Today, Mrs. MM generally forbids me from cooking or making anything in the kitchen. As it is her domain. I am totally cool with that. As I am comfortable with a traditional household.
However, there are times when I really just want to cook, make a quick sandwich or whatever, and she relaxes her guard, and says something about “cleaning up my mess” and then goes away so as not to “be a back seat driver” in my culinary adventures.
One of the things that I love to do is make baked bread and then grill it, melt chess on it, and make a “dip”. With the dip being some combination of sweet peppers, onions, olive oils, garlic and other things that I find to my fancy.
Today is a tribute to those stomach grumbling moments. Enjoy.
Today…
The British humiliated the Chinese in the 19th century. In the 20th century, the British Empire declined, and the United States took over and “helpted” China by defeating the Japanese. Why is China hostile to the United States today?
Nobody ever talks about why the US was a latecomer to WWII.
Yes it was geographically far away from both Europe and Asia.
But most importantly the US was more of a friend with Nazi Germany and imperalist Japan.
Take the UK.
The UK wasn’t involved right away. It was reluctant.
But the UK was always like this, even before WWII. They enjoyed watching continental European countries destroying each other, and when one side was about to be totally erased, the UK came in as an intermediator to save that country in the weaker position.
It has happened repeatedly during European history.
The US did the same, but at a much bigger scale. It not only saved many European and Asian countries, but also helped Germany and Japan post-WWII to redevelop.
Result is clear. Europe, Japan and South Korea (a colony of Japan during WWII and fought for Japan) have been total colonies of the US for decades. Kind of reasonable the US controls them both economically and militarily.
If you look farther back.
Mediterranean people, native Americans and East Asians were all mid-height, yellowish skin, dark hair people.
Germanic people were always considered Barbarians from the North. Just look at the difference in cuisines.
But now we are using definitions given by Anglo Saxons, so even ancient Greece and Near East were the “West,” which today stands for Anglo Saxons, as if their histories had anything to do with the Germanic tribes.
Blonde isn’t classy, white skin isn’t classy, steak isn’t classy. They are traits of the Northern barbarians.
Again, Mediterranean people, native Americans and East Asians looked very smiliar to each other.
Italy is a very good example. People in the South are quite different from those in the North. When were Romans tall, pale skin, blonde hair people, they are the German invaders.
Very simple. It tells us intelligence can’t beat force. Humans are uncivilized animals, there is no so-called civilized society, looking through the human history.
The Lemonheads – “It’s A Shame About Ray” Live on Letterman
What happens if Russia, the United States, China, and India conclude a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement?
There won’t be a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Russia, the United States, China and India because it would require trust and predictability.
The United States is not trustworthy and predictable because of the dramatic changes in foreign policy which comes with a change in administration, and because of Congress. The US does not have any strategy for anything, and just moves tactically, depending on domestic politics and who are the major donors to the politicians.
India does not have an industrial policy, and business decisions are made by a few major families, so it is not a serious partner.
This leaves China and Russia, who do have strategic policies, and already have a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which seems to be developing well.
This means that from the Russia-China perspective, there is nothing to be gained from having a strategic partnership agreement which also includes the US and India. The US has enforced stringent sanctions against Russia because of Ukraine war, and it will take years to rebuild trust between those two governments. India is too small and too opportunistic, and doesn’t bring any value.
The American Economy Is Crashing And Everyone Can Feel What Is Coming
Texas Corn Bread
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups plain cornmeal
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
- 2/3 cup corn oil
- 1 cup cream-style corn
- 1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Pour corn oil in large iron skillet and place in a 350 degrees F oven to heat.
- Meanwhile combine all remaining ingredients except Cheddar cheese.
- When skillet and oil are hot, pour oil into batter and stir quickly to blend.
- Immediately pour half of batter back into hot skillet.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over batter.
- Carefully pour remaining batter over cheese and bake for about 45 minutes.
What is the most shocked you have been when waking up?
Teenager in a suburb of Miami: I woke up to see Officer Jim T______ standing at the foot of my bed with a gun pointed at me. He informed me that they had received a call that my 10-year-old sister had been reported having sex in the yard with a black boy. This was of course utter nonsense.
