My mother married a rich local businessman.
Together they renovated an old “Manor” that used to belong to the regional governor of the Western Pennsylvania area near Kittanning. When they bought it, the property was falling apart. It was converted into a mobile-home park with a community pool, a large number of out-buildings, a barn, a long long long multi-car garage.
So they spent a long time cleaning up the property. They tore down a lot. They renovated the house and fixed the pool, and did much more. The main buildings that they kept were the Manor, the Bath House, The Carriage House (servant quarters), the extended garage, and the Spring House.
They also kept the water fountain with the statues of cherubs. And they paved the gravel roads and what not. They added gardens, and flower-beds.
And they added their own customization’s. One of which was a phone in every bathroom. This was, of course, long before cell phones. Her husband, my step-father, also had other customization. Such as a riding chair elevator up the stairs in the entry, and a built in bar in the first floor library / Den.
Anyways, I thought about that today. Those light blue, yellow and red phones handling on the walls near the toilets in the Manor.
And now you know.
Today…
I’ve heard horror stories about the Canadian healthcare system. As an American, I’d like to clear this up, are you helped immediately if you have a stroke, heart attack, or any form of cancer, even at a public hospital?
My son in law works evenings. He came home from work and found his wife (my daughter) comatose on the kitchen floor. He called 911 and a fire truck and ambulance showed up in minutes. The ambulance brought her to the nearest hospital. She was in bad shape. The nurse in ICU recommended the family come in asap as she might not live through the night. This was Friday morning. She was intubated and given an eeg and a cat scan. At that time she was the most at risk patient in the unit.
Today, she is awake and coherent although still quite weak. She should be moving to a medical ward today or tomorrow and will be kept for another week or so until she’s well enough to go home. Her care has been excellent. Without such good care, there’s no doubt she would have died.
Canadian health care does have its problems but it came through when it counts. Her’s is not the only example of the healthcare we enjoy.
EDIT she was discharged today after 18 days. About 14 of those were in an isolation ward with multiple IVs, a femoral line and antibiotics to control pancreatitis an CDiff. She’s finally home. Anybody claiming Canada has terrible health care gets a strong disagreement from me. My daughter is alive after she nearly died.
It was pointed out to me that I should have mentioned there was no cost. We paid a pittance for parking. NO cost for medical care.
Middle School Girls FORCED To Undress In Front Of Biological Male!
What are HK residents’ concerns sparked by the Hutchison-BlackRock ports deal?
At Li Ka Shing’s venerable age I did not imagine that the Chinese government would specifically target him personally, but I did wonder if his company, CK Hutchinson, would be held to the fire. Well, China will make the entire Li family pay it would seem:
I would imagine that now the biggest concern is that Beijing may lose patience with other businessmen in Hong Kong and tighten the reigns on what is and is not allowed if they wish to do business in the Chinese economy. A clear message is being sent even now.
What appeared to be a savvy business decision by CK Hutchinson at first, may prove to be extremely costly now that China’s market is closing to the Li family. Will that prove to be as wise a decision as originally thought now that China’s losses are factored in? The Li family and Li Ka Shing in particular are extremely wealthy so perhaps it is of little consequence to them (I have no idea. I don’t have vast knowledge of their assets. I don’t particularly care either.) but can other Hong Kong businessmen afford to anger Beijing? Can their businesses weather the storm if they make investments with the wrong political entities or if they pick the wrong political side? Some deals are blatantly disrespectful to the Motherland, such as the Panama ports and others. But what if it is a deal where it’s not so cut and dry? Not everyone is a Li Ka Shing after all.
Grilled New York Steak with Blue Cheese-Tarragon Butter
Add a level of sophistication to your steaks with very little effort. This unique compound butter produces an anise-like aroma and flavor combined with the bold, punchy richness of blue cheese.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 New York steaks (choice or better), 12 ounces
- 1/2 cup Challenge Butter, softened (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons garlic*, blanched, and pressed or minced (3 or 4 cloves)
- 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon leaves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, coarse ground
Instructions
- Cream butter in small bowl using a fork or electric mixer.
- Gradually blend in other ingredients. Butter mixture can be used while still soft; or it can be rolled into a cylinder in parchment paper or plastic wrap and refrigerated or frozen, then sliced into teaspoon-sized rounds.
- Season steaks with salt and pepper and place on pre-heated grill. Cook until desired doneness.
- Place 1 tablespoon Blue Cheese-Tarragon Butter on each steak and serve.
Notes
* Blanch garlic by placing unpeeled garlic in boiling water for 5 minutes then peel – gives garlic a milder, smoother flavor.
Flavored butter can be stored a couple days in the refrigerator or it can be frozen for several weeks.
Source: Challenge Home Economist
To those people in the world who have access to universal healthcare, what experiences could you share with Americans in order for us to understand how it affects your life (positively or negatively)?
The simplest answer to this question is: I go to the doctor when I’m sick.
But, more importantly than that: I take my children to the doctor when they’re sick.
But let me give you a real example of how Australia’s public health system has affected my life.
Actually, it’s incredibly hard to choose one. There are so many. For example, my childbirth experiences, which I wrote about here, included:
- 12 days in hospital
- Treatment for high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia
- 2 emergency c-sections (including surgery, anaesthesia, etc.)
- Pain medication
- 1 night in ICU for my baby
- Follow-up home visits by registered nurses
What were my out-of-pocket expenses? A big, fat zero dollars.
But let me tell you another story. A story about taking my children to the doctor when they’re sick.
