcos is leading PH to a war with China & making PH a battlefield.

My crystal ball tells me that Marcos will not 1 cent from his inheritance. USA will cook up 100 reasons that USA cannot unfreeze the money. USA will confiscate the money to pay for US debts. But USA may cancel the arrest warrant after Marcos’ “hard work” to provoke China.

What is best reason?

USA & UK seized the assets of Russian oligarch after Russia invaded Ukraine. Their reason is that they will use the money to help Ukraine.

Now USA can seize Marcos’ assets in USA. May be the reason is that he is nice to China by not provoking China hard enough. Haha. USA has many smart people.

Ah. He found a keeper

Is Communist China really good? None of its citizens seem to protest anything.

Communist is not an accurate way to describe modern China. China isn’t really Communist. Don’t let the name of the party fool you.

China’s government is unusual in that it actually learns from its mistakes, adapts, evolves and improves. Western governments do not.

Despite mistakes made under Mao’s rule, the government has become one of the best in the world. The country has developed rapidly and peacefully. The people live much better than they did a mere 30 years ago.

So, yes, modern China is really good. Go visit China and see for yourself.

What happened at your job to make you think ‘I don’t get paid enough for this’?

Originally Answered: What was your "I don't get paid enough for this sh*t" moment?

I accidentally scanned the next woman’s deli meat because she hadn’t put a divider on the belt. The current customer said, nicely, that it wasn’t hers and I voided it. The next woman seemed agitated and complained again. I joked “I forgot my mind reading glasses at home. Next time I guess you’ll have to use the divider.” other customers chuckled but the lady turned red and raised her voice “WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY”

I said, “don’t worry about it, it was just a silly joke.” I started scanning her stuff and she calls the customer service desk from her cell phone and starts telling a very dramatic version of my scanning and joke. The manager walks over after realizing this psycho is in the store. The woman is complaining about me and looking over occasionally “oh, double bag that one.” I had zoned her out and looked up to see her and the manager looking at me expectantly. The manager says, “well?” I asked, what? The manager says the woman wants an apology. And super nonchalant, I said “oh! Sorry.” then asked her if she was ready to pay. This pissed the woman off even more, that I was not crying from embarrassment or fear. She paid and starts yelling again as she’s walking backwards out of the store, to me “I hope whatever made you this way gets better!” I think, yep you’re leaving.

Manager pulled me aside and says “what do you have to say for yourself?”

I said in that Same calm tone “I don’t need this in my life.”

She says “excuse me?” I said, that customer was rude and unstable. She was drawing attention from other customers and detracting from their experience. She clearly was looking for an argument and nothing I could say would change that. The most I could do was ring her up and tell her to have a nice day.

The manager shrugged and said, just remember that sometimes we can’t say what we want to– and then walked off. She has been rude to me ever since but complains when I pick a shift to work that isn’t hers.

edit to add: this woman was psycho. People came up to apologize on her behalf after, and/or compliment me for staying so calm. Clearly some of you have not worked retail. Do it for a day and you won’t take her side.

Grilled Cheese and Bacon Mini Meat Loaves

Love meat loaf? Make it on the grill for a summertime treat!

Prep: 55 min | Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 pound extra-lean (at least 90%) ground beef
1/4 cup Progresso® plain bread crumbs
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon onion salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
4 slices center-cut bacon (about 3 1/2 ounces), cut crosswise in half

Instructions

Heat gas or charcoal grill for indirect cooking as directed by manufacturer.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix all ingredients except bacon. On work surface, pat mixture into 7-inch square. Cut into 4 (3 1/2-inch) squares. Top each square with 2 half-slices bacon; attach with wooden picks.
Carefully spray grill rack with cooking spray. Place patties on unheated side of two-burner gas grill or over drip pan on charcoal grill (medium heat). (If using one-burner gas grill, cook over low heat.) Cover grill; cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until slightly pink in center.
Using spatula, turn patties over. Cover grill; cook 5 to 8 minutes longer or until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160 degrees F and bacon is crisp.
Remove wooden picks before serving.

Notes

Use Italian-style bread crumbs for a different flavor. You could also use pizza or spaghetti sauce for the ketchup.

Center-cut bacon has had the fatty ends cut off. You can use slices of regular bacon–just trim about 3/4 inch off of each end. The half-strips should just cover the surface of each beef square.

Nobody Cares, Work Harder

On Tuesday, China and the Philippines held a bilateral meeting to ease tensions in the South China Sea. Do you think if those de-escalation efforts would work?

The essence of the conflict between China and the Philippines remains unchanged. The fundamental contradiction between China and the Philippines on Ren’ai Reef is the ownership of the islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The differences between the two countries are also very clear, that is, the conflict between the Philippines’ attempt to actually illegally occupy the South China Sea islands and China’s rights protection.
The Philippines has never given up reinforcing the hull of the “Sierra Madre” and building facilities on Second Thomas Shoal, and has never stopped delivering building materials and supplies for related operations to Second Thomas Shoal. That is to say, the Philippines is trying to regard the stranded ship as its territory, thereby truly turning “sitting on the beach” into illegally occupation.
Sierra Madre has been on the Second Thomas Shoal beach for 25 years, Filipino soldiers have been living on Sierra Madre for 25 years, heavy metal pollution brought by the rusty Sierra Madre, Filipino soldiers produce daily household garbage, kitchen water, bath water, food scraps, bottles, plastic bags, feces and so on directly discharged into the coral reefs, which become the Second Thomas Shoal eco-pollution source, whose contaminated area stretches over a dozen nautical miles.

China and the Philippines are currently holding the ninth meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea issue. Judging from the details announced by both sides since 2013, this mechanism is a “temporary special arrangement” established by China and the Philippines after 2016. This is an effective way to manage differences explored by the two countries. On June 30, 2022, Bongbong Marcos came to power, and the new Philippine government led by him did not agree with the “gentleman’s agreement” between the Rodrigo Duterte government and the Chinese government. Overall, whether the “temporary special arrangements” can play a role depends entirely on whether the Philippine government abides by its commitments.
Whether the US military will intervene on Second Thomas Shoal, it is very certain, they will not. Although U.S. politicians have repeatedly confirmed verbally that the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty applies to the South China Sea, the U.S. military can arbitrarily adjust its position, response, and the extent and methods of measures it takes based on its own interests and strategies. Judging from the parties involved in the recent conflict between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, the US military has never been a participant, and the only participants are the American media. American media reporters are regular crew members of Philippine ships, and they are good at Preaching and distorted reporting.

THROUGH HELL – Motivational Video

Is the conservation of pandas a part of China’s foreign policy?

It is now. But it did not start it that way about 200 years ago.

In 1800’s, many Europeans came to China, esp Christian missionaries. They found pandas. An animal they never saw at home.

They started killing Panda to bring it home for display in their museum. Or they smuggled live Pandas from China to their home country.

Some of these smugglers were Christian missionaries.

Pandas were close to extinct at one point.

It was then that Chinese authority decided to protect Panda from killing & smuggling.

Panda dont make babies easily. As part of conservation, China sometimes needs to manually help them make baby.

Panda is a unique species. Some foreigners like to put it in their zoo for display/education & at the same make money, China also get into the business by renting panda to foreign countries.

It is mutual interest.

Have you ever conned a car salesman who thought he was going to con you?

My wife was able to turn the tables on a Ford dealership several years ago. She bought a used car from them and was quite happy with the car until it was totaled in a flood. Insurance paid out, so she bought the same model & make of vehicle from the same dealership with a 3 year extended warranty. This last detail will be important later: her 2nd vehicle was a different color.

From the day she drove the 2nd vehicle off of the lot, the brakes squeaked and the steering was loose. Despite taking it in for warranty repairs a few times, they refused to fix it & blew things off as just “dust on the pads”.

Shortly before her warranty expired, she took the vehicle back in for an oil change & inspection. The service tech gave her a $2,000 list of proposed fixes (including replacing the dangerously worn brakepads, a tie rod, & a few other big ticket items). She asked for a printout of the repairs with pricing. Then she asked why the repairs weren’t covered under the warranty.

The service guy told her that her warranty had expired over a year ago. That’s when she asked him what color her car was. [The guy had pulled up the older car in their computer system.]

Scammy dude quickly tried to backtrack & say that there was nothing really wrong with the brakes or other components and that they were just suggestions. But he had roasted himself with flagging some repairs as “critical for safety”. After he realized he was screwed, he suggested doing all the repairs just for the cost of labor.

My wife had to get a manager involved, but the dealership ended up doing a ton of repairs on her vehicle that they never would have agreed to do without trying to gaslight & con her. All covered under the extended warranty, without any labor costs.

I WILL MAKE IT – Motivational Speech

Do Americans actually compete with illegals for low-level jobs?

Perhaps my former son-in-law’s story might be instructive. He was employed as a framing carpenter in building construction, but was priced out by low-paid undocumented aliens.

He took a job in a local cabinet shop and made more money.

He liked “Cross-Fit” exercise, so on his lunch breaks, with the boss’s permission, he started making sturdy plywood boxes for cross fitters to jump on and off of.

His boxes sold so well that he left the cabinet shop and started his own business selling his exercise boxes on-line. I allowed him to operate from my home workshop.

His biggest customer was a local on-line retailer of sporting equipment. Before long, this company persuaded him to become their employee, with the promise of a big new wood shop, benefits, and steady money.

He went for it, but within a few months his new bosses outsourced production of his boxes to China and cut him loose.

The Chinese version of the boxes, I was told, were made with bad plywood, and the company lost a lot of customers. They attempted to hire my son-in-law back, but he was no longer interested.

He is now a state government employee, working full-time in the carpenter shop of a large local university for a decent salary and job protection and good benefits.

What is the best way to invest money when you don’t have a lot?

Rule No. 1: Never lose money.

Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.

I’ll never forget my father’s lesson. He told me, “Son, no matter how many material things you accumulate, you can lose them all.”

“What do you mean, Dad?”

“Your great grandfather owned a beautiful farm. It meant everything to him. One day, some crazy, corrupt government officials came and took it from him. He lost it.”

“He couldn’t get it back?” I asked.

“No, in fact, let me tell you another story. Your grandfather lost one of his businesses due to some powerful union leaders that came one day with three buses, and took all his workers.”

“How? Where did they take them?” I asked intrigued.

“By the time they retuned, they were forced to follow the unreasonable demands of the union leaders. Your grandpa’s business was never the same again. He had to eventually close that booming business. He lost it.”

I couldn’t believe the stories, “Has this ever happened to you?” I asked.

“Yes. You were still a young boy. We owned a lot. One day some people decided to build a street through our property so they could get to their property — isn’t that crazy?”

“With no permits?”

“Yes, no permits! We lost that land plus got a huge headache of legal fees. The lesson here, Son, is that material possessions can be lost. But remember this: NOBODY can EVER take knowledge away from you. Investing in your knowledge is the safest investment you can ever make.”

So, to answer your question, what is the best way to invest money when you don’t have a lot?

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. — Benjamin Franklin

ENJOY THE PAIN

What is the saddest thing you’ve ever seen?

When i was 12 years old my sister (she was 16) she began to experience abdominal pain. She never really told anyone about it except me (we were super close, like inseparable close). She thought that it was just because of her periods. As the months started to grow, so did her pain. I was freaked out so I suggested that we tell our mom but she said that she didn’t want to burden my parents (we were at a financial loss at that time).

So after about 65 days she couldn’t hold on so she decided to tell my mom. My mom got an appointment immediately and we rushed to the ER (Emergency Room). My sister was wailing in pain. The docs over there took an ultrasound scan and then an MRI and a couple of other scans, at this point my mom and I were crying that’s when they revealed that my sister had Pancreatic Cancer and that it had crossed Stage III. My mom literally fainted right there.

I was alone and scared and i had heard about cancer only in stories and books like fault in our stars. But when my sister was a victim i didn’t know how to react.

When my mom regained consciousness and calmed down, they told her that my sister was given a few painkillers and anesthesia for the time being and that we had to start with chemotherapy soon but that they were not sure that it would work. My sister did not know that she had cancer, the doc explained it to her usually merry face broke down.

They started chemo and her beautiful black locks which she was proud of slowly began to fall. She was a person of positivity so she told my mom that she wanted to EXPERIMENT her hair. She had hip length hair which she cut it to a bob then a pixie and then finally shaved her head. We both shaved our heads together.

She would never get a minute of sleep at night. On the 12th of December, it was my birthday, I ran home from school happily as my friends had given me a lot of gifts for my sister and me. My dad was there, my mom wasn’t, my sister was at the hospital, so I asked my dad to drive me to the hospital as I wanted to give the gifts to my sister.

My dad was looking really depressed but he agreed. When I reached my sisters room, she was screaming out of pain my mom was screaming for the docs. I went near my sister slowly she smiled at me even with too much pain.

Her last words to me were, “I love you, take care of tiger (our 1 year old dog) and mom and dad, it’s time for me to see grandma and grandpa in heaven”. She died at 16:07pm on my birthday. I cried for almost a month and I still cry for her every single day but not in front of my parents because I know that if I cry they will cry too. I hope she found a peaceful place! A MESSAGE TO MY SIS – I LOVE U ABBY pls come back if u can I miss you every second of my life.

KILL YOUR EXCUSES – Motivational Speech

Have you ever been arrested or taken into custody for something you didn’t do?

I was arrested for what a US Assistant Attorney (AUSA) indicated in the formal charges was a million dollar fraud case. I was fingerprinted, photographed and processed in as an arrestee. I was held for 9 hours while they processed me.

The AUSA alleged that I had, over the course of a few years, embezzled more than a million dollars and that the “amount could well be much more as they were still counting” but at this point, “couldn’t locate the monies.”

I was only 36 years young and didn’t have so much as a traffic ticket as an adult. I had a traffic ticket as a 16 year old.

I knew the federal agency I worked for was targeting me for opening my mouth about waste, fraud and abuse at the highest levels, but I never thought they would stoop so low as to make up charges and have the power to convince the AUSA to indict me.

How wrong I was. How naïve I was.

An attorney who was representing me in a civil case against my agency, called a friend of his who was a white collar criminal attorney at a big law firm in the city and asked him to meet with me.

I didn’t think the gov’t would indict me so we had a good chat, but during this “chat” he scared the dickens out of me and I ended up throwing up on him!

He indicated that the federal gov’t was surely going to indict me even with no proof, no evidence. I could get 10 years for each count of fraud. He said, “they do it all the time.” I had a career, but no monies to pay his firm. He said, “don’t worry about it, we’ll work something out.”

I was indicted for 27 counts of fraud with no evidence to support the charges.

The trumped up criminal charges were to try and scare me away from the civil case.

However, since I had worked for the gov’t for years, I had about 12 boxes of paperwork related to my job, etc. The criminal attorney asked me why I had all this “proof” and I indicated that I work for the U.S. government!

In reality, I always kept copies of anything I signed as I have a mediocre memory and my memory is complicated by a migraine condition so I lose memory on a regular basis, similar to an epileptic seizure disorder.

Long story short, the federal judge threw out all the indictments (with prejudice) and lashed out at the AUSA indicating “if you ever bring a case such as this to me again, I’ll have your law license revoked.”

Be That guy.

What is the best thing you saw someone do when they got fired from their job?

A friend of mine, let’s call him Mike, a 5-year mid-level executive of an IT company was unceremoniously removed from his office when a new manager, let’s call him Fred, took over the company. Now both Mike and Fred came from another company, where Fred, then an “ass”piring Newbee did his best to take over Mike’s position and was unable to do so. Mike eventually left the company when his current company offered better compensation.

Six years passed and Fred, who rose after Mike left, was able to get a Senior Level position where Mike was working. For no reason, Fred on his first day fired Mike, the claim was insubordination, as Mike did not offer him a “Good Morning” as they passed each other in the hallway.

Mike who was already planning to set up his own company, went to his office, packed all his things, turned over his keys to HR, and left. A week after he was busy preparing his new company, using in part his separation pay. Unknown to Mike, several other employees in his division, learned what happened and resigned.

Now Mike was handling “Special Accounts” and he approached them saying he was no longer working with the company and was moving on. He did not tell them he was setting up his own company. It was also later learned that several of Mike’s co-workers came to work for him.

When Mike left, the company wanted to get him back, Mike said he would, only if they removed Fred and replaced him with another manager. The company would not do so.

Not a year later, Mike became bigger than his old company, who after Mike left slowly disintegrated when some clients left. Some did transfer to Mike’s company, many others found other groups. At this time, the owners of Mike’s old company offered to merge with Mike, who after consideration agreed.

You know the first thing Mike did? He went to Fred, said Good Morning, and gave him his options – either to resign or be transferred to a smaller branch about 100 miles away. Fred opted to resign.

Yeah, karma is a b****!

GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES – Powerful Motivational Speech

It is clear to the world except the US & its Western puppets, that it has a short time before the total eclipse of the dominion of arrogance, US & W. Europe. Will Putin and Xi be new world leaders, will it include India? Will Biden open be a doorman?

I think USA knows. That is why it is struggling to hang onto its “empire” for as long as possible.

That is why USA hysterically suppresses China thru sanctions, trade war, US puppets etc.

W Europe also knows. Some continues to stay by USA. Some turning to China. Poland, for example, is 100% pro-USA. But it asks for Chinese investment in EV in Poland.

Putin & Xi for sure will be the new world leaders.

India? I personally do not see that in the foreseeable future because it is far too behind Russia & China, both economically & technologically.

India’s propaganda skill is good though.

Have you ever had such a close call it makes your skin shiver everytime you think about it? If so, what happened?

I was about 11 or 12 and the last two lessons of the day were hockey practice. Now our hockey field was away from the school but in walking distance. When it was finished we went home straight from the field as we all lived local. I had to go along a road with houses both sides but then there was nothing but fields both sides for about a mile until you reached a busy t junction. When I reached the quiet stretch a car pulled up alongside me, and the male driver opened the passenger side door and told me to get in. I said no so he started to get out the car and with that I ran for my life literally. He chased me for a bit and then gave up as I was nearing the junction. He turned his car around and drove off. I think of it now and again and wonder what would have happened . I may not have reached my 75 years of age. For some reason I never told anybody as I remember feeling it was my own fault for not going the long way round. In hindsight I know I should have done. I hope he didn’t succeed in abducting anyone else . I feel guilty about not saying anything but at the time it never entered my head because all I thought about was getting into trouble with my dad as he would have gone berserk.

Have you ever “fired” a doctor? How did you go about leaving your doctor and finding another one?

Yes I did, in the middle of my second pregnancy. I was around 4 months pregnant and was having a sonogram done to check on the progress of the baby. Of course that particular day, my future daughter decided to curl up in a ball with her back facing my stomach, so the sonogram technician was having a tough time getting a read on the blood flow in the umbilical cord. We tried everything we could to get her to move, but she was already showing signs of stubbornness and stayed put. We tried for over an hour, and let’s not forget that you have sonograms done with a full bladder, so I was in pain. Finally the technician said she would give it her best shot and make a note in the report that the baby was blocking access to the cord. I agreed, we finished, I peed and went home.

A couple of days later I was shocked to receive a phone call from my OB/GYN’s office informing me of my referral appointment at the Perinatal/Neonatal center in a city over an hour away (I lived in a rural area). When I asked what the referral was for, I was told they couldn’t tell me and I would have to discuss it with the doctor at my next appointment. And I informed them that the referral appointment was prior to my next meeting with the OB/GYN and I would not go to it without knowing what it was about. They insisted that I had to go. I said if it’s that important then the doctor can call me himself and explain why I needed to go, if not then I wasn’t going and I hung up. As you can imagine, my stress level was now high and I couldn’t imagine what was actually wrong when everything had been fine so far. Next thing I know, one of the Nurse Practitioners from the office calls to talk to me. Again, she cannot tell me why I was referred; only the doctor could. So, I said, either the doctor calls me himself or at 4 pm tomorrow I will be coming into the office to pick up a copy of my files to take to a new doctor.

I was not surprised when the doctor never called me, and as promised, I showed up at 4 pm the next day to pick up a copy of my records and told them to cancel the referral appointment and all future appointments with the practice. Once I got home, I sat down and read my file and figured out why the doctor had referred me and it was wrong. First, he saw the numbers for the blood flow in the cord, but didn’t bother to read the note about my daughter blocking it so assumed she wasn’t getting enough oxygen. Next, he used a certain test based on the size of her head and length of her spine and decided she was undersized. With multiple nurses in the family, they quickly pointed out that the tests he used to determine the size are not valid until the fetus is at least 20 weeks old, and she was only 16 weeks old.

So, I took this information and made an appointment at a new OB/GYN practice. With my records and a new sonogram, they confirmed that the first doctor had been wrong and the baby was progressing on schedule.

I never regretted leaving the doctor that made assumptions, used the wrong tests, and failed to communicate with his patient.

Did you know there was something wrong with your health, but no one believed you, until one day you received a correct diagnosis?

This is a Christmas story. And it’s not my story, but the story of a young man who was helping his mom in the kitchen, preparing New Year’s Eve dinner.

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When at some point his mom dropped something on the floor, he was the first to bend down and pick it up. That was a typical Mark thing — helping all the time.

But when he bent down, something snapped in his neck.

A lump occurred on one side of his neck, but he had no pain, and felt fairly okay. (But still.)

And it’s not that his family members did not believe him when he said that something in his neck had snapped — some even proposed to drive him to a hospital, just in case — rather, it was an inconvenience on New Year’s Eve, and it did not hurt so how bad could it be, right ?

And as no one was insisting, he took his bike and rode to the hospital himself. By then, the lump had considerably grown, but nobody had noticed that (or maybe they ignored it altogether).

They would never see him again.

When Mark arrived, he collapsed near the entrance of the ER. And there was nothing the ER doctors and nurses could do for him, although they tried, and tried, and tried.

Later, the medical doctors discovered that Mark had Syphilis — a fact which was (most probably) unknown to him — and that he had developed an arteriovenous malformation (an abnormal tangle of blood vessels) in his neck. As he bent over to help his mom, the tangle had snapped, and bled him to death within the hour.

And ended Mark’s story, on New Year’s Eve.

It’s Supposed To Be Hard | Motivational Video

What did someone say/do that made you close down your account and go to another bank?

My husband was trying to claim a work pension, and needed a form completing and stamping by our bank. A simple form, just requiring the bank’s name, address, sort code, IBAN, etc. and his signature. He went into his branch and they refused to stamp it, saying it was policy not to stamp any document that wasn’t theirs. He shrugged, said ok, and then asked for help completing the simple form, as he has Parkinson’s Disease and can no longer control a pen. The clerk refused to help. My husband asked to speak to a manager and he too declined to help my disabled husband. The reason he gave was ‘we might make a mistake.’

THIS WAS THEIR OWN DETAILS!

If they don’t trust themselves to write out their own name and address, why should we trust them with our money?

It gets worse. As a ‘vulnerable’ customer, we asked for a marker or flag to be put on our account, so it would show up every time he needed banking services and they would know he needs extra help. In spite of having been assured that the flag was there FOUR TIMES, every time we phone in or visit we are told that there is no such flag on our account.

It gets worse. My husband went to Australia recently, to visit a dying friend. While there his phone malfunctioned so he couldn’t make calls. The bank spotted what it thought might be a fraudulent transaction and asked him to verify the transaction. Because he couldn’t, they cancelled his internet banking, leaving him with no access to money. He borrowed someone’s phone to call them and explain. There was a power outage at the bank’s end. He was cut off and they would not call him back.

I tried calling them but they wouldn’t speak to me, even though it was a joint account. I spent 90 minutes begging them to call him and talk to him, but they said they couldn’t. I asked to speak to a supervisor but they said there wasn’t one. I went into the branch but they wouldn’t discuss it wth me. The advisor got up and walked away from me saying she couldnt help.

My husband had to go into a branch in Australia and beg them to loan him some money, and eventually they loaned him enough money to get home but while he was there he needed the bathroom (he’s on diuretics, and when you gotta go, you gotta go!) but they wouldnt let him use the bathroom and sent him to McDonalds next door, which was closed. He was in such distress that he went back to the bank and said he wasnt leaving until they let him use the bathroom, even if it involved soiling himself in public. They let him use the bathroom pretty darn quick, but imagine being reduced to having to threaten that before they would show a little common humanity.

This was all very stressful and stress makes Parkinson’s worse, and makes the medications less effective, so it’s a double whammy. It’s taken him nearly a month to recover his health.

So.

Next week, we’re off to the bank next door to our current bank. Amongst other things they have a disabled bathroom on the premises, and a dedicated member of staff for helping customers who need a bit of support.

Such a contrast. Our current bank has lost five accounts and many thousands of pounds because of this, plus the FCA and the local news station have got involved and the Consumer’s Association have taken it up. So, lots of bad publicity for HSBC and Hurray for Nationwide!

NO MATTER HOW HARD IT GETS – Powerful Motivational Speech

What are some of the most mind-blowing facts?

1) 80% of people would write their name if asked to write something with a new pen.

2) If a person laughs at a low quality joke then he is suffering from loneliness.

3) The big toe indicates the nervous weakness hidden by the other fingers, indicating that the person wants to be unnoticed by many.

4) Psychology is the first 6 seconds of meeting with someone, the first impression about him is formed.

5) It is a proven fact that our response to any situation is capable of radically changing that situation.

6) Many times someone’s indifference indicates his utmost care which he does not want to express.

7) If you write down negative thoughts and throw them away like garbage, your mood will get better.

8) In 90% of cases, those whose handwriting is bad are more creative than usual.

9) It has been proven that orange helps reduce anxiety. That’s why doctors recommend eating an orange before going to work.

10) Never reveal your goals to anyone. It produces the equivalent effect of achieving goals in the brain.

11) When surrounded by plants, the brain releases certain chemicals which increase the thinking power of the brain. That’s why walking in the garden is part of some psychiatric procedures.

12) The conversation of the parents with the child becomes the language of his mind.

13) 8 positive statements disable a negative statement.

14) If someone’s foot is back towards you during the story-gossip with many people, then it should be understood that he is interested in you.

15. If a girl likes you, she will play with her hair while talking to you.

16) You will rarely die in your dreams, if you die in your dreams then you have started something new in life.

17) Dream is a conversation between you and your subconscious mind.

Why do you think President Zelenskyy did not address Viktor Orbán’s proposal for a ceasefire in his statement?

Zelensky wanted ceasefire 1 months after the war started. But USA & UK stopped him.

Below is my earlier post

On 2024/6/10, in a CBS interview, US senator Lindsey Graham said Ukraine is sitting on a mineral mine that worth US$10-12 trillion (on eastern Ukraine).

He said the West cannot afford to lose (the Ukraine war). The West must win the war. Make sure Russia & China cannot access Ukraine’s mineral mine.

He recalled that former pres Trump sent military aid to Ukraine in the form of loan.

Back in 2022, Washington Post reported that the Ukraine war was about national mineral & energy wealth esp lithium which is important to make weapons.

That is, the war is just a tool to rob Ukraine of its rich resources.

No wonder, more than once, USA & UK stopped Ukraine from peace deal with Russia. Ah…h, it is about c o l o n i s a t i o n of Ukraine. About m o n e y.

No wonder in early 2024, when Ukraine is clearly losing the war, Europe spread fear of Russian threat to Europe. They must sent (ground) troops to Ukraine to make sure Ukraine will not collapse. Ah…h. It is all about splitting Ukraine’s mineral mine. Russian threat is just smoke.

The collective West is a robber, at the expense of human life & suffering of Ukrainians.

Democracy is just a slogan to hide their evil face too.

So from now onward, dont ever support democracy movements around the globe. Otherwise you become the devil’s accomplice.

Read “America’s Deadly Export – democracy” by William Blum.

MEN’S LIFE IS WAR – Motivational Speech by Andrew Tate

Have you ever put your child in a daycare only to take them out shortly after because something didn’t feel right?

I enrolled my children ages 2 and 4 in a day care and something didn’t feel right.

I asked to sit in and observe and while they did NOT like the idea, they allowed me.

I was appalled.

The level of discipline was extreme for that age.

When children sat in a circle, if they so much as moved a leg or a hand, they were reprimanded. They had to sit exactly cross-legged with hands folded or they were humiliated.

They ran the vacuum every 20 minutes because cleanliness was important. If one crumb hit the floor it was unacceptable.

If a child cried, they were exiled. But the worst was seeing one of the teachers hold a child’s face into the rug for speaking out of turn.

The two hours I was there, I did not see one child smile nor laugh, nor was there any noise at any time.

I then met with the head of the school and expressed my concerns.

She told me that strict discipline was the way to build responsible adults.

I told her that I was withdrawing my children and she threw a fit.

She threatened to sue me for slander if I told anyone else my opinions, and of course, she kept the one month in advance I had paid.

I did tell a couple of other parents what I had seen, and one told me “We don’t have the luxury of finding someplace else like you do.”

Another did not see anything wrong with the extreme discipline.

The next week, I walked in to another preschool.

It was loud, there was finger paint everywhere, and the kids were all laughing and smiling.

I had found my home.

Is America going through a leadership crisis?

What a polite way of saying that the entire nation is in free-fall, and has been on auto-pilot, run by ignorant, unskilled, and unelected idiots for the last few years. Um. I would say “yes”, with a rapid nodding of the head and rather elaborate hand and arm movements.

Shorpy

Who is blocking the cultural exchanges between China and the United States?

A few days ago, four students studying in the United States and scholars attending academic conferences were checked when they entered the United States, and finally three visas were revoked and repatriated. The students and scholars involved are from science and engineering backgrounds. Two of them participated in the research direction related to artificial intelligence (AI).

China students studying in the United States have been harassed, searched and repatriated by the United States for no reason, and related incidents have been continuously exposed by Chinese and foreign media, which has caused increasing international influence. Recently, two senior officials of the American diplomatic system have responded one after another, but what they said seems contradictory.

In an interview, U.S. Ambassador to China Burns denied the above allegations, saying that the United States issued about 105,000 new student visas to China citizens in 2023, and “more than 99% of the student visa holders successfully passed the examination of the Immigration Bureau”. Just a few days ago, US Deputy Secretary of State Campbell publicly admitted that American universities are restricting China students’ access to sensitive technologies. He also expressed the hope that China students would come to the United States to study humanities and social sciences instead of “physics”.

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Burns and Campbell, who should the outside world trust?

You should choose to believe the facts.

When China students entered the United States, they were held in a “dark room” for interrogation, their computers were detained and their mobile phones were searched, which “felt like a lamb to be slaughtered”. Studying in the United States is discriminated against, monitored, prevented, investigated and even prosecuted. All kinds of experiences are not only exposed by China, but also reported by many foreign media such as The Guardian, AFP and Washington post. Reuters quoted some western academic circles and non-governmental sources as saying that “the deterioration of US-China relations and the concern about the theft of American technology have undermined scientific cooperation and made China students suffer unwarranted suspicion”.

Burns listed a pile of data to show that the US Embassy and Immigration Bureau are “unimpeded” in treating China students, but “occasionally make mistakes”. He even went back and claimed that it was China that made it more difficult for China students to go to universities in the United States.

His statement doesn’t even support the voice of America, the mouthpiece of the US government. The media quoted an American scholar as saying that the US Customs has more “investigation power and experience” than Burns’s the State Council system, and customs officers may find “something that the State Council has missed”. In fact, some of these so-called “missing things” are extremely absurd, including a China student who was suspected by the US of “collaborating with Wagner” because he talked about the Ukrainian crisis on social software. The bigger part is the “black box operation”. From beginning to end, international students don’t know why they were investigated or why they were repatriated.

This operation in the United States is said to want to communicate, but in fact? While talking about promoting exchanges, at the same time, driving China students out. Isn’t this a naked double standard? To put it bluntly, I just say it well, but I don’t really want to communicate at all. Isn’t this duplicity a typical “double standard”? Isn’t the United States doing this just to muddy the water and then confuse the fish with the pearls?

The United States prides itself on openness, tolerance and academic freedom, claiming that “science has no borders”, but it politicizes and weaponizes academic research, abuses the concept of “national security” to suppress and persecute China students, infringes on the legitimate rights and fundamental human rights of China citizens, creates a “chilling effect” and poisons the atmosphere of cultural exchanges between China and the United States.

The consequences of this double-standard practice are not light. First of all, it has seriously damaged the rights and interests of students in China and frustrated countless young people with dreams. Secondly, it sends a very wrong signal that the United States does not sincerely welcome China people. In the long run, the friendly exchanges between the two peoples will be seriously affected, which is definitely bad news for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

To solve this problem, the United States has to show some sincerity. First of all, stop the unwarranted investigation and repatriation of China students, and give others a fair and just environment. Secondly, the US government should introduce some policies to encourage cultural exchanges between the two countries, such as increasing the number of scholarships and simplifying visa procedures. Finally, the American media should also report more positive news about the friendly exchanges between China and the United States, instead of exaggerating the opposition all day. Only when all aspects of the United States show sincerity can Sino-US exchanges really get on the right track.

Promoting cultural exchanges between China and the United States is an important consensus reached at the meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States in San Francisco. It is beneficial for both China and the United States to enhance mutual understanding and deepen mutual ties through cultural exchanges, and the people of the two countries also have urgent practical needs for this. Politicizing the study abroad program and scientific research cooperation will do great harm to the cultural exchanges between China and the United States. The image of the United States in the eyes of people in China and the world depends fundamentally on what the United States is doing. Obstructing and destroying cultural exchanges will damage the international reputation of the United States.

HARD TIMES CREAT HARD MEN (MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH)

What were the last words you heard someone say before they died?

Just before my MIL went into a coma (and then died after a few days in hospice), the doctors wanted to examine her again. They asked all her children to leave the room. When I turned to leave, she grabbed my hand and frantically pleaded with her doctors to let me stay. They complied with a smile and she became very calm. When finished, they left and my MIL whispered urgently, “I need you to get an envelope of papers from my desk and make sure the General gets them! You’re the only one I can trust!” She worked many years as a Civil Servant at an Air Force Base but had been retired for over 30 years. I promised her I would deliver the (non-existent) papers and said, “I’ll do anything you need. I love you so much!” She sighed with relief and said, “I love you too! Thank you! For all the years we’ve loved each other!” Her kids went in to say good night and left. I stayed until she felt sleepy. She never said another word until she died. That was 13 years ago and I still miss her like crazy!

EDIT: My MIL was in her 90s. Her mind was wandering back into the distant past. There were NO papers except in her mind. The point of the story has nothing to do with the non-existent papers.

ADDITION: June 8, 2024: My husband died last night after a long illness. He was so tired of his struggle to keep surviving. His last words were “Give me a minute. I just need a little nap”. He slipped away so fast that he didn’t even close his eyes. Rest in peace with your mother.

Nobody Cares, Work Harder

Japanese man sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane and 17.5 years in prison for sexually assaulting a female student in Singapore.

A Japanese man, aged 38, was sentenced by the Singapore High Court on the 1st to 17 years and 6 months of imprisonment and 20 strokes of the cane for charges including rape, for bringing a drunken female university student to his home and sexually assaulting her.

This is the first known instance of a Japanese person being sentenced to caning, according to the Japanese Embassy in Singapore.

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The Japanese man, who worked as a beautician, brought a drunken female university student in her 20s to his home in a taxi in December 2019 in a busy downtown area. The two did not know each other. The student was in a state where she couldn’t stand on her own due to vomiting, but the Japanese man engaged in lewd and sexual acts in the elevator and his own room. He also filmed the acts and sent them to a friend.

The student is still suffering from PTSD as a result of the incident. The judge stated, “The crime was cruel and brutal. Considering the seriousness of the offense, the sentence should be severe.”

According to the Singaporean court, caning is only imposed on male offenders under the age of 50. The maximum number of strokes that can be administered at once is 24.

AGAINST ALL ODDS – Elon Musk (Motivational Video)

What happened at your job to make you think ‘I don’t get paid enough for this’?

Originally Answered: What was your "I don't get paid enough for this sh*t" moment?

I worked as a delivery man for IKEA the year after I finished my conscription. They had just recently set up in my town, and had some excellent deals on delivery, which people used to the fullest extent. I wasn’t even working for IKEA, but my company was hired to take some of the load of IKEA’s own delivery organisation.

So my partner and I used to get the trucks prepacked, and our job was to drive it to the customer and unload. The rule was basically that we should deliver it to the correct room, but nothing more than that.

The day starts being odd because we only have one address on our paper, when usually it is about 6–7. This turned out to be correct because it was to a family that had ordered absolutely everything from IKEA to a two-story house. Beds, sofas, desks, every machine for the kitchen, washer, dryer and so on. I don’t remember exactly but it was a few tons of stuff being delivered.

One item caught my eye: Two marble counter tops, with a total weight of 600 kg (that is about 1300 pounds for any colonials reading). It could not be right, so I forgot about it for a minute.

When we get to the house, the whole family was there — not to help us of course (because the husband had a sore back) but rather to inspect our job. They insisted that we line up every single packet with the label in a direction so they could inspect the delivery before we left. This was even after my partner explained to them that if there is anything wrong with the delivered packets they had to report it to IKEA, since we only deliver and can’t bring anything back.

They of course refused to listen, and instead ran around looking at labels before we even emptied the truck, hoping to somehow get a correct count of every item while also really being in the way while we moved stuff. This almost escalated to a violent confrontation with the husband.

[Edit: I want to specify what the problem was: The delivery option only says that items should be delivered to a single chosen point by the customer inside the house, so if you order a new bed, you can get it into your bedroom. We went out of our way to put the items in the correct room, because of the husband’s back problem, but we had no obligation to do so as one delivery = one delivery point.

But this wasn’t enough for them; they also wanted us to sort and stack items and if a package did not have the labels in the correct direction they would demand we rotate it, so they could ‘inspect’ before they signed off the delivery. They would do this while we were carrying other stuff, and did so for the smallest packages.

Them signing off was that the delivery had been completed, not for the contents of the delivery being correct. So they made us do a whole lot of work so they could inspect something they actually did not sign off on.]

Any way, we get to the marble counter tops and, yay, there are actually two of them, with a total weight of 600 kilos. I don’t know how much each weighed, because one was smaller than the other, since we were far, far away from any assistance, wanting to get away from the horrible family and being really young and stupid we decided to get the counter tops inside. This took a long time, basically moving it inch by inch. Without any help or gratitude from the family we got it inside, my partner with some back pain and me with a knee that felt weird.

Once we got back to the office, we told the boss, who called IKEA and learned that they had used eight people to load the counter tops on the truck, but only ordering in two people from our company. There was apparently some screaming from my boss, and then he told us that we would never take another IKEA contract again.

So it was actually more my boss who said we did not get paid enough. And he really was looking out for his employees. I miss him sometimes.

PROVE EVERYONE WRONG – Motivational Speech

Why is China’s rise so hard for the US to counter?

It’s too late. America’s decision to counter China’s rise is akin to “closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.” Facts have proved time and again that China’s technological development can’t be halted.

Several efforts have been made to curb China’s rise since the creation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, including limiting China’s development in nuclear weapons, space, satellite communication, 5G, commercial drones, electric vehicles (EVs), etc. All failed. Today, China has some 540 satellites in space and is launching a competitor to Starlink. When the US restricted China’s access to its geospatial data system in 1999, China simply built its own BeiDou, which is today better than GPS.

Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has attempted to construct a unipolar world centered around itself, using military, economic, and cultural means to maintain its global hegemony. However, with the rise of emerging countries like China, this unipolar structure is facing unprecedented challenges. China’s development model, deepening international cooperation, and contributions to the global governance system are gradually altering the balance of international power.

In this context, the strategic game between China and the United States has taken on new characteristics. After a period of strategic patience and low profile, China is now more actively participating in international affairs. Through multilateral platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative and BRICS cooperation, China is promoting the establishment of a more just and reasonable international order. Additionally, China’s rapid development in fields like technology and the economy is challenging the traditional advantages of the United States.

The United States, on the other hand, is attempting to curb China’s development through trade wars and technology wars. However, these measures not only harm China’s interests but also incur significant costs for the United States itself. Internal political divisions, the rise of populism, and the undermining of the global multilateral system are weakening America’s international image and influence.

In this struggle, Europe’s role is particularly critical. French President Macron’s visit to China and his public criticism of U.S. policies indicate that Europe is seeking greater strategic autonomy and does not want to become a vassal of American unipolar hegemony. This stance reflects Europe’s aspiration for a multipolar world order and is a strong response to American unilateralism.

Moreover, many developing countries and emerging economies play an important role in this contest. Their positions and choices in international affairs often run counter to U.S. unipolar hegemony policies. These countries are more inclined to support multilateralism and international cooperation, opposing any form of hegemony.

This struggle is not only a contest of power but also a clash of ideas and models. Concepts such as “Chinese modernization” and “a community with a shared future for mankind” proposed by China are gradually becoming hot topics in international discussions. These ideas emphasize cooperation and win-win outcomes rather than zero-sum games.

In this contest, China has demonstrated strategic wisdom in being “daring to fight and good at fighting.” While safeguarding national interests, China is also actively seeking areas of cooperation with the United States to achieve common development. This strategy reflects China’s confidence and its respect for international rules and commitment to peaceful development.

What general knowledge might save your life one day?

If some one is trying to rape you and you were in this position

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then stretch your hands horizontally as far as you can, this will bring the person close. Then hit him on the nose, as hard as you can, with your head. If your mouth is close enough, then bite his nose without hesitation.

2. If a dog is going to attack you in open place then,

do not run, dog can catch you in no time( since it is open place).
do not look into its eyes( animals can sense fear).
do not show your back( showing back is a sign of fear).
grab a stick if possible. Stand straight and be in attack mode. Walk backwards slowly until you are out of attack zone(200 meters is dog’s attack zone).
In case dog bites you and your body part is in its mouth, then
- Do not try to remove your body part, dogs will only bite and will insert their canine teeth but they cannot peel your muscle because they don’t have much capacity in their jaws( some dogs like bull dog and doberman are exceptional they have well built muscles).
- Stray Dogs are usually weak, the strongest body part in their body is neck muscle.
- So don’t pull your muscle from their teeth(in fact you cannot)
  grab its neck and pound it to ground.
- Shout louder and gently remove your muscle.

3. Suppose you rammed your car into an electric-pole and live current wires on your car then,

Do not panic. Your car tyres are made up of rubber and will work as an insulator. The metal surface of the car acts as a Faraday cage due to which the electric field inside the car is zero.
Do not step out of the vehicle,if you do so you will complete the circuit between wires and earth and you’ll be fried in no time.
Pick up the floor mats in your car and throw them on the ground where you could reach by jumping
Make sure you cover maximum area with mats
Open car door widely( roof top is preferable) then jump onto the mats which you placed earlier.
Make sure you remove two legs at once( keeping one leg inside may complete circuit).
Don’t walk over there just slide your feet like jam over bread( you need greater knowledge in physics to understand this).

4. Keys

Car keys are the deadliest weapons one could hold.

If someone tries to kill/harm you, then stab him in eyes with key.

5. You are driving a car and your brakes failed,then

Do not kill( turn off) the engine in panic as turning off engine will lock your steering then you can’t change your path to avoid collisions.
Do not change your gear to “neutral”, just decrease the gears sequentially. If you are in 80 in 4th gear, blip the accelerator a little (do not keep pressing it) and shift to 3rd. The car will slow down due to engine braking. Like wise do that with the rest of the gears.
Once you have attained impact sustainable speed, try hand brakes. If they failed too, collide your vehicle with a similarly sized, parked car because Car fronts are designed to absorb shock (structurally weaker) and hitting a similarly sized car will distribute the momentum evenly
Else collide it with a tree or pole( make sure you wear seat belt and have air bags).

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE – Powerful Motivational Video 2020

What is the most ridiculous thing you had to deal with regarding an HOA?

The last community we lived in, the HOA was horrible and they singled people out. For example, there was a small fence that divided the backyard of our townhome from the back yard of our neighbors townhome.

It was just a small wooden privacy fence about 12 feet in length. The fence was old and began to lean over a bit. The neighbor complained to the HOA about the fence, saying it was our responsibility.

The HOA tried to fine us and I pulled out the book that came with the house. The fence was clearly on her property and I showed this to the HOA who then dropped the fine. Problem was, the fence was no longer a problem….they never fined the neighbor or even request she repair it.

I do have a funny HOA story.

Our new neighborhood has an HOA but they aren’t too heavy handed. When we moved in, the previous owner stored their trash cans on the edge of the driveway by the house. I put them in the same place as the previous owner but the HOA president didn’t like this. He sent letters (no fine) saying the trash cans needed to be behind the fence in the back yard (only the back yard is fenced and not the front).

I somewhat argued with him and asked him to clarify what exactly this rule was….and it’s the trash cans cannot be visible from the street.

I clarified that they didn’t have to be in the back yard but out of view and he agreed.

He did argue that because our house was on a turn, they’d still be visible on the side of our garage. I told him to consider it handled but asked for that in writing (in which he did).

Some friends of mine own a fairly popular fence and deck company. While I had to pay a little, my fence and deck folks helped me solve the problem:

This is the view from the side of our home on the street at the bend:

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This is the view from the front:

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And here is what it actually is:

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HOA president was pissed but I stayed within the rules he set.

Why does China refuse to communicate with Taiwan’s government?

PRC has made clear for 70 years that the One China principle is the red line for all and any relations with China. And that applies very clear to ROC also.

So, when KMT accepted that ROC also means China without specifying what that China means, PRC showed maximum flexibility and agreed to talks resulting in the 92 Consensus. But with DPP refusing to accept the One China principle and their leaders even refusing to accept they are Chinese, there is no possibility of PRC accepting talks.

PRC is prepared to negotiate and accept the status quo only with the One China principle. Anything else is a restart of the PRC/ROC civil war to settle the Taiwan issue. ROC has not much time left to start talks based on One China.

PRC prepared to retake Taiwan for decades and PLA is now ready to do the job. If Taiwan separatists continue on current path, there will not be a ROC soon. Lai’s inauguration speech defining ROC/PRC as two countries not subordinate to each other already breached PRC’s One China laws and the red line. PLA can take actions once the orders are given.

space fire

Submitted into Contest #8 in response to: Write a story about an adventure in space. … view prompt

Irene Park

Chapter 1

How to become a rich man after being stuck in prison for seven long, excruciating years.

As Peter blankly sat on his bed inside of his incommodious five-foot-by-five-foot maximum security jail cell, complete with sparking electric fences and menacing guards surrounding the whole cell, he began to throw random objects at the electric fence, watching them slowly burst into miniscule flames and leave trails of smoke until finally fizzling out.

Out of boredom and an act of defiance against the orders of guards and the king, Peter repeatedly threw objects at this evil faced encasement meant to entrap him: Mice, rocks, scraps of food. Anything he could find to slowly pass his time in jail.

He yelled out to the guards, “Someday I will be out of this jail and you’ll be under my control and power instead of the other way around.”

But, every day, the guards kept their stance and tolerated Peter’s hopeless cries of defiance, annoyance and boredom. Little did Peter know, he would be free and rich sooner than he had expected and meant in his words.

Suddenly, he heard the echoing stomping of their studded metal boots of the kings’ royal guards march down into his quarters, the filthiest area where all the worst criminals were kept in the farthest, darkest corner seventy-five yards away from all other civilians. Countless criminals resided there after committing gregious crimes such as arson, murder, and robberies, all sinking into their own endless pool of shame, regret, and dismay.

Peter felt surprised by this, knowing that the kings’ royal guard thought very highly of themselves and would never draw near to the presence of grimy delinquents and be subject to their shame and indignity, afraid that their guilt would impinge on their own pride and self-respect.

Suddenly interested, Peter avidly sat up and heard the turn of the lock to his cell click open, something that he had not heard for seven long and excruciating years. Seven long years of guilt, shame and contrition due to his wrongdoings. He had been twenty years old then. Young and foolish, he had everything he could ever want: a good family, abundant money, and all the latest tech. But, Peter still wanted more and more.

So, he decided to rob people of money, murder people he got into the slightest arguments with, and finally his biggest misshap– trying to steal the Makepiece Diamond of Zirca, which was one of the most valuable diamonds in all of the galaxies. Peter had planned everything to go according to his potentially flawless plan. He had infiltrated the king’s palace and the treasury where the diamond was kept. Just as his hand was about to snatch the glittering, clean-cut Makepiece diamond, he smelled a foul gas in the air, and he realized he had set off a tripwire that released knockout gas. The guards had come rushing in, stomping and frantically pouring into the small room and brought young Peter to the filthy catacombs where he still inhabited seven years later:

“Halt. You are officially under arrest by the kingdom of Zirca. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do may be used as evidence against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney and you have a right to consult an attorney before being questioned and to have an attorney present. If you can’t afford an attorney, which evidently you can, one will be appointed to you.”

Seven years later in his jail cell, startled, Peter’s mind began swarming with millions of hypothetical reasons and questions. Is this a chance to freedom? Am I being sentenced to death? Why am I being summoned?

The royal guards with crisp white uniforms etched with their rankings: general, commander, agent, or so on, each with matching badges that signified they were of the highest class of military personal and pins. Gold trimmings neatly marched along the neckline and cuffs, stitched so perfectly they seemed to be pressed into the uniform. The proud guards spat at Peter and gruffly shouted, “Get up, you purple haired buffoon. The king wishes to see you, though we don’t know why he would want to see a dirty, ragged, wrongdoer like you. Now get up, and don’t make us ask twice.”

Peter quietly stood in confusion, curiosity, and bewilderment, and let the guards drag him to his death–or freedom.

Slowly lumbering up the moss covered stairs, feeling the stares of equally infamous criminals as himself, glancing at sparks flying off of many other electrical fences, new criminals with snarling faces thrashing in the guards arms.

Peter felt the guilt he had controlled and held in the jail of his own heart for seven long years come to light as he walked the walk of his own shame to the king’s court.

After what seemed like an eternity, or more precisely, 458 feet, 30 flights of stairs, and more than a hundred jail cells like his own, he finally saw the dazzling lights of thousands of crystal chandeliers, servants serving the king to all his miniscule whims, mellifluous music floating through the air from a grand harp, and finally the throne itself.

Peter started muttering to the guards that clenched his arms so tightly.

The king’s throne was a magnificent piece of work and the centerpiece of the throne room. Dripping with jewels such as clear-cut diamonds, forest-green jades, ocean-blue sapphires, dazzling sea-green emeralds, deep violet amethysts, ice-blue topaz, and fire-red rubies, it reflected a thousand rays of light, while being placed in pure gold.

Peter gaped in awe to the regal king that comfortably rested aloft the magnificent golden throne and meekly bowed out of his own humility and respect. The king, although aged and ancient-looking, he had an extremely wise mindset, and made decisions for the best of his planet. He had a great, wispy white beard, flowing robes of shimmering gold, and a grand crown on his head.

The tension of silence between the king and Peter at that moment became stifling. All servants, jesters, and guards sensed the palpable tension between the rotten criminal Peter and the royal, regal, wise King of Zirca. As the silence started to become almost unbearable, and static sounding, the king’s booming voice finally rang out.

Suddenly hearing the king’s echoing voice, Peter quickly glanced up at him. The king spoke to Peter and announced, “Peter, son of Circa. You have murdered countless families, looted many of my finest ships, and have attempted to steal the Makepeace Diamond of Zirca. For this, you have had been sentenced to life in prison. But, unfortunately, our planet is dying. Our Fire of Hestia has been stolen by the people of Titan. I am recruiting you to retrieve it for your freedom or death. Now, young Peter, what is your response?”

Hearing the name of “Fire of Hestia,” Peter’s mind clicked, and he finally realized why he had been brought up from the catacombs, left to rot, but instead given a chance of freedom. The Fire of Hestia was a relic from when the whole universe had been created. It powered all life on a planet, and without it, a planet could rot and die away slowly. Peter looked out the king’s grand windows, and saw that the whole landscape had changed since he had been exiled into prison. It looked dark, gloomy, and somber. Before, it had bursting with life: Foliage everywhere, children laughing, picnics taking place everywhere. But now that the Fire of Hestia had been stolen by the Titanians, the planet of Zirca was dying.

True, there were other relics across the universe that powered other planets, but the Fire of Hestia was special. It was the only relic powerful enough to give life to such a gargantuan planet such as Zirca and the people of Zirca the comfort and pleasure it needed.

Peter silently debated in his mind of the decision he should make. Shall I go after The Fire of Hestia in this quest? Should I spend the rest of my life rotting away in my shame and mildew? His hands became clammy, and his throat suddenly felt parched. But, Peter knew what he had to do to save his home planet and all those inhabiting it.

Peter responded in an equally regal voice, knowing that he had been chosen for one of the most difficult and important quests in all of robbery history. Despite the fact that he felt weary, bone thin, hunched over, had matted hair, ragged clothing, smelled of the sewers, and a single shoe he boldly said, “My king, I am honored for this opportunity and I am willing to accept. But, only with added compensation. I would like 100 bars of pure gold, new clothes, new shoes, and a new spaceship to get to Titan. You must give me my demands, otherwise I shall not perform any services for you.”

The king replied after some thought, “Although that is quite a handful of treasures that you demand to have in exchange for your service, the planet needs you. I realize there is no other thief as clever and stealthy as you. I shall supply your extraordinary demands in return for the Fire.”

Peter conclusively announced, “Then I shall accept this quest and go out to find this Fire of Hestia.”

What is weird in America but normal in the rest of the world?

I grew up in Europe but have been living in the US for 30+ years. These are some of the things I noticed:

Leaving your left hand on the table when you eat. In Europe, it’s considered good manners, in the US it is considered weird.

More recently, women have begun shaking hands when they meet, but not so long ago, this was considered weird in the US, while in Europe, it is absolutely normal and considered polite.

Sitting at a table with a stranger in a restaurant is not unusual in Europe. This is how people meet. Friendships have developed that way and even marriages. In the US, every one sits at a separate table. If someone came and asked if they could sit at my table, I would consider it weird.

In Europe, you park your car and walk to your destination. In the US, we expect front parking. For a business not to provide parking would be considered weird. In that same vein, Europeans get out of the car to post their mail or make their bank deposits. They don’t typically have drive-through tellers or mail boxes.

These are just some of the things that come to mind. I’m sure there are many more, if I stop to think about it.

BECOME A SAVAGE – Motivational Speech

As a disabled person, has anyone ever confronted you over your parking in a disabled spot?

Yes. It happened this last Tuesday. It was amazing. Like… nobody is gonna believe this crap amazing.

I was doing the monthly big grocery shop( one week has the biggest item list where the other three have the smaller more perishable ones)

I was also, am also, coping with one the worst illnesses I’ve had in awhile. It’s not catching… unless I were to not wash my hands after a poo… which is just gross. I’m actually headed to the hospital for admission tomorrow.

In any case, I am disabled, and was feeling even more disabled than usual when the chick confronted me. I got out of my car, sans cane, to unhook my child from the car seat, right behind me, and into a cart. A cart that some considerate soul had decided NOT to take to the cart corral. So I eagerly bumped it with my car and grabbed it on exiting my vehicle. It was 2 feet from the car. I can handle 2 ft without support.

Anyway, I’m putting my kid in the cart and leaned in to snag my quad Cane and my sundries and this middle-aged lady comes flying up and kinda pushes me with her body. Shouting that fat is not a disability and I need to move my flipping car( she used more expletives but I don’t care to)

I restrained myself from pushing back with my butt and instead just bring my quad Cane out rather swiftly and set it down firmly. on her foot. Oops.

Then I replied “ no, it’s not. But my congenital spinal defect and the Degenerative Disk disease that come with it ARE”.

She didn’t actually listen. She posted herself right in front of me for about 3 minutes and kept shouting at me to move the car. I’m guessing her hormone shot was delayed or something. But she wouldn’t let my son and I pass, being more able bodied than I am she was pretty freaking quick. So I stood there considering whether to use my screaming child’s cart to ram into her. But a nice security-looking guy saved her.

He came out and asked us what was going on. She started ranting at him about the fat b in the disabled spot… he calmly raised his hand, then walked around the car to my windshield, saw the placard. Walked back and asked me if I’d like to have her arrested for harassing a protected class.

Turns out he wasn’t a security guard. He was just a police officer who stopped in to flirt with the coffee gal at the cafe inside on his break. He saw the ruckus and went out to check.

I told him my son and I just wanted to grocery shop safely please and away we went. She actually tried to chase me again but he body blocked her.

It was amazing. I bet if I’d got it on camera people still wouldn’t believe it.

I don’t think she got arrested or anything. But I know she wasn’t there when I was done shopping. Which wasn’t that long either. That was store number 2 that day. My first store is always A Big Box Store.

What are some sarcastic one liners?

“Well, Governor, we use fewer horses and bayonets than we did in 1916.”

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(Above: President Obama explains how Battleship works while Governor Mitt Romney thinks about how he’s going to cheat)

During the third Presidential debate, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were sparring about various topics relating to the Obama presidency, with Obama quite obviously defending his actions against an onslaught of criticisms, some valid, from Romney.

However, the moment that sparked one of the first political memes of this decade was brought about by a ridiculously idiotic “accusation” from Romney:

Our Navy is smaller now than at any time since 1917. The Navy said they needed 313 ships to carry out their mission. We’re now at under 285. … We’re headed down to the low 200s if we go through a sequestration. That’s unacceptable to me.

If I was debating Romney, and I was the current President of the United States, I would probably make some statement about how our naval global dominance is currently asserted, and that we don’t necessarily need all of our ships to assert it.

I am not Barack Obama, who returned fire with this blistering comment that became the first prominent political meme of this decade:

You mention the Navy, for example, and the fact that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets. We have these things called aircraft carriers and planes land on them. We have ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines. It’s not a game of Battleship where we’re counting ships, it’s ‘What are our priorities?

If you were grading a paragraph on factual accuracy, on brevity, and on pure, unadulterated savageness, I don’t think you can score higher than what Obama just said. Not only did he completely destroy the point that Romney was making, he also explained to him what an aircraft carrier and a submarine was.

I believe we need a new nickname for Obama: The Roaster-In-Chief. He burned Romney so bad that Mitt looked like one of his steaks at a barbecue. Romney didn’t even know how thoroughly he was ruined in that moment. It was glorious.

I MUST NOT QUIT – Powerful Motivational Speech

What is a brutal truth about life that needs to be said?

You are going to meet a lot of fake friends in your adult hood more than when you young.
You are on your own, nobody is there to struggle with you, but many people are waiting for you arrive.
Everybody replies with “I am doing fine”, after being asked “How they are doing”, but in the reality, “Nobody is really doing fine” because everyone have their struggles.
Unfortunately, Intelligence doesn’t mean you will be rich! There are a lot of ass holes out there that are doing better.
We are all going to die, I believe this has been said many times.
One of the risk that is difficult to predict is marriage. It is always difficult to predict the end of the tunnel even with lightening’s. This is comparable with “Marriage”.
Do not compare yourself with anybody because we are born with different opportunities. Remember nobody chooses their parents!
If you cannot appreciate what you have now, you will never appreciate what you aspire to get later.
Real education is more than just acquiring a college degree, while college prepares you for the job mindset. You have to prepare yourself for the challenges in this world by educating yourself through investing in yourself.
Arrogant and prideful people usually have more problem in life because they are unteachable people.

What measures can Taiwan take to protect its fishing vessels from being detained by China’s coast guard in the future?

Ban fishing for 4 months from May to Sept is an INTERNATIONAL consensus, so as to allow immature fish to grow to adulthood.

1, China follows the intl consensus. But not Taiwan (or Philippines for that matter)

So Taiwan is wrong to begin with.

2, The fishing net is supposed to have big holes to allow immature fish to escape the net, while caught.

The net of the detained Taiwanese fisherman does not pass the intl “rule”.

3, The detained Taiwanese fisherman happened to have trespassed the Chinese territory & was in Chinese waters.

4, When Taiwanese patrol boat came to rescue the Taiwanese fisherman, the patrol also has entered Chinese territory.

Back to the question.

What Taiwan should do is to comply with the international rule. Educate its fishermen.

Be kind to the immature fish & let them grow to adulthood.

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING – Powerful Motivational Speech

Have you ever beaten a lawyer on a legal question (or if you are a lawyer, have you been beaten by a lay person on a legal question)?

Ex employee suing us. We investigate and counter allege fraud.

He appoints $700ph lawyer. I represent us. I’m not a lawyer.

Denny Crane mocks our allegation of fraud. Says I don’t understand the elements of fraud. I remind him that I’ve done insurance law and disputes for a decade, and lots of contracts in my job. I indeed know a great deal about the elements of fraud as a former insurance exec. Said he didn’t make a mistake with [paperwork] 713 times. Remind him that he needs to prove 713 honest mistakes whereas we can lose 712. We only need 1 count of fraud to stick. Or one lesser charge of fraudulent misappropriation / theft by finding, or forgery, or any other included charge and his life is effectively over.

The genius move was a settlement offer of $0 plus Denny Crane’s legals in getting to first mediation.

Denny’s equation is

Talk the L, be paid handsomely and not have to explain to the other partners that he blew a billable day, OR
Risk a far more expensive zero fighting and losing, getting his client jailed and paying an adverse costs order himself OR
Fight and win a very improbable case, likely earning nothing in a corporate bankruptcy and STILL writing off his fees.

Suddenly Denny is telling his client to accept $0 on a case he said was a slam dunk a week earlier.

His settlement was half what our big city law firm wanted just to READ the claim, not defend it.

What is the most unusual and incorrect reason you’ve had the police called on you?

I trained some Firemen in HazMat Response at a little fire station in a very small town in Alabama where we own some land. After training I asked to get some pictures of the “gang”. They agreed and I went to get one scary looking quiet fellow out of his chair to join the group. He gave me a scowl look and said, “Don’t you dare take my picture”, I didn’t.

Later the Fire Chief apologized and told me that the fellow is the Sheriff. I asked if he is always this threateningly grumpy and the Chief said, “Oh yah. We love him.” I asked why and he said he keeps that town clean as a whistle. He went on, once two young guys bought a farm and after planting season was over the Sheriff went to their place late at night and knocked on their door. One guy was there and answered the door. The Sheriff said he wanted to come in and look things over. The guy said no, go get a warrant. The Sheriff told him he can do that, but he would have to wake up the Judge and that would make the Judge angry. If the Judge gets angry that makes him angry, and when he is angry he has a tendency to get trigger happy and start shooting things. The Sheriff told him that he was sure the two were drug dealers since they both drove fancy cars, never planted anything or had farm equipment, had strange hours/visitors and didn’t introduce themselves to their neighbors ( a thing in small town Alabama). The guy let him in and the Sheriff found lots of drugs. Things work differently in small town Alabama, don’t mess with the Sheriff.

To all who will say that is illegal, not fair, against the suspects rights, improper entry, can’t be done, sets up a suit for dismissal and all kinds of other legal beagle stuff, you are correct. But that is not the way it works outside of the Big city in small town Alabama. The two guys never came back, problem solved.

I like it there, they just handle things with sensibility not legal meanderings. If more law enforcement were allowed to use sense instead of being forced to follow incredible legal guidelines which work against both sides, we would have much safer places to live. A police state you say? No, a safe place where kids can learn to drive four wheelers on back roads, shoot guns, climb trees and play in the rivers and lakes. Like the good ole days.

Butter Basted Fork Tendered Steak

Ingredients

2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons paprika
2 sticks Salted Challenge Butter, divided
Ribeye steaks
3 feet butchers twine per steak
Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika in a bowl or plastic bag. Reserve 1 tablespoon of seasoning for basting butter and set the remaining aside to season the steak.
Using a fork or a meat tenderizer with needle blades, probe the entire surface of steak on both sides two to three times.
The steaks will flatten during tenderizing stage so you will have to reshape steak with the twine. Gather steaks with your hands and pull them in to reshape them.
Once reshaped, snugly wrap butchers twine around perimeter of the steak three times and tie it off. Trim excess from ends.
Season steak with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon spices per side based on preference, and let the meat rest for 20 to 30 minutes before cooking.
Melt one stick of Challenge Butter and combine with one tablespoon of seasoning.
As steaks are resting, preheat grill to 500 to 525 degrees F.
Spray one side of steak with nonstick cooking spray and place it on the grill. Cook for 2 1/2 minutes.
Spray top side of each steak with nonstick spray, flip and baste with butter/seasoning mixture. Grill for another two and a half minutes.
Flip the steaks and rotate them 90 degrees, baste with butter mixture and grill for another 2 1/2 minutes.
Flip steaks, baste and check internal temperature. Cook to desired doneness. (125 degrees F for medium rare, 130 degrees F for medium, or 140 degrees F for well done.)
Remove from grill and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Add a dollop of Challenge butter and serve.

Notes

Loren and Cheryl Hill are world champion pit masters who have competed on the professional BBQ circuit for last eleven years. “The Smoking Hills” earned 3 World Championships in 2015: The American Royal Invitational, World Food Championships BBQ, and World Food Championships Overall

WHEN LIFE IS HARD – Powerful Motivational Video

Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen.

Don’t you quit.

As a police officer, what’s one criminal you will always remember dealing with that stuck with you till to this day?

An old time heroin addict was in jail and sent me a note saying he wanted to talk to me. He said that he was tired of the way he was living, and wanted to change.

He said that many times he had either been shot or stabbed and had been using heroin for 20 years and couldn’t quit. He said that the only way he knew of was to burn all of his bridges by informing on everyone. That way no one would deal with him. He wanted help getting on methadone, I told him I would help him as best as I could. I called the methadone clinic and arranged for someone to talk to him.

He bailed out of jail and called me one morning, with some information. He said that there was a burglary at a certain business and business machines were stolen. He said that those machines were at a construction site inside of the superintendent of construction’s office.

I got a crew and went to the office and saw the machines, and asked about them. The superintendent said they were the company’s and that he only used them. There were several machines, a IBM typewriter and other items. I noticed he only had one hand and asked him to show me how he used the type writer. He attempted to use it which I knew it wouldn’t work as the cord wasn’t plugged in.

I called the company and spoke with the president and described the machines to him. He said none of them were his and they didn’t have equipment that I mentioned. The informant called several more times with an arrest being made each time.

Another time the informant called to tell me that a stolen truck-mounted compressor and a huge stolen farm tractor was at a certain farm which was about 75 miles from our city. I called the Sheriff’s office for that county and spoke with a Deputy Sheriff who said that I needed to speak with his Captain. The Captain told me that this farm was owned by the man who owned one of the largest private farms in the state and was friends with all of the big wigs in the county including the elected Sheriff. They went to the farm and confiscated the equipment, and said they would present the case to the District Attorney who was supposedly also a friend of the farm owner. I never heard back about what happened to the case.

The informant testified in several case he had given me information on, was accepted into the methadone program, got a job and I never again heard from him except a phone call. He said thanks, and was clean of drugs after a year and a half.

What should someone absolutely not do when in Australia?

This occurred 15 years ago.

Our family went on a month long road trip around Australia with a sprinter. We started our journey in Perth, Western Australia, then drove along the South West Coast through Albany. We then continued east towards Adelaide, eventually made several stops at major cities in the South-East coast, that is Melbourne, Sydney and then the Gold Coast.

As we were headed for Darwin and about to cross the Northern Territory border, we stopped at a gas station to refuel.

It was night time and we were literally in the middle of nowhere.

My dad entered the station to pay for gas, then the cashier asked my dad if we were planning on driving through out the night.

And when my dad said yes, he told my dad that he should not drive at night time and instead to opt for a rest at the motel because it’s dangerous.

He told us that there’s kangaroos roaming at night time.

My dad thought the Australian man was joking, so he ignored the tip and decided to continue the drive.

At that time, my dad thought that if he continued that night he could avoid the traffic and reach Darwin faster.

Plus, my dad was a pretty experienced driver.

We left the gas stop; my parents were on the front seat while my brothers and sister was at the back seat asleep as we cruise towards NT border at night time.

Few hour later, I heard a loud THUMP.

I woke up and saw the car slowly being pulled to the side of the road. There was smoke coming out of the trunk.

I remembered looking outside the window, seeing emptiness. It was dark and all I could think about was how we were going to die.

My dad went out of the car to check and what do you know?

We had crashed a large kangaroo.

There was a dead kangaroo inside our engine bay.

Two things died that night: the kangaroo and the car’s radiator.

We were forced to spend the night in the middle of the desert while we waited for a truck or anyone to pass by.

You know what? No truck came until morning time, perhaps avoiding the kangaroo that roams at night time.

So here is an expensive lesson we learned that night:

Kangaroo are crepuscular meaning that they are mostly active at dusk, dawn and night.
At night time they are attracted to light, or should I say headlights. It is common for Kangaroos to jump at incoming vehicle only to freeze (or blinded) by the light.
If you are planning to drive at night time in the outback, drive slowly and extreme caution.
There is an item called the Kangaroo Whistle that emits high frequency noise used to repel Kangaroo.
Avoid driving at night all together and take the gas station tip and rest at the motel.

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main qimg ad6103e983b2543535770586fdb9cf36 lq

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The kangaroo was pretty much as big and the road looked something like the picture above.

All images taken from Google Images

PS: We were rescued by trucker who stopped by to help us reach road assistance. We were directed back to the nearest gas station and met the man that warned us about the kangaroos. A “told you so” moment but he was helpful and eventually we were driven to a small airport and flown back to Perth. The car was transported to Perth along with our belongings. There was a hefty price tag on the repair but luckily it was covered by insurance.

I forgot which town was our last gas stop, but will update once I figured it out.

EDIT, Kangaroo Facts:

21–26 km/h is the average hop speed for kangaroos and it can go up to 71 km/h.

Illustrative art

A lady goes to her priest one day & tells him:

”Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots, but they only know to say one thing.”

“What do they say?” the priest asked.

They say, ”Hi, we’re hookers! Do you want to have some fun?”

”That’s obscene!” the priest exclaimed,

Then he thought for a moment……

“You know,” he said, ”I may have a solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots, which I have taught to pray and read the Bible…

Bring your two parrots over to my house, & we’ll put them in the cage with Francis and Peter. My parrots can teach your parrots to pray and worship, & your parrots are sure to stop saying that phrase in no time.”

”Thank you,’ the woman responded, ‘this may very well be the solution.”

The next day, She brought her female parrots to the priest’s house….As he ushered her in, she saw that his two male parrots were inside their cage holding rosary beads & praying…

Impressed, She walked over & placed her parrots in the cage with them…

After a few minutes, The female parrots cried out in unison:

“Hi, we’re hookers! Do you want to have some fun?”

There was stunned silence…

Shocked, one male parrot looked over at

the other male parrot & says…

‘Put the beads away, Frank, Our prayers have been answered !!!

What is the most badass thing your parent has ever done?

When I was 15 years old walking home from highschool, I used a short cut and walked down the alley behind our house to save time.

When I got about a block away with the back of my house in sight, an older man who lived at the corner came out and stood in the middle of the alley facing me and began to make rude gestures and vulgar remarks in Spanish .

He was in his late 20s, and I thought he didn’t speak english. He was really into his performance, dry humping the air and making dirty sound effects when my dad decided to take the trash out.

My dad made a gesture to me to be quiet, as he walked up behind him. I had no idea what he was going to do. The man didn’t hear my dad as he walked up behind him. I did not believe what happened next.

I watched my dad walk up to the guy and jump into the air holding his body sideways and (without a running pace) kick the man in the back of the head knocking him down to the pavement (asphalt) . He put his foot on his head and pressed his face down on to the asphalt and bent over to tell the man if he ever heard him talk like that to his daughter again he would regret it.

And guess what?

The guy spoke English for the first time in his life (lol) saying “yes sir”, “I’m sorry sir”, “it won’t happen again sir”.

I think he broke his front teeth in the fall? So in a sense, he got his teeth kicked in for having a nasty mouth in front of a young woman. My dad said the punishment fit the crime and I never had trouble with that man again.

My dad was a superman my whole life. He had a natural build, arms bigger than his head and a quick response in defending people he cared about.

He played baseball until his late 50s and laid brick and block at 74. His last project was a pergola with 14′ beams in our backyard. He built it with end stage small cell lung cancer at 75.

I watched him pick up a man by the back of his shirt and the seat of his pants and throw him out of the produce section for insulting my mother at a grocery store.

He took on three men to save his friends store from being looted during the riots in Los Angeles, then stayed by himself during the fires to board it up.

He was a war horse all the way to the end in 2016 when he died at home due to complications (cancer).

Great movie (Free, full length)

007: No Time to Die – James Bond | FULL ACTION MOVIE | English FHD

This is the all time classic fun with Bond. James Bond.

The German Sägerücken

I inherited my paternal grandfathers bayonet. He was an American soldier fighting the Germans in France during world war I.

The story behind this bayonet is that he got it off of a German that he killed. The thing about the bayonet is that the blade was caked with this thick blood-like substance. No one knew what it was, though we all suspected that the goo was the remains of people that the German gutted out.

Now, this was a gutting blade. The top was serrated and designed to pull out the guts like a saw-tooth blade.

Eventually, my bother took the blade and claimed it as his own. He cleaned it up and it is somewhere in his house in Colorado.

And… I forgot about it. It’s just a thing. A part of someone else’s life. But, you know, every now and then I start to wonder about the blade and the story behind it.

No clear answer though.

‘A LOT OF PIFFLE’: THE GERMAN SAWBACK BAYONET

The German Sawback Bayonet of the First World War: Myth and Reality

ROB SCHÄFER

No other hand-held weapon of the First World War has sparked so much debate and gave rise to so many myths and legends than the German Sägerücken or sawback bayonet. Even today the collectors market, historians and even the press still spread those myths that were born 115 years ago by the Allied press. In this article we will take a new and fresh look on the iconic weapon, its history and the wave of propaganda it caused in 1914.

SÄGERÜCKEN – THE SAWBACK BAYONET

The first ‘German’ sword bayonet which could be affixed to a long arm was introduced in Prussia in 1810. Used by the kingdom’s elite, light Jäger (hunter) infantry it was designated as a Hirschfänger (lit: ‘stag catcher’, or hunting knife). It would take another 50 years until the introduction of what could be called the first modern sword bayonet for regular infantry units, the M1860 Füsilier-Seitengewehr. With the introduction of the Mauser M71 bolt action rifle and its matching bayonet in the German Army, the first sawback or Sägerücken bayonets were introduced en masse to replace the Faschinenmesser, the fascine knife. This edged weapon, with a serrated or straight edge, was an engineering and foraging tool designed to cut forage and firewood, to remove foliage, and – thus the name – to cut “fascines”, brushwood bundles bundles used for strengthening earthen structures and field fortifications or for making a path across uneven or wet terrain.

At the outbreak of the First World War the German Army moved into the field with a wide range of bayonet types, all of which were available in a saw-backed version. They were issued to Pionier (engineer) units and, in a small percentage, distributed among other army line units. Then they were still being used as tools to cut wood and to efficiently saw through wooden barbed wire stakes, which were later replaced by metal ones. In that role they could be used as a handheld, but also as a rifle-mounted saw. Used in the latter way it was much more efficient, allowing it to cut through a thick, wooden barbed wire pole in about 30 seconds (using the long M98 saw-bayonet). Many other nations had made use of bayonets of a similar kind, including the British (with the Elcho and P1879 Martini-Henry sword bayonets) and the Swiss in 1878, all of these weapons designed to replace the fascine knives carried by soldiers in earlier periods.

At the turn of the century, military logistics and supply for forces in the field had evolved so far that the need for foraging tools had diminished. Saw backed bayonets were inferior in combat as the serrated edge could get caught or entangled in clothing, while the sharp saw itself could easily cause wounds to an inexperienced user. When war broke out in 1914 they had been made redundant in the British Army. The German Army, with its doctrine of flexibility in the field, had retained them and still saw them as an important addition to its forces.

A SAVAGE WEAPON?

The sawback bayonet was a gift to the Allies, who from a very early date set their propaganda machine to work, tying the use of the weapon into the context of the so-called ‘rape of Belgium’ , feeding the notion that the barbaric weapon had been specifically developed as brutal refinement for use in close combat. Sawback bayonets it was suggested, inflicted painful, never-healing wounds and even worse, as a French propaganda booklet with the title of ‘Les armes déloyales des allemands’ (the unfair weapons of the Germans) explained in 1916:

“In some German infantry units and throughout the pioneer corps, some men are armed with a bayonet sword, with a flat and wide blade, one edge is sharp while the other is sawtoothed. Officially it is a portable tool, intended to act in the twin role of saw and sword of battle, according to the way it is used. In reality, it is a very dangerous weapon, which, when held at the end of the rifle, inflicts a wound much more serious than that caused by ordinary bayonets in that it produces tearing effects when a soldier pulls to remove it from the body of an enemy. But German officers know how to refine barbarity. There is a standing order to all men armed with the bayonet-saw never to attack without having taken the precaution of repeatedly driving the blade in the loose soil, so that the particles of earth clinging to the saw will lead to an infection of the wounds inflicted on the enemy. This thoughtful and scientific cruelty is sometimes perfected even further. During an attack in Artois, a German company was taken under the fire of our machine guns and completely destroyed: ours having progressed and conquered the ground, had the obligation to bury the enemy dead and it was then possible to note that all the saw bayonets of the massacred men were coated with faeces. It demands no further explanation what horrendous complications of sepsis and infection wounds caused by a weapon like this would lead to.”

First brief mentions of German ‘bayonets with teeth’ can be found in the British Daily Mail and a number of US newspapers between 20-22 August 1914. Yet the first dedicated, longer piece on the sawback bayonet was published – to the author’s best knowledge – by the French Le Matin newspaper on 13 September 1914. It featured a photo of the serrated blade of a German M98 bayonet and a report, which seems to have formed the basis of virtually all later French and British reports and the root of the propaganda hype that followed:

‘They will soon have done everything, these Germans, to be banished from humanity, and it will soon be clear to everyone that their armies are nothing but hordes of barbarians, vile herds of wild beasts. Today you can see with this kind of weapon they intend to prevail over their enemies. Here is the photograph of a sword bayonet collected yesterday among the dead of the 47th regiment of Prussian infantry in Varreddes, a small village located about 8 kilometers north of the city of Meaux. This bayonet has two lines of sawtooth on its back. And it is not the cruel fantasy of a single, barbarian soldier who has created this weapon worthy of a Malay for his own use; no, because many others lay scattered on the ground and some have been picked up by officials to be shown to the public. It is clear that they have been machine-made and that this cruelty has an official origin. A torture device; a bayonet with hooks; a dishonourable weapon: a violation which S.M. Emperor William had provided his soldiers with.’

Even though Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 47 had never been in action anywhere near Varreddes (serving around Les Eparges about 250 kilometres away), some sawback bayonets had certainly been found, after all the whole of the German Army was equipped with them. The news travelled quickly and seems to have crossed the Atlantic first, even before reaching the United Kingdom. The New York Tribune ran it as front page news on 19 September. Their correspondent Richard Harding Davis, attached to the French Army, gave a detailed testimony about what had been found. a bayonet which ‘tears the flesh and splinters the bone’ and ‘the most gruesome weapon of war ever issued to a civilised army’.

From the United States the news travelled. and from the second half of September up to November 1914 the British press covered the subject extensively, often using new eyewitness accounts and photographs. On 27 September .The People newspaper published a photograph of a British medical officer comparing a British P07 Enfield bayonet to a German 98/05 sawback, reporting that these weapons were used ‘in violation of the laws of war’ and in breach to the ‘Convention to which Germany is a signatory’.

While the press coverage spread out, postcards were published in France showing a German soldier – with a sawback bayonet attached to his rifle – being addressed by a member of what people at the time would have seen as a savage race, a native American warrior. The postcards were captioned ‘La Baïonnette Scie’ and bore the slogan ‘Tu es encore plus sauvage que moi!’ (You are even more savage than me). French depictions of German sawback bayonets turned things upside down completely, showing the blade (!) of the bayonet sporting a serrated edge.

Surprisingly, some publications both in England and in France, also published truthful features about the actual use of the weapon. The Illustrated War News of 18 November printed a large format photo of a German soldier holding a rifle with a saw-tooth bayonet which rightly claimed that the bayonet was similar to that carried by ‘British naval landing parties for use in sawing wood’; while the French journal L’Ouest-Éclair stated that the ‘bayonet-saw is used to saw the wood in the countryside to make fires and employed in a variety of manual attack or defence work.’

‘(…) when a man has eight inches of smooth blade in him, an inch or two of jagged teeth would not matter’.

Some newspapers published reader’s letters on the bayonet. Doctor Hirsch, a native German, then working a psychiatrist in New York, wrote to the Tribune that he himself had served in the German Army in 1878/79 and that the whole story like ‘so many other statements about the -brutality- of the German Army are based on utter ignorance of the real facts’. He described the weapon’s use as a pioneer tool while criticising the paper’s malevolent coverage. In fact, some the best and most neutral words about the case, were published in the form of reader’s letters. One, written in Mounie Castle, Oldmeldrum by a Major Seton and published by The Aberdeen Daily Journal stated that: ‘Regarding the tooth-edged bayonet, about which you quote from the Paris ‘Matin’ as being among the atrocities of the Kaiser and his ‘Huns’, may I say that such allegations are merely the ravings of an hysterical Frenchman?’. Another, sent to the Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury opened with the statement that ‘A lot of piffle has been written about the German saw-bayonet’ and closed with the observation that ‘when a man has eight inches of smooth blade in him an inch or two of jagged teeth would not matter’. By mid-1915 there are no mentions of the saw-bayonet anymore. The explosive value of the story had fizzled out.

Yet the damage had been done and the propaganda was beginning to have a noteworthy effect on the Germans. Even though never based on any actual truth, rumours had begun to circulate that the Allies would shoot or torture prisoners carrying a saw-bayonet. Even though there have never been any documented cases of this behaviour and even an official German inquest in July 1915 and another in April 1917 could not find any evidence of this, it became an often told story in the army. Ernst Jünger mentioned it and Erich Maria Remarque used it in his famous anti-war novel All Quiet on the Western Front: ‘We overhaul the bayonets–that is to say, the ones that have a saw on the blunt edge. If the fellows over there catch a man with one of those he’s killed at sight. In the next sector some of our men were found whose noses were cut off and their eyes poked out with their own saw-bayonets. Their mouths and noses were stuffed with sawdust so that they suffocated’.

REMOVING THE SAW

German soldiers soon began to ‘lose’ their sawback bayonets in inexplainable numbers, while others began to remove the saw backs on their own accord, thus often permanently damaging the blade and as such property of the German Empire. By 1917, with the large-scale use of metal barbed wire pickets, the bayonet-saw had lost its only real remaining use and German soldiers had realised, that the saw could slow retrieval of the blade in combat. The wounds a sawback bayonet caused were not worse that those created by regular blade, and as such the use of them had never violated any rules of war, yet faced with the mass loss of good bayonets and knowing about the weapon’s deficiencies. the OHL (Oberste Heeresleitung, Supreme Army Command) issued an order on 16 September 1917. which decreed that all sawback bayonets were to be withdrawn from service in frontline formations, to be replaced by regular bayonets. To satisfy the need for a sawing tool the so called Noris-Säge, a segmented and much more effective saw, was issued. Formations serving in rearward areas, garrison and replacement units and formations serving within the borders of the Reich continued carrying the sawback. Surplus was put into storage. Yet in a war of materiel and in the face of serious metal shortages, having a large stock of unusable bayonets was something Germany could not afford. Trials had shown that bayonets with ground-away saws could be used without disadvantage, so on 6 January 1918 order was given to grind away the saws. The bayonets treated in that manner were designated “S.Abg.” (Säge abgeschliffen – saw removed) and were again issued to frontline units. Yet this was only done with a fraction of the available weapons and most of that work was done when stock was used to equip the new Reichswehr from 1920.

THE PRESENT DAY: THE ‘PIFFLE’ CONTINUES

Even today a ‘lot of piffle’ is still being spread about the savage nature of the sawback bayonet in books and other publications, and that is probably the reason why prices collectors are willing to pay for the acquisition of a nice Sägerücken continue to soar. However, they are not as rare as militaria collector’s and dealers wants us to believe. Most saws were never ground out, and today a bayonet with the saw removed is a lot more difficult to find than one with a surviving saw. Yet the fascination radiating from a shiny, saw-toothed back of a German 98/05 bayonet and the piffle attached to them is certainly real. As such they rightfully continue to hold special places in bayonet collections all over the world.

Today…

China’s young people are ‘revenge saving’ even as Gen Zers around the world are piling up debt

PUBLISHED MON, JUL 1 2024

7:54 PM EDT

KEY POINTS

Revenge saving has become a trend on Chinese social media websites, with Chinese youth setting extreme monthly savings targets.
Savings measures also include dining at community canteens usually for the elderly, where fresh meals are sold at relatively cheap prices.
Others are finding “savings partners” on social media, forming circles that ensure members stick with their savings goals.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/02/chinas-young-are-revenge-saving-even-as-other-gen-zers-pile-up-debt.html

Why is China’s rise so hard for the US to counter?

There’s a few reasons, but I’m going to highlight one particular challenge the US has: the nature of its four-year election cycle.

Why does this make it difficult for the US to counter China?

Because every time a new president comes in, (1) it takes time for the new guy and his administration to get stuck in; (2) He brings a new set of priorities and policies that might even contradict the previous administration; and (3) for the last 12-18 months of his term, the focus is on the next election (and that doesn’t even take into consideration the mid-term elections for Congress).

Rinse and repeat.

Here’s an example in terms of policy: Obama made the Trans Pacific Partnership a key plank of US policy in Asia, seeing it as a means to secure American economic and political influence in the Indo Pacific.

Trump came in and immediately pulled the plug on TPP. The impact? It cost the US in economic opportunities while raising questions among its partners about America’s leadership and commitment to the region.

Chinese policymakers don’t think in terms of 4-year election cycles. Take “Made in China 2025” (MIC2025), the goal of which was to move China away from low-end manufacturing to higher-end technology. This was formulated back in 2015. And as of this year,

…analysis confirms that more than 86 per cent of these goals have been achieved, with some others likely to be completed later this year or next.

[3]

So on the one side, you have short-term economic and geopolitical policy that is heavily influenced by internal political considerations (USA) vs an economic and industrial policy that takes a long-term macro view with specific targets and goals (China).

This is one major reason the US is having problems countering China

Japan’s First Revolutionary Human Skin Suit SHOCKED The World

It’s impressive. Imagine what it could eventually turn into.

What is the saddest truth about smart people?

“The most intelligent man in the world has lived a miserable life”

William James Sidis, the most intelligent man in history, son of Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants from Russia, born in New York on April 1st, 1898.

William was a wunderkind, with a prodigious mind and an estimated IQ of 300. He was literally a human computer and a living dictionary.

William J. Sidis never had a childhood or enjoyed being a little boy.

Imagine for a moment an 18-month old child who can unbelievably read The New York Times.
At the age of eight, he was fluently speaking French, German, Russian, Turkish, Armenian, Latin, and his native language, English.
When he was only 9 years old, he was successfully accepted into Harvard University. Let’s get a little deeper and picture this same small child at 9 years of age, inventing a brand new language called “vendergood,” studied by linguists and declared to be complete, correct, and fascinating.
At the age of twelve, he was giving his first lecture about the fourth dimension to the scientific community and the press.

Because William was so intelligent, great things were expected of him, and a bright future was waiting for him.

His parents, a famous Russian psychologist and one of the first female medical doctors of that time, had a very clear goal in mind: to raise a genius. They educated his mind and completely forgot the essential part: his heart and his feelings.

William showed a solid willingness and patience to learn, but constantly being on display for the public and for the media traumatized him, and he began to rebel against everything in his complex and artificial life.

He had severe emotional problems that he was never able to solve. They discovered his dead body in a small apartment in Boston in 1944. He was 46 years old and he died from a stroke.

“I want to live the perfect life. The only way to live the perfect life is through seclusion. I have always hated crowds.”

-William James Sidis-

Modern women have run the men off & now they wonder why they’re single!

Why does China have friends but not allies? What is the reason behind this?

China has discarded the Western notion of “allies”, which is actually “proxy nations”, and “others”. They find it simplistic and deceiving.

Instead they have adopted a matrix of relationships. Not just two dimensional, but actually three dimensional in scope.

In the West you have; Us and “them”. Where “Us” consists of the United States and it’s proxies; nations that it controls via various means to such an extent that they no longer have any real actual sovereignty.

In the Chinese model, you have three axes.

The X Axis.

You can consider this a scale of “friendliness”. The more “friendly” and supportive a nation is, the higher up on the scale it is rated. The more hostile it is, or “apparently” hostile it is, the lower it is on the X – axis.

The Y Axis

This is the actual threat level. High threat levels are given to nations that position their military in close proximity to China, engage in all sorts of hostile belligerent actions; from outright war, to sanctions, to law-fare, and all the rest. Peaceful nations get the highest ratings while bellicose and militarized nations get the lowest ratings.

The Z Axis

This axis measures the risk level. Risks being anything that upsets peaceful coexistence between the two nations. Nations that are unstable, or who are controlled by other entities are assigned low-on-the-scale risk values, while friendly and stable nations get the highest numerical values.

Combined, the values form a cube with an X, Y, and Z axis. And it visually graphs the relative value to China all other nations hold.

