Banks are closing all over the USA. The American “leadership” wants even more war. And the entire situation is darn surreal.
Xi Peng is visiting Putin in Russia and combined (and aligned with other Geo-political events) is suggestive that all of their plans are working out…
Oh, not what you read about… certainly.
But the [1] bleeding out of the American / NATO military. The [2] suppression of the American heartland, and [3] an increase in the collapse of the economic situation in the West.
This post will reflect the levels of insanity… with elements of humanity. Please enjoy.
Boss, you’ve done a beautiful thing…
My favorite scene from the movie…
Backlash Of Sanction On Russia Must Not Lead To Sanctions On Everyone
More than a year ago I was wrong in predicting that the backlash from sanctions would push the ‘west’ to accept Russia’s demands.
The Sanction Backlash Will Push The ‘West’ To Accept Russia’s Demands – Mar 9, 2022
The Anglo-Saxons prevented that – at least so far.
But parts of my predictions were still correct:
The first [map] shows the countries which banned Russian airplanes from their airspace. Russia in turn denied its airspace to operators from those countries. It will cost quite a bit for U.S. and EU airlines as their flight times and cost to and from Asia, which typically fly through Russian airspace, will now increase. Carriers from Asian countries will now easily out-compete U.S. and European airlines on these routes.
That has indeed happened. U.S. carriers have lost much of their traffic to Asia to Asian airlines as their flight time on those routes are now shorter and their prices cheaper.
But instead of appealing to the U.S. government to take back the sanctions, which would be good for them and their customers, they ask to sanction the Asian carriers.
Banned From Russian Airspace, U.S. Airlines Look to Restrict Competitors
Unable to fly through Russian airspace because of the war in Ukraine, U.S. airlines are stepping up a lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill and at the White House to address what they say is a growing problem: They are losing business to foreign competitors who can take passengers between the United States and Asia faster and more cheaply.
Russia closed its airspace for U.S. and European carriers not because of the war in Ukraine but because the U.S. and its NATO proxies closed their airspace for Russian carriers. To mislead about that, as the opener of NYT piece does, is a disservice to the reader.
Flights on U.S. carriers from the U.S. to India, which previously crossed Siberia, now have to take other routes:
Airlines for America estimated the lost annual market share of U.S. carriers at a collective $2 billion per year.
But for passengers who chose the right airline the issue makes no difference:
As of Wednesday, the outbound leg of an April round-trip journey from New York’s Kennedy Airport to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport cost about $1,500 and was estimated at 13 hours and 40 minutes on Air India, according to Travelocity. The most comparable flight on a U.S. carrier: a $1,740 American Airlines trip with estimated flying time of 14 hours and 55 minutes.
The consumer’s choice here is obvious.
“Foreign airlines using Russian airspace on flights to and from the U.S. are gaining a significant competitive advantage over U.S. carriers in major markets, including China and India,” the presentation, dated February, said. “This situation is directly to the benefit of foreign airlines and at the expense of the United States as a whole, with fewer connections to key markets, fewer high paying airline jobs” and a dent in the overall economy. .... Now airlines are pressing the White House and Congress to fix the problem by subjecting foreign carriers from nations not already banned from Russian airspace to the same restrictions applied to U.S. airlines, effectively forcing them to fly the same routes as their American competitors. The Biden administration should “take action to ensure that foreign carriers overflying Russia do not depart, land or transit through U.S. airports,” said Marli Collier, an Airlines for America spokeswoman. The proposal appears to have gained traction with the Transportation Department, which recently drafted an order that would ban Chinese carriers that fly passengers to the United States from flying through Russian airspace, according to three people who were briefed on the order.
In effect the transport department, lead by dimwit mayor Pete Buttigieg, says: “F** the consumer. Just take away the good choices they have.”
Air India and other Asian carriers would not be happy about such steps. It is not their fault that they can still cross Russia while U.S. carriers no longer can. The government of the countries that would have such rules imposed on their airlines by the U.S. would see that as a quite unfriendly step.
Making flights more expensive for everyone, as the planned steps would do, would also hurt U.S. tourism and general commerce.
The New York Times writers then try to argue that there is a security issue. U.S. citizens on an Air India flight making an emergency landing in Russia could somehow be endangered. The cases they use to argue that are nonsense:
In 2014, a Malaysia Airlines flight was shot down over Ukraine, killing 298 people. ... In 2021, a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was diverted to Belarus, a close Kremlin ally, after officials in that country alerted air traffic controllers to a supposed bomb threat on the plane. Their true purpose, U.S. prosecutors said, was to arrest a dissident journalist who was a passenger by inventing a false safety issue. ... Last year, the American basketball star Brittney Griner was detained at an airport near Moscow and later sentenced to nine years in a penal colony for carrying vape cartridges of hashish oil in her luggage. She was freed in December.
A flight over an active battlefield in Ukraine, some murky issue in Belarus and a U.S. woman who admitted that she had smuggled drugs into Russia are not demonstrations of danger for U.S. passengers on Air India over Russia. Even if such flight would have to land in Russia there would be no trouble. Russia is not at war with the U.S. and private U.S citizens in Russia are safe.
