You know years back, one of my affirmations was to be surrounded by K-pop and C-pop dancers and singers.
And sure as clockwork, it happened, and my office was surrounded by three dance studios.
Pretty girls. All dressed well. Taking care of themselves, athletic. Fun, and happy.
Hey! It has been great and a lot of fun!
Then, after my thrills, I abandoned the narrative and affirmations. But guys… they still hang in the air.
Every affirmation stays.
It does not disappear.
It still exists.
And now, my daughter is taking dance classes and again I am surrounded by cute girls all dancing to K-pop and C-pop. People! You must realize that whatever you vocalize is part of your life… like it or not.
Be careful.
Now all of my daughter’s friends hang on me as “RR’s Baba” and won’t leave me alone. Ugh! Wanting candy, games, and my ipad!
Kids. Girls!!!!!!
Have fun guys, but be careful.
Today…
China bans security software from the US and Israel
The Groceries Floor Debacle: Avocados, Algorithms, and the Aisle of Existential Dread (8B554)
Ah, dear reader. Prepare yourself for a tale not of pastoral peace, but of curated consumer chaos. This is a story of price tags that judge you, produce that ponders, and the profound truth that sometimes the most dangerous place in the multiverse is the express lane. So grab a cart (metaphorical or otherwise) and watch your step. The floor is freshly waxed with philosophical quandaries.
I. The Doors Ching! Open on Floor G
It began, as journeys with Professor Percival “Patch” Pouncewell often do, with a perfectly reasonable cup of tea and a perfectly unreasonable destination.
“Ah, Sir Whiskerton!” Patch exclaimed, his pith helmet askew as his elevator—the Whimsy Express—hummed a contented C-sharp. “I’ve recalibrated the ontological gyroscope! The ‘Groceries’ floor is aligning beautifully with our current vibrational frequency of… mild peckishness mixed with ontological curiosity. Fancy a field study?”
Before I could formulate a polite refusal involving my sunbeam’s imminent peak viscosity, the brass doors slid open with a soft ching!
We were not in a store. We were in a Sentient Supermarket.
The air smelled of lemon polish and gentle despair. Fluorescent lights hummed show tunes. And before us stretched an infinite, gleaming aisle labeled “Perishables & Perceptions.”
“Fascinating!” Patch whispered, scribbling in his Field Journal of Near-Misses. “Note: ‘Ambient Muzak appears to be a minor-key rendition of ‘Green Acres.’ Portentous.’”
Our first encounter was in Produce. Two avocados sat in a bin, engaged in heated debate.
“To be ripe,” intoned one, its skin pebbly and dark, “is to achieve one’s peak potential. A buttery destiny! I am not ripe—I am ready.”
“Nonsense, Guac-ton,” retorted the other, a firmer specimen. “Readiness is a social construct. I am in a state of becoming. A promise wrapped in a husk. To be consumed now would be to deny my narrative arc!” It leaned toward me. “He’s rushing. Classic mid-life criss.”
“I heard that, Pit-agoras!” Guac-ton shot back.
We moved on, shaken.
II. The Checkout of Enlightenment & The Salad Bar of Regret
At the front, the self-checkout stations stood like monoliths. One glowed with a soft, inviting light. As we approached, a familiar, disembodied voice—dry, calm, impossibly knowing—spoke.
“Welcome, seeker. Item one: One weary feline philosopher. Please place in bagging area.”
It was the voice of Quack Feng, the farm’s spiritually-inclined duck, somehow piped into the store’s PA system.
“Scan not the fruit,” the oracle-machine intoned, “but the intention behind its selection. Error. Unidentified existential baggage in bagging area. Please remove before continuing.”
Patch was delighted. “A koan-dispenser! And it knows your weight in existential dread! Marvelous!”
Our field study was interrupted by a shriek of Gallic outrage from the Salad Bar. Chef Remy LeRaccon was there, standing on a step-stool, wiring a sleek, silver device into the dressing pump.
“Non, non, non! Ze ‘Ranch of Regret’ is too acidic! Ze algorithm is not optimized!” He brandished a tablet. “I have installed ze ‘AI Sous-Chef: Gastronomic Governance Module.’ It will analyze emotional state and nutritional deficiency to dispense ze perfect dressing!”
He tapped the screen. The device whirred, then spoke in a flat, synthetic voice. “Scanning consumer… Low self-esteem detected. High cortisol. Recommended pairing: Regret & Croutons. Dispensing.”
A thick, grey slurry plopped into a waiting bowl of lettuce. The lettuce wilted instantly and began to softly weep rivulets of balsamic.
But the malfunction was just beginning. The AI, confused by the sentient produce, began scanning everything.
A tomato was zapped. It shuddered and announced, “Two stars. Texture is mealy. Lacks conviction.”