My sons were 5 and 1 at the time. My five-year-old had been unwell for about five days. It wasn’t anything serious — just a touch of the flu. He had a low-level fever, and was a bit lethargic, but he was in a good mood and spent most of the time complaining that he wanted to play with his friends. I’d kept him at home so he didn’t share his germs around, and plied him with good food (which he ate) and lots of water. There didn’t seem to be any point in bothering a doctor, who would tell him to rest, drink fluids, and come back if he didn’t recover in a few days.
That morning, however, my baby was sick. Not that he really showed it, either. He was happy and laughing and showed no physical signs of illness, but his balance was off. He was walking pretty well at that stage, but all of a sudden he was bumping into walls and falling over. And, even more telling, he didn’t want to eat.
I called the local doctor’s surgery at about 8:30am, and asked to see a doctor for my youngest son. “Does 11:00 suit you?” the cheerful receptionist asked.
“That’s great,” I said. Then I thought for a minute. “Actually, since I’m going to be there anyway, could I book my older son in as well? I may as well get them both looked at at once.”
That wasn’t a problem at all. So, a couple of hours later, my then-husband and I packed our kids in the car, and off we went.
We signed in and the staff recorded our medicare number, and asked me to sign for the appointment. There was nothing to pay, because the surgery bulk bills children (i.e. the visit is paid by the government). We were told they were running a little behind schedule — it was the middle of winter, and the place was packed — and so we’d have to wait about twenty minutes.
No problem. We sat down to wait. My baby had apparently completely recovered, and immediately started dancing in the middle of the room and generally entertaining the other patients. My older son climbed on to my lap and cuddled up to me. That was a little weird, since he’s not a natural hugger, but the place was noisy and overstimulating, so I figured he was just retreating to a safe place. I put my arms around him, and let him rest his head on my shoulder.
Twenty minutes later, right on cue, the doctor calls our names. “Let’s go!” I said, trying to stand up. But my five-year-old didn’t get up, he just lifted his head weakly, and then slumped back against me. I looked down at him. His skin wasn’t just pale, it was grey. When I tried to move him, his whole body was limp. I said his name, and he didn’t respond.
Okay. He’s probably tired, I told myself. But I wasn’t buying it.
I carried him into the doctor’s room, my then-husband and one-year-old in tow. When we sat down, the doctor looked at my five-year-old and frowned. “Let’s start with him,” she said.
The next few minutes are a blur. The doctor listened to his chest, and prodded at him, and asked a score of questions. Less than five minutes later, she had me hurrying after her to the nurse’s room at the back of the surgery, where she had me lay my son down on a stretcher and attached an oxygen mask to his little face.
The doctor explained that he wasn’t getting enough oxygen, and he needed to go to hospital immediately. (And, let me tell you, I felt like a terrible parent about then — it was his brother I’d been worried about!)
A few minutes after the oxygen mask was applied, his skin returned to its usual hue, and his eyes cleared. He gripped my hand, and asked how he got to the bed.
I comforted him the best I could, and mentally started preparing the logistics of getting him to the hospital. “Which hospital is closest? I’ll take him—”
The doctor interrupted. “An ambulance is on the way,” she said. “There’s no time to waste.”
Five minutes later, I said goodbye to my then-husband and baby, and they went back to continue the original appointment, while my son and I were whisked off into an ambulance. The paramedics did their thing, and I comforted my son. Meanwhile, the lights on the ambulance flashed, and traffic moved out of the way for us.
We were rushed into the ER less than ten minutes later. The nurses were amazing. They put a drip in my son’s arm, transferred him to a hospital oxygen mask, and checked his blood pressure and so forth. While they did it, they kept up a cheery banter with my son, explained what was going on and what was going to happen next.
“You’re having trouble breathing, huh?” one of them asked.
My son nodded and pointed to the left side of his chest. “It feels like there’s a hole in my lung here, and every time I breathe in, the air gets sucked out the hole at the bottom.”
We were taken into a waiting area in the ER, and a curtain pulled across to give us some privacy. Hospital staff brought us juice and sandwiches. A little while later, they whisked us off so my son could have a chest x-ray. When they brought us back, they took some blood. After a while, my boy fell asleep. I nibbled on sandwiches, and texted my then-husband to let him know what was happening.
We’d been in the hospital a couple of hours when the doctor came back in and apologised for taking so long. The results had come back from the blood tests and the x-rays. My son definitely had pneumonia. (In his left lung, no less.) They thought it was viral pneumonia, but they wanted to keep him in overnight to monitor his oxygen levels. A nurse would be along soon to take us to the children’s ward.
I pulled out my phone to message my then-husband with the news, but before I had time to hit “send”, the nurse was there. She chatted to my son while she wheeled his bed through the hospital — out of the ER, up an elevator, along a corridor, and into the children’s ward. We were taken into a private room (“I’m so sorry — we need to keep you isolated in case you’re contagious.”), my son’s dinner order was taken, and the TV was set up and turned on for him.
I took a breath, and finished writing and sending my message.
Then I sat with my son, and we watched TV and told each other stories. Every now and then, a nurse came in and checked his vitals. Often, they’d stay for a quick chat, and talk to my son about his interests and what he wanted to be when he grew up.
“A doctor!” my son declared, despite never having mentioned an interest in medicine before.
After dinner, a nurse came in and told me that the chair folded down into a single bed. She converted it for me, and put fresh linen on it so I could get some sleep. Then she winked at my son and said, “I have something for you.”
“What?” my son exclaimed.
The nurses left the room, then came back with a bag full of “doctor’s things”. Rubber gloves, and syringes (no needles, obviously) and tongue depressors, and all the random medical paraphernalia she’d been able to put together. She patiently explained to him what every item was for — to his great delight — and then wished him a good night’s sleep.