To close the airspace for Russian airliners was simply a dumb idea. During a prank call European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde admitted to a fake Zelensky that sanctions on Russia have failed.
Sanctions that do not work, or even caused a backlash, should be lifted immediately and not be extended into sanctions on everyone.
Posted by b on March 18, 2023 at 17:22 UTC | Permalink
Roggenbrot (Sourdough Rye)
Ingredients
Sponge
- 2 cups sourdough starter
- 1 cup bread flour
Dough
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten
- 2 cups rye flour
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Knead the sponge ingredients for 5 minutes; allow to sit for 8 hours or longer.
- Add the dough ingredients and select the basic, white or grain cycle and press start.
- This is a heavy dough that rises slowly and needs a relatively long rise, such as a last rise of 2 hours or more. This means you will need a programmable machine or you can prepare it on the dough cycle and then shape and allow to rise in a regular pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F until done. The interior should read 200 degrees F when a thermometer is inserted in the center.
KTV lineup – China
Son picks out a girl for his dad.
About the bank collapse(s)
The collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) did not happen overnight - as it would appear. It had been planned for a while. This has been boasted by a World Economic Forum (WEF)-insider (see video insert in the text). And yes, it fits perfectly into the Great Reset. It may be the beginning of a series of bank failures, of even causing a domino effect of bankruptcies of financial institutions. Banking deregulation which started with the Clinton Administration and culminated with repealing the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999, is at the heart of the matter. It shows that what we are living today -be it covid, be it energy crisis, be it famine, be it an intended financial collapse - it has all been planned with a long hand. The intent is to wipe out the western economy to rebuild it again according to WEF's concept of a One World Order. They will not succeed. But it is important to connect the dots - and to know that nothing is simply as it may appear on the surface. Knowing your adversary's plan, is part of defeating him. And remember the articles opening phrase by Kybalion. -peter ------- Warning! Silicon Valley Bank Collapse – A Prelude of Much Worse to Come? Derivatives: “Financial Weapons of Mass Destruction” (16 March 2023) Article HERE ----------------------------
“You’ll have to answer to the Coca-Cola company”
China and Russia
China’s ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, was asked a series of written questions by Global Times reporters. IMO, the Ambassador’s conclusion provides a good recap:
"The more turbulent and unstable the world becomes, the more it is necessary for China-Russia relations to steadily move forward. Faced with a complicated international situation, China is willing to work with Russia to maintain peace, security and development, jointly build a global community of shared future, implement the BRI, promote the leapfrog development of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, and continuously advance China-Russia relations for a new era. Regardless of how the international situation changes, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era will inevitably move forward at a higher level."
An editorial was also published supporting Xi’s visit and contained these two complementary paragraphs:
"President Xi's upcoming visit will also be a tour of peace. There is one major concern for the outside world: Does China have specific actions to bring about peace and promote talks during this visit? This expectation itself stems from China's continuous efforts to play a constructive role and ease the Ukraine crisis in its own way. China is one of the few major powers that can build a bridge of communications between Russia and Ukraine. This is even more precious as both sides in the conflict find themselves in a deadlock. "However, it must be said that China is not the cause of the Ukrainian crisis, nor a party to it. It is the US and Western countries that have got themselves deeply involved in the crisis. The key to solving the Ukraine crisis is not in China's hands, but in those of the US and Western countries. If they continue to stir up trouble instead of cooperating, it will be unlikely that any efforts to bring about peace and promote talks will be effective." [My Emphasis]
IMO, it was SOP for the Outlaw US Empire to issue a rejection of any attempts by Xi to facilitate peace in the Nato-Russian War even before anything was offered thus showing the Empire’s policy in the matter–the war’s to continue until a result the Empire likes is achieved. Also note the bolded text that’s the core of the narrative China’s been promoting for the benefit of RoW, a narrative with the benefit of having the truth on its side.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 18 2023 21:51 utc | 46
American Hustle – Jeep’s blues – Duke Ellington – scene
US rejecting calls for Ukraine ceasefire shows ulterior motive of fueling the fire of conflict
Sourdough Chocolate Cranberry Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup powdered milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 3 (1 ounce) squares melted semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 16 ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
Instructions
- In a large, non-metallic bowl, combine sourdough starter, water, flour and powdered milk.
- Let ferment uncovered, for 2 to 3 hours in a warm place until bubbly and a clear sour milk odor develops.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 9 x 13-inch pan with cooking spray and, using a small sieve or shaker, dust lightly with cocoa powder.
- In a separate large bowl, mix together sugar, oil, salt, vanilla extract, cinnamon and baking soda.
- Add eggs, melted semi-sweet baking chocolate, and cranberry sauce.
- Combine the mixtures together and stir until well blended.
- Pour into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.
- Cool at least 10 minutes before serving, excellent served slightly warm.
- Garnish by sifting confectioners sugar onto a paper doily or just dollop spoonsful of whole berry cranberry sauce on top of each serving of cake. This cake can also be baked in two- 8 inch round layer cake pans, baking time is decreased to 20 to 25 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.
- Another can of whole berry cranberry sauce can be spread generously between and on top of the unfrosted layered cake rounds for an impressive look during the holidays!
Bank collapse spreading fast as deposits dry up
A new study by Chinese scientists has made startling revelations about North Korea’s missile program and capability.