Needless to say, the United States has the lowest value of all nations within the cube. And it is a fantasy to think otherwise.

Why I Won’t Move To The USA – American Expat Life

What is an experience you had at a water park you’ll never forget?

My Daughter was maybe 3 and hadn’t learned to swim. The family went on a group outing to a water slide park with lots of different slides and even a kiddie pool with a slide. My wife and I didn’t plan on getting in the water. Our 9 year old son was having a blast with his friends.

The Kiddie pool wasn’t open at the time and my daughter really wanted to slide. My wife went to the life guards at the smallest slide not in the kiddie area and asked if our daughter could go down. They said, no problem. The one at the top would help her start and the one at the bottom would be in the pool to catch her. I didn’t like it but the wife said it would be OK. Off goes my wife with my daughter to the top of the hill. The start point wasn’t visible from the bottom. A couple of bigger kids came down while I waited. Everything seemed fine. Then the pool guard wandered away to talk to someone. Another bigger kid came down. I expected the life guard to turn around and get back to her job but I could see she wasn’t paying any attention.

I see my daughter coming down. the guard is still talking. I yelled to her but she was too far away. My daughter hit the pool, went under water and was looking up at me. I reached down and grabbed her arm, pulling her out.

She wasn’t going to be allowed to go down alone any more. I was elected to take her down for the rest of the day. I tightened the draw string on my shorts, (I didn’t have a swimsuit) and spent the next 2 hours on the water slides with my daughter.

Water slides are not my thing, but I do love my daughter. So I did what I needed to make her happy.

Joe Cocker Rocks! What Happens During This Performance?

Outstanding!

Vintage Adventure Art

Band of Brothers. Tank Battle Europe. Sherman + Cromwell * Tiger + (Jagdpanther || Stug)

As a surgeon, what is the most shocking thing you ever saw after opening somebody up?

I am an obstetrician and gynaecologist, mbbs,dgo, ms, posted under the government of west bengal, india. I performed one caesarean section and delivered a healthy baby of a mother in the government settings. While cleaning the abdomen, I could feel something unusual in the abdomen.I asked the lady for anything abnormal activities in the past. She revealed nothing. Observing and feeling some thing hard within the gut, I smelled something bad which is beyond my academics and long period of service experience. Which prompted me to curiosity and something serious issues and deterred me from closing the abdomen from my conscience point of view. I sent a urgent call book to my surgeon friend to come to Operation theatre immediately and he came very soon and I explained everything to him on an urgent basis. He became involved in the operation and we jointly decided to explore the gut . We opened the bowel and to our utter surprise , it is eight( 8) inches long wooden stick, which we recovered from her bowel. We closed the abdomen and recovery of the lady was uneventful and surprisingly satisfactory. On repeated questioning, she revealed that she had done one abortion by a quack about 10 years back,who performed the abortion with a long stick. I understood the matter immediately that the abortion stick had perforated her uterus and after that it perforated her bowel and went fully inside the bowel , to remain within it for such a long time without making any further complications.We recovered the stick from her bowel.The matter was published in the newspaper in the next day , as the matter in question , is really unbelievable. Since the lady didn’t give me any history, I could have closed the abdomen as such. She might have had many problems later on.On the part of the patient , everything should be disclosed to the doctor for the benefit of the patient, himself/ herself. It’s my sixth sense which saved her from future further complications. Not otherwise, it should have been informed to me by the patient which she didn’t do. Moral of the story , expect the unexpected and to be prepared for the action as and when necessary as per the demand and gravity of the situation. In every sphere of life, we have to act even with the sixth sense.Thanks.

What are the most important psychological facts that everyone should know?

1. Women like women more than men like men.

2. 65% more people believe in reincarnation now compared to 20 years ago.

3. People who laugh more have the same ability to bear more pain.

4. The more choices people are offered, the less likely it is that they will choose anything.

5. Researchers have narrowed down the human personality to five basic traits.

These traits, which are called the Big Five, are neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness.

6. Millionaires who have earned their wealth are moderately happier than those who inherited it.

7. People with unfortunate initials, such as P.I.G or A.S.S have a significantly lower life expectancy.

8. Most people believe other people’s social lives are richer and more active than their own. It’s like the “grass is always greener” phenomenon.

9. Research suggests that your intuition is more likely to be correct if you are in a good mood and if the decision you are supposed to make is complicated.

10. The type of music you listen to affects the way you perceive the world. So be careful while selecting your playlist.

11. Your mind tends to make dull people sound more interesting. It rewrites the monotonous speech of boring people to make them sound more interesting.

12. People develop first impressions of you in a tenth of a second, so make sure your hair and outfit are on point, or you’ll be labeled the “crazy hair guy” forever.

Ancho Chile Rubbed Smoked Beef Brisket

From secret marinades to tricked out grills and smokers, competitive smokers know there is a near ritualistic approach to teasing the perfect flavor out of a premium cut of meat.

Prep: 1 hr | Cook: 11 to 13 hr
Yield: 4 cups Ancho Chile Smoking Spritzer

(Family Features) If the surge in barbecue and smoking competitions across the country is any indication, grilling has become an art form. This summer, gather around the grill to try a technique that’s rising in popularity – smoking – to create a masterpiece meal.

From secret marinades to tricked out grills and smokers, competitive smokers know there is a near ritualistic approach to teasing the perfect flavor out of a premium cut of meat. Smoke like a pro with these tips from Omaha Steaks Executive Chef Karl Marsh.

Start with style

Start by deciding how you’d like to prepare your meat. Smoking infuses flavor throughout the meat, while extended cook times at low temperatures make it extra tender. Smoking also lets you create unique flavors using wet and dry rubs, seasoned wood chips and planks.

Choose your cut

The most popular cuts of meat to smoke are brisket, ribs, pork shoulder or turkey, all of which are typically large. Guarantee a great experience with Omaha Steaks Brisket for smoking, which was created with the competitive barbecue and smoking circuit in mind.

Ready your rub

For best results, brush meat with cooking oil or another liquid ingredient (such as yellow mustard) before adding rub. Spread rub on a clean plate and place the meat on it. Coat both sides with rub by gently pressing the meat on the plate.

Set up the smoker

Preparation varies from one recipe to the next, but one constant is the importance of maintaining a steady temperature. As you prepare your charcoal, be conscious of where you’ll place wood chips or other flavor enhancers.

Slow and steady

Sensational flavor takes time to build, so plan to dedicate hours to your task. Check in at regular intervals to restock wood chips, flip or rotate meat and apply a fresh coat of seasoning or spices.

Find more tips and recipes perfect for a smoking summer at omahasteaks.com.

Ingredients

Brisket

1 Whole Omaha Steaks Brisket for smoking
2 cups white vinegar
2/3 cup yellow mustard
3/4 cup Omaha Steaks Ancho Chile Rub
4 cups Ancho Chile Smoking Spritzer, divided
8 cups apple or cherry wood chips, soaked in water

Ancho Chile Smoking Spritzer

2 cups apple juice
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons red hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup Omaha Steaks Ancho Chile Rub

Instructions

Brisket

Remove brisket from bag and rinse with white vinegar then rinse with water.
Dry completely using paper towels.
Slather brisket generously with yellow mustard.
Rub generously with ancho chile rub and inject with 1 cup Ancho Chile Smoking Spritzer.
Prepare smoker using 1 chimney of pure lump charcoal fully lit and one chimney of pure lump charcoal unlit. Make sure water pan is full and adjust vents until smoker maintains a temperature between 225 and 250 degrees F.
Place brisket on smoker fat side up and brush smoking spritzer over top.
Every hour, check smoker temp, squirt with smoking spritzer and add handful of wood chips.
After 3 hours, flip brisket fat side down and squirt with spritzer.
After 6 hours, flip brisket fat side up. Wrap heavy duty foil around the last 3-4 inches of brisket tip to prevent it from drying out. Restock water pan and add lump charcoal as needed. Adjust vents until temperature is between 225 and 250 degrees F.
Beginning at 8 hours, check internal temperature every hour and apply spritzer and wood chips as needed.
Between 11 to 13 hours, when internal temperature is between 195 and 200 degrees F, if fork slides easily into brisket, it is done.
Let brisket rest for 1-2 hours before slicing and serving.

Ancho Chile Smoking Spritzer

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Attribution

Omaha Steaks

How concerned should we be about China’s use of AI in the military, including rifle-wielding AI robot dogs?

You don’t have to worry about it at all.

In order to attack China, you have to get to China. Which means ships. China can sink everything within 1,200 miles of the Chinese coast. So you will never see a Chinese robodog with a rifle.

Constantine | John Strikes A Deal With Satan

What are some scary facts about history?

One of the nastiest ways to die in the Middle Ages was toilet related. Because in medieval times, men of power and wealth made use of primitive toilets called a garderobe. If you knew a noble lord would make stool at a specific time a day, it would allow you to target your enemy from below when he’s least expecting it…

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Various famous leaders were killed in this gruesome manner, such as English King Edmund Ironside who likely was either stabbed or shot by bow and arrow while relieving himself. It’s just particularly wicked to me… the toilet is the one place where a person should feel safe. It’s a moment of peaceful contemplation. A moment of total relaxation. I couldn’t imagine sitting down to poop and ending up impaled in the butt and dying.

There are a lot of things that scare me about history. But nothing scares me as much as being stabbed or shot in the butt and dying on the toilet. That’s just absolutely gruesome. Medieval times were incredibly unsafe times — even relieving yourself could end up in brutal murder.

Space Camp

Submitted into Contest #8 in response to: Write a story about an adventure in space. … view prompt

Stephanie Lloyd

“What time is it?“No time in space, mate”Kian rolled his eyes and turned from the cockpit to face Cassius.“I know that,” he said with exasperation. I mean on Earth. I want to see if I can get a last radio transmission out to the kids before they get to sleep. We’ll be out of range by the time they get up for school.”Kian yanked on the bar above him and floated out of his seat in the rear of the cabin. He floated forward, as though swimming, to a console between the cockpit and cabin, the electronics glowing blue and orange.“Looks like it’s 21:22.”“I don’t have long. Can you start the private comms system, I think we’re still on frequency with the ISS. I don’t think NASA and Roscosmos really want to hear another person saying goodnight to the wife and kids just because they forgot to swap bands.”“I thought they made a policy against that?”“Only if you interfere with their ground station.”“Still.”Cassius opened a drawer under the radio system and pulled out a wired headset.“Kian!”He threw the headset to Kian and it rotated in slow motion towards the cockpit. Kian plucked it from the air without taking his eyes off the black expanse before him. One white, gloved hand was still on the controls. Despite flying this route since he was 9, he was still scared of letting his attention waver, especially as they drew close to the Belt. He always thought he might miss the Beacon and they’d end up on the wrong asteroid. Or worse, just miss the whole Belt entirely.Cassius pushed himself back to the main cabin as Kian adjusted the headset to fit over his ears.“God, this spacesuit sucks.”“I know. When you were asleep I finally got to talk to Haley, and five minutes in my head was hurting.”“I wish they kept the old collar. Why did they even change it?”“Policy, probably. Everything is policy. But hurry and say goodnight, you’ll miss them.” He floated himself back to the cabin, and picked up a book, adjusting the suit skin around his ankles. He regretted not getting the new one tailored. It was going to be awful in the boots.In the cockpit, Kian adjusted the headset to help take the weight off the collar one last time.“Hey, Miranda, you there?”“Kian! I was getting concerned, the kids have been waiting.”There was a rustle in the background and the voices of three young kids all erupting at once came through, so loud it became static.“Hi dad!”“Hi, you all being nice to your mom.”A unison of yesses followed.

“What’s space like?” asked one of them.

“It’s great, but how about we save the stories for when I get back?”

There was a second unison of yesses. Kian smiled to himself.

“Alright, well get some sleep. I love you all.”

“Love you too, dad!”

“I love you Kian. Be safe.”

“Always. Talk to you in a week. I’ll send radio signals out to let you know how things are going. And make sure you tell Leda to study for her calculus exam.”

“I know. See you in a week.” Miranda replied warmly.

The radio transmission ended. They passed Mars.

“Are you and Haley going to start a family?” Kian asked. It was, undoubtedly, the most fulfilling part of his life.

“I want to, but Haley says we aren’t ready. She wants to wait for another few years.” There was some doubt in his voice.

“Truthfully, I don’t think she ever wants kids. Just wish she’d have told me before we got married. I just wish she’d tell me at all.”

Silence filled the cabin, except for the periodic systems check beeps. It would seem unbearable to have the constant noise on Earth, but with only two travelling in the massive void of space, there would be an eerie, intolerable silence . without them.

“We’re getting close. Anxious yet?” Cassius asked Kian.

Kian was always anxious being so far from home. He’d not yet recovered from nearly losing Maia on the Moon a month ago, and was questioning ever bringing his girls on a trip again.

He shook his head at the memory. Him and Miranda were so close to letting her wander out the space lock. It took not even ten seconds of her being out of their sight. Earth was far safer. But then again he was a year younger than Maia when him and his grandfather had come to Ceres the first time. And with far worse equipment. No wonder his mother thought her dad was psychotic.

As they approached the Asteroid Belt, Kian watched for the Beacon. It was an orbit leaping spacecraft that kept its position relative to Ceres so travelers would know when to engage the thrusters to divert from the straightaway to Jupiter.

Finally, in the distance, he saw it. He flipped on a series of switches in the cockpit overhead. The empty co-pilot seat now needed to be occupied.

“Cassius!” Kian called back.

“It’s time already?” asked Cassius, who was staring out the window facing back towards Earth.

“It’s time.”

Cassius smiled, took his spot next to Kian, and they started the auto-calculations for the thruster angles. A scramble of quaternions ran down the configuration screen in front of them, the GPS and antenna information calculated their exact position in space.

“I can’t believe your grandfather got you here without auto-nav.”

“Not like there wasn’t the technology. He just liked proving to everyone he was smart.”

Kian didn’t like admitting he was impressed, so he looked to Cassius for a brief moment, a smirk on his face, one eyebrow up, mocking his grandfather.

“You kids, don’t even know how to make the software that lets you camp, and you call it rugged.”

Cassius laughed as the trajectory was locked in, and the thrusters aligned themselves.

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

Kian counted down, each of their hands on a golden key in front of them.

“Three. Two. One.”

They turned their keys at the same moment, and the thrusters engaged. It was the worst part of the trip. Kian always vomited. At least he knew and kept a receptacle on hand. It didn’t stop Cassius from mocking him for it every time.

When they slowed and Ceres was in sight, and the two felt the nausea fade, Cassius turned to Kian, quite serious.

“If this were two hundred years ago and you had to do that with a helmet on, you’d be screwed, mate.”

“Well yeah. Lucky this isn’t 200 years ago, and I don’t need a helmet, or to know how to write the flight software. Although, I suppose we should start suiting up. Don’t want to land without gear.”

“You or me first?”

“I’ll get ready first. Keep an eye on the controls. Last time we lost auto-pilot and I had to get us to the surface without it.”

“Don’t remind me.” Cassius said, clearly disturbed.

Kian unbuckled from the seat and used the armrests to push himself up out of the chair, careful to keep his feet from knocking the steering, or his head from touching the command module.

“You want a snack?”

“I just watched you vomit. I’m good.”

Kian reached the intermediary of the ship, and stowed the headset. Behind his ears was killing him. The collar was made of metal, like a woman’s choker. Or one of those ancient Egyptian mummies. He liked his neck the length it was. He cursed the Global Agency for Astronautics. He wished they’d let them leave Earth with their old skin suits.

He adjusted the clinging fabric as best he could, and realigned the belt around his waist. He opened a drawer in the console and removed his space suit. It was bulky, and weighed 170 pounds on Earth, without the helmet. Although, the pressure regulator did seem to take the weight off once it was operational.

He slid into the suit as if it were one-piece pajamas and interlocked it with the skin suit at the collar and belt. The leg and arm openings were metal rings which interlocked with the gloves and boots. He stepped into the boots and leaned over to twist the rings tight. Then the gloves. It was always the hardest part. He had no trouble with the first one, but his hands lost so much mobility from the gloves it was difficult to click the second one into place.

He opened a cabinet and saw his reflection staring back at him in the lens of his helmet. It was disproportional, like a man in a sumo suit. His blonde hair was already growing back, having been buzzed for the trip.

“You almost done?” shouted Cassius

“Yeah, just the helmet left.”

He took the helmet from the cabinet, careful to only touch the back half that didn’t have the lens, and placed it over his head, securing it with the same twist lock. He took a deep breath and rotated the heavy ring. The whole inside of the suit isolated, he could finally turn on all the regulators, and air valves. The suit inflated slightly, and he pulled out his oxygen tanks from a final drawer, guiding them towards the space lock for use once they landed.

“Your turn.” He said to Cassius, sitting back in the primary pilot seat. Ceres was only thirty minutes away. He stared intently out the window as the thrusters disengaged and they caught the dwarf’s orbit.

“I set the coordinates to get us to Rao, but I think we’re going to end up closer to Kokopelli,” he said.

“Well that’s okay, we haven’t stayed there yet. Remember last time we wished we’d gone a couple more degrees north.” Cassius replied, his voice getting slightly muffled with the helmet.

Kian nodded, turning on his helmet’s local radio.

“Is this too loud?” he asked Cassius.

It came over as barely more than white noise on Cassius’s helmet.

“Too quiet, actually.”

Kian adjusted the settings.

“HOW ABOUT NOW?”

“No! No. Too much. Definitely too much” Cassius, instinctively reached to cover his ears despite them being trapped by the helmet.

Kian made the final adjustments.

“You ready? Let’s land this thing.”

Cassius rejoined Kian.

“You know the drill. Once the command module says we’re orthogonal with the ground, launch the landing sequence.”

They stretched to reach a different duo of keys. The command module beeped with a blue light, and they turned them in unison.

The spacecraft started its descent directly downwards until they were just hovering over the surface. And then they were grounded. They stared out at the crater expanding before them, a couple other spacecraft landed along its rim, and finally let their excitement show.

“Hell yeah. Let’s get out there.”

Kian and Cassius gathered backpacks of items, fixed one another’s oxygen tanks to their backs, and clicked the space lock button. Inside the vestibule, they engaged the air circulation in their suits, making sure they could breathe, and then waited for the chamber to depressurize. The door opened in front of them. In the opposite direction Jupiter hung low in the sky, rising like the Moon.

“Did you remember the camera, Cass?”

“Obviously.”

They walked a few paces from the ship and laid down their gear, pitching their dome. They’d only sleep in it a night out of the three there were here because of oxygen limits, but Kian was more interested in the larger domes that were further along the rim of the crater.

“While this inflates, let’s go check out the other domes. I want to see how they’ve kept their plants alive.”

“I thought you said you didn’t bring any this time? Remember, yours kept dying?”

Kian glanced at Cassius with a mischievous grin on his face.

“There’s no harm in trying, Cass.”

“You took space up for plants? Again?”

“Relax, I only brought a few. I figure one of the permanent botanists can watch them after we leave. And the dome has better UV protection than last time. It should filter out some of the radiation that was burning the leaves off the oaks.”

“I thought you said we were going to explore, not experiment.”

“There’s nothing to explore. Just some rocky land and craters you don’t want to fall into.”

“We could try to find an entrance to the mantle. I really want to be the person to finally prove the existence of the underground ocean.” Cassius sounded as if he were begging.

Kian gawked.

“You’re really comparing getting lost underground to me bringing a few foot-tall trees? I thought we were just going to look at the stars and take pictures. Maybe see if we could catch Earth on the telescope. Not get ourselves killed.”

“We won’t get ourselves killed. Besides, you have to admit that sitting around for three days is going to be painfully boring.”

Kian groaned. He did want to find the underwater cavern. Him and his grandfather spent a week every summer looking for it. But the only entrance to the sublayers of Ceres were in cryovolcanoes. It was way beyond the threshold of their suit ranges. Their blood would freeze.

Cassius knew all of this. Kian had reminded him on a number of occasions and Cassius knew it was a losing battle.

“I suppose we could figure out how to plant your stupid trees,” Cassius said, rolling his eyes.

“I figure,” Kian said as they started leaping towards the larger domes, lazy as can be to preserve oxygen, “if I can get the trees to live, we could get some pretty good terraforming plots going. With enough oxygen and permanence here, maybe we actually could find your underwater ocean.”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t have a nursery at home with another hundred experiments with your plants, Kian. Don’t pretend like you’re doing this for me.”

“I’m a bioengineer, what do you expect? Anyways, I want to find the caverns too. Just, I don’t want to be so rash about it. No one else comes here. We’re not racing to explore. Or, just bring a drone next time.”

They reached the first dome. It was greener than Kian had expected. They approached the space lock and a woman tending to a small patch of grass near the inner door, looked up. She grinned, wide-mouthed, and stood, rubbing the grey dust from her gloves. Sunglasses blocked the radiation, but Cassius was certain they weren’t protecting her vision the way she needed them to, even with the dome shielding.

She looked as if she were tending a regular garden on Earth. He saw her face, and regret immediately filling him with a sick feeling, fell in love.

She opened the space lock and waited as they stepped inside and the vestibule re-pressurized. Before opening the main lock, she asked their identities.

“You two look familiar.”

“Yeah, it’s Kian. I pestered you last year about your growing methods.”

A look of recognition spread across her face.

“Ohhh, I remember you. But not him. You were with someone different, no?”

“Another of my friends.”

Her voice sounded like honey. She welcomed the two of them into the dome. They turned the oxygen feed off and let natural air fill their suits. It was thin certainly, but the dome was beautiful. Somehow, in the middle of the void of space, this little dwarf was green and livable.

“I have all your basic crops growing pretty well now,” said the woman. “Grain, lettuce, even grapes. I’m working on grass to increase the oxygen levels, but it takes a lot of water. Hard to get it to grow without taking trips to the ice caps often. I worry for when they melt in the solar maximum that is upcoming.”

“You do all this by yourself?” asked Cassius, fishing. He felt as though he were betraying Haley, but he knew Haley didn’t love him the way he wished she would.

“No.”

Cassius felt instant disappointment. It was odd he was so attached to her and yet he’d only met her. He thought he wanted to return to Earth but it didn’t stop him from staring at her, at the blue of her eyes, enamored. He reasoned he could get to know her for a few days, convince her to return to Earth with him. It was, of course, entirely unreasonable.

But the dome was beautiful. And did he really want to return to such an unsatisfying life? Kian had a family. What did he have but a crappy job and wife who didn’t love him.

“Do you need any help?” he asked.

“My sister helps. Though it’s a lot.”

“Just you two?”

“Yeah.”

“Care to make it three?”

The woman looked at him like he was crazy.

“Trust me, you don’t want to stay here.”

Kian looked at him like he was even more crazy.

“You know it takes two to pilot the ship right?”

“Well, then I shall return next trip, and when I do, I shall stay.”

The woman smiled.

“We’ll see.”

Three months later, Kian, Cassius, and another friend returned to Ceres. Cassius had resolved to live there permanently. He had divorced Haley. He was, for the first time in years, optimistic.

When they landed near Kokopelli, Kian knew something was wrong. The domes looked different. Cassius, who had dreamt of returning Daria since they left, was the first to run aimlessly to the dome when they landed. Kian and Auden didn’t need to run. They knew what had happened. What had so often happened to those who tried to terraform.

They reached the dome. It wasn’t green or lush. The crops were withered. The air lock was wide open. Daria’s body was huddled next to her sister’s, on the ground and motionless near the entrance of the sub-dome where they slept. The polar caps had melted and vanished. The two girls were dead.

Expat life: American things that don’t make sense

Chile Chicken with Basil and Coconut Cream

This is one of my favorites! Easy and great for dinner parties. Always a hit!

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 pounds chicken breast fillets
2 tablespoons oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped small fresh red chiles
1 cup shredded fresh basil
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 teaspoon chopped fresh coriander
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 cup coconut cream

Instructions

Remove excess fat from chicken, cut chicken into 1cm (half inch) strips.
Heat oil in wok, add onions and chiles, stir fry until onion is soft.
Add chicken, stir fry until chicken is tender. Add basil, sauce, coriander and sugar, stir fry for 1 minute.
Add coconut cream, stir mixture until heated through.

Notes

Best made before serving. Freeze: Not suitable.

I serve this dish with fluffy Basmati rice and a light lettuce salad.

Jack Meets The Tet (End Scene) | Oblivion

More Heart Pain – Going Home to NJ to see Cardiologist today

Hal Turner World July 01, 2024

As I write it is 6:17 AM EDT on Monday, July 1, 2024 here in Pennsylvania. I have more heart pain. I’m heading home to NJ to head to my Cardiologist. I think I’ve got another blockage.

You may be aware that back on April of the year 2019, I suffered a Myocardial Infarction heart attack. I was in my car on a Saturday morning, driving to the local supermarket in North Bergen, NJ when I suddenly felt this “pressure” in the center of my chest. It didn’t hurt, it felt like someone was kneeling on my chest. I remember thinking, This is odd, and kept driving.

A few blocks later, I started getting this awful pain in my lower jaw. Really hurt! And I started to sweat. Not some gentle little glistening sweat, I mean a full blown FLOP SWEAT. The sweat was POURING out of me.

I thought to myself, pressure in my chest, pain in my jaw, now severe sweating, these are all signs of a heart attack. I denied it and kept driving.

When I got to the supermarket and tried to turn the car into the parking space, it felt as though the muscles in my arms had been hollowed out. No strength at all.

I managed to turn into the space and park.

I opened the car window to get some air and thought I’d just rest a minute and maybe I would feel better. After a minute or so, I went to get out of the car to go shopping, and my legs felt as hollowed out as my arm did. I almost fell flat on my butt.

I got back in the car and said to myself, that’s it, I’m not going shopping, I’m going home. At that moment, I started to feel like I was going to pass out. And I knew, “If I pass out, I’m gonna die right here.” So I called 911.

The police and an ambulance came – fast! They took me to Christ Hospital in Jersey City where I was admitted.

The next day was Easter Sunday, and laying in the hospital bed doing nothing . . . . the whole shit show started all over again. Pressure in the chest, pain the jaw. Sweating.

Docs came, put me on IV nitroglycerin and told me: “There’s something wrong with your heart. We’re trying to prevent it from killing you before we can get in there tomorrow morning and find out what’s going on.

6:00 AM the next morning, into a Cardiac catheterization lab I go. They insert a camera into my wrist artery, then fish it to my heart. There was big imaging machine above my chest taking images as they did what they did. Didn’t hurt at all.

After about ten minutes, the Doc comes back and says, Mr. Turner, you have three, possibly four, severely clogged heart arteries. Normally in a situation like this, we insert stents. But your clogs are not small and round, yours run the entire length of your coronary arteries. You need open heart surgery, and we don’t do that here.

So I told him my regular Doctor is Harvey Gross in Englewood. He has privileges at Englewood Hospital, do they do open heart surgery there? He told me he would call and ask and be right back.

A few minutes later he came back. Yes, they do open heart surgery at Englewood, yes, they take your insurance and yes, they have a bed available, we’ve called an ambulance to transport you up there right now.

So up I go.

We get to Englewood, they do all the tests all over again; they weren’t taking anyone’s word for it.

In anticipation of giving me stents, Christ Hospital gave me a load dose of a medicine called Plavix. It stops the blood from clotting. But they couldn’t put the stents and I had to go to Englewood.

Well, Plavix is great for stents, but terrible for open heart surgery. They need me to clot when they cut my chest open.

It took five days for the Plavix to clear out enough where I could undergo surgery. They took me in Friday morning. Long story short, I got quadruple bypasses. FOUR arteries were 90-95% clogged.

It took about 6 months for the sternum to heal after they cut it open, but I got along fine.

Fast-Forward 17 months after the surgery . . . . down I go again!

Another myocardial infarction heart attack. Turned out that two of the four bypasses, CLOGGED WITH BLOOD CLOTS. I was right back into a life threatening situation. And __this__ heart attack . . . . . . was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY worse than the first.

The ended up putting a stent in. I went into heart failure in the cardiac catheterization lab, but came out of that. That was October 2020.

In January 2023, I started getting the twinges of pain that I recalled preceded my first heart attack, so up to the Doc I went. He said, given my history, it is best they go in and look again. I agreed. They found more clogs. Inserted another stent in my left, anterior, descending artery.

Which brings me to this past Saturday afternoon, around 12:45 PM. I’m sitting at my desk up here in Pennsylvania and wham, the same pain that happened at the first heart attack, started again. Then the jaw pain. I thought “Oh shit, it’s happening again.” And then . . . . it all just stopped. No pain. No pressure. No sweating.

Uh oh. I think this is a sign I’ve got more trouble brewing.

I wanted to drive home to NJ but my truck has 22 solar panels in the bed and I want them up here. But unloading them (1400 lbs) would be physical labor that may not have been wise given my situation. So I planned to get some neighbors to help unload the solar panels on Sunday. That didn’t work out. So I’m hiring a couple guys today.

I’ve got very mild pressure in the center of my chest. No pain, no sweating, so if there’s something going on inside, it is not a full blown M.I. but that nagging, mild pressure in my chest tells me I’m close to going full blockage.

The plan is to unload the solar panels, lock up the house and head out to NJ to my cardiologist. I’m pretty certain he’s going to want to go back in with a cardiac catheter again. In fact, I’m going to request exactly that. I KNOW something is wrong and it has to be addressed – today. This would mean I won’t be on the air tonight.

If, by chance I waited too long, or this thing hits while I’m doing my stuff this morning, or while I’m driving home – and I die – my son Michael will let you know.

I just want to let all of you know how much I appreciated you being part of my radio show. It has been a pleasure and an honor for me – even if sometimes I brought down lightning strikes with some of the opinions I aired.

You folks have been very kind to me and while I completely intend to keep broadcasting, God may have other plans. I’ll keep you posted.

Just a heads-up.

Prometheus | Destroy the Ship

In the battlefield, how safe are snipers? Do snipers have the highest chance of survival since they are so far away?

Rule #1 of combat. If the enemy is in range, so are you.

A sniper, if they are set up really well and don’t shoot too often, can go a long time without being found. But once they are found, then they die.

There was a situation once where a particularly well concealed sniper was shooting at American troops in Iraq. He may not have always killed his intended victim, but it was, to say the least, disconcerting for the troops in his area.

In an effort to rid themselves of this pest, the Army sent out various sniper teams to try and locate this guy. They were out for a LONG time and shot after shot was made by the sniper, but he was still impossible to find.

Then one counter-sniper saw a brick in a wall move. A single brick moved, then a shot was heard, then the brick was put back in place.

They had found him.

A sniper was sent to a position that would allow them to shoot into the hole the sniper was making when he moved that brick. A few minutes later, the brick moved, the counter-sniper shot, and the enemy sniper was dead.

His big mistake was thinking that nobody would ever see that one brick moving. So he stayed in one place and died because he was too lazy to find a new hide.

Did China just pass quasi-laws which can theoretically sentence anyone (especially the Taiwanese people) who publish or support the opinions of Taiwanese independence to death penalty?

Study the laws carefully with proper Chinese translation

(Rough Translation)

There are four levels of Punishment :-

Level 1 – Any person who publishes material through a blog or electronic post advocating for Taiwanese Secession from the Mainland shall be

If younger than 18 years of age, be placed under RESTRICTIVE SURVEILLANCE until such time as the Investigator sees fit or until the person commits activities that are deemed secessionist under the security act

If older than 18 years of age or 18 years of age, shall be placed under ACTIVE SECURITY INVESTIGATION and subject to security report may be WARNED or placed under DIGITAL BLACKLIST or maybe charged with Secessionist activity under the security act

So here if you merely post you want Taiwanese Independence – you will either be monitored by the authorities and won’t get a Civil Service Job or a Foreign Scholarship or a Passport for maybe a decade or two

Or if you are an Adult – you get a warning or get placed on a Digital Blacklist meaning No access to Weibo or other Social Media Apps

Unless it is revealed you are funded by NGOs or other groups in which case you get charged with Secession and could face severe sentences

No Jail in either case

Level 2 – Any Person who belongs to or supports an Organization that advocates Taiwanese Secession under Lists I-IX or who has received a sum of not less than 60,000 RMB in a single year or 200,000 RMB over a longer period from such an organization without discernible services provided shall

Be sentenced to an Imprisonment of not less than 5 years which can extend upto 15 years

However any Person who has joined or expressed such support only over a period of less than 3 months shall receive a PUBLIC WARNING and if in compliance shall not be proceeded with beyond RESTRICTIVE SURVEILLANCE

This means if a Mainlander joins a Pro Taiwanese Organization like a foolish student,he shall get a WARNING and if he complies and backs out – he is not touched beyond the usual Restrictive Surveillance. He of course will never work for Civil Service or Get a Passport for life

Level 3 – Any Person who forms an organization within the Mainland that calls Support for Taiwanese Secession and either collects funds for the same or advocates policy and speech that is in favor of Taiwanese Secession shall

Be Sentenced to Death with no avenue of commutation to Life Imprisonment
All members of the HUKOU records of the Person shall automatically be under ACTIVE SECURITY INVESTIGATION and shall be placed under RESTRICTIVE SURVEILLANCE and Digital Blacklist and any members of the Party shall be expelled from Party Membership subject to Committee Enquiry under VII Rules
Any members of the HUKOU records of such a person shall if overseas be recalled immediately and after a recall notice period of 60 days shall be categorized under Level III Security Act

This is the changed law. The new law where if anyone forms an organization that calls for Taiwanese Secession and collects funds or makes speeches in favor of Taiwan. THEY WILL BE EXECUTED WITHOUT MERCY OR COMMUTATION TO LIFE

Their family members will be investigated and if members of the CPC may be expelled or if overseas shall be recalled and if they don’t come within 60 days- they will be deemed security threats and can even be KILLED ON FOREIGN SOIL

This is the New change in the law. Earlier it was 25 Years to Life with NO DEATH PENALTY

Level 4 – Any Person who is accomplice to or instigator of an Act of Physical Violence or Terrorism on the Mainland or Mainland Sovereign Territory in any Country that causes at least 500,000 RMB of Damage or a loss of one or more lives shall be

Sentenced to Death with Commutation possible only for persons who can prove lack of knowledge of the activities and who had no further role
All members of the HUKOU records of the Person shall automatically be subjected to the NATIONAL RELOCATION ACT and SECURITY DETENTION ACT
Any members of the HUKOU records of such a person shall if overseas be recalled immediately and after a recall notice period of 7 days shall be categorized under Level III Security Act

Any Separatist who causes Violence in China or Embassies that cause 500K of physical damage or loss of even one person shall be executed without mercy

This Law is so tough that IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD WHO RENTED A HOUSE TO SUCH PEOPLE – YOU WILL GET LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT MERCY

Families of such persons shall be deported to labor camps and kept there for life including Children

Both Parents or All Guardians will face the same sentence if their Kids younger than 18 are charged and convicted under this act

So if a 17 year old kid blows up a Molotov cocktail killing someone, the Parents will be executed under the New Law unless they inform on their kid leading to a conviction of the Kid in which case they get fully exonerated by the State

So the only new change is that now anyone who forms an organization to support Taiwanese Independence shall be executed without mercy and their families shall be prevented from doing a lot of things

Their Kids can never go abroad
Their families can never live within 300 Kms of any place with Security facilities
Their families can never get a Passport
Their families can never work for the Government of China
Their families can never work for a Strategic Industry in any capacity
Their families can never join the PLA or PLAAF or PLAN

Families include – Parents, Children, Wife, Consort, Divorced Wife is Divorce is less than 5 years old, Siblings, Wives of Siblings, Children of Siblings, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren

So if one guy does it – upto 40–50 people can suffer for no fault of their own

Now here is something the West didn’t tell you

The Law also excludes people:-

Exclusion:-

The Security Law shall NOT regard the following persons as culpable under it and shall deem them law abiding. This includes :-

Any person who reports possible secessionist activities of any family member under the Hukou system
Any Person who has relatives in Taiwan and declares the same
Merely because a person has visited Chinese Taipei does not put a person under the purview of the Act unless such person visited Taipei in contravention of existing emigration procedures
No person who merely posts secessionist content on behalf of another person and can establish the same, be charged under this act
Merely indicating support for DPP in Taiwan or for Leaders of the DPP is insufficient to be charged under this Act

So you can call William Lai a Hero and nothing will happen to you

So only three areas are DRACONIAN

First is that family members also suffer for no fault of their own , something that was removed off statuette since the death of Mao Tse Tung and reintroduced in 2009 for Xinjiang only

Second – Kids can inform on their parents and Parents must inform on their Kids to avoid being charged. So a son who sees his father work for Taiwan must report him and watch him be executed to survive and so must a father

Three – Execution is the only course now. No commutation to life. You get convicted, you die

This wasn’t the case previously

So while the new laws are draconian to a good extent – they allow a lot of leeway unlike India

In India someone saying Pakistan Zindabad can be charged with UAPA

In China now clearly – just because you hail DPP or William Lai won’t make you culpable at all. You will not even be touched.

Biden debate debacle

Yeah. It was awful.

Shorpy

As a doctor, what is it like when you have to see a doctor?

I hate it.

I hate having to make an appointment. I hate filling out those stupid review of systems files that the doctor never seems to have bothered looking at by the time I get to talk to them. I hate that the doctor is always late, but that the staff will give me shit about it if I’m late. I hate having to ask someone else to write me a prescription for something I already know I need. And, most of all, I hate being lectured about what I need to do for my health.

Go away! Shut up. I already know this stuff. LEAVE ME ALONE! I’m a freakin’ doctor, too, dammit.

That’s a polite rendition of my inner monologue when a doctor tells me what I need to do. So, most of the time, I avoid going to the doctor’s office. If I know I want something, I write myself a prescription—yes, you can do that, as long as it’s not a controlled substance. If it doesn’t take care of my problem, then and only then will I seek medical care.

I’m young enough that I can get away with it, because I don’t yet have serious medical issues. For now, there are very specific circumstances under which I will go see a doctor:

I need to see a specialist for a problem well above my pay grade.
I know that some test needs to be ordered. I can’t order a hip X-ray or lab test for myself, for instance.

Even then, if I can get away with it, I’ll go to the Urgent Care center, because I hate making appointments.

“If you treat yourself as a doctor, you’ll have an idiot for a patient.”

I’ve heard variations of these over the years. Fine, I’m an idiot, then. I don’t care. I’ll be damned if I’ll go see a doctor unless I absolutely have to.

Don’t try this at home, kids.

I Dumped My Girlfriend And Ended Her Best Friend’s “Perfect” Open Marriage, Now EVERYONE Blames Me

Has a doctor ever misdiagnosed you to the point where it was almost bizarre?

Yes. When having sepsis, the initial diagnosis by the ER doctor who didn’t even bother to look at me was “ your depression acting up”. Never mind my high fever, renal colic pain and failure, my inability to breathe, vomiting and repeated fainting, it must be all in my head! Fortunately my blood results changed his mind.

Blood tests were ordered after I did some yelling on the topic of me going to another hospital( which was quite near) and then coming back to kick his a**.

Very recently my elderly mom has suffered from lower back pain for 2 months straight. No meds helped, she frequently vomited, could hardly walk and couldn’t sleep because of the pain. She was ordered basically every test known, going through gastroenterology ( yeah, she has post inflammatory narrowed esophagus), urology/nephrology, orthopedia. Urine tested, blood tested. She was told she was fine, nothing was wrong. Until a CAT scan was performed. Showed 3 fractured vertebraes caused by foreign mass.

After giving birth , I cried through the night because of a terrible pain. Was told by the nurse on duty that “ G, you have birth vaginally, we only give pain meds to women recovering from C-section, it can’t hurt you”. Had multitude of stitches( forgot to count after an hour of them sewing me back together) due to 4th degree tear and an F broken coccyx! I couldn’t sit, walk or lay down without that pain for 4 months. But I guess it was just me being too sensitive.

Since we’re both women, we have plenty of those experience. Let’s group them under medical misogyny aka “you’re a woman, you’re overreacting”.

Ps. Let me not start on how many times I was asked if I was sure it wasn’t just a period pain. I think it was actually the first 2 years of me having recurrent kidney stones causing renal colics when my then ahole GP refused to order an ultrasound “ because I was too young to have kidney stones”.

PS 2. The most ridiculous situation actually happened when my molars rot and caused a massive infection during the last trimester of my pregnancy. At first, I went to a doctor with what seemed as a heart attack. He then moved on to whether I was having a stroke, trigeminal nerve inflammation to finally getting to “ F teeth why didn’t I think of that?”. To give him some credit, my pulse was sky high and I felt sharp pain in my jaw and neck. Teeth wouldn’t be the first guess.

This cat was called ‘mean.’ Then he met my husband.

What was it that your partner told you that gave you chills?

My second husband was in the hospital, dying from cancer. The day before he died, I took him down stairs to smoke a cigarette. As we were sitting outside, he looked around and said, “Honey, don’t look, they’re watching me.” When I asked him what he was talking about, he said “the shadow people. They’re over there, in the woods.” I turned to look and he said “no, don’t look, they’ll get you too. I think they’re here for me” That comment sent shivers down my spine. I said “no, sweetheart, there’s no one here for you” I thought he was hallucinating because of the pain meds. He said “shut up, I have to tell you some things.” He proceeded to tell me how my life would go after he was gone. He told me that I would get remarried and that he would tell me WHOM I was going to marry. He told me I would have more children.

Now, at this point in my life I had been told that I couldn’t have any more children. I told him he was crazy and that I thought we needed to get him back up to his room.

I got him back up to his room got him in his bed and he went back to sleep. He passed away in his sleep 6 hours later.

Oh, and the things he said would happen….

They happened!

Have you ever witnessed a life ruined from a small mistake?

I worked with a man whose life fell apart quite dramatically over a few weeks.

He was a nice guy and I really liked him. His name was Ivor and I feel terrible about what happened to him.

He and his wife were drinking together one evening, and they started arguing. So he went to sleep in his car. A few hours later, the police knocked on his window and woke him up. Although he had not been driving, the keys were in the ignition and he had been sleeping in the driver’s seat. They breathalised him and he was still very drunk.

As they now had him for drunk driving, they had the right to search his car. In the car they found a cosh that he kept for protection. I doubt he would ever use it. But, unfortunately, they are illegal and he was now in trouble for carrying an offensive weapon.

His wife was angry at him so wouldn’t let him come home, so he had to sleep on a friend’s sofa. By the way, Ivor was not a young man, he was in his early sixties. Due to his stress, he carried on drinking. He started missing a lot of work. Which was bad. What was worse is that one day, he DID turn up to work, but very drunk. He worked for about thirty minutes, until his managers called him in the office, and after a heated argument, he was fired.

So we never saw Ivor again. This whole thing played out over about three weeks. So in three weeks, Ivor lost his wife, driver’s license, job, and got a criminal record. In his sixties.

Ivor was a good guy and he used to have foreign students stay at his house. Just before he got fired he had Japanese students, and would bring Japanese food in for us to try. I often wonder what the Japanese people staying at his house made of his meltdown.

Brutal Signs of a Collapsing Empire | Richard D. Wolff

Barbecued Brisket

Ingredients

Brisket

1 flat brisket

Dry Rub

2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons meat tenderizer
1 tablespoon pepper
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

Mop Sauce

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can beef consommé
1 can water
1/3 cup vinegar
3/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons meat tenderizer
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf

Barbecue Sauce

1 1/2 cups Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup steak sauce
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup ketchup

Instructions

Brisket

Trim any excess fat from 1 flat brisket. Rub both sides of brisket thoroughly with Dry Rub. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next day prepare a grill so that it will smoke slowly for about 6 hours or about 1 hour per pound. Start brisket on grill with the fattest side up. Cover grill. Mop with Mop Sauce frequently during grilling. Turn brisket about every hour.
Serve with warm Barbecue Sauce.

Dry Rub

Mix all ingredients in small bowl.

Mop Sauce

Bring beef consommé and water to boil in medium-size saucepan. Turn down heat. Add remaining ingredients. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Remove from heat.

Barbecue Sauce

Place all ingredients in small saucepan. Bring to boil. Remove from heat.

What would happen if I threw a rock at a wild polar bear?

Throwin rocks at a wild Polar Bear ?

Short answer – No. Long answer – HELL NO.

Even if you had a 9mm pistol (let’s say a glock)

And you were facing a polar bear and you were lucky enough to let off some rounds. Guess what ? Be prepared to make peace with whatever deity you follow and learn from the lesson and do better in the next life.

The Bear will look at you and think……. “that looks tasty …nom nom”

Most animals will back off at the sound of gunshot.

Not Polar Bears

Even if you hit them they’ll carry on charging and will get to you.

The only way to stop it was if you were very, very, very lucky and got the bullet through their eye into their brain, maybe.

But areas of instant kill with a bear charging towards you on all fours is about size of teaplate. Can you hit that repeatedly under stress ? You really do not have much time for mistakes.

Their skull is harder and thicker than a motorcycle helmet. They kill seals just by slapping them. Trying to alpha posture by standing tall and making yourself look bigger will accomplish nothing.

“I’d hide behind a rock!”

You die behind that rock.

“I’d jump into a river!”

You die wet and cold.

“I’d stand my ground and yell at the bear to frighten it”

You die faster.

There are around three thousand polar bears on the Svalbard islands; that’s more polar bears than there are humans and they are protected by Svalbard law. So they have not built up a fear of humans.

Not every animal wants to hug a human.

Until humans with BIG rifles (22 calibre ……….actually more like .444 marlin) came along, nothing hunted polar bears. Nothing. There is no scaring it off. Just look at them

Polar bears will eat each other if they’re desperate enough. So what do you think they’ll do to you ?

They’re also dangerous because they’re skilled apex predators (meaning they have no natural predators of their own) Which means, cute as they may be, the polar bear is quite functionally the great white shark of the north.

They don’t hibernate.
They never get cold.
Food is scarce.
They’re always (I repeat) ALWAYS hungry.

The bottom line is if you’re a human being on open ice in the Artic Tundra with no serious firearm or vehicle and you run into this pic below ?

You have two chances of surviving

Slim
None

And slim just left town

You know the striking thing about a Polar Bear when u see them in the flesh, my friend ?

They’ve got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll’s eyes.

When they come at ya, it doesn’t seem to be livin…….until they bite ya and at that point you’re not on earth anymore and the Polar bear is the last thing you’ll ever see.

And bears are omnivores (meat and plant eaters) which means unlike carnivores like tigers and lions who have the polite decency to kill you as quick as possible first then eat you.

Polar bears will just hold you down, pin you to the ground like you’re a seal or salmon and eat you while you’re alive and screaming.

They have a bite force of 1,000 psi (Pounds Per Square Inch) that’s a force strong enough to crack a bowling ball and they’ll use that to disable you, to rip off your arm or leg for a snack, you can’t even imagine the kinda force they can generate.

To a Polar Bear an average-sized human is just right for a comfortable dinner with a glass of port and a good cigar afterwards.

You dunno what you’re dealing with.

And they’re trying to get access to your organs to chew them apart, then if there’s anything left of you, put you in stash, n come back a bit later n eat some more of you.

Just a brutal way to go.

They can run at speeds of 25 mph, If that doesn’t impress you, the fastest man alive who was Usain Bolt his maximum top speed was 27 mph and they can smell you for miles (even if your under snow) and swim for 100’s of miles

And they’re smart to. Polar bear on thin ice ? No problem they know they have to spread their weight around so it’s not concentrated in one spot so as to not crack the ice.

Humans in movies : Aggressively steps on ice

There are only three things up in the Arctic: Ice, water, and potential calories. Guess which category people are in ?

Modern Women Are DOOMED – New Anti Paternity Fraud Law Gets Passed!

Life changes

I remember when the “Woodpile Report” went off line. Ol’ Remus died, and with him his most excellent blog. I was in periodic contact with him. And he provided links to my articles on his site.

Then were was American Shooter, where that owner died. Wich was of a like minded soul struggling with the changes in the West. Much like myself.

One of my favorite go-to blogs is MoA; “Moon over Alabama”. The owner “B” had to stop it and take some time for a major surgery. We haven’t heard from him since. We are looking at maybe two weeks so far. He might be permanently off-line. As the surgeries sound quite serious. We shall see…

Today…

Is it possible that the United States will lose its leading position in world affairs within this century? If so, when do you predict this may happen?

Not only is it possible, it is inevitable. And I predict it will happen before mid-century.

Already, the world is moving away from the US Dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency. Alternative currencies and payment systems will attract most of the world, especially in the Global South.

Already, the world is ignoring US sanctions and refusing to follow them.

The proxy war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza are not helping the USA’s cause.

Chinese Elite Professor Zhang exposed what western democracy truly is

Western democracy values resemble the boiling frog syndrome: as our living conditions gradually worsen, we adapt to these changes instead of addressing them, until we eventually lack the strength to escape.

Fresh Mozzarella-Tomato Pizzettas

Prep: 8 min | Cook: 10 min | Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 individual pizza crusts, prepared, pre-baked
1/4 cup pesto
1 cup sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
1 (14.5 ounce) can S&W® Petite-Cut Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Garlic & Sweet Onion, drained
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
Place pizza crusts on baking sheet. Spread pesto over crusts.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Top with mozzarella and tomatoes.
Bake for 1 minute just to soften mozzarella (do not melt completely).
Sprinkle with basil and drizzle with olive oil, if desired.

Do you agree with TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei that it would be impossible to move chip factories out of Taiwan?

I do, if the factory is moved to a Western country. There is a huge difference in work cultures between the East and West. The West does have the remnants of that “Protestant work ethic” we were once known for, but more and more, young people entering the job force are disillusioned with their governments and their country’s financial systems. They will give you their “9–5,” but best believe when the clock hits five they are out of there. They will do their job, but often the bare minimum and no more. And for the salaries they’re paid I don’t always think they’re wrong.

We also firmly believe the adage “work smarter; not harder.” Again, we will do the job, but we will find the quickest and easiest way to do it and then leave by five. Or earlier if we’ve completed work for the day. We firmly believe in work/life balance. We also liked to be appreciated when we are innovative, creative, effective, or an asset to the business.

All of this is very different from the Asian work model. China has “9–9–6”, Japan has the practice of looking busy until your boss leaves for the day, Korea has the belief that when work is over you must go out to socialize with your boss and co-workers, Singapore says you must be hungry so that no one eats your lunch, etc and so forth. All of that equates to extremely long hours that may not be entirely productive. And we surely don’t want to socialize with our boss and co-workers when we could be home with our families!

Time is just one example of the vast difference between the cultures. The differences can cause resentment on both sides. As things stand currently I do not believe TSMC or any Asian based company will be happy relocating entirely to the West.

Joe Rogan Left SPEECHLESS As Guest EXPOSES Obama’s Dirty Secret

War is in the DNA of USA. Why?

Because war is a business for USA. The military industrial complex MIC in USA is owned & run by capitalists & not by the government.

Other countries’ MIC is owned & run by the government.

All responsible governments will know how to run the country eg focus on economical & technological development. In short, to modernise the country.

Not USA. As a capitalist business, USA’s MIC only cares about $$$. Their pocket only. They make tons of money thru war & arms sales. They lobby the government to create wars in other countries, so that they can make $$$.

US politicians also make $$$ by buying MIC stocks.

If there is peace in the world, USA will create a war somewhere. In name of whatever which we dont really need to know because they are all lies. The most notorious lie & known to the world is the lie about Iraq possessing biochem weapon which turns out to be laundry detergent. It was UK who investigated if its PM has committed a war crime in the Iraq war that the US lie was unveiled.

Other lies will be buried forever if they were not recorded in classified documents.

After WW2, from 1946-2001, in 55 years, there were 248 wars around the globe. 201 of them ie 82% were instigated by USA. In 200+ years since US independence, there were less than 20 years when USA was not in a war. Worse, it is US vassals who shed blood & lose life for USA.

Other than war, USA would instigate countless unrest eg protests, riots & coups in other countries.

Thru unrest/war, USA controls other government & resource/economy. It is neo-colonisation without occupying other’s land.

In short, US-instigated war is about money & power/dominance. Nothing to do with righteous or peace.

Turkey Just Changed the Entire Future of Europe with THIS One Move!

Turkey to join BRICS! It's official, Turkey is moving away from the EU and will move closer to BRICS, China, and Russia. Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952 and this is the first time we've seen a NATO member shift away from the US and EU and move closer to BRICS. What does this mean for the future of Europe and geopolitics around the world? Let's break it down!

What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?

This didn’t happen to me. It happened to my son and it would have profoundly changed our lives if the worse had happened.

My husband was a soccer referee. He was reffing a game while our 9 year old son was hanging out there in the bleachers and watching.

A man sitting close by told my son he had a van full of video games. He told my son he could go to the van and get any video game he wanted.

This was in the early 90s. There wasn’t much publicity or knowledge on the evils of pedophiles – had I known what I know now, he wouldn’t even have been at the game, hanging out in the bleachers.

Because of my own lack of knowledge about this type of predator, I had not warned him about strangers. I had not thought to tell him to beware of strangers. We have learned now that children view strangers differently than what we would think. If someone seems nice and looks friendly then they tend to view them as such.

At the time it was not strange or unsafe for him to watch a soccer game with other unknown parents next to him. It was not in his stranger category.

He found the thought of picking out his very own video games, as many as he wanted, absolutely amazing. He would have gone with the man except for one thing. That week, I had just checked out of the library, a somewhat newly released video called, “Stranger Danger.” I had him watch it. In the video, it told children to never go with anyone, not even someone you know, without asking a parent first.

He remembered the video and so he told the guy he needed to ask his dad first. The man told him no, he didn’t need to ask his dad because the van was parked really close. But my son told him he needed to ask. The guy tried to convince him but when he kept saying he needed to ask his dad the man said never mind and just left. My son said he really wanted to go get the games but he remembered the warning of the video and felt it was best to let his dad know first.

I’m sure it saved his life.

The West Is Self-Destructing

US is angry because China is not listening to them, the US wants China to help them fight Russia so that the US can fight China Later in Taiwan.

Geniuses Macron and Scholz make the argument for Russia to strike NATO members

By Finian Cunningham

May 30, 2024

Macron has joined the chorus of those who are calling for Ukraine to be permitted to use long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.

French genius Emmanuel Macron keeps pushing the button for World War Three, on this occasion while in Berlin this week to cajole Germany into self-destruct mode.

Macron has joined the chorus of other NATO figures who are calling for Ukraine to be permitted to use long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.

It looks like Macron succeeded in seducing the Germans with his maniacal mission. Following their meeting, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has flipped from objecting to such strikes to now approving them.

Scholz said at their joint press conference: “Ukraine has every possibility to do this, under international law. It must be said clearly, if Ukraine is attacked, it can defend itself.”

Only last week, the German “leader” (a term advisably used with artistic license) was opposed to such a move. So predictable is this pinhead-dancing. Remember past fleeting opposition to Leopard tanks, and so on.

The French president said Ukraine must have the right to “neutralize” Russian military bases that are launching air strikes on Ukraine.

“We think that we should allow them to neutralize military sites where missiles are fired, from where… Ukraine is attacked,” he said, adding: “We should not allow them to touch other targets in Russia, and obviously civilian capacities”.

The comments drew a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin who said that the “constant escalation” was playing with fire and that long-range strikes on Russia with NATO weapons would have “consequences” for NATO territories. In short, the consequences are all-out war and nuclear conflagration.

Macron’s megalomania is making an outsized contribution to starting World War Three. This diminutive politician (in terms of career achievements) wants to be the leader of Europe and is continually upping the ante with chest-thumping exercises. Weeks ago, he kicked off the idea of sending NATO troops to Ukraine, an idea which is beginning to pick up momentum. This week, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief welcomed the imminent arrival of French military instructors.

Now Macron is putting his shoulder behind the calls for NATO to officially endorse long-range air strikes on Russia.

The major factor prompting such calls is the desperation of NATO as its proxy Ukrainian regime faces collapse amid significant Russian military gains after nearly two and half years of war and hundreds of billions of dollars wasted by Washington and its Western vassals. Russia is winning despite the massive effort by the West to defeat it. So, doubling down on ignominious losses is the Western gamble.

Macron’s bravado is full of deception and delusion. The Ukrainian regime is already using NATO long-range weapons to strike Russia, including French-made Scalp cruise missiles. French and NATO instructors are already in Ukraine and have been there ever since the CIA-sponsored coup in Kiev in 2014 bringing a NeoNazi regime to power.

Macron’s seeming probity about “not allowing attacks on civilian capacities” is cynical nonsense. The Kiev regime and its NATO instructors using long-range NATO weapons have been routinely killing scores of civilians in Russian territory bordering Ukraine, including Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk.

All this talk about “untying Ukraine’s hands” is merely making existing NATO policy explicit.

That official stance is however a grave escalation. It is as close as possible to declaring war on Russia.

For argument’s sake, let’s give Macron and Scholz some slack. Let’s accept that Russian military bases located in pre-war Russian territory firing weapons at Ukraine should be neutralized. Rhetorical chicanery aside, let’s assume that Macron and Scholz are merely trying to level the battlefield, so to speak, and to give the Ukraine side the same military capability and freedom as the Russian side. You hit us, so we can hit you. Seems fair enough.

Following this rationale, the principle is that Ukraine should be able to hit Russian sites from where attacks are being mounted on Ukraine.

But here’s the rub. Macron and Scholz are inadvertently making the case for Russia to, likewise, strike the centers from where attacks on its territory are emanating. The only reason why Macron and Scholz do not see this logical consistency is presumably due to arrogance, double-think and abject servility to Uncle Sam.

What NATO centers might be legitimate targets? Ramstein Base in Germany would be fair game. This is where the U.S. and NATO chiefs regularly meet to plan the next phase of arms shipments to Ukraine.

How about the French Defense Ministry in Paris? This week the French Minister of Defense held high-level talks with his Ukrainian counterparts to green-light the deployment of French instructors to assist in the firing of weapons at Russia.

How about Berlin, London, Brussels and Madrid where this week more plans were hatched to send billions of dollars worth of more military munitions to Ukraine to keep the proxy war with Russia going?

Macron and Scholz want to untie Ukraine’s hands to hit Russia with NATO missiles. In so doing, they are untying Russia’s hands.

No wonder European citizens are increasingly apprehensive about the unhinged logic of Macron and others like NATO’s Norwegian wooden figurehead Jens Stoltenberg and the Nazi nostalgists in the Baltic states. The forthcoming European Parliamentary elections promise to be a comeuppance for establishment politicians like Macron and Scholz. Ironically, these politicians want to win votes by looking tough. They will end up losing votes and legitimacy because of popular anger and disgust over their reckless warmongering.

They are parading themselves as nothing but pathetic lapdogs for Uncle Sam.

Scholz had up until recently pushed back against the idea of NATO troops and weapons being used directly against Russia. Now he’s flipped like a circus dog for a biscuit treat.

Macron was hosted in Berlin this week to smooth over friction between France and Germany. No doubt, Berlin is irked by the French president taking it upon himself to up the ante in hostilities with Russia, trying to make himself out to be the “top dog” in Europe showing “macho leadership”.

In reality, the “top dog” is nothing but a pathetic pink poodle for Uncle Sam.

How the tables have turned. There was a time when the Germans strutted into Paris with little resistance. Now we see a French narcissist strutting in Berlin… and the Germans lying down and rolling over with their tongues lolling around.

“Something HUGE is about to happen” and U.S. dominance is on the line | Redacted w Clayton Morris

The West is getting desperate to hold onto power, and they're using their proxy war in Ukraine to bring war to Russia and the whole of Europe. On Friday, Russian President Putin started sending an armada of battleships heading right for Cuba... right off of Florida's coast. Russian warships are performing military training exercises... right in our backyard. How did this happen?

Preservation

Submitted into Contest #251 in response to: Write a story about a future academic (or another influential person) “rediscovering” a book that, in its time, was dismissed. The book can be fictitious or real.… view prompt

20 years. 240 months. 7,300 days. The amount of time I have had this gods dammed chip in my head.

***

“BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!”

I open my eyes as a few seconds pass, my chip buzzes, letting me know that it’s activating for the day. The sensation of the pea-sized piece of metal nestled inside my frontal lobe still feels foreign, despite years of integration and constant software updates. It’s a constant reminder of how intimately connected we are to technology in this world. What even is intimacy anymore?

“BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!”

I sigh, turning over and hitting the top of my alarm clock. There it sits on my nightstand stagnant, except for the blinking June 13th, 2050, in bright red letters and numbers. The world as we know it is hyper-connected between networks of minds and technology. My one piece of disconnection is the old-fashioned alarm clock not attached to the chip in my mind. It stays stationary, not traveling anywhere with me, letting me know when to start my day each morning – the clock grounds me in the reality of my research. It allows me to wake up every day and ponder the question of how humans lived in the early 21st century before the disease of 2030 ran rampant throughout our world. This is the core of what I study at the university. The disease altered the human brain in such a way that without the chips we have implanted inside us, we would not be able to function. We would be – vegetables essentially – silently awaiting death. Twenty years later, here I am, researching and reading anything I can find in my chip’s stream and the museums we have here – my favorite being “The Library.”

From my studies of the early 21st century, I’ve discovered that people’s interactions with technology were confined to devices separate from their minds and bodies. Yet, in my interviews with individuals from that era, it became evident that these devices held immense significance – they were treated as extensions of themselves. One interviewee even stating that their friends treated the devices as an “extra limb.” People rarely ventured anywhere without their devices. They served as sacred possessions, “seamlessly” integrated, and connected into every aspect of their lives and society.

***

My office is my haven, it’s where I can be alone in most ways. I stand on the threshold of the door – a single, large desk sits in the corner of the room across from my only access to light. The far-left side of the room holds an entire wall of shelves full of my personal favorite works of art – books. Each one of these books is a window into the past, a retelling of lives lived and lost, and a reminder of the creativity that slowly dwindles with each passing day – the reason for my research. My walls are relatively blank aside from a few pieces I have been able to pick up on my travels. In the 21^st century there were numerous ways one could paint or make art of their choosing, but now everything is digital. I find comfort in having acquired such rarities. I work at the university closest to my home, often preferring the brisk walk in the mornings. While I look forward to coming into the office, it can be lonely, seeing that I’ve never even met my colleagues in person. They prefer to work from home. I teach various classes, but my passion lies in my research. The stream says that colleges will fade out in the next 10 years, which means I could be out of a career. Because why get an education when you already have anything you want to know without even having to think about it? I’m already seeing these effects in my small class sizes.

Currently, I’m reading literature that was published in the early 21^st century to study that period. Afterall, literature affects the world more than most care to admit. I have read everything from this book called Twilight by Stephanie Meyers to The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I recently concluded that each of these pieces affected their era in separate ways.

Today, I don’t have anything to teach so I head over to my favorite museum hoping to gather some more books to delve into.

***

Per usual I am the only one here. I walk through the stone archway always noticing the intricate carvings on the tall ceilings. The scanner beeps as I pass the front desk reminding me to scan my chip so that I’m checked in.

The shelves are lined with row upon row containing books of all genres. Their spines are cracked and withering with their age. Their stories sit behind glass cases that the science professors created to aid in their preservation. The modern technology the university has been developing is prevalent here in keeping the booksin acceptable condition. I believe the creators mentioned that the decomposition rate for books slowed when the light was minimal, and the temperature was low; hence, the protective glass keeping the knowledge of the past from my fingertips.

I look around, trying to figure out where to start my search. Wandering deeper into the endless shelves, my fingers trail along the glass cases that hold the books captive. I rake the dust from the windows as I go, a witness to the lack of life in this building. And then, amidst the rows, I see it – my next read. It looks unlike anything I have picked up before. I walk closer, the dim lighting making it hard to see. The cover is colorful, full of pinks, purples, blues, greens, and yellows. It looks as if the back of a human head is plastered on the front cover.

“Feed.” I read aloud in a hushed tone.

Interesting name for a novel. Its cover is slightly faded, but still, something about it draws me in. I tap my head, signaling for my chip to lower the glass.

“Feed by M.T. Anderson.” I read to myself.

The name sounds vaguely familiar. My heart pounds as I flip through the yellowed pages. I love that smell. I imagine that a long time ago there were whole buildings that smelled like this, of books. No thanks to the protective glass, it keeps everything sealed up tight. Bringing the book to a nearby chair, I settle in.

“Hey stream, what time is it?” I speak to my chip.

“3 p.m., Dr. Bates,” my stream responds.

“Thanks. Can you tell me what time period the book I’m looking at is from?”

“Feed by M.T. Anderson is an early 21st-century novel.”

“Perfect.” I say sounding satisfied.

“Could you be any more monotone…” I sigh, flipping through the pages mindlessly.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Can you repeat your previous statement?” my stream asks.

“Ugh, I didn’t mean to say that out loud,” I mutter, bringing my hand to my forehead and closing my eyes. I should have picked a better voice for my stream when I first got my chip. A flaw to the software thus far, you can’t change the voice. I should send a message to the company about that.

“Message sent Dr. Bates.” Stream says catching me off guard.

That’s odd. It’s getting hard to know what I say out loud and what I think in my mind anymore.

I begin to read the first few pages, quickly becoming entranced by the narrative. The story is eerie, yet disturbingly familiar. In the world that Anderson created, I can see that technology is deeply intertwined with their human existence. People have brain implants called “feeds” that give them constant access to everything that they could ever want – shopping, social media, money, entertainment. I feel as though I’ve heard this before, but I can’t seem to put my finger on it.

The main character meets a girl named Violet who tries to resist this overarching influence. Her feed starts malfunctioning, and it begins to affect her health. Oh no. The corporations have trademarked everything, even the clouds. What on earth is this meat with eyes? The corporation that installed Violet’s feed refuses to help her, deeming it unprofitable for them to fix her implant. So, let me get this right…because Violet tries to do something different, she is deemed unprofitable, and not worth it to the corporation to help?

Turning the pages, I feel a growing sense of unease. This world that Anderson describes, with its corporate dominance and technological dependence, mirrors our own reality in unsettling ways. How could a book written so long ago foresee so much of what we are experiencing today? It seems like Anderson knows more about my life than I do…and if he knows this much, how much more did he know?

And…why was it dismissed in its time?

***

I finish the last page and close the book, sitting in the silence of my thoughts.

“Hey stream, what time is it?” I speak to my chip again, wondering where the time has gone.

“11pm Dr. Bates.” My stream says back to me.

My mind races as I think about the corporations in Anderson’s world, exploiting and controlling every aspect of human life…without them even realizing it. It’s chillingly familiar – trademarked clouds, meat with eyes, and a society in decline. The parallels to our present are too stark clear to ignore. I close the book for a moment, staring at the faded cover. Could this be a warning?

I glance around the library, suddenly aware of the silence. The shelves, the glass cases, the preserved books – they all seem to whisper secrets from the past. Maybe if we listen to and read these stories the outcome will be better. My chip buzzes softly, bringing me back to reality.

“Hey stream, show me recent news on chip implants.”

A flood of information fills my mind. Reports of glitches, constant buzzing, malfunctions, and an increasing number of people suffering from unexplained health issues like migraines and sores. Just like from the story. Is nothing being done to combat these issues? Why haven’t I heard about it?

I swallow hard, my pulse quickening. What if Anderson’s fictional world is more than just a story? What if he was trying to tell people something in the early 21^st century? I recall the interviews I conducted with the early 21st-century people, their tales of reliance on external devices mirror our current dependence on implants. It seems like the people figured out a way to never have to leave their devices behind. But what about the disease? I always thought that the disease is why we all had to have chips implanted in our minds. But where did I get that knowledge?

“I told you Dr. Bates.” My stream says in a cheering tone.

Suddenly, I feel like bugs are crawling inside my skin.

I can’t shake this feeling and this book.

“Feed.”

I set the book down on the table. If the corporations continue feeding without being noticed, our world could end up just like Anderson’s. We’re already on the brink.

Determination hardens within me. I need to dig deeper, uncover the connections, and find a way to stop this. The answers might lie in the past, in the words of a novel that once did go unnoticed and were dismissed. With a newfound resolve, I stand up, grabbing the book from the table.

“Stream, find me all available data on M.T. Anderson and the societal impact of “Feed” in its time.”

As the information floods in, I know what I have to do. This isn’t just research anymore. It’s our lives. If I can understand the warnings Anderson embedded in his story– just maybe – I can prevent our world from spiraling into the same fate.

The stream tells me it’s 3 a.m. and reminds me that I should get some sleep. I take a deep breath and one step forward still clutching the book in my hands. Books aren’t allowed outside of this place. I scanned my chip, so they’ll know exactly what I…

“They already know what you have Dr. Bates. They already know

what you plan to do. But as you know books aren’t allowed out of…”

I ignore the warning and push through the museum doors hearing the alarm sound behind me.

The fate of our future might just depend on me. But first, I need to get some sleep.

When you’re a college professor, do you ever immediately recognize which students will be successful?

I was standing in the hallway chatting with a colleague of mine when a young woman (probably 17) came up to us, waited for a break in our conversation, and asked a couple of questions about our program very politely. I think she was a HS senior visiting the campus. There was just something about her manner, her confidence, her engagement, her sense of humor, and the quality of her questions. After she walked away, I turned to my colleague and said, “I don’t think we have to worry much about that young woman.” He laughed and agreed completely.

She took four classes from me – the two intro courses in her freshman year and my solid state physics classes as a senior – was probably the best and most thorough student grader I ever had – not just marking papers but adding elaborate explanations to help the students with their problem solving, and she did her senior project under the other professor (who had also been a student of mine many years earlier).

That was all fifteen years or so ago. She now has her PhD and is a physics professor in the University of California system. We became friends when she was a young student – and we are still in touch after all these years. I always look forward to her articulate and insightful emails and the conversations that follow.

Sometimes there is just something that lets you know.

Vintage pictures, and strange comix

Mine and Counter mine, William Heath Robinson

Men keep checking out of relationships but women still aren’t getting the message. Will they listen?

This idea of some millionaire guy thats 30-40 is complete foolishness. Most, most millionaires are 50+ the odds of a women finding a man thats 30-40 that even has 5-10G saved up is low. Equivalently as low as a man finding a woman that is in debt less than 5-10G.

Has your dog ever tried to tell you something important?

Yes! June 2016, 7 am, our 12 year old Belgian Malinois (gotten in 2004 as a brown $5 mutt from a rescue shelter) had had breakfast, gone outside, done her duty and come back in, all acting perfectly normal.

1 hour later, she came to me, stopped and stood perfectly still, looking at me with a pleading in her eyes, WILLING me to hear her thoughts.

Not panting, not moving, she did not want to play ball, did not want to follow me or lie down, just looking in my eyes, “saying” clearly as possible, “I hurt inside and something is very VERY wrong, but I don’t have words to tell you what.” Her behavior was so completely out of character (and the expression on her face, so clearly a pleading, even though completely silent), that we rushed her straight to the nearby vet.

They took her in and did an X-ray and saw suspicious shapes and cloudy areas, but couldn’t be sure what they were seeing.

The put her under, did a laparectomy, and found she had had a tumor on her intestines that had ruptured and spilled everything into her peritoneal cavity.

Well, they cleaned out the mess and sent it to a lab for analysis, stitched up the torn areas, and put her on antibiotics.

When I came by at 5 that afternoon, they took her off the I.V. for me to take her outside for a short potty walk, and she happily trotted along with me on the leash, as if there had been nothing at all wrong.

She was still a little wobbly and weak, but otherwise fine.

She stayed overnight for observation and because they had to keep her on the i.v. because the anesthetics and surgery meant she couldn’t have food or drink yet. When she went home the next day, she was completely back to normal.

Happy, playful, and acting like “What stitches? I have stitches?”

She paid no attention at all to the stitches that ran the full length of her belly, top to bottom.

The vets told us that if we’d been even an hour later, she would not have lived through the afternoon.

The lab results came back negative for any form of cancer (thank goodness!)

She is still with us today, and still gets around on her own, although she’s slowed down quite a bit and is a little wobbly the first couple minutes after getting up from her frequent naps.

Not bad for a 50 lb dog who will be 15 next July (2019) and who nearly died 3 years ago.

Today, she even ‘asked’ me to toss her tennis ball across the patio and chased it about 20 feet before bringing it back and taking it inside as if to say, “OK, that was fun.

Once was enough though because it’s raining out here and you’re getting all wet and I really am too old to do this many times anymore.”

She, of course, doesn’t mind the rain at all. Yes, I toweled her dry and turned on a heater for her to lie near after we came in.

Laid Off From My $240k Engineering Job – Here’s Whats Next

In this candid video, I find myself discussing a topic I never thought I'd have to address - the sudden cancellation of my year-long contract just two weeks ago. As someone with over 15 years of experience in a volatile industry, layoffs unfortunately aren't unfamiliar territory for me. But each time feels like a new blow, especially when you have a family, a mortgage, and plans for the year.

ground beef Pizza

grilled ground beef pepperoni pizza detail 8da36b1f

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

1 1/2 cups + 3/8 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 envelopes fast-rising yeast
3/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
3/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup very hot water

Topping

1/4 to 1/2 can Contadina 4-cheese Pizza Sauce
2 packages grated pizza cheese
1/2 to 3/4 pound ground beef, browned

Instructions

Pizza Dough

Combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour along with the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients together, adding enough additional flour to make a soft dough.
Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
Cover the dough with the inverted mixing bowl and allow to stand for 15 to 20 minutes.
Grease a 16 inch round pizza pan, or use cooking spray.
Press the Pizza Dough in the bottom of the pan.

Topping

Spread pizza sauce on top of the dough Sprinkle 1 package of the cheese on top of the sauce evenly.
Add the ground beef on top of that – however much you like.
Sprinkle the other package of cheese over that.
Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes at 425 degrees F.

Between China and the US, who do you think is more peaceful inclined?

What a bizarre question. It’s as if you’ve been living in a cave for the last half century.

China eschews war. The USA welcomes war.

China has fought no wars in the last 45 years. The USA has fought numerous wars, most of them illegally. Let me remind you about Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, recently.

The USA must feed its voracious military-industrial complex.

The USA has over 800 military bases around the globe. China has one (in Djibouti).

The USA has been blocking all peace negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts. China brokered an historical peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

It’s obvious to a blind monkey that China is much more peaceful.

What was the most ‘one sided’ naval engagement in history? What happened and what was the result?

It’s late October 1940. There is a convoy of 38 ships assembling in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They’ll be heading for Liverpool, carrying a range of cargoes which are vital to the war effort.

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Convoy HX84 being assembled

HX84 departs on 28th October with two Canadian destroyers as escorts and one auxiliary cruiser, the HMS Jervis Bay. The weather is typically unpleasant for that time of year, but nevertheless the convoy presses on across the rains and big waves of the North Atlantic.

After one day, both the destroyers make their way back to Halifax, leaving the ships of HX84 under the protection of Jervis Bay. But she isn’t a warship: an auxiliary cruiser was an ocean liner with guns bolted to her decks: in this case, 7 six inch guns, mounted in the open with no armoured turrets or casements to protect her crews. The ship is unarmoured: it isn’t particularly fast either, but at this stage of the war the Royal Navy is desperately short of ships to escort convoys, and there is little choice.

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HMS Jervis Bay earlier that year. You can see the starboard guns in this photo: the easiest to spot is just abaft from where the gunwale slopes down from her bow.

After a week at sea, in amongst November’s darkening nights and cold seas, the convoy is spotted by the German heavy cruiser, Admiral Scheer. This ship is well armoured, has a basic radar for finding range, and six 11” guns. Her class has been designed as commerce raiders and she’s exactly what the British fear: convoys are strong against submarines, but are effectively lambs to the slaughter where surface raiders are involved.

The Jervis Bay spots the Admiral Scheer in the late afternoon off the coast of Iceland, and immediately challenges her with a flash from her signal lamps. The Captain of the Admiral Scheer, however, knows not to respond. Instead they wait as long as they can, luring the convoy to them as close as possible.

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Admiral Scheer, colourised. Showing off her bow turret with its ‘pocket battleship’ armament.

After tense minutes, the captain of the Jervis Bay orders them to fire. They are hopelessly outclassed; some shots land near the Admiral Scheer but after a handful of salvos, the bridge of the Jervis Bay is hit. She is ablaze from stem to stern, mauled by those 11” guns, and sinking fast.

The Jervis Bay fought for 26 mins, and bought enough time for the convoy to start scattering. Her captain received a Victoria Cross, but despite the incredible bravery of her crew the Admiral Scheer was soon able to turn its attention to the merchant ships of the convoy.

Amongst these ships was the SS Beaverford. She was armed with two small guns, one at the bow and one at the stern.

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SS Beaverford. A freighter with 10,000 ton capacity and 12 passenger cabins. And two small guns.

The Admiral Scheer sank the SS Maidan, then set the tanker San Demetrio ablaze. She turned, sank SS Trewllard in short order, and started firing at SS Kenbane Head. For convoys this was the nightmare scenario : they might avoid the lone U-boats of the period, but once a commerce raiders was amongst them, they were doomed.

Beaverford’s captain was Hugh Pettigrew, a 60 year old Scot who had been a merchant seaman for most of his life, although seeing service in the Great War. Seeing the Kenbane Head come under fire, he realised the game was up. He ordered his crew to come about, and fire her 3” bow pea shooter at the Admiral Scheer, as the late Autumnal darkness fell about them.

The first shot landed surprisingly close to the German panzerschiff. By this time, Kenbane Head was sinking, and the Admiral Scheer turned its sights onto Beaverford. She fired star shells to light up the target, and Captain Pettigrew ordered a turn, to bring the stern 4” gun into play. He signalled the rest of the convoy:

“It is our turn now. So long. The captain and crew of SS Beaverford”.

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This is a still from video shot by the Admiral Scheer, showing Jervis Bay being hit. There aren’t any similar images of Beaverford, unfortunately.

Beaverford used her modern engines to quickly vary speed and heading, avoiding the initial shots from Admiral Scheer. The convoy was by this time dispersing into the darkening gloom, and laying a thick smoke screen as it went. Pettigrew could have run, but instead led his crew through four hours of darting in and out of this smoke, appearing to fire its little guns, then escaping back into cover.

Every time she reappeared she was hit. But she didn’t run.

Admiral Scheer fired 71 5.9” rounds, landing 16 hits, and 12 11” rounds, hitting three times. The little Beaverford, loaded with Aluminium, Copper, Food, ammunition, and timber, slowly succumbed to leaks and damage. Taking on water, and lit up in the darkness by the fires burning on the timber on her deck, she was by now an easy target.

Captain Krancke on the Admiral Scheer ordered his crew to conserve ammunition and finish the Beaverford with a torpedo. This struck her bow, detonating the ammunition deep in the hold, and the freighter blew apart. She sank with all hands.

***

Whilst the Jervis Bay had at least had cruiser guns, if older designs and No protection to speak of, the Beaverford was a proper merchantman. Her chance of causing damage was minimally small, whilst the big German guns could wreck her in fairly short order. There are many such tales of heroism from the Atlantic convoys but this one really stands out for me. After the war, some doubt was cast on the specifics of this story; notedly the log book of the German ship makes little mention of this encounter. Whether this accurately reflects the situation, or the captain was not too keen on some of the details of how he managed to only sink five of the convoy’s ships, we don’t know. Certainly the story is less well known than the heroism of the crew of the Jervis Bay: there were, however, survivors to tell that tale.

Beaverford’s four hour battle against hopeless odds, however, seems a fitting answer to me.

This is How China is making the classroom of the future

Shenzhen is also well known for having some of the best and most modern schools in the whole country, many schools in Shenzhen are equipped with smart classroom technologies, including digital whiteboards, tablets, and online learning platforms. The integration of technology into the curriculum is common, with coding, robotics, and AI being part of the learning experience in some schools.

What was the rudest thing a guest has ever said or did while visiting your home?

I once invited one of my work colleague to my house for dinner along with her family. We had just started off with our friendship at work and I was inviting her for the first time. Her mother lived with her and I invited her as well. And me and my husband spent a lot of time cooking for them and the preparations.

They came on time, she was accompanied by her husband, mother and also her 1 year old kid. Within 10 minutes of coming in to my house, the kid was with her husband and my husband is talking to her husband.

She and her mother just get up and start going through all the stuff in my house. First they went to the kitchen, start opening my drawers there and going through all my things. Then my fridge and she goes “wow, you cooked so much food for us”.

Then they walk straight into my bedroom, she and her mother literally start opening my cupboards and drawers and start going through my personal things. I just stand, not saying a word, very awkward. Wondering what’s happening. She goes through my clothing, my husband’s and all our personal things.

Her mother on the other side, going through my jewelry. And asking me where I brought it from and how much it costs !

Then after 30 minutes they both walked out to the living room, and go “thanks for inviting us, we are leaving now”. I go “please have the food, it’s late and we prepared it specially for you guys”.

She “No, I forgot to tell you but I have to go to another friend’s house and it’s getting late. We will have dinner some other time. Thanks for inviting us though”.

We didn’t say anything, and they left. There was lot of food now, which thankfully we had some lovely neighbors we could share with.

And later I noticed one of my bracelets missing, noticed it after days but didn’t think much of it.

Months later, I saw her wearing the same missing bracelet to the office.

Russia and China Are DESTROYING The West’s Dumb Narrative For Good | Dr. Matthew Crosston

The war in Ukraine is getting worse, the Genozide in Gaza is still in full swing, and the Neocons are dreaming of even more war. Luckily, outside the West nobody is taking the narratives coming from Washington, Brussels and Berlin serious anymore. Yet, the world has never been in worse danger from nuclear annihilation and threatened by a 3ed World War than now. How can we explain so much blind hubris and suicidal stupidity?

We last talked in August, 2023, it’s now June 2024, and it seems to me that things have only gotten worse for Ukraine, worse for the NATO countries, we are at the brink of further escalation with Russia, with official OKs to use NATO weapons against the Russia proper and maybe even NATO boots on the ground, and there is still no willingness in the west to pick up the Russians on their various signals that they would want to negotiate based on what has been reached in Istanbul which Putin recently again said can be—together with the realities on the battlefield—the basis for serious negotiation. Do you agree with my assessment or how do you view what happened in the past months?

My family legacy though the clocks of time

Today, I want to talk about clocks.

As the oldest son of my father, when his father died… my grandfather willed to me his fancy mantle clock. This was a beautiful bronze statue of a reclining woman Baroque style next to a very ornate clock. I got it when I was 11 years old, and my father decided to make it the “family clock” by placing it on our living room mantle. Telling me, of course, that when I get older and married I can put that clock into my own house for my old children to inherit.

When my paternal grandmother died, I was willed her cuckoo clock. She picked it up when she was traveling from Poland when she was 16 years old, and it represented her new life as a woman. She wanted me to have it as I was, at that time, just getting started off in life.

My mother bought a huge grandfather clock. And up to when she died, and in her will, that clock was to be mien and to be passed on to my children. She was adamant on this, and really wanted this grandfather clock to develop a legacy.

So what actually happened?

Well, my mother died and there was a battle for her estate. I tried to prevent the looting by my siblings, but I ended up in jail and couldn’t do anything.

My brother took the mantle clock apologetically. And my father was there when he took it, and he looked at me bewildered and said “Hey! That’s your clock. What’s going on?” And, my brother said “no it isn’t. I was mom’s and it sat in her living room for decades. And so now it’s mine.” And my crestfallen father was aghast in how bellicose and direct he was.

My cousin took the cuckoo clock, and when I asked her to return it, she said that she had already sold it on ebay. And that there was nothing that I could do.

My youngest sister and her husband carted off the grandfather clock and they too sold it off. And they offered no explanation, no excuse and no justification. It was “it’s mine now”.

And that is what happened to my family legacy though the clocks of time.

Today…

What are some bad experiences you had while traveling to another country?

Oh boy…I travelled to Mexico City in Nov 2017 and I committed a mistake of asking direction from the police Officer at the airport. I didn’t know Spanish and the officer didn’t know English. He asked for my passport and then called another officer. They discussed something in Spanish and after wasting a good amount of 15 minutes instructed me to follow them. They took me to the washroom. I thought there must be a secret door to their office but to my disappointment it was just a toilet. The police officer instructed me to OPEN.

I asked, OPEN what?? A first thought came to my mind that he is asking me to open my pants but thank God he clarified that he wanted me to open my bag. He started checking my bag and somehow found the 1200 USD that my office paid for the official work.

He started asking for money in Spanish. Though I understood it the first time but still I tried to remain ignorant. For the next 10 minutes, I was only saying ‘No Spanish’ and he was trying to make me understand like a monkey that he wants money. All this shit was happening inside a toilet. Then I gave up.

I asked how much.He said $100 for each officer. I came in Indian mode and started bargaining. I started acting like a hungry person so that he gets frustrated and leaves me but man..he was adamant. Finally, I bring him down to $20 each. I paid the extortion money and ran as fast as I could.

The only lesson I learnt is that this symbol is common irrespective of the language, colour, race or country.

People are Maxed Out …. Inflation Nation

WU QIAN:

“The trend of the world is surging forward.

Those who follow the trend will prosper; those who go against it will perish.

China’s national reunification is the overwhelming and irresistible trend of history.

‘Taiwan independence’ means war, and division brings no peace.

Shouldering the sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese PLA is fully prepared and stays highly vigilant.

We will take resolute actions to smash any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist attempts and thwart any foreign interference.”

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Excerpt from remarks by Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian at the Regular Press Conference, May 30, 2024.

Isn’t re-electing Biden kind of like the Titanic backing up into the iceberg again?

You know, as a non-American, I find it pretty morbidly fascinating how the Republicans shamelessly attack Biden and the Democrats with exactly the kinds of things they are the most guilty of themselves.

It’s incredibly cringe- like watching a morbidly obese person on a mobility scooter riding around attacking mildly overewight people for being “fat”. There’s nothing funny about watching that level of poor self-awareness.

I continuously hear Trump call Biden “crooked Joe Biden” when it is he, and not Biden, who is the first former president to be charged with a bucket of crimes.

He calls Biden “Sleepy Joe” when he can’t keep his own eyes open during his own trial.

He says Biden is senile and incapable of coherent speech when he was the one sent to take a cognitive assessment and his own speeches are borderline gibberish formed of rambling digressions set in the vocabulary of a slow 5th grader.

He calls the Democrats “extremists” when he is the one who incited an insurrection.

He calls Biden “the worst president in history” when, by any reasonable yardstick, Trump is the worst, most incomptent, mentally-unstable leader since Idi Amin Dada.

He accuses the Democrats of ruining America’s reputation in the world and turning the country into a joke, while the world remembers him making a fool of himself at the UN, making puppy-dog eyes at Kim Jong-Un (who he still can’t resist praising) and stuffing himself into the worst tailored tux seen since Laurel and Hardy parodied a night at the opera, to meet, and disgust, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Honestly, everything the Republicans say is a poorly-disguised self-own. Almost nothing they accuse the other side of is not an outrageous “tu quoque” at themselves!

People laugh but I find this level of mass delusion genuinely alarming.

“NATO is cooking up something big” and Putin is ready for all out war | Redacted News

OMG!

What was the most illegal thing you have ever done on a computer?

Originally Answered: What is the most illegal thing you have ever done with your computer?

As a kid, I liked to hack. Not for doing damage or stealing, but to play on big computers.

There was a lawyer’s office in the town center – a big chain. And walking past one evening, I saw a modem with a rotary phone on top. In the U.K. it was common to have the phone number of the phone written on a piece of paper in the center of the dial.

Heart racing, I climbed through the plants outside the window to get a better look. I wrote down the number.

I got home, and dialed it.

It rang, and rang. No answer.

So they called out on it.

Next day I called their head office, and asked the receptionist if Mike was still in charge of the I.T. department.

“No, Sir. I have never heard of a “Mike””

“My memory! Shameful! So, what is his name?”

“Why, it’s Peter; I can connect you.”

“No need, I had the wrong guy, the wrong office maybe. Thank you for your time”.

I called the modem number again, only this was also during office hours.

“Err, hello?” Said a surprised worker as he answered the phone that never rang.

“Hi, this is Peter at head office. What the hell is going on there?”

“Err, what?”

“Every time you log in today, you delete 4 files. Some are files not even assigned to your branch.”

“Errr, what??”

“*Sigh* ok, let’s get you out of trouble. When did you log in last?”

“Oh, ok, thanks. Err, about an hour ago”

“Right, what number did you dial in on?”

“Err, the usual one”

“Obviously, but there are 6 “usual” numbers. I am getting you out of trouble, can’t you save me from having to look that up?”

“Oh, right, sorry, errr 555-555-5555”

“Perfect. And your username is?”

“James.Smith”

“That’s great, what password are you using?”

“Err, we are not meant to give that out”

“I know, that’s why I called on this number. I can fax the request, you can fax the answer, and I will have to report that you slowed down my work at the partner’s meeting I have to be at in 3 minutes. James, I am just trying to help you out here, save me some paper work, oil the wheels…”

“Ohh. Gotcha. Thank you. It’s ‘some-password'”

“Thanks, right, I gotta go fix it”.

That night, after playing with the system, I left it printing “your security needs serious attention.”.

It would have printed until out of paper.

There were others, but I enjoyed that one, the simple pleasures 🙂

At that time, my actions were not criminal. Today, the same thing would be illegal.