I don’t think either of us actually had a good night’s sleep, but we dozed in between regular visits from the nurse. In the morning, my son’s choice of breakfast was delivered to him. (I was invited to help myself to as much coffee as I wanted from the kitchenette.) The next shift of nurses was on duty, and a doctor arrived soon after breakfast. Every single one of them looked at my son’s chart, made some notes, and then said to my son, “So, I hear you’re going to be a doctor when you grow up.”
He was thrilled.
His supply of “doctor’s things” steadily grew, with everyone giving him more and more treasures to add to his doctor’s bag.
Just before lunch, the doctor came back in. He confirmed that it was viral pneumonia, and the only real cure was time and rest.
“So… what happens now?” I asked.
“Well,” the doctor said, “his oxygen levels have been stable since last night, so he doesn’t need to be on oxygen anymore. He’s clearly in good spirits. It’s up to you. He can stay here for another day so we can keep an eye on him, or you can take him home.”
“Can we go home please?” my son asked.
I nodded, and then asked the doctor, “How will I know if I have to bring him back?”
The doctor talked me through the signs to watch out for, and ran me through the expected recovery time. I thanked him, and he wished us well. Then he turned to my son and said with a wink, “I don’t want to see you back here until you’re taking over as my boss. Got it?”
“Got it,” my son grinned.
The two of them shook hands, and the doctor left. About twenty minutes later a nurse returned with the discharge paperwork. She gave me some extra information, handed me a medical certificate the doctor had signed (“This lets you get out of school for a couple of weeks.”), and asked me to sign the medicare forms for payment.
And that was it. Within the hour, we were home, and I was setting my son up a comfy nest on the couch.
Total out-of-pocket cost: $0
Total benefit: My son’s health, and my peace of mind
Neither of my sons seemed particularly sick on that day. But, thanks to Australia’s public health system, I can afford to take my children to the doctor — even when they don’t seem particularly sick.
Oh, and for the record, my one-year-old had an ear infection. One course of antibiotics later, and he was all better.
Total cost: $3.60
NE.China’s Heilongjiang police issue reward-based wanted notice for 3 US agents for involving in cyberattacks in Asian Winter Games
By Global TimesPublished: Apr 15, 2025 09:01 AM
Photo: VCG
The public security bureau in Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday issued a wanted notice with a bounty for three agents from the US National Security Agency (NSA) for their involvement in cyberattacks targeting the 9th Asian Winter Games held in Harbin in February.
Katheryn A Wilson, Robert J. Snelling and Stephen W. Johnson – all from the NSA’s Office of Tailored Access Operation – were involved in cyberattacks against the information systems during the Asian Winter Games, according to a police statement. Investigations revealed that the three participated in cyberattacks targeting China’s critical network infrastructures and enterprises, including Huawei.
To combat cyber intrusion and espionage crimes committed by foreign entities against China in accordance with laws, and to safeguard national cybersecurity and safety of people’s lives and property, wanted notices with rewards have been issued for the three criminal suspects, said the statement.
Citizens who obtain relevant information about these individuals can immediately report to public security authorities. The identity of informants will be strictly confidential. Monetary rewards will be granted to those who provide effective clues to the public security authorities or those who assist the public security authorities in the capture of the suspects, according to the statement.
The Arcade Machine
Written in response to: “Write a story from the POV of a now-defunct piece of technology.“
Les P
“On my honor as a man.”
He took another deep breath. “Alright then. Get on the bed.”
***
A truck pulled up to an arcade in the suburbs of Boston, the driver sweating profusely from his moustache as he got out. A tarp covered a large object on the bed of his truck. He rushed inside.
Finding the nearest employee, he spoke hurriedly. “Hello, miss. Is the owner available?”
“Willis? I think he’s in back,” replied the recentionist, unpurturbed. “Should I get him for you?”
“Yes please,” he responded. “I have an old arcade machine I need to get rid of.”
“Huh. Okay.” She began to walk in the direction of the building’s office nonchalantly.
Once she’d returned, she had a heavy-set old man, who both looked and smelled like the color grey, in tow. He wore a brightly patterned Hawaiian shirt, but his expression was grim and mirthless.
“What can I do for ya?” he asked with his best impression of a businessman.
“I’d like to give you a used arcade machine.”
“How much do you-” he cut himself off. “Wait. Give?”
“Give. My grandpa passed, and no one wants to buy it off me. He would’ve liked for it to get played, I think. Dying wish, or something like that?” He made as much eye contact with the proprietor as possible, hoping the man would buy his story. “Would you be able to take it off my hands, and give the machine a new home?”
Willis stood stock still for a minute. “Well, I know what they say about gift horses. Let me see the thing.”
***
Two weeks later, Willis watched a news broadcast inside his office. The face of a moustached young man, apparently his yearbook photo, was hovering on the screen.
A woman spoke over the image. “Carl Essamson, pictured here, is wanted for murder. The pre-med student is the last known associate of his professor, Dr. Arthur McMillis, who was found dismembered and mutilated in the garage of his Boston home. Essamsom is believed to be armed and dangerous, and should not be approached. If you have any-”
“Isn’t that the guy who sold us the lucky Space Invaders machine?” asked Willis’ employee.
“Maybe. All sorts of guys have moutaches like that, you can’t just go around accusing people of- Wait, lucky? How is it lucky?”
Sabrina gestured out onto the floor through the one way mirror. Three Space Invaders machines stood out there, but two were entirely unused, while one had a line, six deep, to use it. At the front, a young boy attempted to get past level two. However, his attempts were thwarted, and his ship was once again blasted into digital oblivion. The young man made to put another quarter into the slot before the next person in line, an older girl, stopped him. The two began squabbling in a way that looked like a fight might break out. So Willis found it necessary to come out of his hermit crab shell to see the commotion.