What was really going on, is that this particular white working-class suburb of Miami was fighting virulently to keep the color line at their border. But we four kids, since our mom was a real Christian, had friends of various colors who visited our home: obviously unacceptable! We eventually ending up leaving Florida for good, moving back to rural Tennessee where my people come from. I only returned to that area once, decades later, as a delegate to my union’s international convention. I was amused to learn that the suburb in question is now 93% people of color!
(Why did I know Officer Jim T_______ by name? He was dating our boarder, a waitress, and had been a guest in our home before while visiting her.)
What was your most unforgettable night at the emergency room?
For me it was April 21st, 1979 and l was 24. It was 9:30 pm l was home alone watching the Roper’s. When l got up to get a beer l felt something pop in my groin. My left leg began to feel weird. I went upstairs to change into something more comfortable. That is when l noticed my leg was swollen and turning purple. My toes were losing feeling. I made my way down stairs. My parents were in New Hampshire more than 100 miles away. My Dad was a part-time EMT for the town FD. I called his friend/partner and sat on the stairs at the front and waited. I could hardly walk. When Phil got there the door was unlocked. When l pulled down my pants his eyes almost popped out of his head. He said, “what hospital,” and phoned the ambulance. I replied, “UMASS,” because it was the newest hospital in Worcester. The rider was terrible as the pain was excruciating. At the ER l lay on a gurney. One useless resident after another asked me the same set of questions. Finally, one asked what I thought was happening. I replied, “a blood clot,” The doctor replied, “24 year old males do not have blood clots.” I begging for pain meds and they would not give me anything until they were sure what was going on. I signed a consent form, but wrote, “NO AMPUTATION.” The fucking moron replies, “no one is taking your leg.” Finally, a real doctor the vascular surgeon on call arrives. Bruce Cutler, MD came into the cubicle took one quick look and said, “ did he sign a consent form.” The resident handed it to him and noted the, “no amputation.” Culter looked right at me and said, “prep him.” l said to the resident as l was in agony with my thigh as big as my waist, “can you put me out.” That is all l remember. From the OR report they found a left illiofemoral vein thrombosis about 25 center meters long, a thick organized clot. Cutler could not remove it. I was on the table over 7 hours. Cutler took a break and sat down. Finally all the irrigation began to work and the clot began to move. Custer removed the clot and restored circulation to my left leg. Meanwhile, orthopedic surgeon, John Monahan, did a full fasciautomy from hip to ankle. They heparinized my system. Eleven days later they woke me up from my coma. As l looked around my ICU bed l saw all these people in white coats. I thought l was dead and they were angels. However, as my vision improved l saw my Dad. I knew he was alive. Dr. Monahan introduced himself and said, “Mark all the muscles below your knee are dead.” It was my leg or my life. I looked at my Dad and said, “okay, just put me back to sleep so l do not have to think about it.” The surgery was scheduled for the next morning. They were not sure how much they could save. What had happened was Heparin Rebound” a new diagnosis then. If you use Heparin for more than a week it reverses and starts new clots. They killed my leg muscles. They did a leg disarticulation, through knee, and left open wounds. It was hideous. After 113 days they sent me home. It took a revision surgery and 35 more days in UMASS to leave me with an Above Knee amputation and close the fasciautomy. After about a year l got a temporary prosthesis and in June of 1980 a permanent leg. It started out okay but I ran into trouble and could not wear it. I finally got another leg in 1981. Being a framing carpenter, l had to be rehabilitated for other work. I took a computer technician course but could not find a job. One employer came right out and said, “you are handicapped?” l began feeling my life was over. Lost my leg, lost my career, and lost my girl. What did l have to live for? Finally, l got sent to the Mass Rehab Commission and met a wonderful counselor, Margaret Rhodes. She got me into Worcester State College. I had a year’s credits from Fitchburg State that they excepted. I completed my degree BS in History and eventually got a job teaching for the DYS system, jail for kids. After about 27 years l had gotten married no kids and retired after two falls at work one on a wet floor an the other on black ice. I won my Worker’s Compensation and lawsuit against the private company where l fell attending a conference. That is how a night at the ER turned out for me.
Russia to Flood the Battlefield with K!ller Robots and Smart Tanks—The Next Phase of the War Begins
Is it true that the majority of cars in China are now electric due to high levels of pollution from car emissions? Or is this statement false for some reason?
It’s false.
Public transportation has gone mostly electric. The high speed rail, the taxis, the buses in Chinese cities are all electric. They’re moving to ships, but there’s not yet a schedule for the planes.
