Ukraine is starting to tumble.
Head over heels, and the West is starting to realize that it is really over.
And thus…
We start with some Hall Turner fear-mongering…
60 FIRED !!!! Trump Purges Republican National Committee Staff
With President Trump now the Presumptive Nominee for the Republican Nomination for President of the United States, he and his campaign earned the right to staff the Republican National Committee (RNC)
Today, they FIRED 60 people from RNC jobs!
This was long overdue.
The RNC was filled with anti-Trump, globalist, NWO-types who were selling this country out in every way they could. Mental Weaklings who thought they should go along to get along . . . . and losing race after race. That was all brought to an abrupt end today.
I am told “More firings are coming.”
This, too, will be a welcome change.
ANY person who made even a single utterance against Trump or his “America First” policies, need to be shown the door. The one thing the NWO Globalist types have shown, is they are SNEAKS. They talk a good story but when they think no one hears, or no one is looking, they sabotage, back-bite, and sew discord. OUT THE DOOR with all of them!
These people get it
Slovakia Prime Minister . . .”Lie Doomed on our Balcony . . . waiting for World Apocalypse”
“All We Can Do is Lie Doomed On The Balcony With A Cognac And A Cigar, Waiting For The World Apocalypse”
Slovak Prime Minister Fico: “The West sees that, despite significant assistance, despite anti-Russian sanctions, Ukraine is simply not capable of winning. And if we send military personnel from the EU and NATO to Ukraine, all we can do is lie doomed on the balcony with cognac and a cigar, waiting for the world apocalypse.”
Hal Turner Analysis
The fact that the Prime Minister of Slovakia said these words Sunday evening is proof that the “idea” of French President Macron, for NATO member countries to send their troops into Ukraine under “Bi-lateral Security Agreements” was far more than just bluster or posturing. Clearly, the suggestion of the French President is under active consideration.
Were it anything else, there would be no reason for the Prime Minister to make such a statement.
The world is moving faster and faster toward an actual nuclear conflict with Russia. The general public in Europe and the United States remain blissfully unaware because the mass media has utterly failed in its job to report the serious and world-changing events developing in Ukraine.
I have done, and continue to do, my best, to keep you informed of the important developments overseas.
These comments by the Prime Minister of Slovakia cannot be taken lightly – at all.
Intention
UPDATED 3-12-2024 — Rest Easy Britain; THIS is what’s protecting you!
The Military sales pitch doesn’t match the reality. That’s a conclusion being drawn by many after seeing what happened to a “Challenger 2” Tank on the Battlefields of Ukraine: Russia eats them for breakfast!
Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land is a large Defense Contractor. They make various types of equipment and tout the reliability of that equipment. Here’s what they say they do:
As an integrated technology group, the listed company Rheinmetall AG, headquartered in Düsseldorf, stands for a company that is as strong in substance as it is successful internationally, and that is active in various markets with an innovative range of products and services. Rheinmetall is a leading international systems supplier in the defence industry and at the same time a driver of forward-looking technological and industrial innovations in the civilian markets. The focus on sustainability is an integral part of Rheinmetall’s strategy. The company aims to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2035.
Through our work in various fields, we at Rheinmetall take on responsibility in a dramatically changing world. With our technologies, products and systems, we create the indispensable basis for peace, freedom and sustainable development: security.
They manufacture the “Challenger 2” Tank.
Here’s how they advertise some of it:
The sales pitch is straight forward:
But the Sales Pitch doesn’t seem to match the reality.
Here’s the reality from the battlefields of Ukraine:
That is a “Challenger 2” Main Battle Tank built by Rheinmetall / BAE Systems Land.
The sales pitch says it can operate in “high intensity conflict.” In reality . . . . apparently not so much.
Wow! Turret blasted out of the hole in the center top of the tank, where it used to rest. Wheels blown off and/or melted. Tracks destroyed. Side armor over tracks and wheels blown to smitherines.
Somehow, this does not look as one might expect a “main battle tank” to look, on a battlefield.
What did this tank encounter that killed it? The Russian Army.
If this is the best that NATO has to offer, then as a layman, I can’t help but feel NATO is sadly lacking. Deluding themselves as to the “superiority” of their forces.
If these are what would be put up against Russia, it seems to me NATO doesn’t have a chance!
But that’s not __really__ the point, now, is it?
The actual point is how much these tanks cost taxpayers, and how much the military-industrial-complex (MIC) can pocket. I asked Google “How much does a Challenger 2 tank cost.
So presuming Google is correct, for $4.9 MILLION dollars each, taxpayers can rest easy knowing this is “protecting” them.
Or . . . maybe not rest so easy after seeing what happens in the real world!
OK, to heck with resting easy, just pay the money and buy more tanks . . . the MIC has to earn profit! They have to donate to political campaigns so the politicians they get elected can . . . buy more tanks!
You really shouldn’t be paying attention to stories like this; might be bad for Rheinmetall/ BAE Systems Land, sales.
Large Number of E-6B “Doomsday” Planes Airborne over CONUS
Six e-6B “Mercury” aircraft are airborne over the continental United States (CONUS) today. Each is a Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications plane!
The E-6B Mercury is a communications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft. It provides survivable, reliable, and endurable airborne Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) for the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command. Two operational squadrons (“Ironmen” of VQ-3 and “Shadows” of VQ-4) deploy from their main Operating Base at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, supported by the TACAMO Weapons School and the fleet replacement squadron (the “Roughnecks” of VQ-7). They deploy aircrews to Forward Operating Bases at Travis Air Force Base, California; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.; and other locations, as directed.