Stout-Braised Corned Beef Tacos
with Fiery Cabbage Slaw

A great Mexican twist to corned beef is an excellent choice for Saint Patrick’s Day if you are looking for something new and unusual to serve. In addition to the regular instructions for a slow cooker, directions are also given for making this in an Instant Pot.

Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

Tacos

1 boneless corned beef brisket, trimmed (3 pounds)
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup carrot, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup beef broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1 (11.2 ounce) bottle Texas stout beer
16 to 20 small (6 inch) corn tortillas, warmed
Fresh cilantro and jalapeño pepper, chopped

Fiery Cabbage Slaw

3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups finely shredded cabbage
1/2 cup grated carrots
2 green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

Instructions

Rub corned beef brisket with package of pickling seasonings.
Place onion, carrot, celery, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, brown sugar and black pepper in a 4-1/2 to 5-1/2-quart slow cooker. Stir to combine.
Place Corned Beef, fat side up, on top of the vegetable mixture. Pour stout beer over brisket. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 TO 7 hours or on LOW for 9 to 10 hours or until brisket is fork tender.
Remove corned beef and place on a cutting board, spooning a bit of the liquid over the top. Carve brisket into thin slices across the grain.
To make slaw, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, red pepper sauce, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add cabbage, carrot and green onions. Toss gently to combine.
Serve with beef in tortillas with Fiery Slaw. Garnish with toppings, as desired.

Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot

Rub Corned Beef Brisket with package of pickling seasonings.
Combine onion, carrot, celery, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, brown sugar, and black pepper in the insert of the pressure cooker. Stir to combine.
Place Corned Beef, fat side up, on top of the vegetable mixture. Pour stout beer over brisket.
Seal lid and set unit to HIGH pressure for 90 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 20 minutes, then manually release remaining pressure.
Remove corned beef and place on a cutting board, spooning a bit of the liquid over the top. Carve brisket into thin slices across the grain.
To make slaw, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, red pepper sauce, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add cabbage, carrot and green onions. Toss gently to combine.
Serve beef in tortillas with Fiery Slaw. Garnish with toppings, as desired.

Nutrition

Per serving: Calories 420; Total fat 24 g (Sat. fat 7g; Trans fat 0g); Cholest. 75mg; Sodium 1870mg; Total Carb. 24g; Fiber 2g; Total Sugars 9g; Protein 22g; Vit D (0% DV); Calcium (2% DV); Iron (15% DV); Potas. (10% DV)

Do you think the decline in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. is a temporary setback or a long-term trend?

This is the market warning TSMC about its long term prospects.

TSMC’ s casting its lot to decouple from China by abiding to all U.S. sanctions, committing $65 billion in three greenfield leading-edge fabs in Arizona to manufacture the most advanced chips in the U.S. and setting up new fabs in the E.U. and Japan.

These certainly look like they’re leaving the China market for SMIC to fill. And the market sees the SMIC is catching up. They’re now making 5-nm chips without the EUV machines.

Now even for an idiot, this is the question that TSMC must be pondering: Where the SHIT are they going to sell the chips their fabs in the U.S., E.U. and Japan will be making?

TSMC must know China is the market. And they’re making do with other technologies as Huawei is without the “advanced chips”.

And China is making fast progress at becoming self-sufficient in chips by building out the ecosystem for its own chip manufacturing infrastructure and experimenting new technologies. And if this were to play out, it is very likely that TSMC and ASML will be left out in the cold.

The market can see as a possible fate for these two titans of the chip industryi.

ASML is trying to hang on with its remaining business in China. The most telling how important China is despite the sanction going on its second year, China is still more important than all its other markets combined. The video is about their government now pushing back at U.S. pressure.

But this may be too late if China develops it own technologies and alternative to the ASML machines.

And lastly, it’s TSMC that is the most vulnerable. Yes, they’re the Numero uno and rule the industry but consider this – Apple accounted for $17.52 billion or 25% of TSMC’s total revenue in 2023. This company losing just one client automatically put it in the red in the industry where you’re as good as your last chip. And TSMC has now being all its egg with the U.S.!

Jeffrey Sachs: NATO In ‘Wartime Hallucination’ Mode! The Most TERRIBLE Offensive Is About To Happen

Why do hijras (eunuchs) look so scary and frighten even the bravest men?

I was in Kolkata when a terrified tamilian friend of my wife called to say a group of Hijras were outside their flat demanding money to bless their new born baby

I was the only man and was sent out to confront them

I had never felt more frightened in my life

There were 5–6 of them standing and demanding to bless the new born baby, sing and dance and get some money

Then I decided to talk to them

I didn’t know bengali that well so I asked them in Hindi what they wanted and they said they wanted to bless the baby and sing and dance and get money

I asked “How much money”

They said “500 Bucks”

This was 1994 and 500 Bucks wasn’t a small sum

I said “50” and expected a lot of yelling and shouting. Instead they asked how I could be so mean and how tough their life was

Suddenly it was a TN Traffic cop situation where a ₹50/- demand soon became a ₹5/- for a cup of tea (Old days, the 1990s)

We went back and forth and finally negotiated for ₹100/- and I stuck to ₹100/- and finally paid them from my own pocket to leave without any dance or song

I never got my money back

That lady thanked me and said she would pay me back but I never got the money back

Forget they are Hijras

Just talk to them like they are people and trust me it works

You get intimidated by the appearance and the voice and the social embarrassment but if you can stick to your guns, they are just people

Today in Bangalore, near Jayadeva Hospital road, suddenly they came and begged for money and before I could say no, my wife pushed a 20 into the hand of the Hijra to get rid of the embarrassment

Instead you could politely say “No”

You would have if this was a normal beggar

Just look at them as normal human beings and forget the clothes and the voices

Suddenly it feels pretty normal

Join us on our journey

What is the craziest thing you have ever said to your boss, with or without getting fired?

I have only been fired once. It was the worst job I have ever had. My father owned a car dealership, he told me that if I ever wanted to work for him, I had to learn the business somewhere else before I could come work for him. I had just graduated with an English degree and found a job selling cars.

All car salesman do not deserve the negative stigma that comes with the occupation, but there are many that do deserve the scorn. It is a complicated business. Pay is based on sales commissions. If you do not sell a car, you are given a weekly stipend that will be deducted from your commission when you finally do sell a car.

My first four months were great. I sold 8, 10, 12, 16 cars. Then my fifth month I sold 12 again. My boss made some comment about me slipping. The next month I sold 14, he still made comments about my not selling up to standards expected. There was a board with a list of all the salesman and the number of cars they had out in the Breakroom. Looking at the list, I was in the middle.

It was frustrating to have a boss giving me a hard time when it seemed he allowed others to perform at a lower level. When I came close to making a deal, the boss would refuse any negotiation offers from my customers. I was either selling cars at full price, or not at all. He was not helping me sell the car. My next month was the worst ever. We were three weeks in and I had sold only five cars.

The third Saturday of the month was a do or die day for me to make a sale and salvage my month. Saturdays are generally the best day in car sales. Even the worst salesman can sell a car on Saturday. This particular Saturday, I planned to sell two or three cars.

After our morning sales meeting, my boss said to me, “Can you come by my office?”

I followed him in and sat down across from him. He began by telling me how I started strong but had fallen off on my sales the past couple months. He complained about my efforts and said I could sell a lot more and that he expected more from me considering that my Dad owned a dealership and I grew up around the business.

“You have to sell a car by the end of the day today or you are fired” he said. “I promise you! Don’t take that as a mere threat.”

“You had better hope I sell a car then,” I said.

“Why should I care if YOU sell a car?” He asked incredulously. “You are the one who will be without a job.”

“Because if you make me work my whole Saturday and fire me at the end of the day I am going to beat the shit out of you,” I said. “… and don’t take that as a mere threat.”

“That’s it you’re fired!” He said. “Get out of here.”

China Sanctions US Defense Companies!

What should you do when people are rude to you in public?

Yesterday, I parked my car near the temple on the street. I got down of the car and washed my hands with the water I brought from home.

This lead to spilling some water on the road.

Suddenly, a guy arrived on his scooty and stood ahead of me.

He started using cuss words and said, ‘you idiot, that is my house, in front of which you are washing your hands. Do you have any shame, next time you do this you will see what I do to you.’

He didn’t even let me speak and kept going on and on.

His house was across the road, a few metres away from where I stood. Also by the time he spoke, the water had already dried.

I felt like giving him a mouthful, but then I realised that what will I get in return, abuses? Physical altercation? Insult? And frustration for days?

He kept speaking, and I smiled and walked inside the temple. (I was wearing a mask so he couldn’t notice my smile)

He kept staring and speaking in a harsh tone while I calmly worshipped.

By the time I returned, he was gone.

It may appear cowardice I assure you it isn’t.

Why should I frustrate myself, create unnecessary discomfort and lose my peace for a stranger who doesn’t even have adequate manners?

Why should I become like him and lose my traits and wisdom?

Most importantly, why should I bother myself at all?

Earlier, I would have definitely hit that person or given him back his deeds with interest, but every time I did that, I ended up suffering in some way or the other. Also the impact of such fights stays for days. So I decided to deal with such people using a mature outlook, and I am happy with that.

Shorpy

Do you know anyone who has won a lottery? Did the money change them?

I do. It ruined his life.

This man lived in a rural area, and worked at the only truly large employer. Plenty of scattered mom and pop types, but this was a branch of a corporation. He loved his job.

He struck it for millions. Well, you have to identify yourself to claim it. It hit all the papers, even out to the city, where I lived.

When people realize you have won the lottery, people come out of the woodwork to try to get a piece of it. Every relative, no matter how distant, came calling, demanding with various levels of pleading to get some of the money. He didn’t think he should have to share it, so those relatives stopped speaking to him.

It’s not just relatives: neighbors, coworkers, “friends”, they’ll come around and aren’t subtle. He said no to them as well. They weren’t happy either.

You also get all kinds of crazies knocking at your door and calling your phone number. They got contacts from people pleading for money for their son’s kidney transplant or whatever. Lots of sob stories, lots of pleading, lots of insults.

Frightened by the attention and the chaos, his wife became overwhelmed and had a nervous breakdown. She would eventually divorce him.

The economy in his area turned. The corporation he worked at began layoffs. As he had been there forever, his seniority insulated him from worry about being cut, but it didn’t insulate him from bullying from his coworkers about how he was taking a job from someone who needed the money to feed their family or keep their home. He couldn’t take it eventually, and left his beloved job.

So, he won millions and lost everything else: his friends, his wife, and his job. He still lives in his old house, and every so often walks into town and buys everyone at the local diner breakfast.

I think he was better off before.

Chinese solution to drones

Houthis’ Red Sea blockade makes Russia’s Northern Sea Route attractive to desperate West

With the US and Britain proving unable to dislodge the Houthis from their strongholds or stop the militia from attacking Israeli-linked, American and British vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas, commercial shippers have increasingly eyed Russia’s Northern Sea Route as an attractive potential alternative, a leading mainstream US news magazine has reported.

“The surging costs and fear of getting hit by Houthi drones and missiles have led some shippers to consider the Arctic as an alternative, as melting ice begins opening new potential on the so-called Northern Sea Route,” Foreign Policy wrote.

The article ‘discovered’ what Russian officials and media have been saying for years – that the 5,600 km Northern Sea Route is the shortest maritime route between Europe and Asia, and can shave 8,000 km or more of distance, and 40-60 percent in time, off shipments, compared to traditional Europe-Asia routes through the presently troubled waters in the Middle East.

“The ability to slash some 5,000 miles off a ship’s journey would mean much faster travel times – a major plus in today’s world of online retail and next-day delivery,” FP said.

Unfortunately for the West, there’s a catch: 70 percent of the Arctic, including virtually the entire length of the Arctic portion of the route, passes through Russian waters. “Ships wanting to use the route must secure the Russians’ permission and pay them transit fees. Given current relations between many Western countries and Russia amid the Ukraine war, that poses an obvious challenge,” the magazine lamented.

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I Bought Used SD Cards.. Here’s What I Found

When should a child move out of their parents’ house?

This reminds me of my older son. As a teenager he would say “I can’t wait till I am 18, so I will be free.” I asked him “Free to do what??” and he would say “Whatever I want to!” At that time, I told I “OK, on your 18th birthday, you will get eviction papers. On your 17th birthday, you will get luggage so you have a year to practice packing!” I had told a friend of this conversation, because as a parent, I knew it was a joke. Well, this friend owned a thrift store and gave me a suitcase to give to him. So on his 17th birthday, he came downstairs to see a huge navy blue suitcase sitting in the corner with a huge blue bow on it. The look on his face was priceless, as if to say “Really, Mom???” He didn’t know that all of his real gifts were inside.

Seriously, though, your child and life circumstances will dictate when they should move out. Can they afford to move out? Are they still in school? Do they have a job? Do they have the life skills? I don’t believe there should be a set time in their life where we say “OK, it’s time. Move out!”

My older son joined the Navy, and was in the Delayed Entry Program. He stayed with us until he left for Basic Training. He has been on his own since. My younger son (who asked where his luggage was on his 17th birthday) went the college route. He went away to college and when he graduated, he came back home. He was welcome here until her got on his feet. He stayed with us for about 5 years. He is now living with his fiancee and planning his wedding next year.

As every person is different, so is the time they should move out.

Badlands Homecoming

Submitted into Contest #251 in response to: Dream up a secret library. Write a story about an adventurer who discovers it. What’s in the library? Why was it kept secret?…

I have been thinking about including short science fiction stories with my daily posts. Please kindly tell me what you all think about this addition. MM

The badlands had ceased expanding, and there was just enough food to support one or two researchers—well, maybe only one—and that would be me.

The bishop had his hands full. A guard saw me into his office, and the bishop sat waiting behind a huge, salvaged desk between us.

The desk, a marvel, held my gaze. Its rich, brown hue was a testament to its unique origin, a strange wood with a veneer of such smoothness, partially burned away, creating a mesmerizing play of colors. I couldn’t help but wonder about the lives that were risked to retrieve such a treasure.

“You are?” he said, not looking up. Now, if it were up to me, I would fall on my knees and kiss his ecclesiastical ring, listen to his blessings, and wait for benediction. Such was my upbringing, which I had only known since…forever. To be in his presence was an honor granted to so few.

But I must answer him! Yet remembering my very name seemed an extraneous and worthless undertaking.

“Thomas Cranwell, to commoners excluded from knowing my ecclesial rank,” I said, finally.

“Why do you exclude yourself?” he asked again, without looking up from whatever was absorbing him. “Are you not to work for the extension of the Kingdom of God?”

“It is for an uncommon request. Permission to attend at Bradwell,” I practically whispered.

That got his attention. I am asking for something forbidden. To speak of Bradwell and the treasures of antiquity that it contained was to invite suspicion.

Myths, stories, and legends about the sacrifices made to build Bradwell many generations ago were a staple around campfires at night. After the cataclysm and before the new orientation, the building of Bradwell took place in a time so dark that our present darkness looked light by comparison. Yet I was convinced that understanding our past would help build our future!

I threw caution to the wind. Before I knew what I was doing, I was kneeling before him, seeking his hand to kiss his ring, even as I could not see that the guard had moved to strike me from behind.

“Stay your hand!” the bishop ordered. “What have we here? A search for knowledge at any cost?”

“Only a fool who seeks to serve, Your Excellency!” My tears were so copious that if I looked at him, I imagined he would send me off straight away. He laid his hand on my head.

“Thomas, I’ll inquire about your character. Send me your references and bid me a good day!”

I had to work while I waited. Luckily for me, I had learned a trade as a metal scavenger. It was considered a low occupation, but it was necessary since the metal that never rusts could no longer be made and was highly prized. However, my unusual request made people suspicious of me. Even the scraps I found in the well-combed hills and valleys surrounding Urhan fetched such low prices that I began to starve. Being without family and friends in any place was inviting death into your life. I hoped I would not have to wait long for the bishop to answer!

When news came that the bishop had approved my request, I now had a servant, David, a protection seal on paper, no less, and a stipend. The bishop’s generosity quite shocked me. Was he an antiquarian? Even if only in secret? I couldn’t account for my good fortune otherwise.

We hastened to start our journey. David was young—only sixteen—yet enthusiastic and uncommonly curious. When I told David we were off to Bradwell, he jumped for joy! I warned him to conserve his strength. It would be a long and challenging journey, even for one like himself. Besides, he was to support me, such as I was.

Upon leaving Urhan, David removed his sandals and shook the dust off them, motioning me to do the same.

“A curse on any who did not help us!” he shouted with glee.

This made me angry. “You hardly know what it is, you ask!” I said. “We have nothing but what we carry—nothing at all. It could be that a curse has been laid on us! Mind your place, boy!”

David’s eyes fell, and he began to weep. “Forgive me, Father, he said.

“It is your youth and inexperience that speaks,” I answered. “The world is larger than we know!”

We arrived at Urhan Station, a smaller community composed almost entirely of humbler folk, primarily farmers. I was not incardinated anywhere in the Urhan region. I thought it proper to approach the local magistrate to inform him of our presence and request leave to be accommodated for at least one night, perhaps two. Upon reviewing my documents, I was permitted to stay, provided I sought provisions in the local market and remained at the local inn. This I was happy to do.

Thank God news had not spread about my mission. It was a relief to be treated courteously for once, and I relished the opportunity to rest and regain my strength.

David was enraptured by the many sights of Urhan Station, which he had never visited before, even though it was only twenty miles from where he lived.

“Father, shall we hear Mass today?” he inquired.

“Certainly!” I replied.

We soon happened upon the parish church, a quaint, quite old stucco and wood structure dating back to the earliest days of the Urhan region’s reconstruction. Even today, the church outshone the other various dwellings, which were much more bare and plain-looking. A bell rang out, calling the populace to prayer. The church was soon filled.

I was struck by Father Bruno, the priest who said Mass. His intensely blue eyes and reputation for knowing people’s sins without being told drew many visitors for confession, even from Urhan proper. I feared he would somehow know of our mission, so I hung back in one of the back pews.

When Mass was over, and we had finished our Thanksgiving prayers, he strode right to the back of the church to see me, calling me by name, although we had never met.

“Father Cranwell! Know you, not your duty! To serve God! It is not your place to seek that which God has destroyed!”

He said this so loudly that David prostrated himself at his feet, weeping and begging forgiveness. I was stunned, and when Father Bruno had left, and I regained my composure, it was plain that we would have to leave Urhan Station; the sooner, the better.

David wept incessantly. On the one hand, he knew he might fall prey to ruffians or dire circumstances, being alone without my support. Yet, given his religious upbringing, he could not ignore Father Bruno’s words, and I would not contradict a fellow priest, so I released David from his obligation to me.

I did this with a heavy heart, wondering if I would survive long enough to arrive at Bradwell without David’s support. Yet I had to think of what was best for the boy.

“You are free to leave,” I said as we left Urhan Station.

“Where will I go?” he asked.

“Don’t you have a family to return to?”

“Family? My family is the church. I am an orphan!”

With this, I stopped to look at him. David was in tears again. I was nearly beside myself with grief, too. It was clear that he could not make a decision.

“Come with me, and you will no longer be an orphan but a son to me!” I said, wiping both his and my own tears.

We were quite clearly approaching the badlands. Strange, disfigured animals approached us, peering out from the undergrowth. David readied his slingshot, and I, my staff.

“I could hit one!” David exulted.

“Let us pass by the side,” I answered. Thus, we took detours through thick brambles to avoid these “denizens of hell,” as the common folk called them.

The road, too, became more rutted and overgrown. Signs warned us not to go further, though the further we went, the more rotted they appeared, like the people who erected them had passed on or failed to maintain them.

We had to sleep in the open air in a shelter we could make from branches and sticks. It began to rain. I had heard of the constant rain in the heart of the badlands, soaking you through and through. We knew not to drink from the fetid swamps that threatened to overwhelm the road, which now resembled more of a simple path than a road.

“Is God punishing us?” David asked after a tough night when I coughed more than I slept. “Isn’t it clear we shouldn’t be here?” he continued. He was throwing stones into the swamp, a look of defeat on his face.

“Hush now and trust,” I said. We have not come all this way to die now!”

But I wondered how much more we could take, wearied to the bone from the dampness and privations caused by a lack of food and good sleep, never mind the constant fear of what might happen if we grew inattentive or were unlucky.

After three days, the path abruptly stopped at a ruined habitation. No one was home, and it looked like no one had been there for some time. After my brave words to David, my heart sank. Where to now to Bradwell?

Had I fallen prey to pride? It was Father Bruno’s words that echoed in my mind.

I sank to my knees and wept.

I could have died there and then and been happy to meet my maker, poor, alone, a sinner in need of redemption. It was David who came to my rescue.

He bounded into my view even though I lay prone in the muck and filth in those last few steps on the path to nowhere.

“Look, Father!” He helped me up. “Come over here! Do you see it? Up on the hill!”

My poor eyes were unaccustomed to focusing at such a distance, yet I could just make out a building built on a hill. Was it a monastery?

I could see it shining like a beacon, a bright sheen off what looked like stout walls as we hobbled closer, David supporting me with every step I took.

By some magic I had never seen before, the gate to the monastery slid open to reveal a monk dressed in a black tunic. He did not speak, only motioning to us to follow him. A Benedictine? I had never seen one before.

The monk’s tunic hung loosely over his body, stopping only at his ankles. He wore a rectangular piece of cloth over his shoulders called a scapular that appeared to be made of wool. When he turned to lead us to the community, I noticed his cowl limp and unused, the sun only beginning to make its presence known.

It was an edifying experience to see such calm and serene purpose in this one monk who neither sought nor cared for our taking any notice of him whatsoever.

We climbed some hewn stone stairs to such a height! It was utterly exhausting. I had to stop frequently to catch my breath, but I could still reach a portico, the sun clothed with refracted light through the most marvelous stained glass, again as something I had never seen before. I reached out to touch it, causing the light to fall in a sudden dazzling brilliance as if moved by unseen hands. I wanted to stop and question the monk about how light could be so liquid yet impervious to my understanding!

But he moved ever onward, not looking back.

We reached a stolid door of massive weight, again opening at a mere touch! What I presumed to be the abbot greeted us.

The abbot wore a black cappa, which is a full-length cloak over his tunic. He also wore a ring, which he held out to me.

I collapsed before I could kiss his ring, and from what David told me later, I hit my head on the stone floor, losing consciousness.

I awoke in an infirmary, or what looked like one. David was so happy to see me come to my senses. He looked fatigued as if he had been waiting a long time by my side, sitting on a wicker chair next to an untouched tray of food on a small table.

“Eat, father!” he said, his voice catching him unawares like he had not spoken for hours. Then, he cleared his throat and looked as if he might cry.

I had more important things on my mind. “What of the…abbot?” I gasped as I reached for a plain, remarkably shaped glass containing a liquid I did not recognize.

David handed it to me. “He never spoke to me. After you collapsed, two monks carried you here. Will you get well, Father?” he pleaded.

“God willing!” I said. You are so faithful to me; how can it be otherwise?” I joked, but then I frowned. “But there is much to discuss…” I said as I tried to get out of bed.

“Not until you are well!” David commanded. “Eat!”

The days went swiftly by. A monk with remarkable medical knowledge examined me. And there was so much food! So much more than I was used to.

Then, several days later, another monk with such bright eyes came to get me. This one was not unassuming or silent. He was talkative, so much so that I wondered if he was a monk or a commoner dressed in monk attire!

“Know you, not your duty!” I exclaimed at one point amid his chatter.

He rounded on me, his confident air dissipating as air escapes a putrid cask.

“Know you, not yours?” he replied. With that, we both fell into sullen silence. He then led me to see the abbot.

It was as before. This time, I kissed the abbot’s ring and returned to standing before him in what looked like the chapter house, a meeting room where the community would gather to conduct business.

Gazing about, I saw things on shelves I had never seen before. Whether they were functional or not escaped me; some seemed to be parts of other, larger objects. Here and there, you could see these recognizable parts protruding. But I was not given leave to stare at these unusual artifacts for long.

“You and your servant are welcome to stay with us!” the abbot announced. “I have made inquiries, and the bishop of Urhan diocese has vouched for you. The bishop was once a monk at this very place! What exactly have you come here to do?”

“Father Abbot, I wish to conduct research.”

“By all means, let us visit the scriptorium and the library!”

Again, there was light that I had never seen before.

In a wonder of wonders, I was led into the scriptorium, where monks sat at tables reading words that appeared and disappeared on pages filled with light, with no visible candles.

Then, many books in unknown languages were in the library, with pictures not drawn or painted of such wonders as I could scarcely describe! Many of these books were burned, and some could not be read. Still, everything was neatly stored and accounted for.

“Why not let everyone see these wonders,” I asked.

The Abbot was taken aback. “Do you believe that the people would comprehend that we were once prosperous, but now we are poor only because of a war of unimaginable fury as if the very wrath of God enveloped everything? This is knowledge for only a select few!”

The Abbot, setting aside his vows, embraced me and continued speaking for what seemed like a very long time.

“You need hardly wonder! Was it not always so? Monks preserved knowledge, whether of religion or not, that would have been lost otherwise in past times. We do so today, as always. Forever, until the end of time itself!”

So began my new life. Father Bruno could remind the people of what went wrong, and I would now discover why.

What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

Survived on 10 Rs for 11 days. I lived on borrowed food and also ate free food at temples. Cycled a distance of about 24 km everyday. Lost friends, Girlfriend, faith in everything but ended up being stronger and learning a lot of lessons.

On 21st October 2010 all I had was 10 Rs. in my wallet. You can only buy a cup of tea with that amount of money. Life was hell for 11 days (From 21st to 31st October 2010) I would eat mostly at temple(prasad) or eat bits from food offered by other employees who worked with me, then go to the wash room and cry at my situation. I would come back home tired after cycling for 12 km and cry on my bed and fall asleep because of exhaustion. Wake up early and cycle back to work.

On the 11th day I went to my uncle’s place where my Grandmother was staying at that time. Because I met my Grandmother after a long time and she gave me 20 Rs. She put it in my hand and said “I know you earn much more, right now I have only 20 ₹, keep it, it’s a blessing” I had tears in my eyes and don’t know why but I felt she understood what I had gone through. I immediately hugged her and cried for a while. It is customary for grandparents in our family to give some money to grandchildren when they meet after a long time. I bought a bun & a cup of tea from a bakery that evening with that money. The first time I had spent in 10 days.

Looking Back, the most stupid thing I have done in my life so far : starting a business in 2009 with a couple of friends. I was always fascinated to start something on my own. Stupid because firstly I trusted people’s words and believed them and secondly I took risks without contingency. I had taken loan from the bank for the initial investment of business, the business partners had their own savings though. The first few months were manageable, but come August 2010 things became very bad for us. I had to borrow money from friends to pay salaries of the people working with us. My credit card was already maxed out. Plus I had EMI of the loan and the 4 wheeler EMI. The 4 wheeler down payment was paid by dad & Sister and for the EMI I had promised I would pay, otherwise at home no one was interested in the 4 wheeler.

Come 5th October 2010 the date of my EMI and all money in my account was over. In fact if I remember there was 14 paisa in my account. Of course I had a few 100 Rs in my wallet. I begged my friends to help with some money and no one did. My partners always said they too had no money, only that they still continued living with a decent lifestyle (One of the reasons I left the business in mid 2011). In fact my business partners did not even bother to acknowledge the fact that in the beginning while our share of profits was still good, month after month I would invest back my share of profits to the business, they would not, nor would they ask me to take my share. By mid month(October) almost all my money was spent. My parents were in my home town. I was living in a place where I had even taken loans from neighbors. The idea of staying at home would be really bad as people would ask back their money.

I had to stay at home and not switch on the lights for the fear of the neighbors asking back their money. Since there was no light I would sleep early, wake up early and cycle to work 12 km one way (Tough in a city where there is an uneven terrain and without any food, all the rice and other food items at home I had consumed by mid month). By now I was also having a rough patch with my ex. Once I explained things to her, & even cried in front of her because of my situation, all she did was patiently listen(like she would always do but not help.) All I wanted was some emotional support but probably she felt that I wanted some money from her and very politely said “I got to go, parents are waiting at home”. I could have asked my parents for help but the business was started against their wishes and they would ask me to explain a lot of things and ask me to quit, also the fact that I had already borrowed a lot of money from them.

By the start of next month things got better, and ya I started taking my share of profits which I was not doing earlier. Slowly I started working towards saving some money every month(this went on a long way to help in getting my sister married a couple of years later). This phase of my life or rather the 3–4 months was the toughest I had in all fronts, Bad business, bad finances, bad health, bad mindset, bad temper, bad relationship and bad memories. I remember that by November 1st week when my parents were back things were getting normal and I started to tell them bit by bit about the problems in business. They helped a lot in those troubling time.

And lastly, I still keep the 10 Rs note in my Wallet and I would not give it to anyone for whatever amount they offer me. It keeps reminding me that the tough times are gone and even if life gets harder I can handle it.

Three Envelope Crock Pot Roast

Prep: 5 min | Cook: 6 to 8 hr | Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 (.7 ounce) envelope dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 (1 ounce) envelope ranch dressing mix
1 (.75 ounce) envelope dry brown gravy mix
1 (3 pound) boneless beef chuck roast

Instructions

Stir together the water, Italian dressing mix, ranch dressing mix, and brown gravy mix together in a bowl until smooth.
Place the beef roast into a slow cooker, and pour the sauce over top.
Cook on LOW until the roast is easily pierced by a fork, 6 to 8 hours.

What is the most surprising thing you have accidentally overheard about yourself?

I had a very dear friend…actually an unrequited love…that died of leukemia when he was 26. We had been close from pretty much the time we met in college, but our stars never aligned. We dated, but he eventually married someone who divorced him 3 months before he died.

I visited him whenever he was in hospital. The last time I beat my blood donation to his room by 5 minutes. His Mom (who adored me because I got up to clear dishes with her the first time I had dinner with them), was with him as usual. I knew he was close to the end and didn’t want to chase her out and told her she didn’t need to leave for me, but she insisted. She came back a few minutes before I left.

My friend’s dad called me a week later at work to give me the news and let me know about arrangements. The funeral was about 5 hours away. My mom took a mutual friend and me to the funeral.

His family was surprised and pleased that we came all that way and invited us for lunch at his sister’s house. We three travelers mingled and talked separately for a couple of hours and then headed home.

On the way home Mom related a talk she had had with my friend’s mom. Friend’s mom said that she spent most of her time at the hospital when her son was there as he was for days and weeks at a time. She loved her son and didn’t want him to be alone. She usually stayed no matter who came to visit. But she said she always felt safe leaving him alone with me…that I was the only one she felt safe leaving him alone with…and that he was always better after I visited.

I knew he was my soul mate, but that kind of sealed the deal.

Did you ever beat up the high school bully in front of everyone?

Not the high school bully, but the town pervert who liked to prey on 13-14 year old girls. I was 18 at the time, and had a summer job running a game room on the main street of my home town. I was only 5 feet 2 inches tall, so not very intimidating to look at. One day while I was working three young teenage girls came running in and asked me to hide them. Right on their heels was the known pervert who was only not in jail due to family influence. I walked up to him and told him to leave. Note he was over 6 feet tall and in his late 20s. He smirked at me and reached out to shove me out of his way so I put him to the floor, screaming in pain. You see, my father had extremely rigid notions that you never hurt or harassed those weaker than yourself but he knew others didn’t feel that way, so he taught me some nasty tricks to take down any bullies. In this case I grabbed his wrist and bent it back, putting him in severe pain, then with my other hand reached out and grabbed his neck on the nerves and put him to the floor. I then told him he was banned for life from the game room and told him to get out. After that, the game room was a place of safety for the kids in that town

What is the best way to respond when someone tells you “You’re not invited”?

It depends on the situation. I used to go out once a week after work with three other women. One time they were talking about the next week’s outing being at a different place and I said, “Oh that sounds like fun.” And they said, “Oh, you’re not invited. We’re going out with a different coworker and she doesn’t know you very well so we didn’t think she’d want you there.” I was like… why are you discussing a weekly outing that I’m not included in? I told them I was going to the ladies’ room so they could firm up these plans without me at the table, and will hopefully be done discussing it by the time I return. I thought it was incredibly rude of them to discuss it like that in front of me. I don’t need to be included in every outing, but don’t talk about it like it’s our next outing, and then inform me I’m not invited. Of course the other person heard about it from them and wanted me to come, but at that point there was no way I’d join them. Covid broke up our weekly outings soon after.

Wolff Responds: Its Time To Come To Terms With The New Economic Order (May 29, 2024)

Play ball, but only if you know how to

When I was a young boy, we moved to a small rural town in Western Pennsylvania; “East Brady”. I started school there, and started to attend third grade.

Right off the bat, all the other boys played basketball, football, baseball, and lots of other sports. But I didn’t. My father never played sports with me, he never watched sports, and my mother forbid me from playing “dangerous sports” outside.

So, when I entered school, I was at a terrible disadvantage.

I didn’t know how to play basketball, dribble a ball, catch a ball or make a basket. But all the others did. They had been doing so since they were three years old.

i was at a great disadvantage, and I was constantly picked on because of it. Not just by the boys, but the girls too. And Lordy! Even the teachers. It became hellish for me.

I tried to explain to my dad, but he wouldn’t have any of that. He would say “be a man”, and “you can learn”, and the proverbial “don’t listen to what they all say, you just ignore them”.

It didn’t work.

Not until i started lifting weights, has muscles the size of oil cans and started to fight back. But that was later on, 10th through 12th grade, but this narrative is about what happened with I was in fifth or sixth grade.

You see, even though I couldn’t play basketball, dribble or anything… my father insisted, and then ordered me to go get on the basketball team and play ball. Why?

Well, it was because that’s what all the other kids were doing.

WTF?

Didn’t he listen to me? I was at a strong and strict disadvantage. I could not play ball. I literally could not, and that made me the laughing stock of the class. We did not watch sports at home, we did not go to sports events, but somehow… somehow… I was supposed to be able to play them.

And I had to do it.

Do it because of what the other kids were doing? Seriously?

So yeah… for three years, I endured the taunting, the jokes and the pain from sixth grade though ninth grade because of something that my father demanded of me WITHOUT him actually participating in helping me obtain any skills.

yes.

Just gave orders. No on-hand training. Never attended the games. Never participated in any way, shape or form.

Fucking jack ass.

On the plus side, I’m making sure that this DOES NOT happen to my kids. So there is something positive that came out of this, don’t you know.

Moral…

Play ball, but only if you know how to.

Today…

What is an experience you had with a “Karen” you’ll never forget?

She brought her car in and asked what it would cost to replace the EGR valve.. Then she promptly spent the next ten minutes running down the shop that has been ripping her off for years, explaining how EVERY TIME she brought her car in to them, they said it was this, and then that didn’t fix it, so she had to pay more…

“So, would you like me to fix the car, or replace the EGR valve? They may not be the same thing..”

“What do you mean?”

“We could inspect the vehicle, identify the faults, and make a recommendation based on our findings..”

“You would charge me for that?”

“Yes, of course..”

“No, just change the EGR valve, they already told me what’s wrong with it! You guys are all alike!”

So, I wrote up the repair order, specifying “Replace EGR valve per customer request.”

I called her a couple hours later and told her the EGR valve had been replaced..

“It still runs terrible! You didn’t even change it, did you?!”

“Of course we replaced it.. I have your old EGR valve right here, along with the large chunk of carbon that had blocked it open.. We took the liberty of inspecting the engine after the work was done so I would be able to explain to you why it’s still running so badly.. If you’ll look right here, you can plainly see the ignition spark escaping the plug wire arcing to the cylinder head.. The chunk of carbon that blocked the EGR open resulted from unburned fuel entering your exhaust.. You need a tune-up.. I have that estimate for you right here, and as soon as you pay for the work we’ve already done, I’ll get started on it..”

“Why should I have to pay for that? You didn’t fix it!”

“Because you asked us to, as evidenced by this signed repair order, which expressly authorizes a mechanic’s lien in lieu of payment for services rendered.. If you choose not to pay this bill, I’ll place your vehicle in storage at $19.00 per day until such time as I can apply for a permit to sell the vehicle..”

She politely paid the bill, and paid up front for the tune-up.. The next day, she drove away in her perfectly running Nissan Quest..

What is the proof that fentanyl is made in China?

I am a Chinese and a worker in the IT industry. Fentanyl is a drug precursor, and its rational application in medicine is necessary. Some excellent answers have already explained the question in detail. Foreign intellectuals understand that this is a minor issue in the diplomatic struggle between China and the United States, and a new issue set by the United States to hinder the harmony of bilateral relations. So, regarding the issue of fentanyl, both the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department are making some clich é s. I want to tell some fresh stories about the relationship between ordinary Chinese people and drug abuse (吸毒). Most of them come from the original works of some guys I have read in Chinese online communities over the past few years. I wrote it down based on memories:

Story 1

A guy from Northeast China, he was in high school at the time. But fighting, sleeping, and pestering girls every day. But as long as he doesn’t take the initiative to provoke, no one cares about what he is doing. One day, he felt very bored and came up with a brilliant idea: to bring a small bag of soy milk powder from home (which is a traditional Chinese food, a mixture of soy powder and milk powder, with a slightly dull white powder appearance). Then roll the tin foil in the chocolate box into long strips. Then, he stole a lighter from home. The show begins: During the break, he takes out a tubular tin foil and carefully takes out a little bit of soy milk powder from a plastic bag, slowly putting it onto the tin foil. Then, light the lighter and bake under the tin foil with flames – this is a common scene of drug addicts in Hong Kong gangster movies. In an instant, all the classmates around him were stunned! A classmate shouted loudly and ran to the teacher’s office, telling everyone that this guy was taking drugs. Two strong male teachers ran into the classroom and knocked him down on the ground. One teacher extinguished the lighter, while the other teacher asked everyone to leave the classroom immediately to protect the crime scene. Then, someone called the police number. No matter how much the guy who usually causes trouble lies on the ground pleading and defending, it is ineffective. Until the police arrived at the school. Finally, the police gave this guy a lesson, and the school gave him a stern warning, requiring everyone in his family to come to the school to receive anti drug education. This guy is no longer arrogant anymore.

Story 2

A Chinese guy was surfing the internet and saw someone asking where to buy methamphetamine? In fact, it is almost impossible to buy drugs in China. So, this guy came up with a brilliant idea. He purchased some rock sugar, which looks like some semi transparent crystals. Then, tell the drug addict online that he has heroin in his hands, and the price is very cheap, only 1/5 of the black market price, and there is also a considerable amount of inventory. This price immediately attracted drug addicts. After some bargaining, the drug addict paid tens of thousands of yuan and bought a small bag of rock sugar from that guy. The supermarket sells for 5 yuan. However, this guy, in pursuit of the pinnacle of art, kindly tells drug addicts: I will mail it to you through China Post. However, in order to avoid the police, we must be smarter. For example, I would use packaging bags of rock sugar to hold these methamphetamine, and when you receive the goods, if someone asks, you would answer, “This is just a bag of rock sugar.”. Okay, they happily reached the deal, and this guy made tens of thousands of yuan with just a bag of rock sugar. And the poor drug addict who couldn’t buy drugs, after receiving sweet and delicious rock sugar, became extremely angry and had to report to the police that he had been deceived. So much so that when the police asked him how you were deceived, he had to admit that he was a drug addict. He said to the police, I would rather be locked up in a drug rehabilitation center than have this scammer get legal sanctions! Finally, this guy was sentenced to three years in prison for the crime of fraud.

Story 3

A boy who is currently in college is hosting a party with several other boys and girls at his home. In China, college student parties mean they eat hot pot together, play computer games, watch movies, eat snacks, and so on. Afterwards, they played cards. And it was agreed that the loser should take a sip of apple cider vinegar, which is a strange health drink that many people dislike. Then, a few college students had a sudden idea. They drilled several holes into the lid of the bottle of apple cider vinegar, each with a long straw inserted. This way, if someone loses a card game, they can use their own straw to take a sip of sour vinegar. After a while, the boy’s parents went home. When they saw their child and a group of young men and women using multiple straws to suck something, the boy’s father immediately called the police and told them, “My child is gathering to take drugs.”. Because in some movies, drug scenes include empty bottles, plastic hoses, and some liquids. The police rushed in, and several children turned pale in fear. What is the final result? The father apologized to all the children and then made a sumptuous dinner for them.

Story 4

This small matter is about myself. My bathroom wall tiles have fallen off. I consulted the owner of the hardware store and he told me that using a type of “tile adhesive” can solve the problem. However, he doesn’t have a syringe, and I have to suck the glue into the syringe and then inject it into the gap between the tiles. So I found a private clinic and told the nurse to sell me a syringe and a thicker needle. The nurse asked me, “What do you want this thing for?” I completely didn’t understand the nurse’s intention and casually replied, “It’s just doing something.”. Then she called the doctor and began questioning me. I have to tell them the truth. Afterwards, the nurse sold me the syringe but firmly refused to give me the needle. And I checked my ID card and remembered the name of the community I live in. Okay, maybe in her opinion, she still hasn’t dispelled her doubts about me.

These stories (perhaps some sentences are exaggerated, they come from my memories) fully illustrate the attitude of ordinary Chinese people towards drugs or drug use.

Pizza Meatballs

Pizza Meatballs Photo2

Yield: 14 servings

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
2 cups bread crumbs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons garlic salt
Pepper to taste
1/2 pound mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 (12 ounce) cans pizza sauce

Instructions

Mix beef, bread crumbs, milk, onions, garlic salt and pepper together.
Form mixture around cheese cubes to make balls.
Dip balls into flour and brown in oil.
Place balls in slow cooker and pour pizza sauce over them.
Cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or until meatballs are done.

Pizza Meatballs Photo

“NATO is making a DEADLY mistake” and WW3 will look UNLIKE anything we’ve ever seen | Redacted News

Five ways criminals are using AI

Generative AI has made phishing, scamming, and doxxing easier than ever.

Melissa Heikkilä

May 21, 2024

Artificial intelligence has brought a big boost in productivity—to the criminal underworld.

Generative AI provides a new, powerful tool kit that allows malicious actors to work far more efficiently and internationally than ever before, says Vincenzo Ciancaglini, a senior threat researcher at the security company Trend Micro.

Most criminals are “not living in some dark lair and plotting things,” says Ciancaglini. “Most of them are regular folks that carry on regular activities that require productivity as well.”

Last year saw the rise and fall of WormGPT, an AI language model built on top of an open-source model and trained on malware-related data, which was created to assist hackers and had no ethical rules or restrictions. But last summer, its creators announced they were shutting the model down after it started attracting media attention. Since then, cybercriminals have mostly stopped developing their own AI models. Instead, they are opting for tricks with existing tools that work reliably.

That’s because criminals want an easy life and quick gains, Ciancaglini explains. For any new technology to be worth the unknown risks associated with adopting it—for example, a higher risk of getting caught—it has to be better and bring higher rewards than what they’re currently using.

Here are five ways criminals are using AI now.

Phishing

The biggest use case for generative AI among criminals right now is phishing, which involves trying to trick people into revealing sensitive information that can be used for malicious purposes, says Mislav Balunović, an AI security researcher at ETH Zurich. Researchers have found that the rise of ChatGPT has been accompanied by a huge spike in the number of phishing emails.

Spam-generating services, such as GoMail Pro, have ChatGPT integrated into them, which allows criminal users to translate or improve the messages sent to victims, says Ciancaglini. OpenAI’s policies restrict people from using their products for illegal activities, but that is difficult to police in practice, because many innocent-sounding prompts could be used for malicious purposes too, says Ciancaglini.

OpenAI says it uses a mix of human reviewers and automated systems to identify and enforce against misuse of its models, and issues warnings, temporary suspensions and bans if users violate the company’s policies.

“We take the safety of our products seriously and are continually improving our safety measures based on how people use our products,” a spokesperson for OpenAI told us. “We are constantly working to make our models safer and more robust against abuse and jailbreaks, while also maintaining the models’ usefulness and task performance,” they added.

In a report from February, OpenAI said it had closed five accounts associated with state-affiliated malicous actors.

Before, so-called Nigerian prince scams, in which someone promises the victim a large sum of money in exchange for a small up-front payment, were relatively easy to spot because the English in the messages was clumsy and riddled with grammatical errors, Ciancaglini. says. Language models allow scammers to generate messages that sound like something a native speaker would have written.

“English speakers used to be relatively safe from non-English-speaking [criminals] because you could spot their messages,” Ciancaglini says. That’s not the case anymore.

Thanks to better AI translation, different criminal groups around the world can also communicate better with each other. The risk is that they could coordinate large-scale operations that span beyond their nations and target victims in other countries, says Ciancaglini.

Deepfake audio scams

Generative AI has allowed deepfake development to take a big leap forward, with synthetic images, videos, and audio looking and sounding more realistic than ever. This has not gone unnoticed by the criminal underworld.

Earlier this year, an employee in Hong Kong was reportedly scammed out of $25 million after cybercriminals used a deepfake of the company’s chief financial officer to convince the employee to transfer the money to the scammer’s account. “We’ve seen deepfakes finally being marketed in the underground,” says Ciancaglini. His team found people on platforms such as Telegram showing off their “portfolio” of deepfakes and selling their services for as little as $10 per image or $500 per minute of video. One of the most popular people for criminals to deepfake is Elon Musk, says Ciancaglini.

And while deepfake videos remain complicated to make and easier for humans to spot, that is not the case for audio deepfakes. They are cheap to make and require only a couple of seconds of someone’s voice—taken, for example, from social media—to generate something scarily convincing.

In the US, there have been high-profile cases where people have received distressing calls from loved ones saying they’ve been kidnapped and asking for money to be freed, only for the caller to turn out to be a scammer using a deepfake voice recording.

“People need to be aware that now these things are possible, and people need to be aware that now the Nigerian king doesn’t speak in broken English anymore,” says Ciancaglini. “People can call you with another voice, and they can put you in a very stressful situation,” he adds.

There are some for people to protect themselves, he says. Ciancaglini recommends agreeing on a regularly changing secret safe word between loved ones that could help confirm the identity of the person on the other end of the line.

“I password-protected my grandma,” he says.

Bypassing identity checks

Another way criminals are using deepfakes is to bypass “know your customer” verification systems. Banks and cryptocurrency exchanges use these systems to verify that their customers are real people. They require new users to take a photo of themselves holding a physical identification document in front of a camera. But criminals have started selling apps on platforms such as Telegram that allow people to get around the requirement.

They work by offering a fake or stolen ID and imposing a deepfake image on top of a real person’s face to trick the verification system on an Android phone’s camera. Ciancaglini has found examples where people are offering these services for cryptocurrency website Binance for as little as $70.

“They are still fairly basic,” Ciancaglini says. The techniques they use are similar to Instagram filters, where someone else’s face is swapped for your own.

“What we can expect in the future is that [criminals] will use actual deepfakes … so that you can do more complex authentication,” he says.

Jailbreak-as-a-service

If you ask most AI systems how to make a bomb, you won’t get a useful response.

That’s because AI companies have put in place various safeguards to prevent their models from spewing harmful or dangerous information. Instead of building their own AI models without these safeguards, which is expensive, time-consuming, and difficult, cybercriminals have begun to embrace a new trend: jailbreak-as-a-service.

Most models come with rules around how they can be used. Jailbreaking allows users to manipulate the AI system to generate outputs that violate those policies—for example, to write code for ransomware or generate text that could be used in scam emails.

Services such as EscapeGPT and BlackhatGPT offer anonymized access to language-model APIs and jailbreaking prompts that update frequently. To fight back against this growing cottage industry, AI companies such as OpenAI and Google frequently have to plug security holes that could allow their models to be abused.

Jailbreaking services use different tricks to break through safety mechanisms, such as posing hypothetical questions or asking questions in foreign languages. There is a constant cat-and-mouse game between AI companies trying to prevent their models from misbehaving and malicious actors coming up with ever more creative jailbreaking prompts.

These services are hitting the sweet spot for criminals, says Ciancaglini.

“Keeping up with jailbreaks is a tedious activity. You come up with a new one, then you need to test it, then it’s going to work for a couple of weeks, and then Open AI updates their model,” he adds. “Jailbreaking is a super-interesting service for criminals.”

Doxxing and surveillance

AI language models are a perfect tool for not only phishing but for doxxing (revealing private, identifying information about someone online), says Balunović. This is because AI language models are trained on vast amounts of internet data, including personal data, and can deduce where, for example, someone might be located.

As an example of how this works, you could ask a chatbot to pretend to be a private investigator with experience in profiling. Then you could ask it to analyze text the victim has written, and infer personal information from small clues in that text—for example, their age based on when they went to high school, or where they live based on landmarks they mention on their commute. The more information there is about them on the internet, the more vulnerable they are to being identified.

Balunović was part of a team of researchers that found late last year that large language models, such as GPT-4, Llama 2, and Claude, are able to infer sensitive information such as people’s ethnicity, location, and occupation purely from mundane conversations with a chatbot. In theory, anyone with access to these models could use them this way.

Since their paper came out, new services that exploit this feature of language models have emerged.

While the existence of these services doesn’t indicate criminal activity, it points out the new capabilities malicious actors could get their hands on. And if regular people can build surveillance tools like this, state actors probably have far better systems, Balunović says.

“The only way for us to prevent these things is to work on defenses,” he says.

Companies should invest in data protection and security, he adds.

For individuals, increased awareness is key. People should think twice about what they share online and decide whether they are comfortable with having their personal details being used in language models, Balunović says.

9 Daily Habits that Often Cause 90 Percent of Our Relationship Problems

Written by Marc Chernoff

There’s something to be said for slow and steady progress, but there’s also something to be said for decisive and sweeping action. When it comes to negative relationship habits, there’s no time like today to quit cold turkey. Of course that’s a lot easier said than done, but with practice we can do better almost immediately.

Lately I’ve been making it a point to bring more awareness to the specific negative relationship habits our coaching clients have been repeatedly complaining about or engaging in. And perhaps more importantly than that, I’ve also been noticing how frequently many of the same habits and behaviors surface in my personal relationships. I mean let’s be honest, we all misbehave in our relationships sometimes. None of us are immune to occasional negative mood swings. But that doesn’t excuse what we do to each other on a daily basis.

Over the years, through our coaching practice and live events, Angel and I have literally worked with hundreds of individuals looking to fix or strengthen their relationships, and we’ve learned a lot about what it takes to make that happen. One of the most significant realizations, again, is the fact that most problems in our relationships (both intimate and platonic) arise from the same basic negative habits and behavioral issues. Here are some of the more prevalent ones to be aware of…

1. Giving the silent treatment.

Tuning out, ignoring, disengaging, refusing to acknowledge, etc. All variations of the silent treatment don’t just remove the other person from the disagreement or argument you’re having with them, it ends up removing them, emotionally, from the relationship you have with them. Truly, when you’re purposely ignoring someone you’re really teaching them to live without you. If that’s what you want, be clear about it. And if not, reengage with them in a constructive way.

2. Seeking attention by complaining.

I spoke with a new friend yesterday who all but refused to talk about the positive aspects of their life. After listening to them vent about fairly minor troubles for an hour straight, I asked about some of the exciting projects they have going on (of which they have many). Within three sentences they were back to complaining about trivial things. We all need to share our troubles with friends or strangers from time to time, but don’t fall into the habit of turning conversations into your own personal dumping ground. It’s an easy way to get attention, but it’s a poor way to keep it, and it’s a poor way to view your life.

3. Using disagreements as an excuse to condemn someone’s character.

Complaints are OK. Disagreements are OK too. These are natural and honest reactions to a person’s decisions or behavior. But when complaints and disagreements spiral out of control into global attacks on a person’s entire character, rather than their occasional decisions or behavior, this spells trouble. For example: “They didn’t call me when they said they would because they were busy and forgot, but because they are a horrible, wretched, selfish person.” The bottom line here is that there’s a big difference between who someone is and what they sometimes do.

4. Focusing on the inner monologue instead of the actual dialogue.

“Holy crap! How should I respond? What can I say that will sound smart and clever? I really hope they think I’m intelligent. I could touch on symbolism or make a reference to post-modernism. Wait… what did they just ask me?” Stay focused on the other person’s words and points. People rarely mind when you say, “Hmm, let me think about that for a moment.” Quite the opposite, since it shows that you’re taking the conversation seriously. If you compose your answers while someone else is speaking, you’re really only having half a conversation, and it’s usually quite obvious. (Read “Just Listen”.)

5. Using (subtle) hateful gestures.

Frequent name-calling, eye-rolling, belittling, mockery, childish threats, rude teasing, etc. In whatever form, gestures like these are poisonous to a relationship because they convey hate. And it’s virtually impossible to resolve relationship problems, or strengthen a relationship in any way, when the other person is constantly receiving the message that you hate them.

6. Multi-tasking while engaging with people.

Even if you are a professional multitasker, if you’re talking to someone, talk to them and that’s it. Don’t browse online, don’t watch TV, don’t scroll through social media, etc. If you really don’t have the time to talk, be honest and find another time, or cut it short. The bottom line is that there’s no greater gift of kindness, and no greater expression of caring that you can offer, than your undivided time and attention. (Note: Angel and I discuss this in more detail in the Relationships chapter of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)

7. De-emphasizing compliments, or fishing for more of them, with self-effacing remarks.

“Oh, I look terrible today” … after someone compliments you. “I just threw it together at the last minute” … when you obviously dressed up. “I’m really not good at things like this” … when the people you’re with say you are. Don’t do this to yourself and others. It’s not flattering or helpful behavior. By making self-effacing comments, you basically force the other person to repeat their compliment or defend it, which is not a gracious thing to do. It’s perfectly OK to say simply “thank you” when you’re complimented. It’s not snobby, it’s just a basic courtesy.

8. Holding the past against people that have been “forgiven.”

If someone you love or care about makes a mistake and you choose to forgive them, your actions must reinforce your words. In other words, let bygones be bygones. Don’t use their past wrongdoings to continuously justify your own present righteousness. When you constantly use someone’s past wrongdoings to make yourself seem “better” than them (“I’m better than you because, unlike you, I didn’t do XYZ in the past.”), it’s a lose-lose situation in the long run.

9. Leveraging or accepting emotional blackmail.

Emotional blackmail happens when you apply an emotional penalty against someone if they don’t do exactly what you want them to do. The key condition here is that they change they’re behavior against their will as a result of the emotional blackmail. Absent the emotional blackmail they would live differently, but they fear the penalty from you and so they give in. If that sounds familiar, the solution relies heavily on better communication. If two people care about each other and want to maintain a healthy relationship, they absolutely need to be allowed to openly communicate all of their feelings to each other, not just the agreeable and positive ones. If this is not allowed or supported — if one or both people fear penalty or punishment for their honesty — lies and deceit will gradually transpire.

Remember, we all have a responsibility to uphold.

As you reflect on the negative social habits above, do your best to keep things in perspective. If you recognize one or more of them in your relationships, refrain from pointing fingers. Take some responsibility so you can put yourself in a position to make positive changes. Remind yourself that when you deny 100% responsibility in a relationship problem or dispute, all you’re really doing is blaming the other person. You’re saying, in effect, “The problem here is never me and it’s always you.” This denial of responsibility usually just escalates everything, because there’s a complete and utter breakdown of communication.

The key thing to understand is that you have a choice. Either you’re choosing to be in a relationship with another person, or you aren’t. If you’re choosing to be in, then you are responsible for it. Denying this means you’re giving up all your power to the other person — you’re their victim, regardless of circumstances (positive or negative), because you’ve given them 100% of the responsibility for the relationship you have with them. So again, even when the behavior driving a relationship problem belongs to the other person, the only way to find common ground, or simply create a healthy boundary and more space for yourself, is to first own the fact that you have a responsibility to address.

And also keep in mind that when your friendship, marriage, parenting, etc. gets difficult, it’s not an immediate sign that you’re doing it wrong. These intimate, intricate relationships are toughest when you’re doing them right — when you’re dedicating time, compromising, having the tough conversations, and making daily sacrifices.

Healthy long-tern relationships are always amazing, but rarely easy 24/7. Resisting the hard times and seeing them as immediate evidence that something is wrong, or that you’re in a relationship with the wrong person, only exacerbates the difficulties. By contrast, finding the patience and mindfulness to view the challenges as an opportunity to work together will likely give your relationship the energy and strength needed to transcend the problems and grow even stronger in the long run.

And finally, practice tuning in to your own feelings and needs. Note the times and circumstances when you’re resentful of fulfilling someone else’s needs. Gradually establish healthy and reasonable boundaries by saying no to gratuitous requests that cause resentfulness in you. Of course, this will be hard at first because it may feel selfish. But if you’ve ever flown on a plane you know that flight attendants instruct passengers to put on their own oxygen masks before tending to others, even their own children. Why? Because you can’t help others if you’re incapacitated. In the long run, proactively establishing and enforcing healthy and reasonable boundaries in your relationships will be one of the most charitable things you can do for both yourself and those you care about.

The Fundamental Attribution Error: Why You Suck at Judging People’s Behavior

May 22, 2024

We all like to think we’re good at reading people and figuring out why they do the shit they do. Your coworker snapped at you in a meeting? Must be because he’s an asshole with anger issues. That lady cut you off in traffic? Obviously it’s because she’s a self-absorbed, horrible driver.

Well I’m here to burst your bubble. Turns out, you actually suck at judging other people’s behavior. And so does everyone else. It all comes down to a pesky little cognitive bias called the fundamental attribution error.

Here’s how it works: when someone else fucks up or does something annoying, we attribute it to their personality and character. “She’s just a rude bitch,” we say. But when WE screw up in the exact same way, we blame the circumstances. “I was just having a bad day,” or “I was stressed and not thinking clearly.”

See the problem? We cut ourselves all sorts of slack, but when judging others, it’s all about their flaws as a person. We ignore the situational factors influencing their behavior.

Maybe your coworker snapped because he’s going through a rough divorce and hasn’t been sleeping. Maybe that lady cut you off because she just found out her kid is sick and she’s rushing to pick him up. There’s often a lot more to the story that you’re oblivious to.

The truth is, people’s behavior is largely driven by their environment and circumstances, not just their core personality traits. But the fundamental attribution error causes us to zoom in on character and ignore context.

And this doesn’t just lead to us being judgmental assholes. It actually fucks up our relationships and interactions. By wrongly attributing people’s actions to their fixed personality, we assume they’ll always act that way. We write them off or treat them poorly, instead of considering the reasons behind their behavior.

So what’s the solution? How do we avoid this trap?

First step: realize you’re susceptible to the bias. It affects all of us, no matter how smart or perceptive we think we are. Stay humble and recognize your judgment of others can often be flawed.

Second: put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Pause your knee-jerk reaction of “Wow what a bitch/asshole/idiot” and consider the situational factors that could explain their behavior. What’s going on in their life that you might not be aware of? What circumstances could have contributed?

This doesn’t mean you have to excuse everyone’s shitty behavior. Some people do just consistently suck. But very often there’s more to the story. And giving others the benefit of the doubt can improve your relationships and emotional reactions.

So next time someone is pissing you off, take a step back before writing them off as a shit human being. Consider the context. Realize you could act the exact same way in their situation.

Congrats, you’re now slightly less of a judgmental ass. You’re welcome.

SECOND Russian Nuclear Missile Warning Radar Hit By Ukraine – Also an attempt to hit a THIRD!

Hal Turner World May 28, 2024

For the SECOND TIME, Ukraine drones hit a radar of Russia’s nuclear early warning system, and attempted to shoot a THIRD one, with Moscow expecting a fourth radar station to be hit as well.

The attack upon a SECOND Over-The-Horizon radar inside Russia is an extremely worrying development because it is clearly being done not for Ukraine defense, but rather as a NATO destabilization of the combat command and control system of Russian strategic nuclear forces.

This SECOND attack hit the Voronezh-DM advanced over-the-horizon (OTH) early warning radar system in the Orsk region of Orenburg, 1,800 km from the Ukrainian border.

This second attack happened on May 26 into 27. But unlike the first attack, wherein imagery from the ground was available to me almost immediately, no ground imagery is presently available to me. Instead, all I can show is grainy satellite imagery showing scorch marks on the ground:

As you can clearly see, it is difficult if not impossible to determine if the radar is still functional, but I am told it is NOT.

Russian analysts stress that a new blow from Ukraine should be expected. According to them, the next NATO target is the Voronezh-M radar in Lekhtusi (Leningrad region).

If Kiev hits this particular radar in Lekhtusi (Leningrad Region), then Russia’s defense capability in the northern direction will be reduced. Moscow will lose the ability to detect in time the launch of missiles with nuclear warheads against it and, accordingly, to react quickly to what is happening.

Put simply, the “Blind Spots” that are being created in Russia’s early-warning radar, are making Russia vulnerable to a Nuclear First-Strike attack by the West. The Russians are becoming “sitting ducks.”

Austrian Army Colonel Markus Reisner on the (US) attack on Russia’s early warning radar:
– Almost no significance for the Ukrainian battlefield
– Likely a US-led attack to degrade Russia’s nuclear deterrent
– “Boiling the frog” strategy to enable first-strike

HAL TURNER ANALYSIS

When I reported the attack upon the first Russia Over-the-Horizon radar (Story Here), I pointed out that the station did not provide coverage in Ukraine. There was no military advantage for Ukraine to have attacked this radar station.

I pointed out that, in my view, the only reason a station like this would be attacked, would be to set the stage for a NATO nuclear first strike on Russia.

Bolstering my belief that it is NATO engaging in attacking these stations is the fact, revealed over the Memorial Day Weekend holiday, that one of the Drones shot down during the FIRST attack, was a “Tekever AR3” Drone. They are made by Portugal! A NATO member country! A FILE PHOTO image of the Tekever AR3 appears below:

With this second radar station having now been hit, and an attempt made on a THIRD radar station, it seems clear to me that NATO is setting the stage for a DECAPITATION NUCLEAR ATTACK against Russia; the idea apparently being “Solve the Russia problem in one fell swoop.”

I may be wrong about the idea, but I am not wrong about the vulnerability being created inside Russia with these particular attacks.

At some point, Russia is going to be in a position where they have a single choice: Use their nukes, or lose them.

I am of the belief that Russia will USE them, because failing to do so, would leave Russia at the mercy of NATO and would thereby be a conquered nation. I just don’t see the Russians putting up with that. The Slavic mentality is “It is better to die on their feet, than to live on their knees.”

In sum, it is we in the West who are constantly upping the ante in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and now we are upping the ante to actual nuclear war. This is not the Treaty Role of NATO, and I know of absolutely no American or even European citizen that has authorized or even asked for Nuclear World War 3.

These dangerous and reckless escalations are being carried out by elements within NATO and these people should be confronted and stopped.

The survival of us, our families, and out way of life, is at stake.

Cool Vintage Illustration

Russian General: “NATO Training for NUCLEAR ATTACKS upon Russia”

Hal Turner World May 28, 2024

Russian Television (RT) and the SPUTNIK News service in Russia are reporting the Border Protection Service sees NATO Training for nuclear attacks upon Russia.

The head of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service told Sputnik about NATO’s nuclear drills near Russia’s borders and explained how guards regularly thwart Ukrainian attempts to infiltrate Russia.

NATO is training to strike Russian territory with nuclear weapons near its borders, the head of the border service of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Vladimir Kulishov, told Sputnik.

“Near the Russian border, NATO’s reconnaissance activities are increasing, the intensity of operational combat training of the alliance’s troops is growing, during which scenarios for conducting combat operations against the Russian Federation, including the launch of nuclear strikes on our territory, are being worked out,” he said.

The top official added that the situation requires “taking appropriate steps to protect and secure our borders.”

NATO is practicing nuclear strikes on Russian territory near the Russian border, head of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service Vladimir Kulishov told Sputnik in an interview.

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 28, 2024

Russian border guards together with the Sever Battlegroup have thwarted 29 attempts of Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to infiltrate Russian territory in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod Regions as well as the Crimean Republic since February 2022, Vladimir Kulishov told Sputnik.

Meanwhile, the number of missile and artillery strikes on Russian territory is increasing and drone attacks on Russia’s military, transport, energy and social infrastructure are becoming more intense, Kulishov said, adding that the victims of such terrorist attacks are mainly civilians, including the elderly and children. He also noted that in 2023, more than 5,500 attempts to enter Russia by individuals associated with international terrorist and extremist organizations, as well as special services and armed formations of Ukraine, were prevented.

Downing 1,300 Ukrainian Drones

Russian border guards downed over 1,300 Ukrainian drones that violated the Russian border in 2023, striking more than half of them by means of electronic warfare, the head of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Vladimir Kulishov, told Sputnik.

“Means of combating unmanned aircraft systems have long been used by the border services … In 2023, border guards shot down over 1,300 drones that violated the state border from Ukrainian territory, with more than half by electronic warfare equipment,” Kulishov said.

Means of combating unmanned aircraft systems have long been used by the border services … In 2023, border guards shot down over 1,300 drones that violated the state border from Ukrainian territory, with more than half by electronic warfare equipment,” Kulishov said.”

The development of unmanned aviation and marine systems and anti-drone technologies will remain promising areas of technical equipment for border authorities, he also said.

Since the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has destroyed Ukraine’s 23,600 drones, 500 surface-to-air missile systems, 590 military aircraft, 270 helicopters, 15,890 tanks and other armored vehicles, 1,200 rocket launchers, 9,200 field artillery weapons and mortars, as well as 21,400 tactical vehicles, the Russian Defense Ministry said in early May.

The Last Words Spoken By 69 Famous People

By Nick Lee | May 21, 2024

1. “I know you have come to kill me. Shoot coward, you are only going to kill a man.” Facing his assassin, Mario Teran, a Bolivian soldier. Ernesto “Che” Guevara

2. Leonardo da Vinci was also overly modest, saying, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”

3. According to Steve Jobs’ sister Mona, the Apple founder’s last words were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”

4. “Go on, get out – last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.” To his housekeeper, who urged him to tell her his last words so she could write them down for posterity. –Karl Marx, revolutionary, d. 1883

5. “KHAQQ calling Itasca. We must be on you, but cannot see you. Gas is running low.” Last radio communication before her disappearance. Amelia Earhart

6. Frank Sinatra died after saying, “I’m losing it.”

7. George Orwell’s last written words were, “At fifty, everyone has the face he deserves.” He died at age 46.

8. Napoleon’s last words were, “France, armée, tête d’armée, Joséphine.”(“France, army, head of the army, Joséphine.”)

9. Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre turned to his partner Simone de Beauvoir and said, “I love you very much, my dear Beaver.”

10. “Now I shall go to sleep. Goodnight.” – Lord George Byron

11. Rainer Maria Rilke said, “I don’t want the doctor’s death. I want to have my own freedom.”

12. Nostradamus predicted, “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.” He was right.

13. Author Vladimir Nabokov was also an entomologist, particularly interested in butterflies. His last words: “A certain butterfly is already on the wing.”

14. Author Herman Melville died saying, “God bless Captain Vere!” referencing his then-unpublished novel Billy Budd, found on his desk after he died.

15. Marie Antoinette stepped on her executioner’s foot on her way to the guillotine. Her last words: “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur.” (Monsieur, I beg your pardon)

16. Richard B. Mellon was a multimillionaire. He was the President of Alcoa, and he and his brother Andrew had a little game of Tag going. The weird thing was, this game of Tag lasted for like seven decades. When Richard was on his deathbed, he called his brother over and whispered, “Last tag.” Poor Andrew remained “It” for four years, until he died.

17. When Harriet Tubman was dying in 1913, she gathered her family around and they sang together. Her last words were, “Swing low, sweet chariot.”

18. When Sir Isaac Newton died, he was humble. He said, “I don’t know what I may seem to the world. But as to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore and diverting myself now and then in finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than the ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”

19. Italian artist Raphael’s last word was simply: “Happy.”

20. How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden? – P. T. Barnum

21. Drummer Buddy Rich died after surgery in 1987. As he was being prepped for surgery, a nurse asked him, “Is there anything you can’t take?” Rich replied, “Yeah, country music.”

22. Johnny Ace, an R&B singer, died in 1954 while playing with a pistol during a break in his concert set. His last words were, “I’ll show you that it won’t shoot.”

23. Richard Feynman, a physicist, author, musician, professor, and traveler, died in Los Angeles in 1988. His last words? “This dying is boring.”

24. As Benjamin Franklin lay dying at the age of 84, his daughter told him to change position in bed so he could breathe more easily. Franklin’s last words were, “A dying man can do nothing easy.”

25. Albert Abraham Michelson was the first person to measure the speed of light and was the first American to win a Nobel Prize for physics. Even as he was dying at age 78, he was measuring light. He wrote in his log: “The following is a report on the measurement of the velocity of light made at the Irvine Ranch, near Santa Ana, California, during the period of September 1929 to—.”

26. Thomas B. Moran was a pickpocket, known by the nickname “Butterfingers.” He reportedly stole as many as 50,000 wallets in his career. He died in Miami in 1971, and his last words were, “I’ve never forgiven that smart-alecky reporter who named me Butterfingers. To me, it’s not funny.”

27. Murderer James W. Rodgers was put in front of a firing squad in Utah and asked if he had a last request. He replied, “Bring me a bullet-proof vest.”

28. Charles “Lucky” Luciano was a mob leader who helped the U.S. work with the Sicilian Mafia during World War II in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. His last words were, “Tell Georgie I want to get in the movies one way or another.” And it worked! His life story is told in the movies Lucky Luciano, The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, and many more. He also appears as a character in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.

29. John Arthur Spenkelink was executed in Florida in 1979. He spent his final days writing these last words on various pieces of mail: “Capital punishment means those without the capital get the punishment.”

30. Convicted murderer Thomas J. Grasso used his last words to complain about his last meal. He said, “I did not get my Spaghetti-O’s; I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.”

31. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, died at age 71 in his garden. He turned to his wife and said, “You are wonderful,” then clutched his chest and died.

32. Writer T.S. Eliot was only able to whisper one word as he died: “Valerie,” the name of his wife.

33. Actor and comedian W.C. Fields died in 1946. He last words: “God damn the whole friggin’ world and everyone in it but you, Carlotta.” He was speaking to Carlotta Monti, his longtime mistress.

34. Percy Grainger was an Australian composer who, with his dying words, told his wife Ella, “You’re the only one I like.”

35. Actor Michael Landon, best known for Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven, died of cancer in 1991. His family gathered around his bed, and his son said it was time to move on. Landon said, “You’re right. It’s time. I love you all.”

36. Football coach Vince Lombardi died of cancer in 1970. As he died, Lombardi turned to his wife Marie and said, “Happy anniversary. I love you.”

37. O.O. McIntyre was an American reporter. He died at age 53, and spoke his last words to his wife Maybelle: “Snooks, will you please turn this way. I like to look at your face.”

38. When he was 57, Edward R. Murrow died while patting his wife’s hand. He said, “Well, Jan, we were lucky at that.”

39. John Wayne died at age 72 in L.A. He turned to his wife and said, “Of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”

40. Humphrey Bogart’s wife Lauren Bacall had to leave the hospital to pick up their kids. Bogart said, “Goodbye, kid. Hurry back.” Not quite, “Here’s looking at you, kid,” but close.

41. Before Ernest Hemingway committed suicide, he told his wife Mary, “Goodnight my kitten.”

42. Donald O’Connor was a singer, dancer, and actor. He also hosted the Academy Awards in 1954. O’Connor died at age 78 with his family gathered around him. He joked, “I’d like to thank the Academy for my lifetime achievement award that I will eventually get.” He still hasn’t gotten one.

43. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill was born in a room at the Broadway Hotel on what is now Times Square. He died at age 65 in a Boston hotel. His last words? “I knew it! I knew it! Born in a hotel room and, goddamn it, dying in a hotel room.”

44. Jack Soo was an actor on the TV series Barney Miller. On the show, there was a running gag about Soo’s character making crappy coffee in the office. Soo developed cancer of the esophagus, and when was being wheeled into an operating room, he joked to Barney Millerco-star Hal Linden, “It must have been the coffee.” In a tribute episode, cast members raised coffee cups in Soo’s memory.

45. Josephine Baker knew how to party. She sang, danced, and acted. She adopted a dozen kids and lived in Paris. On the last night of her life, she left a party being held in her honor, saying, “Oh, you young people act like old men. You are no fun.”

46. Charles Gussman was a writer and TV announcer, who wrote the pilot episode of Days of Our Lives, among other shows. As he became ill, he said he wanted his last words to be memorable. When he daughter reminded him of this, he gently removed his oxygen mask and whispered: “And now for a final word from our sponsor—.”

47. When Groucho Marx was dying, he let out one last quip: “This is no way to live!”

48. Groucho’s brother Leonard, who was better known as Chico Marx, gave instructions to his wife as his last words: “Remember, Honey, don’t forget what I told you. Put in my coffin a deck of cards, a mashie niblick, and a pretty blonde.” For the record, a “mashie niblick” is a kind of golf club.

49. Wilson Mizner is best known for his bon mots, though he was a successful playwright. He’s known for the line, “Be nice to people on the way up because you’ll meet the same people on the way down.” When Mizner was on his deathbed, a priest said, “I’m sure you want to talk to me.” Mizner told the priest, “Why should I talk to you? I’ve just been talking to your boss.”

50. As he was dying, Alfred Hitchcock said, “One never knows the ending. One has to die to know exactly what happens after death, although Catholics have their hopes.”

51. ‘I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.” – Humphrey Bogart

52. Vladimir Ilych Lenin’s last words were, “Good dog.” (Technically, he said “Vot sobaka.”) He said this to a dog that brought him a dead bird.

53. Blues guitarist Leadbelly said, “Doctor, if I put this here guitar down now, I ain’t never gonna wake up.” And he was right.

54. Thomas Fantet de Lagny was a mathematician. On his deathbed, he was asked, “What is the square of 12?” His last words: “One hundred and forty-four.”

55. “I am still alive!” Stabbed to death by his own guards – Gaius Caligula, Roman Emperor,

56. Sir Winston Churchill’s last words were, “I’m bored with it all.”

57. Actress Joan Crawford yelled at her housekeeper, who was praying as Crawford died. Crawford said, “Damn it! Don’t you dare ask God to help me!”

58. Bo Diddley died giving a thumbs-up as he listened to the song “Walk Around Heaven.” His last word was “Wow.”

59. Baseball player “Moe” Berg’s last words: “How did the Mets do today?”

60. Emily Dickinson’s last words were, “I must go in, for the fog is rising.”

61. As Truman Capote lay dying, he repeated, “Mama— Mama— Mama.”

62. James Brown said, “I’m going away tonight.”

63. Surgeon Joseph Henry Green was checking his own pulse as he lay dying. His last word: “Stopped.”

64. “I’ve had a hell of a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” Errol Flynn

65. This is the last of earth! I am content. – John Quincy Adams, US President

66. “Let’s cool it brothers . . .“Spoken to his assassins, 3 men who shot him 16 times. – Malcolm X

67. Blues singer Bessie Smith died saying, “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.”

68. “Lord help my poor soul.” – Edgar Allan Poe

69. Beethoven’s last recorded words were “Pity, pity—too late!”, as the dying composer was told of a gift of twelve bottles of wine from his publisher

Do Chinese and Korean people forgive Japan for its atrocities or not?

For this Chinese, NO!

Let me repeat.

NO.

NO!!!

Yes, let bygones be bygone, the current generation isn’t responsible for past atrocities, Japan is a peaceful nation today.

Yada yada yada.

I am old enough to have heard all these—and more.

It isn’t the Chinese (or in fact, East Asia) that harbor unforgiveness and refuse to move on.

It is the Japanese themselves.

But first, let’s segue to the Middle East, where recent events have brought a century’s worth of monstrous injustice to the fore.

The Brits began the process with the Balfour Declaration, carving up land they did not own for the establishment of a Jewish State. The Two-State solution, itself a massive compromise built on the rubble of colonialism, is still in limbo today.

Why?

The hegemonic power of the United States has hijacked the natural course of history in the Middle East.

Similarly, it is the United States that has hijacked the natural course of history in East Asia, up to the present.

What do I mean?

Imagine Adolf Hitler surviving WWII in a parallel universe. Post-surrender, Adolf isn’t prosecuted, and elevated to ceremonial leader of the German people, if only to preserve the unity of Germany as a counter to the Soviets.

Similarly, Nazi members of the War Cabinet and key administrators of the Third Reich are either pardoned or given slap on the wrist sentences to rehabilitate them for leadership roles in the New Germany. The Nazi flag of the German Navy is retained.

Now, Hitler in the alternate universe survives another 40 years as ceremonial Fuhrer. He toured Germany, making public appearances at special events and ceremonies, giving speeches celebrating societal progress. He also served as Germany’s top ambassador, traveling abroad to meet important world leaders, rebuilding Germany’s diplomatic image in step with its rapid climb up the GDP ladder.

His funeral in old age was the grandest in teutonic history, and took over a month of careful national preparation. Leaders from all over the world were in attendance, and German society came to a standstill, tens of millions lining the street or glued to the live telecast to send their dear Fuhrer on his final journey.

His eldest son, and grandson, inherit the position of ceremonial Fuhrer in succession.

The reign of Adolf is remembered as Germany’s most glorious, bringing the nation to the forefront of humanity, and respect from the world community. German kids are taught history from whitewashed textbooks where Germany is cast as a victim of WWII, and no Holocaust occurred.

Turned your stomach yet?

Replace “Germany” with “Japan” and “Hitler” with “Hirohito”, and we are immediately transplanted to the 20th century.

The real 20th century, only not the Eastern Atlantic but the Western Pacific.

This is STILL the flag of the Japanese Navy today. No longer Imperial, but unbroken traditions nonetheless.

Japanese leaders visiting Yasukuni isn’t the elephant in the room. It is Hirohito on the throne for 58 years and departing as Japan’s longest-serving and most successful Emperor in the history of the Chrysanthemum throne that is a permanent affront to the peoples of East Asia.

It’s a monstrosity that beggars belief.

No Jew would have accepted the parallel Germany described above.

Similarly, no Chinese accepts the perverse course of justice in China-Japan relations over the past 2,000 years, where all the violence—yes, ALL THE VIOLENCE—has been inflicted on the mainland, while the Japanese home islands reaped the benefit of cultural, technological and economic transfer, with little of the benefit flowing back.

If you thought the Nazis vile and inhuman for the systematic extermination of the Jews and Gypsies, words may fail you when the Japanese treatment of the Chinese in the 15-year war (1931–1945) is uncovered. The Japanese killed far more Chinese (tens of millions) than the Germans did Jews, and exhibited depraved, almost insane barbarity.

And yet the average Japanese youth has little awareness of his country’s dark history, because the textbooks teach a parallel Japan since the era of Meiji, presided by moral and wise monarchs whose steady hands guided the peaceful rise of Japan, in direct contrast to the horrific and vile land-grab and colonization that characterized much of their reigns.

What’s there for the foreigner to forgive when the perps have not even come to terms with their past and disavowed a blood-stained chapter of sordid history?

On a final note, the Chinese ceded Taiwan and paid an indemnity of 40m taels of silver (equal to 3 years of Qing tax revenue) after suing for peace in the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which ended an 8-month war. China has not received a single cent of reparation from Japan’s 15-year war waged in China that caused a minimum of 1t (in today’s dollars) in physical damage.

The next time conflict breaks out between China and Japan, the Chinese will make sure it will NOT be fought on the mainland.

P.S.: Japanese whitewashing and glorification of history has a deleterious effect on the future, because unrepentant descendants will look to the past for guidance and seek to emulate the glories of the Showa, Taisho and Meiji eras. Reinterpreting the peaceful Constitution and rewriting it is the first step.

There will be abiding consequences, as a reckoning beckons.

10 ways to get the most out of your time on this planet

Jan 4, 2022 / Oliver Burkeman

Accepting our mortality helps us let go of busyness and focus on what’s most important to us in order to live a happier, more meaningful life.

The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly finite. If you’re lucky and you live to 80, you will have lived about 4,000 weeks. This truth, which most of us ignore most of the time, is something to wrestle with if we want to spend our limited time on this earth well.

Given that, it follows that time management, broadly defined, should be everyone’s chief concern. Yet the modern discipline of time management (or productivity) is depressingly narrow-minded, focused on devising the perfect morning routine or trying to crank through as many tasks as possible, while investing all your energy on reaching some later state of well-being and accomplishment. It ignores the fact that the world is bursting with wonder — and that experiencing more of that wonder may come at the cost of productivity.

When we recognize the shortness of life — and accept the fact that some things have to be left unaccomplished, whether we like it or not — we are freer to focus on what matters.

As a recovering “productivity geek,” I know how it feels to become swept up in the idea of discovering the perfect system of time management. But I was eventually forced to accept that my struggles to achieve a sense of perfect control or mastery of my time were counterproductive, leading not to a life of more meaning but one of more overwhelm and stress. I came to see that I needed to give up the quest for that kind of control, letting go of the impossible goal of becoming perfectly efficient and embracing my limitations instead, so as to make more time for what was really valuable.

Part of that embrace of limitation involves facing the anxiety that comes with acknowledging mortality. When we recognize the shortness of life — and accept the fact that some things have to be left unaccomplished, whether we like it or not — we are freer to focus on what matters. Rather than succumbing to the mentality of “better, faster, more,” we can embrace being imperfect, and be happier for it.

Here are 10 suggestions that I make in my book — Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals — about how to live with your limited time in mind.

Multitasking rarely works well — and you’ll soon find that serializing helps you to complete more projects anyway.

1. Adopt a “fixed volume” approach to productivity

We all need to make tough choices about what we can realistically get done, so that we can prioritize the activities that matter most, instead of reacting to a constant barrage of demands.

One way is to keep two to-do lists — one for everything on your plate, and one for the 10 or fewer things that you’re currently working on. Fill up the 10 slots on the second list with items from the first, then set to work. The rule is not to move any further items from the first list onto the second until you’ve freed up a slot by finishing one of the 10 items.

A related strategy is to set a pre-established time boundary for certain types of daily work — for example, to resolve to write from 8AM to 11AM — and to make sure you stop when time’s up.

2. Serialize

Focus only on one big project at a time. Though it’s alluring to try to alleviate the anxiety of having too many responsibilities or ambitions by getting started on them all at once, you’ll make little progress that way. Multitasking rarely works well — and you’ll soon find that serializing helps you to complete more projects anyway, thereby helping relieve your anxiety.

Strategic underachievement — nominating in advance the areas of your life in which you won’t expect excellence — helps you focus your time and energy more effectively.

3. Decide in advance what to fail at

You’ll inevitably underachieve at something, simply because your time and energy are finite. But strategic underachievement — nominating in advance the areas of your life in which you won’t expect excellence — helps you focus your time and energy more effectively.

For example, you might decide in advance that it’s OK to have a cluttered kitchen while you finish your novel, or to do the bare minimum on a particular work project so you can spend more time with your children.

To live this way is to replace the high-pressure quest for work-life balance with something more reasonable — a deliberate kind of imbalance.

4. Focus on what you’ve already completed, not just what’s left to do

Since the quest to get everything done is interminable by definition, it’s easy to grow despondent and self-reproachful when you can’t get through your whole to-do list. One counter-strategy is to keep a “done list,” which starts empty first thing in the morning, but which you can gradually fill in throughout the day as you get things done. It’s a cheering reminder that you could have spent the day doing nothing remotely constructive … yet you didn’t.

Social media is a giant machine for getting you to spend your time caring about the wrong things — and too many of them at once.

5. Consolidate your caring

Social media is a giant machine for getting you to spend your time caring about the wrong things — and too many of them at once. We’re exposed to an unending stream of atrocities and injustices, each of which might have a legitimate claim on our time and our charitable donations, but which add up to something no human could ever effectively address comprehensively.

Once you grasp that fact fully, it’s good to consciously pick your battles in charity, activism, and politics — and devote your spare time only to those specific causes. Focus your capacity for care, so you don’t burn out.

6. Embrace boring and single-purpose technology

Digital distractions allow us to escape to a realm where painful human limitations don’t seem to apply — scrolling idly around online, you need never feel bored or constrained in your freedom of action, which isn’t the case when it comes to doing work that matters.

You can combat this by making your devices as boring as possible, removing social media apps and, if you dare, email. It’s also helpful to choose devices with only one purpose, such as the Kindle reader. Otherwise, temptations will be only a swipe away, and you’ll feel the urge to check your screens anytime you’re bored or facing a challenge in your work.

When faced with a challenging or boring moment in a relationship, try being curious about the person you’re with, rather than controlling.

7. Seek out novelty in the mundane

Time seems to speed up as we age, likely because our brains encode the passage of years based on how much information we process in any given interval. While children have many novel experiences and time therefore seems slower to them, the routinization of older people’s lives means that time seems to pass at an ever-increasing rate.

The standard advice is to combat this by cramming more novel experiences into your life. That can help, but it’s not always practical.

An alternative is to pay more attention to every moment, however mundane — to find novelty by plunging more deeply into your present life. Try going on unplanned walks to see where they lead you, taking up drawing or birdwatching or playing “I Spy” with a child — whatever draws your attention into the moment more fully.

8. Be a researcher in relationships

The desire to feel in control of our limited time causes numerous problems in relationships, resulting not only in controlling behavior, but also commitment-phobia, the inability to listen, boredom, and missing out on the richness of communal experiences with others.

When faced with a challenging or boring moment in a relationship, try being curious about the person you’re with, rather than controlling. Curiosity is a stance well-suited to the inherent unpredictability of life with others, because it can be satisfied by their behaving in ways you like or dislike — whereas if you demand a certain result instead, you’ll often be frustrated.

Whenever a generous impulse arises in your mind, give in to it right away rather than putting it off.

9. Cultivate instantaneous generosity

Whenever a generous impulse arises in your mind, give in to it right away rather than putting it off. Don’t wait to figure out if the recipient deserves your generosity or if you really have the time to be generous right now (with all of the work you have left to do!). Just do it. The rewards are immediate, too, because generous action reliably makes you feel much happier.

10. Practice doing nothing

When it comes to the challenge of using your 4,000 weeks well, the capacity to do nothing is indispensable, because if you can’t bear the discomfort of not acting, you’re far more likely to make poor choices with your time, such as attempting to hurry activities that can’t be rushed or feeling you ought to spend every moment being “productive,” regardless of whether the tasks in question really matter.

Doing nothing means resisting the urge to manipulate your experience or the people and things in the world around you, and to let things be as they are. You can try the “do-nothing” meditation, where you set a timer for 5-10 minutes and then try doing nothing. If you catch yourself doing something — thinking, say, or even just focusing on your breath — gently let go of doing it.

As you keep letting go, you’ll increase your ability to do nothing and gradually regain your autonomy. You’ll no longer be so motivated by the attempt to evade how reality feels here and now; instead, you’ll learn to calm down and to make better choices with your brief allotment of life.

Neil Armstrong’s Family JUST NOW Confirmed What We Knew All Along

Pickapeppa Roast

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1 (3 to 4 pound) beef chuck roast or Boston butt pork roast
Scant amount olive oil
1 (5 ounce) bottle Pickapeppa sauce
1 (7 ounce) bottle beer
4 cups brown gravy

Instructions

Heat oil in large skillet on the stove top over medium-high heat. Brown meat on all sides.
Put roast into slow cooker. Add Pickapeppa sauce and beer to skillet. Stir to deglaze and cook off some of the alcohol.
Add brown gravy and stir well.
Pour sauce over roast and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

Skyquakes, Upsweeps, and Sky Trumpets | Terrifying Sounds that Signal the End of the World

I lied, you have to get rid of your kitties by the end of the month

When I lived in Milford Massachusetts, I paid a rental agency to find me an apartment that would allow cats. I had three cats, and I was only going to rent a place that would allow me to have them.

Well, sure as shit, I found a place, and moved in.

It was really nice. A three story triplex right off of the main road in downtown. It was walking distance from Ted’s Diner.

Here’s another view.

It’s a fine place for a cup of coffee in a fine REAL coffee cup.

About one month later, the landlord told me that I had to get rid of the cats.

He told me that he had lied, but the apartment was so nice, and the rent was so reasonable that the two other tenants had gladly given away their cats, and he expected me to do so as well.

He gave me one month.

Find a home for the cats, or drop them off at a shelter.

Do you all know what I did?

Guess.

I said “no thanks” and moved out as soon as I found another apartment.

It was in another town though, and I had to root up and leave, but there was no way that I was going to discard my beloved kitties over a place.

The nerve of that guy!

He lied because…

…he thought that I would give away my cats for a place to live.

Sheech! What would youse guys do?

Today…

He lost his job over this

Has anyone walked into a bar and then found it was filled with a biker gang? What happened?

Yeah.

So, this went down during a road trip across the USA a few years back. My buddy and I had rented a Ford Mustang, and we had driven a lot of miles by that point. We where somewhere in Texas – though don’t ask me to pinpoint the exact spot.

Anyway, we were both starving, so we decided to hit up the first joint we stumbled upon. We rolled up to this bar with bikes lined up outside, and I couldn’t help but think, “Well, shit, this might be our last meal.” But, we went in anyway.

We ordered our food, and before we knew it, we had the attention of this rowdy biker dude who seemed a few beers deep. Instead of trying to kill us, the guy just wanted to know if we were locals. I told him that we were just passing through on a road trip.