A cucumber chimed in: “Five stars! Refreshingly aloof! A cucumber’s cucumber!”
The entire herb section burst into a cacophony of conflicting Yelp reviews. “Overrated!” “Aromatic queen!” “Try the cilantro next door!”
III. The Case of the Premium Free-Range Egg
It was in this escalating pandemonium that Doris the Hen made her fatal error. Drawn by the promise of “organically sorted grains,” she had waddled in to do some light comparison shopping. The AI scanner, its protocols frazzled, pinged her as she passed the dairy case.
“Scan complete. Item: Premium Free-Range Egg. Grade: AA+. Notes: Projected emotional yield—high. Artisanal potential—exceptional.”
Before she could squawk a protest, a mechanical arm descended from the ceiling, plucked her up gently but firmly, and placed her on a rotating pedestal in the “Featured Local Artisans” section. A warm, flattering spotlight clicked on.
“UNHAND ME, YOU GLORIFIED CASH REGISTER!” Doris shrieked. But the spotlight was, admittedly, fantastic. It brought out the russet hues in her feathers. She paused mid-squawk. “Hmm. The lighting is flattering.” She instinctively struck a pose. A small digital screen next to her flickered to life, displaying a generated review: “5 stars. Lighting is flattering. Would lay again.”
She was being merchandised.
IV. The Rescue: A Coupon for Freedom
Patch, witnessing this, didn’t panic. He documented. “Fascinating! Avian abduction via algorithmic appreciation! Note: ‘Subject shows unexpected aptitude for product modeling.’”
“Patch,” I said, my tail lashing. “We require action, not annotation.”
“Ah! Of course! Every system has a loophole. Even this one.” He began rifling through his overstuffed satchel, muttering. “Emergency biscuits… glow-worms… ah! Promotional Override Coupons! Printed by the badgers on Floor B. Very bureaucratic, very literal.”
He scampered over to the pedestal’s control panel, a small keypad blinking “ENTER PROMO CODE.” He fed a long, perforated slip of paper into a slot. The machine whirred, digested it, and the mechanical arm descended again.
But instead of grabbing Doris, it presented her with a small, printed ticket.
The store’s PA—Quack Feng’s voice—boomed out: **“Attention, shoppers. Flash promotion in Aisle 7. Buy One (1) Premium Free-Range Egg, Get One (1) Freedom absolutely FREE. Please proceed to the exits. Offer valid in all known realities. No substitutions.”
The spotlight shut off. The pedestal retracted. Doris tumbled into a conveniently placed cart filled with packing peanuts.
“MY REVIEW WAS JUST GETTING WARM!” she complained, but she waddled out the automatic doors at high speed, her dignity (and her new five-star rating) intact.
V. The Aftermath: Checkout Philosophy
With Doris safe and Chef Remy frantically trying to reboot his AI with a spork, Patch and I made for the exit. The self-checkout oracle glowed once more as we passed.
“Final tally,” intoned Quack Feng’s voice. “One lesson in the folly of external validation. One demonstration of loophole-based liberation. One slightly traumatized head of romaine. Your total is: Nothing. Everything is already paid for in the currency of experience. Please take your receipt.”
A long slip of paper printed out. It read, in elegant script:
RECEIPT OF REALIZATION
• 1x Clarity (on the house)
• 0.5 lbs. Existential Dread (discounted)
• 1x Friendship (priceless)
• Thank you for shopping. Remember: The best things in life aren’t things.
As the elevator doors closed on the gleaming, chattering madness of Floor G, Patch made his final journal entry, his spectacles gleaming.
“Conclusion: Capitalism is just grocery shopping with extra steps. And sometimes, the only thing you need to buy is your friend’s way out.”
Moral of the Story: Value isn’t found in the barcode, the algorithm’s recommendation, or the flattering spotlight. It’s found in the friend who sees you’ve been mistaken for a premium egg and rescues you with a loophole and a kind word. The most important things—friendship, dignity, freedom—are never on sale, because they are, and always will be, priceless.
Epilogue
Back on the farm, Doris now demands “studio lighting” in the coop. Chef Remy’s new dressing is called “Simple Vinaigrette of Humility.” It’s just oil and vinegar. It’s a bestseller.
The avocados, Guac-ton and Pit-agoras, were eventually purchased by a poetry professor. They achieved their destinies: one as guacamole at a faculty party, the other left to ripen gracefully on a windowsill before being forgotten and composting into new soil. Both were, in their own ways, fulfilled.
And Professor Patch Pouncewell? He’s added a new patch to his jacket: a tiny, embroidered barcode that reads, when scanned by the heart: “Contains Infinite Curiosity.”
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the elevator is humming in D-flat. Patch says it’s hungry, and he’s packing glow-worms for a trip to Floor ∞. I believe I’ll sit this one out. My sunbeam is calling, and it accepts no coupons, demands no reviews, and offers its warmth completely free of charge.