Here are the E-6 planes over the continental United States March 12, 2024:
Boeing derived the E-6A from its commercial 707 to replace the aging EC-130Q in the performance of the Navy’s TACAMO mission. TACAMO links the National Command Authority (NCA) with naval ballistic missile forces during times of crisis. The aircraft carries a Very Low Frequency communication system with dual trailing wire antennas. The Navy accepted the first E-6A in August 1989.
The E-6B was conceived as a replacement for the Air Force’s Airborne Command Post due to the age of the EC-135 fleet. The E-6B modified an E-6A by adding battlestaff positions and other specialized equipment. The E-6B is a dual-mission aircraft capable of fulfilling either the no-fail TACAMO mission or the Looking Glass mission, which facilitates the launch of U.S. land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles using an airborne launch control system (ALCS). The Navy accepted the first E-6B aircraft in December 1997 and the E-6B assumed its dual operational mission in October 1998. The E-6 fleet was completely modified to the E-6B configuration in 2003.
Why there are SIX of these aircraft operating over CONUS today, is unknown. Drill? Threat?
Salsa Jim’s Pork Tenderloin
This is a recipe “invented” by my late friend “Salsa” Jim. Jim was a graduate of Scottsdale Culinary Institute. He loved to dream up new recipes. In addition, he entered the Salsa Challenge in Scottsdale, Arizona, every year. I was always there to support him and to help him work the booth. The “Challenge” is for the benefit of the Hemophilia Association which was Salsa Jim’s favorite charity.
Ingredients
- 1 (4 pound) pork tenderloin
- 5 ribs celery, cut 3 inches long
- 5 carrots, cut 3 inches long
- 3 onions, cut into quarters
- 1 (15 ounce) can pineapple juice
- 8 ounces brown sugar
- Water as needed
- Salt and pepper as needed
Instructions
- Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Place vegetables in roasting pan; add juice, brown sugar, water and pork loin (you may need to truss the pork). Salt and pepper top as needed. Cover with foil. You want to cook this slowly, about 25 to 30 minutes per pound, and it will be very tender.
- With the juice in the pan, you can make a gravy. For a good gravy you should make a roux which is equal parts flour to butter or margarine. Make the roux ahead of time and add to the hot liquid, stirring with a whip. Let cook for about 30 minutes to cook out flour.
Notes
“This gravy will surprise everyone. Most people can’t figure what is in it, + it’s delicious!” ~ Jim
What are some fascinating psychological facts about attracting people?
1. Symmetrical Faces
Studies show that people with symmetrical faces are thought to be the most attractive compared to asymmetrical faces. If you find yourself attracted to someone with a symmetrical face, blame it on biology
2. Parental Resemblance
Also known as the Oedipus Syndrome, research shows that 90% of people are attracted to others who resemble their parents. If your parents we young when you were born, you will find younger people attractive. If you had older parents when you were born, you will find older face
3. Wearing Red
Studies show that wearing red color clothing will make people attracted to you. This is true for both men and women because the color red is considered superior. Another study also shows that the attraction to red is unconscious so if you are trying to attract that special someone, why not take out that sexy red dress!
4. Smiling
Research suggest that men find women very attractive when they smile while women find men who smile less often more attractive. If you are a gal, try smiling more, and if you are a guy, stay stern!
5. Higher Pitched Voices
If a woman finds a man attractive, she will automatically and unconsciously begin to speak in a very high pitched voice. Try not to let him know that you have a crush by lowering
6. Weight & Height
Studies show that women who weigh 10 kilograms more than they should find a harder time finding dates. Men on the other hand are less attractive if they are shorter than they should be by a few inches. Start losing some of those extra pounds girls and guys, try wearing some shoe pads.
7. Large Boobs
Studies show that men are more attracted to women with large boobs. Some researchers believe that this is because women with larger breasts produce more milk for their offsprings.
8. Beards
Many studies show that women find men with long beards more attractive than men with none. They also state that this is because men with beards look stronger and more responsible. Other studies show that men with beards make better parents.
9. Younger & Older
Studies show that women are more attracted to older men while men are more attracted to younger women. This is because men find women who are younger to be more fertile while women find men who are older to be more caring, Research shows that men with large bellies are found less attractive and vice versa. Try getting rid of that belly fat!Research shows that men with large bellies are found less attractive and vice versa. Try getting rid of that belly fat!
10. Competing
Studies show that people find others attractive when they see that the person is getting attention from others. If a man sees a woman being smiled at by another man, he will automatically find that woman attractive as well. This is because humans are born competitive
11. Large Belly
Research shows that men with large bellies are found less attractive and vice versa. Try getting rid of that belly fat!
12. Copying
Studies show that when two people are in love or attracted to each other, they will begin to copy each other’s actions.
13. Money
Research shows that women are more attracted to men with wealth while men are attracted to women of youth and beauty.
14. First Move
If you met someone who thought that you were attractive while he or she was drunk or drinking, you need to evaluate your encounter. Research shows that people who are drunk tend to find everyone attractive that the person who makes the first move in a relationship is the one who is more attractive and feels the most attraction.
15. Adrenaline’
Research shows that adrenaline has a lot to do with attraction! Apparently, people find others more attractive when they themselves are experiencing an adrenaline rush!
16. Alcohol
If you met someone who thought that you were attractive while he or she was drunk or drinking, you need to evaluate your encounter. Research shows that people who are drunk tend to find everyone attractive
17.Flexing
Research shows that if a man is attracted to a woman, he will unconsciously begin to flex his body or position himself in a way that will show off his best features.
Conclusion
Now you understand the psychological facts about the attraction between two people.