Of private transportation, most motor scooters have gone electric, and amongst cars maybe 50% in the South and 15–20% in the north? Because EVs drop range like crazy in winter.
If you try a Chinese scooter, you won’t want to go back. They’re the best way of short distance travelling and commute in China.
Big Girls Are From Venus
Submitted into Contest #289 in response to: Write an open-ended story in which your character’s fate is uncertain.… view prompt
Len Rely
—
The sharp rise in missing persons cases all over the county was something the police had never seen before. Murder rates yes, but not kidnappings especially not when all the victims were grown men. Most were single, some married, some visiting tourists and some locals. The first thing Detective John Sneed concluded was they probably were murders. So many of them in so short a time suggested an apparatus, a group of strong experienced men probably connected to hustling, organized crime, gambling or prostitution. None of those were a reason for mass-kidnapping however, it would only bring attention to something they want to keep secret. Not one of the victims escaped with his life to provide a single lead.
Only a small minority of them had any history with prostitution, the rest were respected husbands or even students, but it was this possible connection that made them choose Detective Sneed. He was a World War II veteran and as an older man could be trusted to observe prostitution maturely, as somebody’s daughters without scaring them away. He was also perfectly suited to keep watch over Atlantic Avenue and its neighborhoods working the case with his eyes, while the department pursued other leads with pencils and patrol cars.
There was a group of streetwalkers that were very cooperative but when he showed them photos of all the missing persons they didn’t recognize a single one of them. Women of the evening tend to have an excellent recall of men including tattoos and other details of interest, they were a useful asset going back to before some of these younger cops were born, which left him astonished that this was a dead end. He didn’t think there was any way the murderer could be a prostitute, but she might be a frontwoman who entices men into a safehouse (which still left no clue to a motive as some of the men had left their vehicles with the engine running). He asked if there were any other girls they knew about, perhaps ones that made house calls or worked for a suspicious employer.
They all drew a blank but they did share something bizarre that was a great conundrum to them although it meant little to him; two corpulent prep school girls trying their hand at streetwalking to get dates while they were on vacation.
The girl with the scar led him to the beach the next day and pointed them out to him. Detective Sneed observed them from a café table for several hours with his binoculars, a much more seasoned observer of human nature than the gang was. A couple of things were plain to him right away; they were not “prep school girls” as the gang supposed, they were simply projecting their attitude on two ordinary college-age girls. Also the word “overweight” had led him to think they were ugly which was not the case; the taller blonde was exceptionally beautiful despite having quite a few rolls which a gentleman could conceivably overlook. He had imagined the kind of square-bodied, multi-chinned women who are ostracized from childhood but these two had been relatively slimmer in high school perhaps even enough to be envied. Was that what this was, a hint of jealousy? This made him think back to WW2 when he was stationed in Italy and the “war prostitutes”, of which the chunkiest one was the most in demand. It was something that had always existed people today just weren’t accustomed to seeing it.
He watched them splash around in the water, sunbathe and do silly things like feed each other hot dogs and play “rock paper scissors”. The gang was mistaken; prostitution is an all-night profession where they sleep during the day, not act like tourists on vacation let alone overpower a grown man. And they were mistaken about them being tramps or well-off just because they showed too much skin. People aren’t the same wherever you go, they just came from some other place.
—
That night a young college boy fresh from pledging fraternity at a friend’s house came walking out of the dark down the sidewalk to a bus stop, his hair hanging in his face. To his surprise there was a short girl with black hair sitting by herself on the bench who was as fat as the kid they used to harass in the 8th grade. His first thought was that she was a runaway. Her black sweater didn’t come down far enough to cover the roll of flesh that was like a white streak around her midsection as if she’d rushed out of the house not fully dressed, and she didn’t have a suitcase or even a purse. He absentmindedly reached up and pushed the hair out of his eyes.
“You have a nice face.” she said. “Do you live around here?”
“Um, no.” he looked at the ground not knowing what to make of this situation.
“Don’t you have any family?” she asked next, looking him in the eyes.
“Naw they’re on the other side of the navel… I mean nation.” the gaff was so bad he covered his face with his hand.
“Did you just say navel?” a chuckle erupted from her painted mouth. “Why, were you thinking about my belly?”
He was too embarrassed to answer.
“Do you like this outfit?” she pressed on. “I mean do you think it looks good on me?”