“Hey, hey, hey!” he shouted as he approached the small crowd. “What’s this about, eh? There’s two empty machines and everyone’s making a fuss about this one in specific? It’s not special!”
“It is special, mister,” said one of the children in line. “If the machine likes you, you can get to level three easy!”
“Oh yeah?” Willis asked skepically. “We’ll see about that.” He put a quarter from his pocket into the slot, and it fell through with a surprisingly meaty thunk. The screen went blank for a second, and then for a fraction of a second, a tiny heart appeared on screen, before disappearing as quickly as it appeared.
The first two levels were a breeze. Willis couldn’t help but feel as if the game were playing itself, and that he was just extraneous to the whole experience. His ship moved out of the way of oncoming projectiles when they should have hit him, and during those exhilarating moments when he needed to hit the last alien invader, they seemed to just wander straight into his bullets.
The children in line gathered around him, enraptured.
“No one beats level three…” whispered one boy.
“Says you, kid,” Willis muttered. But the child’s words rang true. His bullets weaved between the invading aliens, and his remaining lives were quickly evaporated. His last life succumbed to an alien projectile, “GAME OVER” flashing onto the screen. Raging, Willis slammed his fist onto the control panel, and kicked the machine. Although he didn’t notice it himself, the screen flashed with a broken heart, before returning to the usual sequence that played when no one was at the machine.
“Hey, bud. We’re all just trying to beat level three to see what happens after that. Can we get back to playing?” asked the older girl who was next in line.
Willis took a deep breath in, then out. “Alright, but keep it civil. No fights, yeah? Anyone who throws a punch is automatically banned from this establishment, got it?”
“Got it!” responded most of the children in his audience. The older girl was already putting her quarter into the slot.
***
A young man attempted to pick the lock of the back entrance to the small arcade. “You sure about this, Nita?”
Snow fell, soft as cats’ paws, as a teenage girl and her slightly older companion attempted to break in. She carried a crowbar. “Sure as shit, Huey. As sure as your mom cheats on your dad and your dad cheats with his mistress. Get out of the way.”
She gave him a half moment to move his face before swinging at the lock herself. The sharp point of her metal instrument broke the lock with one swing. Huey stared at her in disbelief.
“Well?” She grabbed her backpack. “Let’s go.”
The pair entered. They left the back door open behind them, their winter coats still on.
“There!” said Nita. The power was off in the entire building, besides the emergency lights. However, one machine still glowed brightly among all the darkened ones. A Space Invaders machine that refused to power down. That refused to let you reach level four, if you weren’t one of a chosen few. The rat bastard machine that had stolen Nita’s allowance, week after week, while steadfastly refusing her hope to get onto the leaderboard.
She twirled the crowbar, nicked from her dad’s garage, as if it were a flag, her color guard skills serving her well. Huey followed at a short distance.
Nita dropped her backpack onto the floor with a thunk. She reached into it, and produced a pink spray can. “You wanna do the honors, or should I?”
“It’s all you, Nita. I’m just here for the quarters.”
She moved to the left side of the machine. “CHEAT” she spelled in large, pink letters.
She chuckled. “Time to die, bitch.” She twirled her crowbar back once, and then swung it at the face of the machine. Its small mechanical noises died down, repeating and murmuring.
“Don’t forget the money!” yelled Huey, having drawn some distance away from the actual machine.
“Oh yeah!” Nita now swung the crowbar at the body of the machine, near the quarter slots. She repeatedly did this until she heard the pained whisper of change against sticky arcade floor.
In near darkness, Nita chuckled contentedly. “That’s what you get.” She picked up a quarter from the floor. She was surprised to find it oddly slick. Raising it to the light of the emergency exit, she saw it was a dark red color.
“Nita?” Huey asked nervously. The machine was leaking a dark liquid from within, and the screen had turned back on, despite the broken screen, now flashing repeatedly with a broken heart.
She stared, dumbfounded. “Oh, shi-”
***
Carl Essamsom watched in the television room of his high security psych ward. A fire was being reported on. An arcade. The very same arcade where he managed to offload Arthur. He sighed.
Trump might try to build an anti-China coalition.
That he would go to Europe, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and say, “Hey, you can’t do business with China anymore. You can’t let them build factories here. You can’t trade goods with them. You’ve got to block out China. I’m blocking China, and you have to do it too.”
Well. But fast forward to today, and now if Trump goes to Europe and says, “Hey, if you don’t block out China, we’re not going to be friends,” Europe might reply, “We’re already not friends. What are you talking about? You can’t tell us what to do.”
So, in that respect, you might say Trump’s policies are bad news for China and could crush confidence, etc. But if I’m Xi Jinping, I might think Trump is actually good for China. Why? Because he wants to close America off from the world. Perfect! That allows China to do more business with Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries.
Today, if you’re Thailand or Indonesia and you see how Trump treats countries like Ukraine, Canada, and France—countries that are nominally friends of the U.S.—you might start thinking, “The U.S. is not a very stable friend. Should I turn my back on China and do more with the U.S., or should I strengthen ties with China?”
I need to do more with China and less with the U.S., right? That’s probably what they’re thinking. And that’s what matters more to China right now.
It’s China’s chance right now. I think it is, especially when it comes to Southeast Asia. Where the U.S. closing in on itself opens up huge opportunities for China. What China should do now is pursue friendly diplomacy.
China could say, “Look, we just want to be friends. Let’s do more business together. We’re not here to bully you. Sure, we could bully you because we all know the U.S. isn’t going to protect you, but that’s not who we are. We’re here to do business. Let’s be friends and achieve mutual benefits.” This is a huge opportunity for China.
