Caption: GULF OF ADEN (Feb. 9, 2009) The Russian destroyer Admiral Vinogradov (DDG 572) is underway near the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) while conducting operations in the Gulf of Aden. Vella Gulf is the flagship for Combined Task Force 151, a multi-national task force conducting counterpiracy operations to detect and deter piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Red Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky/Released)
I didn’t go on many Russian ships during my time under the standard, but this was one of them. She was new when I was aboard, but the technology was thirty years old—a brand new thirty-year-old ship. There were no seals on the watertight doors. I asked about that, and the crew (officers) replied, “Why bother? The American Navy will sink us whether or not we have watertight doors.”
Bullet Points:
** The USCG is too small, and what it has is poorly deployed, doing things like the zombie mission in the Persian Gulf. We don’t have enough Coast Guard assets to guard our coast because we are doing it for the Gulf Arabs and their coasts. (CDRSAL)
** Is “healthcare” lifestyle preferences like breast augmentation, salt baths, massages, suntanning beds, and abortions, or does healthcare address immediate critical health needs? If I felt that peyote helped me get in touch with my ancestors, should USGOV get me high to commune? These definitions are being discussed.
** Disgraced Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, targeted with federal charges, appeared before a judge and was ordered to surrender her firearms and BANNED from traveling outside the U.S.—all without having to post bail. Despite facing up to eight years in prison, she’s already fundraising off the situation, portraying herself as a victim of the anti-Trump justice system.
** The hooded box drill. Evaluating the candidate is as complicated as the drill is.
** Jules is between the Devil and the Tyrrhenian Sea. This is her report.
** The US Navy must rid itself of Zampolits (political officers), immediately separate them from the service, and all commands. CDRSAL weighs in on the discussion as it applies to the US Naval Academy. The problem with the Navy is that they were dispersed through almost all commands, reporting on officers’ political acceptability, DEI worthiness, and critical race decisions. Nowhere was it more evident than in special warfare, where the potential of toxic masculinity was the most threatening to the Biden Regime. In the film, The Hunt for Red October, the political officer was the first to ‘go.’ Slipped, broke his neck, too bad, so sad, immediate burial at sea. There’s a lesson here. Sic Semper Tyrannus.
They were in evidence in the gathering in 2022 in large numbers, herding the old men away from the grandees. You never know what those old bastards with chests full of medals would do…
US Steel
(Newsmax) A senior executive said Japan’s Nippon Steel remains committed to acquiring a full stake in U.S. Steel and is seeking a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to clarify President Donald Trump’s stance on the deal.
The steelmakers face a May 21 deadline for the completion of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) ‘s renewed national security review of the proposed $15 billion merger. Former President Joe Biden blocked the merger in January following a prior review on national security grounds.
In April, Trump directed the CFIUS to reassess the deal, raising hopes of a reversal. Although he said in February that the deal would take the form of an investment instead of a purchase, Trump is expected to decide the fate of the transaction by June 5.
Retro Meme of the Day
We dodged a bullet.
The Bretton Woods System
The Bretton Woods System, established in 1944, pegged all currencies to the U.S. dollar, which was in turn convertible to gold at a fixed rate (specifically, $35 per ounce). This made the dollar the world’s reserve currency and created a relatively stable international financial order.
In August 1971, President Nixon ended the dollar’s convertibility to gold and introduced a 10% import tax to address unfair exchange rates. This action, known as the “Nixon Shock,” directly responded to increasing pressure on the dollar’s value and the United States’ growing trade deficit. The Nixon Shock effectively dismantled the Bretton Woods system, removing the gold standard as the basis for international currency exchange. This led to a shift towards a floating exchange rate system, where the market determines currencies’ values, except in places like China and Russia, where the government sets the currency value.
Following the Nixon Shock, the world’s leading monetary authorities met in December 1971 at the Smithsonian Institution to negotiate a new currency agreement, known as the Smithsonian Agreement, which established a new set of fixed exchange rates. However, the Smithsonian Agreement proved short-lived, and the world moved towards a fully floating exchange rate system in the following years.
The chart provides a longer-term view of cause and effect than was immediately felt, but which we feel today very acutely. With the US running a $36 trillion deficit, there is no possibility of returning to the gold standard absent a total international economic collapse.