...claiming that an ICBM fired by Pyongyang could reach the central United States in just over half an hour.
Beijing-based defense scientists claim to have simulated a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile attack on the continental United States.
The team opined that if the American missile defense network failed to intercept it, the North Korean missile could strike the center US in 1,997 seconds, or almost 33 minutes, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.
Similar studies by Chinese researchers had typically avoided mentioning specific nations or regions, especially when the results were publicized.
This report came when North Korea launched another Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), its fourth in a week, amid joint naval drills underway between the United States and South Korea. The missile traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers before landing in the waters of Japan.
According to Japan’s defense ministry, it was an ICBM that soared over 6,000 kilometers for around 70 minutes.
Less than a month ago, North Korea launched an ICBM, which prompted a UN emergency meeting and G7 criticism. ICBMs are particularly of concern because of their long range.
According to experts, such missiles launched from North Korea may be able to reach the US mainland. This precedent becomes even more perilous as it is believed that Pyongyang has developed ICBMs capable of carrying multiple warheads.
Against that backdrop, the Chinese study assumes more significance as the tensions between Pyongyang and Washington have risen. Although the US Indo-Pacific Command said that these launches did not threaten the US immediately, North Korea has made several statements covertly threatening the country.
China’s Study On North Korean ICBM Is Alarming
The study simulates the launch of North Korea’s Hwasong-15 missile, which was first fired in 2017.
It is a two-stage, nuclear-capable missile with an effective range of 13,000 kilometers, according to the Chinese team led by Tang Yuyan from the Beijing Institute of Electronic System Engineering, a leading research center in China’s aerospace and defense sector.
According to research by Tang and her coworkers published on February 15 in the Chinese-language journal Modern Defense Technology, a Hwasong-15 missile was launched from Sunchon, a city in South Pyongan province in central North Korea.
Columbia, in the central US state of Missouri, was the intended target of the simulation. The Chinese team estimated an alert would take around 20 seconds to reach the US missile defense command.
Within 11 minutes, the first interceptor missiles would launch from Alaska’s Fort Greely. If they were unsuccessful, a second wave of interceptors would be launched from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The simulation, however, revealed that despite its great power, the US missile defense network has holes in its “kill chain” mechanism to recognize and defend against an attack that could be used by an adversary.
One of the key goals of Tang’s team’s study was to gauge how well the US missile defense system could safeguard the country. According to their simulation, it might be effective against conventional ballistic missiles.
This simulation by the team revealed that the US’ current surveillance systems in space, the seas, and on land occasionally had trouble keeping track of the Korean missile, particularly during ascent and fall in midcourse flight.
They calculated that the US missile defense system would be overwhelmed if North Korea fired multiple missiles with more than 40 warheads or decoys. The largest US military installation in the western Pacific Ocean, Guam, was the target of researchers’ missile strike simulation.
According to the Chinese analysis, if the North Korean missile took a unique trajectory with an extraordinarily high altitude, the US could send four waves of intercepting missiles from its foreign military facilities, such as Japan, although some might miss their targets.
The report stated that the US currently does not have the capabilities to deal with [such targets] in near space due to North Korea also creating hypersonic glide weapons that may alter course in the atmosphere.
Previously, a set of media reports had indicated that China’s newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine could pose a significant threat to the US mainland. China’s new Type 094A, or Jin class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine SSBM, can fire the JL-3, or Julang (Big Wave) SLBM with a range of over 10,000 kilometers.
This means the missile fired from this submarine could easily reach the mainland United States.
Although the US has maintained a credible defense against ballistic missiles, it has yet to develop a system that can intercept and shoot down hostile hypersonic missiles.
It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World – Legendary ’60s Comedy Gold
Yanjin
There are many strange places in this world. I personally discovered a very strange place in the mountains of Guizhou. After a long professional stay in Chongping, I went on a motorcycle tour through the mountains of Guizhou. As I drove along the Guanhe River, I discovered many small towns that were actually squeezed between the river and the mountains, it seemed.
There were entire towns that stretched along the river a few meters wide. That seemed completely surreal, especially since the high-rise buildings reminded you of really big cities, but in terms of the number of inhabitants, they were rather small towns. For two days I drove past such places.
CCR – Green River
Members of Mexico’s “Gulf Cartel” who kidnapped and killed Americans have been tied up, dumped in the street and handed over to authorities with an apology letter
A letter purportedly from the Mexican cartel allegedly behind the kidnapping and subsequent kidnapping and killing of 2 Americans last week claimed it has dealt with the members “involved and responsible” for the incident, handing them over for authorities to detain.
Handwritten apology note translated:
“The Gulf Cartel Grupo Escorpiones strongly condemns the events of last Friday, March 3 in which unfortunately an innocent working mother died and four American citizens were kidnapped, of which two died. For this reason, we decided to hand over those directly involved and responsible for the acts, who at all times acted under their own determination and indiscipline and against the rules in which the [Gulf Cartel] always operates.”
Members of a Mexican cartel kidnapped four Americans who traveled across the border from Brownsville, Texas, to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, last week. Two of the Americans and an innocent Mexican bystander died during the incident, according to U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar.