Today, March 28, 2025, Xi Jinping received over 86 global chairmen, CEOs of multinational corporations and representatives of business associations in Beijing. That’s the true global leader!
Mr. Rajesh Subramaniam, President of FedEx Group of the United States, Mr. Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mercedes-Benz Group of Germany, Mr. Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi Group of France, Mr. Georges Elhedery, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Holdings plc of the United Kingdom, Mr. Toshiaki Higashihara, Chairman of Hitachi, Mr. Noh-Jung Kwak, President of SK Hynix, and Mr. Amin H. Nasser, President of Saudi Aramco, made speeches one after another.
- Cooperations bring Win-Win Benefits.
- Confrontations don’t put foods on your table.
Putin’s terms; UN trusteeship, elections, military victory
Have you ever been surprised by an inheritance?
Not me, but a client of mine.
“Sue” (not her real nam) got a call from her cousin’s nursing home director informing her that her cousin had passed away. Sue was listed as next of kin, since the deceased cousin, was not married, had no children, no siblings and her parents were both deceased.
Sue’s parents were also deceased and her only sibling had died.
So Sue was the ONLY next of kin. She wasn’t sure what to do about this call but I said, you have nothing to lose since you are not personally responsible if your cousin has no money and/or a lot of debt.
Go check things out.
Well, the first thing Sue learned was that her cousin had $650,000 in a checking account, and a 401k, that she was the sole beneficiary of over $500,000.
Once she was named executrix, the investment statements and stock statements -direct with the companies- she had no advisors- just kept coming!
All told the inheritance, even after expenses was over $4 million.
Her cousin had always been frugal, drove an older Honda vehicle, but she never knew how much she had or thought about being the next of kin.
Sue had always been nice to her cousin, inviting her to family picnics and events, but was never particularly close to her and didn’t know she had moved herself to a nursing home .
Surprised is an understatement!!
Sir Whiskerton and the Purr-lous Treasure Map: A Tale of Feline Curiosity and Questionable Buried Treasure
Ah, dear reader, prepare yourself for a tale of intrigue, adventure, and at least one instance of a kitten getting stuck in a feed sack. Today’s story is one of hidden maps, questionable life choices, and the eternal truth that a cat’s curiosity is the spark that lights the fire of adventure—though sometimes that fire is less “roaring campfire” and more “dumpster behind a questionable taco stand.”
So, grab your magnifying glass (or at least a spoon—you never know when you’ll need to dig), and let us dive into Sir Whiskerton and the Purr-lous Treasure Map: A Tale of Feline Curiosity and Questionable Buried Treasure.
Act 1: The Mysterious Map and a Kitten’s Big Dreams
It all began on a perfectly ordinary morning—which, as any seasoned farm animal will tell you, is never a good sign. Sir Whiskerton was enjoying his usual sunbeam atop the barn, contemplating the meaning of life (and whether the farmer’s new hat made him look more like a scarecrow or a confused mushroom).
Meanwhile, Ditto, his ever-enthusiastic shadow, was doing what he did best:
- Getting into trouble.
- Echoing things.
- Occasionally combining the two for maximum chaos.
Today’s adventure began when Ditto, while attempting to “help” clean the barn (a task that mostly involved knocking things over and then looking surprised), uncovered something extraordinary beneath a loose floorboard.
- “Ooooh!” Ditto gasped, pulling out a yellowed, slightly chewed-up piece of parchment.
- “Parchment!” he echoed, as if announcing the discovery of the Holy Grail (or at least a really interesting napkin).
Sir Whiskerton, sensing the distinct aura of impending nonsense, sauntered over.
- “Let me see that,” he said, squinting at the parchment.
- “That!” Ditto repeated, vibrating with excitement.
The parchment was, without a doubt, a treasure map.
Or at least, it looked like one.
In reality, it was a crudely drawn series of squiggles, an “X” that looked suspiciously like a doodle of a fish, and the words “BURYED TREZURE HERE (DONT TELL THE DOGS)” scrawled in what appeared to be crayon.
- “This,” Sir Whiskerton said gravely, “is either the key to untold riches… or Porkchop’s grocery list from last Tuesday.”
- “Tuesday!” Ditto agreed, already halfway out the barn door.
And so, against his better judgment (which, let’s be honest, was already on vacation), Sir Whiskerton found himself leading an expedition to uncover the greatest mystery the farm had ever known.
Act 2: The Quest Begins (And Immediately Goes Off the Rails)
The map’s first clue led them to “THE BIG ROK BY THE POND.”
- “Aha!” Sir Whiskerton declared. “A classic treasure-hunting trope. The large rock is obviously a marker for—”
- “Marker!” Ditto interrupted, immediately attempting to climb the rock.
- “No, Ditto, we’re supposed to dig beside it—”
- “Dig!” Ditto agreed, promptly falling off the rock into the pond.
After fishing Ditto out (and enduring Ferdinand the Duck’s unsolicited commentary on “amateur treasure hunters these days”), they moved on to the next clue: “FOLLOW THE TRIANGLE OF POWER.”
- “Triangle of Power?” Sir Whiskerton mused. “Perhaps a reference to the farmer’s oddly shaped hay bales?”
- “Power!” Ditto said, sprinting toward the chicken coop.
It turned out the “Triangle of Power” was just three of Doris’s eggs arranged in a vaguely triangular formation (which Doris did not appreciate).
- “MY EGGS ARE NOT A NAVIGATIONAL AID!” Doris shrieked.
- “Aid!” Ditto chirped, accidentally knocking over the eggs.
- “Oh no,” Lillian whispered before fainting.