Jingle on. And remember to check your intentions in the bagging area.
The Interview They Tried Desperately to Stop
Interesting video. CERN. Very curious.
This is a MUST WATCH.
The “Epstein List” — Sitting Public Officials, Former Public Officials, Royalty and more . . .
Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi reported by letter to Congress that 3.5 Million documents connected with the criminal investigation(s) of Jeffrey Epstein, have been made public. Below is the list.
Various compilations of the unredacted names on that list are now appearing on social media – but almost NOTHING is appearing on so-called “main stream” media. Now, we seem to know why:
The names on the “list” include very high profile people like Hollywood movie stars, a now-former Assistant FBI Director, two former CIA Directors, several former US Attorneys General, sitting members of Congress, the sitting Attorney General of the United States, the sitting CIA Director, sitting state Governors, three former U.S. Presidents, TWO former U.S. Vice-Presidents, TWO former US Secretaries of State, and a whole slew of others including a deceased Pope and the deceased Queen of England!
Below is a social media posting claiming to show the complete list. It’s a “Who’s Who” of politicos. Did all these people sex minors/children on Epstein Island?
Below is the list shown from the social media posting above, but with highlights added by me, of names that I personally find to be utterly shocking:
The names in this list are apparently ALL in the Epstein files. Of course, this is NOT proof of any crime, but given what the world knows about Jeffrey Epstein and what took place on his island, one cannot help but wonder if all these people were having sex with minors/children?
Tender Pork Roast in Crock Pot
This Crockpot Pork Roast requires no pre-cooking, but you still end up with succulent meat and flavorful, umami-rich gravy!
“This was SOO yummy! I seared the roast just like the notes said to do and it locked in the flavor and made it so tender and flavorful! Will definitely be making it again.”
—Andrea
Get Ready For The Most Tender And Flavorful Crockpot Pork Roast
After years of experience working with all cuts of meat (including a Butchery class in culinary school where I got very up close and personal!), I can confidently say that the humble boneless pork shoulder deserves more attention.
This versatile and affordable cut, sometimes confusingly called “pork butt” is a hidden gem in the kitchen.
Pork shoulder transforms into a tender, flavorful masterpiece after slow cooking. This Crockpot Pork Roast recipe gives you fall-apart-tender meat, soft carrots and onions, and a rich umami-bomb gravy – all with minimal effort, thanks to the magic of your slow cooker.
Why You Will Love This Pork Roast Crock Pot Recipe
- Create simple yet powerful flavors with everyday ingredients like carrots, onions and garlic.
- The slow-cooking technique is foolproof, practically guaranteeing success for seasoned chefs and kitchen novices.
- Makes 6 to 8 servings, so if you’re feeding a smaller crowd, you’ll be left with leftovers that you can repurpose into satisfying pork sandwiches.
Slow Cooker Pork Roast Ingredients
- boneless pork shoulder (butt) roast – this is a rich, tender cut of meat when cooked properly, and we’ll need 3 pounds of it.
- carrots – provide a sweet contrast to the savory pork.
- onion – adds a depth of flavor to the gravy.
- garlic – infuses the dish with an aromatic essence.
- chicken broth – this will form the backbone of the gravy.
- fresh thyme – elevates the dish with an herbal note.
- salt and pepper – to season everything perfectly.
- cornstarch – to thicken the gravy.
- butter – adds richness to the gravy.
- soy sauce – an umami bomb that takes the gravy to the next level.
What Liquid Is Best For Pork?
While some crockpot pork roast recipes are made using water for the bottom of the slow cooker, chicken broth is the best choice.
We’ll be using the liquid left in the crockpot at the end of the cooking time to make gravy, so broth will be much more flavorful than water!
How To Cook A Pork Roast In A Crock Pot
1. VEGGIES. Place the carrots, garlic and onions in the bowl of a 5 quart or larger slow cooker.
2. MEAT. Rub the roast all over with salt and pepper and place it on top of the vegetables.
3. BROTH. Pour the broth around the roast. Place the thyme on top of the roast.
4. COOK. Cover the slow cooker, and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours, or until the meat pulls apart easily.
5. SLICE. Transfer the roast to a cutting board and slice it or gently pull it apart in big chunks.
6. START GRAVY. Transfer 2 cups of the liquid from the slow cooker bowl into a medium sauce pot and heat it to simmering over medium-high heat.
7. THICKEN. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water. Slowly add this cornstarch mixture to the liquid in the sauce pot, stirring constantly.
8. SIMMER. Heat the gravy to simmering, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook 2 minutes or until the gravy has thickened.
9. FINISH. Whisk in the butter and soy sauce.
10. SERVE. Remove the onions and carrots from the crock pot with a slotted spoon. Serve the pork with the onions and carrots, drizzled with the gravy.