“Yeah I uh…” he struggled to think of a compliment. “I think it’s really brave of you, to be so forward I mean…”
“Well do you want to go someplace?” she didn’t miss a beat. “My house is just two blocks from here, no one will know.”
He didn’t have to think about it for very long, and soon they were walking a short distance to the back of a brick building.
“My apartment’s upstairs.” she said as she opened the door for him.
The moment he stepped inside Chelsea raised her plastic weapon that was loaded with some kind of clear liquid and injected it into the back of his head directly into his hypothalamus. He collapsed to the floor like kindling. She stepped around his body and reached down to a nondescript place on the hardwood floor, lifting a handle that caused a long metal hatch to rise up on hydraulic pistons. Underneath it was something that looked like a meat press, the kind that seals ground beef in cellophane. She dragged him by the arms, placing his body into it and closed the hatch again as the sound of a conveyor belt carried him down and out of sight. Then she dusted off her chubby hands, whistling.
Cheshire was walking around the corner, her high heels causing her body to jiggle when she bumped into an old man with a sweeping gray mustache standing right in her path. He wore a light-colored summer suit, a pair of sunglasses and a fedora.
“I’m sorry I was in your way.” he flashed his card. “I’m not a cop, I’m just looking for a missing person. May I ask what happened to your friend? The one I saw you with earlier.”
“I’m meeting her in a few minutes.” she answered curiously.
He pulled out a series of enlarged photos asking if she had seen any of these men, turning them slowly. To his surprise she said that she had seen one of them, pointing with her painted finger, saying she saw him during the day horsing around with his friends cruising for girls. Sneed didn’t know why she would say this unless it was the truth.
“One more question and then I’ll bother you no more.” he said graciously. “I mean no offense I’m just curious why you go out in the middle of the night dressed like this.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” she smirked. “We’re out looking for dates. We’re prostituting.”
“Real prostitutes don’t use the word ‘prostitute’.” he corrected her. “That’s what the police call them.”
She blinked for a moment, then he said “May I ask what usually happens on these dates?”.
“Don’t you already know that?” she smiled as if it was foolish for him to ask.
“What kind of protection do you use?” he fired off an ungentlemanly question.
Her search for an answer told him she honestly didn’t know what he meant, but she recovered quickly.
“Why don’t I just show you everything you want to know?” she offered. “We can go inside, it would be easier than explaining.”
“Inside where?” his eyes narrowed.
She led him behind the furniture building to a door and held it open for him. Sneed suddenly felt a sense of danger and stopped in his tracks.
“What is that?” he pointed to the little plastic gun on her hip.
“Spermicide.” she answered, taking out the transparent cartridge and showing him. “Listen, you seem like a gentleman and someone I can talk to. I need to confess something, some things I’ve seen… I promise it will help your search if you just step through this door…”
He backed away slowly, overcome with a sudden and inexplicable dose of fear and common sense. He turned away from her and retreated down the street.
—
Detective Sneed rushed to get his binoculars, not wanting her out of his sight for a moment and called in a team to search the premises. When he returned the girls had already left; he watched them saunter up the street before dawn past the closed storefronts. Over the next five hours he saw them walk the entire length of town and back again, returning in daylight and going right back to the beach and sunbathing. Meanwhile the forensic unit got back to him that the building was just an empty warehouse with an upstairs loft that hadn’t been slept in.
At midday the two girls were sitting at an outdoor café when he approached them.
“I’m sorry to disturb you again.” he said warily, taking a seat. “It’s just that I didn’t get to meet your friend and show her these pictures.”
“Well I’m Cheshire and this is Chelsea.” the tall one smiled as if they found him amusing.
He spread out the photos of the missing men on the table. The girls glanced at each other as Chelsea tried to make up her mind, which he read as someone playing a strange game with him.
“May I ask what the two of you do for a living? Are you students or…”
“Actually we work for a food export business.” Cheshire answered. “There’s a kind of animal here that’s considered a delicacy.”
“Some kind of fish?” Sneed responded. “I take it you send them overseas?”
“You could say that.”
“I was just wondering where you got the idea of dressing down and walking the streets after dark to get dates.” he stated.
“We heard the men here like a certain kind of woman.” Chelsea answered. “We wanted to blend in, after all who doesn’t want to be popular?”
Sneed blinked trying to absorb this answer.