By the time they reached the final clue—“X MARKS THE SPOT (UNLESS IT’S A TRICK)”—Sir Whiskerton was beginning to suspect this was less a treasure hunt and more an elaborate prank.
But Ditto’s eyes sparkled with the unshakable faith of youth (and also because he’d gotten pond water in them).
- “We’re so close!” Ditto whispered.
- “Close!” he echoed, already digging furiously at the base of the scarecrow.
And then—
CLUNK.
Act 3: The Great Reveal (And the Disappointment That Followed)
With bated breath, Sir Whiskerton and Ditto pulled a small, dirt-covered box from the ground.
- “This is it,” Sir Whiskerton said. “The moment of truth.”
- “Truth!” Ditto squeaked, bouncing in place.
They opened the box.
Inside was:
- One (1) slightly melted rubber duck.
- A handful of acorns (partially eaten).
- A note that read, “HAHA GOT U -SINCERELY, CATNIP.”
A beat of silence.
- “…Well,” Sir Whiskerton said. “That was anticlimactic.”
- “Climactic!” Ditto said, happily chewing on the rubber duck.
But just as Sir Whiskerton was about to declare the whole adventure a waste of time, Ditto spotted something else in the box—a tiny, folded-up piece of paper.
- “Ooooh!” Ditto said, unfurling it.
- “It’s another map,” Sir Whiskerton sighed. “Probably leading to Catnip’s secret stash of stolen napkins.”
But no.
This map was different.
It led to the farmer’s secret stash of cat treats.
And it was very clearly labeled.
- “Ditto,” Sir Whiskerton said solemnly. “We have truly discovered treasure.”
- “Treasure!” Ditto yelled, already sprinting toward the farmhouse.
Moral of the Story
Curiosity does lead to adventure—but sometimes that adventure is just finding out your arch-nemesis played a prank on you five years ago and forgot about it. And that’s okay! Because even failed quests can lead to real treasure… especially if that treasure is snacks.
So stay curious, dear reader. Just maybe check who drew the map first.
Best Lines
- “BURYED TREZURE HERE (DONT TELL THE DOGS)” — The map’s author, either a genius or someone who failed spelling.
- “MY EGGS ARE NOT A NAVIGATIONAL AID!” — Doris, defending her life choices.
- “HAHA GOT U -SINCERELY, CATNIP.” — The real villain of this story.
Post-Credit Scene
Catnip, watching from a distance, grins as Sir Whiskerton and Ditto celebrate their “victory.” Then he looks down at the actual treasure map in his paws—the one leading to the farmer’s emergency bacon stash—and sneaks off, cackling.
Starring
- Sir Whiskerton as The Cat Who Really Should’ve Known Better
- Ditto as The Kitten Who Dug First, Asked Questions Never
- Catnip as The Troll Who Won (But We’ll Get Him Next Time)
- Doris as “STOP TOUCHING MY EGGS”
P.S. If life gives you a treasure map, check if it’s just a grocery list first.
The End.
What do doctors do when an unconscious patient is brought in as an emergency and needs an MRI? How do they know/check that the person doesn’t have metal within their body that could cause more harm during the scan?
An unresponsive patient arrives in the ED. The immediate priority is to make sure that the patient has an airway, is breathing and we stabilize their circulation.
Most often, the next steps are to get X-rays and CT scans. Both give us the emergent information we need. Are they bleeding in their head? Are they bleeding in their chest or abdomen. Do they have a broken neck or spinal injury.
There are times when they may need an emergent MRI. To make sure there isn’t a large stroke or actual cord damage. But MRI is very rarely the first line for imaging.
So my unconscious patient needs an MRI. And they cannot answer a check list. So, I do a quick chart review to see if there is a hint about pacemakers or stimulators. Next is a physical exam. Can I feel a pacemaker, any scars that hint to joint replacements or other metal. And, if I really need to make sure, do some rapid X-rays. Metal shows up on X-ray. If I see metal, then an MRI is not possible.
These days, there a pacemakers and other implantable devices that are MRI safe. But figuring out whether the model of pacemaker or stimulator is MRI comparable takes time. We need to know the model number to know if it is safe. We can also look at old records and see if the patient has had an MRI in the past month or so. If they have, it is likely that it is OK to get an MRI.
MRIs give us valuable information. But in a critical unresponsive patient, an MRI isn’t the first line of imaging. X-rays and CT scans give us the information we need in the beginning to exclude severe illness or injury.
VPNs Can’t Stop Chinese Fans: The Truth About Their Obsession with Speed
People in countries with universal healthcare: you are used all the time in arguments about the US’s potential healthcare system transition. Honestly, would you trade your system for the system that the United States has? Why or why not?
American OP imagine this.
You can change jobs any time you want because your health insurance isn’t tied to your employer.
Retiring will not affect your healthcare coverage.
You can visit any family doctor you like (so long as they are accepting new patients) because your health insurance doesn’t dictate where you can be treated.
You can go to any health provider and ask about a medical concern you may have. Even if the issue turns out to be something silly.
You can have a physical examination every year. They will give you a number of regular tests. Your doctor’s office will even phone you every year to remind you.
An ambulance can come and get you when you have a medical emergency or are involved an injury accident. Sometimes it turns out they don’t need to transport you because the EMT can manage your issue.
Should you be unfortunately diagnosed with a very serious condition, you will get the finest care available, including consultation with doctors in other countries (thanks to the internet).
There is no maximum amount that can be charged for your life time health care.
There is no “co-pay” or “deductible”.
You don’t have to know or care about what a treatment costs because you will never get a bill.
A clerk will never decide you can’t get treatment, tests, or medication.