His response?

“Alright, then lemme show you how we deal with strangers here!”

Next thing we knew, he’s shouting for the bartender to bring us some beers, and his crew’s joining in on the fun. I stuck to soft drinks, but my buddy scored big time with the free beer.

Definitely one of the funniest memories!

US TROOPS ARE 100% GOING TO UKRAINE, NUCLEAR STRIKE ON NK, RUSSIAN ROCKET ON US COAST

Shorpy

SHORPY 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville.preview

Beef in Mushroom Gravy

Yield: 6 servings

Steaks With Mushroom Gravy

The ultimate dinner! Ribeye is the steak of choice for this recipe, but you can also use New York strip (or Porterhouse), Sirloin or Rump. A good cut of beef, even though expensive, is the best steak to cook with and enjoy eating. They stay tender and juicy, and are not chewy like cheaper cuts more suitable for slow cooking.

I have a confession (to add to the other 5 million on my blog). I was never ever a fan of steak and gravy until I met my husband. Why? I prefer juicy, red, medium-rare steaks…and for me, a perfectly juicy steak does’t need ANYTHING on it. Well, besides a good Chimichurri, of course.

However, my husband on the other hand cannot stand juicy med-rare steaks. I know, I know…the travesty. So, because he loves his pieces of well-done dry/cardboard on a plate, I was forced to make him gravy with every steak dinner. (A travesty, I tell you.) That is until I tried it myself with JUICY medium-rare ribeye steaks of course!

Since then, I changed my mind. Steaks are CRAZY GOOD swimming in a gravy sauce! Especially this Onion Mushroom Gravy with a kick of Worcestershire sauce!

If you’re somewhat of a steak snob like me, this Ribeye Steaks With Mushroom Gravy will absolutely change your mind.

Ingredients

2 to 2 1/2 pounds boneless round steak
1 to 2 envelopes dry onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 cup water
Mashed potatoes (optional)

Instructions

Cut steak into six serving-size pieces; place in a slow cooker.
Combine soup mix, soup and water; pour over beef.
Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or until meat is tender.
Serve with mashed potatoes, if desired.

Medical professionals, have you ever treated a patient and immediately recognized a previous doctor’s errors?

I wish I could say that I haven’t, but I can’t.

Example?

I had a lovely young woman, that I knew from previous visits. She had had five previous surgeries, for TMJ, by the same surgeon.

Her jaw was still bothering her. This same surgeon was recommending another surgery.

I thought that this was outrageous. If he had any expertise, this would have been unnecessary.

I begged her to get another opinion.

She refused. She really trusted this guy.

Fast forward a month.

Patient comes in to see me. One whole side of her face is drooping. She does not look the least bit distressed by this.

“Hi, uh, how are you?”

“Good”

“You are?”

“Oh, this… (gesturing toward her face) it’s Bell’s Palsy. It will go away”.

“Uh…who told you that?”

“I woke up from my TMJ surgery like this. The surgeon said this is from a virus and it will go away.”

Quick exam.

I call ENT.

“I have a woman here with a likely through and through cut through the facial nerve.”

“When?”

“Four weeks. Surgeon told her it’s Bell’s palsy.”

“Christ! Send her over right away!”

So, now I get to go in and tell this beautiful young woman that the ENT will try to reattach the nerve but most likely she will look like a gargoyle for the rest of her life. Her idiot surgeon had cut through the nerve and then tried to convince her that she had a virus.

This poor girl sobbed into my lap for a great long while. When she regained her composure, I gently sent her off to the ENT.

I’m sure she got a gazillion dollars in a law suit, but so what. Her face was destroyed.

I could tell you other stories. Many other stories.

I’ll just stop here and wish you…

Peace

What’s the most unreasonable request you’ve received from your boss?

On Wednesday before Thanksgiving: “Make sure the production workers come in Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When the production goal is met, tell them all they are fired.” I asked where he would be. “We have a three day yacht race event on San Francisco Bay. We’ll be sailing against Ted Turner. So you have to fire the workers but be sure they don’t know until the quota is reached.”

So while he would be out drinking champagne and sailing on yachts, I would do the dirty work.

On the Saturday, halfway through the push to get a whole month’s production done in three days, I got talking to a small man who I didn’t know, but he seemed to know a lot about me. He said something seemed to be on my mind. He was observing everything in the production process in great detail. He asked me about the VP and Supply Manager not being there. Sunday, the guy was back with more questions. He pressed me on what was wrong (other than spending all of Thanksgiving weekend working for no pay). I eventually told him I thought it was a shitty deal to make the people work all through a holiday weekend and then summarily fire everyone. He told me: “Don’t do it. It doesn’t matter what [the VP] told you to do. Just don’t fire anyone. Everything will be clear on Monday.”

Monday came, and the VP and Supply Manager had both been to work and gone. Fired. The VP of Finance was also fired. The several production workers were not fired. The new VP, of course, was the guy with all the questions. He told me there was only one person in manufacturing or finance who gave him simple, straight answers. Also, what was the point of firing a handful of $10 hourly people when he could fire three $100,000+ salaried people who weren’t doing their jobs? That made sense, of course.

Star Trek II Wrath of Khan – Reliant Vs Enterprise; First Clash 1080p

Why is France accusing Azerbaijan of meddling in New Caledonia?

French Home Affairs Minister Gerard Darmanin has accused Azerbaijan of colluding with pro-independence forces in New Caledonia – the French overseas territory in the southwest Pacific about 1,200 km east of Australia.

“This is not a fantasy. This is reality. Unfortunately, some independence leaders have made a deal with Azerbaijan, this is indisputable,” Darmanin said in an interview with France-2 on Thursday.

Is there any truth in the claim? What’s the backstory? Here’s what we know.

🔻 Baku rejected Paris’s allegations, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizada urging Darmanin to “focus on his country’s failed overseas policies” which caused the wave of violent protests in New Caledonia, “instead of blaming Azerbaijan” for its troubles.

🔻Darmanin’s assertions followed the memorandum of cooperation between the Azerbaijani Parliament and New Caledonia’s Congress, which was signed last month, envisioned as a treatise for developing a framework for parliamentary cooperation.

🔻 The agreement sparked accusations by Paris that Baku was stoking separatism in the French overseas territory. Azerbaijan dismissed the claims, and recalled France’s own controversial policies in the Caucasus.

🔻“It’s known that the French Parliament, at the initiative of the ruling party of France, adopted decisions and resolutions which recognised the separatist regime, challenged and harmed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and enabled the activity of a ‘friendship group’ with the former so-called separatist regime,” Baku said in an April 30 statement, referring to the Karabakh conflict.

🔻 New Caledonia has been rocked by violent clashes starting May 13 over the constitutional reform proposals to change voting law. Protests have claimed four lives, with France deploying the military and imposing a state of emergency until the end of May.

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What truths in life do I have to learn by myself?

Nothing can stand the test of time. Eventually, everything must finally, and sadly, come to an abrupt end.
Do you want to know the latest drug? It’s called social media.
Everyone must finally discover the ultimate horror of having sex.
Never pin your hopes on empty promises. Empty promises are things that did not exist in the first place.
What really matters is not believing in yourself. It is trusting yourself.
Most people feed themselves from their necks down, but what really contributes to our growth is feeding ourselves from the neck up.
Have you ever considered why we’ve been watching TV for decades and not yet experienced any change? Because TV was not designed to bring change. It was designed to make us illiterate.
Most people think that change is something that jumps out of the pages of a textbook into the mind. Change is actually something that the mind conceives from within.
You are one of 3 things — you will never change, or you will watch others change, or you will become the change.
Death was never the greatest tragedy. The greatest tragedy is to live in this life and never show up.
The majority of people fall in love through the eyes the first time. That means you should be very careful who you let your eyes come into contact with.
The best way to judge a woman’s loyalty is when her man has nothing. The best way to judge a man’s loyalty is when he has everything.
Fortunes do not necessarily change men as much as it unmasks them.
Bullying is for people who have no confidence in themselves. The reason they do it is to try and shake off their own demons.
To fall in love is awfully simple, but to fall out of love is simply awful.
Retirement is when the living is easy and the payments are hard.
Best friends are like diamonds; precious and rare. Bad friends are like tree leaves; they’re found everywhere.
A stranger stabs you in the front; A friend stabs you in the back; A boyfriend stabs you in the heart, but best friends only poke each other with straws.
The daily grind of hard work gets a person polished but also emaciated and painfully tired.
Kissing is the merging of two lips, two souls and two spirits that makes them one.
Siblings are the only enemy you can’t live without.
Denial is the way we know best how to handle that which we don’t comprehend.
Sometimes those who don’t socialize much aren’t actually anti-social; they just have no tolerance for drama and fake people.
Love is like a tornado; it sweeps you off your feet and sometimes takes half your house.
Sometimes we tend to be in despair when the person we love leaves us, but the truth is, it’s not our loss, but theirs, for they left the only person who wouldn’t give up on them.
You will never know true happiness until you have truly loved, and you will never understand what pain really is until you have lost it.
Sometimes you have to stand alone to prove that you can still stand.
Why do people say “no offense” just before they’re about to offend you?
The secret of discovery is not in looking for new lands, but in looking at existing land with new eyes.
Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.

What is the quickest you’ve ever sold your home?

30 Seconds.

My wife got a new job across the country. She received and accepted the job offer in December and started the new job the following August. (She is an academic, so the long lead time was not unusual). In May, we had started to look for a house in our new city and were getting ready to list the old house. This was in 2021, the housing market was screaming hot, mortgages were at rock bottom, so we were optimistic that this would go smoothly.

Two years previously a neighbor who had lived in his house since the 1950’s passed away and the house was purchased by a friend of the family, renovated, became a rental. One Saturday as we were leaving for breakfast I saw the new owner across the street and rolled down my window to ask if he knew anyone looking for investment property in the area and told him we were going to sell our house.

He asked how much we wanted and I did some quick calculations in my head about what we would clear after repairs and real estate commissions and gave him a number, as is. He said “you got it”, we shook on it and a few days later he brought over a single page, handwritten document. We both signed it and that became our contract. He also offered us $100,000 at the time so that we could put it down on a new home.

When we found our new home, the realtor asked for a copy of our contract to include with our offer, to prove that we were serious. I emailed a scan of the contract and she told me that she needed the whole contract. I told her that was all that we had and she laughed and said “OK, but are you sure the house will close?” It did, and we got the new house. Later the realtor told me that in all of her years in real estate she had never seen a sale of a home go through with a single page contract and that this was the weirdest sale she had ever seen.

I rented the house back at the cost of their mortgage payment until October so that I could wrap up some other business.

We cleared what we would have if we had listed with a realtor, and the buyer got a really good deal on the home which he repaired, renovated and turned into a rental.

I don’t know that I would ever do this again though, probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The WORLD CAN’T Compete with China’s Infrastructure 🇨🇳 Chongqing is the FUTURE!

For so long, China has been painted in a negative light in the West and as such our first impressions of Chongqing is not what we expected. The truth is that Chongqing, China is miles ahead of the rest of the world and the infrastructure is beyond impressive which makes it impossible for others to compete against China. In this video, we take you around Chongqing, China and show you just how futuristic this cyber punk city is.

What’s the most unreasonable request you’ve received from your boss?

“Jane has just told me that she’s pregnant. I need you to fire her immediately before she puts it in writing.”

Jane had been employed by the company for about three years and whilst her performance didn’t set the world alight, she certainly wasn’t terrible – there was absolutely no justification to dismiss her.

I challenged the VP who made the request and said that even if there was a justification, now that he knows she is pregnant we need to follow very careful processes. He said that as Jane hadn’t put it in writing he didn’t actually know about it, I corrected that view and told him that I now knew as he had told me and was not going to perjure myself when, not if, we got taken to court for unfair dismissal.

In the end I put a halt to the conversation and said that it isn’t going to happen and that I think we need to stop talking about it. I spoke to the Chief People Officer (my bosses boss) and told her what I had been asked to do – I was asked to put the details in writing and the VP was suspended and dismissed within a few days. Apparently there had been some issues with him before I joined the business but I mean what kind of person terminates someone who is pregnant unless there is a really good reason to do it.

What is the most amazing thing you overheard because people didn’t think you understood their language?

Years ago, in Hong Kong, I was involved in negotiating a significant regional contract with a French company. As we walked to the meeting, I told my Australian boss that I spoke enough French to handle the meeting, if necessary. He suggested it would be better to stick to English, as he knew no French, and was sure the French side spoke reasonable English.

The potential client spoke excellent English. They set out what they wanted, then paused to allow us time to work out a response. As my boss and I calculated what we would want to charge, they discussed amongst themselves – in French – what they were prepared to pay, what was really important to them, what was optional, and what they would pay extra for.

We ended up charging very close to their walk-away number, with a number of items charged separately.

A while later, towards the end of the project, I was congratulated on how well it was going, and (ruefully) our negotiating skills… I was VERY careful not to give any hint that a notoriously monolingual Brit could understand one word of French…despite having been near-fluent at the time…

Russia+China directly challenge the US and its Plantation. Vow to Step Up Fight to Counter US.

Great video.

Baked Pork Chops and Noodles

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Spaghetti: Spaghetti is the pasta of choice for this dish. Its long, thin strands are perfect for twirling and they do an excellent job of soaking up the creamy sauce.

Boneless Pork Chops: These are the star of the dish. Their lean yet tender meat cooks quickly and absorbs the flavors of the sauce well. When shopping for pork chops, look for ones that are pinkish-red in color with some marbling.

Salt & Pepper: These are essential for seasoning the pork chops. They enhance the natural flavors of the meat and the sauce. I recommend using fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper for the best taste.

Olive Oil: This is used for searing the pork chops. I prefer searing the pork chops in oil because it has a higher smoke point than butter.

Butter: Butter is used in sautéing the onions and garlic, as well as adding a rich, creamy flavor to the sauce.

Garlic: This adds a robust, aromatic flavor to the sauce. Fresh garlic cloves are the best as they are more flavorful and aromatic than pre-minced cloves or powdered garlic.

Yellow Onion: Yellow onions are a great choice for this dish because of their sweet and mild flavor. They add a depth of flavor to the sauce and pair well with the other ingredients.

All-Purpose Flour: This is used to thicken the sauce, giving it a velvety texture that coats the pasta well.

Heavy Cream or Half and Half: These are used to give the sauce its creamy consistency. Both work well, but heavy cream will make a richer sauce while half and half will be slightly lighter.

Chicken Broth: This adds a savory depth of flavor to the sauce. Look for a low-sodium version so you can control the saltiness of your dish.

Parmesan Cheese: This cheese brings a nutty, salty, umami flavor to the dish. Always opt for freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best taste and texture. Pre-grated cheeses are coated in an anti-caking agent that can make the texture of the sauce gritty.

Basil and Oregano: These dried herbs add an Italian flair to the dish. They provide a fragrant, earthy flavor that compliments the creamy sauce and pork chops well.

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: These are optional, but they add a nice kick of heat to the dish. Adjust the amount to suit your family’s spice tolerance.

Parsley: Fresh parsley is used as a garnish. It adds a pop of color and a fresh, bright flavor to the finished dish.

Ingredients

10 ounces spaghetti
4 boneless pork chops (about 1-inch thick)
1 teaspoon fine sea salt (divided)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper (divided)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
1 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese*
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with 1/2 teaspoon of both salt and ground black pepper.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned pork chops and sear for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until a golden-brown crust forms and the internal temperature reads 145F on an instant read meat thermometer. Transfer the pork chops to a plate, then tent with aluminum foil to keep warm and set aside.
In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add chopped onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and softened. Add the minced garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds, or until aromatic. Add the flour to the onions and mix, creating a roux.
Slowly pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream while whisking constantly. Add the dried basil, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and the remaining salt and ground black pepper. Whisk until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
Increase the heat to bring it to just barely a boil, then turn the heat back down to medium and let the sauce simmer for 5-7 minutes, or until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Reduce the heat to low and add the grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring until it’s fully melted and incorporated.
Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce and toss gently to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
To serve, divide the creamy spaghetti among plates, and place a pork chop on top of each portion. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and, if desired, additional Parmesan cheese.

Notes

*I recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese. Pre-grated cheeses are coated in an anti-caking agent that can make the texture of the sauce gritty.

Fun Comix

THIS is why you don’t judge a book by its cover…

What did you do when you were suddenly fired from a job?

It was Sunday afternoon and the phone rang, landline, 1988. It was my boss. He told me to not come in tomorrow as I was fired. I was 21 & still living at home. My mom was so HAPPY! She did not like my boss, thought he was creepy (Chiropractor). I called my friend/coworker D. She was fired Friday, my day off. So I knew it was coming.

Long story short, we entered patient files in the Apple, 1988, NEW to us. He went to bill and it was “messed up” because of us. We also knew of his fraudulent billing practices. We had also obtained 3 patients billing records and appointments (book) that showed he’d bill for an actual appointment/procedure when it was a missed appointment. One of the patients was my stepdad.

What did I do? I called D. We went to the Labor Board to get OT he NEVER paid us. When then went to Workers Comp and the Insurance Board and turned over the records we had. I went to a Temp Agency. I had a job w/in a few days at a bank as a loan secretary. I met SJ, my future husband. We married 1990. Still married.

He got black balled by all the insurance companies. Either the patients had to endorse the check to him or deposit it & write him one or sign off on the billing for the check to go directly to him. I didn’t mention, February 1989, I received a check from the State for over $1K for O/T payment. They garnished his income tax return.

NO WAY we’re landing on the moon in 2026

No fucking way will that happen.

Toilet paper, toothbrush, and a razor

Back at the prison, Sunday evening rolls on in. It’s after chow, and people are getting ready for the next week of work on the “chain gang” at “Hoe squad”. When the CO (Corrections Officer) comes in and distributes the necessities of life.

One roll of white toilet paper.
One mini-sized toothbrush.
One disposable razor.

Once the items were distributed, he left the barracks, and we all settled in for the night. Most gathered into small groups. One of my favorites was with Fred, where we would drink a strong cup of coffee and chat a spell.

Next time you settle in on Sunday, imagine that there are guys in far away distant places, also settling down for the night.

With…

One roll of white toilet paper.
One mini-sized toothbrush.
One disposable razor.

Life can be boiled down to the necessities, when necessary.

Take care.

Today…

Is the US a true democracy?

Putting the spotlight on the question of U.S. democracy invites a deeper exploration of the term ‘democracy’. On the surface, with its representative institutions and electoral processes, the U.S. appears to embody the democratic model. Indeed, in this representative democracy, citizens elect officials who then voice their concerns and ideas. But when we probe beneath the veneer and grasp the true essence of democracy—a system “of the people, by the people, for the people”—a more convoluted depiction arises.

The United States’ democracy, far from being this utopian model of free expression and people’s governance, often assumes the role of an illusion, tailor-made to cater to a select elite. Much akin to a gleaming stage where politicians ensue in a cyclic showcase, the democratic system in the U.S. veils a multitude of persisting, grave issues that stand unaddressed, regardless of the grandeur of the performance. This discord between rhetoric and reality in U.S. politics brings to light the deeply rooted systemic issues afflicting this façade of a democracy. American democracy is marred with significant faults.

By 2022, the country was locked in a relentless cycle of warped democracy, political ineptitude, and societal discord, with key challenges like money politics, identity politics, societal fragmentation, and wealth disparity intensifying. The ailments plaguing American democracy seep into all facets of politics and society, in turn, revealing deficiencies in governance and the system. Ironically, despite dealing with this multitude of problems, the U.S. assumes the posture of a mentor, preaching about democracy to other countries. Driven by American interests, the U.S. persistently constructs and propagates a deceptive narrative of “democracy versus authoritarianism,” and stratifies the world into “democratic and non-democratic factions.” Therein, utilizing democracy as a tool to further its own hegemonic ambitions.

Consider the staggering expenditure during the 2022 midterm elections as a recent testament to America’s money politics. According to the data shared by “OpenSecrets,” the two parties expended over $16.7 billion, surpassing the previous record by a generous margin. This sum outpaces the annual GDP of over 70 countries worldwide. In states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Ohio, campaign spending for the federal senatorial elections average over $100 million. Interestingly, more than 90% of Congressional candidates clinched their elections by outspending their adversaries. Adding fuel to the fire is the rampant escalation of political polarization. Both the Democratic and Republican parties deal with rising radical factions within their ranks. The traditional spirit of bipartisanship, grounded in policy compromise, is elusive.

Chinese school children exercising at their desks.

China. I love China.

Why do so many Chinese believe in their government?

The reason is because China’s government has taken exceptional care of its citizens:

It lifted 800 million people out of poverty.
It dramatically improved their quality of life.
It protected them from the pandemic.
It kept them safe from foreign adversaries like the United States.
It made them proud of China’s achievements (economic, technological, military, societal). Tiangong space station. Fujian supercarrier. J-20 stealth fighter. 2008 and 2022 Olympic Games.

Why do so many Americans not believe in their government?

The reason is because the US government is corrupt and has neglected its citizens. The country suffers from:

homelessness
gun violence and mass shootings
systemic racism (“I can’t breathe”)
poor health care
poor education
crumbling infrastructure
opioid addiction
mass incarceration
declining life expectancy
growing poverty
etc.

The US government failed to protect them from the pandemic. Over a million Americans died from Covid.

China is Not What We Expected At All

City School Pizza

Yield: 24 servings

Ingredients

French-Style Pizza Crust

2 packages dry or cake yeast
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups lukewarm water
9 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt

Topping

1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon instant minced onion
1 (8 ounce) can tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon oregano
Salt
3/4 teaspoon dried sweet basil
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 pound ground or chopped luncheon meat
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

French-Style Pizza Crust

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water.
Add flour and salt. Knead until smooth.
Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk.
Cut into 2portions. Let rest 15 minutes.
Pat or roll to an even thickness in 2 (15 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch) jellyroll pans. Set aside.

Topping

Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet.
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, water, oregano, salt to taste, basil, garlic powder and luncheon meat. Sauté until mixture comes to a boil. Simmer for a few minutes.
Spread sauce on prepared French-Style Pizza Crust in pans. Sprinkle each crust with cheese.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese layer is bubbly and browned.

Be careful at your highest moment

The smashed wall

Our girls were messing around yesterday. One of them happened to put their body through the drywall. My nine year old came downstairs crying and frantic saying she had to show me something. I walked upstairs to the damaged wall. The remorse was already displayed all over her body.

main qimg 693d763f2d1f9d2f43df540ae059c3f3

She didn’t need me to make her feel guilty.

She didn’t need me to shame her.

She didn’t need me to make an already crappy situation worse.

“I’m sorry!!!”

I know you are.

“Daddy is going to be so mad!!! I’m not ready to tell him yet.”

That is OK. When you are ready, you will tell him.

She knew. She knew that he was the one most impacted by this. He would be the one taking time from his day to fix this.

I walked downstairs and told my husband.

The kids put a hole in the wall. A big one. M is really upset about it. She’s working up the courage to come and tell you about it.

We have two choices here.

1. Scream and yell and make her feel more awful than she already does.

2. Accept that little girl for each bit of awesome that she is… even in her mistakes. To realize that it was SO hard for her to come down and tell you how she made a mistake.

Our response will 100% determine how she comes to us with mistakes in the future.

How do you respond?

Today, my daughter walks around with a little more trust. She walks around feeling loved and connected. She walks around knowing that she can tell her parents anything and that she is safe.

This was the best gift I could ever receive this Christmas.

And yes. She still feels sorry. She offered to not receive any Christmas presents this year, all her savings, and her time to help fix it. She didn’t need screaming parents to make her feel this. She did it all on her own.

China teaching elementary school children how to use mortars

For a male, what are the 10 things we must know before getting married?

Its annoying to live with a girl or boy or another person. You can’t change each other. So pick someone whose flaws you can live with.
Your mother will not like her. Her mother will not like you. Accept that and move on. Don’t put them all in a room and expect magic.
Sex is good but you probably won’t have sex every day. Humans are moody and hormonal. So don’t marry for sex.
Your personal life will affect your mood and your career. It helps if you find some one who understands and supports your career pursuits.
Money is important. It’s easier if you are both financially independent and have figured out the basics before getting hitched. Poverty sucks.
Don’t ever call her fat. Never go into the details of your past relationships and compare. Don’t ever compare her with anyone else. There’s no coming back from that. Women are wierd that way.
Vacation makes everyone look great. Know how the person is when everything goes wrong. It’s difficult to buy honesty, loyalty and kindness. You get that only from your true friends. Marry an ally you can depend on.
Friends and hobbies are essential. Even if you are married, it’s good to have a small life of your own as an individual. Some distance, Some ‘Me time’ is good for maintaining any relationship.
Conversations matter. It’s fun and nice if you both can communicate without being assholes to each other.
People change as they age: physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s easier to grow old with someone you really really like.

12 Reasons Why I NEVER Want to Live in the USA Again!

Kayleigh McEnany spoke of the “inexcusable horror” of the transition Obama left for Trump in 2017. Can anyone tell me what was either inexcusable or horrid of the Obama-Trump transition?

I recommend Michael Lewis’s excellent book “The Fifth Risk” which describes in detail how bad the transition was.

The problem is, it was all Trump’s fault.

Chris Christie tried to warn Trump that under federal law, he had to start vetting presidential appointees before the election and convinced Trump that (1) it was a good idea to comply with federal law and (2) if he didn’t do it it would look like he was conceding the election. However, after Christie did some excellent work, Trump found out the process had cost $2 million of “his money” and disbanded it.

For example, at the Department of Energy in 2008, staff welcomed 30 of Obama’s transition team the day after the election and gave them full briefing books. They also prepared briefing books for Romney’s team in 2012, but never used them.

On November 7, 2016, the DoE was shocked that Trump had won but was still ready to greet Trump’s team with full briefing books. However, no-one showed up. No-one showed up the next day either. Or the day after that. The following week, DoE staff got in touch with Trump’s team to ask when someone would be coming. They weren’t told.

Eventually, Rick Perry showed up, alone, in early December. It was clear he thought the DoE was involved with oil, gas and coal. He had proposed disbanding it. That day, Perry found out the DoE mostly regulates nuclear energy and nuclear materials, including tracking bomb-making material. Perry was visibly shocked by the news and never questioned the function of the DoE again.

Trump met Obama soon after the election and mentioned he was looking forward to working with Obama’s White House staff. For some reason, no-one in Trump’s campaign had bothered to explain to him that all the White House staff was leaving with Obama and he had to find about 2,000 people to replace them. It was left to Obama to break the news. Trump was visibly shocked.

In total, the president gets to choose 6,000 posts in the government, from the cabinet on down. Trump only ever bothered to appoint 4,000 people and left several key posts, like the ambassador to South Korea, vacant.

Chinese kindergarten children’s impressive basketball skills go viral globally

Wow.

What was the hardest thing that you’ve had to do?

Originally Answered: What was the hardest thing that you’ve had to do?

The absolute hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.1984 bought a piece of property. 1 acre out of a 5 acre plot. Short time later had someone buy the one next to us and he ended up buying the next two. Ended up being the best friends we ever had. Did everything together. One night they came over to dinner and right after they ate, he got sick. Walked them back over to their place. Got back to our place, started stripping down for bed when his wife called screaming about something wrong. Quickest I’ve ever covered that distance in my life. He was in their water bed her standing there screaming. My wife had worked at a hospital over 20 years at that point. She’s 5′4″ and then about 180lb of soft flesh. She yanked him out of that bed and started CPR. Seemed forever the ambulance getting there. Before it was over, we had two ambulances, the supervisors car, a nephew of theirs that was an EMT but heard the call and the address. They carried him out and took off. Grabbed his wife throwing her in with us and hauled for the hospital. Wasn’t 5 minutes the Dr came out to tell us he had a massive heart attack and had died before my wife even started on him. By then the nephew had called most of the local relatives but most of the family was in Kansas. I’m the only one that carried a phone card for making calls so I had to call all these relatives most of whom I had never met to tell them he had passed away. Then Monday morning I had to call his job explaining why he was not there with the 1st pot of coffee made that morning and had to set up with them to get his company truck back to their shop, collect his belongings from them to bring back to his wife. That was the worst couple of days in my life then served as a pallbearer to help bury him, the best friend anyone could have had.

Some vintage pulp art and other stuff

What is the biggest scam an auto mechanic ever tried on you?

I use to date a VERY cute, very boobsy little gal that had a 76 Datsun B-210 she bought brand new….She brought the car home and parked it out front of her house….The very first night it was hit by a drunk driver that pushed the rear bumper to about the rear of the front seats, but since the car only had about 16 miles on it the insurance would not total it…..It took 8 months to get it back from the body shop, and when it did come back the clutch slave cylinder was http://leaking….So (http://leaking….So) we took it in to the dealer the next morning and dropped it off….About noon they called Mary Beth and told her it needed a new clutch for $500 so she said we’ll just pick it up later….That evening I took her to get the car, she went inside as I waited for her to come out….After several minutes I wandered in to see what was taking so long, I got there just in time to hear the mechanic telling her that for Dinner and $100 he could do the clutch as a favor for http://her….So (http://her….So) I said,”HELL YES, we’ll take that $100 clutch special !!” Can I come too !?!

I’m not positive, but I think that mechanic was out job hunting the next morning…..

How Do I Tell My Daughter’s Boyfriend That She’s Cheating On Him?

What are the most inappropriate songs to play at a funeral?

This is a painful memory and one I don’t so much want to share on Quora as much as I feel compelled to. Whoever asked the question deserves my thanks for letting me unload this burden.

We had a separate memorial ceremony for my Mom as she was ultimately laid to rest next to my grandmother at the Jewish cemetery in Prague.

I was responsible for picking the music.

We had been instructed to put the music on a CD and there was time for two songs.

The first song I chose was one that meant the world to me. It was “Kadish” by Giora Feidman. (For my other answer paying homage to this great and humble artist, please see here) The second song I chose was a song that my mom had told me she wished to have played at her funeral because of the life affirming message it contained.

At the time it was difficult to find a copy and I got a friend at a large music label to get me a digital copy.

He was someone I respected enormously and he would never have provided a copy of any of his company’s catalog if it weren’t for such a special occasion. (This was before ubiquitous online music stores)

I was touched that he would let me have the music, especially because he, too, appreciated this song deeply, revered the band that played it and understood what a meaningful song it was and how it would express my mother’s love and joy of life. I felt I had done the right thing and was anticipating the memorial service as much as feeling the burden of saying goodbye.

On the day of the memorial, everything happened in a blur. I didn’t have time to discuss in great detail what was on the CD and there was no time planned for speeches or to introduce the music.

When the Klezmer and choir began to sing Kadish a great awe fell over the loved ones that were assembled to honor my Mom. I looked up towards the cathedral ceiling of the hall we were in and felt truly elevated. The music ended and we all shared a sigh, both of awe and sadness.

Then there was a short pause and the Beatles’ “Obladi-Oblada” came blaring, joyful, clanking and clanging in all its fun fair beauty from the speakers. This was the song my mom had said she would like everyone to hear when we were celebrating her memory. “Life goes on” – In honoring my mom’s wish I had not realized how much of a jarring contrast the song would create for the solemn occasion and how out of place if would sound, especially after the choir had finished “Kadish”.

Everyone was shocked and more than one head turned towards me, thinking that this was another of my juvenile jokes and acts of rebellion that I was still being remembered for.

At the reception afterwards a close friend of my mom’s approached me to ask me if I was “happy with having achieved what I wanted.” I asked her what she meant and she said “You wanted to shock us!” – I was mortified and tried to explain, good as I could, that I had tried to respect my mom’s wishes and had not realized how out of place the song would sound in such a sad and serious setting, especially without a proper introduction.

Which brings me to today. Where I sit down to write of this special, sad, beautiful, painful moment. One of the moments in my life where I truly wish I could have gone back and done it differently.

And as I write this, what do I discover?

The same Giora Feidman, who’s music was the gift that allowed me to say goodbye to my mom in tears before that peace was broken by the joyful, out of place sounds of Obla-Di, Obla-Da, that very same wonderful man also recorded an album, playing the Beatles in his inimitable mournful clarinet style.

Feidman recorded his version of Obla-Di,Obla-da last year and as I write this and listen to his beautiful rendition, I find the joy of life my mom wanted to share on that day, dedicated to her memory, sweetened by the melancholy bliss of his beautiful clarinet.

If we could’ve played that version then it would’ve been right and it would’ve told the story she wanted to have told about who she was and what inspired her.

And, who knows. Maybe, if I hadn’t had that experience then, finding this gem today wouldn’t have meant as much and wouldn’t have allowed me, many years later, to celebrate the memory of what an extraordinary person she was in yet another special and meaningful way.

So, yes, sometimes, honoring the departed’s request for Music can lead to the most inappropriate moment.

And I’m still proud I followed her wish, because she would’ve loved this story with a happy ending and one where I can cry and laugh and share, once more, with you, dear reader, the joy and burden of life.

The Xinjiang China THEY Don’t Want YOU to SEE… 🇨🇳 (British Couple’s SHOCKING EXPERIENCE)

I went to a restaurant of a nationality different from mine. After I sat down, the manager said “sorry, but we do not wish to serve you in our restaurant”. What should I do?

Years back my partner and I used to regularly do work in a small Mississippi Coastal town which has a 90%+ black population – we’re a couple of old white freaks ( “hippies” to those who don’t know better ) .

There was a restaurant on the main road called “Buddy’s House of Food” with a lighted sign of a young boy with a pig under his arm – an absolutely sure sign of killer food. I told John that this was where we eating.

When we entered, it was fairly full of people and everyone just sort of froze and looked at us: this little older lady, who literally looked like a Mammy Doll come to life, came over and said : “Can I help y’all?” in a genuinely quizzical tone.

I said: “ Yes, M’am: we’d like to eat if we could.”

You could tell it surprised her: she really didn’t know why two white dudes were in her restaurant.

She sat us down, and in 30 seconds it was like you had just shown up at your Grandmaw’s for Thanksgiving – she was bringing out all manner of pure Southern comfort food that was so bad for you but absolute balm for your soul – you could feel your arteries clogging as you ate while your taste buds yelled “thank you”.

Turned into a 2 hour lunch with hugs and extra slices of pecan pie when we left.

From then on every time we were in that town, we ate at “Buddy’s”; and every time it was the same welcome.

Shorpy

Army Withdraws from the Pacific and Indian Ocean | Army Plans to Lay Up its Prepositioning Fleet

What’s the most ridiculous adult tantrum you’ve witnessed that you couldn’t believe?

I took a friend and her barely adult son out for a day water skiing. Everything was going great, and then on the way back to the dock, we ran out of gas. Fortunately I had a little 3.5 hp trolling motor, that would move us along at a walking speed, or maybe a slow trot. No where near the excitement of the 235 HP outboard, but certainly better than paddling. I fired it up and was quite pleased that I had a backup, with its own gas.

The son started complaining, asking, where’s the fun in that? He couldn’t seem to get it through his head, that we were no longer in fun mode, now we were in getting to the dock the easiest way possible. He demanded that I fire up the big outboard, as I was ruining his day. Telling him that I couldn’t fire it up, did no good. He started screaming, just like a 2 year old. Saying “Fire it up, fire it up, fire it up”

As we approached the dock he picked up a lot of stuff, like he was going to carry it back to the truck. Then when we were 3 feet from the dock, he threw it over board, jumped onto the dock, and just calmly walked away. Dhe asked him to pick it up, and he just kept walking.

His mother didn’t punish him. Though, how do you punish an adult. He didn’t have a job, and lived at home with his mother.

When we had collected everything, and walked to the parking lot, he was sitting on the hood of his mothers truck.

I got in my car, to head for my cabin, but I waited to see that he would react rationally. She unlocked the truck and he got in, and they followed me out onto the road. After a kilometer or so, she pulled out and passed me like I was standing still.

I worked with her, and we never discussed this ever again . I never socialized with her after that. This hadn’t been any kind of a romantic thing, I took male friend’s boating all the time. I have never been able to explain any of what happened, but I didn’t want the drama in my life

What are some things you should avoid at any cost?

Don’t fight when you’re weak, leave when you’re strong.
Avoid crying in front of someone who doesn’t care about you.
Don’t waste time on your ex or stalking them on social media.
Never hurt yourself, the world will bring enough hurt.
Don’t take things personally, even if you know it’s personal.
Avoid listening to sad songs as they can drain your energy.
Don’t miss out on important engagements and events.
Be kind to your family, they’ll be there for you in tough times.
Cut out friends who break the “Bro Code.”
Be cautious of trusting a crying woman and a smiling man.
Don’t mess with negative people, they reflect who you are.
Don’t beg twice, know your worth.

15 feet tall

How do people handle being separated, but still living in the same house?

My wife and I have lived together for nearly 20 years. We separated in 1998 and lived apart for nearly two years. My wife left me because she wanted to ‘find herself’ and see what life could be on her own. I helped her move into an apartment.

We both agreed we would always love each other but we are no longer IN love with each other.

My wife asked to come back two years later because of her economic problems. She insisted on her own room and her own identity.She’s lived in her own room for 18 years and usually stays with her girlfriend. We haven’t hugged, kissed or shaken hands in nearly twenty years.

We stay together so she can have insurance from the VA and soon will collect widows benefits. She will also receive Social Security benefits.

We’re friends but nothing more.

She’s 66 and in poor health. I’ve know her since she was 17 years old. I have my life and girlfriend but I refuse to let my ‘wife’ be homeless and hungry.

We have found a one bedroom for her to move in after I’m gone.I want her to move in now and continue her life.

She sees more and more people coming in to my house to help me as my body fails me. She freely admits she can’t help me and I love living alone even when she’s in her room. We rarely speak and I visit my lady friend at her house, My girlfriend knows about her and respects my decision not to divorce her.

Our marriage may have ended years ago but my caring for her hasn’t.

You shouldn’t wish ill for your ex. You should care for the person if the person needs care.

My integrity remains intact. Everyone should want the same.

Cajun Chicken and Dumplings

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Chicken

1 large chicken
2 quarts salted water
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 pimento, chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 quart milk
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Dumplings

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 slightly beaten egg
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) softened butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 cup milk

Instructions

Dumplings

In medium bowl, place flour, salt, garlic salt and ground white and black peppers.
Add cayenne pepper, garlic powder, thyme, oregano and baking powder.
Stir in egg, butter and olive oil.
Gradually stir in milk. Knead dough until soft and smooth; divide into 5 small balls. Roll each ball on floured board until paper thin; cut into strips 1 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches long. Lay strips on wax paper for about 15 minutes before adding to broth.

Chicken

In large saucepan, place chicken and water over medium heat. Simmer about 45 minutes or until fork tender.
Remove chicken, reserving broth. Chop chicken in large pieces, discarding skin and bones; set aside.
In medium fry pan, place butter over low heat.
Add mushrooms, celery, bell pepper, pimento and onion; sauté about 2 minutes.
To broth in saucepan, add milk, hard-cooked eggs, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, cayenne and white and black peppers.
Stir in sautéed vegetables; heat to boil, reduce heat to simmer and add alternating layers of chicken and dumplings, pushing each layer down into broth. Simmer about 15 minutes or until dumplings are tender.
Serve chicken, dumplings and broth in individual bowls.

Why Fast Food Has Gotten So Expensive

What is the best case of “You just picked a fight with the wrong person” that you’ve witnessed?

I once had a friend who had a serious case of “Little Man Syndrome.” He was short, and kind of a loudmouth, but really a good dude once you got to know him. One night we were out at our favorite bar, and I saw him chatting up a girl.

For perspective, my friend was about 5′6/145, so he was really small. As he’s talking to this girl, a guy walks up to them and says “Hey bro, that’s my girl.” Normally, that’s enough to end a conversation, usually followed with a “My bad” or something of that nature. Not this night. My friend promptly responded with “Smurf you, she’s talking to me now, so smurf off.”

The gentleman in question was literally a giant. At least 6′4, and probably weighed 230 or so. As my friend spoke to him, I knew that it wasn’t going to end well, but the Giant simply repeated, “Really, bro, she’s my fiance, and we don’t want any trouble.” He was calm, and didn’t seem affected by the way my friend spoke to him.

My friend decided that he didn’t care and kindly told the Giant where he could go, and how he could get there. He then followed it up with “And if you have anything else to say, I’ll kick your smurfin smurf.”

The Giant politely told my friend to meet him outside.

A lot of stories on this thread end up with the small guy taking down the big guy, but not this one. The Giant hit my friend 1 time with a right hook, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear my friend was hit with a baseball bat. The Giant then looked at those of us he knew were with his punching bag, and dared any of us to complain about what just happened. I have a rule about getting into fights with/for my friends, and because this friend actually started and somewhat deserved what happened, I had no beef with the Giant, nor did the rest of my friends.

The Giant then went back into the bar, finished his drink, and left with his fiance.

What is your view on China’s recent aerial confrontation with an Australian military helicopter in the Yellow Sea?

It was actually an act of aggression from Australia.

First off:

It wasn’t international waters, the Yellow Sea isn’t international waters. It was either South Korea’s EEZ or China’s EEZ there is no peanut hole like Russia had.

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Second

The UN Security council was responsible for enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea. This panel was dissolved in April 2024. This means their excuse of enforcing sanctions is a lie. Australia is not part of the UNSC and thus had no mandate to be there.

Third

It was a cul de sac, that is there was no destination to get to, so it can’t be innocent passage.

Fourth

The Australian mission breaks UNCLOS as it was trying to deny Chinese the right to defend themselves.

All the above is meaningless puffery anyway as westoids never actually obey the rules THEY agree to but expect every one else to follow. They’re like that…

So what do I think of it?

There’s a weak leader in this picture. Guess which one it is?

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You see in 2021 we had the Hainan island incident.

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The USN aircraft was forced to land on Hainan and we made them dismantle their plane and didn’t allow it to be flown away.

Before 2021 there was this

Korean Air Lines Flight 007

It is now 2024, 40 years since Korean Air 007, and 20 years since Hainan island incident. Yet the leaders of China have become weaker.

I mean we literally have all this tech like beidou satellite navigation system, GPS spoofing and fancy warships and such like… and yet we can’t repeat something like Hainan with a ‘stray drone’ somehow getting into the rotors of the Australian spy helicopter?

Bah weak leaders…

Here’s one Chinese leader telling off another one that he’s a pussy.

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And I don’t even like Zemin, a bit too neo liberal for me.

When was the exact moment you lost interest in your significant other?

When I was pregnant I hated my husband. I decided the first time that I would divorce him as soon as the baby was born. I hated the way he breathed and chewed. I did not say a word about it to anyone. I knew somewhere in my mind that I was crazy. When my baby was born I loved my husband again. The second time around same thing but this time I knew it was hormones. The third time I knew what it was and just ignored it.

Then Mike got stressed out at work. He took his stress out on the kids. I said I love him not that he was perfect. I went away with the kids for a few days to decide what to do. The kids all voted him out of the family with no input from me. It was hard but Mike and I started over after going to a MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER. We started over from scratch. He courted me again. We realized we were worth saving. We put in the time and effort to win each other all over again. 15 years after our wedding we vowed again to love each other. Not in a fancy ceremony , just between the two of us.

From then till the day Mike died I never fell out of love with him. I know he never fell out of love with me. The last time I saw Mike he drew me a heart on the window frost.

Do not feel sorry me. I have had a wonderful life. I am alive and well. I continue my life . God may provide me with more people to love. Nothing is impossible.

China Just Did The Unthinkable, Major US Port Shutdown After Collision Collapses Bridge

The Lamborghini key

I once knew a fellow expat; I will refer to him as “the stupid guy” TSG for short.Now TSG was quite the charmer and had all the girls (here in China) eating out of his hand. He did not have a college degree, and so got a job in China as a teacher fraudulently.

He paid money, and befriended the right people, and was working as an ESL (English as a second language) teacher.

He charmed everyone. Including myself, and he wanted to become my business partner… especially when he saw my wife.Now, he was many bad things, but one thing that he was able to do was to be able to speak Chinese very well.

And he used it to his advantage.Now, my Chinese was poor, but not as poor as he thought. And when he and I were alone drinking coffee when gave me this long, diatribe in Chinese.

Telling me about his journey and how he got there to where he was facing me. It began in English, but when he got to the spicy parts, it was all in Chinese.Now, even though I had a difficult time following him, I could make out some of what he said and the gist was this…

I am going to take your wife and fuck her eyes out.

I am going to take all your money.

I am going to take your job.

I am going to take everything you have.

And you won't be able to do anything about it.

He said this to my face… in Chinese.

Thinking that I didn’t understand anything.

And I ignored it all, which was a big mistake.

Yeah. I deserve some real hard slaps.

But then noticed him implementing exactly what he said. He tried to seduce my wife. he put poison in her ears against me. Changed her ideas and opinions. Manipulated her. Started buying her things like cell phones and what not.

He store my hours, my clients, my students from me. He was trying to convince my wife to give him money… it was everything that he said he would do.

Why did I put up with it?

Well… it wasn’t for long. Maybe one month to two months total, and then we put the kibosh on it.

Both my wife and I endured real PAIN to get where we were, and were not going to permit some shyster to steal it all away from us.

TSG thought he had it all worked out.

He used every trick in the book to alienate me from my wife; from my work, and from my money. I call him the “stupid guy”, but really I was the one who was stupid.

You see, this was a new thing; a new experience for me. I was unprepared for it. It took me some time to figure out what was going on.

Oh yeah. For certain. We ended it all.

He fled China. Went off to some other Asian nation and then returned back to California. But…

This is the story of one of the tricks that he used to seduce.

He had a Lamborghini key.

And a Lamborghini insurance paper and registration. And every-time he was talking with someone about him only being a “teacher“, he would pull those out and claim that he owned multiple businesses in the USA, and had a couple of Lamborghini automobiles and a fine house in Beverly Hills.

It wasn’t true.

On one drunken night, he told me the truth.

He faked the documents, and bought the old key from eBay.

Yeah. TSG was quite the player.

Now, he did manage to get into the pants of a great number of girls at work. In fact, he did that and used them to transfer my students; my customer to him. During my prime hours, so he had instant customers; instant income, and I got the dregs. And even when my students complained the workers (with whom he slept with) all took his side.

That was then. I had just gotten out of prison, was wobbly on my feet, and my marriage was young and enduring changes.

This is now.

I am strong and ESTABLISHED and now formidable within my regime.

So don’t worry about me. I pulled myself up by my bootstraps. Never the less, we have to experience some trying times to get to be strong. You cannot lift weights to get healthy without feeling pain.

The Stupid Guy

What a tool. Fuck.

Today…

The Power of Healthy Boundaries: Why Saying “No” is Essential for Personal Growth

May 2, 2024

Listen up, because it’s time to drop some truth bombs that might just change your life. If you’re the type of person who struggles with setting boundaries, who says “yes” to every request and invitation, even when you really want to say “no,” then this article is for you.

Here’s the thing: boundaries are not just some touchy-feely self-help concept. They’re a crucial life skill that can make or break your relationships, your career, and your overall well-being. When you fail to set healthy boundaries, you’re essentially giving everyone else permission to walk all over you, to take advantage of your kindness, and to drain your energy and resources.

But when you learn to set clear, firm boundaries, something magical happens. You start to feel more in control of your life. You begin to prioritize your own needs and desires. You attract people and opportunities that align with your values and goals. In short, you become a happier, healthier, more fulfilled version of yourself.

Now, you might be thinking: “But won’t people hate me if I start saying no all the time?” And the answer is: who cares? Seriously, if someone gets upset with you for having boundaries and taking care of yourself, then they’re probably not someone you want in your life anyway.

The truth is, setting boundaries is not about being selfish or uncaring. It’s about recognizing your own inherent worth and respecting yourself enough to stand up for your needs. It’s about being honest and authentic in your relationships, rather than constantly sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of others.

So how do you start setting healthy boundaries? It’s simple, but not always easy. First, get clear on what your non-negotiables are. What are the things that you absolutely will not tolerate in your life, no matter what? This could be anything from physical or emotional abuse to chronic lateness or flakiness from friends.

Next, practice communicating your boundaries clearly and directly. This means saying “no” when you need to, without apologies or excuses. It means being honest about your feelings and expectations, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

For example, let’s say you have a friend who consistently cancels plans at the last minute, leaving you hanging. You might set a boundary by saying something like, “Hey, I value our friendship, but when you cancel on me at the last minute, it really throws off my day and makes me feel unimportant. Going forward, if you need to cancel, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance.”

If your friend continues to violate this boundary, you might need to enforce it by saying something like, “I’m sorry, but I can’t keep making plans with you if you’re going to cancel at the last minute. It’s not working for me.” This might mean taking a step back from the friendship or finding other people to make plans with who respect your time and commitments.

Remember, setting boundaries is not a one-time event. It’s an ongoing practice that requires consistency, courage, and self-awareness. But the payoff is so worth it. When you learn to set healthy boundaries, you create space for more joy, more fulfillment, and more authentic connections in your life.

So go ahead, start saying “no” to the things that don’t serve you, and watch as your world begins to change for the better. Trust that your future self will thank you.

Strange

Cheese Tortellini Soup with Shrimp

Prep: 5 min | Cook: 15 min | Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 cups (32 fluid ounces) reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 (15 ounce) container Buitoni Refrigerated Marinara Sauce
1 cup white wine
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 (9 ounce) package Buitoni Refrigerated Three Cheese Tortellini
1/2 pound (51/60 count) small cooked shrimp
1 cup loose-pack frozen petite peas, thawed

Instructions

Combine broth, sauce, wine and pepper in large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Add pasta; reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.
Add shrimp and peas; cook for an additional 1 minute.
Serve immediately.

What office rule made you say “You gotta be kidding me”?

Happened to a friend who worked the IT Help desk in a very large corp. They had 2 phones on their desks, the Help line and a regular employee desk phone. Then it seems external calls coming into their desk phones – weren’t. Manager said he had had incoming calls blocked because HE thought that the Help queues were long because the Help guys were on personal calls instead.
So I said to my friend, “You have 4 kids who are latch-key kids (come home to empty house as Mom works too). And your co-workers also have children at home. Suppose each kid is supposed to call their parent to say they have gotten home from school, but now the calls are not getting through. What instruction would you all have given your children if they cannot reach you at work? Call the corp. security line!”
Friend: “What good would that do …. ?”
Me: “Imagine what happens when a 7-year-old calls Security in tears saying ‘I can’t reach my Daddy’…”
3 days later their desk phones were receiving external calls again.

Up-Close Look at Captured Abrams and Leopard in Moscow

Prime Minister Of Georgia Exposes U.S. Regime Change Attempt

In the April 18 I had mentioned a recent color revolution attempt in Georgia:

U.S./EU Lobby Against Georgian Law That Would Reveal Their Secret Influence

Those organization who currently receive money from the various U.S. or EU government or non-government organizations are of course not amused that they will have to reveal their association with such sources. They want to lobby for foreign positions without being identified as foreign influencers.They have therefore launched protests against their country’s government and parliament which has passed the law in the first reading. Two further readings will be required to finalize the law.

The protesters against the law claim that it is a “Russian law” against “foreign agents”.
…
However neither is the law “Russian style” – it is a copy of FARA – nor does the law include the loaded word “agent”. It does not accuse anyone of being such but seeks public transparency over foreign financial influences which would of course also include Russian ones.

Despite violent protests by the usual suspects the relevant bill has passed its second reading in the Georgian parliament. A third and final reading is expected in the mid of May.

The ‘NGO’ complex of U.S./EU regime change organizations in Georgia is enormous:

Lord Bebo @MyLordBebo – 8:20 UTC · May 3, 2024🇬🇪 “Georgia has one of the highest amount of NGOs per capita!
– 20,000 NGOs are active in Georgia!
– 1 NGO per 148 citizens!
– 90% get their funding from foreign countries!”
-> He is not pro Russia, he is pro Georgia and the protesters are pro money!
-> BBC interview with Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair, Foreign Relations Committee, Parliament of Georgia (vid)

The current government of Georgia has a solid majority and obviously knows what is happening in its country.

It has rejected a recent – conditional – invitation to the U.S.:

The Government of Georgia has declined an invitation from the US to discuss strategic partnership and assistance, reports Ekho Kavkazu.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia confirmed receiving the invitation from the Prime Minister. However, before the visit, parliament was supposed to temporarily suspend consideration of the bill On Transparency of Foreign Influence.

Well, the parliament did not do so.

Now witness this very public slap-in-the face which Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is handing out to Derek H. Chollet, the Counselor of the U.S. State Department:

Irakli Kobakhidze @PM_Kobakhidze – 8:13 UTC · May 3, 2024Spoke to @CounselorDOS and expressed my sincere disappointment with the two revolution attempts of 2020-2023 supported by the former US Ambassador and those carried out through NGOs financed from external sources. Had these attempts been successful, the second front line would have been opened in Georgia.

Besides, I explained to Mr. Chollet that false statements made by the officials of the US State Department about the transparency bill and street rallies remind us of similar false statements made by the former US Ambassador in 2020-2023, which served to the facilitation of violence from foreign funded actors and to the support of revolutionary processes back then.

Also, I clarified to Mr. Chollet that it requires a special effort to restart the relations against this background, which is impossible without a fair and honest approach.

I have not expressed my concerns with Mr. Chollet about a brutal crackdown of the students’ protest rally in New York City.

It is rare to see a small power like Georgia publicly exposing U.S. mischief like this.

Posted by b on May 3, 2024 at 10:05 UTC | Permalink

Social Media Has Destroyed Women

I went on a date with a woman in her late 40s. She confessed that she had given one of her friends bad advice by encouraging her to get involved with a married man. 

I told her that I was shocked that a woman her age would give such bad advice to a woman 20 years younger than her and she be more of a mentor. She said that she had gone through a similar experience and it had worked out for her.  

After more dialogue she admitted that she cheated on her husband of 25 years with another married man and eventually he left his wife as well. They lived together for 5 years and then he ended up breaking it off with her and now she's been single for a year. 

I honestly just kind of stared in shock and kept blinking for a little bit. I told her I don't know what was 

1. that you told me so easily like it was a flex or 

2. that you actually believe that your situation was so successful that you actually encourage somebody else to do the same thing. 

Not only did you implode your family, but you encouraged that other man to ruin his and now you have your friend ruining another marriage. 

She told me that I am judgemental and that I need to read my Bible more.  Am I tripping?

If we were to talk about prosperity between China & the USA, which one would you say is on the right track? Why?

China is the only major economy growing since the Covid pandemic and China is now producing huge end automobile and quantum computers! It is growing faster and bigger than the entire G7! The U.S. is basically a Ponzi scheme economy printing money without basis and building 1 trillion debts every 100 days! Its GDP is laden with hot air and Wall Street bubbles ready to pop anytime soon! The U.S. spends on war, war mongering, trouble making, regime change, and colour revolution funding. While China build the latest state of the art infrastructures and educate and retrain its people!

Putting the U.S. and China in the same category is totally misleading China is developing the U.S. is disintegrating, China is progressing the U.S. is collapsing in a huge pile of debts.

Have you ever seen a drill instructor compliment a recruit?

Drill sergeant Thomas – “give me that rifle, private!”

Terrified PFC Edwards hands him the rifle.

Drill sergeant Thomas – “what the fuck is this?!?!? Do you know what this is, private?!?!?”

Terrified PFC Edwards tries, in vain, to muster some semblance of a coherent response.

Drill sergeant Thomas – “this is a clean ass rifle! That’s what the fuck it is! Now get the fuck out of here private…you fucking creep.”

PFC Edwards is on the range with a beat up M16A2 and some very old aluminum artifacts that were likely magazines at some point. He’s shooting at little green Ivans that already have more holes than an Alex Jones conspiracy theory and the Browns red zone defense combined. Drill sergeant Thomas approaches and screams out “I don’t know what the fuck you’re doing private, but keep doing it!”

Those are the two compliments that I most remember from basic.

Win later

What are some of the interesting mutations humans have?

There is one which may make you look prettier.

The British-American cinema icon, Elizabeth Taylor, who was deemed as one of the most beautiful women of her time had a rare genetic condition called Distichiasis. It is a type of mutation which caused her to have two rows of eyelashes instead of one. This thick, dark fringe of extra eyelashes made her eyes look all the more dreamy and dazzling and along with her striking blue eyes, they certainly enhanced her already exquisite face. This was caused by a mutation in the FOXC2 gene.

[1]

Although, having natural double eyelashes may seem like an entrancing feature, it can be far from a boon. Congenital distichiasis is often accompanied by lymphedema – a condition characterized by swelling of the limbs, typically the legs and feet due to build up of body fluids, and therefore known as lymphedema-distichiasis (LD) syndrome.

[2]

For the little boring part, the FOXC2 gene is a transcription factor/protein involved in numerous developmental pathways of the body, two of which are those of the lymphatic vessels and the associated regions of the eye, hence the association.

In distichiasis, the extra row of eyelashes grow from tiny oil glands (meibomian glands)

[3]

on the thin ledge of skin nearer to the eye, instead of growing out of hair follicles present on the outer edge of the eyelid.

main qimg 9e6db4f6ef20ed8046356cb48ba8cdb2 lq

Distichiasis in some individuals can remain harmless and less detectable if the growing eyelashes curl outwards. The lashes can be removed by epilation (plucking), cryotherapy, electrolysis, lid splitting operations, or laser treatment etc. The condition can also vary from a few sparse hairs on one lid, to full sets of lashes on both lids.

But for some individuals, distichiasis with lymphedema syndrome can take a more severe form. One could have more acute symptoms of eye irritation, redness as well as more frequent tearing in the eye. The mutations in FOXC2 may also give rise to multiple disorders, such heart diseases, scoliosis, cellulitis, webbed neck, respiratory problems due to abnormal lymph flow into the lungs etc.

[4]

Which could explain why some of Taylor’s myriad of health problems may have been attributed to her inherited lymphoedema-distichiasis syndrome due to mutations in the FOXC2 gene.

[5]

[6]

Taylor was known to have had more than 100 operations during her lifetime, including having both hips replaced. She also suffered from scoliosis and respiratory infections. In 2004, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure which later caused her death in 2011.

Edit: As it has been pointed out in the comments, I’d like to clarify that Elizabeth’s eye color wasn’t exactly blue but was more like purple/violet color. Although, some websites describe her eye color as blue, it was a slight mistake on my part on factually describing it as blue. Thank you 🙂

Footnotes

[1] FOXC2 gene: MedlinePlus Genetics

[2] Lymphedema-Distichiasis Syndrome – NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)

[3] Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Treatment

[4] Lymphedema-Distichiasis Syndrome – NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)

[5] Elizabeth Taylor’s Killer Beauty | TIME.com

[6] Elizabeth Taylor’s Astonishing Health History – Womens Health Center – Everyday Health

Our daily comics

Charleston She-Crab Soup

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

What is the “She” in She Crab Soup?

One summer we took a family trip to Charleston, South Carolina. When traveling, I like to find out the one dish the city is famous for and try to eat it as many times as I can. After all, how can you know what the “Best She Crab Soup in Charleston” is unless you sample a pretty fair share of them?

She Crab Soup, also called She Crab Bisque, was the dish of the trip. I discovered that the soup is made with female crabs. Makes sense. In addition, the roe (fish eggs) of the female crab is added to the recipe.

How do you know the difference between a male and a female crab? I went to a food conference in NYC one spring and got a “crab anatomy” lesson from a crab vendor.

He flipped over two crabs and explained that the male crabs have the Washington Monument on their undersides.

The females have the wider Capitol Building on their bellies.

What are the Ingredients in She Crab Soup?

After returning from that trip to Charleston, I was determined to re-create the recipe for She Crab Soup. For inspiration, I leaned on The Joy of Cooking’s recipe for lobster bisque, from which this recipe is loosely adapted.

Most recipes call for fresh crab. In a perfect, very French world, you would also use the shells of the crabs to make a super rich stock. Obviously this is not always practical. And unless you live in an area where crabs are regularly harvested, you will probably have a more difficult time finding “female” crabs.

Since I wanted this She Crab soup recipe to be fast and easy, I’ve used canned, lump meat crab from the seafood counter of my grocery store and bottled clam juice in place of fish stock. If you can find fish stock, substitute that for the bottled clam juice and chicken stock.

Ingredients

1 small onion, minced
4 tablespoons butter
1 pound crabmeat (about 12 crabs)
1 quart milk
2 cups light cream
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 cup dry sherry
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup orange crab roe
Rind of 1 lemon, grated

Instructions

Sauté onion gently in the butter, add crabmeat, and set aside.
Heat milk and cream in the top of a double boiler, add crab meat and onion, seasonings and sherry. Cover, and let steep over very low heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
Beat the egg yolks, pour a little of the hot liquid into them, and then stir the yolk mixture slowly into the soup.
Put a spoonful of roe in each soup bowl, ladle in the soup, and sprinkle the top with grated lemon rind.

Men Are Going Abroad For Love And Modern Women Are FURIOUS

What are the first things you notice when you become homeless?

How flimsy it all is. Society. Status. Everything.

Everything we work so hard for and so hard to maintain. It’s too flimsy and transient. The fact that it takes so little to lose it all and that we have to work so hard to keep it.

When gossip can change your status. That’s scary.

On a more practical front, I noticed right away where I was now persona non grata. Places where you could stand while waiting for a friend or a ride, in the vicinity of a store was now the place you waited to go to jail while the store manager summoned the police because you are now a criminal by virtue of your homelessness.

I now knew where to go to be hassled by absolutely everyone because I was no longer a person but either a very tall child or wildlife that wandered into their vicinity, only to be shooed away or threatened.

Also, no public restroom anywhere, ever, was available for ‘my kind’. I had then been redesignated as a U Person. As in ‘you people’!!

As well as all shelter was off-limits to me, to include a covered bus stop, a bridge, even a large tree with a nice canopy. I was not even allowed shade.

Don’t forget public spaces that are available to everyone, like parks, benches and sidewalks. Those are for decent regular people, not U People! And I get it, no one wants parks reduced to a landfill, tent city or crime-ridden waste land. But I even promised not to dump all of my toxic waste on that park bench, I just needed to rest from a long day of walking. But they showed me and installed spikes and arms in the center of the park bench.

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(Credit: dev.null.org)

I also learned that grocery stores acquired very impressive trash compactors. I guess I took more than my fair share of dented cans and bruised bananas. I admit to my greed. But those giant yellow beasts were overkill.

On to the not-so-horrible things I learned.

Like where all the high-end cafés, bakeries, etc. were located and what time they tossed the leftovers.

Which dumpsters, of particular residents were picked up and when there were prime resell pickings. Or to get good clothes from. People being so incredibly wasteful saved us in more ways than 10.

Who was homeless-friendly and who wasn’t, by just a look. Identifying the look became second nature; even my young son could spot it.

I also learned the police routes and rounds pretty quickly.

Prime U People traveling times, so as not to offend the good, decent people of society.

And I learned what really mattered to me. What was important. Homelessness gave me perspective that I may not have gotten any other way.

Saw this

What’s the best revenge you’ve gotten after being fired or let go from a job?

I was fired from a sporting goods company for not fitting in. I was fired by the VP of Technology and my manager was the one who brought me to his office (she didn’t say a word to me).

Anyway. As it stands, a few years later the jellyfish manager I had was at a conference where I was the keynote speaker. I was actually in the middle of telling the story of how I was fired and that got me the right to call myself ‘seasoned’ on my resume. I am explaining the whole experience minus names and I look out into the audience and there she is — sliding down in her chair. It was classic!

She eventually was fired too. This company was great at managing their unemployment rate. If they didn’t like you they fired you thinking they would get away with it with no fight. I took them to three appeals and won.

Life Doesn’t Give Us Purpose, We Create It

May 2, 2024

Today, let’s tackle a topic that often keeps us awake at night—finding our purpose. And let me be clear: this isn’t about stumbling upon some hidden secret that’s going to make everything click into place. It’s about facing life’s relentless questions head-on.

Life doesn’t hand us a neatly packaged purpose; it doesn’t operate like some cosmic vending machine. Instead, life poses questions, challenges us, and waits for our responses. So, what does this really mean? It means that your purpose isn’t something you find—it’s something you define through your actions and decisions every day.

Think about it. Every choice you make, every action you take, is essentially you responding to life’s big questions: What are you going to do today? What kind of person will you be? How will you impact the world around you? Your answers to these questions, reflected in your daily actions, create the narrative of your life.

Let’s break this down a bit. When you choose to help someone in need, you’re answering life’s question with compassion. When you decide to learn something new, you’re responding with curiosity. And when you stand up for what you believe in, even when it’s hard, you’re replying with courage. Your life, in its entirety, is your response to the existential questions life throws your way.

Now, this might sound daunting. It’s much easier to wait for inspiration to strike or to follow a path someone else has laid out for us. But here’s the real deal: taking responsibility for your own purpose means embracing the freedom to make your life mean something on your own terms. It’s about actively building the life you want, brick by brick, with your own hands.

Sure, you’ll face setbacks. There will be days when you wonder if you’re on the right path, or if it’s all worth it. But remember, every day gives you a new chance to answer life’s questions differently. To try again, to change your approach, to learn from your mistakes. And that’s where real growth happens.

So, my challenge to you is this: Stop waiting for life to give you answers and start crafting your own. Engage with life, make choices that feel true to who you are, and let your actions speak for the purpose you’re building. You might just find that in the act of responding to life’s questions, you’ll craft a purpose that is uniquely yours.

Remember, you are the author of your life’s story. What will your answers be? What will you stand for? How will you respond to the questions life asks you? Let’s start taking those steps today. Because in the end, the most fulfilling paths are often the ones we pave ourselves.

Massive fire at Germany’s defense-industrial company Diehl

Hal Turner World May 03, 2024

EXTREMELY POISONOUS SMOKE is billowing from a massive fire at Germany’s defense-industrial company, Diehl, in Berlin.

The company just so happens to produce, among other things, the IRIS-T air defense system, its missiles, and GMLRS ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, used by Ukraine.

Panicked authorities say the fire no longer possible to contain.

Students in surrounding areas are being sent home and emergency services warn people to stay indoors and avoid deadly massive clouds of chemical fumes.

The Building is now completely engulfed on four floors. Part of the building has already collapsed. The fire can no longer be brought under control.

We can confirm that chemicals are also burning in the building. Sulfuric acid and copper cyanide were stored there. There is a risk of hydrogen cyanide forming, which rises into the air with the smoke – Fire brigade informed the population via warning apps.

Economic Update: The Phenomenon of China

Great overview.

This week’s Economic Update Professor Richard Wolff dedicates the entire show to the economic developmental achievement of China, together with the historical background that motivated that achievement. We analyze the uniqueness of both the economic philosophy and the politics of China.

What red flag did you have the week before your wedding that you wish you had heeded?

A couple of days before my wedding we were having our makeup try out. Besides my mom and sisters, I thought it would be nice to include MIL. As the session was going on the makeup artist asked my mom how many children she had and she proudly answer “I have 3 daughters and 2 granddaughters” and the next question was if she would have wanted a son and mom said “I would have been happy with either, but I love the way it turned out to have only girls”.

The same questions were asked to MIL. She answered “I have to 2 sons” and the answer to the second question was “oh no! I never wanted to have girls, women are trouble and only bring problems to a family”.

We grew up in an home were women greatly appreciated (my dad used to say he was a joyous man among women), where we were told “men and women are different, but those diferences should complete each other, none is less and women too can be/ do whatever they aspire, so shoot for the stars”. Needless to say I was SHOCKED to hear that from another woman… who raised a man.

So, every time my “still” husband and I have an argument he tells me stuff like “you’re a problem! You ruin my life”. I know were those words come from…

But I’m really happy that we have 2 girls, 2 amazing girls. My husband’s parents have seen the 2 year old a couple of times, I didn’t really have a relationship with them, but when MIL said our 2nd was a mistake we should have stopped… I stopped any communication with them. They have never visited our baby girl since she was born…

What are some of the most awesome psychological facts?

If your bladder is full and you are unable to hold in your pee then start thinking about sex, it will give you relief up to some extent. (I suggest you to use washroom in this situation asap)
Tilting your head while looking up or while having a conversation makes you look more attractive and sexier.
When a person cries and if the first tear drop falls from left eyes, it’s pain. If it is from right eye, it’s happiness.
Men spend almost a year of their lives staring at women.
Studies have revealed that a man and woman can never be just friends.
Constantly dreaming about someone indicates that they may actually be thinking about you.
An attractive face is preferred over an attractive body for long term relationships.
Sex is more physical for men and more emotional for women.
Money can buy happiness. Studies show that after 49lakhs rupees (approx) per year, increased income boost happiness.
Being alone and spending more time with yourself is more likely to make you successful in life.

What made you as an American move to China?

First, I have travelled a fair amount in my life. I am from the US but have lived in Japan, and spent a lot of time in Taiwan, Korea, Israel and visited countries in Europe, Philippines, Malaysia, Scotland.

I have always liked Asian culture so that is part of it, but the people in China are really good people. I found that attractive. China is safe, but many countries are. The difference is that even in the huge cities, it is safe. Next is that China is growing. It is really interesting to see a country advancing, growing and improving. I have literally seen cities built, huge infrastructure projects materialize over a few years. I am watching as the behavior of the society changes as the wealth grows. This fascinates me.

China is also a convenient place to live. It is easy to get around, I don’t need a car. Things I need are easy and quick to obtain and the cost of living is low.

All of these things play a part in why I am living in China. But mostly it is the people. Chinese could be boastful people. But they are not, they are kind, thoughtful and hardworking people with no outward and obvious judgmental attitudes. In other words, they don’t care what religion I am. With all that is going on they do not treat me badly because I am an American and hold me at fault for the actions of the US government. They are educated and know the difference. It is also a society that puts a strong emphasis on education and achievement. At least the people I encounter are life long learners. Driven to learn new things.

There are negatives, of course, but the above things are the reasons I have moved to China.

Something TERRIFYING Happened To This Submarine

Super interesting.

British Foreign Secretary: Ukraine Can Use British Missiles Against Russian Territory

Hal Turner World May 03, 2024

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said today, Ukraine CAN use British weapons to hit deep inside Russia Territory. He also promised Kiev over $3 billion in military aid annually for “as long as it takes.”

“Ukraine has the right to use weapons provided by London to strike targets on Russian territory” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has declared, in an interview with Reuters on Thursday during a visit to Kiev.

The senior diplomat, who also served as UK Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Prime Minister Denis Shmygal and Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, promising London’s “unequivocal support” and annual military aid payments.

“We will give three billion pounds ($3.74 billion) every year for as long as is necessary. We’ve just really emptied all we can in terms of giving equipment,” Cameron told the outlet, noting that some of the British weapons earmarked for Ukraine would be arriving to the country during his visit.

The foreign secretary noted that among the weapons donated to Kiev are precision-guided bombs, air defense missiles and equipment for 100 mobile air defense teams.

Cameron stated that Ukraine has the “right” to use arms provided by London to strike targets inside Russia if that’s how it wants to use them.

“Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself,” the diplomat said.

Hal Turner Snap Analysis

This is a massive escalation on the part of the UK and may be the lynchpin to Russia declaring Britain a “combatant.”

If person “A” provides a gun to person “B” and person B uses that gun to shoot Person “C” then Person “A” facilitated that attack and is an accessory before the fact and goes to prison, too.

I don’t see any reason that state actors can’t be held to that same legal standard.

US Very Concerned as China-Russia Strengthen Their Military Ties!

The silo of peanut butter

I used to work in a granola factory.

I was in maintenance, and then worked the lines as a wrapping operator. It put money in my pocket and we could eat anything we wanted. And yeah, after one hour, we couldn’t stand to look at the stuff.

Any ways, this took place in Mebine, North Carolina.

And all the workers were local. Mill workers. Probably C and D students throughout their school years.

Anyways, there was a big silo of honey, or syrup and one of peanut butter.

And on the day before the Labor Day weekend, one of the workers was assigned the job to watch the peanut-butter go though a pipe at the bottom of the silo into a cauldron.

When the vessel was full, his job was to turn it off, shut the spigot, and then go home, locking the door behind him.

Well, the factory is empty, and he starts drinking.

The peanut butter is running slow.

Slow.

And he is getting drunker and drunker.

Slow.

“Fuck it”.

Eventually, he leaves the factory, locks the door behind him and forgets about it.

Three days later, we all come to work, and no one can get in.

Three feet of peanut butter had flooded the factory floor, the offices, and it was a real mess.

The front door to the lobby is one half full to the handle with this ocean of peanut butter.

Oh yeah. He got fired.

And we spent the next three weeks shoveling the peanut butter back into the silo.

True story.

Not embellished upon at all.

I have many stories about this factory; from the 20-something foxy side chick of the Boss, to the schemes to get free ingredients. It was quite the experience. I’ll tell you what.

So yeah. This is my story about shoveling peanut butter.

Now you know…

Today.

Have you ever lost any respect for someone instantly?

My nextdoor neighbours are an elderly Moroccan couple. We live in The Netherlands. The woman doesn’t speak Dutch at all, the husband a little. He often comes to me with letters and asks me to explain them to him. Because of those letters I know that the wife suffers from dementia.

Last month the husband rang my doorbell and asked if he could look inside. I figured that he wanted to see something in the street, which he couldn’t see from his appartment, so I let him in. But then he said, Helen, I love you. I want to be with you, can I kiss you on the cheek? I thought that I must have misunderstood him, it couldn’t be possible that my married illiterate neighbour who is around 90 years old, old enough to be my grandfather (I am 47) is making a pass at me, so completely flabbergasted, I said yes. But then he really kissed me on my cheek😱😱😱. I immediately understood the situation and I froze. Then he said that he would go on a vacation for two weeks and asked if he could come to me afterwards. Still completely paralysed I managed to say no with a really soft voice. Then he left.

It is now more than a month later. I am appalled by the audacity that a married illiterate man, who’s old enough to be my grandfather, with whom I can barely have a conversation, thinks that he stands a chance with me. I am disgusted. I thought that he was a decent old man, but he is a dirty old man.

What was the kindest thing someone did for you when you were young?

I really hated my life, but there seemed to be no way out of the situation.

At the time I was working two jobs.

During the day I would travel to NYC and work odd jobs such as catering.

At night, I worked in the dairy and frozen section of a shitty grocery store called Pathmark.

My brother was in middle school, and too young to work.

My father was out of work, having been fired for the upteenth time.

My mother refused to help support the family.

My grandmother was retired and struggling to pay the bills with her social security and pension.

I had recently graduated from high school, dreaming of going to college and building my life.

Less than a year later, it was starting to look like a pipe dream.

I was incredibly angry about this, and fought with my family constantly, my mother in particular.

She constantly complained about the family’s situation, and would take her frustrations out on me, once calling me lazy when I decided to sleep in for a few hours on my day off rather than fix her TV.

One day, we had a long argument, where I sarcastically thanked her for ruining my life, and called her a lazy cow, among other things.

It was admittedly, not my finest moment to tell you the truth.

Later, she confessed part of it to a childhood friend of hers who lived in Arizona.

She told her about our fight and about the fact that I had yelled at her about wanting to go to college.

The next day, I received a phone call from that friend, a woman whom I had never met, but apparently had talked to on occasion over the years.

She asked me if I would like to move to Arizona and live with her and her family.

I found the idea of living with a stranger uncomfortable, so I said no.

She told me to think about it.

A few days later, the woman called me again at home, and made the same offer.

However, before I could say no, she sweetened the deal.

She would pay for me to go out to AZ and if I didn’t like it after a month, she would send me back, no questions asked.

Thinking that I had nothing to lose, I moved to Arizona, and I never looked back.

It took me a little while to get my bearings, but she eventually helped me find a job, apply for college, among other things.

Now, 15 years later I am a successful teacher, with three college degrees under my belt.

And it was all due to the kindness of a stranger who decided to take a gamble on me and my future.

Women SHOCKED Men Looked At Her In Booty Pants At Gym, Women PREFER BEARS To Men In Woods

The poem “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost

This is from one of my earlier posts, found HERE. Please guys, MM has a lot of good stuff buried under all the fluff.

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though; 
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

What picture made your blood boil?

This is the lifeless body of Ziba – a 22 year old student at University of Kabul. She was shot several times as she was trying to escape through the window of her classroom to flee from the horror.

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Dozens of other students her age in the very same classroom were killed that day.

It was November 2, 2020 when a group of cowards, misguided, losers, brainless and merciless individuals attacked the University of Kabul in the capital of Afghanistan. They killed more than 20 young students – most of them in their early 20s.

These kids were the savings, the investment, the helping hand, the happiness, the hope, the future and the life of many parents who worked hard their entire life to be able to merely earn a living to survive and send their loved ones to university so that one day they get to see them living a better life than them. They’re gone, so are the better days those parents wished to see. They did not just lose their kids, they lost everything.

That, however, is NOT what boils my blood the most.

What boils my blood the most is the fact that we have individuals who, proudly, take all of that away from those aging parents, and believe that by doing so they’ve pleased god. They believe they can commit such an act of horror and terror, killing defenceless and unarmed individuals in dozens and stand before god on the day of judgment and be rewarded for what they had done! No religion teaches that. This is wrong, this is barbaric and inhuman and it boils my blood that someone would do such a horrific act of evil in the name of religion.

On the other hand, what cools me down and gives hope and patience to those parents and many other Afghans who lost and still are losing their loved ones, is knowing that YES there will come a day that they stand before god, but it will not be with pride, nor will they be rewarded for what they had committed. We believe in promise of god where he says: “so whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it and whoever does an atom’s weight of bad/evil will see it.” (Quran 99:7–8)

M1A1 Tanks PULLED From Ukraine Front Lines “Weak and Vulnerable”

Hal Turner World April 28, 2024

United States M1A1 Abrams tanks have been “pulled” from Ukrainian front lines because, Ukraine says, the tanks are “weak and vulnerable.” So much for America’s Main Battle Tank when it has to face a Near-Peer Army like Russia!

Video below, posted on social media, shows the latest M1A1 Abrams being towed by Russian troops. Smashed, burned, blown-up, there isn’t much left to the $4.3 MILLION tank.

We were told its armor was virtually impenetrable; and it’s mix of metals was so secret, the mixture is “classified.” Now look at what happened to it!

If this is what can be expected of these tanks when they’re in a REAL fight (as opposed to fighting rag-wearing terrorists) then reasonable people have to ask “What are we getting for all this money?”

Blown to shit.

Closer look on that recently captured US Abrams M1 tank. pic.twitter.com/hv5Vw1OLbj

— — GEROMAN — time will tell – 👀 — (@GeromanAT) April 28, 2024

Sacrifice

My 16 year old daughter wants me to buy her a brand new car for her birthday but I can’t afford it. All of her friends’ parents bought their kids a car. What should I do?

I have got to share this;

My step daughter was given $1000 as a gift from her grandmother when she passed away.

When the step daughter turned 16, I took her to early drivers ed. She passed and had her temp. Now she needed to practice driving and the dreaded parallel parking. I took her to these as well. 4 months down the road, and opportunity came up to buy a used Honda accord 1992. 1 owner who was meticulous about maintenance. I ask the step daughter if she wanted to use her money towards a car. She said YES. I told her that would not buy much car, but this one was in very very good shape. She said yes.

So I got the car, made her change the oil, the battery, and helped her get new tires (mind you aside from the car, I paid for everything else.)

The car got inspect, insured and registered. Then sat there. for about 4 months, she neither asked about it, sat in it, or started it up.

When I asked her mom what the matter was, she told me this:

The stepdaughter did not get to choose what kind of car, nor its color. She didn’t like the interior and thought the car was too old. I asked if she knew what went into get the car road worthy? The mom said not nobody asked me to do all those things for the stepdaughter.

I was stupefied. When the two went on a trip to visit family in late Dec, I sold the car for $1500, gave the stepdaughter $750, and paid the bills with the rest.

The nuclear radiation was evident when they returned and did not see the car in the driveway. I told them too bad. I needed to pay bills. I gave her the money, and she had the audacity to remind me that she initially paid $1000.

Of course I told her of the extra expenses I incurred including the tires. I could present her the receipts. Wisely she said “Fine”.

Course, that incident was NEVER forgotten, and I was forever labeled the bad guy. Step parents never get a break.

Russian State-Controlled TV: If NATO Troops Enter Ukraine , SARMAT, YARS, and Avangard (Nukes) Will Hit NATO Decision-Making Centers

Hal Turner World April 29, 2024

State-controlled Russian TV today broadcast a direct announcement of Russia’s intent to fire nuclear weapons at NATO Decision-making centers if NATO troops enter Ukraine to battle Russia. The words aired were so blunt as to be undeniable..

Here is the segment of Russia state-controlled TV broadcast today as a warning to the entire West:

So there it is. Plain. Simple. Easy to understand. Even the village idiot can grasp this.

“If NATO Troops enter Ukraine to inflict strategic defeat upon Russia . . . . everything will fly: SARMAT, YARS, AVANGARD.” Those are Russia’s nuclear weapons system names.

WHY NOW?

. . . . Why broadcast this . . . . now?

Why now?

Could it be because elements from the French Army have, in fact, deployed to Odessa, Ukraine?

Could the RUMORS which claim elements of the US 101st Airborne have also deployed to Odessa, Ukraine, be Russia’s reason for airing this, now?

We already know that France deployed elements of the French Foreign Legion into Slavyansk, Ukraine, and the Russians blew them up with missile strikes about 48 hours after they got there.

We already know that Polish, Romanian, and other NATO-country troops, were hit by Russian missiles at a hotel in Dnipropetrovsk last week. A slew of them got killed too.

So what is it about developments in Ukraine that caused Russia to instruct it’s state-controlled TV, to make such a blunt, unmistakable, broadcast, Now????

I think something’s up. I think the Russians either know . . . or are seeing . . . Deployment of NATO troops into Ukraine.

If you haven’t watched the video, it clearly warns “NATO Decision-making centers are already in the crosshairs, and if NATO troops enter Ukraine to inflict strategic defeat upon Russia, everything will fly: SARMAT, YARS, and AVANGARD.”

There’s no wiggle room in that language. There’s no nuance. No ambiguity.

I thought you should know while there’s still time to try to prepare. Make plans. Buy supplies.

But clearly, there doesn’t seem to be very much time left — at all.

Best Ever Lemon Chicken

Healthy, flavorful and low in calories.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 skinless chicken breasts
Salt, pepper and paprika
3/4 cup water, divided
1/4 cup white wine
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 lemon, thinly sliced

Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a frying pan with Pam.
Season chicken breasts to taste with salt, pepper, and paprika.
Heat frying pan and sauté chicken until nicely browned (about 10 minutes), adding about 1/4 cup water near the end of the cooking time to loosen meat from the pan.
Remove chicken breasts to a shallow baking dish.
To the pan juices, add the white wine, 1/2 cup water and chicken bouillon, and heat through.
Meanwhile mix the lemon juice and flour in a cup. Pour into the frying pan and stir until sauce is thickened.
Pour sauce over chicken. Top with lemon slices and bake for 20 minutes.

Why do medieval soldiers wear armour when modern soldiers don’t?

Because, contrary to Hollywood movies, armor actually worked.

Even otherwise excellent movies like Lord of the Rings will have you believe that this:

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Might as well be made out of plastic or paper because it offers zero protection against weapons of the day. But cutting through or piercing metal is nowhere as easy as the movies make it to be.

They only stopped wearing armor when it didn’t work anymore after guns became very common. They could make bulletproof armor using medieval technology:

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(In fact the term “bulletproof” is from “proofing” that the armor can resist a pistol shot, seen in the dent above)

These armor are expensive and not readily available. While rich and important people could afford them, the average peasant or soldier couldn’t. They’re also very heavy and limits your mobility.

When bullet massively improved in the mid- and late-19th century (to something familiar today), these heavy armor only make you slow and vulnerable on the battlefield. It didn’t stop both sides from experimenting in WW1 though, even though these bulky suits were mostly useless against anything more powerful than pistols. The steel helmets that became common was used primarily to protect against shrapnel after artillery became the deadliest thing in the battlefield (and still is).

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Bulletproof armor only became practical with the invention of kevlar in the 1970s. Even so, some countries today are still resistant in fully-equipping their soldiers with body armor, either because it’s too expensive or because in the environment they’re operating on (like the tropics) heavy armor that don’t allow sweat to evaporate can be detrimental. But as the war in Ukraine is showing, body armor is mandatory once again in warfare.

The Beverly Hillbillies – Season 1, Episode 1 (1962) – The Clampetts Strike Oil – Paul Henning

What was the biggest scandal at your work?

While working for the Home Office in the early 2000s, there was a woman whom we’ll call “Joan” in a neighbouring department who’d been through all sorts of hell with an ex boyfriend. Joan would tell us of the awful things he’d said to her, the late night phone calls, turning up to her door uninvited and so on.

We were supportive and would sympathise with her while also telling her to report this to the police. She would make excuses not to do this, and we were unable to force her to do it because she would get so upset.

One day, a delivery arrived at reception for Joan:

main qimg 0b788a1ca41778bf70edf4b8a1527f09

A dozen black roses. Joan brought them back to the office and was in a terrible state. We were naturally horrified by this, but to compound it, she reached into her handbag and brought out one of these:

main qimg b1ce471a4e6c88247eae8463a06a9342

A miniature coffin. She had received this in the mail that morning before leaving for work.

Oh. My. Word! We said enough was enough and weren’t going to take “no” for an answer – we alerted her supervisor and called a contact at Scotland Yard (which was just around the corner), and asked them to send a detective to investigate the matter. This was clearly a threat to Joan’s life and a serious matter.

Joan was beside herself when this happened. She really didn’t want the police involved. We told her that this had gone too far and we couldn’t stand by and let poor Joan suffer any longer.

The detective arrived and began his investigation by seizing the flowers and the miniature coffin after taking Joan’s personal details…

The following day, Joan wasn’t at work. We feared the worst and went to her office to enquire if she had called in or whether a welfare check should be carried out. Joan’s boss assured us that everything was fine, but we wouldn’t be seeing Joan again and he wouldn’t say anything more.

Well, now we were really perplexed. Wanting to get to the bottom of the matter, I called the detective that had come to the office.

When the flowers were delivered, there was no card attached. Thankfully, we had CCTV outside the building and the registration number of the van that had delivered the flowers was visible. The detective had found the registered owner of the vehicle (the florist) and called them to ask about the delivery…

When ordering a malicious delivery for someone, it’s not a good idea to use your own bank card. Especially if you’re the “victim”.

Joan had been playing us all along! The ex boyfriend was cleared of any wrongdoing – he hadn’t been in contact with Joan for more than a year and had not behaved the way Joan had alleged at all. Joan used her own bank card to order the black roses and further investigation proved that she had also ordered the miniature coffin that she had produced from her handbag.

Joan was dismissed from the civil service. I hope she got some help with her issues.

Fun Shorpy today

Mistake? Tsunami Warnings Sounded on New Jersey Shore

Hal Turner Nation April 28, 2024

WTF?

Can anyone confirm?? pic.twitter.com/8yvuePWX9q

— savage daughter (@DonnaPrissyrn1) April 27, 2024

In the video, viewers can hear the loudspeakers announcing “This is a Tsunami Warning. Move to higher ground immediately.”

The thing is, there were no earthquakes of any serious magnitude either in New Jersey itself, or out in the Atlantic Ocean, which would have prompted such a warning. Earthquakes are the most common cause of Tsunamis.

Moreover, there was no massive weather systems in the ocean which can, from time time, generate a tsunami.

So . . . why the warnings?

PUNCH LINE: The mass-media, hasn’t said a word about this whole thing. People in New Jersey have just been left wondering. No information. No explanation. Nothing . . . .

What are you tired of explaining to people?

Me: So I was doing CPR on this patient, and her ribs went crack crack crack—

Him: Woah, hold up there. Why were her ribs cracking?

Me: That’s possibly her ribs breaking from my effort.

Him: Dude, are you sure you’re doing it right? I wouldn’t want you to do CPR on me in the future…

People, listen up.

The reason why we do CPR compressions is because you are in CARDIAC ARREST. You’re DEAD unless we do something. No offence, but I don’t give a two shit flying fuck if my compressions break a couple of ribs when it meant SAVING YOUR LIFE.

In fact, hearing those ribs crack usually tells me I’m doing a good job. I am getting sufficient depth with my chest compressions to maintain circulation temporarily. Broken ribs is not something we aim for obviously, but it’s a common side effect of good CPR technique.

We can address those petty rib fractures after, and if, we get you alive and breathing first.

Other experimentation with Text to picture AI

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Foreign Countries Have Begun PULLING THEIR GOLD from U.S. “Safekeeping”

Hal Turner World April 28, 2024

A number of countries around the world have begun withdrawing their Gold Bullion from storage in the United States over fears about the US Financial System! It’s not only our Financial System, it was the FORCIBLE SEIZURE of Russia’s Sovereign Wealth Funds; the world now sees the USA as nothing more than a Den of Thieves!

Over the past ten days, at least FOUR (4) countries have decided to pull their Gold reserves from the United States: Cameroun, Ghana, Nigeria, and a fourth country (named below) whose decision is tightly concealed to prevent PANIC. That nation is named below in COVERT INTEL for Subscribers Only.