See me…
What is a disturbing fact most people are unaware of?
60-year-old mechanic Philip Hoe was admitted to hospital with a serious skin condition.
He was, however, a heavy (I’m talking 20-a-day) smoker, and wasn’t quite ready to give that up just yet. Unfortunately, this craving led to a pivotal moment in his life—and not in a good way.
A few years prior, he was receiving skin treatment at a hospital, but went into the toilets to have a smoke—which wasn’t allowed in the hospital.
Doing this, he managed to burn his dressing gown—but nothing that posed a threat to his life.
He was now at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, yet again getting more treatment for his psoriasis. His nurse had moisturised his body by smearing him with several ointments, which was meant to soothe the skin.
Hoe had then been warned not to smoke, as it was not permitted in the hospital—and to add to that, it really wouldn’t have been a good idea when he was covered head to toe in liquid paraffin.
‘The victim, obviously a smoker, had slipped away from a ward for a crafty fag and was in the enclosed stairwell of a fire escape.’
But this cigarette craving would prove to be fatal.
Percy Smith, another patient at the hospital, who was watching Emmerdale at the time, suddenly heard shouts from the stairwell:
‘… I heard a male shouting help me. The shouting was over and over again. He was screaming as if he was in a lot of pain.’
A gust of wind had caused the cigarette flame to spread to his entire body, and set him alight like a human bonfire.
‘His body was engulfed from head to foot in flames. He was stood upright not moving, just screaming for help.’
Immediately a student nurse and sister grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to douse the flames, but he was left with 90 percent of his body with third-degree burns.
He was transferred to another hospital but died shortly after.
This isn’t at all a unique, stand-alone case—the BBC led an investigation in 2017 and found that skin creams containing paraffin were linked to several fire deaths across the UK—a fact uncommon, but still disturbing.
Hoe’s life came to a bitter and unfortunate end—albeit preventable, if he had not acted on his impulse to smoke—although that is, to be fair, easier said than done.
Footnotes
Big change from Biden
If someone calls your job and asks for you by name, what should you say?
Nothing with “yes” in the response. I learned that one the hard way. They asked for a guy who had passed away 5 years previously.
“Is this [Company Name]?” (after I had already greeted them with the company name)
“Yes, it is.”
“Hi, Dan. This is [rep from some telecom company I’ve never heard of]” (why would someone assume that the person who answers the phone is the person they want to talk with?)
“Dan is longer with us.”
“Oh, well, who am I speaking to?” (not knowing any better, I give them my name)
“What is this regarding?”
“Like, I said, I’m calling on behalf of [our provider] to offer a better rate than your current provider. (then goes on with their spiel regarding their “exclusive” rates, not letting me a word in to tell them to add us to their do not call list) Sounds good, right? I’ll pass you through to our confirmation department to get you signed up.”
“But…”
“This is the confirmation department. Am I speaking to [Me]?”
“Yes, but…”
“And I have you as the person who makes the decisions on your telecom services?”
“No.”
“May I speak to Dan, then?”
“Put us on your do not call list.”
“Was there something we said or did?”
“Yes. You wouldn’t let me talk. I was patched through without getting a chance to say that we already use the provider you’re trying to switch us to. Plus, Dan died 5 years ago.”
“Oh, well, I’m sorry. We’ll get this taken care of for you.”
2 weeks later, we received bill from the no-name place for a new number with a ton of features we would never use, even if we had ordered a new number. My boss called them, and they played the call they made to Dan but with my voice “agreeing” to everything they were offering. I was in trouble for it, until you could hear the same background noise from the radio for each “yes” they played. We reported them to the FCC and AG but no idea what came of it other than receiving no bills from them after that.
China LATEST Hypersonic Missiles Can Reach Up To 6500 MPH & Impossible To Stop
As a police officer, what is the one moment where you thought “I might not survive this”?
I had stopped a car for a speeding violation. The second I put my car in park, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. Of a countless number of traffic stops I made, never had this happened to me. I was actually scared and didn’t know why. I finally approached the vehicle. The guy driving never spoke a word, kept looking forward and never took his hands off the wheel. Until he retrieved his license and registration, then he was back to his frozen state. Not moving, not talking.
I was scared to death and finally got back to my car, and wrote this guy a couple of tickets. The feeling of fear never went away. Wrote the tickets, and approached the vehicle again, had him sign his tickets. Normally I would tell them to slow down or make repairs before court and start back to my car.
However, this guy had me freaked out. And all I could say was, you need to leave right now. I took a few steps back and he started to drive off. As he went around a curve and his tail lights disappeared, the feeling of fear was gone, my hair laid down, and I felt fine.
Court rolls around and he was not in court but his attorney was. I testified. The attorney asked no questions and the judge asked where his client was.
The attorney informed the judge that his client was in jail for pending murder charges. The attorney went on to say the night I had stopped the guy, he had just murdered his wife and kids and was on the way to kill his parents when I pulled him over.
The neighboring state never sent any information to anyone. Even though they were aware he was going to drive through part of my state to get to his parents.
Luckily once he returned to the neighboring state, they had officers there waiting for him. So he never made it to mom and dad.
Redneck boy
What are some unwritten rules of everyday life?
1. Don’t call someone continuously more than once unless it’s a really urgent matter and if they don’t pick up, wait until they return the call. They might be sleeping, sick, busy, or have something important going on.
. 2. When someone treats you to lunch or dinner, don’t buy the most expensive dish on the menu. Also, treat them the next time.
3.Only suggest splitting the cheque evenly if your dish is the least expensive among the rest.
4.Don’t lend out what you borrowed. If it is not yours, don’t act as if it is.