Austin Powers The Spy Who Shagged Me Deleted scenes
Confessions Of A Woman Who Just Confronted Her Childhood Abuser
I knew he would lie. I knew he would deny deny deny. I knew he’d get angry and throw out whatever he could to hurt me. I didn’t care and I didn’t budge. It happened. I remember it all. I’m not the only one it happened to. I known the truth and I didn’t flinch, not even once.
I told my mom first. I had told her once before, but she didn’t believe me. I was 17 and I was afraid. My dad is a narcissist, screams and goes berserk if things aren’t EXACTLY how he wants them. He would pin the family against one another, we would all take turns being the one berated all day. If it wasn’t you then you best hop on the berate bandwagon or your next. The entire day you were followed around being yelled at for how you do everything wrong, and all the family would have to agree. You go up the stairs too slow, you don’t sit quietly enough on the couch, the way you speak, the way you smell, you’re not smiling anymore, everything. Spoken to like you are dirt hoping tomorrow won’t be your day again. If you fought back you were hit, shoved into whatever table or thing was near you. You guys get it. I was afraid.
My mom is very kind but very meek. She also wanted a perfect family and when people were over that’s the picture he would paint. She’d turn a blind eye to pretty much everything.
When I was 17 they found a poem I wrote about hating him. He demanded to know why on earth you could hate your daddy so much. I felt so backed into a corner, over and over I was being drilled. So I said it “you molested me”. Well he blew up “I never did that! You are a LIAR! I would never touch my kids! Maybe I did but I forgot!” Yes I am serious about that last part. Those were his exact words. They demanded to know what he did, but I was so afraid. I couldn’t get it out. I never talked about it before, I couldn’t do anything but cry. They called me a liar and a few days later my mom reminded me to get him a father’s day present. I didn’t dare bring it up again.
That was 11 years ago.
I’m now living in an entirely different state with my amazing husband. But, he was still in my life and ruining it. Even just the sound of his voice when I would call my mom made me want to SCREAM. This man is a MONSTER. He destroyed me. As if the emotional and physical abuse wasn’t enough he took every piece of innocence from me. People freak even imagining one of their parents reaching into their pants to get them off, and thats my life. It never goes away, it’s in my head forever.
I had to cut him out. Forever.
So, my parents came to visit and I sat my mom down alone and flat out told her. I told her everything. Every detail. She cried. I hope she believed me.
Then I sat down with her, my husband and my father.
I stood my ground, I told him I wanted him to get help but this was the last time he would ever see me because he molested me. He blew, finger pointed, called me a liar, said he didn’t remember anything like that. I just kept repeating firmly “I don’t believe you.” Never breaking eye contact, my husband said there wasn’t even a tremble in my voice. Every time he threw something else at me I knocked it down calmly and firmly “you can talk about that in therapy. But there is no need to lie to me, I don’t believe you. I remember and I was so young, I know you remember. You are a child molester.”
Boy did my calmness get him angry! I have never seen him sweat and squander like that EVER. After about 5/10 minutes of him changing his story and squawking I said “you can leave my house now”. And he said in the most degrading tone possible “what makes YOU so righteous?!” I know he meant it as an insult but damm I took it as a complement.
That was yesterday. I am excited for my new life. I feel like the rabbit from the velveteen rabbit, like I’m finally becoming real. I just can’t believe it, I can’t believe that person who stood up to him, so calmly and confidently, was me.
A Beverly Hillbilly’s Christmas at Hooterville
I about passed out laughing when the book keeper goes to check Drysdale’s heart and says, ”Oh, I forgot, he hasn’t got one”.
Artist Illustrates How Doing Anything Is Much Better When There Are Animals Around
Chilling alone is fine, but chilling with animals is the best. There’s nothing better than vibing with your furry friends; you get the best of both worlds. You still can feel like you have company without the unnecessary noise that comes from hanging around with other people. Let us introduce you to an artist who portrayed it perfectly in her mini illustration series.
Peijin (previously here) is a self-taught freelance artist based in Munich, Germany. Just a little bit more than two years ago, she gave up her engineering career and fully committed herself to art. Her decision was supported by her fans and clients alike, so she never looked back. Besides her illustrations, she also makes tutorials, process videos and studies, as she believes that if she can be an artist, everyone can! Drawing is her true love, and she feels many people feel the same way.
More: Artstation, Instagram, Patreon h/t: boredpanda
Green Acres clips – Lisa Cooking 04 Shpaghetti
40 Newspaper Headlines That Push The Limits Of Human Stupidity
Creating a good headline for an article is an art within itself. Just think about it: you basically have to describe your whole text using just one sentence. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don’t, and sometimes you produce such a mind-bogglingly dumb headline, that people still remember it 20 years later. Stupid newspaper headlines are never truly forgotten. Unfortunate wordplay, lazy editing and poor math – it takes some creativity to come up with headlines like that.
h/t: demilked
Jeffery Sachs | The UNITED STATES is a MADMAN
https://youtu.be/uJ33GaBpSbY
Whiskey Sour
Lisa Insists “You Can’t Make a Boo-Boo with Bibbers” Instant Cake Mix – Green Acres – 1969
Austrian man admits to locking up daughter, fathering her children
“He admitted that he locked his daughter, who was 18, in the cellar, repeatedly had sex with her and that he is the father of her seven children,” said Franz Polzer, head of the criminal investigations unit in the province of Lower Austria.