April 19: Cameroon repatriates its gold reserves amid concerns about recession in the United States

In a significant development reflecting changing economic dynamics, Cameroon has begun the repatriation of its gold reserves from the United States. The move, driven by growing concerns about the deteriorating state of the U.S. economy, marks a pivotal moment in global finance.

The withdrawal of gold reserves from US custody highlights countries’ proactive approach to protecting their financial assets amid growing economic uncertainties. With indicators including rising national debt, weak economic growth and geopolitical tensions, the decision reflects a broader trend among nations to reassess their reliance on the United States as a safe haven for financial assets.

Financial analysts point to clear indicators signaling a rapid deterioration in the U.S. economy, sparking concerns among global investors. The decision to repatriate gold reserves highlights nations’ strategic responses to mitigate potential risks from exposure to the faltering U.S. economy.

Although logistical challenges and potential security risks may accompany the repatriation process, experts suggest that the benefits outweigh the risks for countries seeking to strengthen their financial sovereignty and guard against external economic shocks.

As the repatriation of gold reserves unfolds, this movement is provoking discussions about the broader implications for international finance. It highlights the importance of diversification and risk management to navigate the complexities of the global economic landscape.

APRIL 21: GHANA

Ghana’s recent decision to repatriate its gold reserves from the United States signals a significant shift in the nation’s economic strategy. Beyond the symbolic gesture of reclaiming control over its precious metal assets, Ghana’s move is underscored by a pragmatic desire to shield itself from the uncertainties of a destabilized US economy.

According to economic experts, Ghana’s decision comes at a crucial juncture amidst escalating global economic uncertainties and mounting concerns about the stability of the US financial system. Dr. Joseph Mensah, an economist specializing in international finance, asserts, “Ghana’s move to withdraw its gold reserves from American vaults is a prudent measure to mitigate risks and safeguard against potential economic volatility.”

By bringing its gold reserves back within its borders, Ghana aims to insulate itself from the repercussions of any downturns in the US economy, thereby reducing exposure to external shocks and vulnerabilities. Dr. Mensah further explains, “Repatriating gold reserves aligns with a broader trend among nations reassessing their financial strategies in light of evolving global dynamics. As geopolitical tensions escalate and trade disputes intensify, nations are increasingly prioritizing measures to assert greater control over their financial assets and reduce dependencies on foreign custodianship.”

Critics may raise concerns about logistical challenges and potential security risks associated with repatriating gold reserves. However, proponents argue that the benefits of withdrawing funds from a destabilized US economy far outweigh the risks. Dr. Mensah concludes, “By reclaiming control over its gold reserves, Ghana not only bolsters its economic sovereignty but also strengthens its resilience against external economic shocks.”

In conclusion, Ghana’s decision to repatriate its gold reserves from the United States reflects a strategic move towards safeguarding against economic volatility and asserting greater control over its financial destiny.

April 22: NIGERIA

What’s something a doctor did to you that you won’t ever forget?

Dr. Eduardo Yambo, Family Physician.

When my son was a toddler I found myself a single parent. I got a job and tried to keep a roof over our heads. We used kerosene to heat the place. Had one in each bedroom. It was a very, very cold winter and both my son and I got sick, but I couldn’t afford for both of us to see the doctor. I made an appointment for my son.

After checking out my son, Dr. Yambo looked at me and said ‘What about you? Why am I not seeing you? You sound terrible!’. I told him I can’t afford another visit for myself; my son was the priority. I explained I was no longer with my husband and had no insurance. He quickly checked me out and gave me a something for my cough. He gave us office samples to save me the cost of prescriptions.

Had to make a follow-up visit for the next week. Brought my son in, and on checking out the doctor came out and told the receptionist that the charge was $12 (regular visits were $25 I think). He wanted another follow-up a week later. That visit was $6. It was the early 80’s and my take home pay was about $124/week, so those fees mattered an awful lot to me.

I’d been bringing my son to him for a couple of years already and that had never happened before. Suddenly, follow-up visits were reduced cost. Following up with my son’s health was more important to this doctor than money.

Until I moved away there was nothing that could make me go to a different doctor!

What would you do if you got fired from your job?

The only time I was fired was disguised as “We don’t need this many employees in summer; it’s our slow time”. The owner/boss disliked me, for what reason I don’t know. One coworker told me she thought it was jealousy. The company made and rented costumes, mostly to schools and universities for theatrical productions. When I went for my interview I had brought in an armload of costumes I had made over several years for Renaissance groups and personal use. What I did at the company was mostly mending, although I took the initiative once and made some bow ties from scraps of fabric lying around. The boss had accused me, not to my face but to other workers, of filling up their website with pornography (something I wouldn’t know how to do even had I wanted to). So I wasn’t surprised when I was told I would be out of a job. It annoyed me that there was a young woman who had been hired after me, who lived with her parents (unlike me, a single mom of two), and didn’t need a job as much as I did. But I left without saying anything and shortly got a job through a recommendation of one coworker who did pet sitting (same company). Later I found out that the young woman was embezzling from the company, so I got the last laugh.

What was a meal you loved as a kid but now that you’re an adult you realize your parents only made because you were poor?

I’m from Vietnam. We eat rice a lot, almost every meal.

When I was about 5 to 8 years old, once or twice per week, my mom would make ‘mixing special rice’ for dinner. It’s white rice cooked together with corn and sweet potatoes

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(Image source: baobaclieu.vn)

I always got excited for those dinners.

We eventually didn’t eat that kind of rice anymore. I asked my mom about that once in a while but she just gave me reasons why she didn’t want to make the rice: out of corn season, sweet potatoes weren’t any good at market,…

When I was 12, on my mom’s birthday, I proudly announced that I prepared dinner. And guess what I made? Rice with corn and sweet potatoes. When I served dinner, my mom couldn’t hold it anymore, she cried. I asked her why? Did I do anything wrong? That was the very first time my mom explained to me that she was sick of this rice because she had eaten it too much.

I didn’t know that we only ate that because corn and sweet potatoes were much cheaper than rice.

I didn’t like that meal as much after that day.

—

To anyone is thinking about making a comment “hey, it sounds delicious” or “add some butter”, etc, please don’t. I wish we had butter. Also, it was good, but it was not any good after eating it frequently for 30+ years to the point you break down crying when you see it like my mom did.

And I didn’t like it very much anymore wasn’t because it’s not good or because it’s “cheap”. I didn’t like it because it hurt my mom.

Economic Shock: Bombshell GDP Drop, IMF Slams Congress Spending, Republic Bank Collapses

What is a fun psychological trick to try on someone?

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The most powerful way to win an argument is to ask questions.
If you want people to take your words seriously, say that your father taught you this. People naturally believe in parental advice.
If someone is about to get angry at you, sit next to that person. They will have to lower their voice and there will be no direct face-to-face contact.
If you want to know if someone is attentive, repeat your phrase with slight variations in it. If you are listening, either your facial expressions will change, or you will point to that part and question.
If you think that someone is giving you a false figure then read it wrongly. If they correct you, it’s legit.
If you want people to agree with you, nod your head and make eye contact when you speak, they’ll nod too.
Explain and repeat what your friend just said. The person talking to you will subconsciously realize that you are a great listener. Of course, don’t go overboard with paraphrasing.
Use someone’s name more often. While talking to someone, keep using their name in the conversation. This helps them feel important and valued.
When you want someone to agree to something, give them a list with 3 options and leave the one you want to choose at the end. They will most likely choose the latter.
What you say about other people affects how others see you. People will associate the adjectives you use to describe other people with your personality. This phenomenon is called spontaneous property transfer.

Inflation in the USA

How catastrophic will the world’s drive to abandon the dollar be for the U.S. economy and people?

Very very very significant. The U.S. has been using money to do war monger, trouble make, regime change, financing and orchestrating coups, revolutions and paying off U.S. lackeys in the trillion yearly form free money printing that it could without much ramifications! Upon its inability and impossibility to carry on printing money freely and without much ramification, the U.S. no longer is able to freely do those shit anymore. It will lead to a better world and a more peaceful place.

To the U.S. it may not use coercion and bribery to win favours and fix elections freely! But it may be better for US citizens who will not have to be burdened by US shit cost!

What is the most useless career advice ever given?

Sadly it was advice from my father to me. The year was 1968 one of the most turbulent in US history. I had just graduated from HS, the Vietnam war was raging, RFK and Martin Luther King had been assassinated. The Democratic convention in Chicago blew up and I was there watching it all as I was just leaving of all things a Young Mens Convention for Catholics and had stayed at the Conrad Hilton and watched in awe as the anti war protestors and police lined up to do battle.

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This was the auto production line. Endless cars, the USA was #1, 1955 no competition.

My father told me, do not go to college, it is a waste of time. Either go into the military or go to work on the assembly line, best jobs in the world. Union will protect you, he would protect me as he was a Union rep.

In the short run, he would have been right. The jobs were tough but plentiful, but already by 1970 the US automakers were making these.

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Some of the worst cars ever made were coming off the line in the USA by 1970 and the rot had already begun to set in just when I went to work on the line.

My father was so adamant that when I went and tried it on the Monday – Friday program which meant you worked 2 days a week as a ‘college kid’ as on Friday there were not enough workers as they got their paychecks on Thursday which meant they got drunk and didn’t come in. And on Monday they didn’t come in as they were still drunk or hungover from the weekend, I tried it out.

It was a nightmare and I hated it. Everyone yelling screaming, quality was shit, politics everywhere, the company couldn’t get good cars made and the union was fighting to keep all 2.5 million jobs.

Well what happened?

Today there are 150,000 UAW members about 8% of the number when I started. A lot of people got in and out and grabbed their pensions. They worked the system and left Michigan and went back to Kentucky and down to Florida.

But if I had gone in and stayed? It might have worked but I would have lost everything that I have now done in my life. Lived around the world, a 50 year global career, speaking multiple languages. I have literally lived on 5 continents ranging from California, Florida, the Rocky Mountains, then Australia to China to India to Hungary to Singapore and Hong Kong several times. On and on my career has gone and my education has propelled me and made it all possible.

Most importantly, to survive, repeat survive and prosper I have had to ‘reinvent’ myself again and again and only with my education and MBA and languages and experience working around the world have I been able to be flexible and do this. Millions were literally stuck without a hope so many times in my home town while I simply changed countries and took a new job in a growing industry such as software when I used to be a manufacturers rep for years. Flexibility is the key to a long career and not a factory.

And those guys who were on the line? The lucky ones got away and got their pensions. The vast majority slipped through the process especially after the downturns of 2008 just when they were going to retire and pretty much got little to nothing.

Those who work in the auto industry today have a precarious future especially if you work in an ‘engine’ plant as those will be gone with the EVs.

My father meant well, but from his hard work and premature cancer and youthful smoking he died at 70. I am now 73 and knock on wood, still doing what I like and living a good life in France.

My advice, listen to many but make your own choices and definitely do not look at the past, look to what is happening for the future and it will help guide your decisions. It is way to important to leave to those who think they know, but only know their local situation and what they have grown up with.

Given the rapid change in careers there is no such thing as a safe bet or a definitive career path. If you don’t believe me, think of Detroit and what happened to them as the city never evolved and never changed.

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Packard out of business and the largest abandoned factory in the USA.

Detroit? 2 million people when I was born in 1950, today? Barely 600,000.

What are the chances of China invading Taiwan? What would happen if China invaded Taiwan?

ZERO.

I have to ask the questioner if ANY of the predictions made by American politicians ever came true?

Swine flu
Ebola
Y2K
3G causing gas pumps to explode
Phones causing planes to crash
4G causing brain damage
Hamburgers made out of worms
Back-masking of rock music
Sex education causing a spike in pregnancies

None ever came true.

But, for some reason, “China will invade Taiwan”. I mean, just how absolutely stupid can a person be. Is there a scale below moronic?

Still Americans (and their Australian and European cousins) believe this swill.

Who figures?

…

China has made it perfectly clear how the reunification will proceed. And this is well defined and in process right now. That’s the reality.

Accept it.

Evil in America

Have you ever walked out of a restaurant after you were seated by a waiter or waitress?

Oh yes, once when I was very much younger, I went out on a date with a very nice man, and he took me to a good restaurant. We got there, ordered the wine, and some bread rolls and butter were served also, while we decided on what we would have to eat.

The man told me his wife had died, but he didn’t tell me how recently! He didn’t tell me he was still in fairly early stages of grieving, and was trying to put on a brave face.

So I had no real idea of what he was going through.

Then just before we ordered, he started to get serious heart symptoms. I asked him if I should ask the restaurant to phone an ambulance. But he didn’t want that. He wanted to go home and call his private doctor! I thought that was unwise, but that is what he wanted.

We had to leave immediately, and he grabbed some cash from his pocket and put it on the table. He didn’t even count how much! But I am sure it was plenty to cover the bottle of wine and some bread.

I apologised to the staff, and had to drive him home. They were surprised but didn’t mind of course due to the circumstances.

It turned out (after the doctor’s visit) that he hadn’t had a heart attack, but a serious panic attack. I stayed with him all night to make sure he would be okay and keep his spirits up as he didn’t want to be alone.

We never did have a second date. But that was okay. He wasn’t really ready to start dating. He needed to process his grief. He was a nice man though, bless him.

The Chinese owner of TikTok claims they would rather shut down than sell TikTok. (To the surprise of many lawmakers who voted to ban TikTok). Do you think they are serious or bluffing?

China is famously no-nonsense. They always follow up and follow through on decisions. America, on the contrary, is used to fooling themselves inured in dirty tactics to pull a fast hand, but only end up humiliating themselves more often than not. Sanctioning Russia is a wonderful example. Examples abound that don’t need me to list them here.

The ugly truth is greed. The damage of Israeli genocide on US image is already done. It’s not TikTok’s fault and banning it is only a pretext. American political and business asshole pirates have long coveted TikTok’s huge market share and profit potential. China is wise to keep this trade mark and technology, and continue expanding its global market. The world is big enough for TikTok with unlimited potential.

Elon Musk WARNS Population Collapse IS COMING, STROKES & HEART Disease Wiping Out Greece

Uh oh!

French journalist: Europe sliding towards fascism and dancing to the tune of the US.

“To regain sovereignty, the EU needs to stop following Washington’s policies, but the European Commission is pushing the American agenda and resembling a fascist system with its single-minded decisions.

Europe determined its future when it responded with contempt to Russia’s attempts to forge ties after the collapse of the USSR and did not honour the Minsk agreements to give Ukraine time to arm itself, according to Didier Maisto, former director of Sud Radio. In an interview with TVL, he pointed out that while Europe used to try to encircle Russia, now it is gradually encircling Russia itself, but the EU should have thought about this earlier.

The partnership between the BRICS countries is actively developing and they are finding common ground for special agreements. The US, which opposes them, continues to advance thanks to its military-industrial complex and business, imposing its laws in other countries. Sandwiched between these vise is Europe, which needs to stop dancing to Washington’s tune to regain its power and sovereignty.

The main conductor of the American agenda in Europe has become the European Commission – the centre of gravity and the centre of decision-making in the EU is shifting towards it. Now the entry into war, the supply of weapons and medicines, the banning of certain media are approved without confirmation by a vote in the European Council. Didier Maisto reminds us that back in 2017 he warned that if Macron is elected president, Europe will slip into soft fascism.”

What is wrong with Joe Biden?

Doesn’t matter what is wrong with Biden. He’s not running things anyway.

What is the strangest failure you have ever seen on a car?

My father-in-law owned a 1988 Ford Escort wagon. He only drove it locally to and from work, and he probably never turned on the rear defrost.

My FIL passed away, and my MIL offered the car to me. The Escort was about 2 years old with ~13,000 miles. My 1980 Honda Accord was 10 years old and starting to get up in mileage, so I accepted it. My wife at the time drove it from Virginia to New Jersey during the summer. I started driving it to/from work about 15 minutes each way. I worked late one evening in the fall. When I got into the car, there was condensation on the rear window. I started the car and turned on the rear defrost to clear it up. Within a couple minutes, I hear a loud boom and notice my rear window is shattered. I thought someone was shooting at me! That was not the case. A rear window with a rear defrost is just 2 pieces of glass sandwiched around the heating elements and glued together. My theory was that the rear window had an air bubble in it due to a manufacturing defect. The heating element caused the air bubble to expand. Eventually, the air bubble got big enough to break the glass causing the explosion.

Ford would not replace the window because the car was out of warranty. (12 months/12,000 miles in those days) They wanted over $700 to replace it. I had a price of ~$225 from a glass shop. Ford said their price was what it was because it was “Ford quality glass”. If their glass was such high quality, it wouldn’t have shattered in the first place. Needless to say, I went with the glass shop. They even came to my office and replaced it in the parking lot.

=======================

A few years later I changed jobs, and I started commuting ~30 minutes each way on the highway. Ever since getting the car, I would notice a faint smell of antifreeze. I never noticed any leaks, but I did have to periodically add antifreeze to the overflow reservoir. After driving to/from the new job for about a month, I was driving home, and the car started to overheat. Long story short, the engine blew its head gasket, and I had to get the engine rebuilt. When the shop took the engine apart, they found a bolt that was sheared off. They said it probably came that way from the factory. That was the cause of the antifreeze smell, the slow loss of antifreeze, and ultimately the head gasket failure. After rebuilding the engine, there were no more problems like that.

Score:

Strange Failures – 2, Ford – 0. On this car, Quality was not Job One.

Comics from the 1970s

What should you never say to fast food workers?

I worked in McDonald’s overnight for one year as a cashier in the drive thru. During my year working in McDonald’s I encountered some things that I really don’t recommend doing:

Not paying attention to the cashier when he/she is telling you what you got.

If you don't pay attention when I asked you, please don't complain if I charged you $100 for things you didn't order because you said “yes, whatever.”

Expecting the cashier to know you don’t like pickles or onions.

Yes, we know some of our regulars. No, we didn't know you don't like pickles.

Ordering things are not on the menu.

Do not ask me for a whopper. Do not ask for a chicken junior. There is no such a thing as fajita in McDonald's.

Calling an employee a derogatory word.

Please, don't do it. If it’s a word you don't enjoy being called. I refused service to a customer once for addressing me as “you, nigga”.