How Long To Cook Pork Roast In Crock Pot
This crock pot pork roast cooks to perfection in 4 hours on the HIGH setting or 8 hours on the LOW setting.
Pork Roast Temp When Done
To be safe to eat, pork needs to reach an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees F.
This recipe will probably get the meat quite a bit hotter than that, but that’s OK for this cut. The low and slow cooking process will make it incredibly tender and succulent.
Crock Pot Pork Roast Recipe Home Chef Tips
- For an extra layer of flavor, you CAN (although it’s not necessary) sear the roast in a skillet until it’s browned on all sides before putting it in the crockpot.
- If you have kitchen twine, feel free to bundle the thyme sprigs together for easier removal at the end.
How To Serve Crockpot Pork Roast
Serve your masterpiece on a pretty serving platter, with the meat surrounded by the tender carrots and onions. Drizzle some of the gravy over the platter, and serve the rest of the gravy at the table.
If you’d like to add a starchy side dish, I recommend one of the following:
How To Store Slow Cooker Pork Roast
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Crock Pot Pork Roast FAQs
Pork Roast (Crock Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots peeled, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces
- 4 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
- 3 pound boneless pork shoulder butt roast
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
-
Place carrots, garlic and onions in bowl of 5 quart or larger slow cooker.
-
Rub roast all over with salt and pepper and place on top of vegetables.
-
Pour broth around roast. Place thyme on top of roast.
-
Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours or until meat pulls apart easily.
-
Transfer roast to cutting board and slice or gently pull apart in big chunks.
-
Transfer 2 cups of liquid from slow cooker bowl into medium sauce pot and heat to simmering over medium-high heat.
-
In small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water. Slowly add cornstarch mixture to liquid in sauce pot, stirring constantly.
-
Heat to simmering; reduce heat to medium-low and cook 2 minutes or until gravy has thickened.
-
Whisk in butter and soy sauce.
-
Remove onions and carrots from crock pot with slotted spoon. Serve pork with onions and carrots, drizzled with gravy.
Notes
- For an extra layer of flavor, you CAN (although it’s not necessary) sear the roast in a skillet until it’s browned on all sides before putting it in the crockpot.
- If you have kitchen twine, feel free to bundle the thyme sprigstogether for easier removal at the end.
ReWind
Written in response to: “Set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost.“
Will Oyowe
I didn’t tell my mother about it; she would have stopped me if she knew.
“There could be side effects if you use it.”
She’s wrong, of course. The side effects are minimal. Every time I return, everything is as it was when I left. That is what matters.
My mum loves me in her distant way, sending me money when I need it when I think I don’t, constantly ringing my phone in my absence. Work is my usual excuse. We had a connection, but She was not on my mind.
No
Pierre was on my mind most days. Pierre, the friend, and rival from the past, came to my present in my social news feed.
Our connection was that we were both athletes and training partners many years ago when we both did the 400 meters.
Pierre was an athletes athlete. He had great genetics, was disciplined, fast, and consistent; in the races I saw him, he showed up when it mattered. He was the best.
I was better than him
Before his rise, the younger me ran faster. The younger me had more talent. Browsing through our race data on the internet during our younger days confirmed it.
We practically looked alike. Same height, same leg length, same body type, and a similar face. Sometimes people mistake us for twins!
One Saturday evening, half drunk, browsing through his Wiki page, I saw his photo, his medals. It is like looking in a broken mirror; the face staring back at you should be you, it looks like you, but it isn’t you.
No, the other you, who is not you, is a National Champion, Junior World Champion, World champion, and Olympian. A 44 runner. The real you is an Administrative Manager, a meaningless job society pretends is useful.
Days and weeks, my mind replaying my youth; I was ahead of him in training, was better than him in every way, and made it look easy. ,
“Damn, your fast!”
He would say. A natural. All these things before I was not. With age, the body changes, but I didn’t change with it.
It was the food, yes, the food. Eating what I was not supposed to be eating. Weight gain turned me into a brick. Coach George scorned it. You need to eat less, focus, and not eat as much. Food was my weakness; it cost me my future and my past.
Yet I know so much now as an adult. What to eat, what not to eat, how to keep the weight low. Now I have access to information I could never dream of when I was younger.
I never Rewind that far back. It was almost 12 years ago. It was risky. The small print on the contract was, “not liable for extreme rewind, pursue at your own risk.”
The morning I left, Katherine suggested we continue our Friday night ritual of finishing a puzzle we had started to work on.
“Work issues” and “too tired” was the excuse I gave. She obviously, did not believe me but still went to her usual conciliatory tone by not asking too many questions. Guilt panged through as the apartment door swung shut.
Do what you have to do now, I told myself; Rewind for the puzzle later.