Polzer said the man, Josef Fritzl, who was earlier identified only as Josef F., also confessed to tossing the body of a newborn baby boy into an incinerator when the infant died shortly after birth.
“We are being confronted with an unfathomable crime,” said Austrian Interior Minister Guentter Platter.
Hans-Heinz Lenze, a local official in the town of Amstetten, said the man’s wife “apparently had no idea” of what was going on. She and the suspect had seven children of their own.
Drugged, imprisoned in 1984
Three of the daughter’s offspring were raised in the family home while the rest were kept hidden in the basement with their imprisoned mother.
“You have to imagine that this woman’s world [just] fell apart,” Lenze said.
Police said Sunday that a 42-year-old woman, identified as Elisabeth, told them her father lured her into the basement of the family home in 1984, and drugged and handcuffed her before imprisoning her.
Photos were released Monday showing the basement cell where the woman was held. It included a small bathroom and a narrow passageway leading to a tiny bedroom.
Investigators say an electronic lock with a keyless entry system and a soundproof door apparently kept the woman from escaping the cell, which was constructed of reinforced concrete.
Police picked up the woman and her father on Saturday at a hospital in a nearby town, where one of the surviving children was rushed unconscious with a serious, undisclosed illness.
3 children never went outside
In her statement, Elisabeth said her father began sexually abusing her when she was 11.
Her father allegedly locked her in a room in the cellar on Aug. 28, 1984. The woman was reported missing the next day and a month later, a letter surfaced, allegedly written by her, saying she didn’t want to be found.
Police said the woman appeared “greatly disturbed” during questioning and agreed to talk only after authorities assured her that she would no longer have contact with her father, and that her children would be cared for.
The woman and her children are undergoing psychiatric care, officials say.
Three of the children were raised upstairs in the family house by Elisabeth’s father and his wife. They went to school and lived relatively normal lives, according to police. The other three remained locked up in the cellar with their mother and none of them had been outside before last week.
Similar incident unearthed in 2006
Neighbours said Fritzl and his wife were quiet but friendly, and frequently shopped in local stores and talked to members of the community.
The CBC’s David Common, reporting from Austria, said the story is causing shock and revulsion across the country.
“It’s a very embarrassing day for Austria,” Common said, “because this is the second time something like this has happened here.”
Natascha Kampusch was 10 years old when she was kidnapped in 1998 on her way to school in Vienna. She was held by Wolfgang Priklopil for nearly nine years in a small dungeon in his home in the suburbs.
Hours after Kampusch escaped in August 2006, Priklopil killed himself by jumping in front of a train.
Japanese KTV KARAOKE HIGH LIGHTS in Manila, Philippines
Lineup begins HERE
Now, youse guys must know that I do not frequent these kinds of KTV’s as I am in China. I go to a different kind of KTV. One which is more *cough* high class…
KTV in China – ridiculous birthday party
This is what MM life is actually like.
Lineup starts HERE
Girl in Dungeon Basement Case Held 10 Years, Tortured by Captors
Linda Weston’s niece was kidnapped and tortured for a decade.
Arnold Ziffel’s Conversation with a Beeping Moon Rock – Green Acres – 1970
Banks: Getting Very Much Worse; Very Much Faster
As of Saturday morning, 18 March 2023, the Banking crisis is getting a lot worse; fast. CREDIT SUISSE CFO TEAMS ARE BEING CALLED IN TO WORK OVER THE WEEKEND TO CLEAN OUT THEIR DESKS!
This is just days after Credit Suisse received a $54 BILLION assistance package from the Swiss National Bank.
Word from corporate contacts says that Credit Suisse is “Weighing options and is under pressure to merge with UBS.”
Swiss regulators informed their US and UK counterparts on Friday night that the merger of the two banks is their Plan A in hope of preventing a total loss of confidence in Credit Suisse. The Swiss National Bank would like a simple and uncomplicated solution before the markets open on Monday. However, there is no guarantee that an agreement will be reached in the discussions.
There were also rumors overnight that US firm Blackrock wanted to make a bid for Credit Suisse, but that rumor was quickly refuted.
Meanwhile, Global stock markets tumbled again Friday over continuing fears of a broader banking crisis, despite elected officials’ pledges to shore up banks that may be in trouble.
Shares of First Republic Bank tanked 30% Friday despite $30 Billion of support from other banks. First Republic Bank stock ended the week down 72%.
An interesting note: The Balance Sheet of the US Federal Reserve jumped to $8.69 TRILLION on March 15, up from $8.39 TRILLION on March 8. They’re literally making “money” out of thin air by simply adding digits to computers which “creates” money in accounts.
They don’t have the money for that! If they try to run the printing press to cover that amount of debt, the dollar would collapse overnight. Foreign countries would dump all their dollar reserves. People would drain their accounts to go and buy hard assets while they still could.
Today’s financial turmoil is beginning to look a LOT like the 1980’s movie “Rollover” starring Kris Kristofferson, Jane Fonda, and Hume Cronin. Here’s a scene from that movie showing what a world economic collapse looks like:
It __appears__ to many people that this is exactly where we are all heading.