Getting mad if you ordered 15 Quarter-pounders with fries and a shake and your bill is more than $100.
```
If you think it is too much, please cook it at home.
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Spitting.

Seriously, I got spit on my face more than once.

Swearing and/or yelling.

Please, if you had a bad night, you got evicted, divorced or whatever - it’s not the cashier's fault. You should not call the cashier (or anyone you don't want to mess with) a motherfucker.

Not knowing what you are getting.

More than once I had customers claiming I put things they did not request in their food.

A guy yelled at me once because there was ice in his smoothie. On a different occasion, a guy yelled at me because he got only three sauces with his order (a 10 piece chicken nuggets meal only comes with three sauces); he requested three more and tried to punch me when I told him that they were not free. The question “what does that come with?” works very well.

Last but not least, being violent.

Please try to keep your temper. Also, try to be as nice as possible.

Tales From The Shoe Store | Married With Children

Which tips would you give today’s teens?

Control your emotions and lust (Overcome)

It’s completely normal to experience lust, or sexual desire in teen. Your feelings might be focused on a particular person, or you might be drawn to activities like masturbating or watching pornography. But sometimes, these desires can be overwhelming or unwanted. If you just can’t shake those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, don’t worry—there are things you can do to manage them.

The price of temporary lust can be expensive.

Learn About Finance Early

Money should be your friend throughout your life, not your enemy. Sadly, the education system doesn’t do such a great job at teaching you about finance, so you have to learn it on your own. There are plenty of sources that you can get financial advice for free.

Make Good Friends, Not More Friends

Building a network of friends at school is always going to be valuable whether they are the greatest people or not. Spend more time trying to develop and grow those relationships that you think will be good for you.

You are the average of your five friends around you hangout with the most.

Don’t Care About What Others Think of You

This is definitely the best advice for teenagers who feel like they need to impress the world! Nobody cares either, so why would you? Laugh when you embarrass yourself. Dress how you want to dress. Be honest about things you don’t like. Not only does this help you become more of yourself, but you’ll also make friends with the right people.

Take Care of Your Body

Because it takes care of you everyday! Just by implementing some simple practices like Exercise, Practice Proper Hygiene, Have a Skin Care Routine, Invest in Yourself and you’re already getting ahead of where you were the day before.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

Comparing yourself to others will only lead to disappointment and lack of confidence. There will always be someone with more than you more money, more friends, more style, more of anything.

Compare who you were yesterday not someone else’s today.

What are the craziest objects that you’ve seen TSA workers remove from someone’s bag to be confiscated?

A friend of mine is a pilot for one of the big airlines. He related this story to me. One day, he is headed through security and in front of him are two air marshals escorting a prisoner in hand cuffs. First the TSA Agent tried to tell the marshals that they had to uncuff the prisoner before he could go through security. (yeah, that got cleared up pretty quick). Then the TSA agent tried to tell them they would have to remove their guns (this time a supervisor was called over to educate the TSA agent). Then the TSA agent told the marshals to empty their pockets. One of them had a tiny fingernail clipper with a small file on it that vaguely resembled knife. The TSA Agent proudly jumped on that and demanded the marshal would have to relinquish it as “contraband”. I think at this point the marshals were just tired of dealing with this person so he gladly gave her the fingernail clippers so that they could go on their way.

In summary: two marshals escorting a prisoner..both of the marshals armed with pistols and other weapons, had a pair of fingernail clippers confiscated because it was “contraband”.

Cinnamon Garlic Roast Chicken

40 Cloves of Garlic Roast Chicken foodiecrush.com 010

Ingredients

1 (3 pound) chicken, cut up
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 cloves fresh, minced)
2/3 teaspoon cinnamon
Paprika
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 cup water

Instructions

Clean chicken well.
Combine salt, pepper, garlic and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture onto all parts of the chicken.
Refrigerate for at least an hour.
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a roasting pan with vegetable oil spray.
Remove chicken from refrigerator, and place in roasting pan.
Sprinkle with paprika.
Scatter onion slices around chicken, and roast uncovered for 35 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350 degrees F.
Stir onion slices, add the cup of water, and continue roasting for an additional 50 minutes until tender, basting occasionally.

Is China’s economy currently experiencing a slowdown, or is this information being exaggerated by the US media?

Not exactly

The Chinese stock market is among the most undervalued in the world and is stubbornly remaining there due to a lot of regulations against speculation

The US Treasury still pays 5.31% as Peak Bond Yields

The Chinese Real Estate prices are low which is good for the buyers but that means investors will be giving it a wide berth

This means a lot of HOT MONEY will not be coming in but going out

Hot money is money used to buy shares and bonds and real estate securities by foreign firms

Speculative money!

No matter even if the US says China is booming, this is going to happen

Likewise if China raises interest rates to 6% then Yields rise to a peak of 6.53% and suddenly Hot money will flood into China no matter even if the US says China is crashing tomorrow

Likewise China is getting a flood of Long term investments for their EV and New Technology investments

That won’t change no matter what the US says

China is still the world’s second largest consumer market plus the worlds largest manufacturer at peak profitability

That won’t change no matter what the US says

So China simply doesn’t care too much about what the US media says beyond rebuttals on their English Language Media (CGTN) or Global times or SCMP

Ukraine: “Corpses Everywhere” as Russians smash through

Hal Turner World April 28, 2024

The ground is strewn with corpses: Soldiers of the “Center” group show everything that remains of the 47th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Berdychi.

Corpses of dead Ukrainian soldiers are everywhere.

The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine does not betray itself and continues to send Ukrainian militants on suicidal missions.

As a result of fierce fighting from artillery and tank attacks, only in this small section of the forest, the commanders of the 47th brigade managed to put an entire platoon.

Russian soldiers report that they did not even try to evacuate them after the fire began and the subsequent assault. They just left the whole brigade in this position – forever.

18+

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦 The ground is strewn with corpses: Soldiers of the “Center” group show everything that remains of the 47th ombre brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Berdychi

➖The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine does not betray itself and continues to send Ukrainian… pic.twitter.com/Ofe78YPMmW

— — GEROMAN — time will tell – 👀 — (@GeromanAT) April 28, 2024

When being terminated from a job, have you ever warned the company of something important that only you knew how to do, and your advice has gone unheeded?

One of my first jobs was in a hospital, primarily in the E.R. Being a community hospital, we all performed many unassigned duties. Many of the staff had been leaving due to management issues and I soon put in my notice. Because of the staff loss, I was one of the few who knew how to operate several pieces of equipment. I had made the attempt to teach others how to operate the equipment, but they refused.

On my final day, the hospital administrator came up to me and said he was very unhappy with my job performance and told me I was fired. I packed my belongings and left, kind of in shock. A day later I was in my new position at the hospital I’d put in notice for. Two days later, I recieved a rather frantic call from the Administrator telling me I needed to come in and show someone how to work the equipment. It seemed they had almost lost an E.R. patient because no one could run the tests.

I told him that was impossible because I was on the way to work and hung up. A week later the Administrator, his daughter, and his son in law, were all arrested for stealing from the hospital.

Smithsonian Cover-Up: Ancient Egyptians and Giants in the Grand Canyon

Smithsonian Cover-Up: Ancient Egyptians and Giants in the Grand Canyon In 1908, President Teddy Roosevelt wanted to declare the Grand Canyon off-limits to all timber and mining operations. It would take another 11 years for Congress to designate the Grand Canyon a national park. Sensing a final opportunity for adventure, explorer G.E. Kincaid took a boat down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. The canyon was rich in minerals like gold, silver and copper and Kincaid wanted to see what he could find before the area was closed off for good. About 40 miles up-river from the El Tovar Crystal canyon, Kincaid saw stains in the sediment formation about 2,000 feet up. He tied off the boat and got out to investigate. Kincaid couldn’t find a trail, but after a short hike he found something interesting covered in desert brush. Steps. Hundreds of them. Carved in sandstone. Steps that wound their way up to a high shelf on the side of the canyon. He followed the steps until he came across a cavern entrance. An entrance that was clearly man made. Kincaid entered the cavern and turned on his flashlight. On the walls he saw writing. But it wasn’t English or Native American writing. It was Ancient Egyptian Heiroglypics. Kincaid lifted his flashlight and saw that the tunnel ran far into the distance. He didn’t realize it at the time, but this was only the beginning.

A 1920 era Only Fans and what happened to her

During the period of time while I was taking care of my mother while she had Cancer, we got to spend a lot of time together. I would take care of the estate, and eat meals with her. She wasn’t lonely because I was there, and I was always there to help her if she had a medical emergency.

During our time together we would watch television such as FOX news, “Unsolved Mysteries”, COPS and other shoes that were popular at the time. She would drink a whiskey, and I would drink a beer and we would go ahead and talk.

She related to me many stories and familial lore that was long hidden from us kids. later on, when she died, and I was staying with my father (after prison) he too told me stories from his side of the family. Gosh. Good thing they kept us kids sheltered.

What a bunch of skullduggery!

I’ll tell you what.

My maternal grandmother was quite the charmer in the day. She was a dancer and had an hourglass figure, in many ways resembling Mae West of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

She would date the powerful men of the city, and ride around with rather powerful and dangerous men.

She was quite the “dame of the days”.

Pictures of her suggest a lively life in the “Roaring 20’s”, where she was spending her youth partying and carousing. Wearing flapper attire and rain galoshes. With various handsome men of the day.

Yet she ended up in a rented tenement, in the lower income section of Pittsburgh in her retirement years.

What happened?

Times change. Things are fleeting.

I only wish that I could say this to some of those “Only Fans” girls that think that somehow they are on the fast-track to a great life though social media porn. It’s not what you think. Do not discard what you have no, on a lie that might not ever appear.

I wish I could say this.

But me, you, and none of my readers have the kind of clout or popularity to send this message out to the Only Fans masses.

And when she died. . . Her struggles and stories died with her.

Do not be like her; Sharing a tenement house with a man on the “other side of the tracks” with a broken television set that only got three channels.

Fun in the youth, followed up with a slow downward glide.

That is NOT the way to manage a life-line.

You want to live a life where your last minutes are with you screaming in glee, and sliding in sideways to a goal that you just obtained. I’ll tell you what.

Today…

Have you ever told off another person’s child? What for?

My son had a problem with a neighborhood bully when he was about ten. The bully wanted to be best friends with my son’s best friend. My son stood in the way.

My son came home after being at the bully’s house–WITH THE BULLY’S MOTHER RIGHT THERE–with all kinds of bruises and scrapes. He got thrown into shrubbery, punched, etc.

His mother, to whom I spoke, denied that there was a problem, even though my son AND HIS FRIEND told us the bully had been responsible.

I did nothing more until my son called me one Saturday. He was supposed to be at a pool party to celebrate his friend’s birthday, but when I heard him, he sounded very depressed. He said he’d left the party and walked home, because the bully had gone after him.

I told him I was stopping at the party.

I did. And there was the bully, bullying other kids at the pool.

I told him to get out of the pool. He blustered, “ What did I do? I didn’t do anything.”

And I SCREAMED at him, “GET OUT OF THE POOL NOW!”

He did, and I took him to one side.

I never touched him. I told him, “I never want you going near my son again. I never want you to talk to him or go near him ever. And if I find out that you ever did–I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE NOT WORTH LIVING. DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND?”

He saw the look on my face. He was half a head taller than me and fifty pounds heavier, but at that moment–I WAS DANGEROUS.

He said he understood. He said he wouldn’t go near my son. He promised. I let him go back to the party.

For some strange reason, we never had a problem with him after that…

INVESTIGATORS FOILED A MASSIVE terrorist-grade attack on Hong Kong involving bombs, US firearms, and a sniper, it will be revealed this week.

A lot of information regarding the CIA and the color revolution that it attempted in Hong Kong in 2019.

The assault was designed to cause multiple casualties and major destruction in Wan Chai, a densely populated area on Hong Kong island. The main target was police officers, but the ultimate aim was to create enough chaos to overthrow the government. The attack, planned for 8 December 2019, was part of a long program of attacks by masked, pro-violence protester groups known as “valiants”. The plan was foiled by Hong Kong police hours before it was implemented. . . .

TRAINED OVERSEAS

A few details of the murderous operation, known as Dragon Slayer, emerged in earlier court hearings, but the full shocking story is set to be made public as a series of court hearings begins this week. The case confirms widespread claims by Hong Kong people that violent protesters were paid for what they did—and includes clear evidence that activists were trained overseas in creating bombs, use of firearms, street fighting techniques, and “terrorist ideology”. Before the date of the planned attack, front line protesters had been flown to Taiwan for training. The story of the failed Wan Chai bombing is not in dispute. Ringleaders have agreed with the facts as presented by the prosecution and pleaded guilty to all charges. But others have not, which means a court case will begin this week focusing on additional participants. . . .

BACKGROUND:

In 2019, a US group called Open Technology Fund (a spin-off from Radio Free Asia, a US government “news” unit originally set up by CIA), offered Hong Kong’s anti-China activists use of a special “secure node” in the city. This enabled them to exchange information on the Telegram website in a way that would be hard for law enforcement to penetrate. OTF also arranged for a large amount of funds – Time magazine reported that it was US$2 million – to be earmarked for Hong Kong activists. During that period, many anti-China activists moved their discussions and planning operations to the Telegram website. In August of 2019, on a Telegram channel called Dragonteam, two men, Wong Chun-keung and Ng Chi-hung, put together a plan to create a group called the Dragon Slaying Brigade. (The elite team of the Hong Kong police is nicknamed the dragon squad.) The plan was to kill as many police officers as they could, and create enough mayhem to bring down the government. Eventually, three different groups of violent protesters, united in the scheme. The operation had plenty of funds, with a budget of HK$4 million (US$1.79 million) from various sources, listed as “from crowdsourcing”. As many Hong Kong people noted at the time, the protests were awash with cash from several directions. . . .

ATTACK ON WAN CHAI

The key stages of the plan went as follows: 1) Plotters first exploited the fact that Hong Kong is far more generous with protest permits than other places, including western countries such as UK. Despite more than 80 protests having turned violent, they confidently applied for permits for a December 8 march from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to travel through Wan Chai. 2) Behind the scenes, international connections were made: it is not clear how. Ng and at least five other protesters flew to Taiwan for 13 days of training in explosives, use of firearms and other military-style operations. Participants received cash. It is not clear whether the trainers were from Taiwan, US or a mixture. The US has admitted to having military trainers on the island for some years, in defiance of the previously agreed status quo. 3) After the Hong Kong government predictably granted permits, the plotters created a pair of bombs, to be lightly buried about 50 meters apart, in spaces on the central divider of Hennessy Road in Wan Chai. The targets were not the protesters, but police who would typically go ahead to make sure traffic was clear for the main body of marchers. 4) Using a classic terrorism technique, the first bomb would go off, causing surviving police officers to retreat to a safe distance—and then a second, larger bomb would be detonated at the location to which they had fled. 5) A sniper with AR-15 automatic assault rifle, and other gunmen with pistols, would be stationed at the windows or rooftops of adjacent buildings. They would shoot any surviving police officers. 6) Another Dragon Slayer crew, at ground level, would steal police weapons from the holsters of downed officers. 7) A further team would lob pre-prepared petrol bombs into all shops and restaurants in the area which were owned by mainlanders, or believed to lean politically to the “blue” (China-friendly) side. 8) All participants would be masked, and then would melt away into Wan Chai. 9) The ultimate aim was to create enough chaos to bring down the government, or achieve “regime change” to use the political term for this type of action. . . .

ANTI-TERRORISM ACTION

In the event, Hong Kong police managed to penetrate several Telegram discussion groups, and succeeded in making arrests before any of the bombs were set off. They also found guns and in one location, 106 rounds of ammunition. At a hearing in February this year, the ringleaders admitted a joint count of conspiracy to commit the bombing of prescribed objects under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance. But a number of other defendants not guilty to charges linked to the same case—and that’s the trial that starts this week. More details will emerge.

Divorce story

This is a funny short.

What are some of the best feelings in life?

1.Forehead kisses.

2.Waking up and feeling like you’ve had enough sleep.

3.Lying on grass in the summertime.

4.The first bite of a meal when you’re really hungry.

5.Watching trees dance in the wind.

6.Taking your feet off the pedals cycling down a big hill.

7.Hearing raindrops from your warm bed.

8.Looking up while walking through a new city.

9.A snowflake landing on your tongue.

10.Finding money in the pocket of a coat you haven’t worn in a while.

11.Getting into a freshly made bed after a long day.

12.Kicking a pile of autumn leaves.

13.Thinking something is going to break but at the last second you catch it.

14.Tucking pyjamas into your socks.

15.Sitting on a dock watching the sunset.

16.Seeing an older couple holding hands.

17.Not setting an alarm clock.

18.An extra-long hug from an old friend.

19.All the optimism a new year brings.

20.Hiding under a tree from a summer rain shower.

You Now Need A Government License To Own A Chicken… (NO JOKE!) 6 Months Prison Sentence!!!

They are gradually banning self sufficiency…

Which single sentence can break most people?

There is one sentence I remember that haunts me even to this day.
———————————-
So, my wife finally told me that she was seeing someone else.
it hurt.
“I’m seeing another guy…”
Damn. You think this is the one right?
WRONG.
—
Fast forward a month.
She came to grab her stuff from the house.
The Boyfriend also came to the house.
The house that she and I built a life together in.
I told him that I didn’t want him in the house.
I told him to stay outside and I would leave the door open if he wanted.
But I told her that he was not allowed in the house.
It was the last sanctuary I had left.
I didn’t want it defiled.
“He is coming inside, whether you like it or not. He is with me.”
He walked inside the house.
Didn’t even care to take off his shoes.
You think this one is the one right?
WRONG.
—
As she is packing her stuff, I threw away my pride.
I threw away my ego.
I plead her to rethink the divorce.
I told her that I would forgive her for cheating.
I would forgive her for everything.
I told her how I felt and that it was all my fault and I just wanted her back.
I told her I would promise to be a better man.
“No. I don’t want to think about it anymore. I’m done.”
You think this is the one right?
WRONG.
—
I was so hurt that she said that, I felt like time stopped.
I probably stopped breathing for a good minute.
When I came to, I was numb.
I was so numb, even I started to pack her things.
I was a robot.
Just going through the motions.
After she packed the last of her things and left… she looked at me in the eyes.
She said the one thing that made me not believe in love anymore.
She said the one thing that finally made me understand that the relationship was no longer.
She said: “Did I break you enough yet?”
I felt my stomach go to my throat.
The colors in the world disappeared.
My world crumbled.
As she closed the door, I heard her drive off in the car I gave her.
I sat on the couch.
I stared at the floor for a good hour before I could comprehend what she said.
“DID I BREAK YOU ENOUGH YET?”
This. This is what broke me.
————————————————–
That’s the gist of it.

Women Over 30+ Who Have Hit The Wall Are Desperate With Drizzle, Drizzle. | The Wall

Vintage Comix

Has the Huawei Pura70 Series ascended as the pioneering force in the smartphone industry, distinguished by its supply chain paradigm that leverages an almost exclusive reliance on components procured from within China?

Pura70 is Huawei’s latest smartphone, and it is considered a milestone in the P series.

He was originally supposed to be called P70, but they decided to start with a new name.

The brand-new name Pura70 is well-deserved for this mobile phone, and it is a new cost for Huawei.

Half a year ago, I answered a question about Huawei Mate60. I think Mate60 is a landmark event for Huawei’s return as king under US sanctions. 90% of the supply chain of Mate60 mobile phones comes from Chinese companies, and they no longer rely on American technology. This is the first time in the history of human industry that a single country has completed the entire industrial chain of a high-end smartphone.

What’s the most unforgettable heartbreak you’ve experienced in your life?

When I was in high school, my boyfriend called me on a school night asking me to go out to eat. I had a test the next day, so my mother wouldn’t allow me to go. The next morning, as I was eating breakfast while listening to the radio, I heard the news that my boyfriend had died in a car accident. He lost control of his Volkswagen and crashed into a hydro pole. My mother was sitting beside me at the time. Apparently my face instantly turned white, and I started to shake uncontrollably. I spent the rest of the day in bed. The first time I saw John laid out in his casket was surreal. I felt like I was in a fog. The people around me seemed far away, and their voices were a blur. I could not accept that my boyfriend was dead, and I would be left without him. He looked like he was sleeping, and I kept waiting for him to open his eyes. The hardest part was at his grave, when his coffin was lowered into the ground. I completely lost my composure and cried out his name, weeping uncontrollably. It took me a long time to come to terms with John’s death. He was a comedian at heart, always making me laugh. I saw his grinning face everywhere. Going back to school after his funeral was so heart wrenching. I would think I saw him in the hallways and the cafeteria. Our mutual friends just didn’t know what to do or say. I felt so alone. I will never forget John, but I gradually recovered from losing him. Time does heal heartache.

Heartwarming

Why did Chinese chip stocks rally following Huawei’s launch of the Mate 60 Pro phone?

Do you know the semiconductor sanctions that Huawei has suffered in the past three years? It’s a pity that we can’t buy this mobile phone here. It is the first mobile phone in the world that directly supports satellite phones.

This will definitely be an industrial product that will be recorded in history. This means that in the past three years, all companies around the world have not been allowed to sell 5G-related semiconductors to Huawei as long as these semiconductors contain American technology.

All companies around the world are not allowed to help Huawei produce semiconductors, as long as your production process contains American technology. You know, semiconductor is a global division of labor industry.

The technology in this industry has always been global cooperation, and there is no semiconductor production and design company in any country that does not contain American technology. Such sanctions can directly shock companies like Apple and Samsung.

They originally thought Huawei would also collapse. But Mate60 was released. After 3 years, they released a new 5G mobile phone again. This is not just as simple as a mobile phone. This is a huge technical chain that requires the participation of hundreds of companies with different specialties. In the past, this required the mutual cooperation of multiple countries, and no country could do it alone. But now the Chinese have done it.

Maybe not top notch, but they really did it. This means that Chinese companies can make advanced semiconductors (maybe not state-of-the-art) without relying on American technology. This is a historic event in the global semiconductor industry. It means that China’s semiconductor industry chain has made a comprehensive breakthrough. Note that I used the word industry chain. To manufacture a slice of advanced semiconductors requires the participation of many companies and industries.

From EDA software, to the cultivation of silicon wafers, chip and framework design, high-purity chemicals, laser devices, lithography machines, etching machines, packaging equipment, and testing technologies. Chinese people often use the term “shooting oneself in the foot”.

Now I can fully understand the meaning of this sentence. Under the pressure of the Americans, the Chinese took three years to complete the independence of the entire semiconductor industry chain. They have gone from 0 to 1, or even from 0 to 10, and the remaining 90 points are just a matter of time. It can be predicted that ten years later, China’s semiconductor industry will crush its peers around the world through its own scale and cost advantages. No one can sanction them because they do it all themselves, from sand to chips.

In fact, the task completed by Mate60 is not perfect. This phone still uses memory chips from Korean suppliers and electronic parts from Japanese suppliers. Although they are not critical parts, this means that it does not achieve the goal 100%.

The phone is equipped with a retractable lens and its mechanical precision is comparable to that of a Swiss watch

Many media are still questioning whether Huawei can produce advanced semiconductors on a large scale and sustainably? Some people even say that their chips are removed from old mobile phones.

Some media have questioned whether Koreans are secretly helping Huawei manufacture mobile phones because Korean memory chips were found on the Mate60.

Now, Pura70 makes all these doubts meaningless. Some anxious media dismantled the phone into parts and put them under a microscope. They found that this phone uses a brand new SOC chip: Kirin 9010. This is only half a year after the release of Kirin 9000s on Mate60. The single-core performance of this chip has improved by at least 15%-20%, which is very close to the latest products of Qualcomm and Apple.

At the same time, those Japanese and Korean parts on the Mate60 are missing. Memory chips, cameras, visual sensors, fingerprint sensors and other accessories have also been completely replaced by Chinese companies.

In a sense, Pura70 is a mobile phone that is truly 100% made in China. This not only includes all key semiconductors and peripheral parts, but also parts in professional fields such as screens and lenses. At the same time, the operating system of this mobile phone is also independent of Android and IOS.

Based on the sales of MATE60, the media predicts that the sales of Pura70 may exceed 10 million units. This is a figure evaluated when Huawei is unable to sell mobile phones outside of China.

Pura70 has triggered queues in many big cities in China. Although the phone sells for as high as 1,000-1,500 US dollars, many young people still think it is cool to own a Pura70.

This also means that this is the world’s first top-end smartphone that is “completely unrelated to Western technology” and it has already achieved significant success in the market.

From a professional’s perspective, the launch and large-scale supply of Pura70 proves that China’s high-end electronics manufacturing and semiconductor manufacturing industries have gradually separated from the US system. Huawei is just the company at the forefront. Behind it are hundreds of China’s advanced electronic technology suppliers. Behind these suppliers are thousands of second-tier and third-tier suppliers. They can operate completely independently from U.S. global sanctions and restrictions.

This gives the world a new reminder: Advanced technology is not always in the hands of the West. When you are unwilling to share or even use technology as a weapon, people will always find other paths.

MASSIVE NEWS: China Is Building Giant Hypersonic Railgun For Space Launches

What is the strangest medical thing that has happened to you?

Approximately ten years ago, I was doing an open house (I’m a Realtor). I had a tiny whitehead under my nose, and I could hardly see it, but I just scratched it off. Throughout the day, it started swelling, and by the end of the day, it was a large swollen bump that was bright red, but there was no head, so I could not drain it.

When I got home, the side of my face was swollen. I went to the doctor, and they gave me a shot in my hip to bring down the swelling, but it didn’t work. I went home, and it got worse. I went to bed, and my face continued to swell, and by morning, it had swollen so much that my skin was stretched and shiny.

My husband took me into emergency because it had swollen up to my forehead, cheeks, and now the other side. My skin was so tight and shiny that I was getting scared. The doctor checked it and started talking about sending me to another doctor. I panicked and thought he meant later in the week. I started crying and begged him not to send me away. He smiled and said…. don’t worry, don’t worry, we are dealing with this today. He was so sweet about it. He said I’m sending you to get It lanced and drained. I was quickly taken to a surgeon who lanced the inside of my cheek and drained it. I left with medication, and it went completely away in a couple of days.

To this day, I still don’t know what it was, but I thought I remember someone saying it was MRSA. I don’t know, but I hope it never happens again. It scared me.

What bad experience had you saying “I will never buy from that company or use their service ever again”?

A couple months before I turned 8 years old, my dad ordered his first new car, after 25 years of driving used vehicles. It was a big event for a family of modest means. My parents wanted a Ford station wagon and my Mom wanted the maroon color which was supposedly offered. Days after ordering it, they called to say our car had come in. When I went to the dealer with my Dad to watch him pick it up, the salesmen drove up to us in a TAN wagon. “But we asked for MAROON!” Dad objected.

The salesman didn’t miss a beat, saying “You didn’t expect to get the color you ordered, did you?” as he tried to complete the sale. Even at the age of 7, I knew this was an absurd thing to say. My Dad might have accepted it but wisely went home to talk it over with Mom, who firmly stated that she didn’t want the car if it wasn’t what we ordered. So, another dealer got our business. Over 50 years later I still won’t buy from the dealership that employed the sarcastic salesman who tried to make my Dad feel like a fool. (But instead looked like one himself.)

China’s supply chain dominance means the Inflation Reduction Act is already dead.

The raw data tells a wild story. Must watch.

Have you ever given someone a bad reference when an employer called you and asked about them?

Many years ago, I owned a Computer Store in a small town. One day I got a call from the local school district office. I had done work for them in the past and knew a few people that worked there. They were looking to hire a full-time computer technician and were checking someone’s references. I thought this was a bit strange since my staff consisted of me and my wife. And I knew she hadn’t applied for a job.

When they mentioned the name, I laughed out loud. I said, “No, he never worked for me, and let me tell you a story.”

“Several months ago, he called me after hours about an emergency that he had with his computer and could I come in and fix it. After some pleading, I agreed and told him to meet me at the store but that my basic charge was $50.

After a few minutes diagnostic, I discovered a fairly basic mistake that he had made in building it, which took me about 20 minutes to fix. I charged him $50, and he complained and tried to talk me down, but eventually, he wrote me a check. A few days, later, I went to cash the check, and it bounced.

[The reason I remember this guy so well is because this was a small town, and people didn’t write bad checks. I had never gotten a bad check, EVER. Except for his.]

Now, I have no $50 and a check return fee -$20. I wasn’t going to let him get away with that, so I called his bank every day, asking if his account could cover it. A couple of weeks later, there were enough funds in his account. So, I immediately drove to his bank (which was about 20 minutes away) and cashed the check. A week later he called me to complain that I had caused a different check of his to bounce. “

So, no, he never worked for me and I’m not sure how competent a computer repair person he is. And He lied on his application. Any other questions?

She said, “No, I think that about sums it up.”

The best way to live a peaceful life.

1. Never cry for the person that hurts you. Just smile and say,

“Thank you for giving me the chance to have someone better than you.

2. Don’t hate jealous people. They are jealous because they thinks you are better than them.

3. Don’t waste your time on revenge. Those who hurt you will eventually face their own karma.

4. Don’t tell anyone about your plans, show them the result instead.

5. There is no market for your emotions, so don’t advertise your feelings. Show only your attitude.

6. Don’t give up. Your day will come. It’s just a matter of time.

7. If you help someone and expect anything in return. of you foes, you’re doing a business not kindness.

8. Trust means everything, but once it’s broken, sorry means nothing.

9. Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.

10. Never leave a true relationship for few faults. Nobody is perfect and no one is always correct. At the end, you will discover that affection is greater than perfection.

11. Don’t attend a funeral just to let people know how you cared for a person. Show them how much you cared about them when they are alive.

12. Don’t make a promise out of joy. And don’t take a decision out of sadness.

13. Don’t expect loyalty from people that can not give you honesty.

14. Don’t give up. The beginning is always the hardest.

15. You will not know the value of a moment until you lose it. Value the moments you have before they become a memory.

16. Lastly, APPRECIATION remains the easiest way of getting what you don’t have….After reading a good message try to say “Thanks for the message”.

Taco Chili

One of Lincoln’s very favorite foods right now is tacos. If you ask him what he wants for dinner, 100% of the time he’ll tell you tacos. Ben gets a little sick of having the same thing every week though, so I thought I’d switch things up with Taco Chili!

I know, I know – living on the edge – but the second thing Lincoln will tell you he wants for dinner after tacos is soup or chili so this meal is a win-win at my house. Each spoonful of Taco Chili tastes like a big bite of a taco, but since it’s thick and hearty it’s perfect for this time of year when you need a dish that will warm you up on chilly (har) nights.

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Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup (1 medium) onion, chopped
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (10 ounce) can Ro*Tel
1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (5 ounce) can chili beans in chili sauce
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
Shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
Slightly crushed tortilla chips

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Instructions

In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion, one-half at a time, until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain off fat.
Transfer to a 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker.
Stir in dry taco seasoning mix, diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chiles, pinto beans, chili beans in chili sauce and corn.
Cover; cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.
Sprinkle each serving with some cheese and chips.

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What has a car salesperson said to you that resulted in you immediately leaving?

You fellows don’t want to buy a car today.

Years ago I decided that being a young stud that I wanted a Mustang, maybe it should be said I needed a Ford Mustang but I’m also cheap so I’d figured I’d buy a used one. I also had a dad who loved to dicker especially when it came to cars, so he came up to the city I was living in and off we went to go car shopping.

We looked at a few, finally found one at a used car lot. We had talked about what I wanted to pay and so we started the dance. The salesman opened the hood and showed us the engine and everything else. He gave us a price, we gave a counter bid, he went to his manager, you know the game. Came back out, a lower offer, we talked over and counter offered. This went on for a couple rounds. Did I mention I was cheap and so was my dad?

Finally the salesman came up, slammed down the hood and said, ‘You fellows don’t want to buy a car today.’ We went down the street, found Avis and bought one a year newer with less mileage, and my dad told me after we left, ‘Do you think we should go back and tell him we bought a car today?’ God, I miss that man!

Thanks Sarah for the edits. I’m a paramedic not an English major or minor.

I’d like to thank all you kind folks who have read and upvoted this story. My dad would have got a hoot out of how many people have enjoyed it.

Fast Food Customers HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THE HIGH PRICES!

What are the most horrible words you’ve ever heard?

“She’s already gone.”

I was sixteen years old and my best friend in the world, Rachel, had just turned sixteen and gotten her driver’s license.

We had been inseparable for years. Youth group trips, summer camp, swapping clothes, obsessing over crushes…she had her own bedroom at my house but we always pulled out sleeping bags and camped in mine.

I saw my first ever rock video on MTV at her house – “Vogue” by Madonna. We wanted to be Madge when we grew up.

Our theme song was “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and we would sing it to each other whenever one of us was upset.

We planned on having a double wedding; we would be each other’s maids of honor in our wedding dresses, which we spent hours obsessing over.

One Sunday morning she was driving to church by herself when she had a brain aneurysm rupture. Her car hit a telephone pole head-on after she lost consciousness.

I was helping with children’s church when I heard she had been rushed to the hospital. The prognosis was bad.

Very bad.

Rachel spent three days in a coma. I spent every second I could at the hospital, though they wouldn’t let me into the ICU to see her.

There was a special prayer circle called on Tuesday evening to pray for her recovery.

I was in that prayer circle when someone came in and said the words.

Rachel was gone.

How could that be?? She literally died while dozens of people were holding hands in a circle, begging God to save her.

A world without my best friend was impossible to comprehend.

Curled up in a ball under a crib in the church’s nursery, I sobbed.

I railed at God – he had broken our bargain. Rachel was so good, her faith so strong…we had all prayed so hard…this isn’t how it was supposed to be!

My heart broke that day and still has a hole where Rachel used to live.

That was also when the faith I had held so dear all my life started to fracture. The split took another five years to complete, but it started that Tuesday night under a baby bed.

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When the West confuses Law and Politics

VOLTAIRE NETWORK | 20 APRIL 2024

The Israeli attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Damascus was a clear violation of the Vienna Convention. No one disputed it. The Israeli justification that militia meetings were held there does not change this fact.

The Iranian response to this attack, whatever one thinks of it, is therefore legitimate with regard to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. No one should dispute that. Remarks that Iran did not have the right to send aircraft through third-party airspace do not change this fact. Yet the UN Security Council has failed to agree to condemn the Israeli attack in Syria. It was also unable to judge the Iranian response.

The speeches no longer come from the legal sphere, but from the political one.

Thus, outside the UN Security Council, the Office of Argentine President Javier Milei “expressed its solidarity and unwavering commitment to the Israeli State following the attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Argentine Republic recognizes the right of Nation States to defend themselves and firmly supports the Israeli State in defending its sovereignty, in particular against regimes that encourage terror and seek to destroy Western civilization.”

The prize for confusion goes without any doubt to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who declared on X: “I strongly condemn Iran’s blatant and unjustifiable attack on Israel. And I call on Iran and its proxies to immediately stop these attacks. All actors must now refrain from any further escalation and work to restore stability in the region.” High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell added: “The EU strongly condemns the unacceptable Iranian aggression against the Jewish state. This is an unprecedented escalation and a serious threat to regional security.”

For his part, deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UNSC Dmitri Polyanskiy posted on Telegram: “Once again we are convinced that the cynicism of our Western colleagues and their selective blindness knows no bounds. Now, they don’t even remember that they refused to prevent escalation by not supporting our proposed draft UN Security Council press statement condemning the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate. As was the case with the beginning of our military defense in Ukraine, the history for them begins with the Iranian retaliation. And the Israelis predictably escalate in their signature manner: Israel is the victim, everyone else is to blame (…) And now this Franco-Saxon-Natanyakha gang will begin to rock the region, blaming Iran for all its sins. Haven’t we already seen all this before?”

Have you ever had a job where you did nothing for years and nobody found out?

Not me but my wife. She graduated with her bachelor’s in 2010, during the time that certain degrees were all but worthless and finding a job was tough to say the least. She ended up taking a job at a small makeup boutique that her friend’s wealthy parents owned.

This store was literally a ploy by her friend’s parents to keep her in town by giving her a project. She lost interest in about a month and her parents were locked into the property for several years, so they had to keep the store open. They offered my wife the manager position which she was happy to take.

The store was literally five minutes from an Ulta, so saying they didn’t do well was an understatement. The owners also refused to adequately restock their inventory, so the few potential customers they could have had quickly gave up after a few visits being unable to find what they needed.

After the first six months, they frequently had days with zero sales and not a single customer through the doors. Luckily for my wife, they had the computer that rung up sales Connected to the Internet with completely unrestricted access. for 7 hours a day, five days a week, she would be on Facebook, play online games, read articles, and generally waste time. For the first hour she would clean and do pull over from the night before, but stopped bothering to do inventory after the first few inventory replenishment requests to the owners went ignored.

She worked there for 18 months total before leaving. Later one of her former coworkers told her that the owners with no warning shut the place down and emptied the store out in the middle of the night, not bothering to tell the employees until they showed up the next day that they were out of a job. I understand that they were trying to save money on the labor and utility costs by closing, but giving zero warning was cowardly and unethical.

Why are most Nigerian graduates unemployable?

I’ll tell you a story.

There’s this girl who aced all her subjects in secondary school.

Not just acing but award-worthy educational success.

She was so good that at her Junior Secondary 3 (JSS 3) level, she was solving mathematical problems from Senior Secondary 1 & 2 (SS 1 & 2) curriculum.

1st Mistake

She loved Maths & computers but was admitted into the university to study Geology.

Today, she still thinks she would have been a statistics wizard if she’d been allowed to just study Math or Engineering. You know – subjects where she doesn’t have to always cram some qualitative garbage but provide quantitative solutions.

2nd Mistake

When she got into the university, she realized she didn’t have to study very hard. Very few people were bothering to anyway. She was extremely smart & could hold her own but it became easier to combine intellectual efforts with other students at assignments, tests & final exams.

The system allowed it.

All her friends did it so, why fight it?

3rd Mistake

While at school, no one ever taught her how to write a résumé or successfully approach interviews.

She, just like everyone around her wanted a good life but the system pretty much set them up to fail.

When she graduated, she met a professional at an international oil & gas company who asked her what she wanted to do in life & to explain her undergraduate degree experience but she was not prepared for that.

She gave answers which were weak, mostly incoherent, lacked precision or clarity.

She’d never thought of herself in that light.

The internet wasn’t readily accessible back then so she was pretty much left on her own with her fellow ignorant peers.

She also had a great & supportive family who she leaned on.

Luckily for her, she got some mentors, then left the country for her masters degree.

At 1st, she struggled at her Canadian university.

Correcting her 2nd mistake

She had to actually learn all those skills & resources she didn’t bother with back in Nigeria due to combined students’ efforts.

She had to read all those textbooks she never bothered with in her Nigerian university in order to excel at her program.

Correcting her 3rd mistake

She also met lecturers whose method of teaching was about empowering students to run with their ideas.

It wasn’t about multiple choice questions but making a case of why Case A is better/worse than Case B.

It made her actually think for the 1st time in her life. She learned how to make great presentations. It was a confidence boost. It was exhilarating!

She learned about plagiarism which is a very despicable thing. She also learned about self-development, professional development & presentations.

She learned it was ok to make decisions, make mistakes & then learn from them.

She became comfortable working alone & also with a team. She learned the power of independence.

She was a different person.

She became more confident about her thoughts & ideas. No one laughs at her mistakes nor condemns her for them.

Her bosses don’t care about always being right or barking orders at those under them. Team contributions is crucial, encouraged & needed.

Everybody is equal. No one feared anyone. It was a healthy environment. She was valued. She freely runs her program the way she sees fit.

This is my story.

There’s no correcting my 1st mistake. If I ever do, I’ll tell a story about it.

If you read this, you’d understand how the Nigerian system encourages laziness & might discourage talent because of envy or pride.

Many Nigerian graduates are victims of their own underdeveloped & redundant society.

Maybe with the internet, a few might self-improve. Otherwise, they’re unemployable because there’s very few people to teach them better.

Note to any Nigerian student reading this – don’t take the easy way out. Read not just to pass your examinations but to actually know.

You’d be truly a better person & student for it.

Good luck!

Chinese treatment for Blinkin and Janet Yelen

No red carpet, and met by Kong Fu-An, Director General of the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, at the tarmac.

My understanding is the head of a province-level Foreign Affairs Office counts as a Bureau Chief, or a Level 5, Rank 11–12 Civil Servant.

This is one step below the welcome Olaf received when he landed in Chongqing.

Note both Janet and Antony did not land in Beijing directly, unlike the last time they were in town.

Most powerful finance minister in the world—meh.

Most powerful diplomat in the world—meh.

American Reacts to Getting Laid Off (Fired): USA vs. The Netherlands

What do you do when your kid says they want a tattoo?

When my daughter told me, I had her design her idea of the perfect tattoo no matter what it was or how big …anything. I reminded her it was forever and would never come off so she had to choose wisely. That was the first problem. She couldn’t decide. She had many good ideas but when the idea of “forever” came up she always changed her mind. When she finally came up with her final choice she still handed it to me with some trepidation. Second step was for me to take it to a tattoo artist, a good one, to get a quote. I showed my daughter the quote $1,200 that she would be required to pay for herself. Step three was a surprise to her. I took the artwork she gave me and sent it to a custom temporary tattoo maker that made long term tattoos. I had it made and applied it exactly where she wanted it. My daughter was thrilled for about a week. The tattoo clashed with some of her favorite clothes and it was too visible so she couldn’t hide it. It made her pretty, dainty prom dress look kinda cheap. Looked good with jeans and a tank top but she liked variety…bummer. People treated her differently and judged her before they knew her and it really bothered her. She started trying to hide it rather than show it off. Two months in she asked me for the special solution to take it off. I refused because “tattoos are forever.” She was angry but I reminded her she made her own choices now she had to live with them. It eventually wore off and when she became an adult I told her she should start saving for her tattoo. She thanked me for the “lesson” I gave her because now that she was older her tastes had changed and IF she ever decides to get one it will probably be small, likely just one color and someplace hidden. She is an adult now. She can do what she wants but at least I know she will think before she leaps and that is all I can ask for.

CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala has been consistently panned in recent years for lacking creativity and lowering standards, and this year was no exception.

However, one segment won almost universal praise on Chinese social media – 《山河詩長安》/Poem for the Landscape of Chang’an.

It is an excellent showcasing of Xi’an culture, both old and new, from Qin opera to Shaanxi hip hop. Chang’an (the historical name for Xi’an) was known as one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, and the capital city of various dynasties, most notably the Tang Dynasty.

Here’s the 6 minute video…

We see people making merry and enjoying local festivities, and historical characters such as the Tang poet Li Bai brought back to life with 3D technology. To hear people chanting ancient poems in unison, as the country enters the space age, had me awestruck.

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This is what China is – the only surviving ancient civilisation, its history as long as it is unbroken; a place where ancient traditions and memories still live on, rising from the ashes as peacefully as a civilisation possibly could, and is now leading the world into a bright and better future.

There are legends, poems and lessons here dating back thousands of years ago, that even the least educated Chinese person knows by heart, but would elude even the most dedicated western Sinologist.

(DON’T BOTHER WATCHING IT IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND Chinese)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itw2GTN41P8

Contrast this to Taiwan/the Republic of China, where a local teacher went viral recently for protesting the Ministry of Education’s policy of de-Sinicisation. Under the new education reforms, students would be less exposed to Chinese history and culture, and less time would be allocated to the teaching of Chinese classics and poetry.

This is why I could never accept the neoliberal western narrative of Taiwan (ROC) being the “real China”. A regime that is truly legitimate in the eyes of the Chinese people, that truly has the best interests of the Yellow River civilisation at heart, that is truly representative of its people, would not so hastily abandon its heritage in an attempt to appeal to outsiders.

But when you force a people to abandon everything that defined who they are, the question becomes what to replace it with. In Taiwan’s case, attempts at westernisation and Japanisation have both been met with limited success, as have all other attempts at creating an independent “Taiwanese” national identity from scratch. As it turns out, you can’t just artificially create history and culture where before there was none.

This cynical historical nihilism, this dreadful feeling of emptiness and rootlessness, is devastating to the youth of “real China”. They don’t know who they are, what values to hold, where they truly belong, who and what to look up to, what to believe. Even conscription changes nothing – they know not for whom or what they fight (which is why they strongly reject mandatory military service).

At a time when the whole world is beginning to learn Chinese, Taiwan’s politically driven de-Sinicisation is not only counterproductive, but self-sabotaging.

I am glad that in the mainland at least, the best aspects of Chinese culture are being preserved and celebrated, contrary to public perception in certain parts of the world that once invaded, enslaved, slaughtered and stole from the Chinese nation, but now feign to care about our wellbeing.

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Lemme give you an example of why I think it is important to hold on to the wisdom of our ancestors. This part of the Spring Festival Gala features one of Li Bai’s poems that is most fitting for our times. Here is an excerpt:

天生我材必有用，千金散盡還復來！

“The talents bestowed upon me shall certainly be of use; and so what if I have exhausted my fortune? It shall all come back to me!”

Times are tough, and I know many of you are having money problems or self esteem issues. But be confident in knowing that you are not worthless, just keep honing your skills and looking out for opportunities to prove yourself. And rest assured that a bad investment and such is not the end of the world. You will recover financially if you’re a bit more cautious in the future.

From Zhuhai to the world, may all of you have a great Year of the Dragon.

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Italian Sausage Soup

A Fave Flavorful Soup

This soup is a “one-pot wonder” so there is less mess and less clean-up.
You can add any veggie you’d like into this recipe (and swap up the pasta with orzo or any shape you love)!

Use hot or mild sausage to your liking (or even meatballs if you’d prefer).
This soup reheats well making it great for lunches. Freeze in individual portions (before adding pasta) to keep it even longer.

Yield: 7 cups

Ingredients

1 pound hot or mild Italian sausage
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 green bell pepper, cut into half rings
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans
2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth

Ingredients

Italian Sausage Use either mild, sweet, or spicy Italian sausage in this soup. No Italian sausage? No problem, use ground pork, chicken, or beef with the same spices we use in our homemade Italian sausage.

BROTH We use chicken broth in this soup but beef broth works just as well.

VEGETABLES Loads of different kinds of veggies like tomatoes, garlic, zucchini, and onion make this soup filling with lots of nutrients, too. Add whatever is in your fridge!

FLAVORS Add a delicious blend of Italian Seasoning or use your own special blend of favorite spices! We also add Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley as a garnish!

Variations

Feel free to switch up the ingredients with leftovers like adding chicken in place of the sausage, or kale instead of the spinach.
White beans can be replaced with lentils or garbanzos, long grain rice, and a liberal dose of cheese.
Diced potatoes are a good substitute for pasta as well! Add a can of condensed creamy tomato soup for extra-rich broth.

How to Make Italian Sausage Soup

Veggies and sausage with pasta tastes amazing and it’s so easy to make this classic soup!

Brown sausage, with onion & garlic per recipe below.
Add broth, beans, vegetables and simmer until tender. Stir in zucchini for the last few minutes.
In a separate pot, cook pasta al dente, drain. Add to the pot (or to bowls).
Garnish with parsley & Parmesan cheese.

Slow Cooker Method:

Brown sausage, onion, & garlic. Drain.
Add all ingredients except pasta, zucchini and spinach.
Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours adding zucchini in the last 30-40 minutes.
Stir in cooked pasta and garnish with parsley & Parmesan cheese & serve.

Leftovers

If you plan for leftovers or to freeze this soup, keep the pasta separate and cook fresh pasta for serving.

Keep Italian sausage soup in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat in the microwave or reheat the whole pot on the stovetop.
Freeze in zippered bags with the date written on the outside.

What has a cop said that left you completely dumbfounded?

I was returning home to NC after a job in Davidson, SC. Red and blue lights come on behind me so I, of course, pull over to the right. A sheriff’s deputy walks up to my window and asked if I knew why I’d been pulled over. I informed him I did not. He requested my license and registration, which I provided. He then stated that I had been driving 65 in a 55. I had been doing 60, so I was speeding but not at the speed he indicated. I asked to see his radar and camera showing he had indeed clocked me at said speed. He said he hadn’t used radar, but instead he’d paced me.

He hadn’t been behind me long enough to do so, so I said again that I hadn’t been driving that fast. He replied with, “You were definitely going 65 because I had to drive that fast to catch up with you.” I sat there in stunned silence, letting that sink in, for a moment. I said, “Excuse me?”. He again said I had been going 65 because he had to go that fast to catch up to me. I asked him, “If I’m going 65 and you’re going 65, how long would it take you to catch up with me?” He said he didn’t know how long it had taken him, but it wasn’t long. I was amused. I asked again and he asked what I was getting at. I informed him that I was just looking for clarification for when I go to court to dispute the ticket. I then told him that if I was going 65 and he was going 65 he would always remain the same distance behind me. This meant I had to have been going slower than 65. I then asked if his patrol camera recorded sound, as I’d be requesting the recording for court.

He handed me my license, advised me to slow down and have a nice day, then went back to his car.

Source is RAND

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What is the most unexplainable thing you’ve witnessed or experienced?

Back in 2000, I worked at the Super 8 hotel in the city where I lived in Tennessee. I worked in housekeeping. The hotel didn’t get a great deal of customers being in a small city.

One morning when I got to work I noticed several full-sized white vans in the parking lot once inside I found out it was a group traveling selling magazines. Almost all of the rooms had been rented which might sound bad but it’s not because if they are staying for any length of time you simply take out trash and make sure they have plenty of towels.

My day goes by fairly quickly. I finished up the last room and was headed towards the laundry room when a guy stepped out of a room and was going in the same direction as me. I notice he is following me but I’m not worried because there are other rooms he could be going to. When he followed Me downstairs is when I felt uneasy because at the bottom of the stairs is laundry room and a small storage room. When I got to the laundry room other maids were in there dropping off laundry and he simply turned and went back up the stairs.

Everything went pretty normal and quite easy because everyone in that group is gone all day selling magazines from door to door so you go in clean up a little make up the beds and restock towels. This is about the 4th day of them being at the hotel I’m cleaning rooms as usual. I clean the upstairs rooms around back last because they are close to the upstairs storage room.

I was on one of the last rooms on my list which was on the back side. I go in make up the bed, vacuum and take out the garbage. I go into the bathroom to count the towels and wash out the tub when I pulled the shower curtain back there stood that guy who followed me to the laundry room. He was fully dressed obviously hiding. My stomach dropped he had no expression on his face just staring at me. He pulled the curtain rest of the way open and started to step out of the tub and the manager of the Hotel hollers here are your towels you called for. Not wanting to turn my back on him I yell I’m in here my boss bitches a little then bring them to me and is beyond mad that the guy is hiding in the shower and makes him leave the room and wait outside till I’m done with his room.

On the way to the office he asked me why I didn’t tell him he was in the room when I called for towels. I would have told him if I had called for towels but I didn’t call laundry and certainly not him for anything . I don’t understand how he got a call to come to that room but I am thankful for whatever happened because a few days after that they left and moved on to a hotel in Knoxville TN where that same guy that hid in the shower raped and stabbed an elderly lady and stole her car. The police said it was the worst crime scene they had seen in a while.

Tony Blinken Back to China: Begging Bowl in one Hand & a Knife in the Other!

Have you heard about Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s upcoming trip to China? Mainstream media will have you believe that he is going to address the path to peace in West Asia, among other global issues. But let me tell you, it’s all a distraction. The truth is, the US government has no intention of truly addressing global issues. They use these high-profile meetings and trips to China as a way to distract the public from the real issues at hand. While they talk about peace in West Asia, they continue to fuel conflicts and wars for their own benefit. Don’t be fooled by the headlines and the fancy speeches. Secretary Blinken’s trip is just a facade, a charade to make us believe that they care about global peace and stability. But in reality, it’s all about politics and power. So, the next time you see news about Secretary Blinken’s trip to China, remember that it’s just a distraction from the truth.

Camping Chinese style

Camping in China is quite different than in the United States.

Sure, there are rural areas where you can get in your four-wheel drive and go off-road, pop a tent, and make a fire. But since China is so dense, this tends not to be all that common, well at least not in the Southern Guangzhou area. Here, the camping is more organized.

On the beaches near Shenzhen (dameisha, and shameisha), you can rent a tent (or bring your own), and camp there overnight. Meanwhile, all the comforts of home are nearby. Bars, restrooms, showers, BBQ, tables, chairs, and fire circles.

Yup, it’s living in the tent minus being primitive.

They just put up one near my “ghost city” complex.

You take the highway road (well, it’s a road. Eight lanes, but still a typical Chinese road) and there is a paved cement area where a bunch of BBQ vendors cook chicken, fish, steaks and mutton all night. And behind the fence are tent areas where you can camp out. Just like the picture above.

Nearby are shower buildings, restrooms, and cement roofed pavilions for group fun.

Ah. It’s fun and cool. But, decidedly not the same thing as camping in the “outback” or in the ‘States.

China. Unique.

And well… different.

Today…

The US and the UK are pushing for total war on all fronts

The Iran-Israel clash has served as a catalyst for renewed escalation by Western leaders, and World War III cannot be ruled out

By Timur Fomenko, political analyst

The events of recent weeks have produced a sudden jolt in Western politics. From a lethargy that was starting to creep into US and western discourse over the Ukraine war, Iran’s attack on Israel suddenly seemed to have had the effect of awakening Ronald Reagan from his grave and leading to a surge of neo-conservativism on steroids, on both sides of the Atlantic.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson did a complete 180-degree U-turn and proclaimed himself a “Reagan Republican” passing a series of aid bills for astronomical overseas spending that he had otherwise blocked for months, as he denounced an “axis of evil.” Along with that, a proposed TikTok ban bill came out of nowhere too and was quickly signed into law.

Then the UK decided to devote its largest ever aid package to Ukraine, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warning of an “axis of authoritarian states” and amplifying ideologically combative rhetoric.

At the same time, it was then revealed Biden had sent 300km long range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine despite having pledged not to do so for years, fearing escalation.

Finally, EU President Ursula von der Leyen has suddenly dramatically increased economic warfare on China, pushing the European Commission to open probes on scores of Chinese exports.

Where exactly did all this come from?

It’s almost as if the US and its allies seized upon the tensions between Iran and Israel in order to “whitewash” their slate and double down on a series of objectives they are otherwise losing public support for, including the war in Ukraine, but also Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

One has to wonder if the Israeli attack on the Iranian compound in Damascus, which provoked Tehran’s response, was deliberately staged, coordinated and planned for this purpose. It served the mutually convenient goal of letting both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Western governments off the hook for whatever opposition they had otherwise faced.

It should be abundantly clear now that the current powers that be, in London and Washington, have absolutely no intent of letting up on the wars they have provoked, while also pushing for a potential third one with China, and seem indifferent to the consequences, even if for example, the Israel-Gaza war is shattering the West’s claims of moral superiority.

In each case, the stakes are very high, Western foreign policy at large has taken on a very zero-sum and ideological character which bemoans the loss of hegemony, and seeks to uphold it at all costs. It is reactionary to the extent it does not have a vision for improving the world, but wants to take back the world to the way it was. It is a sense of entitlement and privilege that wants to suppress an emerging multipolarity.

Because of this, it has become impossible for Western leaders to ever consider the concept of compromise in these respective theaters, and they refuse under any circumstances to make concessions which could be deemed strategic. This has produced a position where the only outcome they are willing to accept in Ukraine is what they deem “the defeat of Putin,” and have been subtly escalating ever since, edging ever closer to the point where a “proxy war” becomes a direct one for all intents and purposes.

NATO military advisors are already on the ground, and Ukrainian attacks are being guided by NATO intelligence or even coordinated by British admirals.

The media in the West, especially in Britain (there is more dissent in the US) are effectively in war mode. The BBC amplifies non-stop Ukraine propaganda, pushing any claim that will help Kiev irrespective of its empirical worth or evidence, and all voices of dissent have been shut down. It seems evident that the decision may have been made to risk a full-on war with Russia, rather than to consider any negotiation scenario.

Thus, the shockwaves from the Iran-Israel saga have been used to pursue a new and sudden round of escalation on every front, which can have only been bolstered by the prospective elections looming in both the US and UK.

Because of this, it is fair to say that the world faces a more dangerous and uncertain outlook than at any point since the end of World War II.

This current crop of Western leaders are not pursuing a more restrained and calculated mindset, as seen for most of the Cold War, but an aggressive and evangelistic one that does not prefer stability but affirms hegemony as an absolute right, thus more resembling a pre-1914 world.

Because of this, we should draw the conclusion that Western leaders are not truly seeking to avoid war, but are prepared to embrace it if necessary. The British military establishment and the media have long been making noises about conscription.

In the US, if Joe Biden wins re-election, we can assume that he will unapologetically escalate on every single front. World War III is no longer a dramatized specter of farfetched panic, but an actual possibility that should not be ruled out.

Baked Chicken German Style

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups milk
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces egg noodles, cooked and drained
3 cups cooked chicken, diced
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 teaspoons paprika

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt butter in large saucepan over medium low heat. Whisk in flour and stir for 3 minutes.
Gradually whisk in broth and milk. Reduce heat, simmering until thick, about 10 minutes.
Blend in lemon juice and seasonings.
Combine cooked noodles and half the sauce, tossing gently to blend. Place in the bottom of a buttered 2 quart casserole. Top with chicken and remaining sauce.
Combine Parmesan cheese and paprika. Sprinkle over casserole.
Bake until bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
Serve hot.

Americans Are Running Out Of Money

The problem we have is because Most people always taught that” you only need a good job to become rich ” . These billionaires are operating on a whole other playbook that many don’t even know exists.

Why do some people plead poverty when they’re not actually poor?

The wealthiest person I ever worked for was a lawyer whose home had a three-car garage and a swimming pool. He owned the house, his office building, his luxury cars, and his boat free and clear. His children all had late-model cars, and their college educations were paid for by trust funds.

Since my job included balancing his checkbooks, I knew that both his business and personal accounts carried about a $50,000 balance at all times (this was 30 years ago). He never once had to put off a doctor visit or medical treatment because he couldn’t afford it–and because of a pre-existing condition, he couldn’t get health insurance and had to pay all his medical bills out of pocket. Every month he paid his credit card bills in full. He and his wife sometimes drank Dom Perignon for breakfast. When he died, in addition to all his other assets he left almost $2 million in cash.

My husband and I were both employed full-time, sometimes did have to put off doctors’ appointments for lack of funds, and rarely were able to pay our credit card bills in full. (If one of our kids needed a doctor, we’d take them, pay with plastic if we had to, and worry about the credit-card balance later.) To me, then, my boss seemed as rich as an oil sheikh. Yet he constantly insisted he wasn’t rich.

Years after I had left his employ, I finally figured him out: my boss wasn’t comparing himself to wage slaves like me, he was comparing himself to other rich people; and unless you’re Jeff Bezos, there’s always someone richer than yourself. Not that my boss ever claimed to be poor, but it’s the same principle: you probably know someone who has more money than you do, so you’re going to feel, if not poor, then poorer by comparison.

‘Integrated Deterrence’ Means Provoking China

by Patrick Macfarlane

In its most recent National Defense Strategy, the U.S. Department of Defense declared a policy of “integrated deterrence” against the People’s Republic of China, its primary “pacing challenge.” The document defined “integrated deterrence” as:

“…working seamlessly across warfighting domains, theaters, the spectrum of conflict, all instruments of U.S. national power, and our network of Alliances and partnerships. Tailored to specific circumstances, it applies a coordinated, multifaceted approach to reducing competitors’ perceptions of the net benefits of aggression relative to restraint. Integrated deterrence is enabled by combat-credible forces prepared to fight and win, as needed, and backstopped by a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent.”

As was the case with Russia vis-à-vis Ukraine, a policy of deterrence through strength has only made war in Southeast Asia more likely—with myriad recent examples.

On March 23 a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at and allegedly rammed a Philippine vessel as it attempted to resupply a grounded ship on a reef in the Spratly Islands. This was just the latest in a series of similar clashes.

The Spratly Islands are a cluster of tiny reefs, shoals, and islets in the South China Sea. They are claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The vast majority of the American public has no idea that they even exist, nor do they care who owns them.

However, because the United States and the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty, Americans are obligated to send their sons and daughters to kill and die if Philippine forces come under attack there (or anywhere). State Department Spokesperson Matt Miller confirmed this in a March 23 statement about the incident:

“The United States stands with its ally the Philippines and condemns the dangerous actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea on March 23…The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft—including those of its Coast Guard—anywhere in the South China Sea…”

In the case of the Philippines, integrated deterrence means more than just maintaining a mutual defense treaty. In the past year alone, the United States has pledged to fund the construction of a new Philippine-American port near Taiwan and has gained access to four other Philippine military bases. The United States has also conducted joint naval patrols with the Philippine navy and furthered their forces’ interoperability with joint military exercises that sometimes include Japan and Australia. The United States has also encouraged Japan and the Philippines to sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement, which would allow the two nations to deploy forces in each other’s territory. Japan already has such an agreement with Australia.

The U.S.-Philippine defense treaty and its accompanying policy emboldens Philippine President Marcos Ferdinand Jr. to be more aggressive in his territorial and maritime disputes. In turn, Sino-Philippine relations have deteriorated.

On December 20 of last year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, that “China-Philippines relations are at a crossroads,” referring specifically to the nations’ naval clashes in the South China Sea. Yi further warned that China will “definitely safeguard its rights” and “respond resolutely” to provocations. Yi specifically identified Philippine collusion with the United States and its regional partners as a source of contention.

For its own part, Japan has also clashed with Chinese forces over territory that holds absolutely no interest for the average American. The Senkaku islands are yet another series of rocks that the American public neither knows nor cares about. Despite this justifiable apathy, Americans are treaty-bound to sacrifice their children to enforce Japan’s claims to these tiny islands in the East China Sea. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed as much in October of last year .

The United States’ partnership with Japan is more intimate than with any other country on Earth. Over 53,000 American troops are stationed in Japan at approximately twenty-three installations. Furthermore, since its effective disarmament after World War II, the United States has gradually fostered Japan’s military redevelopment. In 2022, Japan announced that it was increasing its military budget by 56% and would acquire U.S.-produced Tomahawk missiles capable of striking the Chinese mainland. This should be cause for concern because Tomahawk missiles are nuclear-capable .

Next month, the United States and Japan are expected to announce a plan to restructure their forces’ interoperability. The plan will allow Japanese forces to coordinate with U.S. Forces-Japan instead of with Indo-Pacific Command, which is based in Hawaii. Although the specific details are currently unclear, the change is promised to be the biggest upgrade to the countries’ mutual security pact in “60 years.” It is openly aimed at North Korea and China.

Integrated deterrence with Taiwan has seen American Spec Ops deployed as military advisors to Kinmen, a small group of islands controlled by Taiwan. The islands are located just miles off the coast of mainland China. These “long term” deployments will see the advisors training Taiwan’s amphibious forces in preparation for a war against the mainland.

The scandalously provocative deployment is just the latest in a series of American policies that have sought to make Taiwan a grenade in China’s throat. In 2022, then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi took an ill-advised junket to Taipei. China responded by shooting missiles over the island and simulating a blockade against it.

Last year, the United States deployed 200 troops to Taiwan, the largest American deployment to the island since 1979, when the U.S. officially recognized Taiwan as being part of China. Last year, the United States increased its weapon sales to Taiwan and even began financing the transfers and providing some arms free of charge.

These transfers violate Chinese-American agreements—especially the Third Joint Communique , through which the United States declared its intention to cease arms sales to Taiwan and agreed not to provide the island with more arms than China, either quantitatively or qualitatively.

Aside from the Spratly Islands, the most inconsequential territorial dispute in which the United States has embroiled itself concerns a patch of land at the top of the world.

In 2020, four Chinese and twenty Indian soldiers died when a melee ensued in Arunachal Pradesh, a state located in the Indian Himalayas that is claimed by both India and China. After the clash, the United States signed an intelligence-sharing agreement with India that would allow Indian forces to use American satellites to track Chinese troop movements in the disputed area. This intelligence was used by the Indians during a subsequent clash in 2022.

Just last week, the State Department issued a statement backing India’s claim to the disputed area, drawing China’s ire. Both India and China are nuclear-armed states.

These four recent examples of America’s “integrated deterrence” against China each involve territorial disputes that do not concern the United States and are of no consequence to its people. Each showcases examples of confrontational and provocative American behavior. Knowing they have American support, our allies and partners are emboldened to act recklessly. Instead of causing Chinese forces to back down, our actions only draw warnings and contempt from Chinese officials.

If the policy of “integrated deterrence” were indeed deterring China, we’d likely see a decrease of confrontational incidents with Chinese forces. That is not the case. Furthermore, it is not enough to argue that “integrated deterrence” is working because war has not yet broken out—U.S. support for Ukraine “deterred” a war with Russia until it didn’t.

It is not in Americans’ best interests to risk war between their country and China over obscure territorial disputes and shipping lanes in the South China Sea. Since our strategic partners and allies have been building up and integrating their militaries with each other, they are certainly capable of negotiating on their own from a position of strength.

1 Hour Of FRUSTRATED Women With The Drizzle, DRIZZLE

When Women Regret Feminism is a thought-provoking video that explores the struggles women over 30 face when they haven’t found a husband and feel cheated by what feminism tells them.

Our lead software engineer is the best at what he does but he is only available in working hours even if we need him for an emergency matter. What should I do about him?

I have experienced this kind of attitude. When I was younger, I would spend all my waking time working, even when I was only being paid for 8 hours.

Eventually, I kind of burned out, and I realized that I was missing too much of life, too much of my children growing up. So I stopped working extra hours all together. For a while, no amount of extra pay was worth it.

Your employee *is not* obligated to your company, for hours you do not pay him for. He agreed to give you his time for the work day, and you agreed to pay him for his time. Why would you ask him to give you something for nothing? Would your company give away it’s products for nothing?

If you want him available after hours, pay him extra, enough that he agrees to take on the extra work. It’s that simple. But if you want good work, then mitigate what you ask of him, and promote a work-life balance that is healthy.

In the end, why should he respect your time, if you do not respect his?

What are the most useful points about body language?

Do you know that if a person starts fixing him/her self in front of a person, then there is a good chance that he/she likes him/her.
If you like a person, you learn things quickly while working with them.
Do you know that men touch their face when they feel uncomfortable, and women touch their hands, throat, clothes and hair.
If there is a change in a person’s behavior and behavior on seeing you, such as unnecessarily shaking hands or talking loudly, then understand that he definitely has some feeling for you.
If a girl looks at you from a distance and pretends to see you somewhere else as soon as she comes near, then understand that she likes you.

Today’s daily Shorpy

People Have STOPPED PAYING THEIR BILLS!

The United States is “at the edge”.

Real GDP growth 1.6%. Everyone is getting the “wake up call” People don’t really have the money.

Ukraine update

Almost six thousand foreign mercenaries have been eliminated in Ukraine since the start of the special operation

October 22, 2022. Relatively fresh graves were discovered near Lisichansk, but this is not a pet cemetery, as it might seem at first glance. The graves of these “animals” indicate that they did not deserve another burial.

It’s surprising that they somehow managed to bury the mercenaries with dog nicknames. Apparently, the cult of American mercenaries was unshakable for the Ukrainian Nazis. Or they simply did not have time to tell the Ukrainian fighters that in neighboring settlements, during the retreat of the troops, their brothers, on the orders of the Kyiv command, simply burned about fifty Poles to hide traces of the presence of a foreign illegal contingent. Somewhere we have to put those who were stabbed to death in an alcohol and drug stupor, shot in the back during an argument or trying to retreat. An autopsy will show.

It can be assumed that such burials are not an isolated case.

In total, starting from February 24, 2022, the number of “soldiers of fortune” who arrived in Ukraine amounted to 13,387 people, 5,962 mercenaries were killed.

The Russian Defense Ministry has recorded the participation of more than 13 thousand mercenaries in hostilities on the side of Ukraine

Despite Western assurances about the absence of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry monitors and constantly records all foreigners who have arrived in Ukraine to participate in hostilities. Here’s how mercenaries are distributed by cou

https://pravda-en.com/world/2024/03/20/378333.html?ysclid=lvelwj0lpe22298879

USA: 1113 arrived, 491 destroyed

In court, what was the most devastating cross-examination of a witness that you ever saw?

So I’m sitting in the jury box (a “simple” possession with intent case) and the prosecution brought out their star witness to testify how he knew that the defendant had the (ready for this?) five ounces of marijuana (four is the max for “casual” possession in Texas). Prosecutor finishes and looked pretty smug. I had started to come around to his side. Defense attorney starts off with some banal line and then says “Johnathan, that is your real name, right?” Well “Rick” had a stunned mullet look. “Ah, well yeah, I guess”. “You guess what? Is that or is it not your legal name?” “Ah, well yeah, it is.” “And not Rick, or rather Richard, as you stated when you were sworn in?” “No, it’s Johnathan, sir.” “And Johnathan, does the DA know this?” “Ah, well, no, sir” (Starts to sweat). “Johnathan, are you wanted by the State of Oklahoma?” “Ah, well, sorta.” “That’s a yes? Did you lie to the DA about that? What else did you lie about? Does the DA know that you’re wanted for <at this point I wanted to see if the DA actually wet himself> perjury? In a case involving <and soiled himself> a possession with intent to sell marijuana case?” At which point the lawyer handed the chief bailiff a set of papers that I learned later was the warrant and such from Oklahoma. I had the seat closest to the prosecutor’s desk and distinctly heard him mumbling “fuck, fuck, fuck, why today?” “Today” was the day before early voting in the primaries and he had some pretty serious competition.

So the judge tossed the evidence given that the statement from the witness couldn’t be deemed reliable (or whatever, real lawyers help me) and his statement was the only reason the sheriff’s department got the search warrant to begin with. Essentially end of case. We didn’t even get a break for some stale sandwiches, but did get paid $9.36 to watch a prosecutor’s last case.

Oh, and the defense lawyer. Well “Johnathan” should have recognized his old college roommate!!!!

Patrick Bet-David Explains Why America Is Entering A Horrific Financial Crisis…

Bourbon Laced Tipsy Chicken with Peaches

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 chicken leg quarters
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 cups green onions, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 cup chopped fresh peaches
1 dash nutmeg

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Sprinkle chicken quarters with salt and pepper. Place in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan and set aside.
In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add the paprika and all but 1 tablespoon of the green onions and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 4 minutes.
Spread the onion mixture evenly over the chicken, spoon the orange juice and bourbon over the top, and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, turning and basting occasionally.
Remove the chicken from the oven, spoon the peaches over the top, sprinkle with nutmeg, and return to the oven for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is tender and shows no trace of pink near the bone.
Remove the chicken from the pan, place on a serving dish, and pour the pan juices over the chicken.
Garnish with the remaining green onions and serve immediately.

I was reading a book about how the Chinese where the first to people to voyage around the world and it got me thinking, could it be that the Koi San people in southern Africa are the descendants of those Chinese voyagers?

Khoisan I don’t know much about, but the inhabitants of the Lamu Islands in Kenya are indeed descended from Zheng He’s crew. This has been confirmed by genetic testing.

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To this day, the Chinese gene is not only in their blood, but also remains in the daily lives of these people. There is porcelain, Chinese furniture and unobtrusive life skills that every Chinese is familiar with.

They use Chinese cupping, herbal medicines and some of them can even take their pulse!

Some islanders say their family name is Vae / 萬.

Silkworm and silk weaving skills have been passed down in the area, but have been lost over time.

Uwamaka Shariff’s Story

A Kenyan girl named Uwamaka Shariff is a descendant of Zheng He’s crew.

Shariff has completed high school, she longed to be able to go to China to study, but due to financial pressures, she decided to write a letter to Guo Chongli, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya.

In the letter, she wrote: “I am a Kenyan and also half Chinese, I am a descendant of Zheng He sailors …… I long to return to China ……”

main qimg 86700b740e9d83830142c68657c6b169

Three months later, the Chinese Ministry of Education approved the application, allowing Sharif to study in China at public expense.

In July 2005, Sharif arrived in Nanjing on a plane, and Nanjing’s vice mayor Xu Huiling personally went to the airport to greet her and presented her with a beautiful sarong and flowers.

main qimg 26dca897e13a5466e79a320da841ea59

In Nanjing, Sharif was impressed by the rich history of the city, and she also witnessed the high-rise buildings lined up in Nanjing, and she felt more and more the charm of China in this city full of modernity and simplicity.

Here, Sharif experienced too many firsts in her life, the first time she stayed in a five-star hotel, the first time she rode in a lift, the first time she used an intelligent toilet, the first time she bathed in a shower. ……

Currently, she lives in Xi’an and Guangzhou.

Enjoy some vintage comics

What China just did to the U.S. Military is SHOCKING and War is Coming to Taiwan

The U.S. military has crossed China’s red line again, and China’s patience is being tested. Is the US and China destined for war? This video breaks it down.

Have you ever had a job where you did nothing for years and nobody found out?

Currently I work overnight as a concierge for an Apartment complex in the heart of Nashville.

Each night, I come in at 11pm, get told what happened during the day, and then sit at the desk for around 8 hours.

I watch tv, I read, I could bring any gaming console I wanted to, I play chess online allot, I do classwork if I have it, practice magic tricks, I exercise. My boss has even told me if I wanted to take a 30 minute nap here or there to go for it. Whatever.

At 6am I unlock the building’s front door, pool doors, deliver a few newspapers, and inventory our package room. In all honesty, it’s about 15 minutes worth of work give or take.

Technically I’m there as emergency relief, or just in case a tenet needs a package or food gets delivered, but that’s all once in a blue moon type stuff. 1 out of every 99 nights.

The funny thing is that all of the Tenets voted to have an overnight person, even though I see virtually no one. If they knew how little I did, I wonder if it would really change their minds.

What do people underestimate going into retirement?

The super massive black hole.

The best friend of your parents retires and is finally ready to sail the seven seas in his fishing boat with his wife, only to hear a couple of weeks before the journey that he suffers from terminal pancreas cancer, and that the final journey will be different, and end in pain.

I call it The sudden blow.

Your favorite aunt retires and wants to party more than ever, but gets depressed on the way about the hardships of the life that lies ahead, and ends her own life. (The sudden blow..)

Your dad retires, and he will travel, go to restaurants, sleep on sunny beaches, drink red wine, and enjoy every single minute of it, finally away from the constant stress a working life has endowed on his body and mind. And then he falls asleep on a beach towel, and never wakes up. (The sudden blow..)

It’s about a body that never stops working, it’s about a mind that never stops racing, it’s about a road that has been carefully paved over a period of more than 40 years which suddenly takes a drastic turn.

Isaac Newton knew that a body in motion wants to keep moving, and that’s exactly what happens to people who retire. The sudden blow.

It’s as if our minds and bodies have held on for so long, and then finally give up, and give in. The cancer that finally surfaces, the mind that implodes, the heart lacking oxygen — a human erodes.

So be careful if you retired only recently, and hear a strange knock on your door while you are reading this answer. Because it might be the sudden blow.

And it’s coming for you.

BRICS Currency Announced! Is it Gold Backed?

In this week’s video, we look at Russia’s announcement of an official BRICS currency. There has been speculation and rumors of this currency for some time, and one major theory is that it would be backed by a basket of commodities including gold. However, the Kremlin recently announced they have almost completed a digital currency based on blockchain technology. Backed by gold or not, if a new BRICS currency becomes internationally adopted for trade, the U.S. Dollar will lose value. If U.S. Dollar’s value decreases, we expect the price of gold to increase. While there is no official launch date yet, dismantling the dollar will take time and we don’t expect it to go down without a fight. In the meantime, we will keep an eye out for any official launch date and stay ready to keep viewers informed.

As a car mechanic, what is the craziest discovery you have found on an automobile?

I wasn’t the mechanic. I was the customer.

For many weeks, the hood of my car seemed to be getting heavier and heavier.

One day, as I was driving, I noticed an odd odor faintly resembling a shepherd’s pie cooking.

I pulled into my mechanic’s garage.

When he started lifting the hood, he, too, noticed that it was unusually heavy. With a manly thrust, he managed to lift it and place the prop underneath.

And that’s when the insulation fell away from the inside top of the hood.

What came pouring out was pounds and pounds of dry dog food nuggets, many of which rested on the engine and began a slow sizzle.

Mechanic: “Let me guess. You own a dog, and you park your car in the garage at night, right?

Me: Uh, right.

Mechanic: And you feed your dog dry food, yes?

Me: Uh, yes.

Mechanic: And you keep the food in the garage, right?

Me: Yes…

Mechanic: Then you also have squirrels.

Me: I do?

Mechanic: Yes. The squirrels are taking the nuggets and hiding them under the insulation blanket under the hood, for later. I’ll bet you’ve been thinking your dog has been eating more than usual, lately.

Me: Uh, yeah! Now that you mention it.

Mechanic: Case closed. You don’t need a mechanic; you need a couple of traps.

And he was right.

China and 20 nations unite to forge a Grand Canal from Xinjiang to the Mediterranean.

China and 20 other countries have embarked on an ambitious project to build a Grand Canal, aiming to form a direct route from China’s Xinjiang to the Mediterranean Sea via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TCTC). This collaborative effort announced in 2023 will dramatically shorten the transit time across Asia and Europe and benefit all participating nations. Placing China strategically closer to Europe, this new route bypasses the geographically and politically complex Malacca Strait, reducing reliance on longer routes. Leaning on Central Asia’s topographical advantage and existing rivers, plans to connect Xinjiang and the Mediterranean Sea with a canal seem plausible. By tackling the challenge of the Ural Mountains and linking the Tobol and Kama rivers, a canal from Central Asia to Europe could drastically cut travel distance. The project has the potential to reshape Eurasia’s geopolitical landscape and boost China’s global influence.

Chili and chips

Today I want to talk about snacking foods.

Nothing too special or difficult to make, just some quick and easy prepackaged stuff that most of my readership can get without too much trouble.

Top of the list is WELL-SALTED potato chips. Yes. Plain “American style” potato chips with lots of salt. Like Wise brand, or Lays brand.

Here in China there are all kinds of odd potato chip flavors.

But honestly I like the good old fashioned plain stuff.

With dip.

Must have a good onion dip. Don’t you know.

You can buy the ingredients to make your own dip, here in China, it’s just that because they are rare, they are expensive as all fuck. Which is why, and I suggest, that you all just make a big pot of chili instead.

Here’s a good recipe.

Sour Cream and Onion Dip

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, finely minced
Olive oil
Sea salt
Black pepper
1 clove garlic, pressed through garlic press
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoons dried minced onion
16 ounce container organic, full-fat sour cream
¾ ounce package chives, finely minced (about a scant ½ cup)
¾ teaspoon granulated onion
Pinch white pepper

Preparation:

Begin by gathering and prepping all of your ingredients according to the ingredients list above to have ready and organized for use.
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add about 1 ½ tablespoons of olive in; once hot, add in the minced onion along with a pinch or two of salt and pepper, and saute the onions for 10-12 minutes until deeply browned and caramelized.
Stir the garlic into the caramelized onions, and once aromatic, remove the mixture from the heat. Spoon the caramelized onions into a bowl, add in the soy sauce and the dried minced onions, and fold together to combine. Allow the onion mixture to completely cool.
Once the onion mixture is completely cool, spoon your sour cream into a large bowl. Add in the cooled caramelized onion mixture, the minced chives, more sea salt (I added about ¾ teaspoon more, but add according to your taste), a pinch more black pepper (about ⅛ teaspoon), the granulated onion, and the pinch of white pepper.
Gently Fold the mixture together until completely blended and combined, then spoon into a clean serving bowl or container. Allow the sour cream and onion dip to chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours to deepen the flavors (or even overnight if serving the next day), or enjoy immediately with chips and/or cut veggies.

Tips & Tidbits for my Sour Cream and Onion Dip:

Organic sour cream for quality and flavor: If possible, opt for organic, full-fat sour cream for this dip, as you can taste the difference in the flavor and quality of the dairy. Full-fat sour cream makes for a richer, creamier dip, but if you wish to make this a lower fat sour cream and onion dip, then feel free to use a reduced fat sour cream.
White or yellow onion for caramelizing: When it comes to mincing and caramelizing the onion, you can use either traditional white or yellow onion for this. Because I typically have white onions on hand, I use those. But either yellow or white onions will work perfectly here.
Chives, or even green onions, for freshness: I like using delicate chives for the fresh aspect of this dip, but if you have green onions on hand, you can easily substitute those. Just slice/mince them up finely, and use the same amount as you would with the chives.
Allow the sour cream and onion dip to “chill”: While you can certainly immediately dive right into your dip as soon as you make it, I like to allow the flavors to mingle and intensify a little bit by allowing the dip to chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before enjoying. If you’d like to prepare this dip as something to serve for a gathering the next day, you can even make it the day before.
Delicious dip-able options: Thick, ridge-cut potato chips are fantastic with this sour cream and onion dip, but if you’d like to go a healthier route, opt for cut radishes, cucumbers, carrots, celery, and cauliflower and broccoli florets.

Oh…

I know, I know…

“Who Cares?

Well, I do. How about making up a bath of dip and trying this out. Maybe it’s been a while for you. Maybe it’s too salty. Maybe it’s just so plain that you never give it a moment’s thought. But guys…

How about chips with Chili?

Bowl of Chili with Beans Cheese and Onions 683x1024 — Bowl of Chili with Beans Cheese and Onions 683×1024

Best Bowl of Chili

What makes this the best bowl of chili ever?

It has just the right amount of heat, flavor, and consistency. The combo of well-seasoned beef, tomatoes, spices, and beans is phenomenal.

But the cheese and sour cream on top take it to the next level. Plus, it contains a secret ingredient you may not have thought of — beer!

It’s a snap to make, meal prep-friendly, and ready in an hour. This truly is, hands down, the best chili recipe!

Homemade Bowl of Chili with Cheese Beans and Onions 1 683x1024 — Homemade Bowl of Chili with Cheese Beans and Onions 1 683×1024

Ingredients

Want to know what goes into the best chili recipe? Here are all the secret ingredients:

Ground Beef – As it’s a primary ingredient in chili, use good-quality ground beef, such as lean Angus or brisket. Also, you may want the meat to fat ratio to be 85:15, otherwise, your chili will be too greasy.

Onion and Garlic – For aroma and flavor.

Chili Powder, Cumin, Oregano, Cayenne Pepper, Tabasco – It’s not called chili for nothing! These herbs and spices will add a nice kick to your chili.

Canned Kidney Beans – I prefer red kidney beans, but you can also use pinto or black beans.

Diced Tomatoes in Can – The flavor base of the soup.

Tomato Paste – Acts as a thickener and a flavoring agent as well.

Jalapenos – For even more heat. Add or lessen according to taste.

Sugar – Do not skip the sugar, as it counteracts the acidity in the tomatoes and the heat from the spices. If your diet prohibits granulated sugar, use Splenda instead.

Beer – The secret ingredient! The starches in beer help thicken the chili. It’s also there for flavor, so use one you actually like. I highly recommend Modelo Negro and Newcastle Brown Ale.

Cheese – It turns chili from delicious to delectable. You can use either cheddar or Mexican mix cheese.

Sour Cream – For a cool and creamy contrast to the hot chili.

Tips for the Best Chili

Take your chili from good to great with these tips:

Control the heat. A lot of people ask me how to make chili less spicy, and I find the best way is to make your own spice blend (or use mild taco seasoning). That way, you can add more or less heat as you see fit.

Swap the meat. If your diet doesn’t allow you to eat beef, use ground chicken or turkey.

Skip the beer. If you don’t have beer on hand, swap it with a mixture of vodka, coke, and brown sugar.

Make extra and freeze it for later. Chili freezes beautifully, so pop individual portions in the freezer. It’s a great way to meal prep and get dinner on the table at the same time.

Chili Toppings

No bowl of chili is complete without the toppings! So here are some ideas for customizing your bowl:

Tone down the heat. If you find your chili too spicy, here’s a quick fix: add a splash of lime or lemon juice. The acidity from the fruit dials down the heat from the chili, resulting in a perfect balance of flavors.

Dollop with Greek yogurt. Want sour cream but trying to watch your diet? Enjoy a bowl without all the guilt by using Greek yogurt instead.

Top with bacon sour cream. If you don’t mind the calories at all, go all out with bacon-infused sour cream!

Serve with cornbread. In the mood for a southern classic? Cornbread is the way to go.

Drizzle with honey. Can’t get enough of a sweet and salty combo? Me too! I like to drizzle some honey over this chili. It’s a definite must-try!

Give it a Tex-Mex touch. Top your chili with salsa and guacamole for a drool-worthy mash-up of southern and Tex-Mex cuisines.

Add some crunch. Add an element of crunch to your all-tender chili: whether it’s croutons or crackers, you can’t go wrong.

How To Thicken Chili

Chili too runny? Don’t give up! There are tons of ways to thicken up that thin soup.

Here are a few methods to choose from:

Simmer without the lid. Do so for 20 to 30 minutes. This will help evaporate excess liquid from the chili, resulting in a thick consistency.

Add more beans and mash them. Breaking beans up will release their natural starches, causing the soup to thicken.

Mix in cornstarch of flour. Spoon a bit of chili into a bowl and mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour. Place the mixture back into the pot and stir constantly until thick.

Add more tomato paste. What I love about this technique is apart from helping with the consistency, it also adds flavor and color to the chili. If your chili starts to taste bitter, counter it with a bit of sugar.

Serve with cornbread or cheese. If the chili is already out of the pot, just serve it with cornbread and more shredded cheese. This will thicken up the stew nicely.

How to Store Chili

Leftover chili is one of the best things to have on hand for a quick cozy meal.

I like to double the batch and freeze half. So I get dinner and a week’s worth of meals in one!

To Store: Transfer the cooled leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate for 4 to 5 days.

To Freeze: Place the cooled chili into airtight containers. Divide into single servings if desired. Freeze for up to 3 months.

What are some psychological facts that people don’t know?

- If someone can’t cry, he/she is emotionally numb.
- Psychologically, we tend to ignore those who adore us and pay more attention to those who ignore us
- Psychology says when your mood randomly goes from happy to sad, it’s often an indication that you’re missing someone.
- . Stomach acid (conc. HCl) is strong enough to dissolve. Razor blades!!
- A human brain has a capacity to store 5 times as much information as Wikipedia
- Laziness and inactivity kills just as many people as smoking.
- You are more likely to achieve your goals if you keep them a secret.

Your decisions are more rational when thought in another language.
While talking to someone, if you use their name, it will make them like you.
Once you really accept your flaws, no one can hurt you using them.
Pain can make you stronger. Fear can make you braver. Don’t be afraid of them.
Most of your problems are due to two reasons: you act without thinking, or you think without acting.
This is not exactly psychological, but it will affect you psychologically. With every breath you take, someone somewhere has taken their last.

What is the sleaziest, dirtiest trick an auto insurance company tried to pull on you? Did they succeed?

A drunk driver crossed three lanes of traffic and I broadsided his full size van. His insurance company only offered me the amount of my deductibles ($1000 for collision and $300 for personal injury). Like how did they know the exact amount of my deductible?

I had been using my insurance company for over 35 years. They were literally no help. The amount of money they offered me for my car was less than the guaranteed trade in value if I had gone to the dealer and bought a new car.

My insurance company treated me like I was at fault. I always thought that if I was in an accident, it would be me and my company against the other driver and his company. Nope, it was me against everyone.

I hate to admit it, but I contacted one of those personal injury law firms that advertise on TV.

This one had a branch less than a mile from my home.

I wasn’t looking for a jackpot; I just wanted to be made whole and get a comparable replacement vehicle. The payout for my paid for vehicle was about $2500 shy of what the guaranteed trade in value was. I would have been happy with my deductible plus the difference between what my insurance paid out and what my vehicle was worth as a trade.

So, about $4000 would have made me whole. This doesn’t even consider the day of the accident was my 25th wedding anniversary. We had plans for the week and instead I was taking a part in medical appointments and treatment.

The law firm, actually some unnamed lawyer and not one of the partners from the commercials, sent a couple letters and the at fault insurance company sent a $10,000 settlement. The law firm kept 33% and we got the rest.

So they ended up paying two and a half times what I would have been satisfied with, about what the lawyers got.

What’s the most savage way you’ve seen someone get fired?

This is an edited repost of my answer to a similar question.

I’ve fired several folks who deserved it (for a while that was part of my job), but this one stands out in my memory.

(I’ll call him) ‘John’ was the assistant manager of the electronics retail store (TVs, VCRs, and audio equipment) that I had been, just the day before, sent to manage. We had the ‘big screen’ projection TVs arranged in living room groups, so folks could better envision what it would look like in their home. (This was in the mid 80s, before LCD TVs or monitors.) Something like this:

Since I’d been warned of what he’d been doing, I went to the mall a half hour before opening to observe for myself whether or not it was true. Sure enough, ‘’John’ showed up right at opening time, when we’re scheduled to be there a half hour before to get things turned on and do the other opening tasks.

Ok, but surely that’s not enough to fire him for? Correct. I wouldn’t fire someone for that, and certainly not the first time I knew about it.

Once there, he plopped his butt on a couch and proceeded to read the newspaper and drink his coffee, and completely ignored the 3 customers that came in during the first half hour. I then walked over to the store. He jumped up, said ‘Marty! what are you doing here? You’re not scheduled in until 1.’

I said ‘Firing you. Get out.’ Rarely had firing someone ever been easier.

In addition to ‘salespersons’ we also had ‘cashiers’ in the store. Their job was to take care of smaller sales (VCR tapes, cables, adapters, and movie rentals) so the actual ‘salespersons’ weren’t distracted from a potential big sale by a 99-cent movie rental. Salespersons earned commission, but cashiers did not.

‘Wanda’ was the cashier on duty that morning; she had talked to all three of the customers that John had completely ignored. She made a $750 sale (roughly $2200 in 2024 dollars) to the last of those three. As she was getting ready to ring it out on the cash register, she asked me what ‘number’ to ring it up under, since John had told her before to always use his number for big items, and he wasn’t here anymore.

I knew she expected me to tell her to use my number, but instead I asked her what the highest number we were using was and she said ‘8, but were not using 5 right now.” I told her to ring it under 5.

She said ‘I just told you we don’t have a 5!”

I responded “We do now, and her name’s ‘Wanda”.

I’ve rarely in my life seen a smile that big, and she went on to be the #1 salesperson in the store for 2 years running, that I know of. 🙂

Doritos Chicken Casserole

Nacho cheese Doritos chicken casserole is rich, creamy, and packed full flavor!

Cheesy. Doritos. Chicken. Casserole. How amazing does that sound? This flavor-packed casserole is sure to become a new family favorite!

It’s a creamy casserole loaded with cheese and shredded chicken, then topped with crispy Nacho Cheese Doritos. The Doritos make an amazing cheesy crust that turns the humble casserole up a notch!

I love casseroles because they’re always so easy to make! This casserole takes just 10 minutes to prepare and uses minimal dishes, so cleanup is always so easy!

This super cheesy, crispy Doritos chicken casserole is so fun – you have to make it tonight! It’s a wholesome and absolutely delicious dinner that my family loved and yours will too!

Why This Recipe Works!

Ultra-Cheesy! This amazing casserole is loaded up with cream cheese, Mexican cheese, and topped with Nacho Cheese Doritos! It’s the cheesiest casserole ever!
All-in-One Dinner! Casseroles are so great for dinner because it’s a complete meal! This casserole is so filling and wholesome!
Super Kid-Friendly! Got picky eaters? There’s no way this Doritos topped casserole won’t become one of their favorites!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Olive Oil – Or another oil with a high smoke point.
¼ cup Yellow Onion – This is about ½ a medium sized onion, diced. You can also use white onion, if preferred!
21.5 ounces Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup – This is equal to two 10.75-ounce cans of cream of chicken soup.
10 ounces RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles – 1 can of RoTel makes this dish extra flavorful!
1 ½ tablespoons Taco Seasoning – Make my simple recipe or use your favorite store-bought brand, like Ortega.
4 ounces Cream Cheese – The cream cheese should be softened and brought to room temperature. I recommend cubing or cutting up the cream cheese into chunks to make it melt more easily.
15.25 ounces Black Beans – 1 15.25-ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed.
4 cups Cooked Chicken – The chicken should be shredded for this recipe! I like to use leftover rotisserie chicken to make this meal super easy.
9 ounces Nacho Cheese Doritos – This is equivalent to one regular size bag of Doritos. The chips should be crushed and divided into two portions.
2 cups Mexican Cheese Blend – I like a finely shredded Mexican cheese blend. This should also be divided into two 1 cup portions.
¼ cup Cilantro – Cilantro is an optional, but a recommended addition. If using, make sure it’s fresh and roughly chopped.

Substitutions & Additions

This quick casserole is fantastic as is, but you can easily customize it! Here are a few delicious variations you can try:

Rice – You can make this meal a little extra filling by adding 1 or 2 cups of plain, cooked white rice.

Jalapeños – Add a little Tex-Mex spice with some diced fresh or pickled jalapeños! You can also add chopped chipotles in adobo (dried jalapeños) for a different layer of spice!

Corn – You can easily sneak in extra veggies by adding in a little fire-roasted corn into the chicken mixture.

Red Bell Pepper – Sauté some diced red bell pepper with the onion for extra flavor and color!

Instructions

This easy casserole is as simple as it is downright delicious! You don’t need any special equipment here, just a large skillet and a baking dish!

Instructions

Prepare. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C), while you heat a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Next, lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or oil and set aside.
Make Sauce. Once the oil is heated and shimmering, add ¼ cup of diced yellow onion and sauté until fragrant and tender, or about 4 to 5 minutes. Then, pour in 21.5 ounces of condensed cream of chicken soup, 10 ounces of RoTel diced tomatoes with green chiles, and 1 ½ tablespoons of taco seasoning. Stir to combine all the sauce ingredients.
Add Rest of Ingredients. After stirring the sauce, add 4 ounces of cubed, softened cream cheese and stir until it’s melted and smooth. Then, add 15.25 ounces of drained, rinsed black beans and 4 cups of cooked, shredded chicken (If you’d like some cilantro in your casserole, stir in ¼ cup with the chicken and beans).

Layer Casserole. Start by layering half of the crushed 9 ounces of Nacho Cheese Doritos into your prepared baking dish, then add half of the chicken and sauce mixture. Top with 1 cup of the shredded Mexican cheese blend, then add the last half of the chicken mixture. Finally, top with the remaining crushed Doritos and remaining 1 cup of shredded Mexican cheese.
Bake Casserole. Once the casserole is layered, bake uncovered at 350°F (175°C) in the middle of your oven’s center rack for 30 minutes. If the cheese topping begins to get too brown, cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil. The casserole is ready when the cheese is fully melted and golden.

This cheesy, delicious casserole is a fantastic weeknight meal! I love to garnish plates with a little extra cilantro and serve it as is! If you want to make it even more filling, try serving with my cilantro-lime rice!

Tips & Notes

Make sure your cream cheese is softened! Setting your cream cheese out for about 30 minutes before using is typically sufficient time to let the cream cheese warm to room temperature.
Regular size bags of Doritos (keep getting smaller) but typically range between 9 and 10 ounces. Family size bags are around 15 ounces and will work just as well!
Cilantro is optional but recommended! Cilantro is a great garnish, but also a fantastic stir-in for the casserole for more great Tex-Mex flavor.
Can’t find the RoTel? Plain or fire-roasted diced tomatoes are equally wonderful in this tasty casserole!

Storing & Reheating

When stored properly, leftovers of this cheesy Doritos chicken casserole will keep for 3 to 4 days. Make sure to wrap the baking dish well with plastic cling film or transfer leftovers to an airtight container.

This casserole keeps terrifically in the freezer for up to 3 months! Make sure to transfer the cooled leftover portions into an airtight container. You can even freeze an entire casserole, wrapped with a layer of plastic cling film and a layer of aluminum foil (See FAQ).

Reheating Doritos Chicken Casserole

If you’re looking to reheat this casserole, I recommend using the oven for the best results. This way, the Doritos topping can get deliciously crispy again.

Either place the whole baking dish or portions of casserole into a 350°F (175°C) oven and bake for about 20 to 30 minutes. The casserole is reheated when it’s golden and bubbling, or warmed to your satisfaction.

F3MINIST Losing Their Mind As Men Are Refusing To Help Women: Stand By, Watch, As Society Collapse

Will China finally collapse if the US put Iran-style sanctions on China? Namely, cut China out of SWIFT, severely punish any entity or country that does business with China, cut off all ties with China, basically kick China out of the global economy.

Why exactly are Russian Sanctions not working?

It’s because Russia supplies Oil, Gas, Fertilizers, Food and Raw Materials to the Global Supply

These goods have a huge demand

So no matter what you do, people will find other ways to pay for these goods from Russia

So the Sanctions remain moot

And if Russia’s Products are not part of the Global Supply, the Global Supply will shrink and the prices will surge through the roof

If Russian Supply is cut off, then even at 50% of the Demand of 2018, Oil Prices would rise to $ 139 a barrel

So obviously people, even Europeans will have to find a way to pay the Russians and ensure Russian Oil, Gas and other products keep flowing to the Global Supply Chain

Why would Sanctions not work on China?

Same reason

China may not produce Oil Or Gas but it produces 57% of the World’s “Cheap Goods”

Chinese Goods imported into half the world, retail for a sum between 2.5–6 times their import value and this sum goes as Salaries, Development funds, expansion funds, investments etc

Around $ 100 Billion of Imports from China cause a value addition of :-

$ 261 Billion in Germany
$ 279 Billion in Russia
$ 178 Billion in Japan
$ 409 Billion in India
$ 536 Billion in USA

So by cutting off $ 100 Billion of Imports from China to the US Economy, you are cutting off $ 436 Billion of Value Enhancement into the US Economy

After all when a Chinese made shoe imported for $ 47 sells for $ 139 retail, Walmart makes $ 40 in profit which is almost 91% of the import price of the show

This $ 436 Billion alone could cause additional inflation of 1.25% a year

Plus a huge supply shortage which could cause more inflation

Already Trump Tariffs are being easily by passed by near sourcing from Mexico

Soon there will be more Chinese goods coming in from Bolivia, Dominica or some South African Nation

Ultimately the only way to successfully sanction China is to find an alternate origin station of these goods

However for 100 Tons of Goods manufactured by China today :-

India makes 8.5 Tons
Vietnam makes 7.7 Tons
Turkey makes 5.2 Tons
Bangladesh makes 4.4 Tons
Mexico (Non China) makes 3.1 Tons

Combined today, the other five nations make 29% of what China alone can make in a single year

There is a second reason:-

Reciprocity

China represents a Huge Market

In 2010, the Chinese Market had a Domestic Fulfilment (Demand fulfilled by Domestic Manufacturers) of 7.2%

In 2023, this number rose to 40.4%

This means 40% of Chinas Market is fully catered to by Domestic Manufacturing which means 60% of the Market STILL requires Foreign Products and Services

60% of the Market means close to $ 7 Trillion a year

If the West sanctions China, China could cut off the West and it’s access to the $ 7 Trillion Market

Western Entitities could lose almost $ 4.5 Trillion from such a move

There is no alternate market today in Asia

For every $ 100 that a Chinese Consumer spends on foreign goods :-

Indian Consumers spend $ 14.75
Japanese Consumers spend $ 18.50
South Korean Consumers spend $ 14.40
ASEAN Consumers spend $ 20.42

Thus the biggest nations in Asia including all of ASEAN, economy wise collectively buy and spend only 68% of what China alone spends on foreign goods

So no way they can suddenly increase their spending by 140%

So right now Sanctions against China would be more catastrophic than Russia for the West

The cost of $ 1 Loss to China would mean between $ 5–6 for the West

China can somehow adjust with BRI nations and avoid a killer blow

Yet the West can’t

It would accelerate their decline

So these Sanctions simply won’t work beyond a few weeks or months at the most

Their time is over on this earth and their masters, the West are terrified of this

What is the most badass thing your parent has ever done?

My dad was teaching a class at the high school when my mom called him to tell him that I was dying. I think I was about four years old at the time and had taken terribly sick suddenly. Our house was about a mile away from the school where he taught—he came back running and immediately took me to the best private hospital in the small city of Aligarh.

As my parents reached the hospital, they were asked to wait for their turn in a long queue. My condition further deteriorated and my mother started crying. My dad had been a very peace loving person throughout his life. But on this occasion, he stood up and yelled at the top of his voice, “If the doctor doesn’t see my son in next five minutes, I will make sure this place turns into soil and dust.” That immediately worked. The doctor called my parents the next and immediately put me on treatment. He told my parents that if there was a delay of ten minutes in getting a treatment, they might have lost me.

I lost my dad in Jan 2013 at age 69. There is not a single day I don’t remember him for being the best dad ever.

Here is a photo from around same time—I am the one standing with my dad. The other cute looking child is my younger sister.

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Shorpy images

What is the likelihood of a military conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan? Can the United States successfully defend against a potential attack from China, considering the size difference in their military forces?

Potential attack?

I was born in Taiwan. I had no idea that Taiwan was US territory. Could you enlighten me on that? Because this US document signed by a US President says that Taiwan is CHINESE territory.

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And if the US believes their own propaganda then the US is going to be in a world of hurt. A lot of US kids are going to die for nothing. When I say a lot I mean however many US carriers battle groups is sent. They will all die.

Afterwards, Americans are going to wonder why American kids died to try and take Taiwan, who are Chinese, away from China and failed. How are you going to explain this act of Imperialism to American families who lost their kids?

Can you describe a perfect day for you? How does the day end?

I’ve been having a lot of perfect days lately, working from home. They go like this:

wake up without an alarm clock (I don’t need one, I go to bed at ten and am up at six, every day, happy to get up and do stuff).
distribute a round of cuddles and canned breakfast to the house panthers, who will be staging a drama already for being famished and helpless little things.
boil up hot water for some suitable morning cuppa, typically grain coffee, maté, or hot water with stevia.
recline on the couch with my laptop and try to comprehend the world.
as temperatures pick up outside, eventually switch to sitting in my hammock under the birch tree and work from there.
have some lunch; I’ve gotten pretty good at cooking in ways that are barely noticeable, so I just go inside and, miraculously, edible things await.
do some tinkering around the house, improving this or that a little bit, often just with wire and a nail.
work some more.
go photograph something, possibly by car.
come home and feed the panthers again, then possibly hammock or TV-room with interesting documentaries until I go to bed again.

BLACK AMERICAN WOMEN: THE NEW FACE OF CRIME AND DEGENERACY IN AMERICA

What are the most mind-blowing facts about the human brain?

1. About 75 percent of the brain is made up of water. This means that dehydration,

2. Can have negative effects on brain function, even in small amounts.

3. The human brain will grow to three times its size in the first year of life. It continues to grow until you are about 18 years old.

4. Headaches are caused by a chemical reaction in your brain combined with the muscles and nerves in your neck and head.

5. Your brain uses 20 percent of the oxygen and blood in your body.

6. Alcohol affects your brain in ways that include blurred vision, slurred speech, an unsteady walk, and more. These usually disappear when you calm down again. However, if you drink frequently over a long period of time, there is evidence that alcohol can permanently affect your brain and once again not sober up. Long-term effects include memory problems and some reduced cognitive function.

7. If the brain does not get oxygen for 5-6 minutes, then it stops working forever.

8. As we grow older, the human brain becomes smaller. This usually occurs sometime after middle age.

9. The human brain starts to lose some cognitive skills by your late 20s, along with your memory abilities.

10. A brain freeze is actually a sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. It happens when you eat or drink something that is cold. This stretches blood vessels and arteries to the very back of the throat, including blood to your brain. These compress when they are cold and heat up again, causing pain in your forehead.

11. Dreams are thought to be a combination of imagery, phycological factors and neurological factors. They prove that your brain is working even when you are sleeping.

12. It is a myth that humans only use 10 percent of our brain. We actually use it. We use more than 10 percent when we sleep.

13. During human evolution, the brain has tripled in size.

14. Your brain uses the same amount of power as a 15 watt light bulb.

Deep-Dish Chicken Cordon Bleu

Luscious layers of chicken, ham and cheese stack up in a family-friendly dinner casserole.

Prep: 30 min | Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) can Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls (8 rolls)
2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Unsalted or Salted Butter
1 tablespoon Crisco® 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil orPure Olive Oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 (13.25 ounce) box frozen baked honey-battered chicken tenders, thawed, cut into 1/2 inch pieces, or 1 deli rotisserie chicken (2 to 2 1/2 pounds), shredded
16 (1 ounce) slices Muenster cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon horseradish sauce or cream-style prepared horseradish
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1/8 teaspoon McCormick® Thyme Leaves
1 pound shaved cooked brown-sugar or maple-glazed ham (from deli)

Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 13 x 9 inch (3 quart) glass baking dish with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Unroll crescent rolls in baking dish; press perforations to seal. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until light golden brown.
Meanwhile, in a 10 inch skillet, heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. Remove from heat; stir in cut-up chicken tenders.
Place 8 slices of the Muenster cheese over baked crust. In small bowl, stir Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, honey, horseradish sauce and thyme until well blended. Spoon half of the mayonnaise mixture evenly over cheese on crust.
Spoon chicken mixture evenly over mayonnaise mixture on crust. Spoon remaining mayonnaise mixture evenly over chicken. Cover chicken evenly with ham. Top with remaining 8 slices Muenster cheese.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and filling is thoroughly heated.

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What ignorant thing did a retail employee say that made you walk out of the store without buying a single item?

It gets very cold in Michigan and I have a very large, down-filled winter coat. It’s somewhat hideous but it’s very warm.

Apparently coats like mine are great for shop lifting. You simply place a hole in the pockets and drop items that you’ve casually picked up and drop them to the bottom of the coat as you shop/steal. It’s difficult to tell that you have stolen anything because the coat itself is so large.

I was shopping in a card shop a while back and the sales woman there accused me of shop-lifting, because of my coat. When I was at the register to pay for ALL of my items she asked me if I would also like to pay for the items inside of my coat as well.

I smiled and I gently laughed and asked her “Are you kidding me?” I told her that I was a shop owner myself and that I would never steal anything from anyone.

She looked at me in a slightly disgusted way and rolled her eyes. “Oh. So that’s how it’s going to be!” She didn’t ask me about my store or attempt to apologize. She just stared at me. Hmm… I thought.

I had quite a large number of items that I did want to buy and I had been quite a regular customer there for some time. I was beyond insulted, but I understood her frustration, even though I was shocked.

I took off my coat, gently put it on the counter and opened my purse. “Would you care to inspect my belongings?” I said in a calm and polite way. She patted down my coat and glanced in my rather small purse. She then slid my coat over and without apologizing, began to ring up my items.

I let her ring up everything, staring back at her silently as I waited for an apology. Nothing.

I didn’t reach in my purse to pay. Instead I pushed the items back at her gently and I told her “I’m sorry but I’ve changed my mind. Not about the items, I still want them but I think I’ll take my business elsewhere, where my business is appreciated. There are lots of stores, exactly like yours.” And I left. And I held my head up without shame or anger. But what I really felt was hurt.

I went a few miles down the street to another shop that offered the exact same items and I left that store with all of them. The bill was well over $100.00 .

I understand that shop lifting is a problem but honesty is not. I gave the first woman every opportunity to make the situation right but I really felt that she did owe me an apology. I didn’t think that it was too much to ask for considering the insulting way that she had treated me in her store.

I give all of my business now to the other shop owner. Yes, it’s a bit further to drive but I feel I’d rather go without than give the first shop owner even one dime of my hard-earned money. In my opinion there is no reason, whatsoever, to treat anyone like that.

What do you think is the best revenge anyone has ever taken?

The savage killing of serial rapist Akku Yadav by a mob of women he raped is one of the most brutal revenge of all time in Indian History.

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On August 13, 2004, Akku Yadav was lynched by a mob of around 200 women from Kasturba Nagar, a slum of Nagpur in Maharashtra.
He raped more than 200 women that mostly belonging to Dalit families, the Untouchables, those placed at the bottom of the caste ladder in India. The members of the Dalit community received little to no help from the government authorities.
Akku Yadav fed the local officers bribes and drink, and they protected him and dropped his cases. Despite countless women coming forward with allegations of rape against him, Akku Yadav always felt free to rape whomever he wanted.

Whenever a victim reported him to the police, the authorities would alert Yadav, who then visit that women and threaten to throw acid on her and rape her again. He had raped so many women in Kasturba Nagar that a rape victim lives in almost every other house in the slum.

Source:- From Castration To The Killdozer, These Are History’s Greatest Stories Of Revenge

Usha Narayane, a victim who had repeatedly been harassed by Akku Yadav reported the case about Akku Yadav to the Deputy Commissioner, who promised her that police would soon arrest the serial rapist. One day Akku Yadav himself surrendered to the police fearing his death by local women.
The next day in court, Narayane and many other local women heard that the Akku Yadav was likely to escape punishment yet again. Together, they entered into the court in large numbers armed with vegetable knives, stones, and whatever else that was at hand.

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As he walked in, Akku Yadav spotted one of the women he had raped. He called her a prostitute and threatened to repeat the same crime again. The police laughed. She took off her sandal and began to hit him and started saying that, “We can’t both live on this Earth together. It’s you or me”. The attack lasted for more than ten minutes and left Yadav’s dead body butchered on the courtroom floor with 70 stab wounds and his penis cut off.

Source:- From Castration To The Killdozer, These Are History’s Greatest Stories Of Revenge

Usha Narayane, a local activist, was arrested and charged with murder, as with other women. In 2012, Narayane was released from custody. 21 other people, including six women, were also arrested and released due to lack of evidence.

Justice Bhau Vahane said, “In the circumstances that they underwent, they were left with no alternative but to finish Akku Yadav. The women repeatedly pleaded with the police for their security. But the police failed to protect them”.

Source:- ‘Arrest us all’: the 200 women who killed a rapist

The death of Akku Yadav at the hands of the women he raped was one of the most brutal stories of revenge in Indian History.

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Source of this news and story from where I have written this content:-

From Castration To The Killdozer, These Are History’s Greatest Stories Of Revenge

‘Arrest us all’: the 200 women who killed a rapist

Hot Turkey and Cheddar Casserole

Ingredients

Butter
3 cups (about 16 ounces) cubed (1 inch) leftover turkey
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 (5 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 1/3 cups mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated onion
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup cornflakes, crushed

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with butter.
In a medium bowl, combine turkey, celery, water chestnuts, red bell pepper, mayonnaise, onion, lemon juice, 1 cup Cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese; mix well. Place the mixture in the baking dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup Cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and cornflakes.
Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the baked turkey casserole, and bake for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese melts.

Kirby’s financial spree

When I was in my 20’s, after the Navy, but before I was married, I had a friend that I used to hang out with. His name was Kerby. We were good buds.

He told me a story that he participated in decades ago (now).

He was with another friend (that I didn’t know), they pitched together $300 dollars and bought $3000 FAKE DOLLARS = counterfeit money.

And then went on a joy ride from one end of the state to the other end. They visited dark dimly lit bars, would pass the fake money off as real and buy some beer and get real change.

At the end of the night, they had a van full of beer, lots of cash, and the FBI and Police looking all over for them.

Ugh!

Mistakes that young people get involved in. Sheech!

They never caught them, as this was long before video cameras and the like. But yeah, apparently they were on the “wanted list” for years afterwards.

Kirby left the state and stayed away for a few months until things died down. He told me that he would never do that again, but he did say that it was a Hell of a lot of fun. But, man, oh man, what were they thinking?

Today…

What job offered to you was so shocking that you didn’t even believe that it was happening?

This was so long ago, it is probably safe to tell the story now. I lived in Delray Beach, Florida. I worked for IBM in Boca Raton, five miles from the house. My job was in finance.

I was extremely closed mouth about lots of things, and I never, ever betrayed a confidence.

After going to a local meat and seafood dealer for about a year, I was approached by the owner. He had friends in Miami, thirty miles away, who had a great deal for me.

If I would agree to go to a location, blindfolded, for a single Saturday and review some “numbers” for them, it would net me $10,000 cash.

I was making $25,000 a year, in 1983. Now, this was way before the movie _The Firm_, but I knew any deal with the devil would not end well.

Was I tempted?

Absolutely.

Especially with the promise of more money in the future, with the total promise I would be protected. But after the three seconds of personal consideration, I had to come up with a reason to not accept.

I came up with the highly plausible excuse that in the military I had a SUPER high security clearance (which was absolutely true) and since it was still active, I knew the NSA was still keeping tabs on me.

As much as I wanted and needed the VERY GENEROUS offer, in good conscience I couldn’t expose anybody to the type of harassment I had to endure from the constant surveillance.

WHEW! He bought it. But until we moved five years later, he ALWAYS gave me a discount on shrimp and Florida lobster tails. Better to be eating the fishes rather than sleeping with them.

She can hear me

How can Gina Raimondo promote and stabilize trade relations with China while addressing Chinese concerns about U.S. containment efforts?

The very fact that she is in Beijing to negotiate tells us plenty.

It would have been unthinkable for the Commerce Secretary to visit Tokyo after fixing Toshiba and forcing the Japanese to abandon their semiconductor domination plan in the 1980s, in order to “keep the lines of communications” open.

What America is doing to fix the Chinese high-tech sector in the 21st century is way more intense than Japan suffered in the 20th.

For example, Toshiba didn’t suffer the multidimensional sanctions and curbs that Huawei is experiencing, and that includes the high-profile arrest of Huawei’s CFO in Canada.