5. If you borrow money from someone, return it, even before they ask for it.
6. If you borrow someone’s car, fill up the tank before you return it.
7. Say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’
8. Be nice and kind to waiters, cleaners, helpers, drivers, or anyone offering you a service and treat them with the same respect you’d give a manager or a CEO
9. Don’t interrupt the person speaking. Wait until they finish then say what you want.
10. When someone is speaking directly to you, give them your attention.
11. Two things you shouldn’t offer unless you are asked, an opinion and advice.
12. Respect others’ personal space and privacy
13. If someone shows you a photo on their phone, don’t swipe left or right. If they want to show you what’s next they’ll do it.
14. When you wrong someone, say ‘Sorry’ and don’t ruin your apology with unnecessary excuses just to justify what you’ve done.
15. Don’t break your promise, or don’t make one if you are not sure you can keep it.
16. When someone tells you a secret, take it with you to your grave, even if you wake up as enemies the next morning.
17. Don’t make plans in front of those you are not willing to invite, especially if it is at your place, your birthday, or a special occasion.
18. Don’t whisper something to someone when it is only one more person sitting with you two.
19. Never go to someone’s place uninvited or without letting them know you are passing by in advance.
20.smile
What are some good examples of “life isn’t fair”?
Ernest Hemingway’s life wasn’t fair.
His dad was an abusive alcoholic who killed himself. He hated his mother for many reasons — perhaps in part because she dressed him like a girl when he was a boy — and he blamed her for the suicide of his father and resented her for it for his entire adult life. He expressed thoughts about killing both of his parents at different points in his childhood.
Allegedly, 3 of his siblings also committed suicide throughout their lives.
Still, Hemingway managed to do quite well for himself.
As an adult, he lived a hyper-masculine, womanizing, adventurous life. He was in both world wars, survived 2 plane crashes, and held a lifelong obsession with bullfighting. He also was one of the successful writers of the early 1900s. He’s a legend when it comes to writing.
But his personal life was not good. His actions affected other people very negatively.
He married 4 times and dealt with lifelong alcohol dependence. He was a cheater, a womanizer, brilliant, and likely manic bipolar like his father — although it was never diagnosed.
He committed suicide by gunshot in middle age — just like his father.
But did Hemingway ever really have a chance?
His mother dressed him as a girl when he was in his earliest years and in the process of forming his identity. It’s no wonder he ended up going down a hyper-masculine route. He was abused, traumatized, and watched people around him kill themselves for his entire life.
He was obsessed with death and suicide. He thought about it often.
He also dealt with chronic pain, alcoholism (that he never got under control), PTSD, and after the plane crashes in Africa, a fractured skull among other injuries.
Yes — Hemingway was a great writer — but did he ever have a chance of being “happy”? Of living a normal life? I’m not sure.
The kind of pain that he experienced takes generations to unweave. In terms of having a happy and stable life, Hemingway was playing the game short-handed for his entire existence.
He didn’t win, and he brought a lot of people down with him.
Is it fair for us to blame Hemingway for everything that happened in his life? I don’t know.
What I do know is that life isn’t fair.
Friends for life
Does the loss of a fourth Abrams tank to the Russians confirm the poor performance of these machines?
All four have been lost within days or hours of them being deployed in active fighting which doesn't seem very good to me.
The battlefield has become much deadlier for tanks in recent years. When the US’s M1 Abrams made its combat debut in Operation Desert Storm, it seemed like an invincible steel beast. In the conflict, Abrams easily decimated Iraqi formations of Soviet tanks, creating a perception that the US military and the systems that made it up were unbeatable. In reality, the Abrams was about a generation ahead of the tanks that it faced in the deserts of Iraq, allowing it easy victories.
Today, 30 years after Desert Storm, the Russians have developed counters to Western tanks like the Abrams. The most important development in armored warfare over the past three decades has been the development and proliferation of modern anti-tank missiles and drones. All tanks have their weak spots. Tanks are generally designed to be most heavily protected from the front. However, the armor on top and sides of tanks tends to be relatively thin. In recent years, a new generation of weapons has come out to exploit those weak spots. Drones and top-attack anti-tank missiles are designed to punch through this weaker armor on the sides and top. Thousands of armored vehicles have been damaged or destroyed by these new weapons in Ukraine.
Despite the fact that the Abrams is one of the best armored tanks in the world at the moment, it has not fared significantly better than the other tanks in the conflict. The M1 was not designed to face drones and top-attack anti-tank missiles. Rather, it was designed to face Soviet armored columns. As such, it has thinner armor on the top and sides like most tanks. In Ukraine Abrams crews are falling prey to the same weapons that have knocked out thousands of Soviet-designed and produced tanks.
The battlefield has shifted in general against tanks since the Abrams made its combat debut. While many in the West hoped that the deployment of Abrams tanks to the conflict would make a significant impact, Abrams have the same weaknesses of many of the other tanks in the conflict. It’s hardly surprising that they are meeting the same fate as every other tank in the conflict.
What’s the best way to go to jail?
I don’t remember his name; he was my very first cellie.
He was probably in his early seventies, thin, tall, and in excellent shape. His bunk looked ready for military inspection at all times — not a wrinkle anywhere — crisp, sharp folds.
He arrived just a few hours behind me. After making his bed up, he launched into an exercise routine.
I learned later that he had spent forty-seven years behind bars, more time incarcerated than I had been alive at that point. He started off with some minor infraction while in the military, and was sentenced to the brig. When he got out, his dishonorable discharge made it hard to fit back in. He would commit offense after offense and be sent back for increasingly long periods of time.