Attention Whores
(NY Post) I think we can all agree that in general, Leftists are attention whores. It’s why they dye their hair, pierce their noses, knock MAGA hats off of people just minding their own business, play dress up as the other sex, etc.
In this case, these are members of Congress. Yes, no one had ever heard of them before this, so, yes, they will fundraise off of this fiasco.
If you read the article, you will see that actions have consequences, just like the judge who smuggled illegals out the back door to evade ICE. If you purport to write or judge laws, you must follow them. My only analogy is the classroom, where permitting bad behavior leads to more bad behavior. “No one is above the law” is popular on the Left until the lawbreakers are held accountable.
Russian Mindset
To understand the attitudes of the Russian Federation and the Russian people towards what they perceive as the antagonism of the West, you must go back in history. After the invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte, the destruction of Moscow, and Napoleon’s subsequent defeat, and hundreds of years of conflict with the Ottomans, the Russians believed they were the supreme protectors of Orthodox Christianity against the Protestants, Catholics, and Muslims with whom they were in almost constant contention. The British and French were more than happy to assist the declining Ottomans in containing Russia as a power in Slavic territories in Southeastern Europe and against historic Russian designs on the Bosphorus. In the middle of the Nineteenth Century, these contentions erupted in the Crimean War.
The echoes of that conflict resound in today’s conflict in the region. However, now we must add in the modern spirit of independent Ukrainian nationalism, which has no affinity for the repressive Communist rule centered in Moscow that caused the untold millions of Ukrainian deaths before WWII, and none towards the present-day autocratic Russian government.
***
Identify the Aircraft
1
Two photos of the same aircraft
Identify the Ship by Class (and name if possible)
2
3
Hint: There was a literary mutiny on a ship of this classification.
4 & 5
Back when Russia had a viable surface navy. (one class, two ships)
1 is Spanish CASA C-212-200 Aviocar
This one is Australian registered and set up for mineral exploration. Used in remote locations. My wife and I own a small place near where the photo was taken at Broken Hill airport.
Yes — and COOL!
What is the function of the red bars above the aircraft that appear to be leading and then trailing?
The whole setup looks like a MAD rig, presumably for detecting metal concentrations.
– Kle.
Thanks.
Magnetic anomaly detection. There are magnetometers in the ends of the red bars (which are non magnetic) to get lateral separation from the metal aircraft. Minerals generate anomalies in the earth’s magnetic field when a large amount is in a given area.
Thanks.
Identify the Aircraft:
1. CASA C-212 Aviocar fitted out as a surveyor
Identify the Ship by Class (and name if possible):
2. LSM(R)-188-class landing ship medium, USS LSM(R)-190
3. Gleaves-class, USS Rodman
4. Kirov-class battlecruiser, Frunze
5. Kirov-class battlecruiser, Kirov
Correct and the USS Rodman is a destroyer mine sweeper (DMS).
“the modern spirit of independent Ukrainian nationalism”
Seriously? Ukraine at this point is a skinsuit worn by the enemies of all humanity.
Not to say there isn’t actual Ukrainian nationalism, but actual Ukrainian patriots aren’t the ones in charge.
The Ukrainian mafia is in charge. As you point out, there are genuine Ukrainian nationalists, but they have not held sway over the mafia — ever. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (now outlawed in Ukraine) led the charge for the nationalists but has been completely sidelined and co-opted.
“The Ukrainian mafia is in charge.”, that’s the Ukraine. Mexico has the cartels behind the curtain pulling the strings, I’m not sure who’s running things in Canada anymore.
Here is the US, President Trump and MAGA are doing battle with the cabal that’s been running things (for a long time) and fighting the coup the Judicial Branch is carrying out.
This really qualifies as “interesting times”.
ISW ? Isn’t that partly led/ran/ ? by Victoria Nuland’s husband , Kagan ? As good of source as any these days , who’s winning today ? who is right ? There are as many varied news sources speaking of the ” full scale Russian invasion” of Ukraine as Bourbons , pick your poison based on taste preference , pour a shot . Personally I don’t think Russia has gone “full scale” yet . But I also don’t feel like the U.S. is part of the “collective west” , the fastest route from Russia to the U.S. is east .