“Someone told you this town prefers women like yourselves?” he repeated in disbelief. “Explain this to me. You expected to be treated like… the most popular girls?”
“Yes that’s why we chose this appearance.” Chelsea took a sip from her milkshake. “It’s working better than we imagined.”
“And who told you such a thing?” he demanded.
“We knew it from reading men’s minds.” Cheshire gave an unexpected answer.
Sneed was a reader of people himself and their forthrightness had him baffled. They had absolutely no fear of him. There was an extreme cockiness going on here that made him think of a very different kind of case, the Leopold and Loeb murder where a couple of Ivy League intellectuals killed their classmate to demonstrate superior intellect. But it made no difference.
“If you can read minds then tell me what I’m thinking right now.” he said finally, putting his fingers together.
The two girls exchanged a glance and then stood up in unison.
“You’d like us to come with you.” Cheshire replied with a smile.
This blew out of the water what Sneed was about to say, but he said it anyway.
“I don’t usually make arrests or read people their rights, I offer them to come with me voluntarily.” he rose and spoke solemnly. “It works better for you that way. We’re going to the station, if you request a lawyer you will have to remain in custody until questioning. My car is waiting.”
He gestured in the direction of the street corner. The girls followed obediently as he kept a constant eye on them. When they reached his tan-colored sedan he found their eagerness to ride with him unsettling and said “I’ll need to confiscate those”, pointing to their unidentified plastic sidearms which they handed over, still smiling and glancing at each other.
Sneed felt a cold sweat on his forehead as he watched their willingness to get into the car even without their weapons, thinking as he made his way slowly to the driver’s side. They wanted to be in an enclosed space with him. His hand let go of the wheel and he took a wary step backward out of the vehicle.
“Where are you going?” Chelsea demanded as they both giggled. “Don’t you want to ride with us?”
Not knowing what else to do he walked slowly away from the car, trusting his instincts. The girls exited either side and approached him, following him down the sidewalk. Sneed quickened his pace in unexplainable fear of them, as they marched straight toward him with their bodies jiggling as if they were indestructible.
“Don’t you want to take us to the station?” Cheshire asked in her sweet voice, and he ran until he was out of sight of them.
What’s the creepiest thing someone has ever said to you personally?
A woman I had not seen for many years, and who had been fairly unpleasant to me, saw me walk in to a friend’s holiday party. She blurted out, “I thought you were dead.”
I stepped close to her and whispered, “I am. You are the only one here who can see me. I’ve come back to get even with you.”
What is Japan’s official position on the Nakanishi Masatoshi case?
Japanese officials will only play dumb and will not recognize Nakanishi Masatoshi as a spy.
When it comes to Japanese spies, the Chinese are very experienced.
According to Chinese official estimates, there are no less than 500,000 Japanese spies operating in China.
In 2020 alone, China detected more than 2,300 cases of illegal geographic surveys, 70% of which were related to the Japanese.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Japan had sent a large number of Japanese spies to China to steal intelligence and was in a favorable position in the Sino-Japanese War.
Before the outbreak of the war of Japan’s invasion of China, there was a large influx of Japanese spies into China, and at that time Chiang Kai-shek did not even know that these spies were both Japanese and Chinese who were bribed by Japanese officials. They mastered many of China’s mountains and rivers and geographic confidential data, helping to facilitate Japan’s invasion of China.
MM AI generations
Various.
China’s New AI Just Destroyed China’s DeepSeek – U.S. Can’t Keep Up, Demands Total Ban
Why are Americans so ignorant about the world?
It all comes down to one thing. I worked for a well known phone company both here in London and the US.
Americans often told me they worked hard and played hard. They spent a lot of time telling me and each other this, time that they could have used for work.
Work in America often started with a breakfast meeting, this included coffee, lots of coffee. Because they had spent so long the day before at work they were tired. Meetings would take place maybe 5/7 times a day. These meetings were often spent deciding on what the next meeting would be about and going over the ‘findings’ of the last meeting.
Decision making is not a strong point with Americans, they have a drone mentality, and only when the most senior member of the group was there would they make a decision, having been told by the boss what that decision was.
Having had meetings about meetings, the day would end somewhere around seven, and then they’d go to a bar and sit around discussing the national sport, based on drone game play, and of course the meetings of the day.
What a sad life they lead. My heart goes out to that poor indoctrinated people. Because I liked them, however meeting a doer, really confused them, so I wasn’t popular!