Life on the installment plan they call it.
He was institutionalized. He couldn’t survive out in “the real world.” Nothing in forty-seven years of prison had ever taught him how to hold down a job or make ends meet on a paycheck.
I suspect he had never known a woman’s love.
He missed the structure, and the… freedom of prison. He didn’t have to work in prison, didn’t have to worry about money or where his next meal would come from.
For this older man, it was a no-brainer. He would just catch a ride in a cop car back to prison. But, how to do that? What would be the quickest and best way back to his cold comfort of bars and bunks?
This man was an expert in that area. If your intent is to catch a charge that will land you in the stony lonesome, I suggest you follow his lead. His method is the answer to this question:
He walked into a bank (federally insured by the FDIC) and presented a note to the teller, “This is a robbery. Please place money in a bag.”
The teller handed him a bag of money, and I can imagine him smiling and giving a wink as he calmly walked out.
Outside, he sat down on the curb, money bag in his lap, and waited for the cops.
By robbing a bank covered by the FDIC, he knows he’s going to a federal prison. These are generally better run than state prisons. By using just a note with no weapon whatsoever, he knows that he’ll go to a lower custody facility.
This is the reality of what prison does. Anyone who believes that a couple decades behind bars will “teach someone a lesson” is right. The lesson is that the world is a dangerous place full of people who don’t want you in it. And, once you’ve been to prison, you might just as well stay there.
Where??? (She’s so confused)
Have you ever met a celebrity who asked you, “Do you know who I am?” and you said no?
I’ve met two celebrities (three, sort of) and one celebrity couple.
Had coffee a few times with Walter Matthau at a drug store soda fountain in Nevada when he was filming Charley Varrick in our community. He didn’t need any intruduction.
Met Clint Eastwood a couple of times when he was hiking trails near Lake Tahoe. I was a forestry officer at the time. We chatted briefly on both occasions. He didn’t need any introduction.
Having coffee at the soda fountain mentioned above, when Carol O’Connor stopped in to but a box of cigars (this was an old fashioned drugstore….lol) and decided to have some coffee before continuing his drive to Lake Tahoe. I didn’t talk to him as he was sitting at the far end of the counter when he struck up a little chat with couple of other local gents. Seemed like a regular guy. He didn’t need any introduction, I sort of count him as a third….lol.
The celebrity couple was the Captain and Tennile. They threw a neighborhood party after a big wildland fire at Glenbrook threatened their home and several others. The party was to thank the firefighters, I was involved in suppressing that fire. Very nice people. They didn’t need any introduction.
I lived in northern Nevada from the mid 50’s to the mid 80’s. There were a lot of celebrities around in those years, most of them were pretty regular people, who appreciated being treated as regular people.
So, quite the opposite of this question. Sorry if you were looking for negative answers.
Ten things
Was there a time in US history when politics were as uncivil as they are now?
On May 20, 1856, Senator Charles Sumner, a Republican from Massachusetts, had just finished a marathon address railing against the depredations of pro-slavery Border Ruffians in the Territory of Kansas. Sumner, the most outspoken anti-slavery voice in the Senate, had among his arguments against pro-slavery forces in Kansas, thrown a number of insults at fellow Senators hailing from slave states. Among the insults hurled during his address was a specific barb at Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina, insinuating that Butler sought to preserve the institution of slavery so he could maintain pliant sexual outlets among his female slaves.
Two days later, May 22, 1856, Butler’s cousin and Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina, grabbed his gutta-percha cane with a gold head and entered the Senate Chamber, flanked by two allies, Representatives Laurence M. Keitt and Henry A. Edmundson (also of South Carolina). The three men waited for the galleries to clear out, ensuring that all the ladies were out of the chamber before making their move.
Brooks approached Senator Sumner, who was at that moment seated close behind a his heavy wooden desk attending to some papers or such, not looking up. Brooks, in a low voice, addressed Sumner with the words: “Mr. Sumner, I have read your speech twice over carefully. It is a libel on South Carolina, and Mr. Butler, who is a relative of mine.”
Sumner made as if to stand and address Brooks. It should be noted here that Sumner was a tall man, and well built. He stood substantially taller than the diminutive Brooks. Before Sumner could reach his feet, Brooks raised the gold-tipped cane and brought it swiftly down on Sumner’s head. Thereafter he continued to rain blows down upon Sumner as the latter fell, and became trapped between the desk and the chair he had so recently been seated in. Initially his hands raised in his own defense, but as the blows continued he became more and more senseless from them, and still Brooks continued striking him.
Several witnesses stepped forward to Sumner’s aide, but Representative Keitt brandished a pistol at anyone who drew too near, snarling at the bystanders to “Let them alone, God damn you, let them alone!”
Brooks continued raining blows on Sumner even after the man had freed himself from his desk and chair, and attempted to flee from him. Blinded by his own blood and knocked senseless by the thrashing, Sumner toppled in one of the aisles in the chamber, where Brooks continued hitting him. Even after the thick cane snapped in twain from the force of the blows, Brooks continued. It was only when two onlookers managed to get past Edmundson and Keitt and restrain him that Brooks collected himself, and exited the chamber.
For his cowardly assault on a defenseless man (with two armed accomplices, no less), Brooks was arrested, tried, and given a $300 fine.
I love the expressions
Have you ever had a bad seatmate on an airplane? What did they do, and how did you deal with it?
A couple of years ago — 2013 if I recall — my family and I were on a flight to the USA for a family holiday.
We were flying on a plane with a 3-a-side seating arrangement, which is not ideal for a family of 4. Unfortunately for me, I had a reputation for being absorbed in books for 100% of a flight and not minding being sat next to strangers, so I was on my own, with my family across the aisle and one row in front of me.