More than 1,600 Chinese entities are under sanction today, many in the high-tech field, and the list includes universities and domestic tech champions. The blanket tariffs are still in force, while a pervasive propaganda war is being funded to intensify demonization of the Chinese.

It is naked economic and media war, and Gina has helmed efforts to hold Chinese “feet to the fire” since she took office. Her words.

China must be doing many things right for Gina to visit this late into the game, despite her fierce rhetoric and missive.

Gina can promote and stabilize relations by listening to Chinese concerns in good faith… and do something about them.

Genus is the courage to stand up

As a doctor, what is the most dangerous lie a patient has told you?

The guy had a dislocated shoulder. You could plainly see it on the X-ray and you could easily tell by examination. According to the chart, this was the second time he had been in the ER that week for the same complaint. That is not all that unusual because once a shoulder is dislocated, it can become pretty unstable which causes it to dislocate again with very little trauma. The story was a little strange though. He told us that it happened again because he took off his sling in order to pour a bowl of cereal. The motion of tipping over a half gallon of milk to fill his bowl caused the dislocation today. He seemed to be in excruciating pain.

There was nothing to do but reduce the dislocation. There are a number of ways to do this but all of the most effective ones require sedation and with the amount of pain he seemed to be having there was really no other option. He was connected to the monitors and a nurse came in to help monitor him. I also had a tech in the room and a medical student to teach and also help with the procedure in the event it became physically difficult to perform.

It took a lot of pain medicine to sedate him to the right level.

In fact, almost twice as much as I expected. Even after that much medicine every time we started to pull on his arm he would cry out in pain. So, he got more medicine. After he was appropriately sedated, his shoulder was extremely easy to reduce. We wrapped him up in a sling and got a post-reduction X-ray to make sure everything was back to normal, and he was placed in his treatment room until we could arrange a follow-up with an orthopedic surgeon.

I went back in the room to talk to him about his follow-up and the need to see a surgeon to be evaluated and he was screaming in pain. He told me his shoulder just dislocated on its own right before I walked in. Another X-ray and sure enough, it was dislocated again. We go through the whole process again and he is discharged this time. However, he ends up coming right back in to the ER because he said his shoulder dislocated while trying to get into his car. So, he gets placed back in a room and we prepare to do it all over again.

At this point, one of the ER techs comes up to me and tells me sheepishly that she was outside hiding to have a smoke break when she sees our patient come out and have a cigarette nearby. She watches him as he pulls his arm out of socket then continues to watch him as he walks back into the ER. I confronted the patient and he initially denied it but ultimately admitted that he could dislocate his own shoulder. He had kept doing it that day because he wanted long-acting sedating medications not the Propofol we had been giving him.

This was incredibly dangerous.

As my anesthesia colleagues will tell you, conscious sedation in the ER is not an ideal environment. It is fraught with hazards including aspiration, circulatory collapse and airway occlusion. Pretty much any lie a patient tells their doctor places them at risk but this sort of lie is Russian roulette.

The three things…

VLADIMIR PUTIN:

"In 2022, the US defence spending amounted to $811 billion, if memory serves, and Russia spent $72 billion. The difference is more than ten-fold.

The United States’ defence spending amounts to about 40 percent of the global figure, or more precisely, 39 percent, while Russia accounts for 3.5 percent.

Considering this difference, are we planning to fight NATO?

This is nonsense.

Besides, what are we doing during our special military operation? We are defending the people who live in our historical territories.

There would have been no developments similar to those that are now taking place, if they established entirely new relations in the sphere of security following the breakup of the Soviet Union, as Russia had suggested.

They would have simply heeded our interests in the sphere of security; we discussed this issue year after year and, in effect, from decade to decade. They simply ignored us and deployed their forces next to our borders.

Did we move towards the borders of the NATO bloc’s member countries? We did not bother anyone. They were moving towards us.

Did we cross the ocean and approach US borders? No, they are the ones who are closing in on us, and they have reached our borders.

What are we doing?

We are only defending our people on our historical territories.

It is therefore complete nonsense when people say that we intend to attack Europe after Ukraine."

Excerpt from remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with army aviation pilots of the Russian Federation Defence Ministry’s 344th Centre for Combat Employment and Retraining in Torzhok, Tver Oblast, Russia, March 27, 2024.

Ouch truth!

It is all about birth date…

Today I was watching the first half of a documentary on the First Emperor of China…Qin Shi Huang…

…and I was thinking how much sucks to be born and having grown in a civilization that is deep into a state of decadence…

…the thought arose because China nowadays is arising which reminds the “heroic” time depicted in the documentary…with one man outstanding enough to conquer an absolutely huge territory in his own lifetime and without all the powerful technologies we have nowadays…while Italy has been through a very long stage of decadence…in essence we have been decaying since the Fall of the Roman Empire, because, while many Foreigners (and we ourselves) admire the beauty produced by Italian Renaissance…all that beauty arose by the fact of having what was once the “core” of the Roman Empire…the Italian peninsula…split between many different courts which competed to show off their greatness by patronizing art and by having a Catholic Church which had too much and too pervasive power within it (and how the Catholic Church had been an obstacle to Italian unification became quite obvious especially in the end of the Risorgimento

)…

( In that sense this reminds me a bit a discussion with an Iranian driver…we were just chatting while he was driving I don’t remember where…probably to some job interview in a not very easy to reach location…and he came up with the point we both were “from once great empires”…

For a moment I was puzzled…mmmh…Iran? …once great empire? 😮

…oh…fuck…he’s right!! Iran = Persian Empire!!!

Nowadays we rarely think back at those times…I mean…the last exposure the Western audience had to the Persian Empire was the movie 300…which kind of understand why the Iranian despised so much, because, apart from painting them as the “bad guys” [which in any portrayal of historical events is generally inevitable…being most of them wars!], they made that poor Persian Emperor look like the Ultimate Embodiment of Faggotry! I mean…if I was in them I’d be pissed like them if they did that “treatment” to Julius Caesar or Octavianus Augustus!!

Was a bit a weird moment…yeah…he’s right…we were in a very similar situation indeed, although nowadays…a few years later…things for Iran are getting better! )

The point is this…

…when you grow into a decadent society, you can’t really tell how much your “gaps” in education could arise by your not having been a diligent and good student or from the fact that you have grown in a society where academic institution “scam” people by providing a lot of “propaganda” and “crap” instead of “useful training”…you can’t really tell how much flawed, morally lacking or warped you indeed are because you were “bad seed” from the start or how much you’ve been warped like a fucking bonsai by being immersed into a degenerate environment (like the bonsai is warped by being a tree meant to grow into the ground and instead being forced to grow into a small vase) and routinely come across warped people…

Now…it is not that there is a huge “difference” in the basic make-up of Humankind between “decadent” and “resurgent” cultures…”idiots” are a common curse for Humankind all around the planet…we might be able to limit their incidence through eugenetic practice, but I am not totally sure that that would work so flawlessly given that idiots seem to be born even from smart people!

…but in decadent societies “idiots” and “incompetents” are allowed to arise to position of increasing power, because if you have a worthless elite made up of human shits…their main concern is to ensure that none could replace them…so they promote idiots, incompetents and worthless people who owe everything to them and that, in truth, would deserve just to exist 6-feet underground and feed plants as fertilizer!

…in resurgent societies such individuals are limited to positions where they can do little damage and generally never tolerated to arise to roles where their stupidity or incompetence could cause problems to the rest of society…

…but growing in a decadent society is painful precisely for that…having gone through a system that is completely rotten and where meritocracy is just a sham…you can’t really tell to which point you were indeed worthy and to which point your beliefs about your worth are just a product of vain arrogance!

Sometimes I watch some videos that show people living in Russia and in China…for example Patrick Lancaster’s videos from the war-zone in Donbass or some interviews of ordinary Chinese citizens by some Chinese journalist…and what feels somehow “bizarre” is both how those people seem to be both humble and, apart from suffering (in the case of those living in the warzone) happy with their ordinary lives!

Here in the West everyone seems to be constantly hellbent on showing off how they are supposedly worthy of great positions of leadership or great responsibility…on average…we are literally oozing arrogance!

Why?

Because here more and more increasingly only way to afford a roof on your head, food on table and to build a family is to be awarded a role as supervisor, manager or director of something…while people in Russia and China seem to be able to live happy ordinary lives even with “humble” jobs!

In a sense feel like living on completely different planets…neither is perfect, sure…but the West is becoming more and more like a screwed up dystopia!

Now the truth is that I want to see Russia and China prevail…to see the kind of fair world order they represent to prevail…not because I am some sort of “paragon of virtue and human perfection”…in fact I might indeed share some of the decadence of the West…I no longer care to see things in terms of “moral superiority” (although I have great time in using certain rhetoric against the Langley Boyz, because, being a bunch of unenlightened dim-wits driven by fear and by their bases instincts like fucking animals, you can literally see those worms twist in pain when you push certain narratives* on them…because they might sorely like any degree of enlightenment, but, in their bones, they “know” that they are like worms…in essence…they have absolutely nothing of the noble greatness of a defiant Lucifer just flung into the Abyss! …because that kind of “evil” would shamelessly “own” its fallen nature…not squirm and hide like a cockroach from light!)…but I want to see the West finally crumble, to see the idiots who ruled us and the bastards puppeteering them pay the full price for their unworthiness in the most draconian way….I want to see their “bad seed” to be eradicated to the root in purely medieval and Biblical “destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah” style…and arise back to a place which will no longer warp people like it currently does!

…because I feel that, if I had been grown in such environment, I’d have grown as a much better and happier person (although probably less faceted and less “aware”…because suffering brings enlightenment…like the Phoenix can only arise if it dies and burns into ashes!)! 🤔

*= In a sense seems like being into a knife fight with some scumbag you despise and having your pain receptors completely non-functional…

P.S.: This “pain” of being from a decadent crumbling society is probably one of the kind of “pains” I can still suffer (apart from butt-hurt from Carolina Reapers!!! 🤣), because I do notice how it “cuts deep”…it’s like a deep wound that is not fatal, but can’t heal properly either! 🙄

P.P.S.: Note that I have even great time when those idiots complain about me being “unfair” or “coward” when I block them after ensuring to have the last sentence in a pointless back-and-forth with them, which generally is of little use given the bastards have 1.000.000 sock-puppet accounts each!

But you know?

I’d not have started using the block function on Twitter so extensively and so craftily if some son of bitch had not abused the reporting function to nuke my old Twitter account, eh?

So my answer to the Langley Boyz complaning?

Police work is difficult

What screams “I’m upper class”?

My ex-boyfriend’s father took me with them on vacation and paid for everything for me. That shocked me, I felt so horrible about it. You know, kind-hearted people with money have this sentence they say to make you feel better about it, but it just doesn’t help:

“Don’t think about it. I did it because I wanted to, not because I had to.”

I totally get it, but at the same time, it doesn’t help at all because they still spent so much money on me. That isn’t a privilege I have in my family. If you’re coming over, the max I’ll get you is dinner on me.

I told my ex that I didn’t want him to get me anything expensive for Christmas. He got me a new SSD because my PC was running out of space. You don’t understand how uncomfortable that made me feel. I hate giving and receiving gifts. It felt like I was in debt. It doesn’t matter if you wanted to do it out of the goodness in your heart, it sucks.

When my ex crashed his car into a tree (or was it a lamppost, I forgot), his dad said the most important thing was that he was safe. The car could just be fixed. I’ve never had a car, no one in my family has a car, I don’t know how much car reparations cost, but I can’t imagine it’s cheap. I thought it was ridiculous that he was more worried about his son when, evidently, he’s fine enough to call him. But you know what isn’t fine? The damn car.

One of my ex-best friends (well, not sure if I should call her ex best friend, we are still friends, just haven’t seen each other in 4 years) is the same way. They had everyone over for our graduation for a party. THEY HOSTED A PARTY. And they served freaking steak to everyone. STEAK! That’s not cheap meat, man. Just being able to host like 30 students, that’s insane.

Most of my classmates go skiing every winter break and still go somewhere for summer as well. That baffles me.

People who can just brush off stuff like this are like aliens to me. Man, I wish I was rich.

Spittin’ Facts

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ujBHIDRQWfY?feature=share

What is something you will never understand?

People.

My best friend was in a relationship for 8 wonderful years. Suddenly, one day I see his girlfriend getting engaged to some other guy. She broke up with him a month ago and married someone soon after that. It left my friend in tatters and he had to visit a shrink for years to come.

My best friend from school got jealous of me because he had a crush on the same girl I was dating. He totally stopped talking to me and talked bad about me everywhere. He even went on to harass her after she left me for not giving him a chance.

I do still miss him. I spent the best of my childhood with him.

A very good friend of mine fell in love with a guy. In 6 months, she was pregnant, and the guy was in London after blocking her everywhere.

A course-mate of mine supported a family in his hometown and sponsored their daughter’s education. A few years later, the girl committed suicide and everyone started spreading rumors that he tried to take undue advantage of her, hence she did so.

Fact was, he was the most kind and lovable person who was himself suffering from a lot of personal problems. Nobody listened to him, he still does not visit his hometown.

One of my neighbor’s father passed away. His uncle came with a lawyer and took charge of their entire assets claiming his rights. His mother and sister were forced to live in a paltry one room apartment, and his sister was later admitted to rehabilitation center on accounts of Schizophrenia.

I was cheated on, insulted and told “ I have nothing to do with you or your life. I am with someone else.” after two years of a relationship which was passionate, intense and nurturing suddenly one day.

I can never understand people honestly.

What forces them to change or act in a way that is inhumane and unjustified?

Being selfish is good but understanding someone else and walking in their shoes for a moment would probably give a better perspective.

Blood relations, romantic relations and friends who have spent numerous wonderful slices of time together forget everything in a second, and cease to exist.

I cannot, I am sure most of us cannot do that. It is really hard to understand such acts. Then again, they are the flag-bearers of “My life, my rules.”

Humanity and human emotions have much more in store than being selfish, egotistic, and hoggish.

To the few good ones left, cheers!

Shout out for men

What is the biggest snub you received from a family member?

My Dad had a double stroke and he nearly died. I hadn’t seen him for about 15 years, there was no fall out it just happened.
I was persuaded by a friend to travel from Cumbria to East London to see him.
I did so, asking my elder brother, who had fallen out with Dad, to come with me, he refused.
I went on my own, saw my Dad in the ward in an awful state, he looked straight past me and asked where was my brother.
I was absolutely gutted.
I stayed for half an hour and left, never to see him again, he died 8 years later and I didn’t go to his funeral.
However, as if to confirm my anger with him I went to an army reunion in 2010 and as I was entering the RBL in Blackpool my mobile rang, I answered it and the nurse said ““Alan, I have your Dad here, he’d like to talk with you”.

What did he say? ““Where’s your Brother, why won’t he talk to me?” He was still suffering from the stroke but sod that, I hung up.
I’m not angry anymore, still gutted, but have moved on.

Take Control Today

How has the Hong Kong government restricted free expression through the new national security law?

No two bones about it, yes they have. Hong Kong between 1st July 1997 and 29th June 2000 was effectively what I call a free fire zone. That’s something from my DALnet days.

Hong Kong had REAL and absolute freedom of speech.

Shouting fire in a crowded cinema? LEGAL. You see a variation, people shouting boiling water to get people to move out the way. It might get you beaten up but the government wouldn’t do shit about it.

Calling for mass murder – LEGAL.

Doxing and revealing names of people publicly – LEGAL.

Encouraging people to commit crimes – LEGAL.

This is Alvin Yeung a politician encouraging the youth to be violent and how a criminal record was a great thing.

He said that around 2017 or 2018. He wasn’t arrested.

Benny Tai – called for the destruction of China and he wasn’t arrested.

Jimmy Lai – called Mainland Chinese locusts and wanted their extermination. He is literally on record calling for nuclear bombs to be used on Chinese cities. He ran a 2 week long newspaper campaign (though I hesistate to call his publications newspapers) on calling mainland Chinese insects.

He too wasn’t arrested.

HK’s NSL law put in place June 30th 2020… just moved Hong Kong to international norms.

In the UK incitement to murder, incitement to violence, incitement to racial hate, doxxing have all been illegal for a very long time.

So it’s absolutely true the NSL had a chilling effect on freedom of speech and freedom of expression for SOME PEOPLE. It has had no effect on me, why?

Maybe because I’m not a shitty person who:

Calls for extermination of people.
Calls for violence against others.

China warns US/NATO. China “Ready To Intervene” if US, NATO Attack Russia. Report claims.

What is the funniest joke you’ve been told that you still think about to this day?

A first-grade teacher asks her class if anyone knows a word they can spell. Only little Freddie raises his hand. The teacher is dismayed because Freddie is the most foul-mouthed kid the teacher has ever encountered. She doesn’t exactly blame Freddie, because she has met his parents and knows that Freddie is simply following a family tradition, so to speak. Still, she really doesn’t want to call on him, because who knows what will come out of his mouth. She waits a bit, but nobody else raises a hand.

So rather than having him answer directly, she asks him, “Freddie, how many letters does your word have?”

Little Freddie stands up and confidently announces, “Four!”

Of course it’s a four-letter word, thinks the teacher. Still, she decides to probe some more. “What letter does your word start with?”

Freddie says, “F!”

This isn’t getting any better. She really wants to shut it down, but doesn’t want to make Freddie feel bad. So, against her better judgment, she continues, “And what letter does your word end with?”

Freddie says, “M!”

Well, that’s a surprise, thinks the teacher. The word might be “farm” or “film” or “form,” or maybe something else, but certainly nothing offensive.

“Okay, Freddie, what’s your word and how is it spelled?”

Little Freddie proudly smiles and answers, “Fuk’m, F-U-K-M.”

After returning from the military, what was the first luxury you enjoyed returning home?

I flew from LAX (where protesters were yelling obscenities at us) to O’hare airport in Chicago to catch a flight to my home town…Benton Harbor Michigan, which is 60 miles from Chicago across the lake. There was a snow storm that grounded all flights.

I got a hotel room at the Holiday Inn until I could catch a flight home the next day. I went to my room and showered and came down to the restaurant where I ordered a Filet Mignon and lobster tail with a Drambuie after drink. What a wonderful meal it was. I asked for my check and the waitress said “it’s been taken care of. I ask “by who?” she replied “they wish to remain anonymous and you’re invited to the piano bar if you’d like to have a few drinks.”

I went into the piano bar and they bought me drinks while we sat around the piano singing Irish songs. There were business men, politicians and police there. A gentleman at the bar told me, “This is the silent majority, expressing their gratitude for your service.” What a great evening. I staggered upstairs to my room and slept like a baby.

The next morning I got up showered, put on a clean uniform and checked out and the receptionist said “your room has been taken care of”.

A class act by the “Silent Majority” that should have happened to every returning Vietnam veteran.

The next day in my home town I was arrested for threatening a anti-war protester who was calling me a baby killer and spent the night in jail. Welcome home Marine.

I was an honor student, driving an ambulance at night and had scholarships in Biology and Chemistry. I turned down my scholarships and enlisted, because I thought it was my turn and my duty to serve the country. My Dad served in Germany and my uncle in the Pacific at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Having friends killed and come home maimed, I was ready to do my part. Regardless of your view of the war, you should not separate the warrior from the war. We didn’t know the truth about the war when we went in and were just being patriotic and answering the call of JFK. Semper Fi

So very TRUE

This is a bookmark level video. Must watch.

Was there really a feud between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone?

Very much so. And it’s confirmed by both of the actors.

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They first met in the late 1970s at the Golden Globes. Sly was nominated for Best Actor for Rocky. Arnold was nominated for New Star of the Year for his role in Stay Hungry.

Arnold walked away with a statue. Sly didn’t. And Arnold, in good competitive fashion (as observed in his Pumping Iron documentary), gave Sly shit for not winning in his category. He laughed at him. Sly then threw a vase of flowers across the room towards Arnold. He says that from that moment on through the 1980s and early 1990s, these two box office competitors had a true rivalry.

By the mid-1980s, they were both the top action stars in the world. They were constantly trying to outdo one another.

Who could make the bigger movie? Who could earn more at the box office?

Arnold arguably won the overall battle in that respect. He even managed to outwit Sly and trick him into making a terrible movie.

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Arnold had read the script for this movie first. It was terrible. He knew it. But he wanted to see if he could trick Sly into doing it.

Arnold told the story in a Q/A:

“So I went in – this was during our war – I said to myself, I’m going to leak out that I have tremendous interest. I know the way it works in Hollywood. I would then ask for a lot of money. So then they’d say, ‘Let’s go give it to Sly. Maybe we can get him for cheaper.’ So they told Sly, ‘Schwarzenegger’s interested. Here’s the press clippings. He’s talked about that. If you want to grab that one away from him, that is available.’ And he went for it! He totally went for it. A week later, I heard about it, ‘Sly is signing now to do this movie.’ And I said, [pumps fist] ‘Yes!'”

Sly has since confirmed this story as well.

While Sly had franchises like Rocky and Rambo, Arnold had more overall original hits like The Terminator, Commando, Predator, The Running Man, etc. Sly tried to keep up with the likes of movies like Cobra, Tango and Cash, and Over the Top, but they never really did that well compared to Arnold’s movies at the time.

Once both of their action careers started to falter in the mid-1990s, their competitiveness went down.

They are now very close friends. They’ve co-starred in movies together (Escape Plan, The Expendables franchise). They hang out together.

Here they are together on a Christmas Day.

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Sly says that while he hated Arnold back in the day, he’s indebted to him because they helped each other work harder in their prime.

They came into the business at the same time from different angles. They had different strengths and weaknesses. Sly was often an auteur. Arnold relied on other writers and directors. Sly was nominated for writing and acting Oscars. Arnold has never received a nomination or any real acclaim for his acting. But Arnold had a slight edge over Sly when it came to the box office.

Sly’s movies have made $3,968,669,509.

Arnold’s movies have made $4,110,295,038.

It was a fun and very real rivalry. If you watch Pumping Iron, you’ll understand how Arnold would get under the skin of his competition. He did the same thing to Sly that he did to Lou Ferrigno.

And now they’re the best of friends. More like family.

Honest and diplomatic

Have you or anyone you know or heard about ever talked your way out of a traffic infringement with a police officer?

I’ll do you one better:

I once pulled a guy over for a burned-out tail light (something I suspected the driver is likely to have no idea about). I intended to stop him just to make him aware of the defective light, that’s it.

When I got to the window he was already blowing up at me, accusing me of racial profiling. (This was a bit ridiculous because it is actually very difficult for a police officer working at night to be able to RELIABLY identify the race, sex, (certainly not gender), or even species of occupants of cars that drive by them at night, especially when the car’s windows are tinted, and ESPECIALLY when they’re coming at you going the other way, headlights can be a little blinding. I could not have known that he and his buddies were black (until I got up to his window and he rolled it down) for the same reason that, because of the lighting I was using, nobody in that car could tell that I AM BLACK! He was very loud and disrespectful and only minimally cooperative. Truthfully, I was a bit put off by his attitude.

But his antics were more excessive than what I think would be natural if he was sincerely feeling that way; he was putting on a show maybe just for his buddies. Or maybe he WAS someone who is stopped by officers often or has had a history of bad exchanges with police officers. Or maybe he was the type of guy who just liked having reasons to complain and be loud and angry about how s**tty his day has been. Maybe he was expecting automatically to be ticketed so he was already owning that reality & reacting to it proactively. I had no idea. I ran his license and did find a bit of ticket-history but nothing terrible.

He was at me again when I arrived back at his window, telling me how “racist” I am, and how the whole thing was bulls**t. I had to wait for him to run out of things to say. Periodically, I asked him, “are you done?” Eventually, he answered my question, with a very agitated, “Yeah, I’m done!” So I said, “Great, my turn to talk now.”

I explained to him that the reason for the stop was for a defective tail light. It’s an $18 fix at O’Reilly Auto Parts & they’ll install the fresh bulb on the spot for free. But you came at me with all this racial profiling business that has nothing to do with a tail light, that IS burned out, and for some reason, it’s like you WANT me to give you a $142 dollar ticket. I had no intention of writing a ticket, and you’re not going to bait me into writing you one because I think that might delay your being able to get the damn light fixed, right? He was silent and staring at me, looking a little confused. I continued: As an aside, I think you should know that just because my neoprene patrol gloves are black doesn’t mean that the skin underneath isn’t too— by then I had leaned forward and was shining my light towards my own face a little so he could see my face and tightly trimmed afro- and I ended with “brotha!” I don’t think I’m the “ignorant” one here. I handed him back his license and said, “get your light fixed or you might get pulled over.” He stuck his head out the window and called out to me, “That’s it?” And I replied, a bit sarcastically, “I understand people don’t always get what they want but that’s just how life is sometimes. You’re going to have to settle for the warning today.” I made it a point to drive away first (which was not usual). I saw in my rearview mirror a figure get out of the driver’s seat and move to rear of the car, probably checking the tail light.

In the many years that have elapsed since that night, I’ve pondered what his TONE in his last question to me meant, “That’s it?” I think it was sincere surprise; oh, how I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall in that car; it is possible he never got a warning before in his life— maybe because of his prejudice.

Justification

Bite-Size Pizzas

Ingredients

4 English muffins, halved
1 cup pizza sauce
1/2 cup ham, extra lean, chopped
1/3 cup onions, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped
1/3 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/8 cup black olives, sliced

Instructions

Split the muffins in half and toast them in the toaster.
Spread the pizza sauce on both halves of the muffins.
Place remaining toppings evenly onto pizzas, saving shredded cheese for last.
Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Remove from oven, and cut each muffin half into four pieces.
Serve as appetizers or snacks.

By age 30, you should be intelligent enough to realize this

Free yourself from society’s advice, most of them have no idea of what they’re doing.
Stay silent. Not everything needs to be said.
Silence is better than unnecessary drama.
If you continue waiting for the “right time ”, you’ll waste your whole life and nothing will happen.
The family you create is more important than the family you come from.
You’ll be 10x happier if you forgive your parents and stop blaming them.
No one will ever come save you. Your life is 100% your responsibility.
Your inner circle should be more focused on money, success, and starting a family.
You don’t need 100 self-help books. All you need is actions and self-discipline.
Your current job doesn’t care about you. They only pay you enough to kill your dreams.

I’m a stripper

Have you ever met a dangerous person and not known it at the time?

My friend went to Florida on a family holiday, taking his daughter’s friend along – the girls were maybe 15 at the time.

At their hotel, the daughter’s friend – I’ll call her Charlie – backed into someone serving drinks, and they both fell in the pool. The staff said they’d have to pay for laundry etc, which was mad enough – it was a playful accident, if you like – but the cost added to their bill was $230, and they were told they wouldn’t get their passports back until the bill was settled.

Charlie, embarrassed, rang her dad, to ask for some extra money.

An hour or so later, Charlie’s ‘uncle’ turned up at the hotel and appeared beside the pool, where my friend’s group were relaxing, with the hotel manager. The manager was desperately apologetic, sweat pouring off him; he told them to forget the accident, from then on the drinks were all free, anything they wanted to make their stay perfect, room upgrades, free trips/excursions, meals on the house, please let him know – only please, please, tell the uncle that the problem was solved and they were happy.

The uncle – not a big man, just really quiet – came back on the day of checkout, which the manager handled personally, (this in a HUGE hotel), just stood and watched, then gave the manager a nod, gave Charlie a hug, and left.

This was twenty years ago – my friend never found out what Charlie’s family business was.

Truth after truth…

How can you tell if a soldier is fake?

There’s a burger place by where I grew up that I often went to in High School. The owner made the burgers and his son took the orders. Both were vets, and they only charge current and past members of the military what they pay for in ingredients.

One day, in front of me in line was a gentleman in uniform. I have to assume there was plenty wrong with him, as the son at the counter rang him up for the normal price. The conversation went something like this (apologies for inaccurate terminology):

“Hey what about the military discount?”

“Yeah we only give that to members of the military…it’s in the name.”

“The f*ck are you talking about? I served for 6 years.”

“Oh really? What unit?”

*proceeds to give him Marine unit*

“Really? Anyone ever tell you when you get wounded twice you don’t actually get two separate purple hearts? And you definitely don’t put them on your ACUs, which Marines don’t even wear.”

The guy stormed out. I told him if they don’t put pickles on it I’ll just eat his order.

Scam WOW

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has encouraged Australia to make policies independently. How do you view Australia’s foreign policy towards China?

Australia is a US dog nation. It allows the US to lord over them. They were similar native slaughterers and genocides their natives to steal their land. The were women and Children murderers in Vietnam, Korea and Iraq. They show their worth as a dog by slitting the throats of 14 years old in Afghanistan! Anstralia will bankrupt themselves just to be a good dog of the U.S. Wang should not waste his time!

Have you ever had to tell an employee that their attire was inappropriate?

I was a new manager. One of my employees was a man who many people said was really smart , a hard worker and an asset to the group. However, he looked like a slob. He typically wore an old sweatshirt and crummy jeans. For some reason that I don’t remember he and I had a meeting. During the meeting he said “ I suppose you’re going to tell me I have to change the way I dress.” I told him he could wear whatever he wanted, but if someone from outside our organization came in to meet with us he would not be invited to attend the meeting. (He probably would want to be there.) I went on to say that management does notice the way people dress and I had heard a few negative comments about the way he dressed. I said as far as I was concerned he could wear whatever he wanted. It was up to him. Gradually he started dressing better. He never looked like he had just stepped out of the pages of GQ, but he showed up to work in a shirt and tie and jacket and nice jeans or even regular pants. He began to take a real interest in looking professional and he continued to be a valuable employee. Now we felt comfortable sending him to meetings with people from outside the organization. Eventually he transferred to another branch. He and I started dating and we have been together now for 20+ years.

What is the most unfair advantage some girls have?

I hadn’t slept or eaten well for 2 days. I was in a bus to take a 6 hour journey at night. A lady sat next to my seat. Since I was single, I took the first row of the bus because shakes will be minimal. I was waiting for the bus to start for 20 minutes.

Right the moment the bus was about to start, a girl of my age came in and stared at me & spoke something to the driver which I didn’t care to listen.

She was expecting me to give her my seat. Because if a lady sits next to me then mine also becomes a ladies seat. The driver & conductor were also expecting me to move back.

There was only one seat at the last row of the bus.

I explained my situation to the girl but she didn’t seem to listen, so as a gesture of courtesy I got up to check the last seat & found it was broken & uncomfortable, that’s why it’s not taken by anybody till then.

Before I came back, she sat on my seat comfortably. I haven’t got enough strength to argue & fight at that time, so I simply moved back and made the journey in discomfort.

She didn’t even mind to say a “thank you”. She can’t sit at the last row, she doesn’t have time to wait for the next bus.

Sometimes GIRLS do get unfair advantage.

Fast Forward to 3+ months.

6+ hours journey, festive time, unreserved bus, so standing & travelling for 4 hours, a fellow guy who was watching me for long time, stood up and offered me his seat.

I expressed my gratitude to him.

Secret measuring tool

Text to image play time

Here’s some more of my experiments.

How America Became So Stupid

Korean style

Saying things AS THEY ARE

More adventures in text to picture

Here is a fake girl…

Clueless in the USA

What is the best “I QUIT” moment you have ever witnessed an employee do?

I was working for a US consultancy firm in London.

They were going to announce who made head of department. It was between two very solid candidates. All managing consultants sat in the room, two were dialled in through the phone. One of the two candidates was on this line. The other sat with us. Jeanne and Beatrice.

Our boss came in, and did his usual “how much money we made, how is everyone doing” talk.

He then went on to discuss promotions.

Jeanne (lady on the phone) made head of department.

Beatrice, who was in the room, obviously felt defeated. She stood up, said “I quit”, left towards the door and walked to her desk.

Our boss ran after her.

We were all shocked, surprised.

We hear swearing, cursing, a loud “fuck off” and she left the building wih her belongings.

Our boss came back.

“Guess Beatrice didn’t like the news”

And went on like nothing happened. Little did he know Beatrice and Jeanne hated each other. We knew that, but that is because we all worked with both.

We tried contacting her, she didn’t reply, only years later. She had retired from this profession and decided to start a family with her husband.

Apparently this moment was the final nail in the coffin.

She had worked for this moment for years, was sick and tired of corporate politics, and wanted to leave with her head held high. She managed to pull that off.

Who can say they left a job, right at a pivotal moment in their life, and are dead center able to make a decision for the next part of their life. Not many can say that.

No time wasted.

She now has two rebellious daughters and one little boy. I have seen their photos. Full time mum. Hard to believe they would not be here if she got the job.

Women NEED men! Are they finally realizing it now that consequences are happening?

BLT Pizza

Ingredients

My Favorite Pizza Crust

1 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Topping

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup crumbled, crisp bacon
1 to 2 tomatoes, sliced
1 1/2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2 tablespoons mayo

Instructions

Crust

Place in bread machine-dough cycle. After cycle is finished, place in greased bowl (olive oil), cover, let rise another 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Bake about 7 minutes BEFORE adding ingredients or it will be soggy. Use this for any pizza.
Add ingredients and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.

Topping

Brush pizza crust with olive oil, spread 3/4 cup cheese over oiled surface.
Sprinkle bacon, then sliced tomatoes.
Sprinkle rest of the cheese.
Bake until bubbly, 10 to 15 minutes.
Mix mayo with lettuce and spread over pizza.
Serve immediately.

Notes

I used turkey bacon, red and yellow tomatoes and regular shredded lettuce. Turned out awesome!

What’s a rule your employer implemented that backfired terribly?

I was downstairs in the small canteen having a cup of coffee with the lab manager and a few others.

Work officially started at 740 and I had been in the building since 720.

Went upstairs at about 745 and was accosted by my boss’ boss for being late.

I explained that I had been in the canteen talking to the lab manager about work related issues, etc., which was partially true.

Now at this point I had set the overtime record. 4 hours every day Monday to Thursday every week for months for various projects. I wasn’t paid for it but could take time off in lieu.

Well guess what happened to the overtime I was so diligently accruing? No Monday to Thursday 4 hour romps on the analysers. Project work ground to a halt.

I eventually received a grumbling apology and that he realised I was doing all this extra work, etc., but my boss had to explain this to him and gouge out the apology from him.

Big Problems in MacDonalds

What is the best case of “You just picked a fight with the wrong person” that you’ve witnessed?

My father and his siblings, all used to hard farming and farm work, all went to war after Pearl Harbor. Uncle Paul, who probably never imagined anyone wasting time or energy lifting weights, was built like Tarzan. He went to war as a US Marine and survived Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, where he was finally hit bad enough to get hospitalized.

Now we recognize it as PTSD, but in the aftermath of WW2, it was just said that Paul came back different. When he WOULD talk, it was obvious that the war had been something he was comfortable doing, if that makes any sense.

Quiet, shy, never settling down, working hard, minding his own business, etc. He stayed in great shape, in his 50s, he could put my 12 year old nephew on his shoulders and do a ONE legged deep knee bend.

My mother found him a union job near us, something with benefits and a little retirement. He was out drinking with his much younger coworkers in a neighborhood establishment, enjoying time in his quiet shy way. A local, much younger, was arguing with his female companion and made his first mistake. He slapped or punched the young woman in front of my Uncle Paul. Quiet, shy Paul got up and politely but pointedly explained to the young man, a local bully as it turned out, that ‘you shouldn’t hit a woman’. The bully then made his second mistake and attacked Paul. I expect he felt he could handle this ‘old man’, but instead found himself in the hands of a man whom, still in excellent shape, had thrived as a combat marine in some of the bloodiest battles of WW2. It took only seconds and the man was on the floor and willing to listen to any other suggestions about life Paul was willing to offer. According to one of his shocked coworkers, one who reported to us, Uncle Paul came back to their table and downplayed the whole affair, back to being quiet, shy, Paul.

He lived into his eighties, changed by combat. Thank God for their generation.

Big Companies Are Lying About Layoffs (and What You Should Do)

What is the biggest challenge facing information technology teams today?

Legacy Systems.

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Many companies deal with these curses. Hallmark has legacy systems built when the company was at its most profitable, the 1970s.

The original programmers can’t answer questions about them. They’re all retired, and many are dead.

The source code was lost decades ago. All that remains is compiled code that no longer runs native on any machine. Hallmark has to use emulators on modern hardware to simulate the warm, wet swamp these dinosaurs evolved in. In some cases emulators need emulators.

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(somewhere in here there’s a loop that’s crashing out…)

Because nobody knows for sure what the code does, it can’t be rewritten without affecting some of the deepest algorithms that must execute every day. There are single character fields that nobody knows what they do. All that is known is that if a user plugs in an ‘N’ instead of a ‘Y’ into one of these fields, some customer will no longer receive billings, or an entire warehouse may cease to ship product. So, fifty years later, employees faithfully enter the mysterious Y’s to make sure nothing breaks.

Serious limitations to business pop up with increasing frequency. The legacy just isn’t capable of learning new tricks. In my time, I remember we picked up new business: the United States Postal Service, which had 60,000 accounts. The legacy required that only one user could add a new account at a time, and that process would take up to fifteen minutes per account. That’s almost two years of solid data entry, working around the clock without a single snag. There was simply no way to speed it up. Multiple users would cause AbEnds – Abnormal Termination errors. My job was to find a faster way. My solution was to simply get another system to pretend to be a super-fast user that could enter an account in about a second. It was a hack that surrendered completely to the will of the legacy.

A popular analogy is that replacing one of these legacy systems is like “changing the tire on your car while it’s in motion.” But, that analogy really doesn’t describe the complexity of the problem at all. Imagine having to replace your car’s frame while it’s in motion. The corporation can’t take a year off to do this, it needs to continue down the highway without sputtering while you replace the framework that not only holds the wheels in place, but restrains the powertrain, protects the driver, holds the wires in place, and keeps the road from rattling everything apart.

I witnessed several attempts to replace these systems. Each team was given a large budget and told to make it happen. Spirits of young programmers were dashed against the rocks again and again by these projects. They eagerly dove in, and documented all of the functions that are performed by the legacy. Then they began to build replacement systems that must run in parallel to the legacy. Until the project is completed, these replacements must pipe information into and out of the legacy while establishing an entirely new framework.

Usually a couple years into the project, when the budgets have run into the millions, the team starts to disband. The original group moves on to new projects. Team replacements need to re-learn what the lost members knew. They make some progress in the replacement system. New unrelated projects begin to pull data from the replacement instead of the legacy. Then, suddenly, the plug is pulled. The team is asked for an estimate of what it will take to complete the project. The answer has so many digits that management says, “No way. We simply can’t afford that.”

That means that the original legacy is still in place. New systems have been written around and on top of it, burying its fossilized remains ever deeper, making the complexity ever more substantial. Because new systems were built to depend upon the replacement, we can’t abandon this partially completed system. Now we have to maintain the original legacy system and the new “legacy” that we’ve abandoned part way in. To go back to the original analogy, we now have a car with one and a half, or two frames. One of the wheels may now be mounted on the new frame, but the rest of the wheels and the doors, and the damn tail pipe remain stubbornly welded to the old frame. Future attempts will require that this entire unwieldy mess be replaced.

These legacy systems can be so deeply entrenched that it’s easy to imagine they will never go away, but simply be buried like the remnants of medieval settlements. Users of the future may use modern interfaces to enter their data, but those interfaces may translate the information to older systems that in turn communicate with the legacy through multiple emulators.

To get rid of the legacy, you need to send everyone in the entire company, at every single facility, office building, warehouse, and manufacturing plant, out to a long lunch one day. Then bomb all of it back to rubble and start from scratch.

Some companies continue to be profitable long enough to afford to replace their ancient systems. But for corporations where sales begin to lag, the legacy of the company’s zenith will dog them until the very last SKU is shipped, the doors are locked, and the land is bulldozed flat.

Keep on making bacon

Why are other countries in ASEAN not joining in support of the Philippines against China? Does it mean that other countries don’t follow the Washington order?

The question has stated it clear: “follow the Washington order”.

Why other countries have to follow Washington’s order?

ASEAN countries are independent countries, they have their own rights to do decisions, “Washington’s order” is a violation to their sovereignty.

Philippines’ former president Aquino III was pro-America, he followed Washington’s order to challenge China on SCS and sued China on an international arbitual court. However, this arbitual court has no jurisdiction on the issue (PCA is a non-official platform, not a authorized organzation under UN), and China ignored this case.

Then, to show the support to Philippines, USA’s 7th fleet sailed to SCS to deter China. China and USA had a close-to-fire conflict in SCS in 2016, the result was American aricraft carrier cambat groups stepped back, and the commander, Harry Harris, was resigned and repositioned as an ambassidor to Korea.

After that, Philippines’ new president Duterte changed stance to frozen the disputes.

When the present president Marcoz Jr. got elected in 2022, his first visit was to China, which was interpreted as continuing his father (Marcoz, who established official diplomatic relation with mainland China) and his predecessor Durterte’s route to strengthen relationship with China.

But two months later, after he visited USA, Marcoz Jr. had changed stance and began to challenge China on SCS affairs.

So, a possible explanation is, Marcoz Jr. had something in America’s grasp, and this something threatened his life, no matter politically or physically.

ASEAN politicians see this very clear, their smart choice is not to side with any side.

We don’t shame woman’s preferences…

What job offered to you was so shocking that you didn’t even believe that it was happening?

When I was 25 I moved to Ohio to accept a entry level management position with the company I had been with for less than a year as a sales rep. It was a national company with over 400 reps nationally so I was very excited. After moving and less then six months into my new management position the company filed bankruptcy and laid off all the employees.

After a couple of weeks of interviewing I was offered a job with a small, local but well established company as a sales rep in a new “Word Processors” (this was 1981) sales division. After less then 3 months in the position the owner a man in his mid-sixties called me into his office and told me was very impressed with my sales but also how I had offered to help other new hired that has started when I did. He told he that his son who was an attorney and general counsel for the company was suppose to start taking over more control of the company as he was getting older and wanted to slow down. His son had informed him he was no longer interested and heading the company and wanted just to concentrate on law and offered to promote me to Exec V.P. and teach me the administrative and operational sides of the business in hopes that in the near future I might be interested in running the business. Fives years later when the owner decided to retire I put together a group of senior employees and acquired the company and continues as CEO for another five years.

The United States today

Have you ever taken the law into your own hands?

My mom did. I helped.

This is a good many years ago now,

The family apartment block has an underground parking and each apartment gets one space.

Well we didn’t have a car for a while but we used the space to keep …parts of cars and other stuff.

Point is, it was our space, we paid for it.

Well the neighbor upstairs decided to use our space as their own. They owned the adjacent spot and would park sloppily over into our line and then just full on started parkng their second vehicle on it as well.

It was annoying , rude and inconvenient. On more than one occasion we would go on family trips and rent a vehicle but have nowhere to park when we got back and so on.

My mom left them notes (Which i would write. Very polite ones) informing them that this was not ok and to please refrain from trespassing.

No result.

We painted new lines on the floor, clearly delimiting the space.

No result.

we painted our side of the walls with big NO PARKING letters and our lot number.

No result.

We sent them a letter directly. Never managed to see them face to face till another incident years later.

No result.

complained to the building management.

No result.

complained to the police.

They said it was a building problem. no result.

Now my mom is a peace loving sweet lady with a que sera sera kinda attitude to life.

She is also Spanish, I’m guessing nobody took her seriously cause of the accent and poor language skills (this was in Paris , France)

Well one day she went to the parking again and there was that damn car AGAIN.

She lost it. Fuming and cursing in pure Madrileño she went home and picked up a couple cans of either PVC or Polyurethane glue, heavy duty stuff we were using for some renovation/DIY at home and a block of printer paper.

She looked at me and said “esto se termina hoy” and we went to the car.

She poured the entire contents of that industrial level glue all over each window which we then papered up. Front, back and sides. There was NO way a driver could drive that vehicle using the windshield and each one would have to be replaced.

We got a call from the police some days later about some vandalism, my mom said she didn’t speak French but that it seemed like it was a “building problem”.

We never had a single parking issue there again, its been over 25 years now.

Blade Runner Bliss: PURE Ambient Cyberpunk Music – Ethereal Sci Fi Music [ULTRA RELAXING]

Great 4 hours or so of background noise to help relax you. Or not.

Parachuting into fashion

Fashions come and go.

Some are cool, some are silly, and some just seem odd.

Back in the 1980’s I wore “parachute pants”.

1980s era parachute pants were a fashion trend popularized during the 1980s, particularly in the hip-hop and breakdancing cultures. These pants were characterized by their loose, baggy fit, often made from lightweight synthetic materials like nylon or polyester, resembling the fabric used in parachutes (hence the name). They typically featured multiple pockets, zippers, and sometimes decorative stitching or panels. Parachute pants were known for their bold colors and patterns, and they often had elasticated cuffs at the ankles. The style was closely associated with the dance and music scenes of the time and became iconic within the fashion landscape of the 1980s.

Do you all remember these things?

Mine were grey-silver in color. LOL.

I was the “cool guy”… Ha ha ha ha

How cool are you today?

Today…

What happens if you give two weeks’ notice and they ask you to leave?

Oh, this happened to me and I can tell you from personal experience.

You leave.

I gave a letter of resignation to my boss and said “Sorry about this”. He said “Aww man, really?” and then I went back to my desk. Two hours, later the HR lady that I hated came to my desk and asked me to grab my stuff and come to HR with her. I already had all my stuff packed in a box.

She processed my paperwork and sent me home. She asked me to go straight to my car and not to say anything to any of my coworkers on my way out. I said I wasn’t planning to, but wouldn’t ignore them if they said something to me. Which she was ok with. She also asked me if there was anything else I needed off my desk, but I had already gotten everything I wanted to keep. She asked if She could go through my box and take a look. I was fine with that. And that was pretty much it.

When I got home, I called the new job and told them I could start early if they wanted. They asked me to come in on the Monday after the following week as that was how the pay periods lined up and I agreed.

This is always a possibility, especially if you are going to a competitor.

All you need to do is stay professional, and don’t burn any bridges. Not worth it.

Men are simple

"I'm a 46 year old man. Married with a kid. You pretty much nailed it. Not sure why this video was suggested to me or why i clicked on it but your insight is spot on."

What was the bravest thing you ever did in a job interview?

Sometime in 1980, I had a job interview for an Electrical Engineer position.The interviewer showed me a very simple circuit and asked me what it did. I said, “It drives a DC motor either forward or backward.” He then asked what was wrong with the circuit and I then said, “I don’t see anything wrong other than that fact that there was no biasing on the transistors, but that is pretty obvious.”

“No no.” he said. “That’s not obvious at all. You have no idea how many electrical engineers don’t know how to bias transistors,” (Fact is that this is both basic and very important.)

He went on ranting and raving about this for several minutes. Then asked me how I would bias the transistors. So, I drew in some resisters. He said, “Yeah – I guess that would work.”

I asked him, “Would you do it differently?” “A little bit.” He replied. I asked him to show me how he would do it.

He then proceeded to “bias” the transistors in a way that would NOT work. I asked myself, “Should I tell him?” I quickly decided that if I could not point out his error, I did not want to work for the guy anyway.

So I told him why his circuit would not work. He crumpled up the paper.tossed it in the basket and said, “That stuff is not important anyway.” I was out of his office two minutes later and never heard from them again. I laughed all the way to my car.

Real talk

Russia. Is. At. War.

Due to a flurry of western support for Ukraine, now escalating to ground troop insertions, Russia had to move its special military operation in Ukraine into the bigger scope of a full fledged war. Over the last month the Ukrainian military intelligence directorate GUR and its civilian secret service SBU have attempted to disturb the recent presidential election in Russia. They did this by:

sending forces, with U.S. made equipment (Bradleys), to attack Russian border villages in the direction of Belgorod (Belgograd),
by launching missiles from Czech Vampire (RM-70) multiple launch rocket systems towards Belgorod,
by launching somewhat successful drone strike against Russian oil refineries.

The election in Russia saw a record turnout. As expected President Putin did win by a very large margin. His legitimacy is a geopolitical reality:

If Nato expansion is about the perpetuation of US hegemony and de-dollarisation is about the burial of the western financial system that underpins that hegemony, Putin is playing a pivotal role in that historical process. If Putin remains in power till 2030 and fulfils even one half of the ambitious blueprint of social and economic programme for Russia that he outlined in his landmark speech at the Federal Assembly of the parliament, the global strategic balance will have shifted irrevocably and cemented a multipolar world order as the anchor sheet of 21st century politics. The West knows it, the Russian people know it, the vast majority of nations realise it. That said, it must be understood as well that this is not only Putin’s victory personally but also a consolidation of Russian society around him. And that accounts for the last week’s election turning into such a high-stakes affair.

With the election out of the way Russia was free to hit back.

Moon of Alabama @MoonofA – 13:24 UTC · Mar 20, 2024Ru Ministry of Defense claims 1725 Ukrainian casualties over the last day (650 in Belgograd direction alone) https://function.mil.ru/news_page/…

Over the last six days the Russian MoD reports claimed no less than nine hits on the Czech Vampire systems which targeted Belgorod. The Ukrainian incursion towards Belgorod has thus been defeated. On Wednesday Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, had visited Kiev. He was noticed for what he did not say:

Jake Sullivan, US National Security Adviser, has said that Ukraine will win if it comes out of the war as a sovereign, democratic and free country. At the same time, he did not mention restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity among the conditions of victory.

It is believed that Sullivan delivered a warning to Kiev. As the Financial Times reported (archived):

The US has urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, warning the drone strikes risk driving up global oil prices and provoking retaliation, according to three people familiar with the discussions.The repeated warnings from Washington were delivered to senior officials at Ukraine’s state security service, the SBU, and its military intelligence directorate, known as the GUR, the people told the Financial Times. Both intelligence units have steadily expanded their own drone programmes to strike Russian targets on land, sea and in the air since the start of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The U.S. concern is not about Ukraine but about Biden’s chance for reelection:

Russia remains one of the world’s most important energy exporters despite western sanctions on its oil and gas sector. Oil prices have risen about 15 per cent this year, to $85 a barrel, pushing up fuel costs just as US President Joe Biden begins his campaign for re-election. … The US objections come as Biden faces a tough re-election battle this year with petrol prices on the rise, increasing almost 15 per cent this year to around $3.50 a gallon.“Nothing terrifies a sitting American president more than a surge in pump prices during an election year,” said Bob McNally, president of consultancy Rapidan Energy and a former White House energy adviser.

The Ukrainian government denied and confirmed the FT report (machine translation):

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanashina actually confirmed the information to the Financial Times , saying that “we understand the calls of American partners,” but Ukraine responded to such calls by “achieving its goals” and “very successful operations” on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Sullivan’s warning about provoking retaliation was too late. Yesterday, for the first time in 44 day, Russia launched a missile attack against Kiev (archived):

The Ukrainian Air Force said that air defense systems had intercepted all 31 of the Russian missiles that targeted Kyiv. Still, debris from the downed missiles fell in various parts of the city, causing the injuries and damage. No deaths have been reported so far. … In the Podilskyi district, which is home to industrial facilities that Russia has targeted in the past, a plume of black smoke was rising early in the morning, suggesting a hit. Mr. Klitschko said a fire had broken out at a power substation in the area. Ukrainian officials rarely confirm strikes on strategic industrial and military targets. … Thursday’s attack on Kyiv echoed a strategy used by Russia during air assaults in late December that consisted of overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses with multiple launches of various types of missiles, including ballistic and hypersonic ones.Russia has launched relatively few large-scale missile attacks in recent months, despite a capacity to produce more than 115 long-range missiles per month, according to Ukrainian officials.

Yesterday’s Russian MoD report said:

Last night, the Russian Aerospace Forces delivered a strike by long-range precision weaponry including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles at AFU decision-making centres, logistic bases, temporary deployment areas of special operations forces and foreign mercenaries.The goal of the strike has been achieved. All the targets have been engaged.

Such Russian strikes are complex. Drones are send first to reveal Ukrainian air defense systems. Then follows a wave of attacks against those system. A third strike is then launched against the real targets of the attack. In this case those were a drone factory in Kiev as well as a headquarter of the military intelligence service GUR. Another large scale strike followed today. The primary targets were elements of the electricity infrastructure:

Large areas of Ukraine are suffering blackouts after Russian missiles targeted energy infrastructure.There is no electricity in the second-largest city of Kharkiv, says regional head Oleg Synehubov. Fifteen blasts were reported in Kharkiv, while more than 53,000 households in Odesa were without power. Ukraine’s energy minister, German Galushchenko, accused Russia of trying to provoke “a large-scale failure of the country’s energy system”. A power line feeding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant had been cut, he added. Regional head Ivan Fedorov said the power station was “on the verge of a blackout”, adding that seven buildings in the region had been destroyed and 35 others damaged. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched more than 60 Shahed drones and about 90 missiles into Ukraine during the wave of overnight attacks.

Internet access in Ukraine has dropped significantly. This was again a complex attack:

Lord Bebo @MyLordBebo – 9:42 UTC · Mar 22, 2024🇺🇦🇷🇺🚨‼️ Russian missile attack on Ukraine during March 22nd, 2024. -> Notice the flight patterns of the missiles. Aviation: At 01:12, the takeoff of 3⨯ Tu-95ms from the Olenya air base was noted. At 02:30, information on the movement of 13 Tu-95ms to the launch lines was clarified. At 03:34, the launch of the KRPB Kh-101/555/55 was carried out from the Volgograd region. At 04:18, the takeoff of 5 Tu-22m3s from the Mozdok air base was noted. During the attack, a total of 10 MiG-31Ks were raised (7 were used before the attack). Armament: 55/63x “Shahed-136/131” Type Shock Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; 0/12x OTR “Iskander-M”; 35/40 X-101/X-555 cruise missiles; 0/5x NKR Kh-22; 0/7x ARPB Kh-47M2 “Dagger”; 2/2x CAR X-59; 0/22x ZKR S-300/S-400. The targeted air attack vector during today’s day is marked on the map.

bigger

biggerThe Ukrainian air defense claimed to have shut down 55 of 63 Shahid drones. But the Iskander, Dagger and S-300 fired against it all came through. The Russian MoD reports (machine translation):

Today, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a massive strike with high-precision long-range weapons of air, sea, land-based and unmanned aerial vehicles against energy facilities, military-industrial complex, railway junctions, arsenals, places of deployment of formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries.As a result of the strike, the functioning of industrial enterprises for the production and repair of weapons, military equipment and ammunition was disorganized. In addition, foreign military equipment and weapons delivered to Ukraine from NATO countries were destroyed, transfers to the front line of enemy reserves were disrupted, and units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and mercenaries in the areas of restoring combat capability were hit. All the goals of the massive strike have been achieved.

Some European politicians are eager to join the fight.

biggerAs demonstrated today, Russia is ready for it. But unlike a still training Macron Russia has taken its gloves off (machine translation):

Peskov: Russia is in a state of war, everyone should understand thisRussia will continue to act in such a way that the military potential of Ukraine could not threaten the security of its citizens and its territory, he said in a conversation with reporters. “What is the president talking about? We have four new regions of the Russian Federation. And the main thing for us is to protect people in these regions and liberate the territory of these regions, which is currently de facto occupied by the Kiev regime,” Peskov said. According to the presidential press secretary, Russia cannot allow the existence of a state on its borders that has documented the intention to use any methods to take Crimea from it, not to mention the territory of new regions. “We are at war. Yes, it started out as a special military operation, but as soon as this little group was formed there, when the collective West became a participant in this on the side of Ukraine, it already became a war for us. I am convinced of this. And everyone should understand this for their internal mobilization,” Peskov added.

In parallel to Peskov’s declaration of war talk, Russias announced the mass production of the three ton heavy FAB-3.000 aerial bombs with 1,400 kg of explosives. These will be fitted, like the currently used FAB 500 and FAB 1.500, with the universal planning and correction module (UMPC) which allows the bombs to glide some 40 miles after being launched to then hit its planned target with high precision. There is little that can survive such a strike. In his (highly recommendable) book “The Russian Art of War”, the former Swiss military intelligence officer Jacques Baud described the reason why the current fighting in Ukraine started out as a “Special Military Operation” within a larger context:

The use of the word “war” would imply a different structure of conduct than that envisioned by the Russians in Ukraine, and would have other structural implications in Russia itself. Moreover – and this is a central point – as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg himself acknowledges,”the war began in 2014” and should have been ended by the Minsk Agreements. The SMO is therefore a “military operation” and not a new “war”, as many Western “experts” claim.

That was then. Now Russia is at war. This will have, as Baud says, a different structure of conduct and other structural implications in Russia and beyond. Those ‘western’ politicians who are dreaming of fighting Russia have no idea of what will hit their troops the moment they try to join the war. NATO however, and especially the United States, will not go to war. At least not yet. President Biden has his hands full with the genocidal war the Zionists are waging against the Palestinian population. There is also a chance for a war to suddenly start in Asia. (Could North Korea be asked to flex its muscles?) Neither the U.S. nor Europe are in the shape of winning a multi-front war of global dimensions. The military leaders in the relevant countries know this well. In consequence ‘Western’ politicians will have to bite the bitter pill of a decisive strategic defeat.

Posted by b on March 22, 2024 at 13:10 UTC | Permalink

Furious Putin Crocus Gunmen Captured, Terror Network Destroyed, Big Ukr Defeat ivanivske Falls

What do you think about the saying: “If you have to ask (the price), you can’t afford it” as a person of wealth?

A few years ago, an American tourist in Zurich wandered into a pricey fashion store called Trois Pommes, and a handbag caught her eye. So she asked the saleswoman: “Excuse me, may I see that bag right above your head?”

The saleswoman sized up the tourist, a middle aged black woman, and figured it was a waste of her time so told her: “No. It’s too expensive”.

The tourist said: “No, you see the black one, the one that’s folded over”.

Saleswoman, with a snooty fru fru I’m-not-even-close-to-being-rich-but-will-obsequiously-kiss-rich-peoples-butt-while-despising-normal-folk-like-me replied: “No, no, no, you don’t want to see that one, you want to see this one, because that one will cost too much, you will not be able to afford that one”

The saleswoman ultimately refused to get the bag in question, priced at around $38,000, and the exasperated customer walked.

Unbeknownst to the saleswoman, the tourist was probably the world’s richest woman at the time (I’m guessing Jeff Bezos’ ex is richer now after the divorce settlement), billionaire Oprah Winfrey.

The story made the news and generated tons of negative publicity for the store. As to Oprah, when she eventually found out what the bag cost, she said it was overpriced and would never pay that much for that handbag.

Rich people – at least wise ones and/or the ones who worked for their money, as opposed to spoiled trust fund brats who had everything handed to them since birth, do ask for prices. For one, because it takes less time to ask and get an answer in a few seconds than it does to go through the hassle of research. For another, and more importantly, because like any rational people, they want to have an idea about cost vs benefit, whether something is worth it, and whether they can get the best deal for what they want.

Just because rich people can afford to pay a seller their asking price doesn’t mean they’re automatically going to. Rational rich people do comparison shop and negotiate for the best deals they can get, instead of just shell out whatever anybody who has something they want asks for.

The “if you have to ask the price you can’t afford it” assumption is silly.

The Best of Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad

What was the strangest way an embezzler was caught?

I worked in engineering and facilities for a large Pharma. We had project managers who did construction and renovation.

In the old days we had paper employee ID cards and contractors weren’t accounted for very well. We started a contractor safety program where each of the contractor’s employees had to take a one hour safety program, then issued a contractor card. At the same time employee IDs we’re upgraded to mag cards so everyone swiped in and out of our properties.

In time the audit showed one company who didn’t respond to the program. Digging in it was found that one project manager used them exclusively. On every project he had them do some small unidentified tasks, never more than $5000. And for many years. Once the card systems were installed we could see nobody from that company ever entered the property but the small bills kept coming.

An investigation revealed that this 30 year employee owned the company which was nothing more than a post office box and a bank account. He never got greedy so he never aroused suspicions, but constantly embezzled betwen $2–5000 on every project for years! Only caught by automation.

Reality of Government Policy

US crackdown on China desperate, delusional — S.L.Kanthan

“We don’t want to live in a world where the Chinese are the dominant country,” – this astounding statement of fear and paranoia is from the US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns. Once upon a time, the same US championed free trade, free market, and competition. It also established global institutions such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and WTO, welcomed immigrants from all over the world, and evangelized free movement of capital and technology. Now, the US is sabotaging everything it built, hoping desperately to retain its hegemony. However, this onslaught is futile as US elites do not understand why their financialized economy of OnlyFans failed and why China’s industrial economy of electric vehicles and solar panels succeeded.

Unable to compete and unwilling to learn, the American establishment has been trying to hobble China’s growth through illegal and incoherent tactics. Since 2017, the US has been waging a relentless and intense war on China’s economy and development. The hybrid war includes tariffs, sanctions, diplomatic assaults and propaganda wars.

The broader objective is to prevent China becoming the No.1 economy in the world in terms of nominal GDP – by purchasing power parity, China is already 20 percent larger than the US. The narrower, but equally sinister, goal is to stop China from catching up and becoming self-reliant in cutting-edge technologies. If China is portrayed as a threat to Asia and the world, the American and European public would feel that the sanctions are justified.

In the smartphone world, when Huawei surpassed Apple in market share, the US forced TSMC and Samsung to stop making semiconductor chips for Huawei. Similarly, the US has pressured the Dutch company ASML into not selling high-end chipmaking lithography machines to China. What WTO rules or international norms allow the US to engage in such geo-economic thuggery?

The blitzkrieg against Chinese companies did not stop at strategic high-tech companies. Now, the US has started attacking Chinese electric cars and targeted at robbing the TikTok. Without blushing a bit, US officials claim that Beijing can turn off the electric cars or harvest data from TikTok. Don’t forget that: Thanks to Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks, we know how every American hardware and software is a spying tool; and the “Twitter Files” revealed how US social media are infiltrated with representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, US Department of Defense, among others.

Every accusation by America is an admission of its own guilt. While the US media and politicians accuse China of stealing intellectual property (IP), the US is blatantly stealing TSMC’s technology and IP by forcing the latter to build advanced chip-manufacturing plants in the US. The US also complains a lot about subsidies in China, while dispensing tens of billions of dollars to American tech companies under the CHIPS and Science Act. Furthermore, the US dollar itself is the biggest subsidy, since the US government prints trillions of dollars out of thin air rather than taxing corporations.

The tragic fact is that the US, without a clear strategy, is failing. It is jumping from tariffs and sanctions to illogical buzzwords such as “decoupling,” “friend-shoring” and “de-risking.” China is the world’s manufacturing powerhouse with a trade surplus of $800 billion a year; and neither the US nor the EU can survive for a month without Chinese goods. It’s only a matter of time until China masters the entire semiconductor ecosystem, after which the US will have no advantage. Thus, when US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo recently said that the US will “do whatever it takes to curb China’s technology,” she just sounded delusional.

To figure out who will be successful, one just needs to compare President Joe Biden’s address at the State of the Union to the Two Sessions in Beijing. Biden started off his speech by vilifying Russia and imploring Congress to continue funding the proxy war in Ukraine. On the other side of the world, political advisors of the CPPCC and deputies of the NPC deliberated “high quality growth” and “new quality productive force.”

The US model is based on imperialism abroad and a parasitic form of capitalism at home. If their ego prevents them from learning the China model, Americans should go back to their roots and study the writings of founders like Alexander Hamilton and the classical economics of the 19th century. At the current trajectory, the US is on a path to implosion and a disastrous collision with the reality of a multipolar world.

CITY OF GLASS – Pulp Science Fiction by Skyward, Surrealism, Experiments in Texture and Transparency

At The UN It Is A Rogue U.S. Against The Rest Of The World

Ted Snider asks:

Is America a Rogue Superpower?

“Unipolar” used to mean that the United States was, at least in theory, alone in leading the world. Now “unipolar” means that the United States is alone and isolated in opposition to the world.

Snider refers to the recent UN Security Council resolution 2728 which “demands” a ceasefire in Gaza and “demands” a release of hostages and “demands” the unhindered supply of food and other items to Gaza.

The U.S. has claimed, falsely, that the resolution is not binding.

As Snider writes:

On March 25, the U.S. went one step further and took a step toward becoming a rogue state who has supplanted international law with its rules-based order. International law is grounded in the charter system and the United Nations and is universally applicable. The rules-based order is composed of unwritten laws whose source, consent, and legitimacy are unknown. To the global majority, those unwritten laws have the appearance of being invoked when they benefit the U.S. and its partners and not being invoked when they don’t.

On March 25, the Security Council passed a resolution demanding “an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire.” The resolution was able to pass because the U.S. stood aside and let the other fourteen Security Council members pass it by abstaining instead of vetoing.

But in her explanation of the American abstention after the resolution passed, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield “surprisingly” said that “we fully support some of the critical objectives in this nonbinding resolution.”

Her claim that the Security Council resolution was nonbinding was not an off script, impromptu comment. It is the strategy of a country that enforces, not international law, but the U.S. led rules-based order.

Arnaud Bertrand has added a similar thought:

Since the beginning, it’s been obvious that Gaza was in many ways a fight between International Law and the US’s “rules-based order”.This whole episode around the UN resolution is a perfect illustration of this. There is no debate amongst international law scholars that resolutions by the UN Security Council that “demand” certain actions are binding (good explanation by a legal scholar here). In fact resolutions by the council ARE international law, article 25 of the UN Charter clearly states: “The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.”

Yet the US now argues that the “rule” is in fact different: “It’s a non-binding resolution, so there’s no impact at all on Israel”.

Where is this rule written, that somehow when the UNSC “demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire”, it’s non-binding and “there’s no impact at all” on the warring party?

Nowhere, that’s the beauty of the rules-based order: the rules are made-up in the moment to fit the interests of the U.S. and its henchmen, depending on the circumstances.

The big issue here is that the whole world, literally, disagrees with the U.S. claims.

Snider again:

All UN Security Council resolutions are legally binding and have the status of international law. That is why UN Secretary General António Guterres said, “This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable.” UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq explained that, “All the resolutions of the Security Council are international law. They are as binding as international laws.”

Others responded the same way to the U.S. claim. On behalf of the ten elected members of the Security Council who drafted the resolution, Pedro Comissario, Mozambique’s envoy to the United Nations, said, “All United Nations Security Council resolutions are binding and mandatory.” He then added, “It is the hope of the 10 that the resolution adopted today will be implemented in good faith by all parties.”

The United Kingdom also did “not share” the U.S. claim, prompting their envoy to the UN to say, “we expect all Council resolutions to be implemented. This one is not any different. The demands in the resolution are absolutely clear.” China, too, did not share the U.S. evaluation. “China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said Security Council resolutions are binding.”

France too rejects the U.S. claim and insists that UNSC Res 2728 is absolutely binding and especially binding for Israel:

“A United Nation Security Council resolution is binding under international law. All concerned parties MUST implement it, especially Israel, to whom it is incumbent to apply this resolution.”

Russia has said similar:

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that UN Security Council Resolution 2728 on Gaza, which calls for an immediate cease-fire and access for humanitarian aid, is binding for all sides, including Israel.
…
“The Russian side expects that the binding UN Security Council Resolution 2728 will contribute to de-escalating violence in Gaza, including preventing the Israeli operation in Rafah, freeing hostages, (and) increasing humanitarian assistance to civilians in the sector,” it said.

Four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – including two major U.S. allies -, all of its non-permanent members and the UN Secretary General have explicitly said that UNSC Res 2728 is binding.

The U.S. (plus maybe a few of its minor proxies) is the only state which publicly disputes that.

Bertrand points out that this will have huge consequences:

There’s no overstating how consequential this is for the integrity of international relations. By doing so, the US effectively destroys the world order it largely created after WW2 because it effectively tells everyone that the set of institutions, rules and norms that underpin it are meaningless. We’re effectively now in a world system where everyone realizes the police, the government, the basic set of beliefs, have become completely corrupted. This changes everything.What comes next? I think there’s no coming back for the U.S. And I think they know this, maybe unconsciously, otherwise they would at least pretend to act for the better good of all. The fact they don’t shows they’ve effectively abdicated ambitions to restore their hegemony: they’re now nakedly in it to milk the system for themselves, universal pretentions have gone.

This UN Security Council is not the only institution which the U.S. tries to destroys after having largely created it.

In 2019 the World Trade Organization lost its appeal court:

The appellate body of the World Trade Organization (WTO), considered the supreme court for international trade, lost its ability to rule on new dispute cases at midnight Tuesday.The panel, whose decisions affect billions of dollars in global trade, is supposed to have seven judges. But their ranks have dwindled because the United States — under the past three presidents — has blocked replacements to protest the way the WTO does business.

A minimum of three judges is needed to issue rulings and the terms of two of the last three judges ended at midnight Tuesday.

This will deal a major blow to the global trading system, critics say, arguing that the situation risked creating a system of trade relations based on power rather than binding international rules.

The U.S. is now using protectionism, subsidies and tariffs, which are clearly illegal under WTO rules it had previously agreed to. But as it has managed, without having any serious argument, to destroy the WTO’s court their is no longer a direct way it can get penalized for it.

But trade is only one field of international relations and other WTO members have found ways to solve disputes even without its court.

The stakes are much higher when it comes to matters of peace and of wars waged with the intent of genocide.

Bertrand concludes:

Most countries however don’t want to live in an “eat or get eaten”/”might makes right” world, without rules or norms. So in time a new system will arise.

The biggest unknowns being: can it arise without a major global war, who will lead the construction of its foundations and how can it be set up so that this time around it is fair for all and respected by all?

I’ll leave it to you to ponder those questions.

Posted by b on March 28, 2024 at 16:43 UTC | Permalink

The Collapse of The Traditional Career.

Pesto Feta Pizza

Ingredients

1 prepared pizza crust (such as Boboli)
Feta cheese to taste
Pesto
2 cups fresh parsley or basil, firmly packed
3/4 cup Parmesan or Romano
2/3 cup olive oil
2 to 4 cloves garlic
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place basil and garlic in food processor bowl and blend until smooth.
Add nuts and cheese and continue blending.
While processor is running, add olive oil until creamy. (Pesto can be stored up to three months in refrigerator if covered with a thin layer of olive oil, or it can be frozen.)
To assemble pizza: Use pastry brush to add a thin coat of oil to pizza crust (can omit this step).
Spread pesto over pizza crust.
Sprinkle feta over top and add thinly sliced and quartered tomatoes, if desired.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve with a salad.

What was the rudest thing a teacher has said to you in front of the whole class?

When I was at the 3rd year of Business Administration at the university (from 5 years total), I was discouraged, kind of depressed, and unhappy. So, I didn’t care about buying all the books or anything. I was usually a great student but that year I wasn’t inspired.

One day, my tax law professor criticised me, in front of everyone, because I didn’t have the book. He didn’t have, either! So, I told him that. He answered he had memorised the book. I said I didn’t care, if he didn’t give me the example he couldn’t criticise me. He continued not having the book during the classes and I did the same.

When the test came, we could consult the book. I borrowed the book from my cousin’s boyfriend. Before to hand him (my teacher) my test, knowing I did a great job, I wrote a note provoking him for having done a great test without needing the book during classes (it was easy to find the references I needed from the book).

He was furious with me the day he returned the graded tests. Because my grade was among the best of my class. 😈 I didn’t check the test of my colleague with the best grade. Maybe mine was better and the teacher gave him higher grade just to avoid giving me extra reasons to provoke him, but I didn’t care. For me, my grade was good enough.

Even in my worst days I can be much better than most people at anything I want to do well. Not only in my native country. I did better than competitors worldwide along my career. Without needing anyone to disrespect me or provoke me. I’m motivated by doing things better day after day and learning from my experiences.

Where is the Next American Dream?

When did you realize that you would be single for the rest of your life, and why?

My mother once told me “you gotta kiss a lot of frogs…”

Somewhere around 40 years old (I’m 42 now) I decided I was done kissing frogs and never getting my prince. I now understand why my mother referred to one of her exes as a toad.

Dating these days is often gross and impersonal. It’s hard to meet people organically, so we now resort to online dating. For a woman, online dating is basically a sea of horny, rancid, male sharks and we’ve just put on a bathing suit soaked in chum. Even if there are some decent men on there, we aren’t going to find you or believe you. It’s like panning for fools gold in a NYC sewer. I could tell you some horror stories about the kind of men I’ve met because of online dating. I don’t want to do it ever again and no one can make me! Yuck, eww, No.

Relationships are too exhausting. It takes many years to truly get to know someone and I just don’t have it in me anymore to give that much time, effort, and heart and soul on learning someone again, only to find out years into it that they’re actually a terrible human. This isn’t necessarily fair to people who aren’t awful, but it’s a gamble I’m not all that eager to take anymore. Hard pass.

Even if I were to find my unicorn, the thought of having to alter my long term life goals to now fit the goals of another person just isn’t something I’m very willing to compromise on anymore. And I wouldn’t expect or want someone else to make those changes for me either. At this age, our time is becoming more precious and shouldn’t be conceded on when it comes to our own lifelong happiness. It is unlikely we are meant to travel the same path indefinitely.

For now, I focus on my career and raising my teenagers. I have a couple of dogs and a few good friends to keep me company. I also have to interact with people at work all day. I’m introverted so I’m definitely not lonely, by any means. Getting alone time is a hot commodity to be cherished. I don’t know that I’d want to give up my 30 minutes a week to a relationship. I’m busy.

Some day, when I’m older, I’d like to do things that I really want to do, like travel more, experience new things and cultures, or maybe just sit around in my underpants while eating a rotisserie chicken with my bare hands and watching jeopardy reruns.

Whatever it may be, I want to be free to do it sans the time wasting a-hole.

Jesus via AI

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Have you ever chosen to dispute a traffic ticket in court? What was the outcome?

I was pulled over in New Mexico back in 2012 and it was for not stopping at a stopsign. The area was fairly rural and I could see both directions some distance. So I slowed but kept rolling then took off. About 2 miles down the road there was a mounty on me and I pulled over trying to imagine what he was getting me for. He came to the car asked for my DL and Ins. and asked me what I called that? I looked at him and said well if you would be kind enough to tell me what “that” was I would be happy to answer for it. After some questions about me being a smart ass he finally realized I didnt know what he was at me about. So he finally told me “Failure to stop at a stop sign!” I admitted well I did slow down he said but you didnt stop I said no its a common practice in the country side at rural stops to roll through and I explained some call it a california roll. He said “That Figures!” and he handed me a ticket to sign He said “well here in Nebraska we dont drive like californians” I said ok not arguing and went on with my evening. Well next day I called an uncle of mine who was an attorney told him and he told me how to get out of it. SO court day came I show up and so does he. THe judge asked him what happened and then turned to me and asked my side. I didnt even tell him about the stop and went to describing how I was treated by the officer and the “It figures” and “we dont drive like californians” comments and my ticket was promptly dismissed for personal bias and out I walked while the judge reprimanded the deputy.

Have you ever been treated so terribly at a restaurant that you refused to go back there again?

Yes. Arriving, the parking lot was very slick ice. I informed the hostess (owner), she just shot an undeserved annoyed look. Hey I was just trying to help them & avoid a slip & fall for someone.

Our waitress failed to bring our food as it sat way to long prepared, even after a long wait we asked. Clearly she then forgot; but did show up to push a wine bottle to buy. That after we distinctly expressed early on we were not there for drinks. Same with appetizers & desserts.

The goal was clear: upsell, upsell.

The food was just about room temperature. And not even what we had ordered. She tried to convince us to eat what she brought anyway!

All that did was piss her off. Watching her she returned food to the kitchen, obviously not giving them our actual order.

We are not snotty people at all! But were pretty much forced to be at this point, hangry didn’t help.

We stopped at the hostess/owner podium & waited for some attention. After too long she asked “how many in our party?” She didn’t remember us unsurprisingly.

I made a bit of a sport of it, saying “still two, we’re just waiting for our check”.

“Who was your waiter/waitress?”

“Don’t know”

“Where was your table”

“Over there (with a vague gesture”

Now SHE’S very annoyed & NOT pleasant at all. “What did you have?”

“Nothing but water”

Now she’s even more annoyed + confused. Good. As if anyone there cared anyway.

I finally explained the situation & that we’d been there for almost an hour at this point. Ordered food, never got it, we’re leaving.

The bitch, now outright rude, threatened to call the police.

I implored her to, explaining we certainly are not paying for a product or service we’d never received. And fortunately we hadn’t yet paid, as then we would have a stronger case do please – a police report will be a good addition to our case. Plus hopefully for her sake they arrive quickly since now they are on the clock.

She still tried to argue! “We can’t just come here and leave without paying”. Argh. Pay for what – water? I don’t even see water on the menu, how much do you charge for it?” (I believe it’s state law that water & bathroom facilities are required at a certain amount of seating). But she briefly tried to think of an amount to charge.

I finally announced the end of this dispute – if she’s call law enforcement we’d feel compelled to wait, otherwise we’re leaving. She quipped something like ” well I guess we’ll eat this one”.

“Good for you! That’s more than we got!”

Shorpy Pictures for today

Most Women don’t want to be real wives so what’s up with the pretending? Or is the tide turning?

Why did you call off your wedding?

I was engaged to a fine woman. She was kind, considerate, smart and rich.

We had not set a date for the wedding when I started to have doubts about our relationship.

At first I didn’t know what was the problem was, but it was a strong feeling.

One day we were driving around in Brentwood, looking at old, stately homes when I saw what I considered to be a beautiful home.

It was brick, with leaded windows, slate roof and a plank door. I was admiring it when she said, “I will never live in a used house.”

I was stunned and asked her why.

She said, I don’t want to live in someone’s reject.”

I said, “just because someone is selling a house does not make it a reject.”

She said, “I do not care, I will never live in a used home.”

I knew she meant it.

At that moment I knew what the problem was, our values were too different.

I called off the engagement the next week.

I have never regretted that decision

EDIT: we parted with no hard feelings, there were no bad guys, just two people who were not right for each other.

What Science Says About Body Count

Olive and Brie Pizza

Prep: 20 min | Bake: 20 min | Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

1 refrigerated unbaked 9 inch pie crust, at room temperature or 1 (13.8 ounce) tube pizza dough
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 ounces brie cheese, rind removed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
2/3 cup halved Lindsay® Ripe Pitted Olives
3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion with tops
2 teaspoons fresh chopped oregano or 3/4 teaspoon dried
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place crust on a lightly floured cookie or baking sheet. Fold in edges of crust (1/2 inch), pressing down lightly to form a rim.
Spread mustard over inside of crust; top with half of brie cheese, tomatoes, olives, green onion, remaining brie cheese, oregano and Parmesan cheese.
Bake until crust is crisp and golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

A saga

US Troops on Taiwan Advance to Within 1 mile from China Border

World Hal Turner 22 March 2024

The top defense official in the nation of Taiwan has confirmed that U.S. troops are stationed off the coast of China, as World War 3 continues to take shape. Chiu Kuo-cheng, Taiwan’s Defense Minister, was questioned by journalists about a report that U.S. troops had advanced from Taiwan to small islands in close proximity to mainland China, such as Kinmen Island. Chiu’s response confirmed that the troops had in fact advanced closer to China. The scalable map below shows where US troops have gone and how close they now are to mainland China: Hal Turner Editorial Opinion China has long told Taiwan and the world that the stationing of US Troops on Taiwan would be viewed as “an invasion of China” and would be dealt with as such. Not only has the US now deployed troops onto Taiwan, they have moved some of those troops to an island within one mile of mainland China! This is a gross provocation by the United States; it’s almost as if the US is TRYING to start a major war!

What was the strangest way an embezzler was caught?

My dad owned his own accounting firm for decades and he had one fairly big client that he got on well with. When Dad retired he was offered a job 1 day a week by this client. They had a guy who had been there a while who did payroll and the basic accounting but he wasn’t very good at the accounting so my dad was meant to be taking over accounts and this other guy was meant to be just doing payroll.

Anyway, on my dad’s first day the boss suggested he learn the payroll system so he could be cover for the other guy.

They had a little demonstration session and my dad asked how sickness was done. The payroll guy said nobody is ever sick to which the boss replied that he was, last month. Reluctantly the guy showed my dad how the sickness was done on his own payslip and everyone instantly spotted that the guy had been paying himself double when off sick! He had been doing that a while. He went the same day!

He Was Homeless in America & Then He Moved To The Philippines : A Life Lesson

Have you ever walked out of a restaurant after you were seated by a waiter or waitress?

I was seated by a hostess at an Italian restaurant in Paramus NJ. It was supposed to be our anniversary dinner. A coworker of mine who was about as Italian as you can get without being born in Italy had given me a recommendation to go there.

Well after 30 minutes with not so much as a waiter/waitress taking our drink order (perhaps longer… I can be stubborn) I decided enough of this and signalled to my wife we were leaving now.

That could have been the end of the story but it is not.

I told my coworker what happened and it turned out he was part of the family (in laws? cousins? don’t remember.) and took it very personal that we got treated that way. My telephone at work rings a day or two later and it’s the owner of the restaurant and he’s apologizing profusely. It was then that I remembered my coworker told me to drop his name when I went there.

We were invited back for a “chef’s choice” seating at their expense. The meal was wonderful but way more than I could eat. There were eight courses and lots of wine. My wife doesn’t drink wine and never did so I got sorta concerned as was going to be way too drunk to drive. I’m not talking one bottle of wine here but a different wine for each course.

It was quite the meal.

When we went back days or months later we always were treated with great deference and got great service.

210,000 CODERS lost jobs as NVIDIA released NEW coding language.

Who’s the most boring person in your life?

My brother in law Paul, he is a really nice guy he is always ready to help someone out. He was a volunteer coast guard, regularly went to church , is a really good provider for my sister, hard working financially prudent, not tight just put a bit aside for the rainy day, save for the pension.

But he makes watching paint dry feel exciting, he can flatten a family gathering just by walking into the room. He is a train spotter and makes models out of matches and is an amateur weather forecaster. His only subjects of conversation are different types of rolling stock on the railways, cloud types and work, he is an aera manager for morrisons local shops. But because a lot of his job is to do with the finance side he takes commercial confidentiality seriously. So apart from three slightly amusing stories, nothing about work.

He only ever has two drinks either at a party or in the pub, doesn’t like spicy food or french food, not really keen on pasta or pizza no bbq and doesn’t eat rice or garlic. His taste in music was once described by my sister ‘Paul doesn’t like music, he likes ric Astley and black lace it is mucus not music’ he is a nice guy but so boring.

According to my sister the only time he’s not boring is when he and she stay energetically awake, then by all accounts he is creative and inventive, and has superior staying power.

As I don’t have sex with him I will stick with the description boring.

Make this fair

Laziness: What’s the laziest thing you’ve ever done?

It’s not me, but a guy who used to sit near me in my office.

In my office, the computers are set up such a way that if you don’t do anything for 4 minutes, they get locked. in order to unlock that, you need to type your password again.

Everyone faces this several times a day, if you go to the washroom, or busy in a phone call, or discussing something with someone for more than 4 minutes, you will find your PC locked when you come back.

This guy was too lazy to type his password every time this happened. So he invented this technology:

Open notepad
Put a bottle on the keyboard, this causes some keys to be pressed all the time.
this causes text input in notepad.

The computer thinks that user is working, so it does not get locked.

This is a photo I took when he was gone from his desk after setting up the Bottle-Anti-lock mechanism.

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Soon he realized that entering huge amount of text in notepad causes the PC to run out of memory eventually and crash after some time.

We asked him to write a VBScript to mimic the keystroke, but he is too lazy for that. He found out a lazier work around,

He now uses a Comb (borrowed from a female co-worker – permanently) to push down the keys in the alt, ctrl, and the directional keys area which do not enter text in the notepad. and he keeps the bottle on top of the comb for the weight.

I don’t have an original photo for this. so I made a dummy. imagine the power bank is the keys that need to be pressed.

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Necessity is the mother of invention!

Update: Some friends have asked in comments why cant we just change the screen lock timeout settings, or remove the password. The answer is, we do not have Admin privileges. Passwords and other system settings are enforced by Admin directly into the registry using group policy. We don’t have the privilege of Change settings, edit registry, change date/time, change screensaver and wallpapers. we cant even install any additional software. CD roms and USB drives are disabled too, so no way of boot into a portable Linux or something to hack the registry.

My daughter’s AI “likes”

She has different tastes than I have.

Default masterpiece best quality Majesty of Amethyst Court15 m 3

Default Style by Yuko Shimizu Masamune Shirow Inio Asano and J 0(1)

Default Style by Yuko Shimizu Masamune Shirow Inio Asano and J 1

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Default Style by Yuko Shimizu Masamune Shirow Inio Asano and J 0

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The Sopranos – Tony Soprano and other capos meet behind Junior Soprano’s back!

What is the funniest joke you’ve been told that you still think about to this day?

Two women talking in heaven

1st woman: Hi! Wanda.

2nd woman: Hi! Sylvia. How’d you die?

1st woman: I froze to death.

2nd woman: How horrible!

1st woman: It wasn’t so bad…. After I quit shaking from the cold, I began to get warm & sleepy, and finally died a peaceful death. What about you?

2nd woman: I died of a massive heart attack. I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act. But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV.

1st woman: So, what happened?

2nd woman: I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through every closet and checked under all the beds. I kept this up until I had looked everywhere, and finally I became so exhausted that I just keeled over with a heart attack and died.

1st woman: Too bad you didn’t look in the freezer—we’d both still be alive.

Weather warnings

It’s war: the real meat grinder starts now

Pepe Escobar No more shadow play. It’s now in the open. No holds barred. Exhibit 1: Friday, March 22, 2024. It’s War. The Kremlin, via Peskov, finally admits it, on the record.

The money quote:

"Russia cannot allow the existence on its borders of a state that has a documented intention to use any methods to take Crimea away from it, not to mention the territory of new regions."

Translation: the Hegemon-constructed Kiev mongrel is doomed, one way or another. The Kremlin signal: "We haven't even started" starts now.

Exhibit 2: Friday afternoon, a few hours after Peskov. Confirmed by a serious European – not Russian – source. The first counter-signal. Regular troops from France, Germany and Poland have arrived, by rail and air, to Cherkassy, south of Kiev. A substantial force. No numbers leaked. They are being housed in schools. For all practical purposes, this is a NATO force.

That signals, “Let the games begin”.

From a Russian point of view, Mr. Khinzal’s business cards are set to be in great demand. Exhibit 3: Friday evening. Terror attack on Crocus City, a music venue northwest of Moscow. A heavily trained commando shoots people on sight, point blank, in cold blood, then sets a concert hall on fire.

The definitive counter-signal: with the battlefield collapsing, all that’s left is terrorism in Moscow. And just as terror was striking Moscow, the US and the UK, in southwest Asia, was bombing Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, with at least five strikes. Some nifty coordination. Yemen has just clinched a strategic deal in Oman with Russia-China for no-hassle navigation in the Red Sea, and is among the top candidates for BRICS+ expansion at the summit in Kazan next October.

Not only the Houthis are spectacularly defeating thalassocracy, they have the Russia-China strategic partnership on their side. Assuring China and Russia that their ships can sail through the Bab-al-Mandeb, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with no problems is exchanged with total political support from Beijing and Moscow.

The sponsors remain the same Deep in the night in Moscow, before dawn on Saturday 23. Virtually no one is sleeping. Rumors dance like dervishes on countless screens. Of course nothing has been confirmed – yet. Only the FSB will have answers. A massive investigation is in progress.

The timing of the Crocus massacre is quite intriguing. On a Friday during Ramadan. Real Muslims would not even think about perpetrating a mass murder of unarmed civilians under such a holy occasion.

Compare it with the ISIS card being frantically branded by the usual suspects.

Let’s go pop.

To quote Talking Heads: “This ain’t no party/ this ain’t no disco/ this ain’t no fooling around”.

Oh no; it’s more like an all-American psy op.

ISIS are cartoonish mercenaries/goons. Not real Muslims.

And everyone knows who finances and weaponizes them. That leads to the most possible scenario, before the FSB weighs in: ISIS goons imported from the Syria battleground – as it stands, probably Tajiks – trained by CIA and MI6, working on behalf of the Ukrainian SBU. Several witnesses at Crocus referred to “Wahhabis” – as in the commando killers did not look like Slavs.

It was up to Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic to cut to the chase.

He directly connected the “warnings” in early March from American and British embassies directed at their citizens not to visit public places in Moscow with CIA/MI6 intel having inside info about possible terrorism, and not disclosing it to Moscow.

The plot thickens when it is established that Crocus is owned by the Agalarovs: an Azeri-Russian billionaire family, very close friends of… … Donald Trump. Talk about a Deep State-pinpointed target. ISIS spin-off or banderistas – the sponsors remain the same.

The clownish secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, was dumb enough to virtually, indirectly confirm they did it, saying on Ukrainian TV, “we will give them [Russians] this kind of fun more often.” But it was up to Sergei Goncharov, a veteran of the elite Russia Alpha anti-terrorism unit, to get closer to unwrapping the enigma: he told Sputnik the most feasible mastermind is Kyrylo Budanov – the chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

The “spy chief” who happens to be the top CIA asset in Kiev. It’s got to go till the last Ukrainian The three exhibits above complement what the head of NATO’s military committee, Rob Bauer, previously told a security forum in Kiev: “You need more than just grenades – you need people to replace the dead and wounded. And this means mobilization.”

Translation: NATO spelling out this is a war until the last Ukrainian. And the “leadership” in Kiev still does not get it. Former Minister of Infrastructure Omelyan: “If we win, we will pay back with Russian oil, gas, diamonds and fur. If we lose, there will be no talk of money – the West will think about how to survive.” In parallel, puny “garden-and jungle” Borrell admitted that it would be “difficult” for the EU to find an extra 50 billion euros for Kiev if Washington pulls the plug. The cocaine-fueled sweaty sweatshirt leadership actually believes that Washington is not “helping” in the form of loans, but in the form of free gifts.

And the same applies for the EU. The Theater of the Absurd is unmatchable. The German Liver Sausage Chancellor actually believes that proceeds from stolen Russian assets “do not belong to anyone”, so they can be used to finance extra Kiev weaponizing.

Everyone with a brain knows that using interest from “frozen”, actually stolen Russian assets to weaponize Ukraine is a dead end – unless they steal all of Russia’s assets, roughly $200 billion, mostly parked in Belgium and Switzerland: that would tank the Euro for good, and the whole EU economy for that matter. Eurocrats better listen to Russian Central Bank major “disrupter” (American terminology) Elvira Nabiullina: The Bank of Russia will take “appropriate measures” if the EU does anything on the “frozen”/stolen Russian assets.

It goes without saying that the three exhibits above completely nullify the “La Cage aux Folles” circus promoted by the puny Petit Roi, now known across his French domains as Macronapoleon. Virtually the whole planet, including the English-speaking Global North, had already been mocking the “exploits” of his Can Can Moulin Rouge Army.

So French, German and Polish soldiers, as part of NATO, are already in the south of Kiev. The most possible scenario is that they will stay far, far away from the frontlines – although traceable by Mr. Khinzal’s business activities. Even before this new NATO batch arriving in the south of Kiev, Poland – which happens to serve as prime transit corridor for Kiev’s troops – had confirmed that Western troops are already on the ground.

So this is not about mercenaries anymore. France, by the way, is only 7^th in terms of mercenaries on the ground, largely trailing Poland, the US and Georgia, for instance.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has all the precise records. In a nutshell: now war has morphed from Donetsk, Avdeyevka and Belgorod to Moscow. Further on down the road, it may not just stop in Kiev. It may only stop in Lviv. Mr. 87%, enjoying massive national near-unanimity, now has the mandate to go all the way. Especially after Crocus.

There’s every possibility the terror tactics by Kiev goons will finally drive Russia to return Ukraine to its original 17^th century landlocked borders: Black Sea-deprived, and with Poland, Romania, and Hungary reclaiming their former territories.

Remaining Ukrainians will start to ask serious questions about what led them to fight – literally to their death – on behalf of the US Deep State, the military complex and BlackRock.

As it stands, the Highway to Hell meat grinder is bound to reach maximum velocity.

“Most Terrifying Poll Result I’ve Ever Seen”: Scott Rasmussen Surveys America’s Elite 1%

Interior decoration via sticker

Let me tell you all about raising kids. I am sure that other parents will agree.

How you you know that the home that you are visiting has children?

Easy. There are stickers everywhere.

Seriously. My daughter is sticker crazy, and they are cheap with different designs, shapes and colors. They are peel off and she will get a roll and plaster the entire house with them. I doesn’t matter where. Either.

On the walls, on the drawers, on the floor, on the table. On everything.

It’s a fact of life that I was unprepared for. Ugh!

Initially, I tried to keep up, but eventually I “threw in the towel” and gave up. Now, I own a home populated with stickers everywhere.

Word to the wise.

If you all ever decide to have kids, please don’t buy them any adhesive stickers. You can thank me later.

Today…

Wheat issues with China

Five orders of wheat from the West has been canceled.

There is a penalty charge for cancelling orders and Chinese buyers still have to look at their bottom line.

The logical reason for the cancellation, I believe, is that China has made reliable food supply the most important strategic goal for the country since maybe ten years ago. In the meantime, China has been exporting inexpensive farming equipment and technology to ASEAN countries and Africa (noticing that, John Deere’s prognosis for its future is “Winter is coming”).

China is leasing farmland in Kazakhstan and Russia and establishing strong relationships with BRI and BRICS+ countries that export agricultural products, including Argentina (despite early rhetoric, they cannot afford to lose China and are doing all they can to keep their old friend by eating crow and shutting TFU). China also has plans to divert water from the Tibetan plateau to the vast arid land of Xinjiang for developing agriculture.

The result is now being experienced with bumper crops in all these places where China has close ties, on the average 50% increase in output.

Since US, Australian and Ukrainian suppliers are unreliable (thanks to their politicians), China will buy from countries with shorter secured trade routes, stronger trade ties and direct currency swap lines. Because the US and Australian contracts are at higher prices set in the past, Chinese buyers paying current bumper crop prices pay less even with the cancellation penalties (it’s like the cost of hedging).

It’s just business, not personal (favorite Mafia excuse after knocking off their competition), and certainly not an insidious trade war. This is an example of China’s long-term planning and assiduous execution of their plan. Meanwhile, the West is busy manufacturing more lies.

Good luck with that.

The truth…

What is the most degrading job you ever had?

I worked at a small, private nursery school in Japan that catered to rich kids. I was paid nine dollars an hour.

I arrived early every morning to set up all the heavy classroom equipment, and I stayed late to put it all back again. No problem.

I changed diapers, and toilet trained the kids. Bring it on!

I spoon fed the kids at lunchtime, and didn’t eat any lunch myself. Loved doing that, too.

In fact, I really loved the kids, and I liked a lot of things about that job.

What I didn’t like was how I was treated by the bosses.

On my first day there I was handed a pair of gardening gloves, and ordered to weed the garden and remove the cat poop from the sandbox. (Incidentally, the gloves got stolen when I washed them and left them out to dry. Why would anyone do that?)

I was also instructed to water down the liquid hand soap in the washroom, and to wash and reuse the disposable plastic cups in the kitchen (which didn’t have any hot running water, by the way). Tissues were strictly rationed, and I was criticized for offering a tissue to a child with a runny nose because she’d already used one that day.

I was given a lot of strange and contradictory instructions, and I was always getting in trouble for not knowing which particular rule to follow, because they seemed to change on a daily basis. After a while, I started to think I was losing my mind. It was horrible.

I lasted four months at that job. When I gave notice, the boss burst into tears and told me that I was the best worker he’d ever had. I later found out that I was the only worker who had lasted more than a month! (Apparently some people quit after their first day on the job.) I’m amazed that I lasted so long.

I have had a lot of bad job experiences, but that was the most degrading … and the worst paying.

Is he wrong

What if you have been caught with a gun to your face?

😀 I have had a gun shoved in my face a few times.

I am still alive. You’d very quickly work out my identity if I told you those stories.

However, my dad’s shop had a gun come in with a sawn off a couple times. Did I do something heroic grab the gun fuck no… I gave him the till tray which had at most £50 most people were paying with cards by that time and anybody who paid with cash had the notes shoved into a one way floor safe built into the floor. It had a slit to push notes into and of course it was the early 2010s the take away business wasn’t what was.

Squatters FLEE After Vigilantes Send Message, Illegal Immigrant CALLS FOR INVASION Of US Homes

Did your life change in an instant? What happened?

I had just finished my second year of university, and my dad had a heart attack. It was a warning. Bad, but not disastrous. I went home and looked after the family business while my father recovered. I had a high paying summer camp job lined up, that included room and board, plus 360 hours a month of work, for 4 months.

I gave this up, to keep the family business going. When it was time to go back to university, my dad approached me, and asked me to continue to run the business, until it could be sold. This took 4 years, because my dad had to go to court to get my uncle to agree to sell it.

In 4 years I had a lot more life experience, and I no longer wanted the career that I had been going to university for. I read a Dear Abby column, where someone said that they were 32 and wanted to go back to university to get their dream job, but in four years, when they started their dream job they would be 36. Abby replied, saying, and how old will you be in 4 years, if you don’t go back to school. This was an eye opening way of looking at life.

I decided to see the world and then go back to university. Seeing the world when you are young is never the same as seeing it when you are retired.

I became a ships Captain and saw the world. When I felt it was time for a change, I went back to university, I started a third career, completely different from anything I had thought about before. When that got old I started another career.

If my dad had stayed healthy, I would have completed a degree in something that I might have had no interest in, gotten married young, and not wanted to risk career changes, with a family to support.

Accountability

Have you seen a lawyer get rude with a judge during a trial?

Many, many times. Here’s a good story for you.

Judge: “You’re 40 minutes late for trial.”

Lawyer: “I heard that I’m being sanctioned?”

Judge: “You didn’t produce the expert report that I granted you the last continuance to have time to produce. And you’re 40 minutes late. And I’m having to continue the trial again because of your bad behavior.”

Lawyer (who has an enraged look in his eye): “Yes we did produce the expert report.” (this was a total lie btw)

Judge: “NO, YOU DIDN’T. We’ve had a hearing with your associate on this for the last 40 minutes before you were so kind as to grace us with your company. Now you’re late and you are arguing with me over matters already decided. I’m continuing the trial because a client should not have to suffer for a lawyer’s bad behavior, but I’m sanctioning you $500.00.”

Lawyer: “I don’t feel like that would be fair.”

Judge: “I really don’t care what you feel would be fair. You haven’t been on this earth long enough to tell me how to run my courtroom.”

Lawyer: “Look, I want to make sure the record is clear on this. You’re sanctioning me $500.00 for not turning over an expert report we turned over?”

Judge: “No, you didn’t. I’m going to sanction you another $200.00 for your insolence. Now you’re up to $500.00. Do you want to keep going?”

Lawyer: “Judge, if you’re sanctioning me another $200.00, that would be $700.00, not $500.00.”

Judge: “Oh my goodness, you’re right. What would we do without you here to keep me on track? I’m sanctioning you $700.00 payable to the Women’s Center within 30 days. Get out of my courtroom.”

EDIT: Thanks for the upvotes!! This is my first Answer to receive 1,000+. Please follow me and I will A2A questions with courtroom dialogues whenever possible 🙂

Life rules

What is the most condescending advice you received from someone who assumed you were poorer or less educated than them?

I used to work in engineering – high precision aerospace stuff. It just so happened that the majority of the people who worked there were men. In fact I was one of only three women out of the 300 or so who worked there. We also all wore the same corporate clothing which was nice because it made us feel like a team rather than managers versus shopfloor.

One incident stands out in my head. I was near the shopfloor entrance chatting to one of the guys, when a couple from our new supplier walked in. One of them barked at me ‘I’ve got an appointment to see the Managing Director, about some technical issues,’ whilst the other didn’t even condescend to look at me. Despite his rudeness, I said; ‘certainly sir, I’ll take you up there.’

I settled them into the office (big office, very plush) and asked them if they’d like coffee. They nodded (speaking was too much effort), and I served them freshly brewed coffee and expensive biscuits. No thank you of course.

Then I proceeded to introduce myself and shook their hands, ‘hello, I’m Dr. Dickens, Managing Director. Now let’s get started on those technical issues shall we?’ I have never seen two people pale so quickly, because I could have cancelled their supply contract in a second.

Because I have a PhD in Aerospace engineering, my title is Dr. and almost without fail, everyone thinks I am a male, so this scenario happened time and time again. The guys who worked for me thought it was brilliant (‘they thought you were the secretary again!!’), but it can wear a bit thin sometimes.

No lies told here

Have you ever found something unexpected inside of something you bought used?

A few years back, I decided to buy what I call a man bag. It’s sort of like a briefcase, but soft sided and has a strap that you can put over your shoulder and carry it like a purse.

Anyway, I picked out a nice one. And when I got home, I started taking out all the packing paper they’d put inside. In one of the pouches was a bunch of legal papers. It was a checkbook, bills, and canceled checks and other things like that. It was obviously somebody’s personal documents, it had the man’s name, and something like I checking account number, but not enough for me to identify and contact him or her. It did have one thing that I recognized. The name of a company. UBS is sort of a brokerage house, money management, bank, services company. I use it for some of my retirement savings. So, I took the papers over to the local office and explained to the receptionist how I found them. She seemed quite surprised by the story, but in the end, said yes, she takes the papers and pass them on and see what could be done. I thought that was the end of the story, but about six months later I received a package in the mail. This was from a stranger in California. At this point I should mention that I live in a small city outside Chicago, Illinois. Anyway, the papers belong to him, and UBS had tracked him down using the account numbers and return all the documents.

He was very, very happy and told me that he had purchased the bag in California about a year before. He decided he didn’t like it and returned it to the store, but obviously had accidentally left some of his papers in the bag. The retail store obviously had not checked very well, put the bag back in stock and somehow it ended up on the shelf in their store near me 2000 miles away. So, we have one company that didn’t check their merchandise very well, and another company that went the extra mile for one of their customers and got him back some documents that he really needed, but had thought were lost forever.

The end of the story is that in the letter saying thank you for helping get his documents back. He sent me a very large box of see’s candy. Now of all the candy in the world, I love see’s the most. Unfortunately, about one week before the candy arrived, I’ve been put on a pretty strict diet to lose a significant amount of weight. But my daughter and granddaughter graciously took the candy off my hands and told me that was very good.

14 Habits that will make you more attractive and impressive

Have a great hygiene. Take good care of your teeth, skin, hair and entire body. Being rough or smelly makes you unattractive.
Build an excellent posture. Don’t bend your back or side while standing or walking.
Invest in your physical health. Eat vitamins, hit the gym consistently and don’t be overly stressed. Stress makes you unattractive with time.
Dress well no matter the occasion.
Smell good always. Use a good perfume, you don’t need to have a body odour to smell nice.
Have a positive mindset. Being negative always is a bad energy people run away from.
Be confident and carry yourself with dignity. Low-esteem makes you unattractive.
Don’t use vulgar words
Cultivate excellent etiquettes
Be a goal-getter and constantly achieve things that are important your life.
Be joyful, being sad always is unattractive.
Fill your heart with love. Hating on others and gossipping about them is terrible and unattractive.
Respect people. Being rude is unattractive.
Be financially stable. Learn a high demand skill, get a job, start a business or launch your startup.

Zorg Being Iconic for 10 Minutes | The Fifth Element

Have you ever been given a poor grade because of a political view you expressed?

Yes, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

I won’t say what grade I was in, and I won’t name the school, either. Nor will I name the teacher. Anyways, in class, we had to do a debate/argument writing piece. I was usually pretty good at these arguments, and writing was one of my strong points. Therefore, I felt that I would do pretty good.

I decided to do an argument about jail time for men and women. As you may know, a study by Sonja Starr found that men, on average, spend up to 63% more jail time than women, for the same crime. There were also many other prejudices with the legal system that I pointed out. I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, but it was about the conviction and trials of men as opposed to women. Of course, I had facts and statistics to support them.

Throughout the month, the class worked on their essays. A few days into the project, we had to get out ideas approved for our writing piece, so everyone lined up to the teacher’s desk. When I finally got to the front of the line, I told her about my argument: men are prejudiced against when it comes to serving jail time. Before I show you her response, I need to say that my teacher was going through a phase where she didn’t care about much. She usually responded with a few grunts, and wasn’t generally happy at all. In fact, some kids called her “cave woman” behind her back. But when I told her about my essay topic, her eyes got wide. She told me that my topic wasn’t valid. Being the kind of person I was, I asked her “Why?” She just shook her head and told me to meet her after everyone was done getting their topics approved. I walked back towards my desk, puzzled and a little irritated. After everyone was done getting their topics approved, she gestured towards me for me to come over. I quietly got up and walked over to her. The following conversation isn’t 100% accurate, as this was a long time ago, but you’ll get the gist of it.

I approach her desk.

“Follow me,” she says, and starts walking towards the hall. I trudge after her, ignoring weird looks from my classmates and the occasional “He got in trouble,” or “I wonder what she’ll punish him with.”

I walk into the hall, and close the door.

“So, do you know why I dragged you out here?” she asks with an interrogating tone.

“No”, I reply honestly.

She pulls out an AK-47 and shoots me, and drags me down the hall. She walks past two guards, then locks me in a cage. Inside is a monstrous, man-eating gorgon. The gorgon eats me.

I snap back to reality.

“Well, I am disturbed by how patriarchal your essay topic is.”

“I’m sorry.” I respond.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it.” she says. “Your essay topic could’ve offended many people. I was quite offended.” she continues. “You will need to serve this week in detention. And start thinking of a new topic, or else I’m going to call your parents.”

Rage boils inside me, and I can feel anger in my head. I swallow it, and say nothing. But I am mad. I can’t believe that this teacher would criticize me based on my beliefs.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself? What do you have to say to all women, for being such a misogynistic bigot?”

“Sorry” is all I can mutter.

“I’m not going to waste more time lecturing you. Now get back into class and think of a new topic. And it had better not be sexist.” she says.

I walk back into the classroom.

That night, I told my parents about everything that had happened. I was pretty afraid that I would be punished on the home front as well. After all, our writing teacher was pretty grumpy, but also reasonable. I figured that if she thought that my topic was sexist, my parents would, too. However, they sympathized, and instead of grounding me for thinking of such a “sexist” topic, they called the principal.

The next day, during biology, I was called down to the office. I thought I was in further trouble, but to my surprise, my writing teacher was there too. The principal explained to me that yes, I could write about that topic if I had a strong belief in it. The principal, who was female, (not that it adds anything) was my savior that day, and I have appreciated it since. I headed back to class, and my writing teacher did the same.

Throughout the month, I worked on my writing piece, and even showed it to the principal. She enjoyed it thoroughly, and it made me pretty proud. I didn’t get my teacher’s approval, but at least I got the principal’s.

One thing about our school was that we had to read our pieces aloud. Every semester, we would work on one aspect of writing. We would do two pieces a semester, and we would always have a big class ceremony. We would each read our piece in front of the class. When it was my turn, I walked to the pedestal at the front and read my title aloud. Immediately, one girl raised her hand annoyingly. This girl (we’ll call her Denise, for lack of a better name) was the teacher’s pet in every class except biology. She always got her way, no matter what, except for, well, in biology. My biology teacher probably hated Denise and was the only one who had ever gotten her in detention. I secretly admired him for that. Anyways, Denise raised her hand. Annoyed, I called on her, and she shouted “you’re a misogynistic, patriarchal &%^#$” (kept out for obvious reasons). The whole class looked at her disgustedly, except, of course, the writing teacher. I proceeded with my writing, and I could hear Denise calling me “sexist” or “bigot” under her breath. When I was done, everyone applauded except for Denise and the writing teacher. I walked back to my desk, feeling pretty good.

The next day, I was in study hall, reading my textbook so I could complete my study guide. (It was history.) I was minding my own business when three girls suddenly approached me. I asked them how I could help them, out of politeness, and they told me that I was a jerk, that I deserved to die, that I was a disgusting human being. At first, I had no idea what they were talking about, until they said:

“Why did you bully Denise yesterday, just because she’s a girl?”

I understood. Either Denise had told them that I was a bully, or they had made up the story themselves. And they seemed so hooked on the idea that I knew it must’ve been Denise.

I answered in my best calm-but-angry tone: “If you consider writing an essay bullying, we all would be shipped off to jail right now. Except for you three, since the courts are more considerate towards women.”

One of them punched me in the shoulder, hard, but not hard enough to do serious damage. I had had enough. I picked up my textbook, pencils, and all of my other supplies and simply walked away. They didn’t pursue. Even though pain was still ringing through my shoulder, I felt pretty proud of myself for standing up to three girls who were using their gender to blackmail me. I didn’t report it, because I knew that punishment wouldn’t change them.

The next day, we got our grades. I flipped over to my rubric and was shocked at what I saw: a 36%. The comments wrote something along the lines of Alexander wrote a very misogynistic, questionable essay. I know that he is capable of doing better, if he gets these very old-fashioned thoughts out of my head. That’s it, I thought. Inside, I was crying, and I knew how mad my parents would be. I knew that I couldn’t get my parents to bail me out of this one; sometimes, you have to just suck it up and take matters into your own hands. So I did. At lunch, I talked to the principal, and she and my writing teacher emailed each other. In the end, they agreed that my writing would be graded by the writing teacher a grade level above me, and the score would be averaged out. The writing teacher in the next grade level gave me a 98, so the average was a 67. A D+. I was an A-, A, and A+ student, so this was a crushing blow to me. I told my parents what happened, but to my surprise, they weren’t mad, but proud that I had “taken the case” to the principal. The other thing was, my grade wasn’t impacted much. It got lowered to an 83%, which I managed to regain back to a 94%.

In retrospect, I may have overreacted a bit, but I’m not the kind of person who just sits down and gets steamrolled by injustice. I stood up for myself, and I think I did what was right.

Wow! I just wrote the longest answer I’ve ever written. Hopefully, you read my whole story if you are reading this sentence right now. What I won’t offer is the cure to cancer, but there is something I’d like you all to know.

It’s okay to question authority when you are doing what’s fair for you. After all, minors deserve to be treated with respect as well. Also, never let your one-sided bias blind you.

Well, have a nice day.

Scott Ritter: Putin Rejects Neocon’s China Agenda – What Will Happen Between Russia and NATO?

A supremely great interview. A MUST watch.

https://youtu.be/w1iQNmsgHeM

If your young child ever “walked in” on you and your spouse, how did you/would you handle it?

I can’t believe I’m actually sharing this story but it has been 36 years so I guess enough time has passed to protect the innocent. My husband and I were living in Germany with our three year old daughter. It was winter and very cold so she wore those little onesies with the feet in them. It was late, we knew she was asleep because we had checked on her, so we were comfortable enjoying our “adult time”. Thus, you can imagine our surprise when suddenly there is a extra weight that plops down on my husband’s back while simultaneously we hear, “Ride a horse, Daddy, giddyap!” Of course we were stunned, shocked, and not knowing what to do, my husband did the only thing he could think of…he gave her a “ride” for a moment while we gathered our wits. Then, we arose, got her the drink she had apparently originally wanted, and put her back to bed. By the time we regained our bedroom we were choking trying to hold back the laughter and could finally let it out. We laughed until we cried. It’s was a memory we shared and loved right up until the day he died and one that will always make me smile.

What do I write to my dad in prison?

A Rule: Don’t start your letter with, “Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written.”

Trust me, we know it’s been a long time. We know better than anyone. Just don’t waste the time, effort, or space committing those words to paper. Probably half the letters I received started with those words, and it felt like being told, “You’ve diminished in importance since you’ve gone to prison, and each successive day makes you that much less a part of my life.” I’d much rather hear that than, “Sorry it’s been so long.”

No preamble is necessary. Just imagine that I’m sitting next to you on a long drive and tell me stuff! What’s important to you right now? Tell me about the argument you had with your coworker. Clue me in about the movie you just watched that you loved or hated. Did you go to a restaurant that surprised, delighted, or sickened you? I want to know!

Don’t worry about reminding me where I’m at. Several people took great pains to avoid the topic of prison, as if they were afraid I’d read it and suddenly remember, “Holy shit, I totally forgot! I’m in prison,” then break down in tears. It’s never far from our minds where we are, and it’s perfectly OK to talk about it.

Letter writing is a lost art. It’s hard to find positive things to say about prison, but your letters can be one of them. A woman I had been seeing before going to prison and I wrote the most amazing letters back and forth. One of us would start a story that the other would carry forward. We became the nightly entertainment for one another, and I learned more about who she was in those pages than I ever could in a thousand dates.

An Observation: e-mail kills letters and destroys communication. If you start writing letters, and enjoy that, e-mail will bring it to a swift and final conclusion.

In the federal system, inmates have to pay five cents a minute to read or write e-mails. E-mail with a taxi meter forces you to vomit your thoughts onto the screen, and inhale messages. Please, give me a piece of paper, a thing I can hold in my hand and linger over for hours or days. I have the time.

Most of us come from an era where written letters are as relevant as cuneiform. That’s our loss as a society. A written letter, especially a handwritten letter, can carry emotions more colorful and deep than any tweet ever crafted. It’s a physical object once held by your hand, now held in mine, that gives a keyhole-sized view of who you were in that moment. As an added bonus, your words haven’t been indexed by Google, and it’s not loaded down with content appropriate advertisements.