To answer the question they are indoctrinated very early to conform to a norm that is ‘work hard, play hard’. Blue collar families are particularly suseptible to this American Dream nonesense. Singing the national anthem and ‘pledging’ are big from primary school on. American working class aren’t good at questioning, only conforming, it’s not their fault, the education system is cocked that way. Being brought up on properganda and Hollywood ‘history’ is all they know.
Being American is not a nationality it is a religion, based on one doctine – ignorance, and we are told, with ignorance comes bliss.
Sadly in American this state of bliss is contrived to create cannon fodder, much like Europe before the second world war. Cannon fodder for industry and war, when their politicians can contrive one for profit.
It had so much potential as well…
Sir Whiskerton and the Super-Speed Chicken: A Tale of Feathers, Chaos, and the Importance of Patience
Ah, dear reader, prepare yourself for a tale of speed, feathers, and one very determined chicken. Today’s story is one of chaos, comedy, and the importance of taking life at a steady pace. So, grab your running shoes and a sense of humor (for keeping up with Doris), as we dive into Sir Whiskerton and the Super-Speed Chicken: A Tale of Feathers, Chaos, and the Importance of Patience.
Doris’s Need for Speed
It all began on a quiet morning, when Doris the Hen was feeling particularly restless. “I’m tired of being just a chicken,” she clucked, pacing back and forth in the barnyard. “I want to be faster, sleeker, more… impressive.”
Zephyr the Genie, ever the free spirit, overheard Doris’s complaints. “Fear not, my feathered friend!” he declared, floating out of his lava lamp with a flourish. “I, Zephyr, shall grant you the gift of super speed!”
Doris’s eyes lit up. “Really? You can do that?”
“Of course!” Zephyr said, adjusting his psychedelic headband. “With a snap of my fingers, you’ll be the fastest chicken on the farm.”
Sir Whiskerton, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. “Zephyr, are you sure this is a good idea? Doris is already quite… enthusiastic.”
But Zephyr was undeterred. He snapped his fingers, and a burst of purple smoke enveloped Doris. When the smoke cleared, she looked the same—but her legs were twitching with newfound energy.
“Feel the need for speed!” Zephyr declared.
The Chaos Begins
Doris took a tentative step forward—and zoomed across the barnyard in a blur of feathers. “Whoa!” she squawked, her voice trailing behind her. “This is amazing!”
The animals stared in awe as Doris zipped around the farm, leaving a trail of dust and confusion in her wake. She ran circles around Porkchop the Pig, darted past Rufus the Dog, and even outpaced Throttle the Tractor.
“Look at me!” Doris crowed. “I’m the fastest chicken in the world!”
But her joy was short-lived. As Doris tried to stop, she realized she couldn’t. Her legs kept moving, carrying her faster and faster across the farm. “Uh, guys?” she called, her voice panicked. “How do I stop?”
The animals watched in horror as Doris zoomed past them again, her feathers flying in all directions. “This is not good,” Porkchop said, his voice filled with concern.
Farmyard Turmoil
With Doris unable to stop, the farm quickly descended into chaos. She crashed into hay bales, knocked over buckets of feed, and even sent Gertrude the Goose flying into the pond. The animals tried to catch her, but she was too fast.
“Doris, stop!” Sir Whiskerton called, his voice calm but firm.
“I can’t!” Doris squawked, zooming past him again. “My legs won’t listen to me!”
Porkchop groaned. “This is worse than the time Throttle got stuck in reverse.”
Even Zephyr, ever the laid-back genie, was starting to worry. “Uh, maybe I should have thought this through,” he said, scratching his head.
Sir Whiskerton’s Plan
Sir Whiskerton, ever the problem solver, knew it was time to take action. “We need to slow Doris down,” he said, flicking his tail. “But how?”
Porkchop thought for a moment. “What if we create an obstacle course? Something to slow her down gradually.”
Sir Whiskerton nodded. “That could work. Let’s gather the animals and set it up.”
The animals quickly got to work, creating an obstacle course out of hay bales, ropes, and anything else they could find. They placed it in the middle of the barnyard, hoping it would slow Doris down enough for her to regain control.
The Obstacle Course
As Doris zoomed past the obstacle course, Sir Whiskerton called out to her. “Doris, run through the course! It’ll help you slow down!”