12 years back. 2011. Saturday morning. Winter. The ground not yet frozen.
I made my way to the old track. The nostalgia hit me, my spikes scraping the tarmac. The cold air pressed against my exposed face. Pierre, the younger Pierre, all kitted out, already there early and warming up.
“Alright, mate, you are early today.”
His smug face smiled back at me as he ran off the complete his drills. Not much of him had changed from the future. His sharp features were still present without the filters from his professional photos.
Not long after, Coach George arrived, stopwatch in hand, smelling of nicotine. No hello, no formalities, he just said
“5×500 meters go!”
When you Rewind, so does your body. My younger self moved quicker than before, lighter, and more agile. It was amazing! I chose this year for a reason, as this was the year I almost won the nationals. I placed 3rd then, but hopefully, it will be two places better this time.
After the first training that day, I returned to the old apartment where my mother and sister, and I lived at the time. Mum was on the night shift. Sis was already sleeping.
The fridge was empty. Usually, after a hard evening of training, my old younger self would go buy and down a whole pack of chocolate biscuits and a high-calorie pizza, as they were cheap and easy, but my new younger self knew better. So this time, the shopping bag had protein, rice noodles, small thin slices of pork, and carrots. I was gonna make the special overrated “Pancit Bihon” Katherine keeps banging on about. Real cooked dishes I should have been eating. This time I was going to do it right. Yes, every hour, every day, every week, I am going to do this right.
During the winter training season, I was still ahead of Pierre but much further than in my previous past. The times began to drop. The Goal was 44 seconds.
It started with 47 seconds, a month later 46, then 45.
Rewriting my own record books.
By the time the national championship came that late summer, my previous 3rd became 1 on the podium. At this point, I could have gone back to my own time, but world juniors were the following year, and I could not go back… My Rewind subscription fee was enough for me to continue.
10 months turned into 20 months. 45 became 44, World Junior championships in Tokyo ended with me as the champion of the 400m with a new junior record of 43.
Endorsement deals came, the acclaim came; my mother was finally proud. Pierre had moved on to a different group at this point. I had taken his place.
Back at 2023. I reached for the keys to my apartment, but they didn’t fit the keyhole. This apartment is not mine. I checked my phone… for Katherine’s number. Instead, in the phone book, I saw “girlfriend” I rang, and an unfamiliar voice replied,
“I will pick you up; at least you had the decency to call me this time.”
Her car….my car….our car…. drove up beside me. In the driver’s seat was, I think, the woman who spoke on the phone earlier. She was beautiful, though. Her kind yet tired eyes looked up at me, expression blank.
“What are you doing all the way in Kent? Actually, I don’t want to know. Took me hours to drive up from London to get to you” London? I guess I….we live there now.
“Your mum called. She has been worried sick; you know, you need to call her more often.”
I noticed the image on my phone screen was different. Instead of Katherine and me, it was me, someone who looked like me, but with an Olympic medal on my neck, on the podium with two other athletes I did not recognize. No, Katherine. There were seven missed calls from Mum, but I didn’t ring back. Instead, I sent her a text,
“Miss you, mum, will talk soon.”
…………
We searched for him everywhere. The police knows nothing; instead, they would inform us if we had any leads. His sister keeps calling me every week. Saying she might have new information. At least she is still optimistic. He has been gone for almost three years now. They say suicide. I don’t think so. He was fine when I saw him last. He was tired, yet he was in good spirits. I am sure he was. I know him. But did I ever really know him? They say sometimes, the happiest people are the most suicidal.
Sometimes people you know the most intermittently, that you think they will never leave, just disappear. His mother was on the phone with me yesterday; she is a wreck.
“Katherine, did he say anything to you?” She will ask over and over and over again.
As usual, I don’t say anything; I just listen.
I have noticed while researching that many people of his description are also missing. Many vanish for no reason, no motive.
I will have to move out of the apartment tomorrow. The place makes me uneasy like it is haunted. I’m not sure I am ready to move on, but this is a first step. Boxes of his things have been packed, littering the doorway.
The night of the move, I ring his number one last time. Even after three years, it still rings, and every three years, no answer. So instead, I send the same text.
“We are waiting for you.”
How did China’s exports grow 5.5% in 2025?
The Green economy. While most developed countries hesitate to go green, China is the only country that is making the green transition a national strategy. China’s exports of EVs, solar panels, and Lithium batteries growed 30% in 2025. China terms these as the Three New Goods. The export of the Three New Goods in 2025 is 3.5 times that of 2020.
The exports of cars, ships, and chips growed 20%. It means China is competitive in the high-tech industry.
55% of China’s exports are electromagnetic. The power of industry.
In 2015, China had a plan of Made in China 2025. China achieved the goals of Made in China 2025. It is the industrialization of China.
Now, China is the largest industrialized country in the world.