This was in the run up to university admissions, so I was reading A Brief History of Time, since it’s something you feel you should read when applying for a physics degree!
About 20 minutes into this 10 hour flight, the guy in the seat next to me noticed what I was reading, and engaged me in conversation.
We had a fairly pleasant conversation, he was a teacher, and asked me how my university application was going, and so on and so forth — I asked him about his school (which was somewhere in London, if memory serves).
That’s where things started to go downhill.
See, it turns out that this guy wasn’t just a teacher, he was a super racist teacher.
He spent the next half an hour or so ranting about all the “useless brown kids” in his school, how they were all filthy and smelly, that they were all lazy, that their families were (amusingly) simultaneously taking all the benefits and all the local jobs. They were all extremists and terrorists, and he was sure at least two of them had been googling how to build a bomb in one of his classes.
It was like a caricature of a cartoon racist. It was every stereotype all rolled into one.
I was…slightly dumbstruck. What the hell do you say? I was stuck next to this guy for 9 more hours.
I tried to feign disinterest, to try to return to my book, in the hopes that he would shut up. He didn’t, if anything, he got louder to try to get my attention. I’m genuinely not sure what he thought my reaction was.
Luckily, his weak-ass racist bladder came to the rescue, and he had to go to the toilet, as I got up to let him out, I caught the eye of the guy on the other side of the aisle to me (behind my parents) — who was clearly of Middle-Eastern descent.
After my ‘friend’ left, I learned quite how loudly he was talking, because the guy across the aisle turned to me, and asked “is that guy for real?” We had a bit of a chat about what a monumental bellend this guy was, and how sad it was that he was a teacher, an educator, an influencer of young minds. Tragic.
Unfortunately, we were still chatting across the aisle when my new friend returned. As I stood up to let him back in, he noticed who I was talking to, and after we sat down, he asked me if I knew the guy across the aisle.
Sure, I said. He’s my stepdad.
My friend didn’t say another word. For nine, blessed hours.
If you cross them the wrong way, how can a parole or probation officer really mess up your life?
If you were supervising a department full of probation officers, how would you assess their performance?
Ideally, we’d judge how well a PO was doing by how his or her charges were doing. Do they integrate successfully back into the world? Are they all working? Current on their bills? Have they stayed away from whatever got them jammed up in the legal system the last time around?
But, judging a PO this way creates a perverse incentive. It’s like saying, “The less problems you find with your people, the better.” This would quickly morph into POs thinking, “Maybe I shouldn’t be looking too hard at these guys?” And finally, “Well if I do find something, I sure as hell don’t want to report it.”
So, that’s not going to work.
Here’s something the manager can judge POs on: “How many ex-cons did you send back to prison this year?” That’s a goal everyone can feel good about, right?
Just like cops supposedly don’t have quotas, I’m sure POs don’t have this goal *officially* written into their job description. But, if you’re clever, I bet you can find it lurking between the lines.
When I first got out of the halfway house, I was working in a place that was populated 100% by felons, or people who’d had some kind of related rough ride. In spite of being told not to associate with other felons, we all go from halfway houses to crappy jobs being done by people who are just passing through. They’re either looking for something better, or looking to get back into prison.
A woman I worked with lived in a flop house, but her car was her real home. The flop house was just a place to collect mail and make it look semi-stable for when her PO came around.
Her car was everything. It was the one thing that allowed her to function in society. It kept her moving and kept her safe.
Unfortunately, it had problems A faulty thermostat was causing wild temperature swings. At our minimum wage job, neither of us had the money to hire a mechanic. But, I did have a garage and suggested we could replace the thermostat ourselves.
Now… We’re both felons. We’re not *supposed* to “associate.” But, if we don’t help one another, who the hell will?
So, one weekend, she brought her car over and I got the wrenches out. I’m not a great mechanic… I’m not even a good mechanic. Mostly I just enjoy cussing at the thing while working on it, but given enough time I usually get it done.
Her car was right about the half-way point when my PO showed up.
My PO was actually always honest and fair with me. Because of my interactions with the system, I expected the worst. But, true to her word, she never lied to me and treated me with respect at all times. But, she did want to know who the woman was that had suddenly showed up at my apartment with an obviously broken car.
I explained that we were fixing her thermostat. My PO asked her, “Are you on supervision.”
A slight pause, then meekly, “Yes.”
My PO didn’t have any problems with me helping this woman and said so. But, she was required by protocol to contact my friend’s state PO.
The state PO wasn’t nearly so understanding. “You are not to associate with other felons. How many times do I have to say it?”
We did replace the thermostat that day, but the frequent temperature swings had caused the heads to warp. The engine was leaking coolant and possibly some was seeping into the oil. I was no longer an option for her. She had to find someone else (without a record) to help.
She did. She met a guy who agreed to work on her car.
He tore it apart, and then made it clear he wanted sex before he’d put it back together.
Somewhere out there is a state PO who is very bad at her job.
Rude Girlfriend Picks Fight In McDonald’s Only To Be Left Behind & Kicked Out Of BF’s House!
What are some behaviors that indicates you’re dealing with a mature person?
HERE ARE THE “TOP 3″ BEHAVIORS THAT A TRULY MATURE & WISE PERSON WILL EXHIBIT.
- They will admit when they are wrong or make a mistake no matter how big or small.
- The easiest way to determine whether someone is mature as well as honest is how they react to criticism and being wrong. If the person is able to own up to their mistakes without so much as an attitude then you have yourself a wise and truly mature individual. Those of us that arent ashamed to admit we don’t know everything aren’t phased by failure or criticism.