And all of this at no out-of-pocket cost to yourself. While you are working your taxes will pay for your health “insurance”. While you are not working, the rest of us have got you!
MM AI Generations
China is clearly a developing country. Then why do many people like to say it is a superpower?
The Expectations of the Future
It is not about Chinas present position but the rapid progress that China has made moving from point to point that makes people say China is a superpower
- From 3.8% of the Global Shipbuilding Industry in 1999 to 51.2% by 2024
- From < 5% Indigenous Advanced Defense Technology in 2006 to nearly 96% by 2024
- From 0% Advanced Space Technology in 2011 to 100% Indigenous Advanced space technology including Global Navigation and Communication by 2024
- From the complete inability to make any chip below 45 nm in 2019 to being able to commercially manufacture and even export 28 nm Chips & being able to commercially manufacture to it’s full market 14 nm Chips & manufacturing commercially 7 nm & 5 nm Chips within a mere 5 years
- From having no advanced fighter aircraft beyond 3rd generation with Indigenous core technology (EARE – Engine, Avionics, Radar & Electronics) in 2001 to having completely industrialized 4.5 & 5th Generation Fighter aircraft with fully Indigenous EARE along with demonstrated and fully ready for production sixth generation fighters in the space of a mere 24 years
- From a 27% Industrialization in 2000 to 68% Industrialization in 2024
- From a Nation that earned $ 7 per $ 100 of Exports in 2007 to $ 40 per $ 100 of Exports in 2024 in a mere 17 years, going up the value chain
- From a Nation that made buttons, belt buckles, pencil cases & plastic Tupperware in 2005 to a Nation that exports key technology including Drones, Battery Cells, Solar Cells, , Gas Turbines, Drilling Equipment, Electric Vehicles & many other high value goods and products
The sheer pace at which China is becoming more and more Independent and powerful is why people call it a super power
However China doesn’t call itself a super power
China always identifies vulnerabilities and focuses on solving these problems and vulnerabilities
China might be a Great Power today but only when it has Independent Energy and Food and isn’t dependent on any one for either would China truly be a superpower
Only the British Empire (1858–1950) & US (1971–2015) were Superpowers
If Russia and China formed a merged economic alliance & military alliance, then it could be a superpower today
The Greatest Of All Great Men
Written in response to: “Write a story in which someone time-travels 25 years or more into the past.“
W B
“What the fuck?” Charles spun round to be confronted by a large, gangly youth in a sleeveless neon hoodie and three-quarter jeans. Neither spoke. The young man had dropped his cereal in shock and a stream of milk was now meandering towards Charles’ favourite slippers. Shit
He’d imagined this scenario many times, but the reality was far more daunting. Still, he took a deep breath, climbed out the capsule and began intruding himself to… himself. He kept it brief, including only the highlights: founding QuantAI, winning Times’ Person of the Year, and eventually solving time travel, among other things.
As he reeled off his achievements, Charles realised just how much he’d accomplished this past 20 years. Seeing the younger man’s eyes widen was especially gratifying, as was the strange expression on his face once the monologue was over – somewhere between curiosity and awe. I truly am the greatest of all great men.
—————————————————————-
Charlie stared incredulously at the man before him. Why do I look so old? The man’s skin was pasty and grey, in sharp contrast to his hair which was dyed jet black. At 48 years, he resembled a cadaver in a wig. As he spoke, spittle flew from thin, pink lips and his bony, white hands twitched excitedly. His electric blue eyes were alight with manic energy yet behind them lay a queer emptiness.
Gradually and then suddenly, Charlie realised this was actually happening. Initially, he thought there might’ve been something in the joint he’d been smoking but no. This was, unmistakably, himself. The older man was clearly very proud of his life story, so Charlie listened politely as the words washed over him.
“Anyway, that’s us,” the older man’s left eye seemed to spasm briefly. Is he trying to wink at me? “I assume you have plenty of questions?”
Charlie was stumped. Of course, he knew what he wanted to ask but he was far too afraid of the answer. Still, he could ask anything. Endless possibilities…
“How’re Leeds doing?”
“Top of the league.”
“Top of the Prem!” Charlie beamed.
“No, the Championship.” Shit.
“What else…. Kanye’s still our favourite artist, right?”
“Ah now that’s complicated.” For some reason the older man glanced at the Star of David hanging above the doorway. “Just enjoy the music while you can.”
“Okay, sounds mysterious,” mused Charlie. Time to think bigger.
“Have we made it to Mars yet?”
“Sadly not. I have a friend across the pond who’s working on it…. though he seems a bit distracted right now”
“Sure, sure…” Should I ask the question? No, no it’ll just ruin things. “How about the environment? Have we made any progress there?”
The older man snorted. “Not quite… although we can’t use plastic straws anymore.”
Charlie didn’t know what to make of that. “What have they done to sort out global warming?”
He shook his head, “Very little…”
“But surely, with Al Gore coming into the Whitehouse once the recount’s finished…”
The older man laughed. “Actually, the Supreme Court… never mind.” He stared pensively into Charlie’s eyes and for the first time he seemed human. “I forgot how idealistic we used to be…”
He tore his eyes away from those of his former self. “Anyway, I should get going. You have a big future ahead of you mate,” he finished, somewhat sadly, and turned away. Suddenly Charlie felt guilty. Clearly the older man wanted him to show an interest in his life; the businesses he’d founded, the concepts he’d realised, the accolades he’d achieved.
But, truthfully, Charlie didn’t care. No doubt he would in time, the man before him was proof of that. Now, though, there was only one question he wanted to ask. For the first time since the old man from the future appeared in his living room, Charlie was nervous.