The media latches on to sound bites and terms ” chaos” , “make no mistake” , “full scale invasion” , and the one I dislike the most and find demeaning and dehumanizing “boots on the ground” , that one really gets in my craw , those that wear the boots have names , families, rank, skill sets, , etc. They are much much more than just a person a wearing uniform and a pair boots . “Boots on the Ground” , that just sounds shitty and disparaging and pejorative , I first recall Obama using the term , I’m sure he
didn’t invent it . I prefer “troops” if a generic term must be used , it is somewhat more dignified . I served with many great men , most were young and smart and resourceful and dedicated to their assigned tasks at hand , never ever did I say , when needing assistance , “somebody get me some more boots over here ” . I may have used some more endearing military vernacular , but that was acceptable among club members .
Last words , Russia and Ukraine are miles apart on any peace deal , not even close on peace terms , the killing continues , it is a fkn mess , shtts gotta stop. Whole careers have been built on Eastern Europe/Russian experts and analysts , my first exposure to this was at DLI Monterey , lots of Russian students , some in suits, some in uniform, some who wore uniforms that looked more accustomed to suits, and the SEALS and DEA who had classes of their own, I graduated cum laude in Spanish but failed clearance adjudication (ex girlfriends will fuck you in more way than one) . The Cold War lives on in the minds of many foreign policy makers , they made careers based on it and had familial ties in many cases . The best linguists / analysts heard these languages at home long before attending DLI . Sentiments run deeper in policy making than many know . Done . Much more to say , but I am no typist .
There were careers and post career sinecure and corporate profits at risk if NATO didn’t find a reason to continue on after the collapse (and post collapse looting) ot the USSR. Thus the expansion Eastward.
X2
Organisms grow or die.
Some die because of parasites sucking the life out them.
Follow the money…
Leftist ideology is getting people murdered. Now things have gotten so far off the rails we have all manner of the MSM and congress working hard FOR murderers, trying to wipe away the egregiousness of the act. Elite Universities continue fomenting this same ideology to “minds full of mush” (h/t Rush) warping their brains to the point they protest FOR Hamas murderers and terrorists, including some here on student visas, then cry a river when these “kids” visas are revoked (h/t DHS Sec Noem). This anarchy does not bode well for America when ‘The Goons Among Us’ mischaracterize and parrot that PDJT “ambushed” (the newest buzzword for itchy ears) that South African bum the argue that the 1000 white cross video WASN’T REAL because the crosse “weren’t actual graves.” Or the Left fawning over Luigi The Cold-Blooded Murderer and now the Homegrown Chicago Terrorist who murdered two white people simply because he thought they were Jewish…then making all manner of excuses for these cowards as if murder is now an allowable prescription for some perceived grievance. Thankfully PDJT and The A-Team are not messing around; “doers” getting things done, not feckless “processors” who get nothing done while endlessly talking about problems. (Look at Corolla’s latest Palisades Fire Aftermath video…almost nothing done.)
***
Congresswoman LaMonica McIver: Let’s just see what happens to this reprobate, result will be telling in how far the law will be bent for the self-appointed special people who believe they are above the law while saying WTP aren’t.
***
Hooded Box Drill: Sounds rough…past my prime for that.
Me too. I’m getting a little long in the tooth, PaulM.
Yeah, but you already got the t-shirt in a past life, whereas Boy Scouts and subsequent pushing myself up trails and mountains in the backcountry was my speed…not getting shot at or flashbombs popping off next to my head.
Just heard…the two Israeli Embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, “were leaving the Jewish Museum in downtown D.C. event that was held to garner more aid for Gazan’s.”
The Left are beyond indoctrinated lunatic…how does one root them out and squash their anarchy? (Guessing we could start with Omar, who initially tried to brush past the murders in order to get to her luncheon, managed a later “posting” as damage control. Yeah, that shows compassion Ilhan, you insurgent POS.)
(not certain of he validity) “Yaron Lischinsky, 30, a German-Israeli dual citizen and a devout evangelical Christian who had immigrated to Israel at the age of 16 and served in the Israel Defense Forces” (h/t Ben Shapiro)
but, to answer your question: begin in grade school by removing/re-educating the children’s indoctinators;
instead teach the children how to read and write in English legible sentences that express their thoughts (even in cursive, perhaps), how to do math (the old way that actually worked), and how to appreciate music (and play one instrument).