Play it, Sam
13 Popular Fast Food Cheeseburgers, Ranked Worst To Best
By Dani Zoeller/Updated: March 16, 2023 8:27 pm EST
Few things are as quintessentially American as the cheeseburger. Between cookouts, road trips, lunch breaks, or those middle-of-the-night greasy goodness cravings, cheeseburgers are a comforting, delicious go-to option. From humble offerings with a beef patty, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickle, the cheeseburger has become something of a statement piece for many fast food establishments. After all, if you strip away the condiments, cheeseburgers offer a relatively simple canvas.
Many fast food stops have really dressed up the humble cheeseburger with unique and delicious spins on the classic sandwich. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which fast food chain serves up the best. There are plenty of top contenders with lots of factors that help set the individual burgers apart. From burgers named for favorite football players to ones so small they are sold by the sack, we’re convinced that there’s a cheeseburger for everyone, no matter how simple or gourmet your preference.
13. Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen Cheeseburger
Dairy Queen is mainly known for its delicious frozen treats, particularly the famous Blizzard. However, the chain also offers a variety of tasty burgers, including its classic cheeseburger and several Stackburger offerings.
The original Dairy Queen cheeseburger features the typical fare but is curiously missing onions. This classic burger is simple yet satisfying, and it has been a fan favorite for generations. Dairy Queen calls its larger burgers Stackburgers because they have multiple patties. The Two Cheese Deluxe option comes with both American and white cheddar cheese. This burger also includes onions, which even the original Stackburger does not have. If you’re a fan of bacon, you can also add it to any of the burgers for a nice touch.
For those who like their burgers with a bit of heat, Dairy Queen also offers the Flamethrower Stackburger. This burger includes a zingy DQ FlameThrower sauce, melted Pepper Jack cheese, jalapeño bacon, tomato, and even lettuce. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more indulgent option, the Loaded A.1. Steakhouse Signature Stackburger is perfect. This one features beef patties, A.1. Thick & Hearty Steak Sauce, creamy peppercorn sauce, Applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, and onion rings. Though interesting options, while these burgers are just ok, Dairy Queen is simply a better ice cream stop than a burger joint.
12. McDonald’s
McDonald’s cheeseburger options
When you think of classic fast-food cheeseburgers, it’s almost impossible to ignore McDonald’s. After all, small towns and large cities across the United States tend to have at least one, and McDonald’s has even stretched to become a global franchise. In fact, in 1948, when McDonald’s became more of a walk-up burger stand than the barbecue restaurant it originated as, a cheeseburger was one of the only four food items on the menu, alongside hamburgers, potato chips, and pie.
Today, the only burger McDonald’s offers without cheese is its classic hamburger. Everything else, from the Big Mac to the quarter pounder and even the McDouble, offers at least one slice of American cheese. Most McDonald’s burgers also come with onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. The additional toppings set the different cheeseburger variations apart on the menu. For example, the Big Mac has an extra bun in the middle of the sandwich, while the Quarter Pounder Cheese Deluxe adds shredded lettuce.
The McDonald’s cheeseburger may be one of the simplest fast food cheeseburger options you can find, but it continues to be so popular because it is delicious. The truth is Mcdonald’s sells around 75 burgers each second, and many American children grow up eating happy meals from Mcdonald’s, so it offers a heavy dose of nostalgia. All told, however, there’s just not much special about a McDonald’s burger. There are better fast food restaurants, even if McDonald’s is the one most ingrained into our childhoods.
11. Burger King
Cornell Haynes Jr meal
Burger King was founded in 1954, and since then, it has served approximately 11 million guests. Over the years, Burger King has introduced several new menu items, including Chicken Fries and the Impossible Whopper, a vegetarian version of the Whopper. Burger King is well-known for its delicious burgers, but in a market flooded with fast-food chains offering similar items, each restaurant must have a spin on the classic offerings. Burger King’s distinctive spin is that its burgers are cooked over an open flame using a fire broiler, giving them a smoky and charred flavor that is hard to replicate.
Burger King offers a variety of burgers, including the classic Whopper, their signature burger. Interestingly, the Whopper does not have cheese, but several other burgers on the menu do, such as the King burgers and melts.
In the late 1990s, Burger King introduced a burger available in many Wisconsin affectionately called The Gilbert Burger. It was named after Gilbert Brown, a former defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers football team. The Gilbert Burger was a giant, messy cheeseburger with doubled cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, onion, and ketchup. As Gilbert Brown didn’t like pickles, they were left out of the burger.
We love Burger King for its newer offerings, but the basic burger suffers from the same issue as McDonald’s: It just isn’t unique enough, even with the flame-grilled aspect.
10. Checkers and Rally’s
Checkers and Rally’s cheeseburger
Checkers and Rally’s are known for their delicious and classic cheeseburgers with a vintage look. Despite being the same restaurant, they are called different names depending on the restaurant’s location. Rally’s originated in Tennessee in 1984, while Checkers is from Alabama and was established in 1986. Then, in 1999, they merged through a stock swap.