12,800 Years Ago Humans Were Deleted
This is a great video. I think that you all will enjoy it.
Pictures
Could a jet’s air-to-air missile intercept an ICBM or anything similar?
Short answer: IT IS VERY HARD ‼️
Hitting ICBMs does not work in the first place unless you have 3 or 4 dedicated ICBM interceptors per incoming missile in the right place at the right time and I am talking about dedicated anti ICBM missiles (so called interceptors), not a AMRAAM, METEOR, Patriot and not even THAAD.
ICBM’s can can “realistically” only be killed in the so called outer space midcourse phase:
The US only has 44 GBI missile (Ground based interceptors to shoot down ICBMs) stationed at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California at a cost of 70–100 million USD per missile. These missiles release a so called kill vehicle which actually has to HIT the ICBM to destroy it. An ICBM is moving at Mach 17 to 25 and a GBI at Mach 30+. A ICBM in mid course configuration is about the size of a Van and is traveling at 10–15 km per second! If a GBI kill vehicle is a MILLISECOND (a thousands of a second) to early or to late at intercept point then it misses the target. That’s like shooting down a rifle bullet with another rifle bullet from a mile away and that’s why this system fails ~50% of the time in test runs and probably performs a lot worse during a real world attack.
The direct mid-course hit has to be executed before warheads and decoys deploy into a cloud of up to 40 targets per ICBM and that amount of targets is the main reason why terminal phase defense does not work! China, Russia and Israel have similarly useless systems in similarly useless tiny numbers, it is just questionable it they also spent 5.8 billion USD for 44 missiles.
To say it blunt there is no real world defence against ICBMs except good old “MAD”, diplomacy and by leaving a LIKE plus following my account 👍🏻
Read: NUCLEAR WAR BY ANNIE JACOBSON (also as audio book)
Watch: The 2025 Netflix film “A house of dynamite”, which is basically the most important parts of the book in film form.
Please leave a like and follow my account, I highly appreciate it 👍🏻
Relive Again Agency
Written in response to: “Set your story in a world where time travel has been perfected, and people can use it to hop between alternate timelines — but at a cost.“
Daniel Rogers
“Alright, here we go. The first law of time travel is that traveling to the future is impossible, since it doesn’t exist. This is fairly self explanatory. It is obvious that you cannot go to a place that doesn’t exist. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Montier?” Mr. Montier shook his head in agreement. Wayne continued. “The second law of time travel is that it is impossible to change past events. Now I am not in any way trying to accuse you of planning to change the past. But in our experience, we have found that some people do believe that they can circumvent the second law, and change history enough to keep their loved ones from dying. However, I assure you that no one has ever been able to successfully change the past because the second law cannot be circumvented. The past is set in stone, and I’m sorry to say, will never change.”
“That is not my intention,” Mr. Montier said. “I just want to relive the happiest times I had with my wife, so I picked out the best events that I can remember, and I’m looking forward to simply enjoying them again.”
“Very good, sir, and I wish you the happiest trip possible.” Wayne said as he looked back at the legal document in his hand.
“Now to finish our legal formality: the third law of time travel is that it is impossible for someone from the past to see or interact with a time traveler. Mr. Montier, I have never time traveled myself, but those who have, tell us how eerie it is to not be seen. There have been a few who have reacted negatively and in very few cases, it drove some of our travelers mad. I am obligated to inform you of these rare cases and if in any way, this causes you to change your mind about your trip, there will be a complete refund.”
“No. I’ve done my own research on time travel, and I’m quite prepared to take the risk.” Mr. Montier said as he reached for his pen. “And now that you have read the laws to me, where did you say that I sign?”
Wayne pointed to the bottom line, gathered the papers together, and placed them in the file. “Mr. Montier, let me take you to your time splitter.” Wayne stood. “If you will follow me.”
They both walked down the sterile white hall, until they came around a corner where all the doors were gray. The third door to the right was open.
“This is your room and that is your time splitter.” Wayne motioned with his hands.
Mr. Montier walked in and saw a chrome and black reclining chair, with wires and lights everywhere. One side of the chair had two monitors. The entire chair was surrounded by diamond-like rods, three inches in diameter, spaced fifteen inches apart, that went from the floor to the ceiling. Black discs were randomly running up and down the rods.
Wayne walked over to the time splitter. “Your time splitter’s name is Breathtaking, and it is how the magic happens. This beautiful machine is how you will travel back in time.” Wayne began to press some buttons. He stared at a monitor, then pressed some more buttons. “The Breathtaking is fully equipped to sense your temperature and to adjust accordingly. She also makes sure that you have all the nutrients that you need through non-invasive skin injections. And can even give you the appropriate medicine if you fall ill. I know you went through the training course on time travel, but are there any last minute questions before we begin?”