Doris nodded and veered toward the course. She weaved through the hay bales, jumped over the ropes, and even managed to dodge a strategically placed bucket of water. Slowly but surely, her speed began to decrease.
“It’s working!” Porkchop cheered.
Finally, Doris came to a stop in the middle of the course, panting and covered in feathers. “I… I did it,” she said, her voice filled with relief. “I stopped.”
The animals cheered, their spirits lifted by Doris’s success. Even Zephyr, ever the free spirit, looked relieved. “That was a close one,” he said, floating above the barnyard.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story, dear reader, is this: Speed isn’t always the answer; sometimes, slow and steady wins the race. Doris’s journey taught her (and the farm animals) that rushing through life can lead to chaos and confusion. Whether you’re a chicken, a cat, or a pig, taking the time to enjoy the journey is the key to a fulfilling life.
A Happy Ending
With Doris back to her normal speed, the farm returned to its peaceful state. The animals worked together to clean up the barnyard, their spirits lifted by the camaraderie and laughter. Sir Whiskerton, ever the vigilant detective, resumed his sunbeam vigil, content in the knowledge that he had once again saved the day.
And so, dear reader, we leave our heroes with the promise of new adventures, new lessons, and hopefully, no more super-speed chickens. Until next time, may your days be filled with laughter, love, and just a little bit of feline genius.
The End.
What is the most badass thing your parent has ever done?
I grew up on a farm. There was a small forest, which we called “the woods,” on one end of the farm. Every year, my father would post “No Hunting” signs around the woods. But every year hunters would still come there, as the woods were filled with rabbit, pheasant, deer, and other game. When he saw them, my father would go out to the woods and explain to the hunter that these were his woods, he did not allow hunting, and they would have to leave.
One time, when I was four, my father was with my brother, who was six, when they saw a hunter at the edge of the woods, looking into the woods for something to shoot. My father took my brother’s hand, walked over to the hunter, and said “These are my woods. I don’t allow hunting. You’ll have to leave.” The hunter turned around, pointed his shotgun at my six year old brother’s chest, and said “I’ll hunt wherever I damn well please.” My father slowly backed away with my brother and went back to the house.
A few minutes later, he came out again. But instead of crossing the field that led from the house to the woods, he went to the side, where a chicken coop extended to the edge of the woods. He walked quietly behind the chicken coop, until he came to the edge of the woods, about twenty feet from the hunter, who was still intently looking into the woods for something to shoot. My father said to the hunter “Drop the gun and leave immediately.” Except this time, when the hunter turned around, instead of my father holding the hand of a six year old boy, he was holding a .38 revolver…which was pointed at the hunter’s head. As soon as he started to turn around, my father said simply “Drop it or die.”
Last month, I visited my father. He is 89 years old now. It has been almost sixty years since this happened. The hunter’s shotgun is still in his closet.
What is one of the world’s greatest industrial secrets that has not yet been revealed or discovered?
The world’s greatest trade secret isn’t locked away in some underground vault or guarded by dozens of armed guards. It’s probably not even written down on paper. I’m referring, of course, to the formula for WD-40 , the famous water repellent often used as a lubricant, release agent, and penetrating oil.
In 1953 in San Diego, California, a group of engineers at a small company called Rocket Chemical Company created a product intended for use in the aerospace industry as an anti-corrosion agent.
The name of the product refers to Water Displacement and the number 40 refers to the number of attempts made to make the formula work. They must have been quite significant because, even after almost 70 years, the formula is still in use and has not been surpassed by any other.
Its first commercial use, for the Atlas rocket, was to protect the rocket’s exterior from rust and corrosion (the rocket was intended to carry nuclear bombs to intercontinental destinations, and was later used to carry astronauts into space as part of the Gemini program).
The product worked so well that some employees began taking a few cans home for personal use. Only a few years later the company director had the bright idea of packaging the liquid in aerosol cans and selling it to the public.
The secret lies in another brilliant strategy, in fact the company decided, contrary to usual, not to patent its product, since to do so it was necessary to deliver the recipe. The patent would last only a few years and after a certain date anyone could manufacture and market it without problems.
A secret so well kept that seven decades later no one has been able to decipher it.
“Trump Just Announced His WORST Idea” – Richard Wolff’s Latest Warning
How will the United States make new contributions to world development amid the global economic downturn?
The global economy is growing, not on a downturn. China is growing. ASEAN is growing. The global south countries are growing, The 1Q25 results when they are in would likely show the US and the rich countries are also growing, even if feeble.