One of the most classic burgers at Checkers and Rally’s is the All American Cheeseburger. This traditional burger includes a beef patty, melted cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. But if you’re looking for a more sophisticated burger, the Cheese Champ is a great choice. It includes all the components of the All American Cheeseburger, but with the addition of tomato, red onion, iceberg lettuce, and mayonnaise.
For something unique, you can order a burger featuring those famous, seasoned fries. The Double Fry Lover’s Burger is a cheeseburger with fries, as well as basic condiments. Since Checkers and Rally’s are known well for french fries, it is a popular choice among customers wanting to enjoy the best of both worlds in one burger. And this is one of the reasons we enjoy these restaurants. Even still, the different varieties of burgers make those new to the menu a little overwhelming and even difficult to decode.
9. Culvers
Culver’s Double Cheeseburger
Culver’s is a beloved Wisconsin institution known for its mouthwatering ButterBurgers. Made with never-frozen beef, Culver’s cooks prepare these burgers to perfection and top each with a buttered bun to add that extra layer of flavor. Culver’s ButterBurger Cheese is the staple Culver’s cheeseburger. Topped with red onion, pickle, tomato, ketchup, and mustard, it is the perfect option for a simple and delicious meal.
For those who prefer a more loaded burger, Culver’s offers several other options, including the Deluxe, Bacon Deluxe, and Mushroom and Swiss ButterBurgers. These burgers all come with cheese, adding an extra layer of flavor and richness to the already delicious burger. In fact, it’s worth noting that the only burger option on the menu without cheese is the original ButterBurger.
No matter which cheeseburger you choose, we think you’ll love Culver’s attention to detail, hospitality, and great pride in sourcing its beef and cheese from local producers, ensuring that every bite is packed with flavor and quality. However, these burgers can be elusive since Culver’s isn’t available everywhere.
8. Portillo’s
Portillo’s cheeseburger and fries
Portillo’s is a cherished restaurant chain. It is known to be a classic Chicagoland restaurant and was founded in Villa Park, Illinois by Dan Portillo in 1963. Today, the chain has expanded to over 70 locations across the country. We love it for those delicious, drug-through-the-garden Chicago-style hot dogs, but the restaurant also serves up a delightful menu featuring cheese fries, Italian beef, and many delicious items, including cheeseburgers that are sure to satisfy.
You can order the cheeseburger in either a single or double patty option. It’ll come with a freshly toasted old-fashioned style bun with cheese, mayo, pickles, ketchup, lettuce, tomato slice, and red onion. For some smokiness, add some bacon. More than many of our other favorites, this burger tastes and feels like it was cooked right at home on the family grill. Though Portillo’s has much more popular favorites on its menu, the cheeseburger certainly shouldn’t be ignored if you’re really craving a burger, but we’ll always struggle to go to Portillo’s and not order a Chicago-style hot dog.
7. Wendy’s
Wendy’s Dave’s Double
Wendy’s first restaurant opened in 1969. From the beginning, the franchise intended to make itself distinctive from its competitors. Instead of eating at tables designed to rush you out, Wendy’s created dining rooms where you felt like guests rather than customers. The tables were even lit by stained glass lamps rather than overly bright and boring lights.
When it came to burgers, Wendy’s was different too. Instead of using a circle patty, Dave Thomas introduced the square burger. Because it would stick out from a circle bun, the squared Corners allowed Wendy’s to show off the juiciness of the burger. But it wasn’t just the shape that was different; then, like now, Wendy’s burgers are cooked from fresh beef rather than frozen beef.
Like McDonald’s, the simple hamburger is the only burger Wendy’s offers without cheese. In recent years, more creative options like the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger and even the Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger have been added to the menu, and, yes, they all include cheese. To us, you really can’t do better than Dave’s originals. These come in single, double, and triple options with the same number of burger patties. However, the single cheeseburger already comes with two cheese slices. For us, Wendy’s makes one of the best cheeseburgers readily available through a drive-through window. Even still, these are a little on the greasy side.
6. White Castle
White Castle cheese sliders
White Castle is famous for its small, square burgers called sliders. The story of White Castle began in 1921 when Billy Ingram started selling sliders for just five cents each. These burgers were so small and inexpensive that they could be sold by the sack, which became a catchy slogan for the chain. Over the years, White Castle has become an iconic name in the fast-food industry. In fact, it helped popularize the concept of fast food as we know it today.
White Castle’s cheeseburger made its debut in 1962. The cheese slider is a beef burger with grilled onions and your choice of American, jalapeño, or smoked cheddar cheese. You can also add bacon or even double up that burger. Another cheeseburger option includes the 1921 Slider, which includes caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, a slice of Roma tomato, lettuce, and pickles.
When it comes to White Castle, these burgers are simply a classic, and since they are some of the original fast food cheeseburgers, we’re just in love with the rich history here. Simply put: White Castle does burgers and cheeseburgers well.
5. Sonic Drive-In
Sonic Drive-In cheeseburger
For years, Sonic’s cheeseburger has been a beloved fast food classic that continues to delight customers. It boasts a juicy beef patty, melted cheese, diced onions, lettuce, pickles, tomato, ketchup, and mayo, making it stand out from other fast food burgers. Sonic also offers a double cheeseburger with two beef patties and more cheese to cater to those with bigger appetites. And if you’re looking to take your burger up a notch, you can add bacon for an extra dose of savory flavor.