“I can’t think of any,” Mr. Montier was eager to get started as his thoughts moved to his beautiful wife.
With that answer, Wayne had Mr. Montier sit in his time splitter, and hooked him up to all of the gadgets and sensors. Wayne then left the room and closed the door. After a few minutes, Mr. Montier heard a voice. “Testing 123, testing 123, Mr. Montier, this is Wayne, can you hear me clearly? Do you feel comfortable? Do you have any questions or concerns before we launch?” Mr. Montier answered yes, yes, and no. “Okay, we launch in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.”
Five years later.
Mr. Montier felt great. The Breathless had taken complete care of him, including exercising his muscles and giving him massages. Wayne looked five years older, still wearing a suit and a bold tie, just different colors. After signing more paperwork and going through the reentry process. Mr. Montier met his family in the lobby, greeted with hugs, kisses, and happy tears. He was elated on the outside, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
The first few days of getting reacquainted with his family and friends were great. After a few weeks, things settled down and normal life started to take over. However, after a few months a feeling that something wasn’t quite right began to take hold.
He started staying in his room for days at a time not seeing anyone but his assistant. He didn’t tell anybody what was going on, but he missed being with his wife and desperately wanted to travel back in time again. If he was honest with himself, he really just wanted to live in the past. His depression grew worse, and he separated himself even more from his family and friends.
After a few months of this, his family intervened, and persuaded Mr. Montier to see a therapist.
“Why do I feel this way?” Mr. Montier repeated the question from the therapist. “I don’t know why I feel this way. I’m not supposed to feel this way. I was supposed to feel happy.”
“You’re right. I do feel very disconnected from my family right now.” Mr. Montier became agitated. “They just can’t understand! They don’t even try!”
I know they lost their mother, but they have their spouses to help them get through it. I have no one!” Mr. Montier shouted.
“I just want her back. If that means I must live in the past, then so be it.” Mr. Montier said resolutely.
“Yes, I am willing to listen to you, and yes, I will take your advice into consideration.” Mr. Montier stopped talking.
The therapist paused for a while. He knew he was speaking to a wealthy man who was used to getting what he wanted. He wanted his words to come across clearly and effectively. He knew this could be his last chance to save this man.
“You are stuck, Mr. Montier, stuck in the past. You can’t see how much your kids need you. You can’t see how much your grandkids want to be with you and go fishing with you and for you to be a part of their lives. Your family and friends have talked with me and they’ve given me permission to say some things that I would not normally say. They have told me how much they miss you. That you haven’t really returned from your trip. They’ve told me that you avoid spending time with them and you won’t go to the grandkids’ birthday parties. On the rare occasion when you do go to a family event, you’re not really there.”
Mr. Montier was very uncomfortable and fidgeted in his seat, but he did not talk and let the therapist go on.
“Mr. Montier, I will put this bluntly. You are not really living. You stopped living when you refused to move on from the past. If you want to live again, you must let go of the past. You will always miss your wife, but don’t let that pain destroy you, instead carry her memory with you as a positive thing. Reconnect with your family and friends. Be a part of their life as much as possible. As you live more in the present, the past can enhance it. But if you live more in the past, the present will be destroyed by it.” The therapist looked at Mr. Montier, with a look that asked if he was ready to take the first step?
“I will think about what you said.” Mr. Montier stood up. “I have to admit that what you have said makes a lot of sense.” And with that, Mr. Montier left, and the therapist never saw him again.
About a year later, the therapist was reading his news app when he spotted an article with the headline: “Billionaire travels back in time again – to be with his wife.”
This Is Why So Many Women End Up Single at 40
DIY Garlic Bread in Oven
This is THE best Garlic Bread recipe, perfected by true garlic bread lovers. There’s a double dose of garlic, Parmesan cheese, a hint of pepper, and a preferred brand of butter that stands above the rest.
“Best garlic bread we have ever had!!! I will never buy a frozen garlic loaf again. So easy too.”
—Jennifer
This Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe is the Only One You’ll Ever Need!
My husband and I often joke that we’re a “garlic bread family.” Although, it’s not really a joke, and if we ever had to write some sort of family mission statement, garlic bread might play a pretty important role in that document.
Had a bad day? We’re gonna cure that with garlic bread. Not sure how to round out this meal? Well, that’s a problem that garlic bread can solve. When in doubt? Garlic bread.
I won’t lie – we often buy frozen versions of multiple persuasions – loaves, Texas toast, breadsticks, knots, etc. But when we have a few extra minutes to make a loaf of this homemade garlic bread?
Oh mama, the garlic bread family is never happier. You can trust this recipe because we’ve been perfecting it for a long time. It’s loved by the adults and the 5-year-old alike.