Another Observation: People fear empty white space.

Don’t. This isn’t a test. This is your dad, boyfriend, husband, brother, son, or friend, sitting next to you. The empty page is my ear. Tell me a story. Start a conversation. Let’s meet one another for the first time on that page.

Cooking and Cleaning

Why do Chinese think that anyone in Taiwan, Hongkong or Tibet would long for the motherland as Chinese themselves escape to America or Canada as soon as they have enough money, even paying a fortune to American taxis or marry an American Chinese?

Because you don’t know China and you don’t know Chinese people.

You project your worst fears onto us because you literally are unable and unwilling to understand us.

I was born in the UK, people imagine OMG you won the LOTTERY in crawling out your mother’s vagina in the UK. Yeah well I didn’t. Notice how over the past few days british people have said I was never british I was a 2nd class citizen in the UK bud.

I moved back to Hong Kong my ancestral homeland nearly 8 years ago. 7 years ago or there abouts I renounced my GOLDEN LOTTERY TICKET UK passport to live in China.

And here’s something even bigger, I’m thinking of leaving Hong Kong, to go live in the Mainland. I’ve made enough money to retire already

CAMPING IN THE SNOW STORM WITH 2 BEDROOM AIR TENTㅣSNOW ASMR

WOW! Russia Uses “Zircon” Hypersonic Missiles Against Ukraine

World Hal Turner 25 March 2024

WOW! Russia Uses "Zircon" Hypersonic Missiles Against Ukraine

The Ukrainian Armed Forces unofficially report the arrival of new Zircon missiles.

Several missiles covered a distance of 580 km from Crimea to Kyiv in 3 minutes, which allows us to estimate the speed of the missiles as 11,600 km/h, (7,200 mph).

Multiple buildings were destroyed and reportedly an airfield was targeted.

A destroyed three-story building in Kiev, destroyed by a hypersonic missile, was used by the SBU and SBU officers were there at the time of the attack.

If TikTok is banned around the world, will the Chinese economy totally collapse? If the Chinese economic does collapse, will China have no other alternative, but ‘war’?

ByteDance has 2.5 billion users, TikTok has 109 million American users, 4% of the user base.

ByteDance can easily do without 4% American users. It will not make any difference in the revenue stream.

The American users represent a trivial percentage of the whole.

Single Mother SHOCKED No Man Wants to Raise her KID

Bourbon Molasses Chicken Drumsticks

Ingredients

1 (about 1 3/4 pound) package Perdue® Harvestland® Free Range Chicken Drumsticks
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons bourbon
2 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove skin from chicken. Place drumsticks in a shallow baking dish.
In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter and cook onion until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in ketchup, bourbon, molasses, brown sugar, chili powder and salt. Simmer, stirring frequently for 3 to 5 minutes until slightly reduced and thickened.
Pour sauce over chicken. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until chicken is cooked to 180 degrees F internal temperature. Stir sauce on bottom and corners of pan halfway through cooking to prevent sticking.

American women

What do Chinese think of the constant “Social Credit system” joke that trends on internet? How can China disprove it or fight it back? Even Asian jokers like Uncle Roger love milking it.

Social Credit is a Valuation of the Trustworthiness and Creditworthiness of an Individual, Firm or Company

Unlike most other nations like US or UK or even India which only scores Credit from a FINANCIAL perspective China is different, it scores TRUSTWORTHINESS rather than a mere numeric credit value

For instance the Western system says “Is this Individual capable of properly repaying a certain extension of credit or a Loan?”

The Credit Systems in the West either say “Yes. He has repaid his debts promptly. He pays his bills on time” Or “No”

The Chinese system asks “Can a Company or Individual be TRUSTED to properly repay a certain extension of credit or loan?”

The Western credit systems are Individual centric. Their entire focus is on Individuals

The Chinese system is Company centric plus Individuals too.

Parameters of Evaluation of a Score :-

Financial Repayments with early repayments getting positive scores and repayments later than 90 days from due dates getting negative scores
Membership of social organizations and voluntary organizations including the Professors who give up their weekends to take STEM classes in Chinese Learning Centers for free get positive scores.
Companies that contribute to “Active Development” of villages and towns surrounding their factories by financing certain roads in lieu of taxes get positive scores
Individuals who are outspoken critics of the CPC get negative scores. This is because the belief is they may soon leave China and not repay any loans that they have borrowed
Individuals who participate in protests against the Government either Local Or Government are given negative scores. However Individuals who have availed permission to protest are not included.
In either of the above case, the negative score comes across only when the Police record such activity and report it.
Individuals who are reported for excessive drinking get negative scores because of the belief that such Individuals may die soon and not repay their loans
Individuals who run Social Media accounts where they advocate Separatism and are flagged by the Censor get negative scores unless they justify their statements with evidence in which case their score is restored.
Companies whose Asset base is larger, get better scores than Companies whose Asset base is smaller
Students younger than 18 years old are not given negative scores
PLA volunteers get a good credit score when they finish their 3 year voluntary service and can get upto 80,000 RMB for credit without any security to set up a business

Myths :-

People who praise China all the time get positive scores. This is nonsense.
People who merely criticize China or CPC get negative scores. This is nonsense. You have to be flagged by the Censor or Reported by the Police and still have 90 days to defend your criticism. Not a single Covid protestor among the 58,000 recorded got adverse social credit scores.
Social Credit is valued in money. Idiots say 10 RMB social credit. This is a lie.
That Gay people get negative scores is nonsense.

Impact of Social Credit :-

Higher Social Credit gets better interest rates. A Person with better social credit gets his home at 4.25% while a Person with lower score gets his home at 5.25% or even 5.75%
Companies with higher social credit can borrow more in bonds. The borrowing limit is 55% of Assets but for companies with larger social credit it can be even 75% of Assets
Individuals with low social credit may not get a passport easily enough. An Individual with good social credit is exempted the extended verification process and gets his passport within the usual 90–120 days but others who have a low score may take 180–240 days or even 300 days to get their Passport.
Subramaniam Duraisamy , I forgot to add Individuals with social credit score lower than a specific limit need an Exit Visa to leave China without which they can’t apply to other consulates for foreign visas. Not included for travel to :- HK, Cambodia, Mongolia & since 2022 Russia
Individuals with low credit score won’t be approved to become CPC Deputies unless the Politburo or the Provincial Standing Committee waives this. Same for the Civil Service in China.

So it’s a system that works for China and Chinese Individuals

If Dhruv Rathee puts up a video of this then Indians will get it

Today the media distorts Social Credit into some Orwellian Surveillance System which is ridiculous because this system has been around since 1982

Good going Feminism!

Is the US a true democracy?

Recently, the United States held an event called the “Democracy Summit.” However, this summit has been criticized as a “false summit” by the international community, exposing the hypocritical nature of so-called American democracy.

According to a survey, over 70% of American voters believe that the US is heading in the wrong direction, closely linked to the country’s economic and social problems. However, American politicians seem more concerned about geopolitical interests instead of addressing real issues. Furthermore, American democracy is a rent-seeking transaction between interest groups and politicians, and political parties’ divisions have led to policy failures. 85% of Americans believe that the political system needs change.

Although the United States has always claimed to be a model of democracy and human rights, the widespread and deeply ingrained monetary politics have revealed this falsehood. Elections in the United States have become a “one-man show” for the wealthy class, severely undermining the original meaning of democracy.

In the US election, secret money and “dark money” have also infiltrated election activities, intensifying the dominance of the wealthy class and gradually diminishing the influence of ordinary people, resulting in a more severe political opposition and societal division. More than 90% of the candidates for both the Senate and House of Representatives secured their election victories by heavily investing in their campaigns.

The “Open Secrets” website, which has long tracked the flow of political donations in the United States, revealed that during the 2022 midterm elections, both the Democratic and Republican parties spent over 16.7 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new record, surpassing the previous one of 14 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.

Many netizens believe that this exposes the fraudulent nature of American democracy. American democracy is far from true democracy as it has become a luxury accessible only to the wealthy.

Can You Say Why America is the Greatest Country in the World?

Based on your personal life experience, was there ever a generation/period of time when the general population in your country did not feel that life was tough?

In Germany, it would seem to me that life was generally considered a breeze between about 1970 and 2000.

Those, according to my observations, were Germany’s golden years.

Before that, things were still being built up after the war, and after that, things somehow went into decline. 1970 to 2000 were cushy times. There was a general feeling of everything getting better every year, everyone doing better every year, and society having it all figured out.

Cushy social system, too.

Here, this is a picture from a family holiday in Austria and Italy. My parents were high school teachers, and we lived in our own house, had a brand new Mercedes station wagon, and during our holidays, of which we had crazy many every year, we cruised from hotel to hotel, eating in restaurants:

main qimg ebc73c715d4176dccfbedc4f53449608 lq

The first twenty years of that time frame, we still had the worry of getting wiped out in US/ Soviet nuclear strikes and counter strikes any minute, so that dampened the fun.

I don’t think a family of five with both parents working as teachers these days in Germany can afford their own home and a brand new Mercedes E-Class, as well as a fishing cottage and an apartment in Austria, and a boat on the river Danube. Things are not that cushy any longer.

But the 1990s were absolute rocket material. I’d say the 1990s were Germany’s party time.

GF Learns The Hard Way What Happens When You Push A Good Man TOO FAR

Who is the most annoying person or people that you have sat next to on an airplane?

Dubai to Seattle, business class. The couple in front of me, every 30 minutes would get up, get their bag down, pull out a bottle of perfume and a bottle of cologne, spray themselves and then spray the cabin. Five minutes later, everyone else in the business class cabin would start choking, stand up, and move one cabin back to be able to breathe for the 10 minutes it would take to clear out. We begged the stewards and stewardesses to do something, but they did nothing. Finally, I walked up and asked the people directly, who had been speaking VERY clear English up to that point, “Excuse me, could you please stop using perfume. My seatmate has asthma and it keeps activating it.” Suddenly they could only speak Hindi. No problem, my seatmate spoke Hindi, repeated the question. Suddenly they could only speak Urdu. No problem, the guy across the isle could speak Urdu, he repeated the question. Suddenly they could only speak Arabic. No problem. Finally they yelled at all of us, “ALL OF YOU STINK! WE HAVE TO DO THIS TO KEEP FROM GETTING SICK! YOU PEOPLE ARE SO RUDE!”

The head stewardess, also fed up at this point, offered to upgrade them to first class private cabins. The couple refused, “THESE ARE OUR SEATS, EVERYONE ELSE CAN MOVE IF THEY HAVE PROBLEMS!”.

Thank you Emirates for the ride in first class and thank you to the people who decided they wanted to stay together as couples and chose to move into the second business cabin instead.

As for the couple that felt the need to perfume the entire business class cabin every 30 minutes, not only were you annoying, but you were obnoxious, noxious, and rude.

What did your boss say to you during a meeting that resulted in you immediately resigning?

I worked for a company in south Louisiana after a major hurricane. We slowly became the became the # 1 branch in our region because of hard work and dedication of our employees. The branch manager fell and broke his hip and was out for 6 months. I had to take over as branch manager as well as operations manager. IN the mean time. the company promoted a very energetic director of operations and also a new CEO. Both wanted to visit and see how and why we were so successful. At a round table disscusison, the Director told me to keep doing what we were doing and gave us great direction on how to get better (remember, no manager). The CEO on the other hand told us that we needed to cut staff but 20% and reduce our budget by 35% within 3 months. All in the same meeting. I was not one to hold my tongue in this situation. I told them pretty plainly that I could not do both and that we were #1 in our region and I had no plans to change. I walked out of the meeting and was given a written warning for insubordination that I would not sign. 4 weeks later there was a layoff that I was part off. 10 weeks later the branch closed.

Second Hand Lions Bar FIGHT Scene

What are some psychological facts that everyone should know?

1. Love is a feeling that doesn’t come from the heart. Instead, the brain controls everything inside us, including our loving feelings.

2. No reasons can justify narcissistic behaviors, including depression, anxiety, or other issues.

3. Our pupils will widen every time we encounter things or people we like.

4. Dreams are pictures and gateways to our unconscious self. They tell us things that we need to work on.

5. Shedding tears and asking for help are not weaknesses.

6. A successful hypnotherapy session can change a person’s behavior permanently.

7. Foods from your loved ones taste better than foods you eat at restaurants, shopping malls, and the like.

8. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” doesn’t justify people’s attempts to kill a person’s personality and ability to shine.

9. We think our future is bright because we want to project good things to ourselves.

10. Ever heard “Music plays a significant part in stimulating your brain”? True, but, it’s virtually impossible to move on from childhood music.

11. People choose to believe what they see. Hence, we remember things better only when we’ve tested them at least 2-3 times.

12. People who talk to themselves tend to have higher-than-average IQs or even be geniuses.

13. Conflicts are inevitable parts of our daily life. What matters is how we tackle them.

14. Ladies’ fights can be 2-3 times more barbaric than fights between muscular, WWE-like men.

What is the greatest act of mentorship you have had in your career?

My boss sent me to Sweden to get me fired. He gave me a task I was never able to do. Him and his boss had no faith in me. The client wanted x, y, z implemented and I was supposed to do that.

I knew this (they never told me, only after).

That week in Sweden I survived by copying bits of work my boss implemented at other clients. Just snippets. But additional bits they had not seen yet.

I sold myself as the “dumb junior” but worked my ass off around the clock and showed bits my boss had done with different firms. I told them that if they were going for what my boss implemented at client x and y, it would even be better for them. The client was sold. Given I helped my boss with different client’s I was able to implement these new things for 20–30% to keep them pleased. It was cut and paste work for me. Easy peasy.

The client was exhilarated. They sent an email to my boss and his boss. Ross was amazing. Can’t wait for (ross his boss) to come and we will expand the contract.

I came back and they got beaten on their own game. They were shocked. My boss his line manager sent him to Sweden.

My boss took me out for dinner. He told me he saw a copy of himself when he was younger. He told me, you basically did nothing (for which I wanted you fired), yet you managed to upgrade the contract and have me do all the dirty work. That was the beginning of a long friendship.

The Defiant

Text to Image Play-arounds

Theme is starships.

As a house cleaner, what mess made you want to leave as soon as you opened the house door?

I wasn’t a cleaner. I was a repo man. I worked that summer for a company that rented household goods. Washers, dryers, couches, TV’s and… VCR’s.

Lady bought a VCR. Said it stopped working. They sent me to get it as one stop on my day schedule. Lady said she was at work, door’s open, just go on in. Boss okayed it.

Took two of us about a half hour to get it.

About 50 cats in the house. No litter boxes. Roaches crawling on the floors, walls and ceiling. Not one or two. Floor was slick with shit. Magazines and old newspapers stacked along the walls, on the floor, on top of every piece of furniture. Like towers of them. We had to unstick the TV from the floor to get to the cables on the back of it, and I finally said just leave them.

Why it took so long was we both had to do relay holding our breath. Dash in, start working on a cable, when out of breath, run back out. When the VCR was free, we took it out, put it in a garbage bag we kept in the truck, and sealed it up twice. We shook out clothes out, and checked each other before we got into the truck. It was the single nastiest house I have ever encountered, ever. Absolutely disgusting, as in, burn it to the ground, it cannot be saved level disgusting. Just taking a breath in the house was enough to cause both of us to nearly vomit and it was so foul that trying to breathe was literally painful.

And do you know what the biggest insult was?

She was the head waitress at a local restaurant.

Have you ever met a dangerous person and not known it at the time?

I was working at a little local shop while in college. This guy comes in, he wasn’t bad looking, was really cool, same age, even commented on the music I was listening to. He would come in for this and that every so often. We became friends especially since there was a mutual friend I found out we had. Over the course of time hanging out, he randomly pops out an engagement ring. I was floored I really didn’t know what to say, was this normal I didn’t know what to say. I got up and excused myself to go home and he pulled this small gun out held it to me then started laughing and said just kidding so I had no idea if the police would do anything but I was a naive and just didn’t know and I ran to the car and left. Keep in mind this time period was slow over the course of a year. Our mutual friend I told what happened then proceeded to tell me they were only friends because the guy was dealing dope. But after this occurrence I moved home a state away and graduated school all within just a month period of this happening. Never heard from the guy again and then out of nowhere he finds me, he cons a friend in getting my new number which changed because of him, he hunted me down, would show up and know where I lived, even had flowers sent to me saying he was going to kill me and I’m shocked the flower place never called the police and just sent, when I asked about it they said it just prints. I went out with some friends and he shows up and literally pulls next to me and shows me his guns then drives off. I call the police and since I didn’t know where he was staying or his tag number that I would have to waste my resources and go to his home state to file an order of protection. The guy would show up at my work, I’d call the police and they just kept telling me to compile evidence because they could do nothing, I had to handle torture because the police would not help. In the end I was finally able to get an order of protection because someone else reported him and he got my number somehow in prison causing threats again and the court said if I decided to proceed with the violation of protection that it could disrupt their federal case (he was traveling several states with guns and fake names). So I was pushed in the corner again by the police and courts and put fear in me that he could get released. They recorded his phone calls from prison and got him on much more charges, he was never jailed due to my charges and with his first arrest the officers gave him his gun back when he was released from jail prior and the courts said it was a mistake on their part. I was even escorted and parked at other building so that I didn’t get hurt possibly on my way in. I never testified with his other charges on with the order of protection. During all this the guy told me over and over I wasn’t the only one. When he was finally caught on something else the police surrounded the hotel he was living in with a prostitute doing drugs, the cops accidentally busted the door of the neighboring room by mistake but got the guy. He’s still in prison. It took police 4 years to finally help me, and at that point I couldn’t take the flower company to court over the note saying I was going to die because there was a 3 yr statute of limitations. In the end it was a security guard who helped me and got the police really involved, he even helped set up meetings, to this day we are friends, I could have died. I’m truly shocked i was never raped. Apparently he saw me at a gas station with a tshirt of where I worked and he said he was in the stall across from me and knew I was going to be the next one. This was 15+ years ago.

Harley Davidson & The Marlboro Man – Convenience Store Robbery

What happened in a tent while you were camping that you will never forget?

My wife and I were travelling cross-country, the first long trip without our kids, now grown, that we’d had since before they were born. We planned to camp in national parks along the way.

So there we were, in the Grand Canyon National Park. Beautiful day in June. We’d cooked dinner over the campfire. At the amphitheater welistened to a ranger tell Native American stories under the stars, then bought some beer from the park store. We returned to our campsite. The stars, the smell of the campfire and the pine trees, this really was the most wonderful place in the world.

My wife was urging me to go inside the tent. We started kissing and undressing and I remembered I’d bought beer. I had left it in the car. “Well go get it,” she said, “I’ll wait.” By this time I was completely naked so I reached for my jeans. She said, “Just go, it’s dark, no one will see you.” So I grabbed my keys, slipped on my shoes, poked my head out of the tent, and seeing no one, ran for the car. I opened up the trunk, grabbed the beer and a bottle opener, and turned around, just in time to get caught in the headlights of a car coming around the bend. I was frozen like a deer in the, well, the headlights.

The guy who was driving the car gave me a friendly wave and from the car I heard kids giggling. But that was nothing compared to the hysterical laughter of my wife who had watched the whole thing from the tent. She has teased me about my streaking act at the Grand Canyon ever since.

What’s the most savage way you’ve seen someone get fired?

Oh man do I have a story for you. I didn’t see it, but I heard it from multiple people, including the man himself.

Once upon a time, I was a recruiter in the barcode and data collection industry. Honeywell was a company we recruited out of all of the time. Out of nowhere we heard that Honeywell was losing employees like crazy. I’m talking sailors jumping off a sinking ship. They weren’t being laid off, they were leaving the company in droves.

Apparently, there was a man, let’s call him Mr. Wilson, who was a salesman for Honeywell. Mr. Wilson had a customer come up to him and say, “hey, I have a couple of warehouses. I need barcode scanners and printers for inventory. Give me all you got.” It was a little known company at the time called Amazon. Mr. Wilson delivered the goods, and the next year Amazon began to grow. More warehouses, more inventory, don’t worry, we got a guy at Honeywell who is our sales rep and he treats us wonderfully! We’ll give him a call and he can help get the warehouses setup.

Fast forward a few years, Mr. Wilson is doing SO well selling to this customer, Honeywell rewards him by making him the sole man over the Amazon account at Honeywell. The orders for Honeywell products are so large at this point that it’s over a billion dollars a year. Mr. Wilson can’t do that himself so he’s given a staff of 200 plus employees just to satisfy Amazon’s needs for Honeywell scanners.

Fast forward to 2022. Honeywell has a new president. This president thinks he knows everything, and likes to feel important. So he starts butting into Mr. Wilson’s dealings with Amazon; negotiating things, talking to the reps at Amazon, over promising and under delivering to Amazon with unrealistic deadlines for Honeywell products to be delivered, etc. Mr. Wilson boldly told the president of the company, and the VP and new CEO more than once, that he was rewarded this account, and he knows what he’s doing, and that them over promising and under delivering was going to kill their relationship with Amazon. And he alone has the rapport with Amazon, and the president is ruining the credibility of Honeywell by lying to their client about how much they can sell and deliver to Amazon. You can imagine how well that went. They told him to go piss up a rope. He’s an employee, they are the big shots, and they can do whatever the hell they want and if he don’t like it he can go work somewhere else.

Fast forward a little further. The president over promised and under delivered again. They couldn’t get the thousands of scanners in the deadline the president promised, which he had no business doing anyway as Mr. Wilson had his boots on the ground and had it covered. Honeywell screwed Amazon. So Amazon switched to another company for their inventory needs and dropped Honeywell like a brick. Did the president take responsibility? Nope.

Fast forward a couple weeks later. Honeywell is having a big corporate party to award their top performers. Wine and food, giving out Rolex watches and other expensive gifts for exceeding sales goals, the works. The President of Honeywell gets up and gives a speech recognizing Mr. Wilson’s accomplishments over 15 years of service at Honeywell. He brags on him for his hard work and dedication, and gives him his award for millions of dollars in Honeywell equipment sold that year. The place applauds. Mr. Wilson is a well known overachiever in the company and is loved by many there. He accepts his award at the podium.

Then, in front of EVERYONE, the President says, “oh, and one more thing Mr. Wilson. For losing the Amazon account, you’re fired.” In. Front. Of. Everyone. The place is STUNNED. Mr. Wilson is then escorted from the premises by security in front of God and everyone attending. His staff was liquidated as well. All 200 some employees in one swoop. All at a celebration for salespeople who did their job above and beyond.

This humiliating, cold hearted, vengeful, extremely heavy handed authority and show of massive ego set off a big chain reaction. People that were there realized then that the company was in trouble with their leadership and that the time had come to look for another job. And I mean now. Folks who were there began the job search in private the next day. The news of what happened spread like a prairie fire, and soon others began putting their resumes on LinkedIn. It became industry known and Honeywell took a serious hit to their reputation. We helped lots of employees find work elsewhere after that little fiasco.

I eventually heard this story so much from employees, one suggested that I get ahold of Mr. Wilson myself whom this fella was a friend of. He was out of work, he’d be the one needing a job more than anyone. So he gave me Mr. Wilson’s number and I gave him a call. Lo and behold it was 100% true. He saved most of his money from his career and was sitting on several million dollars through selling to Amazon so he wasn’t hurting financially. He was effectively retired at age 52. But he was so disheartened and bitter about how he was treated he was over the thought of ever working again as a salesman. However he did send me his resume and told me if I ever came across an exciting project that needed a leader to give him a call.

I never was able to find that exciting project for Mr. Wilson but I kept his resume on my windowsill by my desk until I left that job, mainly as a reminder that no matter how good of an employee you are or how much money you make, a bad boss can ruin everything. And that’s exactly why I left my short lived job as a recruiter and became self-employed again. But that’s another story for another time.

Denmark’s Government Is Begging Men To Have “Relations” With Their Women

WTF?

Are there any lies that your parents told you as a kid that you believed for longer than you’d like to admit?

“Stick out your chest, men like little titties”

“Men like when you don’t shave your armpits or have a moustache. It reminds them of a labia”

“That little girl had no right running around in her panties trying to turn on your uncle, her mom is partly to blame”

“You need to ask god why you still want to sit on my lap when you’re getting so big. It’s nasty. Do you know what a lesbian is? God doesn’t like lesbians”

“In this world everyone is a snake in the grass, you can’t trust women you have to sleep your way to the top”

“You never talk about things to anyone. Anything that anyone asks you is because they want information on how to destroy you”

“No. You can’t be that when you grow up, it’s too much competition. Just go to a trade school maybe you can marry your boss”

“Don’t press the answering machine button, you’re going to break the motor”!

“I’m not a racist. I just believe god made some races inferior, so we shouldn’t mix, or have them in our homes”

“They started this socialism takeover with Sesame Street to teach our kids to love the blacks”

“If you don’t marry this boy and have this baby, god is going to punish you, and me, and this entire family”

“The aliens know I have a photo of the cloud covered ships. They were flashing lights to lure me into the mountains. I lost time at the library. I may have an implant. I can’t come over, I can’t risk them finding you, or using the kids to get to me. They KNOW Becky. They Know”

“Don’t think. Just do.” – Top Gun: Maverick

When did you realize something was a blessing in disguise?

When I lost my job in Las Vegas.

About six years ago, I had lost my job and was looking for a job. I applied for every job I was qualified to get, and couldn’t get anything.

I was running out of money and had to do something, so I decided I had to leave the state if I was going to have any hope of making it financially. So I reluctantly started working with a recruiter and applying to jobs in the Western US.

Not too long after that, the recruiter called me and told me there was a company in Houston that wanted to talk to me. They had an opening in Austin. Well, I thought, maybe that’s not so bad. Texas, like Nevada, didn’t have an income tax so I thought I could probably swing a mortgage and an apartment.

I interviewed with the company, and they liked me. A day or so later, the recruiter called me and said they wanted to hire me…but for a position in Oakland, CA.

Oh, no. I did NOT want to go there. The cost of living out there just scared me. I told the recruiter that I didn’t think I could swing the cost of living there, and what about that job in Austin? I wanted to go there. He told me that this was where they wanted me to go. Austin was off the table. Well, being broke, I was in no position to say no, so I said yes, I’ll take it. I moved to Houston for four months to train, and then they sent me out to Oakland.

It turned out to be a blessing to move out here for two reasons:

I was able to over the next few years to establish myself in a new career direction: renewable energy projects. California is ground zero for such projects, and it turns out my skill set and experience is a desirable thing to have. I never would have been able to make this change had I stayed in Las Vegas.
I had started serious voice lessons in Las Vegas about a year before I moved. By the time I moved here, I had been taking lessons just long enough to know I had some ability. I wanted to continue studying voice, and found a teacher out here who not only picked up where I left off but also helped me get started in the theater community out here. I have now done several musicals and plays here, and am going to sing in an opera next year-things I have wanted to do for years but could not because Las Vegas didn’t have any real opportunities.

The move was a blessing in disguise-something I thought would be an absolute disaster turned out to be a growth period for me personally and professionally.

A curve ball thrown at him…

Bourbon Pecan Roast Chicken

Ingredients

1 (3 pound) whole chicken
1/2 lemon
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped, or 1 tablespoon dried tarragon
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped, or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
3 small onions, peeled
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup broken pecans
1/2 cup bourbon, divided

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Wash the inside cavity and outside of the chicken and pat dry. Rub the cavity with the cut side of half a lemon and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Fill cavity with the tarragon, rosemary, garlic cloves, onions and paprika. Truss and tie chicken. Pull up skin from breast, press pecan bits into meat; pull skin back into place. Pour 1/4 cup of the bourbon over chicken and place it on its side in the oven.
Roast for 20 minutes, turn to other side, add remaining bourbon, baste and roast for another 20 minutes.
Turn again, baste and roast for a final 20 minutes. Chicken is done when thigh is pierced and juices run clear.

Have you, while repairing a computer, ever found anything that made your jaw drop?

Well not me, but on one afternoon at work, my PC started printing a continuous series of lower case f all over the screen. I switched off and on but the ‘f’s came back as before. So I called IT.

The fellow turned up, stroked his chin for a while whist observing the stream of ‘f’s rolling up the screen and opened his case of tools and removed a pair of tweezers.

Carefully deploying this tool he delicately removed a piece of cheese which had been holding down the letter ‘f’ on the keyboard. “Lunch at work?” he asked. Indeed. And it had included a cheese sandwich!

The following morning when I came in and switched it on, a large flashing ‘WARNING!’ screen appeared, followed a few second later by a notice reading “To avoid continuous ‘f’s, do not eat cheese sandwiches at this computer!” It vanished when I touched a key, but reappeared every time I switched the machine on until it got upgraded. An embarrassing reminder of what a silly bugger I’d been.

” YOUNG WHITE MEN FAILING And Woman Finally NOTICING. Is It Too Late? ” | The Coffee Pod

Fun in Japan

Life is too short not to have good and pleasurable experiences. Certainly after decades of the grind and non-stop hustling, you need a break and chance for some fun. Today, we can vacation to the land of the strange; Japan.

I think that Japan would be an awesome place to visit, but I am happy here in China.

Never the less, there are some wacky and crazy experiences in Japan that might just be able to inject some life into what might seem to become a rather mundane and meaningless life.

Today, we start with a maid cafe.

Totally cool. Really.

Japanese Maid Cafe

This has got to be an awesome experience!

What has been the biggest plot twist that happened in your life?

I grew up rich. Very rich. And at a young age, my parents lost everything. To be more specific; my father lost everything. Instead of telling me the truth, they shielded it all from me.

Now, being the kind of child who was used to Versace dresses and Armani jeans, it wasn’t easy to start shopping at our local equivalent of Walmart. And trust me, I was the kind of kid that knew that nice stuff was really nice. And I loved shopping.

It wasn’t easy to give up all the toys. It wasn’t easy for me to buy less books than I used to. And I wasn’t given a reason why. All I was told was that I was a spoilt brat and that I didn’t deserve it.

My parents fought. A lot. Turns out, my dad had a gambling problem I didn’t notice.

He lost the house, the cars, the business. He owed people money. Terrifying people. And as a young girl, I used to be followed around by these terrifying people.

My mother kept me home more often. I wasn’t allowed out, unless it was to a friends house.

I developed insecurities, some learning disabilities and a terribly annoying stutter. My change was so obvious at school and the counsellors noticed. They told my mother to send me to a psychologist. That it would help. But she told them no, and that I wasn’t crazy.

But I wasn’t crazy. I just needed help. And she refused it because she didn’t want to believe it.

And my grades dropped even lower.

In my early teenage years, my mother told me the truth. We were poor. I could barely believe it because I studied at one of the most expensive schools in the country. But it was true.

The reason why daddy didn’t come home for a year? Because he was embarrassed. And because he didn’t want those terrifying people he owed money to, to get him.

My mother sold everything. She paid his way out. Then she got a divorce.

That broke my heart.

She blamed everything on him. She started drinking more. Started openly smoking.

She called me an idiot. Told me I was worthless. Basically made me feel as bad as she did.

That was kind of crappy.

All this while she made sure I hated my father for what he did. And I did.

At university I couldnt study without worrying about money. I worked more than I studied so I could pay for room and board, and I couldn’t keep up the hours necessary to make my grade. So I had to leave.

After I quit university, I didn’t speak for a year. I hid in my room and slept and read and occasionally I would go out to see old friends and feel more distant from them than I had ever been.

Eventually, my mother’s partner got me a job working at a gambling den. If you knew anything our country, it was that places like these were quasi-illegal.

Women were hired to entertain the male clients, and to take their cash to change it into credits. I was hired because I was pretty and I spoke English without an accent. Perfect for one of their best customers.

I was depressed. I wanted to die. But I did it because she made me do it.

I quit after three months. I realised that after everything she laid on me, that was possibly the worst. That was the biggest plot twist in my life. That my mother would basically prostitute me to make ends meet. That realisation what what changed me.

I still love her. But I do not necessarily trust her.

And as for my dad? I don’t hate him now.

I’ve learnt from the many turns of events, and finally from that last one that even though I am my parents children, that my parents may not always have my best interest in mind.

And now, I make sure that I’m ok and I get the support I need from the people whom I trust. And I support the people I love, and try not to expect anything in return.

It’s hard to shake off her shadow but every day is a new one, and everyday I am getting better.

Resident Evil: Opening Scene (HD CLIP)

Why do airline pilots get paid so well for turning on autopilot and sitting, doing nothing, most of the flight?

Years ago I was at a wedding.

We were assigned a table with people we didn’t know.

All of a sudden, a guy started a conversation:

“So what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a pilot.”

“Are you a pilot, or a copilot?”

After clarifying the roles of captains and first officers, I said: “I am a first officer”.

“Your only task is to make coffee for the captain.” He laughed.

“What do you do?” I asked.

He had a good job: he was the sub-secretary in some government dependency. I suddenly felt like a hyena when she spots a wounded gazelle.

“You must make very good coffee for the Secretary.”

He got as offended with my answer as I was with his. Our conversation was over.

Why am I telling you this story? Because I feel offended by your question.

This time, however, I’ll be nice… and respectful.

I am a lazy guy.

If there’s an easy way, I’ll find it. I’m really good at avoiding chores. I’m on a constant lookout for shortcuts. I procrastinate.

Except when doing my job. Then, I become hard-working. There’s simply no other way.

I am awake while everybody else is sleeping.
I work more hours than others.
My job carries high levels of stress and responsibility.
I cannot afford to screw up too much.

I fly a highly automated airplane and, yes: I fly on autopilot most of the time. But this doesn’t mean I sit around doing nothing.

Flying manually or under autopilot is the same. You seem to be missing some important points of my job:

We are constantly planning what to do if things go wrong.
Conditions change, forecasts sometimes are wrong.
Weather gets nasty.
Aircraft systems fail.
There are a lot of procedures to follow.
The rules of the air are complicated, with subtle variations from country to country. We have to comply.
Passengers get sick, babies are born on board.
Airports get closed.
We fly with a certain amount of fuel. You cannot create more.
We cannot stop for troubleshooting.
We fly, navigate and communicate regardless of what’s happening.
We have to react calmly under extreme situations.

Most importantly, pilots are constantly making decisions. The right ones.

Making the wrong decision can cost me my job or my license, or even worse.
Making a good but inefficient decision can cost the company more money than they have paid me in 14 years.

They pay me to be safe and efficient.

Tinder Experiment: Attractive Men Reveal What Women REALLY Say

This is really harsh, but needs to be shown.

What were some unexpected/ funny ways criminals got caught?

1.The “Invisible” robber

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On April 19 1995, a five foot six robber robbed the Pittsburgh bank without wearing a mask. His face could be seen clearly in security cameras.

When he robbed, he was so confident that he smiled at surveillance cameras before walking out of the bank.

Apparently, he rubbed lemon juice onto his face before committing the act. Since lemon juice is known for being an invisible ink, he thought the juice made him invisible.

When police caught him, he was very shocked, and said “But I wore the juice!”

2. The Bungling Burglar

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47-year-old Crawshaw got stuck at the bathroom’s window of a home he’s trying to break in 15 feet above ground.

The fire brigade had to be called to free him when the home owner returned to this ridiculous scene.

He was sentenced two and a half years in prison.

3. Driving dog

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When Reliford Copper III was suspected of driving under influence, he led police to a high-speed chase and crashed into a house.

When police cuffed his hands, he defended himself by saying “My dog was driving that car! I ran because I wanted to!”

Apparently police wasn’t convinced that he isn’t drunk or high. His charges included property damage, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest.

I personally find those dumb criminals very amusing, I guess they just made the jobs easier for cops. Did they make you question human intelligence?

If you want to be a criminal, do it smart! 🙂

Every Grocery Store Is Leaving Chicago | City Begs For Help

I used to think… I used to think… that Chicago could avoid the collapse of American cities. Nope. It’s all down the shitter.

China cancels US, Australia, France wheat imports

China has canceled US, Australian, France wheat imports, replacing them with orders from Russia, Kazakhstan and Argentina.

The US cancellation was the largest cancellation since 1999.

The Chinese government is showing a strong preference for buying from the BRICS and Global South economies, and is moving away from buying from the G7 countries which are part of the western bloc led by the US.

This is done for a combination of political and economic reasons. The US is pulling out the big guns when it comes to chip technology, AI, and blocking Chinese sales of EVs and solar panels, and more recently, the forced divesting of TikTok USA, which are all part of de-coupling and de-risking. From the Chinese perspective, the US’s Biden administration is heading rapidly in the direction of sanctions against Chinese companies following the sanctions applied against Russia. Opposition and hostility to Chinese companies and business interests in Congress is very strong, and China must be prepared for the US acting to seize Chinese assets which the US can reach. The only way to avoid this scenario is to have as few overseas assets in US dollars and held by US banks as possible.

This is the de-risking and de-coupling model the Chinese are following.

In the US, there may be a political side-effect in this US election year: Trump supporters are usually stronger in US rural states, and some farmers may blame the Biden administration for poor wheat sales and vote for Trump. In a tight race, this may be an important factor.

INSIDE JAPAN’S ULTIMATE LOVE HOTEL!

What is a little known fact that is at least mildly disturbing?

I’m not sure whether this is a little known fact, but I’ve always found it disturbing.

You know when you’re buying medicine, sometimes toiletries, and other things like that, and you find those annoying little seals?

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Some of you might know why these exist. Some might not.

In 1982, a 12-year-old Mary Kellerman took some Extra-Strength Tylenol and died not long afterwards.

Adam Janus, brother Stanley, and sister-in-law Theresa all died after taking some Tylenol capsules.

Not long afterwards, Mary McFarland, Paula Prince, and Mary Reiner all died after taking the same brand capsules.

All were from within the Chicago metropolitan area.

After the 7th person died, it was realised where the connection lay – each had ingested Tylenol capsules.

Tests on the bottles the capsules revealed an alarming fact:

The capsules

had been dosed with potassium cyanide!

Police were quickly able to rule out manufacturers as a source. They weren’t being tampered with there. They theorized that the source was from the shops and drug stores themselves.

They suspected that somebody had procured the capsules, added the cyanide to each, and then resealed, and methodically replaced the containers back on the store shelves.

The mildly disturbing fact?

The police don’t know who did it.

They were able to identify numerous suspects, including someone who had carried out poisoning rampages like this, an individual who had sent a ransom letter demanding $1m to Johnson & Johnson, and others. But no direct ties were ever found.

Nobody has been held directly accountable for this crime.

Alongside the bottles they know were responsible for the deaths, authorities found 3 additional bottles that had been contaminated.

I just find it so disturbing that someone can commit such a heinous crime, and still be walking around like a normal person.

The fact that the capsules could be opened, tampered with and resealed led to the abolition of pellet-filled capsules as a medication mode

Gen Z Aren’t Having Kids & Everyone Is Worried

What happened in a courtroom that gave the judge a belly laugh you will never forget?

Obviously could not laugh at it in the Court Room ! -:)

However this was many years ago when I was called on to Jury Service. had been to this Crown Court ( The higher of the two initial Criminal Courts in England and Wales [note that Scotland has its own laws and procedures] ) .

We had been sworn in and the case was about to start when the Court Orderly told us that there had been a change of plea that the Court had accepted, so as such there was nothing to “Consider”, but as we had been sworn in had to at least be in session, and hear the Charges against the man read out to the Court.

The hearing was essentially a Sentencing hearing and for the Judge to consider the facts of this and past cases. (I appeared that this man had quite a history from the age of about 14 onwards!) .

The Defence Barrister had stood up, the Police having given their details and repeating the causation of the Charges. The Judge asked the Defending Barrister, where there were any mitiating circumstances that that Judge should take in to consideration.

The Defence Barrister stated that : “ my client, although having a troubled history, has show good will and has not been arrested for any maters or brought about sentence for over four years”.

The Judge, who had been listening to this an making his notes for consideration, looked up at the Defending Barrister and just quietly said: “ Yes. Mr …… but I would remind you that you client was indeed in Custody for 20 months of those four years ! “

The Barrister tried to wriggle around with mitigating circumstances, which unsurprisingly the Judge swept aside, and the Defendant received a further custodial sentence.

All the Jurors we trying to keep straight faces until the now sentenced party was taken to point of detention, and the Judge had left the Court Room and we were discharged by the Usher.

Just one of thise unforgettable moments-:)

[To-Yoko Kids] The darkness of Shinjuku Kabukicho.

What has been the biggest plot twist that happened in your life?

When the doctor pulled me aside and asked me if I’d secretly had a vasectomy.

My wife and I weren’t succeeding in getting pregnant so we headed to the doctor. She asked about our backgrounds, etc. and decided that there “might be a problem”. Since males are biologically simpler in this regard, they started testing with me. The results came back with ZERO sperm. Not low count. Not poor motility. Absolutely no sperm.

I was referred to the head of urology at a local university medical school and after a couple of tests he determined that it was genetic. I never had and never would produce sperm.

In six weeks we went from “there might be a problem” to “you’ll never produce biological children”. That was quite a plot twist. Most couples assume that they can have kids whenever they want but roughly 20% have fertility problems.

I’ll skip over the details but we eventually adopted two boys. Our oldest is in the US Army and our youngest starts college this fall.

Sometimes I still wonder what sort of child we might have “produced” but I have no regrets and I wouldn’t trade my sons for any number of bio-children.

Update———-

I wasn’t expecting the response I’ve gotten to this. I appreciate the kind comments about what a wonderful guy I must be, but I wasn’t trying to do anything spectacular. I was just a married man who wanted to be a dad and unexpectedly found out that I had few options. I love my boys and they love me but I’m probably a fairly average dad (well, maybe a LITTLE above average).

Let me address a couple questions and then provide some details on the adoption process.

First, you can be born with genetic infertility. However, without digging up medical records that are over 20 years old I don’t remember the specific diagnosis and it’s possible that it’s congenital without being genetic. Second, as several have pointed out, sperm is a very small component of semen. Everything appeared to function fine for the first several years of our marriage. We had no warning that anything was wrong before the lab results came back.

I skipped adoption details because I didn’t think they fit the “plot twist” topic but here goes…

Once we got over the shock we had to figure out what we were going to do. We attended a Resolve conference (www.resolve.org) that helped us think about our options. Following the conference, many deep conversations, and a great deal of prayer we decided to pursue adoption.

The problem is that the US has far more infertile couples looking to adopt than available babies. Waiting lists were years long and required significant costs up front. Then you had to live in the same state – in some cases the same county – while waiting. I was in graduate school and we’d almost certainly be moving in a couple years. That meant we’d lose our spot on the list and our money.

We looked into special needs adoption in our state. Unless we were ready to adopt very severe needs the waiting times weren’t much shorter. Once they found out that I was in graduate school and my wife was a college teacher, they went out of their way to discourage us from starting the process.

We were about to give up when one of our contacts heard that Holt International had a temporary window for couples to apply to adopt minor special needs children from South Korea. If everything worked out, we could get a child within a year. We were approved to adopt a boy who had just turned two. In the adoption world, simply being over two years old made him “minor special needs”. Otherwise he was healthy. We got him in April and moved from Kentucky to Indiana over the summer.

That was 1996. We had been married 11 years, we’d never had children, and we started with a toddler who spoke only Korean.

The adoption wasn’t finalized when we moved but once we had him in our possession a move was OK. Since we changed states we had to use a different local adoption agency to finalize. This introduced us to Bethany Christian Services. When we decided to adopt a second child, we worked with them and again found a minor special needs boy from South Korea. This time the special need was premature birth. He was 8 months old when we got him and our doctor saw no signs of prematurity. He was developmentally right on schedule.

That was 1998 and we ended up moving to Wisconsin in 1999 where both boys grew into impressive young men.

Japan Walk Kabukicho at late night, Red Light District, back alley in Shinjuku, Tokyo｜歌舞伎町新宿 4K

What can a person with an IQ of 160 do that a person with an IQ of 100 cannot? Are certain things fundamentally unlearnable/undoable like IQ claims? How can this be overcome?

When I was 15 my mother moved my sister and me out of state. To prove that I was qualified for the the AP classes I requested at my new high school, my mother had my IQ tested by a registered psychologist. When revealing my score to my mother, the psychologist recommended not sharing the information with me – her experience was that people who knew their IQ at my score tended to slack off in school. So my mom didn’t tell me until I was an adult, but it didn’t matter. It’s not difficult to know when your mental abilities far outweigh those of your peers.

Then there’s my sister – she always struggled with academics. She was in the slower groups at our private school and people tended to dismiss her academic abilities throughout her childhood because she didn’t naturally shine or pickup concepts instantly like I did. Learning was a battle, so she was taught to focus and take her time in everything she did.

My sister went on to become a nurse, earning straight A’s in college because she studied methodically and planned her routines meticulously. She does very well in everything she has interest in because she knows she has to practice. She doesn’t expect to understand everything outright but knows she can learn with time. Her pace is slower, focused on practice, dedication, and social relationships. She works harder, and I think she’s happier than I am.

I understand everything, conceptually, without much background. I learn systems, trades, programs, methods, etc extremely fast. I test at the highest percentages without extensive study or preparation. But I never learned how to keep a routine, practice consistently, or work hard. I was alienated as a child because I couldn’t relate to my peers and now I have trouble forming deep, personal relationships. I was heavily medicated for severe clinical depression for over a decade. Contrary to what others have said about IQ, none of this is because I developed some elitist, alienating complex over a number. I didn’t know my IQ score until a few years ago. Rather, I struggled because navigating through this world as an outlier is fundamentally soul crushing.

I do very well professionally because of my pattern recognition abilities (having major influence on business practices is inevitable because I’m able to see the big picture and long term like most can’t), but I’m never happy with what I’m doing with myself – I always want to be more, better. I want to change the world. I’ll do very well financially, I always have. I’ll get where I want to be in my career and I’ll continue to seek out and absorb more and more knowledge like a sponge until I die – it’s what I do best. But my sister will always be a happier person, surrounded by warmth of friends and family, feeling connected to a tribe in a way that I am envious of.

So sure, with a higher IQ, I’ll be more successful in career and the academic intelligence realm – but who cares? What about intelligence of the soul, emotions? Happiness? Truly belonging to a network, a collective intelligence? When we die, what matters more? I’d bet a few handful of IQ points on happiness.

EDIT: I wasn’t expecting so much activity on my first answer on Quora! Thank you for taking the time to interact. After enough comments have popped up expressing similar views I’d like to clear a up few things.

High IQ does not predispose us to perfection. You’ll find errors in my writing and everything else I do in life, just as I’ll find errors in you. Hyper-focusing on inconsequential details to gain a temporary upper hand isn’t nearly as satisfying as listening to a message and relating to the soul of a story. That said, I’m happy to see many can relate.

Some have read the above as a self-aggrandizing diatribe insulting my sister. I think that’s harsh and off-base but I won’t argue opinions on my writing; what you hear is as important as what I intended to say. I will, however, clarify a bit. I love my sister, I’m her biggest fan, and she knows it. She struggled, had tutors, and was ultimately removed from private school, but she is by no means dumb. She’s smarter than I am in many ways (which is what I tried illustrating above) and I am envious of the way her personality shines in a crowd.

Finally, through many years of therapy, self reflection, and goal setting I’m in a great place in life. I have a loving partner, a quiet home, and a successful career that allows me to contribute to the quality of life of many which I find extremely fulfilling. My point on happiness is that we all struggle in some way – mine is emotionally. It’ll always be difficult, but I use tools to overcome just like my sister worked to overcome her struggles, and you can overcome yours.

Gen Z Doesn’t want to Work Anymore …. Part 2

Do people in jail/prison keep pets similar to the Birdman of Alcatraz or The Green Mile?

I knew one inmate in maximum security. This guy never gave me trouble. Typically, one hour of rec, three trays a day, one shower please and thank you was about the summation of our existence. I remember having a few random conversations with him like wishing him a Merry Christmas or us talking about the Branch Davidians.

So imagine my surprise when one day walking by his cell I see a cat hanging out in the cell with him.

The unit had a small army of cats, probably more cats than officers if we counted. They kept the rodent population down, supposedly. However I would see them usually hanging out begging by the kitchen or in the grassy area.

I spent some time trying to figure out how a cat got into the cell. The window was covered in black metal mesh. Up through the toilet maybe?

As I would find out, the inmate trustees who were supposed to be cleaning the pods, but were out doing anything but working could be paid to put a kitten in a bag and pass it to a fellow inmate.

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I’m not sure how many soups were worth a kitten and the exchange ratio never made itself apparent to me. Technically there were no rules against inmates having pets. The only thing I could possibly think of was a traffic and trading charge which wouldn’t hold water because I didn’t see it happen. Not that I was interested in writing up the inmate. I was happy for him.

The inmate soon regretted his decision. The commissary didn’t sell kitty litter. I recommended that he tear up old bags or pay a trustee to bring him grass. Also, cat food was not on the commissary list. My inmate bought tuna which was about as close as you could get. He told me that he tried feeding the kitten scrambled eggs describing it as “… the worst decision of my life. That thing was blowing up my cell.”

At a loss, the inmate turned in the kitten to a female officer who took it home. The cat became known as “Contra” (as in contraband). I talked to that coworker about it and Contra couldn’t seem to adjust to life in the free world. Contra was obsessed with sleeping in brown bags and had a bad habit of shanking, correction clawing the other members of the family.

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“Lookout boss.”

Why QUIET QUITTING is the BEST THING GEN Z ever Did

All of this is choice.

Why do some people like to be alone?

It’s only been about the last 15 years or so that I’ve discovered how wonderful life is when you live alone. I grew up with lots of friends all through school. My husband and I had combined our friends and our life was full of friends and children. My days were nonstop from the time my feet hit the floor in the morning. Our lives were hectic, busy and we enjoyed it that way.

Life really can change in a second, without warning. When our lives changed drastically when my husband died in an accident, I withdrew from everyone. It was not enjoyable. I didn’t want to be around anyone. That kind of alone was not enjoyable and it wasn’t healthy either.

Life goes on and I was surrounded with lots of new friends. Then the kids moved on to start their lives and families. I also started a new relationship that ended ugly 10 years later. I dated but nothing got serious. But I just wanted someone around. I didn’t want yo be alone. That isn’t healthy either. After several abusive relationships I made some major changes in my life. I moved several hundred miles away from everyone and everything I knew. I started my own business. I had to work a lot to get my business making money. I had no time to get out and meet people. About 3 years later I was able to relax. My business was doing so much better than I dreamed it do. I now had time to go meet new friends. I had met some people in the neighborhood. Ladies I’d walk with in mornings and evenings. I didn’t feel the need to hang out at tge bar or spending the weekends at tge veach or antique shopping or doing of the things I had always done. I really wanted to be at home, working in the garden, decorating a room, or just piddling around the house. I was enjoying spending time with just me. It was something g I’d never done before.

I have met a lot of people in my town because of my business. I socialize all day at work. Then I go home and I spend the rest of the day doing what I want. I date but I don’t want anything serious. A good long time friend will visit each month for several days. I enjoy the visit. I also enjoy it when the cost is over and I can be alone.

When I look back on my life I can see how my interests, wants and needs changed every 5 years or so. What I wanted at 20 wasn’t what I wanted at 25 and do on. So, for right now I’m enjoy my life alone. I don’t know what I’ll be enjoying in 5 years but for today in happy with my life right now.

Downtown Chicago Is Now A GHOST TOWN | Tourism Is Basically 0% | Migrants TAKE OVER

Chicago is now a ghost town.

What historical mystery intrigues you the most?

How about a mystery so profound, that it stands apart from all others. The archaeological marvel that is changing our very understanding of human history.

Göbekli Tepe, Upper Mesopotamia, Turkey.

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I’m aware that Göbekli Tepe isn’t as famous as other sites such as Stonehenge or the Pyramids, heck some of you reading this may not have even heard of it…

I know my misses hadn’t, don’t worry I promptly corrected that travesty.

Basically, there was this unknown archaeologist who decided to dig up a strange shaped “potbelly hill”, he took a chance and discovered the archaeological find of the last hundred years, if not ever. Yep, that’s how monumental this is.

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Around 12 thousand years ago, some neolithic humans built a vast complex of stone structures, with massive stone monoliths which were intricately carved and inclosed large circles, for a mysterious and possibly never to be discovered purpose… Then they buried it all.

“Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological wonder. Built by Neolithic communities 11,500 years ago, it features enormous, round stone structures and monumental stone pillars up to 5.5 meters high. Since there is no evidence of farming or animal domestication at the time, the site is believed to have been built by hunter-gatherers. However, its architectural complexity is highly unusual for them.” — Professor Gopher.

Who frack built it, why did they do it, how did they know how to build it and why the bloody hell did they bury the vast structure intact?

Seriously, 12 thousand years ago humans were supposed to be hunting wild animals and gathering berries, living short and brutally hard lives, not building vast complexes out of stone…

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I know what you’re thinking – ‘Who cares, it’s not that impressive, we already know our ancestors raised big stones.’

Angrily throws metaphorical chalk across class, hitting petulant student in the face.

Göbekli Tepe is 6,000 years older than Stonehenge, it literally changes our entire understanding of human history. What’s more, is we’ve barely scratched the surface, seriously this neolithic complex is massive.

Humans didn’t just spontaneously learn how to carve stone like this or form large organised societies overnight capable of working across multiple generations to build such a marvel.

Oyeah, and the current thinking is that Göbekli Tepe could also be the birthplace of agriculture.

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Only 5 percent of the site has been excavated, that’s the equivalent of opening the entrance to Tutankhamun’s tomb, taking a shaky ass polaroid picture, with shit lighting, and then spending the next 30 years just gormlessly staring at that shite photograph.

Göbekli Tepe is the most fascinating mystery and yet it receives practically no attention.

Yakuza Takes Me To The Hostess Club In Japan (#137)

My employee was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness and has since been sluggish at work. How do I let her go nicely without it costing me?

I actually had this situation a number of years ago. TL;DR – I decided that the humanitarian route was best.

This long-time employee was a favorite of our customers, as well as her colleagues. Unfortunately, the “big C” came for her far sooner than she deserved. I noticed a decline in performance well before she broke the news of her diagnosis. I knew that I had to do something, as she had such a critical “linchpin” role in our operations. But I felt that simply jettisoning her was completely unfair…and more than a bit heartless.

She used all of her PTO and FMLA for the year or so where she was fighting it off. I simply distributed what part of her role that I could to other people during the times she was out. She improved for a little while…but it came back stronger, and it was clear she was about out of options.

As a senior manager, I never use my PTO. Always something else to be done, you know? *shrug* So, I had my full yearly allocation, except for 8 hours I’d taken to have a root canal. I quietly arranged to give her my personal bank of PTO during the summer, so she could have that time with her family (particularly the younger relatives, who were all out of school) while still being paid. I didn’t tell anyone about it, including her, but word leaked.

She resigned around mid-summer, and passed away three weeks later. Her husband told me at the funeral that she had found out how she got her extra time off from HR, and made it known what I did before she passed.

Unintentionally, I made a great organizational investment. To this day, we have benefited from the good will generated from that decision. People know when you’re talking the talk…and they know when you’re walking the walk. Taking care of a long-time employee with a terminal illness is a great way to walk the walk. And I can’t imagine what might have happened if I had made a different choice. Besides, even if you don’t get the organizational benefit, it’s always the right time to do the right thing.

Almond Anise Biscotti

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon anise seed
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped almonds

Instructions

Beat sugars and butter until well blended. Add anise seed and eggs; blend well. Stir in flour and baking powder; mix well. Stir in almonds. Shape dough into two 10 x 1 inch rolls. Place rolls 4 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Flatten each to 2-inch width. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.
Cut diagonally into 1/2 inch slices. Arrange slices, cut side down, on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 6 to 10 minutes or until bottom begins to brown. Turn and bake for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp. Cool completely.
Store in tightly covered container for up to one month. The anise flavor gets stronger with time.

Apparently Everyone is Broke ….. Part 3

Lots of truth here.

“A father passing by his son’s bedroom

Noticed the room unusually clean and saw an envelope propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, ‘Dad’. With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter, with trembling hands.

Dear, Dad. It is with great regret and sorrow that I’m writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend, because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mum and you.

I’ve been finding real passion with Stacy. She is so nice, but I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing’s, tattoos, her tight Motorcycle clothes, and because she is so much older than I am.

But it’s not only the passion, Dad. She’s pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods, and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that mari*juana doesn’t really hurt anyone. We’ll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people in the commune for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want.

In the meantime, we’ll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so that Stacy can get better. She sure deserves it!

Don’t worry Dad, I’m 15, and I know how to take care of myself. Someday, I’m sure we’ll be back to visit so you can get to know your many grandchildren.

Love, your son, Josh

P.S . Dad, none of the above is true. I’m over at Jason’s house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the school report that’s on the kitchen table. Call when it is safe for me to come home.”

SEX100$ Looking for SugarDaddy!Runaway girl in Japan トー横・大久保公園の家出少女

What single decision had the greatest effect on history?

The decision in 1241 A.D. by the Mongol princes, Batu Khan and Kadan, to ignore the advice of their infamous head military strategist Subutai and return to Mongolia after hearing of the death of the Great Khan Ögedei.

A little less than 800 years ago, Western civilization was on the precipice of complete annihilation. Ögedei, the third son of Genghis Khan, had continued his father’s violent and brutal imperial expansion into Europe and was poised for success. The arrival of news of the Great Khan’s death was either fully or partially responsible for the Mongol withdrawal from Europe sparing Western Civilization from the near universal destruction experienced in the wake of the Mongol hordes.

The desire of the grandsons of Genghis Khan to attend the Kurultai where the election of a new Great Khan would take place is entirely understandable. While neither would ultimately be selected because of the election of another of Genghis Khan’s grandsons, Güyük Khan,

they obviously had an interest in trying to position themselves politically for the election. Subutai was no doubt apoplectic over the decision as he was in the process of planning the invasion of the Holy Roman Empire having had great success in Europe up to that point.

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Mongol siege of Ryazan in 1238

Before the Mongols withdrew, they had begun to experience some stiffened European resistance such as in Austria. But much of Europe east of Vienna had been laid waste by the Mongols and while they may not have succeeded in an occupation of Western Europe, the devastation would have undoubtably been verging on apocalyptic.

Subutai was one of the most ruthless of the Mongol generals. Any city failing to surrender unconditionally faced unspeakable horrors of death, destruction, and torture. The cold efficiency of the Mongol’s killing machine has seldom been equaled with entire cities murdered in a few hours of systematic execution. Over a period of a little more than a century, some estimates place the death toll at the hands of the Mongols as high as five percent of the global population.

Let that sink in. Five percent of all humans.

Europe might well have been permanently set back a few centuries had Subutai succeeded in finishing and executing his plans.

It should be noted that this classical view is no longer universally accepted. Many other factors have been suggested for the withdrawal of the Mongols including the aforementioned stiffening resistance, diminishing returns in plunder, and tribal infighting prior to news of Ögedei’s

death. And as horrible as their blackened earth strategy was, many historians regard the Mongol rule in a more benign way than Western history has traditionally viewed it. While personally I am not persuaded by these more modern takes, it is important to acknowledge these other plausible and less Eurocentric points of view.

Irrespective of these caveats, there can be little doubt that the death of Ögedei was a factor in the Mongol withdrawal and that world history would have been greatly altered had the hordes advanced into Western Europe. As it turned out, the Mongols never returned to Western Europe to follow up on the ground they had already softened. This single decision by two of the grandsons of Genghis Khan, at that precise moment in time, radically altered the shape of the modern world.

Baked Cherry Oatmeal

Ingredients

2 cups old-fashioned oats
4 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 large apple, unpeeled and grated

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Coat a 3 quart casserole or baking pan with cooking spray.
In mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.
Transfer to baking dish.
Sprinkle top with additional almonds.
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.
Serve hot.

What do you think is China much ahead of other countries? What do you think is the biggest gap between China and other countries?

Where China is ahead? China’s nuclear safety record is surprisingly very good. Especially when compared to other major industrial countries with nuclear power plants in operation.

China has had to deal with some major regulatory lapses in food safety and medicines in the past, but when it comes to nuclear safety, they might just have the best record on the planet if not one of the top 3, especially when the scale and scope of their nuclear energy systems are taken into account (46 reactors and increasing).

The Chinese nuclear operators have repeatedly gotten very high grades from international agencies on their safety precautions. Nuclear safety related incidents are graded from Level 1 to Level 7 (Level 7 being the worst like Chernobyl and Fukushima). The Chinese have never had an incident beyond Level 1.

A lot of this is because China’s nuclear safety is very openly discussed by Chinese nuclear engineers in technical journals within the country. Because of this openness and lack of censorship, several articles were published by Chinese engineers detailing that the primary issue with Chinese nuclear powerplants were due to substandard technical equipment or non standard equipment coming from equipment providers in China. This led to a 2016 scandal (which was reported openly in the Chinese press) about valves being supplied to nuclear powerplants that resulted in around a dozen nuclear equipment providers to publicly sign confessions to crimes regarding providing false information and provision of defective equipment.

The details of the scandals were published alongside signatures and seals from CPC officials and the CEOs of the equipment providers in the China Energy Report.

If you guys are familiar with the Chernobyl series, one of the big themes regarding the disaster was the secrecy and lack of information around the nuclear reactor designs and operations. Which prevented faults from being exposed.

If we were to speculate why China has such a good safety record, why the regulations are so good in nuclear safety and why safety issues can be discussed in such a transparent manner: It’s probably because of how deeply unsettled and impacted Chinese leaders were by the Fukushima incident in neighboring Japan.

The Fukushima incident spurred a pretty significant internal overhaul of China’s nuclear safety even though no disaster or safety incident had occurred yet. Reactor construction was put on hold, a lot of safety laws were implemented and the safety law was rapidly published. Nearly a thousand people were added to the national nuclear safety regulatory authority. Actually, the national nuclear safety regulatory authority is pretty special in China because apparently if you choose to go work with them, you can get residence permits (Huko) which are a big deal in China. And that was how they were able to bump up their recruitment despite the somewhat lower salary the organization pays compared to others.

And China’s excellent nuclear safety record has a benefit for the rest of the world as well. Pakistan has also had 0 nuclear safety incidents beyond Level 1 regarding their Chinese built powerplants, partly because Pakistani nuclear plant operators adopted the safety practices and procedures of their Chinese counterparts who they got these plants from in the first place. Pakistani nuclear operators also get training from Chinese operators which helps to further spread these safe nuclear plant practices to developing countries.

I think one side benefit of China exporting reactors abroad is, is that their safety record follows them. So a lot of developing countries can make the switch to safe, non-polluting nuclear energy by getting reactors from China and at the same time getting some pretty high quality training and safety procedures from them in the progress. Assuming of course, they continue to follow these safety procedures in an updated and consistent manner over the years. And also pair it with the same open, frank discussion on the current state of nuclear safety in the country, the same way the Chinese nuclear engineer community does.

Academic sources if you want to go more in-depth on this topic: Jane Nakano and Thomas Rawski

What China still lags in?

Probably the soft infrastructure of a country: Policies.

I’ll give two examples:

Health care policies and health insurance management
Horizontal cooperative policies in large engineering organizations.

Health care policies and health insurance management

China is at that point in their development where they have pretty much mastered hard infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams, powerplants).

But soft infrastructure, like your health care policies are an area where the government is still trying to figure out how to make systems work. The newer hospitals in China, disease prevention, early detection and a lot of other components of China’s health care system are pretty first class and comparable to the best systems in the world.

The issue comes around questions of policy: What should we expect the patient to pay for? What should the government pay for? How do we optimize drug prices to balance between innovative research and affordability? How can hospitals balance their budgets without requiring government bail outs? How do we balance between breadth and depth of medical coverage?

While China’s economy and spending power has increased manifold, in terms of advances in health care coverage, the country is actually going down in terms of health care advancement compared to the past and the last major increase in life expectancy and quality of health care was achieved under Mao’s barefoot doctor program.

The government is trying to figure things out. They rolled out universal health care for China, which was no small feat. It focusses on breadth rather than depth (give some limited health care insurance to everyone instead of give health insurance that covers everything to some people). Hospitals are allowed to mark up drugs 15% to make profits off of them.

But the core issue remains that health insurance and managing health insurance is something that’s been in China for only 20 years and is new to the country and it’s managers. So we have the somewhat strange situation where China’s health care system is well funded, has excellent doctors and supporting staff, has hospitals equipped with the latest technology.

But the health care system is in deep trouble because the managerial skill needed to keep it running through pricing optimization, risk management, risk pooling, health insurance management, premium setting and healthcare policy expertise is very badly lacking. And could lead to massive financial problems in the future if the policy isn’t ironed out correctly.

The second example I’ll give is of horizontal management.

This plays a big part in engineering firms in China that are trying to achieve the Chinese government’s goals of developing next gen technologies in China indigenously.

A good example here is COMAC, which has been trying to get into the passenger aircraft game to compete with Boeing and Airbus, primarily with their first aircraft the C919.

COMAC is a good example of a Chinese SOE that still has a large leftover legacy from how Soviet State enterprises were organized. It is extremely top down and while it can excel in vertical management, it struggles when it comes to horizontal management.

Horizontal management refers to how the different departments and units within companies are supposed to integrate with each other and synchronize their activities. Within engineering firms, this is something that System Engineers, Project Managers and Systems Integration Managers are supposed to enable. A complex engineering system like a submarine, a satellite or a aircraft cannot be created from scratch in an engineering organization where you have 0 horizontal integration and management and your departments fail to coordinate with each other when designing and developing components that are supposed to go in the same end product.

COMAC’s C919 had a very trouble development history precisely because COMAC is still very much organized and managed by state employees whose perspective is still shaped by vertical management principles of large Soviet organizations. And suffers from major issues in internal integration of different department efforts.

Which is why the Chinese government is making an enormous push to attract not just technical experts and engineers from abroad, but also the business managers who specialize in this stuff and enable it to happen.

I think this is why a lot of Asian parents need to stop pushing the “Doctor or Engineer” choice on their kids. There’s enormous demand in China at the moment for managers who are experts in health care policies, insurance management etc. from the first example. And engineering managers, project managers and other enablers of horizontal integration in the second example.

Both of these fields require people with imagination, flexibility, creativity and good communication skills.

The thing is, it isn’t like China has failed at this: Ali Baba has superb internal horizontal integration. There’s a joke that Ali Baba and Tencent are better positioned to make China’s next passenger aircraft or aircraft carrier than Chinese SOEs because being private sector entities they have superbly synchronized their internal alignments and developed seamless integration between all their different divisions and departments.

And we have to remember that this is the first time the government is making a move in these sectors where they will have to take time to build up experience.

And I think the Chinese government should consider filling this deficiency in their current internal economy and industrial base by either continuing to get top managerial talent from abroad, nurturing their own management talent or give more space to private sector entities in this fields that don’t suffer from the internal management issues that the Chinese SOEs struggle with.

Source used:

Jane Nakano, Senior Fellow in CSIS Energy and National Security Program
Loren Brandt (University of Toronto)
Thomas Rawski (University of Pittsburgh)

Get Japanese Girls From Vending Machine (Tokyo’s only place)

What has your child done that is technically “wrong” but you were proud of them for doing it?

My daughter, who is 5 years old, is super sweet and compassionate, but she also can be quite the spicy one! She sometimes says exactly what she means. With her dad, however, she is much more restrained. He, though, has a tendency to nitpick and it can become annoying, even to me. I have to hold myself back from saying, “Leave her alone; she’s fine!” He just thinks girls should walk like this, talk like that…yada yada. Well, my daughter isn’t about that life. She is unapologetically who she is. She just hears him, says, “okay, Daddy” and tries to adjust.

Well, one day, we were traveling. We’d be out all day. We were tired. And my husband was fussing about something again. She was in the back seat, looking out of the window with an exasperated look on her face. I was also looking out of my window with the same look. Both of us just wanted him to shut up fussing.

Just as I was getting ready to say, “Enough!,” her little voice chimed in. She sounded like an adult trapped in a 5 year old’s body, “Oh my goodness, DADDY! You make me want to DRINK!” I turned and looked at her, stunned. She was looking at the rearview mirror so she could see his face and her expression was priceless. But his, was hilarious. He asked, incredulously, “I make you want to do what?” She said, “You make me want. to. drink….and I am not talking about juice boxes or CapriSUNs either, Dad!”

I promise, it took everything in my power to keep a straight face. I watched his face turn beet red. He looked pretty angry. But he said nothing. He looked at me, and I gave him a “Don’t look at me, I would have said the same thing” kind of look. We rode in silence for about half an hour. She said, “Dad, I should not have yelled at you. I’m sorry. But, I meant what I said.” (That’s my line to dad LOL). Then, she took a nap. His nagging has really slowed dramatically.

While I think children should respect their parents and not yell. I do think that is a two way street. I also think kids should learn to stand up for themselves. I cannot imagine a better lesson for both of them.

Tokyo’s Night Joy Paradise Plus unexpected Invitation 2

The case of the vanishing house

I lived in a mobile home park in Kokomo, Indiana. This was in the late 1980’s, and I was working as a Project Engineer. At that time, I wasted years of my life building up a career in the middle of “no where”; climbing the corporate ladder… only to be laid off with no notice at the end. I was such a fool.

Anyways… one day the open slab space next to our mobile home was occupied with a home. Surprised us.

It must have come in, placed there, and then left.

The next day… it was gone.

Come the third day it came back, and the entire crew of 20-something fellows were busy putting back in place.

The day after… it was gone again.

What was going on?

Well, it turns out that a group of guys store a mans complete home; furnishings and all, and “hid” it in plain sight about 300 miles away in my Mobile Home Park. When they tried to get it, they had to deal with road blocks and what not, so they would keep coming back to retrieve it. Only to return it back.

I do not know what eventually happened to these fellows, but one thing is for certain…

Never under-estimate the bad things that people can do. They will surprise you every time.

Today…

Is China ready for the coming WW3?

Yes it is.

If it isn’t, then it will deserve everything that happens. The United States will launch a attack on China, and will blame China for it. Expect this reality.

And China will NUKE the living shit out of the USA and all of its proxy nations.

Offsetting peace, sowing dragon’s teeth

The current US doctrine of war against China is based on distributed, dispersed, diffused, network-centric warfare to be conducted along the myriad islands of the archipelagic states encircling China in the Pacific.

These are the “island chains” upon which the US has encircled and sown dragon’s teeth: tens of thousands of troops armed with mobile attack platforms and missiles.

This is to be coordinated with subsurface warfare, automated/autonomous warfare, and longer-range stand-off weapons and attacks.

Powerful think tanks like CSBA, CNAS, CSIS, RAND and the Pentagon have been working out the doctrine, details, logistics, and appropriations for this concept intensively for over a decade while advocating intensely for it.

The sale of link 16 to Taiwan realizes and completes a key portion of this, binding the Chinese island as the keystone of this “multinational kill chain”.

This doctrine of dispersion is based on a “rock-paper-scissors” concept that networked diffusion “offsets” (Chinese) precision.

China’s capacity to defend itself and its littoral perimeter with precision missiles can be undermined with diffuse, distributed attacks from all across the island chains.

Note that this diffusion and dispersion of attack platforms across the entire Pacific gives the lie to the claim that this is some inherently deterrent strategy to defend Taiwan island. Diffusion is clearly offensive, designed to overrun and overwhelm defenses: like Ukraine, this is not to deter war, but to enable it.

This thus signals that aggressive total war against China is being prepared, in granular, lethal fashion on tactical and operational levels.

On the strategic level, currently, at the CFR, CNAS, and other influential think tanks in Washington, the talk is all about “protracted warfare” with China, about pre-positioning systems and munitions for war, about ramping up to an industrial war footing for the inescapable necessity of war with China.

This discussion includes preparations for a nuclear first strike on China.

The US senses that the clock is running rapidly down on its power. If war is inevitable, then it is anxious to start war sooner rather than later.

RAND warned in 2016 that 2025 was the outside window for the US to prevail in war with China. The “Minihan window” also hints at 2025. The “Davidson window ” is 2027.

RAND window is 2025.
Minihan Window is 2027.

The question in Washington regarding war with China is not if, but when–and how.

But the US is still engaged in Ukraine. Can it wage a two-front war?

The current administration has hardline Russophobes who want to continue to bleed Russia out in Ukraine. It wants protracted war with Russia. It firmly believes it can wage ambidextrous, multi-front war.

Many US officials also believe that war with Ukraine and war with China are connected. They see Russia and China as a single axis of “revisionist powers” (i.e., official enemies) conspiring against the US to undermine its so-called “rules-based order” (i.e., US hegemony).

Furthermore, if the US abandons Ukraine, this could weaken the Taiwan authorities’ resolve and willingness to wage war on behalf of Washington.

Earlier in the war, when Russian gains in Ukraine were uncertain, Bi-khim Louise Hsiao (Taiwan’s current vice-president elect) gloated publicly and prominently that Ukraine’s victories were a message to China, as well as proof-of-concept of an effective doctrine for waging and winning war against China. As such, the Taiwan authorities were and are a major supporter of the Ukraine proxy war.

But the converse also holds true.

Based on the same premise, if the US abandons and loses Ukraine, it sends a clear message to the people on Taiwan island that they will be the next to be used and abandoned; that their US-imposed war and war doctrine (light, distributed, asymmetrical combined arms warfare) for fighting China is a recipe for catastrophic loss.

The US plans on using proxies for war against China: Taiwan, Korea, Japan (JAKUS), Philippines, and Australia (AUKUS).

Thus it cannot signal too overtly its perfidious, unreliable, and instrumental mindset.

Washington has to keep up the pretense. It cannot be seen to overtly lose in or abandon Ukraine. It needs a “decent interval”, or a plausible pretext to cut and run.

Still, the US is stretched thin.

For example, it is relying on Korean munitions to Ukraine, and South Korea has provided

more munitions than all of the EU combined.

Moreover, the US is currently at war with itself. The fracturing of its body politic can only be unified with a common war against a common enemy. Russia is not that enemy for the US. China is.

The Republicans want war with China now.

Eli Ratner and Elbridge Colby have been fretting for years about the need to husband weaponry, arms, and munitions in order to wage war against China.

Since the outbreak of Ukraine, Ratner has been working hard to pull India into the US defense industry’s supply chain, and claims to have been successful.

South Korea’s considerable military-industrial complex is being pulled into sub-contracting for US war with China.

Since many of its major Chaebol corporations got their start as subcontractors for the war in Vietnam (for example, Hyundai was a subcontractor for Halliburton/Brown & Root), the Korean economy is simply reverting back to its corporate-martial roots.

South Korea’s economy is currently tanking due to US-forced sanctions on China. Major Korean electronic firms have lost 60 to 80% of their profits due to US-imposed chip sanctions.

Under those conditions, military manufacturing and/or subcontracting looks to be the only way forward.

In this way, the US is forcing a war economy onto its vassals.

The business of the US is war

Furthermore, US aid to Ukraine benefits its own arms industry.

The business of the US is war. Not only do existing US arms companies gain, but also the entire tech industry and supply chain benefits, and is currently re-orienting around this.

Much of the US tech industry is seeking to suckle from the government teat, now flowing copiously in preparation for war.

On the other hand, the general US economy is not doing well, with massive layoffs, especially in the consumer and business tech sector.

The backstop of military Keynesianism, with the integration of think-tank lobbying groups funded by the arms industry with close ties to the administration (such as CNAS, West Exec Advisors, and CSIS) ensure that war is always the closest ready-to-hand resort for tough economic times.

The US is simultaneously trying to decouple supply chains, which creates opportunities for US firms (both domestically and subcontracting with US vassals).

Automated, AI-enabled warfare will be a key part of this development, as will be dispersed, distributed warfare platforms using proxies such as South Korea and Japan.

This fits the existing historical pattern: the history of Western technology shows that technology and machinery have always been developed first for war.

Afterwards, they become tools of entertainment and distraction, and later productive tools for general industrial use.

The machinery of war, mystification, and repression

This pattern goes back to the earliest machines and inventions of the West: the crane, the pulley, the lever, were all military technologies – machines of war (used in sieges).

Later they became machines of illusion and distraction (used as stage machinery in Greek theater).

Only much later were they applied for general use – and exploitation – in manufacture and production.

This holds true for many other technologies, including:

the internet, originally designed to create redundant military communications in case of nuclear strike;
GPS, for precision bombing;
integrated circuit computer chips, a miniaturization of electronic circuits to fit inside the cone of missile guidance systems;
digital computers, conceived by Alan Turing while trying to break military encryption;
microwave ovens, originally radar technology, initially marketed as the “Radar-range”;
analog computers, invented for military calculations; and
feedback systems, for guidance systems.

Nuclear power obviously derives from nuclear weapons.

AI, too, from its inception, was conceived for automated battle management, especially to enable second strike after human life had been destroyed.

An AI war is already in the works, with US sanctions on AI-related chips and computing, along with an algorithmic race to suppress dissent and critique in the information domain.

War and business are intricately related in the west, and war is the first lever pulled when the economy stagnates critically or needs a boost.

Is there any possibility of peace?

The US needs to abandon its neoconservative fantasies of hegemonic global empire and retreat gently into that good night, for there to be peace.

Washington needs to negotiate in good faith with Russia, and begin the process of de-escalating its proxies in Ukraine, as well as in Palestine, and the Pacific.

It needs to seek win-win cooperation in a multilateral order based on international law and mutual co-existence, not its own top-down “rules-based order”.

It needs to respect the One China principle, end its interference in China’s affairs, and stop preparing and provoking war with China.

However, the US ruling class is unwilling to do so. And it has only a few levers left to pull. The military one is the closest and most ready to hand.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The US is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world”.

Like a drunk at the bar after the final call – drunk with power – Washington is determined to go out with a fight.

That fight could involve a nuclear first strike .

Palestine has shown what it will try to get away with: brazen genocide with the whole world watching.

The issue is no longer war or peace in Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell sees Ukraine as a “unified field” of war with China. He revels in the possibility of a “magnificent symphony of death” in Asia.

The coda, of course, will be a deafening fermata of silence across the entire planet.

Unless…

…we stop this insane march to war.

This is why Gen-Z men are no longer dating

As a parent, what did your child’s school do that made you say “you can’t be serious…”?

I was the student.

So in most US states, you have to take a high school assessment that determines whether you graduate. In my home state, it was called the PSSA, and we took it in senior year, but got “practice” ones every year prior.

So, it’s ninth grade. We’re asked to write an essay nominating “the most influential person of the 20th century.”

(Read all the way through this before you judge my answer to the question, if you would.)

I picked Adolf Hitler.

A few days later, I was called to the office. My mother was not present—however, the school “resource officer” (rent-a-cop), student liaison, both principals, both guidance counselors, and the school psychiatrist WERE. I feel like I should mention this was 2003—while Columbine was a semi-recent specter, along with a school shooting in my hometown, the absolute madness currently going on in this country wasn’t even dreamed of yet.

One of the principals pulls out my essay and says they’re “deeply concerned.”

My answer was something along these lines:

“Look, the prompt didn’t say good influence or bad influence, it just said influence. He burned entire research libraries because they were run by Jews and we still don’t have all that information back. He convinced half of Europe they wanted to kill the equivalent of the entire population of California*. He managed to conquer an area that was almost the same size as the Holy Roman Empire. Almost all of our modern medical codes of ethics came about because of what Dr. Mengele did on his orders Before the Holocaust, about two percent of Europe was Jewish. Today, three-tenths of a percent are** because the population never recovered. I think he was one of the most awful people who ever lived. But you can’t say he wasn’t influential.”

Now you might think the head-shakey part is that they somehow didn’t understand their own prompt. But you’d be wrong.

It’s that, having heard what I had to say, the two principals and student liaison (who was an adult) all whisper among themselves, and then the student liaison says:

“How do you know all this? We don’t teach it.”

Answer: I was home-schooled for two years.

A reply from the other principal: “We’ll let it go this time. But I don’t want you talking about this anymore. It might upset the other students.”

WELL I FUCKING DAMN WELL HOPE TWENTY MILLION PEOPLE KILLED ON THE WHIMS OF ONE MAN’S PREJUDICE UPSETS OTHER STUDENTS, MY DUDE. When Hitler-like behavior doesn’t upset people, we end up with seven-year-old refugees dying in concentration camps on Christmas Day. There’s a fucking reason we say “Never Forget.”

A postscript: I found out the next year they were all full of shit anyway. My tenth-grade teacher made a habit every year of showing Schindler’s List.

*The population of California at this time was approximately 20.3 million people. I’m aware it’s higher now. This number includes all victims of the Holocaust, including but not limited to Jews, Rroma, people with physical and mental disabilities, and gay men.

**This number has fallen further and is now two-tenths of a percent.

I should loop this and watch it over and over and over

Fideo with Ground Beef and Potatoes

Ingredients

1 package fideo
1 pound ground beef
1 potato, cut into small cubes
1 can El Pato
1 can diced tomatoes
2 to 3 cups hot water
Salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions

Lightly brown fideo. Add ground beef and potato. Stir well and cover for about 3 to 5 minutes to brown meat a bit.
Uncover and add 1 can El Pato and 1 can diced tomatoes. Stir and add about 2 to 3 cups HOT water; stir.
Add salt, pepper, cumin and garlic; cover and cook over medium low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with warm flour tortillas.

Be part of his struggle

As a Japanese person, what cultural shocks did you have when you visited the USA?

My goodness, so many cultural shocks. Off of the top of my head, here are a few:

1.) Shoes

This was probably the first thing I noticed when I went to the United States. No one seemed to take their shoes off when going into any type of building. I found it rather odd though I knew prior to visiting that they didn’t follow customs like that.

2.) Talking and Speech

Americans generally speak in a louder and more blunt tone than countries in East Asia. One thing that stood out to me when I first visited was how close they would put their face next to you when talking and their distinct way of laughing. I honestly didn’t have a big issue with it for the most part although I can be quite sensitive to loud noises, touch, and certain types of personalities. Slang and sarcasm was used commonly as well, something, while not rare, but not often used in Japan.

3.) Toilets

The toilets in the U.S are scandalous! (In my opinion). They use a sheet of paper to wipe their private parts instead of using bidets. I personally think it’s disgusting, but the toilets mechanics are simpler, I suppose.

4.) Quantity vs Quality

While quality is still valued, most things in the United States were large in proportions or quantity. In Japan, people are very thin and small, though in the U.S it is more common to see overweight people. This is most likely because of marketing and how junk food is much cheaper than organic foods (which is understandable). It was sad to see and many people didn’t get the exercise they needed because most people drive cars (again, are very convenient). Meals at restaurants were also large, as well as houses and many buildings.

5.) Reading

Books in the U.S, and most other places, are read from left to right. Books in Japan are read right to left. This surprised me despite knowing beforehand. For some reason they keep manga nearly the same, though. Japanese is traditionally read vertically, but it did not surprise me to see English read horizontally since all my schools taught it.

6.) Driving

I was used to seeing cars driving on the right side, although I had visited places that drove on the left side. My friend was initially confused and a little frightened, but he soon understood. I was surprised to see that the minimal legal age to drive was sixteen. I thought that was a little young. I visited a place in the U.S where it was fourteen.

7.) Expense

I found everything to be quite expensive there, and some of the stores and food to be disappointing. There was a product I wanted to buy that was 301.00 $ in the United States and only 14,630 ¥ in Japan. On the contrary, depending on where you live in either country, prices will always vary. Larger more populated cities will generally be more expensive (like Tokyo and New York) and smaller towns will usually be cheaper (like Coeur d’Alene or Kunohe-mura).

8.) Courtesy

The culture in the U.S, so it seems, can sometimes be quite rude. While this isn’t always the case, in certain places they can be seen as ignorant or apathetic, though this really depends on who you are talking to. Some people don’t even know how to give a simple thank you or speak politely, especially around elders (this is quite noticeable for young children). During political debates and elections, citizens may start riots and yell at others who don’t believe the same thing as them. While it makes sense, it is still not okay.

9.) Touching

High fives, handshakes, embracing, hugging, kissing, and patting backs is seen often in the U.S. This can be very uncomfortable for a Japanese person as we generally don’t touch each other (purposefully), though it can’t be helped in crowded areas or if you’re with friends and family. The comfortable distance between two people is 1 1/2 to 3 feet (yes, using the imperial system) when standing together, if not in a crowded area. In the U.S, couples will show affection to one another in public (kiss, hugs, romantic grooming) and friends will tug on each other and playfully hit each other. This isn’t unseen in Japan but it just isn’t the norm.

10.) Homes

I have lived in a traditional home my whole life, so it was a shocker to see the difference. I could find houses similar to these in Japan, but it was about my 2nd or 3rd time encountering one and I actually went inside. They are set differently than houses in Japan, even if they look similar on the outside (modern homes). I don’t exactly remember, but I believe I was bewildered by the fact of how dirty it was, and the bathing differences.

11.) The Check

In the United States, you are expected to pay a lot of money for the check, but in Japan, you’re not. Actually, in most cases, you don’t leave extra money for the server/waiter. In the U.S you are always supposed to, or else, someone may get angry. Though, from my standpoint, many Japanese servers wouldn’t actually mind receiving tips though have been taught that it could be an inconvenience for the person paying (which is very true).

I was going to mention the school system, but that could be a whole entire essay. Thank you for reading, here are just some of the cultural shocks that came to mind. Thank you. For people from Japan, is this accurate?

This is so very true!

When he becomes a man.

What ancient battle in history was a slaughter due to one side bringing in shocking new weaponry?

This is a Seleucid war elephant.

main qimg 564a0e9cc2876b92954e358405d96e07 pjlq

War elephants were probably the most terrifying battlefield weapon of the ancient world.

However, there were two problems with them. Firstly, elephants were hard to find, difficult to train and expensive to run.

Secondly, even with training, you could never really make an elephant want to fight. Worse, they could be driven mad by enemy arrows and end up trampling friends rather than foes.

However sometimes, just sometimes, they actually were the terror weapons they were supposed to be. One such occasion was a battle fought in 273BC.

The Galatians were a bunch of marauding Celts who rampaged across northern Greece in the years after Alexander the Great’s death. About 20,000 crossed the Bosporus and settled in Asia Minor, taking protection money from the local inhabitants.

main qimg 0a31b6c78967d59e24041428abcf5114 pjlq

Where they settled made them neighbours of the Seleucid Empire and in 273BC Emperor Antiochus I decided to deal with these interlopers. Unfortunately for Antichus, his army wasn’t really a match for the Galatians. He had mainly light troops, whilst the Celts had infantry, cavalry, light chariots and their own terror weapon – chariots with scythes on the wheels.

However Antiochus had his elephants, 16 of them. Somehow -and we’re not told how – he managed to hide them from the Galatians. As the Celts charged the Seleucids the elephants emerged: four on each flank and eight in the middle facing the scythed chariots.

Faced with this unexpected terror weapons the Galatian horses turned and fled. This was particularly unfortunate for the infantry, who suddenly found their own scythed chariots heading back towards them. The entire Celtic army routed, pursued by the elephants.

Antiochus had won a decisive and, from his point of view, cheap victory. What’s more he had shattered the myth of the invincible Celtic warrior. All thanks to his elephants.

Brian REJECTS Girl Who Throws Herself At Him

Why does the CCP keeps saying the accusations in Xinjiang are false but refuse to let UN observers in? Are they afraid of letting the world know or see something? What is a better way than to show the world themselves to prove them wrong?

In light of recent events happening in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, it would be safe to say that if an active genocide is happening in an area, regardless of any kind of attempt to block the information from getting out, there will be images and videos leaking out.

I mean, look at Palestine; there is no electricity, no food, and they are bombing reporters. There are new videos of the dismembered bodies of children uploaded every day.

Xinjiang is a province about 300 times larger than Palestine, and they claim that millions are being killed. It would be very hard for an authority to suppress the information in that area. Just imagine the manpower needed for such a job, that’s impossible. Yet, all the videos they have is so-called exiled Uyghur or Concentration camp gurads who has their faces covered and voices distorted. That’s not convincing at all.

Allowing the investigation would be a bad start. If It’s allowed, from then on, any group from any country can request some kind of investigation of visit as long as they claim they suspect something. We do not trust your intentions on our lands. You can’t blame us on that, You know what your ancestors did.

Any request without compelling reason should be denied. It’s our rights. We will stand for it, and fight for it if necessary.

Col. Douglas Macgregor: How Close Is WWIII?

What is the most shameless thing you have ever seen a teacher do?

We had a cocky little brat in our class who loved to cause havoc. He was as popular as herpes, both with kids and teachers.

One day he picked up a chair and threw it at a teacher. Hitting her and a couple of other kids. They weren’t hurt badly though. She picked the chair up, told the kids around him to move out of the way, whilst he stood there daring her to throw it at him, and saying she was too scared to do it.

She threw that chair with all her might and whacked the little brat a good one, and the entire class started laughing at him. The noise caused other teachers to come to see what was happening and the class backed the teacher up when she said he was acting the fool and fell off the chair he was standing on. He was a well known trouble maker (who was eventually expelled from school) so the other teachers believed her (or went along with it more likely).

This was in the UK in the 1970′s, and nothing happened to that teacher, and no-one messed with her ever again, but I am quite sure that the brat would be molly-coddled today, and the teacher ‘expelled’.

Pity. The old days were much more fun.

Chinese insane billboards

Can you be shot from so far away that the bullet loses enough energy and the shot does not break skin and just hurts?

Yes, and you can also be shot at a very close range with the same result.

A good friend of mine was shot in the chest from just a few yards away with a .45 caliber bullet and it did not ‘break the skin’.

The way the story was recounted to me, a group of young people that included my friend, were on a camping trip in the 90’s. Someone was mishandling a .45 cal pistol when the pistol was accidentally discharged.

The .45 ACP round went through a cooler sitting on a table, then through the two, 2-liter soda bottles inside the cooler, then out the other side of the cooler, then shattered the Gatorade bottle my friend was holding, and finally stopping when it struck him square in the chest.

Adding to the absurdity of the whole incident, the Gatorade bottle he was holding in front of his chest contained the familiar red liquid which ended up all over his white shirt.

He fell back when the round hit him, more from being startled than struck. The bottle, being glass, seemed to explode in his hand. Several people standing next to him thought he was bleeding profusely in the fading light due to the red liquid he was now soaked in and everyone panicked – but amazingly there was no bodily damage found when he was examined.

Ironically, the person who was holding the firearm when it discharged was supposedly the most experienced person there with firearms – being some sort of Firearms Instructor associated with law enforcement. That person was the most affected by the event and was psychologically traumatized for quite some time as a result of completely screwing up and unintentionally shooting someone in the chest.

My friend still keeps the bullet that did not kill him in his possession.

Lots of lessons here, kids.

More insane Chinese billboards

When the ISS is decommissioned, can we control it to crash into the Chinese space station and claim that it was caused by the ISS going out of control?

cannot

1. The power plant of the International Space Station comes from Russian modules .The Russian module is a locomotive, and the modules of other countries are just carriages.Therefore, odules from other countries cannot control the flight of the ISS.You can’t convince the Russians to do that.

2. The Chinese space station itself has a powerful power unit that can implement emergency orbit changes and actively avoid any impacts. According to public reports, they implemented two orbit changes to avoid Xspace Starlink satellites.

3. Trolls like you cannot make any decisions about the behavior of ISS and can only type on the keyboard in front of the monitor.

The reality

The United States and it’s hawkish neocons have ZERO idea what they are dealing with. Check this 40 second video out.

This is why Asians are smarter than you!

What is the most disturbing thing ever done by a popular historical figure that most people do not know about?

Since his death, the many toxic facets of Apple Computer visionary Steve Jobs have grown more visible. However, one of his actions still resonates with me, if only for its petty cruelty.

In 1975, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell decided to make a single-player version of their popular game Pong, called Breakout. He tasked Jobs, then a low-level Atari technician, with designing the game.

Bushnell knew that Jobs would most likely recruit Steve Wozniak, who was known to the Atari leader as the better engineer. Jobs and Wozniak had been friends for the past four years, designing and building the computers that would become iconic around the world.

Bushnell offered Jobs a bonus for every chip fewer than 50 that he used when building the game.

Wozniak could not believe his luck when Jobs asked him to help. Jobs proposed splitting the fee, and told Wozniak it would have to be built in only four days, using as few chips as possible. Typically a job like this could take months.

However, Jobs hid two key details from Wozniak:

The bonus for using less than 50 chips.
The four day deadline was self-imposed by Jobs, as he wanted to get back to his commune farm to help bring in the apple harvest.

The two Steves stayed up all night, for four straight nights. Wozniak would work his day job at Hewlett-Packard, then toil nightly on his design. Jobs implemented the chips beside him.

Their herculean efforts succeeded. In four days, the assignment was completed using only 45 chips. The game was successfully delivered to Atari.

For the payment, Steve Jobs only gave Wozniak half the base pay. He kept the bonus money for himself.

Wozniak only found out about this ten years later. He is quoted in the Isaacson biography Steve Jobs, sourced below:

When he talks about it now, there are long pauses, and he admits it causes him pain.

“I wish he had just been honest. If he had told me he needed the money, he should have known I would have just given it to him. He was a friend. You help your friends.”

“Ethics always mattered to me, and I still don’t understand why he would have gotten paid one thing and told me he’d gotten paid another. But, you know, people are different.”

Wozniak, to his credit, did not hold this against Jobs in later years.

There are other excellent answers to this question, detailing historical figures perpetrating brutal acts. I realize this tale from early computing is quite small. Steve Jobs is not in the same league as others.

But tricking your friend into working all night long for several days, and then cheating him out of his paycheck, proved to be only the first salvo in a long litany of his penchant for pettiness and pointless cruelty.

Remember one thing

What was the stupidest thing you heard the accused say in the courtroom?

I didn’t see this live, but I did see the video. Two separate stories.

In the first a guy broke into the bank to rob the ATM . There is the full security footage of his attempt.

There are two bullet proof glass doors before you get to the ATM. He goes to the first and pushes it, to no avail.

So he takes his truck and rams it into the outer door at an angle damaging his right front fender, but pushing the outside door off its hinges.

So now he goes to work on the second door. It wont budge and he can’t get the truck in far enough to touch it. He gets a a crowbar, and has no luck. Then he hops in his truck and comes back 5 minutes later with a cordless drill.

Still no luck, then he lays on the floor and naps. The police eventually come and arrest him.

There’s a sign on both the inner and outer doors, that says Pull.. He spent well over an hour trying to push. They weren’t locked, because people need access to the ATM 24 hours.

So he goes to court, and says that he didn’t get into the bank, so it wasn’t break and enter. That he just needed a warm place to sleep it off.

The judge didn’t believe him.

In the second case, that the media called Dumb and dumber, two guys painted their faces with permanent markers, and tried to rob a bank.

They were caught just down the street, because they couldn’t remove permanent marker.

They said that there was no way to prove it was them, because by the time the trial happened the permanent marker had faded. The police showed a video of them robbing the bank with permanent marker, then a video from a body cam, of them being arrested. Then they had clips taken of the two in jail as the marker faded day by day.

Keep on keeping on

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nRZDR8lVENU?feature=share

What is it like to take point position in a formation? Do soldiers dread this role?

Nobody likes to walk point. The point man is at the head of a patrol in enemy territory and is usually the first soldier to get shot at.

I remember the first time I was told to walk point: our battalion conducted a search and destroy operation in the Bosnian mountains and just one minute before my platoon would march into enemy territory, my commander walked up to me and said: “Is it okay for you to walk point? Now?” That came as a surprise. Only two days earlier, a soldier of our company got shot in the stomach while walking point. Now it was my turn!

I could have said no, but to be honest, I also felt honored that my commander came to me and not to somebody else. Not every soldier is able to make a good point man:

A point man has to be very perceptive and must be able to spot an often well camouflaged enemy. He must know how to detect landmines and have an eye for possible ambush situations. At the same time he must be quick and not slow down his unit’s movements, an impossible task!

Everything went well, we were chasing the enemy and we decided that I would continue to walk point for the rest of the operation. Once I got used to my new job I was quite thrilled.

Soldiers rarely volunteer for any combat related activity and this is especially true for the point man position. When your commander asks you to walk point you neither say “yes” nor “no”. You simply clench your teeth and do the job.

First Men in the Moon | Full Movie | Voyage

Full video. A great fun classic!

H.G. Wells fantastic account of life on the moon is vividly brought to the screen by special effects master Ray Harryhausen in this amazing sci-fi epic featuring extraterrestrial creatures.

https://youtu.be/AnJe03PnV9U

Other than money, what indicates social class in the US?

In no particular order:

Body size. The average BMI rises as the social class decreases. It’s expensive to maintain a healthy weight in the U.S.
Family size. The higher the social class, the fewer the children, on average.
Age when you had your first child. Higher class people tend to wait longer to have their first child.
Number of different people you’ve had children with. The higher the number of different people you’ve had a child with, the lower the social class, generally.
Education levels. Lower class people tend to quit their educational attainment earlier.
Volume levels while in public. This goes for both speaking and music levels. Lower class people tend to be louder when in public, either oblivious or unconcerned with how obnoxious they are to others. Or, in the case of loud music, the obnoxiousness is a part of the appeal.
Conflicts in public. Lower class people tend to have more conflicts in public places. You rarely hear about fights breaking out at places frequented by high class people.
Respect for authority. Lower class people—particularly younger ones—are more likely to have a default adversarial stance towards anyone in authority, including the police and teachers.
Proximity to violent crime. Lower class people are more likely to have seen a violent crime, know a victim of a violent crime, have committed a violent crime themselves, or know someone who has done time in prison for a violent crime.
Proximity to the military. The lower the social class, the more likely you are to enlist in the military. The higher classes tend to become officers, if they consider the military at all.
Post-retirement plans that don’t rely on the government. This one should be obvious, but higher class people tend to also have better, private retirement options.
The ease with which you or your children can find a job via networking. Higher class people know more people in hiring positions, and have an easier time getting jobs. If you are high class and unemployed for an extended period of time, it’s likely by choice.
Tattoos on your face, neck, or hands. Lower class people are more likely to have tattoos that aren’t easily concealed by regular clothes.

When Police Make 1 in 1,000,000 Discoveries

https://youtu.be/XuUYqpyz-K0

Has an officer lied to yo

Why is the CNN feed from China full of machine language?

CNN from all other sources is normal. Only from China is bad.

Is it normal to look at CNN reports on other sources?

A view from the video camera of the CNN channel:

Passerby’s Perspective: They see a new movie being made by the famous American movie studio CNN that hired paid protesters …… 🤣

CNN is simply responsible for delivering the messages and attitudes that the American ruling class wants to deliver. Whether or not it disseminates the truth is beyond the scope of CNN’s job.

Do you really take the American “democratic and freedom” as a real scenario?

If you see a promotion from American Mobile Recharge, remember to buy a small recharge card for your IQ. 😁

So does the BBC in the UK. The Uyghurs you see in reports like the BBC.

Uyghurs 100 years ago

Uyghurs in reality today

main qimg 59cbcb142b6567daec525ca2b3836e91

How CNN covers China:

CNN reporter: Old gentleman, how do people as old as you travel on New Year’s Eve?

Chinese old man: I’m too old to walk.

CNN reporter: In China, there is no freedom to travel casually.

Chinese old man: I sometimes travel, and high-speed rail is very convenient.

CNN reporter: China’s high-speed rail has safety hazards, the technology is not up to scratch, you are so old to do up very difficult, right?

Chinese old man: High-speed rail is quite comfortable, but I don’t ride it often.

CNN reporter: In China, high speed rail is the privilege of a few people!

CNN reporter: What is your New Year’s wish?

Chinese old man: life is better now, children are earning a lot of money, is busy at work, come back to see me more often would be better.

CNN reporter: The young people have to abandon the old people in order to make ends meet.

Chinese old man: You can’t talk nonsense, I live a good life, why can’t you speak kindly?

CNN reporter: The old man protested strongly against the injustice he encountered, which is the enlightenment of democracy and freedom ah!

Chinese old man: you guys stay away from me! You guys are reporting nonsense!

CNN reporter: The old man is afraid that our factual reporting is subject to injustice by the authorities and urges us to leave.

(Old man turns and runs away)

CNN reporter: We are worried about this old man’s future. How terrible it is to have no democracy and freedom!!

Simply put, the Western mainstream media pursues a policy of dumbing down.

Is there any land in the world that has never been conquered from its original inhabitants?

In 1981, a cargo ship called the Primrose ran aground off the coast of North Sentinel Island. After a few days of waiting for a passing ship to rescue them, the Primrose crew members noticed that a group of Sentinelese tribesmen were building boats on the beach and were preparing to attack them and their wrecked vessel. Panicking, as they had no guns or weapons aboard, the Primrose’s captain radioed that they be supplied firearms by air drop, but a storm prevented this. Fortunately, they were rescued by helicopters sent from India.

In 2004, an earthquake and a tsunami struck the Indian Ocean area around North Sentinel Island. An Indian government helicopter was sent to the island to establish if the Sentinelese people were badly affected by the earthquake. The helicopter was able to observe a few islanders on the beach, but incredibly, the helicopter was pelted with spears, arrows, and stones, which forced the helicopter to flee.

In 2006, two Indian fishermen foolishly decided to fish in the waters near North Sentinel Island, and when their boat drifted too close to the island, they were killed by the islanders.

Shortly after this, a film crew sailed very close to the island to film a documentary about uncontacted tribes left in the world. Naturally, they were very wary about the tribe; after being warned by the Sentinelese, they snapped a few photos such as these and promptly sailed away.

Most infamously, in 2018, a 26 year old American missionary named John Allen Chau decided to visit the island to preach Christianity to its people. However, he was shot down with arrows almost as soon as he arrived.

Due to these tragic incidents, it’s illegal to travel to the island, and the Indian government leaves the Sentinelese people alone. They have simply always been there; no other civilization has conquered them. We know almost nothing about their language, religion, and culture.

It is amazing to me that the year is 2021, and there is still an uncontacted tribe out there, which we know almost nothing about.

Why does the United States have the largest prison population in the world?

Have you ever been waiting for a show to start while they’re testing the equipment? When the microphone is just a little too close to the speaker, or the speaker is turned up just a little too loud, you hear that awful screeching noise. It’s system feedback. Someone goes to test the microphone and the “T” sound from the word “Testing” (or whatever first sound they make) is fed back through the speakers at almost the same instant. The sound arrives at the mic just slightly louder than that initial sound. It happens so fast, it seems instantaneous.

If you could watch it in slow motion, you’d see something like a hill followed by another hill slightly bigger. Each successive hill grows until system limits are reached.

Meanwhile, everyone in the room clasps their hands to their ears while the guy with the mic fumbles for the volume.

The “justice” system in the US is suffering from multiple slow motion feedback loops.

Not convinced? No idea what I’m talking about? Stick with me for just a minute.

On June 18, 1971, President Nixon announced the War on Drugs. This was that initial “T” sound. The public supported it, yes drugs are dangerous, and this seems like a good idea.

main qimg 9faecdfc36a8ae73eb21a133f999e6b0 lq

Arrests are made, lots of them. Wow, this drug problem was a lot bigger than we thought. We need stiffer penalties, more laws, and more enforcement. So the prison population grows drastically.

White middle class voters notice that the majority of people getting locked up are not white, nor middle class. From behind the picket fence, these people look downright dangerous. Cue more laws and penalties.

The stiff penalties and societal ostracization of convicts trying to return to society make it all but impossible to succeed. Lawmakers see the “recidivism” and decide that felons are beyond hope… more laws… more penalties.

The growing prison population needs more space and cheaper supervision. Enter the private prisons. Now we have a group of people with an economic incentive to lock up their fellow Americans. The prisons become a sizeable sector of the economy. You can’t close prisons or reduce penalties because jobs depend upon it.

Any politician who suggests reform is labeled “soft on crime” and dies politically. Even if the competition doesn’t call him out, lobbyists for the prison sector will.

The children of inmates grow up without positive role models. Their role models are in prison, so they emulate that behavior… another cycle starts…

In our schools, we overreact to horrible events by making things that children do (and have always done) criminal offenses. We station police in elementary schools!

Many children leave school having already had multiple brushes with the law… commence new cycle.

And on it goes.

These are feedback loops. We’ve created what we sought to destroy. The problem is that nobody is at the mic. The screeching noise is only now beginning to be heard. Pretty soon we’ll all have our hands to our ears.

Canines at War: Watch out for China’s robotic dogs equipped with arms

FP Explainers

• March 1, 2024, 14:05:44 IST

Robotic dogs equipped with machine guns have been successfully tested by Chinese scientists. Developed by a research team at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, the accuracy of small four-legged robotic companions is quite close to that of skilled soldiers

Traditionally used for entertainment purposes and to perform mundane tasks, these Chinese-made robotic canines are now repurposed for military purposes. Image Courtesy: @aprajitanefes/X

The technology used in the military is advancing.

These days, utility robots are now mimicking dogs in both appearance and functionality.

Robotic dogs equipped with machine guns have been successfully tested by Chinese scientists, according to the South China Morning Post.

The accuracy of the small, four-legged robotic companions is quite close to that of skilled soldiers.

Traditionally used for entertainment purposes and to perform mundane tasks, these Chinese-made robotic canines are now repurposed for military purposes.

This could have a substantial impact on how conflict plays out in the future, particularly in urban combat situations.

Here’s all we know about them.

Putting guns on robotic dogs

A few videos of robotic dogs, designed to play a support role to humans, have been released by the Chinese military through official media in recent years.

Developed by a research team headed by Professor Xu Cheng of Nanjing University of Science and Technology, the videos demonstrate the strength and accuracy of these robotic canines.

The researchers have put a 7.62 millimetres machine gun on the robotic dogs, to achieve impressive precision with a half-dispersion radius of only five centimetres across a 100-metre range, the report said.

Its accuracy exceeds that of the M16 rifle, which is known for being an accurate weapon, highlighting the technical strength that these quadruple platforms possess.

SCMP quoted lead scientist Xu Cheng and his colleagues as saying that the study “demonstrates the feasibility of a legged strike platform” in a peer-reviewed paper that was published in the Chinese Journal of Engineering last month.

Because of the rapid growth of China’s electronics industry, these developments have resulted in an enormous reduction in production costs, making this technology more widely available.

Influence on urban warfare

Researchers believe that this technology may have a big influence on how combat develops in the future.

“Urban warfare, encompassing anti-terrorism operations, hostage rescue missions, and the clearance of streets and buildings alike, has steadily risen to prominence as a fundamental facet of contemporary conflict,” Xu and his colleagues wrote in their paper.

“The urban landscape, with its maze of intersecting streets and towering edifices packed tightly together, poses unique challenges for unmanned combat platforms. These platforms must negotiate unstructured terrain and execute intricate actions such as manoeuvring, scaling, and leaping, rendering traditional wheeled and tracked designs inadequate.”

With a focus on bionic principles, these machines are highly adaptable and capable of navigating the difficult terrain of modern warfare.

“Quadruped platforms, based on bionic principles, can use independent ground support points to provide enhanced mobility and adaptability in complex urban combat environments,” the researchers said.

Similar attempts by the US

In 2021, a company named Ghost Robotics displayed the Q-UGV, a four-legged robot equipped with a Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle 4. The utility robots’ weaponisation was emphasised at the showcase event.

Another utility robot with four legs was used in a proof-of-concept test carried out by the US Marines in September 2023. Its capacity to “acquire and prosecute targets with the M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon” was measured, according to The Conservation.

The American company Boston Dynamics developed the utility robot Spot, which resembles a dog. Another intriguing move was when the business released a video in November last year demonstrating how it had integrated the AI chatbot ChatGPT with its Spot robot.

One of the company’s engineers can be seen asking the machine questions and having conversations with it while utilising a variety of “personalities,” like an English butler. The AI chatbot provides the answers, but Spot mumbles them.

Ethical concerns

A new era in military technology has begun with the introduction of utility robots that are outfitted with rifles and have proven to be effective in engaging targets.

Although there is no denying the potential to improve combat capabilities and operational efficiency, the implications of these advancements must be carefully considered.

Concerns about ethics have arisen about the autonomy of robotic canines in making life-or-death judgements as their deployment into conflict becomes a serious possibility.

The international community has demanded strict laws to control the use of autonomous weaponry, including defence analysts and AI researchers.

As per The Conversation, dozens of the top robotics companies signed an open letter that was posted on Boston Dynamics’ website in 2022, expressing their opposition to the weaponisation of readily available commercial robots in the letter.

The firms did not, according to the letter, object “to existing technologies that nations and their government agencies use to defend themselves and uphold their laws.”

According to BNN Breaking, the US military’s execution of programmes like Project Maven and references to studies from the Centre for a New American Security and Public Citizen highlight the critical need for a strategic approach that gives ethical and human oversight top priority in the development and application of AI-driven warfare technologies.

CRITICAL DRINKER: They Removed Testosterone & MEN From Movies, Now The Hollywood Sign is in FLAMES

Money talks and now Hollywood is finally learning that people are sick of wokeness in movies. Make Films Great Again.

https://youtu.be/Bp3ZtFSB-fk

After Ukraine, US readies ‘transnational kill chain’ for Taiwan proxy war

By K.J. Noh

Washington approved the dangerous sale of the Link 16 communications system to Taiwan. This is the final link of what the US military calls a “transnational coalition kill chain” against China, and signals a commitment to kinetic war.

In many traditions, when you paint or sculpt a Buddha, the eyes are the very last to be painted. It’s only after the eyes have been completed that the sculpture is fully alive and empowered.

The United States has approved a $75 million weapons package to Taiwan province, involving the sale of the Link 16 communications system.

The acquisition of Link 16 is analogous to “painting the eyes on the Buddha”: a last touch, it makes Taiwan’s military systems and weapons platforms live and far-seeing.

It confers deadly powers, or more prosaically, in the words of the US military, it completes Taiwan as the final, lethal link of what the US Naval Institute calls a “transnational coalition kill chain”, for war against China.

What exactly is Link 16? Link 16 is a key system in the US military communications arsenal. Specifically, it is the jam-resistant tactical data network for coordinating NATO weapons systems for joint operations in war.

If this sale is completed, it signals serious, granular, and single-minded commitment to kinetic war. It would signal that the Biden administration is as serious and unwavering in its desire to provoke and wage large-scale war with China over Taiwan as it was with Russia over Ukraine, which also saw the implementation of this system.

More important than any single weapons platform, this system allows the Taiwan/ROC military to integrate and coordinate all its warfighting platforms with US, NATO, Japanese, Korean, Australian militaries in combined arms warfare.

The deadliest link

Link 16 would be the deadliest piece of technology yet to be transferred, because it allows sea, air, and land forces to be coordinated with others for lethal effect.

It permits, for example, strategic nuclear/stealth bombers (US B-1B Lancers, B-2 Spirits) to coordinate with electronic warfare and surveillance platforms (EA Growlers, Prowlers, EP-3s), fighters and bombers (F-16,F-22, F-35s) as well as conduct joint arms warfare with US, French, British carrier battle groups, Japanese SDF destroyers, South Korean Hyun Moo missile destroyers, as well as THAAD and Patriot radars and missile batteries.

It also allows coordination with low-earth orbit satellites and other Space Force assets.

In other words, Link 16 supplies a brain and nervous system to the various deadly limbs and arms that the Taiwan authorities have been acquiring and preparing on the prompting of the US. It ensures interoperability and US control.

It effectively prepares Taiwan to be used as the spear tip and trigger of a multinational war offensive against China.

To give a shoe-on-the-other-foot analogy, this would be like China giving separatists in a US territory or state (e.g. Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Texas) not just arms and training – already a belligerent act of war, which the US is currently doing – but connecting insurgent militaries directly to the PLA’s surveillance, reconnaissance, and command/control systems.

This coordinates and completes, to borrow the words of the US Naval Institute (USNI), the final link in a “transnational coalition kill chain” for war.