The world is facing uncertainties, the disruptions are from the US. There was the volatility in the forex market due to the Fed’s interest rate policy. Now, it is all on Trump.
His tariffs, his vacillations, his announcements and flip-flops. The latest position is he would impose both broad reciprocal tariffs and additional sector-specific tariffs on 2 April – “they charge us, and we charge them, and then in addition to that on autos, on steel, on aluminum, we are going to have additional tariffs.”
He has already imposed a 20% tariff on China (in addition to 20% to 25% imposed in his first term), as well as, 25% levy on steel and aluminum. He gave a one-month extension of his 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods that comply with the USMCA (expiry? then what?), and for Canadian energy and potash, the tariff would only be 10%.
His State Secretary Rubio said once the US has imposed tariffs on its major trading partners, it could engage in bilateral talks on new trade arrangements.
Not sure if there are enough people in the State or Commerce Department to do this. Or is it a matter of America making demands. This is all about America First. Clearly the US sees itself in the position of strength. Many disagree, and that Americans would pay the tariffs, which would raise prices, and cause shortages in the US. We shall see. It may be that the facts on the ground will decide things.
Meanwhile, China has retaliated. It has past experience and will not be easily swayed. Canada has also retaliated, which it could enhance. EU has said it will retaliate, and is up in arms, especially as it had been shunted aside as the US tries to exit the Ukraine quagmire. Mexico has held its peace, the same for Japan, South Korea, and India. Australia has expressed umbrage, but will not retaliate. NZ calls on the region to close rank.
There are grave uncertainties ahead, all cause by the US. It is therefore premature to talk about new US contributions to world development.
Trump only needs to stop his nonsense.
For the Record
Submitted into Contest #289 in response to: Write an open-ended story in which your character’s fate is uncertain.… view prompt
Jan Keifer
I wake up the next morning and get out of the house on time. I had fixed the bathroom door the night before, so that the latch would not catch and trap my new houseguest. I go to work and cannot get the neighbor’s actions off of my mind. I am distracted all day. I finally tell my boss that I have to leave. I rush to my car and head straight home.
The house looks the same as always and I don’t see my fellow looking out the window when I arrive. I open the door and he plows past me, heading to the backyard. When I find him he is in the neighbor’s yard furiously digging. To my horror, a hand appears in the dirt and my new friend looks up at me and barks. We run back into the house and I call the Police. I pat my new fellow on the head and he looks up at me and grins with his tongue hanging out of his mouth while wagging his tail.
Where is Hong Kong going?
It is becoming just another Chinese city in the same way Shanghai became just another Chinese city 70 years ago.
Hong Kong was always a Chinese city with a western veneer. Westerners and westernized Chinese liked to think of it as being fundamentally different because of the British colonization, but if you drill down a little bit, you would always find that Hong Kong was a Chinese city.
Some Hongkongers like to make a big fuss over how Hong Kong is different because of Chinese tourists letting their kids poop on the street, but that is not a big enough issue. All the talk about Hong Kong independence is also a false dream which will go nowhere, because Beijing will not allow it, and it is not practical for Hong Kong’s development.
Every day, Hong Kong is becoming more closely integrated with Shenzhen and Guangdong province.
As Hong Kong integrates, it will lose more of its character from the colonial period and the Chinese part will become more of its surface as the western veneer wears off and becomes thinner.
China’s medical tourism industry is booming. Breakthroughs in Parkinson’s treatments help explain
Texas Jambalaya
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic
- 1 cup converted rice, uncooked
- 4 ounces smoked sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 4 ounces ham, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 2 cans Ro*Tel diced tomatoes and green chiles
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cans Ranch Style Texas beans, undrained
Instructions
- In a 5 quart saucepot over medium high heat, heat oil.
- Add onion, green pepper and celery; cook until onions are translucent.
- Add garlic, cook 1 minute longer.
- Add rice, sausage and ham. Cook 2 to 3 minutes to coat rice with oil, stirring frequently.
- Add next 4 ingredients and heat to boiling.
- Cover and steam 20 to 25 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
- Remove bay leaf, stir in beans and serve.
Star Trek: Renegades – FULL MOVIE with Walter Koenig, Tim Russ, Robert Picardo, and more!
Great fan movie. Starring Walter Koenig… Ensign Chekhov.