- If they have a disagreement with someone they stay calm and listen intently to the opposing persons viewpoint and why they are upset.
- They do so in order to learn from the conflict and gain a more in depth understanding of the person they are conflicted with. A truly mature and wise person will never scream pointless and hurtful insults at someone as the only thing it accomplishes is to harm both parties. Logic and reason trumps all in their eyes.
- You wont catch them talking badly about their peers behind their back.
- Wise and mature people don’t talk down about people to anyone other than the person they believe has a behavior they need to work on. Talking badly behind anyones back solves nothing and the only thing it shows is that the person talkiing down is immature and shallow. Wise and mature people seek to enlighten those around them the best they can in order to help make the world a more wholesome place.
What was the stupidest thing someone has called the police on you for?
The father of my son called the police on me 5 times in a week while he was trying to manipulate the circumstances so he could find grounds to modify custody. He called saying I didn’t dress our 9-month-old son in cute enough clothes, I had expired tags (3 months expired), no insurance (I did have insurance), and that I wasn’t responding to his messages within 4 minutes. The officers came out to do a well-check the first night. They reported the child in great condition and comfortably sleeping in his crib. That didn’t fit his narrative so, he called the next day for another well-check… he did this every day for a week. After all, said and done, the police started calling me instead of showing up at my door. They saw me drive my expired car tags to drop my kids off at school and never once did they pull me over. They always gave friendly smile and wave. The responding officer said it best “I don’t think he knows how custody or well-checks work.”
Reality hits hard
Humor: What are some of the greatest examples of presence of mind?
I came across one article on Internet and I felt that it was much related to this question but not humorous :—
Fourteen years ago, a massive earthquake hit beneath the Indian ocean, that had triggered a tsunami that claimed over two million lives. It was one of the most destructive natural disasters ever, that devastated parts of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.
While no one – not even the meteorological department – could foresee the deadly waves, a 10-year-old girl spotted the unusual signals of tsunami and saved a 100 people, including her family, from dying.
Hailed as the miracle girl, here’s the story of Tilly Smith’s courage, foresight and presence of mind:-
She was on vaction with her parents and sibling on Maikhov beach in Phuket where she spotted an unusual behaviour of tides and stretched her brain more deep into thoughts as she had seen this kind of thing happening before.
Finally she recalled that this kind of unusual behavior of waves was shown to her by her teacher in Geography class.
That is when she started shouting:
"Tsunami, there’s going to be a tsunami. We have to get off, we have to run."
Seeing her panic her father alarmed Security Guards about the fizzing sea waves. The guard was instantly alarmed as he was aware of the earthquake that had occurred in the Indian Ocean.He asked everyone on the beach to run towards the hotel.
Tilly asked everyone to stay on the high ground.
As a result, everyone on the beach was saved.
When her parents learned about the disaster’s magnitude through Television reports, they realized that if they hadn’t listened to Tilly, all of them would have died.
The girl on the leftmost corner is Tilly Smith.
Tilly was named Child of the Year by a French children’s newspaper, and United Nations invited her to meet Bill Clinton, then the UN Special Envoy for Tsunami Relief.
Thus her presence of mind and courage helped her save lives of 100 people on beach.
Thank you.
Footnotes:
What makes you mad in your everyday life?
Have you ever heard of “Begpackers”?
These people fly to different countries and beg for money from the locals to continue traveling.
Generally, the purpose of tourism, especially in a developing country like Thailand, is to bring money into their economy and improve their standard of living. That’s why they allow you in here. You get a nice trip and an insight to their culture while they get cash flow into their country.
However, these people bring no money into the country. The locals, who are often less fortunate than them, give to them out of the kindness of their hearts and from the shock factor of seeing a white person beg in their country. These Begpackers greedily take and give nothing back to the country they’re in.
The worst part is, in Thailand, these Begpackers often post themselves outside of temples. In Buddhism, Thais like to do good deeds to “make merit”. It is similar to building up karma or good works in their religion.
So these Begpackers purposely take advantage of Thai religious practices by posting themselves outside of temples where they know they’ll get a good profit from religious Thais.
It’s honestly gross. Thailand just enacted a law this month to make it illegal for foreigners to beg (jail time for up to a month) and for local Thais to give to them (500 THB fine). We’ll see if it’s enforced.
She broke the code!
What is the difference between Americans, Canadians, Australians and the British?
OK, I didn’t write this, it has been circulating online for at least 20 years, but it’s still pretty good:
Aussies: Believe you should look out for your mates.
Brits: Believe that you should look out for those people who belong to your club.
Americans: Believe that people should look out for and take care of themselves.
Canadians: Believe that’s the government’s job.
Aussies: Dislike being mistaken for Pommies (Brits) when abroad.
Canadians: Are rather indignant about being mistaken for Americans when abroad.
Americans: Encourage being mistaken for Canadians when abroad.
Brits: Can’t possibly be mistaken for anyone else when abroad.
Canadians: Endure bitterly cold winters and are proud of it.
Brits: Endure oppressively wet and dreary winters and are proud of it.
Americans: Don’t have to do either, and couldn’t care less.
Aussies: Don’t understand what inclement weather means.
Americans: Drink weak, pissy-tasting beer.
Canadians: Drink strong, pissy-tasting beer.
Brits: Drink warm, beery-tasting piss.
Aussies: Drink anything with alcohol in it.
Brits: Drink in proper pubs.
Americans: Drink in soulless bars with big TVs.
Canadians: Drink in places that look like proper British pubs from the outside but feel like soulless American bars inside.