“One last thing,” he began tentatively. “As you know… as you’ll remember… I met this girl last year and we’ve been dating ever since…” the words came tumbling out before he could stop them. He recalled the awkward first meeting outside the College Master’s office, the first kiss punctuated with fits of laughter as they stumbled through torrential rain, the trip to Paris where they missed the reservation and spent all night eating ice cream beneath the Eiffel Tower.
When the older man turned around, he seemed smaller. Shrunken. The empty, electric blue eyes now glistening with tears. Oblivious, Charlie continued to burble about the love of his life.
“Anyway, I just want to know… well… please, please, please tell me we’re married to Cassie.”
Would you buy a Tesla if Musk is kicked out of Tesla?
I currently own a Tesla — a 2020 Model 3 Long Range AWD. I took delivery of it in Dec 2019. At the time, it was the only EV that could meet my driving needs. I did not purchase the “Performance” model nor did I purchase the “Full Self-Driving” package, but I did pay for other other “premium” upgrades.
The reason I’ll never buy another Tesla is because it’s not a very good car. Even though I paid extra for the “premium” upgrades, the interior feels cheap, and the interior is quite noisy (it’s always had trouble with road noise, and now that it’s 5 years old, it has developed numerous rattles that there is absolutely no excuse for). The controls are terrible (you’re forced to use the stupid touch screen for just about everything, and it’s only gotten worse in the newer models). Sure, the acceleration is good, but that’s true of every EV and the while the handling is mostly fine (due almost entirely to the low center of gravity that every skateboard-type EV platform is going to have), it’s nothing to write home about and the turning radius is absolutely terrible; the Volvo XC90 that my wife used to drive was easier to park in a tight parking lot than my Model 3. They tout their awesome over-the-air software updates, but on more than one occasion, one of those updates has broken something on my car, and at this point, I’ve stopped letting it perform the updates because I’m tired of it. The backup camera is flaky, and it seems to be entirely a software problem. They can’t even make something as simple as rain sensing wipers work correctly, something my 21 year old BMW hobby car has absolutely nailed. I should have been tipped off about how much of a piece of junk it was when I took delivery and noted several paint defects (Tesla ended up having to re-spray several body panels).
My wife currently drive a Volvo XC40 Recharge. Except for the single-charge range, it’s a much better car by just about every metric. It’s more comfortable and quiet inside, the interior materials are much nicer (in our case, it’s the vegan suede that really actually feels like suede … and that’s the base interior … we wanted the wool upholstery, which feels absolutely amazing, but that was going to significantly delay delivery so we compromised). Literally the only thing the Tesla does better than the Volvo is the single-charge range and the admittedly very good integration of the Tesla DC fast-charging network into the navigation system.
I have done several long road trips in my Model 3. My wife has also done a long road trip in the Volvo (driving it across the United States from California to Connecticut). The single-charge range and comparably worse charging integration into the navigation system were not significant barriers to that cross-country drive, and I plan to drive the car from CT to CA, so I’ll be able to directly compare the Tesla vs Volvo experience. But of course, the overwhelming majority of the driving that my wife and I do is basic commute / around-town errand running, so the vast majority of the time the superior Tesla DC fast-charging experience is of no benefit, so it does not tilt the scale.
Grilled Onion Cheeseburgers
Prep and cooking: 35 to 45 min | Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 large yellow or white onions, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
- 1-2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
- 4 white or whole wheat hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls, split
- 3 ounces crumbled or shredded cheese (blue cheese, smoked mozzarella, goat cheese, feta, etc.)*
Instructions
- Combine ground beef, thyme and garlic in medium bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape into eight 1/2 inch thick patties. Brush both sides of onion slices with oil. Place patties and onion slices on grill over medium, ash-covered coals.
- Grill patties, uncovered, 11 to 13 minutes to medium (160 degrees F) doneness until no longer pink in center and juices show no pink color, turning occasionally. Grill onions 15 to 20 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally and brushing with oil. Season patties with salt and pepper, as desired.
- Add desired cheese to burgers about 1 minute before removing from grill. Place cheese-topped burgers on bottom of each bun and top with 1/2 of grilled onions. Close sandwiches. Cover and refrigerate remaining 4 burgers and onions.
Notes
* Any type of sliced cheese may also be used to top burgers, including Cheddar, Swiss, provolone and Gouda.
What is the most common spoken language in China? Is it Cantonese or Mandarin? Which language is more similar to written Chinese?
Mandarin is easily the most common language in China, with about 70% of the population able to speak it fluently. However, if you are looking at the Chinese diaspora worldwide, Cantonese has traditionally been far more widely spoken than Mandarin, and in some Chinatowns you will still hear little else.
The exceptions are Singapore and Malaysia, where Hokkien (like Taiwanese) is more widely spoken, than Cantonese, but you can also use Mandarin in both. For some strange historical reason, most Chinese Malaysians transliterate their names according to Cantonese pronunciation, regardless of their own ethnic heritage.
Cantonese is also still the language or dialect of choice for transliterating foreign names. So, the Chinese characters used in the names of famous politicians, for example, from Hitler to Trump (sorry to put those two together, but there are many people who seem to think they have more in common than the pronunciation of their Chinese names!) are based on their Cantonese pronunciation, not Mandarin (the Mandarin for Hitler sounds a little like ‘Shit-e-ler’, perhaps more appropriate for someone so hated!).
I don’t know about now, with Xi Jinping trying to wipe out everything but Mandarin, but in the 1990s it was at least as easy if not more so to get by in Guangdong province (in the south) in Cantonese than Mandarin, and instruction was allowed in schools in that era, so if you plan to spend any time in that region, I would imagine it’s still very useful there too.