Sonic also has a plain cheeseburger with just a bun, beef, and cheese for a simpler option. However, the Quarter Pounder is an excellent choice for those craving more flavor. It features two beef patties, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickles, providing a more satisfying and flavorful meal.
Between the pebble ice, iconic drive-up, and delicious options, we love a Sonic cheeseburger. What makes Sonic even more appealing is its history as a drive-in restaurant, allowing customers to enjoy their burgers from the comfort of their own cars. Sonic’s first drive-in opened in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1953, and despite the decline of the drive-in concept in the fast food industry, Sonic has kept it as a staple of its identity.
4. Five Guys
Five Guys Cheeseburger
If you’re looking for a burger with a hefty price tag but a delicious taste, a Five Guys burger is going to be your best bet. Unlike some other burger restaurants, the menu at this favorite burger chain is pretty simple, but the real magic comes from all of those customizations you can add. You can choose from a variety of free toppings, including lettuce, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and more. Additionally, you can add premium toppings such as bacon, grilled mushrooms, or jalapeño peppers for an additional charge.
Though you might not know Five Guys for its buns, the sesame bun on each cheeseburger is actually the only proprietary item the restaurant offers. In fact, these buns are baked in restaurants fresh throughout the week. In addition to your juicy but rather greasy cheeseburger, you can also order a side of fries. Be ready, though, because you’ll be taking a lot of fries with you. We highly recommend the Cajun variety, and these fries, though separate from the burgers, certainly help elevate how much we love these cheeseburgers. We also adore the incredible number of customization options you have when ordering from Five Guys.
3. Shake Shack
Shake Shack cheeseburger
Shake Shack is a beloved American fast-food chain that has gained immense popularity for its delicious menu. For instance, the White Truffle Burger is a delectable treat featuring Fontina cheese with a rich and creamy white truffle sauce. It’s dressed with crispy onions on a perfectly toasted potato bun. If you prefer a classic cheeseburger, the ShackBurger is a perfect choice with all the usual loved trimmings. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, the SmokeShack will satisfy your taste buds with applewood-smoked bacon, chopped cherry peppers, and a ShackSauce.
Though Shake Shack began as a humble hot dog cart in New York City’s Madison Square Park over 20 years ago, it has expanded to over 300 locations worldwide. Still, its commitment to using high-quality ingredients and cooking techniques has remained unchanged. In addition to their burgers and hot dogs, Shake Shack also offers crave-worthy milkshakes that satisfy your sweet tooth.
2. In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Cheeseburger and fries
In-N-Out Burger is a widely beloved fast-food chain founded in 1948 by Harry Snyder in Baldwin Park, California. The fast food joint has primarily kept to the western United States, with most locations in California. In-N-Out Burger is known for its fresh, made-to-order burgers, fries, and shakes, and it has developed an enthusiastic group of worshipers and burger lovers.
One of In-N-Out’s signature items is the cheeseburger, made with toasted buns made from sponge dough, a thick slice of American cheese, beef, fresh or grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and the company’s unique spread with unlisted ingredients. Though the burgers and cheeseburgers do not come with mustard, you can request that your burger or cheeseburger be made “Animal Style” as a mustard burger. For this unique twist, your cook will cook one side of the beef patty as normal and add mustard on the raw side. Then, when they flip over that patty, the mustard cooks right into the beef. This interesting cooking method made its appearance in 1961.
1. BurgerFi
CEO cheeseburger and fries
BurgerFi is a relatively new establishment that was founded in 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This burger joint prides itself on its chef-driven recipes and commitment to using only the freshest ingredients. BurgerFi does not take shortcuts in the kitchen and ensures that each burger is perfectly prepared.
One of the standout features of BurgerFi’s menu is its selection of cheeseburgers. They offer several burger options with cheese, but its flagship BurgerFi Burger does not have any cheese. For those who love a little heat, the SWAG (Spicy Wagyu) Burger is a must-try. It features a double premium Wagyu blend patty, charred jalapeños, candied spicy bacon, a helping of sweet tomato relish, pepper jack cheese, and a hot steak sauce.
We also love The CEO burger. This burger has a double premium Wagyu blend patty, homemade candied bacon-tomato jam, rich truffle aioli, and aged Swiss cheese. The sweet and savory combination of the bacon-tomato jam and truffle aioli elevates this burger to another level. If you’re ever near a BurgerFi, don’t hesitate to stop. It’s an excellent fast food restaurant that just knows how to make a cravable burger.
Casablanca Final
Herman Applesauce Spice Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup Herman
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon mace
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
Instructions
- Exactly as listed, beat all ingredients, adding each ingredient 1 at a time and beating 30 seconds after each addition. Beat 4 minutes after last addition.
- Pour into greased 9-inch square baking dish. Let batter “rest” 15 minutes uncovered then bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or till wooden pick tests done.
- Cool 30 minutes and frost with Thin Vanilla Glaze.
Date Nut Cake: Use Applesauce Spice Batter above but stir into batter, 1 cup well chopped dates, moistened first and lightly floured, along with 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans. Bake as otherwise directed in that recipe.