Australians: Think none of this matters as long as beer is served.
Americans: Seem to think that poverty and failure are morally suspect.
Canadians: Seem to believe that wealth and success are morally suspect.
Brits: Seem to believe that wealth, poverty, success, and failure are inherited.
Aussies: Seem to think that none of this matters after several beers.
Brits: Have produced many great comedians, celebrated by Canadians, ignored by Americans, and therefore not rich.
Aussies: Have produced comedians like Paul Hogan and Yahoo Serious.
Canadians: Have produced many great comedians such as John Candy, Martin Short, Jim Carrey, Dan Aykroyd.
Americans: Think that all these people are American!
Americans: Spend most of their lives glued to the idiot box.
Canadians: Don’t, but only because they can’t get more American channels.
Brits: Pay a tax just so they can watch 4 channels.
Aussies: Export all their crappy programs, which no one there watches, to Britain, where everybody loves them.
Americans: Will jabber on incessantly about football, baseball and basketball.
Brits: Will jabber on incessantly about cricket, soccer and rugby.
Canadians: Will jabber on incessantly about hockey, hockey and hockey
Aussies: Will jabber on incessantly about how they beat the Poms in every sport they played them in.
Aussies: Are extremely patriotic about their beer.
Americans: Are flag-waving, anthem-singing, and obsessively patriotic to the point of blindness.
Canadians: Can’t agree on the words to their anthem, in either language, when they can be bothered to sing them.
Brits: Do not sing at all but prefer a large brass band to perform the anthem.
Brits: Shop at home and have goods imported because they live on an island.
Australians: Shop at home and have goods imported because they live on an island.
Americans: Cross their southern border for cheap shopping, gas and liquor in a backwards country.
Canadians: Cross their southern border for cheap shopping, gas and liquor in a backwards country.
Brits: Are justifiably proud of the accomplishments of their past citizens.
Americans: Are justifiably proud of the accomplishments of their present citizens.
Canadians: Prattle on about how some of those great Americans were once Canadian.
Aussies: Waffle on about how some of their past citizens were once Outlaw Pommies, but none of that matters after several beers.
Why do Chinese people often feel they are part of Japan?
They don’t.
Some people do because some Japanese things are cool as they have soft cultural power.
A LOT of Chinese grew up watching Japanese cartoons and animation.
Doremon (which I remember always as Ding Dong) originated from Japan. It’s rather popular in China.
Oh and porn. Production and distribution of porn is illegal in China (possession is a grey area). Japan produces a lot of porn. So much that Japanese AV stars will come to China now and again to do burlesque dance shows, or do hugs and photos for money.
Pre Covid you’d get Japanese AV stars appear in Macau every month or so they’d do some sort of dance show and you could pay a lot of money to get your photo taken with them.
Intolerance
Which is the most stupid lawsuit that you have ever seen?
It’s the closest to a My Cousin Vinny as I can get.. A guy I was seeing only practiced real estate law when the public defender didn’t show up for a defendent and they were going to rearange the court date and this person (who granted, I would never pay for and know their father paid for them to get them past the bar exam) took the case on scene and the defendant complied. The lady was trying to sue the bf for child support purposes, which he had no problem about as long as he had 50/50 custody, but she wanted more money if he wanted half time custody so he asked for a paternity test .. he said it didn’t matter, just to prove that he was willing to go above and beyond for his son. It turned out, the baby wasn’t his.. he still offered to take care of him.. so for the agreement, she filed suit wanting 50 percent of all marital assets, the bank account, his family jewelry (his grandmothers ring he wanted back), schooling for the son that wasn’t his after the affair and full alimony payments after it was proven it wasn’t his child, but her ex bf’s child who she still hung out with that was currently in jail.
bright side? this guy still hung around for this kid and he still calls him dad. He never got his grandma’s ring back but doesn’t even care. One day I wish he would take this woman to court, I honestly feel that he admits he’s afraid to date again gives her pleasure. She knows hes alone.. so it’s just her and his family and the son he loves so much that isn’t even his but he will always claim as his own.
- Girls often understand what a guy is implying, but they may feign innocence.
- Women tend to develop feelings for those who maintain distance from them.
- Many women enjoy engaging in what society deems “promiscuous” behavior, yet they recoil from being labeled as such.
- When deeply in love, women may exhibit childish tendencies around their partners.
- If a woman truly loves a man, she’ll likely inform him when other men attempt to flirt with her.
- Cooking for someone often signifies care and affection from a woman.
- A woman may choose to be intimate with a man based on his character and identity.
- Beware of the woman whose father was the first to break her heart; she may have deep-seated trust issues.
Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmathes)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground round or turkey
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup raw rice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon mint
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 cup canned tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 teaspoon dill
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 (16 ounce) jar grapevine leaves
- 3 bouillon cubes
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Combine first ten ingredients and mix well.
- Wash the grape leaves carefully and remove the brine. Put any broken leaves into the bottom of a greased Dutch oven.
- Put a heaping teaspoon of the mixture in the center of each leaf (on the vein side). Fold edges over and roll tightly toward point of leaf.
- Dissolve bouillon cubes in enough water to cover the rolls, then pour over the rolls. Dot tops with butter.
- Cover with a heavy plate to prevent the rolls from opening as the rice puffs
- Cover the pan and steam over low heat for 1 hour or until leaves are tender.
Hei,
There is song for that title , too!
Muse – we are f.. f.. :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac4E_UsmB1g
Enjoy!
Awesome artwork, by the way – as usual.
And thank you very much for restarting the literature posts!
Best regards and have anice weekend, MT