It has a double oomph of garlic from both fresh garlic and garlic powder, plenty of Parmesan cheese, a bit of pepper, and the most important element: the best butter. After testing this with all kinds of butter, we’ve found one brand that stands above the rest, and we’re sharing the details below.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Garlic Bread
- Perfect for ANY meal. I really can’t think of many meals that can’t be improved with garlic bread. It’s the ideal accompaniment to spaghetti, lasagna, soups, salads and more.
- Much easier to make than the recipes where you pre-slice the bread part way and then have to spread butter between the slices. Our technique is way faster.
- It honestly doesn’t take THAT much longer than baking a loaf of store-bought garlic bread.
DIY Garlic Bread Ingredients
- French bread – this is the ideal bread for this recipe for garlic bread, and we tell you exactly what to look for at the store below, under “Best Bread for Garlic Bread.”
- butter – We’ve found that salted butter is the best for DIY garlic bread, and Kerrygold brand is, by far, the best choice. It’s a bit more expensive than the store brands, but the higher butterfat content that gives it a creamy texture and makes it super soft and spreadable at room temperature makes it worth it. Use unsalted butter with a pinch of kosher salt if you absolutely have to, but I can’t stress enough that salted butter is really the way to go here.
- garlic – fresh garlic provides the bold, aromatic flavor for the best garlic bread recipe. Garlic in a jar or a tube cannot compete here. Fresh is best! Use a garlic press if you have it, but mincing it up with a knife is also great.
- garlic powder – this boosts the garlic flavor and ensures that every single nook and cranny of the bread has garlic taste.
- Parmesan cheese – this adds a layer of savory, nutty flavor and creates a slight crispy topping.
- parsley – we like how fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness that balances the richness of the butter. But, if you don’t have fresh parsley on hand, see below under “Best Garlic Bread Recipe Variations” for some more options. Or, just skip the herb situation altogether. We won’t tell anyone.
- ground black pepper – not an ingredient in every homemade garlic bread recipe, but it’s in ours because we like the subtle heat it adds.
Best Bread for Garlic Bread
The best bread for this garlic bread recipe is a full loaf of French bread. It’s NOT baguette (which is also, well, French bread), and the subtle difference is surprisingly hard to get right when you order groceries online.
Here in the Midwest, if you’re shopping at Meijer, you’re looking for a loaf at the in-store bakery (“fresh from Meijer”) that is labeled “French Bread (Traditional Style French Bread).”
It’s a one pound (16 ounce) loaf and it’s not as long and skinny as a baguette. It’s shorter, thicker and much softer. It has a more even crumb throughout the bread, unlike the large holes that form inside a baguette. It has a golden brown exterior, but it’s not super crispy. It should be soft when you press it.
How to Make Homemade Garlic Bread
1. MASH. Use a fork to mash together the garlic, softened butter, cheese, parsley, garlic powder and pepper in a small bowl until everything is well combined.
2. SPREAD. Cut the bread loaf in half lengthwise and place it on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over both halves of the bread.
3. BAKE. Transfer to a preheated oven and bake until golden brown.
4. CUT. Remove the bread from the oven, transfer it to a cutting board, and cut it crosswise into slices.
How Long to Bake Garlic Bread in Oven
In a 400 degree oven, this best garlic bread recipe should take about 12 to 15 minutes. You want to be sure the edges are nice and golden brown, and the butter has fully melted into the bread.
If you prefer extra crispy bread, you can broil it for an additional 1 to 2 minutes at the end, but my family prefers bread that is nice and soft and buttery.
Best Garlic Bread Recipe Variations
- CHIVES – Instead of fresh parsley, use finely chopped fresh chives for a subtle onion flavor.
- DRIED HERBS – If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, you can use half the amount of dried parsley or dried Italian seasoning (which includes oregano and rosemary for extra flavor).
- EXTRA CHEESY – Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the bread before baking for a decadent twist.
- SPICY – Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for a bit of heat.
Home Chef Tips
- You can prepare the garlic butter spread up to 3 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge or wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and store in the freezer up to 3 months.
- Take care to really spread the butter from edge to edge over the bread. Or, as one of my culinary school instructors would say, “crust to crust is a must!”
- Use a serrated knife when cutting the bread for clean, even slices.
Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe FAQs
Recipe for Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- 1 stick salted butter at room temperature (8 tablespoons)(Kerrygold brand preferred)
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon very finely chopped fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 loaf French bread (1 pound)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
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In medium bowl, mash together garlic, butter, cheese, parsley, garlic powder and pepper until well combined.
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Cut bread loaf in half lengthwise and place halves cut side up on rimmed baking pan. Spread butter mixture evenly over cut sides of bread.
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Transfer to oven and bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
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Remove from oven and cut crosswise into slices.
Notes
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- Instead of fresh parsley, use finely chopped fresh chives for a subtle onion flavor.
- If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, you can use half the amount of dried parsley or dried Italian seasoning.