(belief in G-d and the concepts of proper behaviour should be taught at home and in church)
a bit too much to ask; I know
…as heard on Beck earlier. The Bongino Rule does apply, wait 48-72 hours before making any pronouncements (which I may have violated offering this tidbit…but Beck is usually verifiable).
There should be a separation of church and state in government schools. If you want to send your child to a faith-oriented school, that’s a different matter. Many churches sponsor religious education classes before or after formal government school I don’t see a problem in that. I have a daughter who teaches at a faith based school and they demand that she teach that literal creation took 6 – 24 hour periods for the universe and Earth. She thinks that is nonsense (my daughter) but she’s stuck with it because they pay her salary.
You mentioned the transfer of the Island class boats to other countries. I was thinking of Commander Sals article when I read that and wondering why they weren’t being transferred to our Coast guard.
These are ex-Coast Guard ships being retired as well past their original design life.
They are. The question of their battle worthiness in narco waters is still one people should ask.
The Norwegians managed to lose a new frigate with new technology without even getting shot at.
https://apnews.com/article/norway-frigate-collision-sinking-tanker-58e263a759e25593693736adb8d51704
The Norks lost a boat on launch a couple days ago.
…and the ancestral Vikings cringed watching this…they had wooden vessels with oars and sails yet managed to make it across the ocean….and back.
I just talked to a guy I’m gonna have on the show:
“if you want to talk about how 2 Viking battles, during A.D.1066, made a huge (Pres. Trump would say “yooge”) difference in the founding and blessing of USA, I’m ready.”
I’m thinking I can’t hate rogue judges, and ignorant Congress critters enough. I’ll try harder. I wonder if they realize how many would spit on their shoes if they were shopping at the grocery store?
That’s why they send subordinates, aka, The Help, to the grocery store, to avoid their actual constituents whom they work for, keeps them/us at a distance. Wouldn’t want to mingle with the great unwashed.
> if they realize how many would spit on their shoes
I’m mortally certain they realize. And that it gives them great satisfaction, if not happiness [1] to know that they are making certain kinds of people unhappy. As the publisher of America’s Newspaper of Record said, “If White men were not complaining, it would be an indication we weren’t succeeding and making the inroads that we are.” The New York Times is of course a bastion of professional objectivity that keeps the factual reporting strictly firewalled from the Editorial columns.
[1] Who am I kidding, those people are walking around with schadenboners (helmet, not anteater) all day long over the rogering they’re giving the normal American.
—
Yet because they are big-brained progressives, they can hold more than one set of facts and sincere beliefs in their head at the same time, so they also Know, to the core of their souls, that they are hated, persecuted, and above all victimized (say it with me) for absolutely no reason at all — other than mindless anti-Sulzbergertism (or anti-Gatetism, or anti-Faucitism, etc). Less than no reason, because they are selflessly Improving the World, making it better for ungrateful knuckledragging subhumans. Why are we so obstinately resisting them? Because we are jealous of their beauty, their intelligence, and their moral goodness [2]. We, who they have deemed their enemies, obviously are almost entirely driven by resentment and spite. It is no accident that Freud was the one to codify the concept of psychological Projection.
[2] I’m not making this up. I’ve read, on more than one occasion, these very phrases from adults in a completely sarcasm-and-irony-free context.
Thank you.
I just feel as though I might have slept through the chapters/lectures preceding.
I’m aware of what and when RMN did, I just can’t fathom why. Inflation and to prevent a “trade war with our allies” were the reasons given in most texts.
I’m just wondering if this was one of the conditions the CCP demanded before they’d consider setting up “The Meeting”.
My seriously uneducated comment on this: PDJT and Bessett (etc) know the gold standard is paramount for economic stability, maybe they are setting up the rest of the world through tariffs et al to ultimately reestablishing ‘backed by gold’. Good end game if they can pull it off.
funny you should mention it, but Vladimir Vladimirovich is a highly committed Christian (Eastern church) by all accounts and Russia may still have an animus towards the Ottomans.
as the Euruns (members of the European Union) make a great play of fortifying their eastern borders against the oncoming Slavic horde, were I Recep Tayyip, I’d look very carefully at that crescent between the Black and Mediterranean Seas joining both Georgia and Syria.
jes’ sayin’/thinkin’
I don’t want to suggest Vlad’s devotion to Jesus Christ and his teachings one way or the other, but you’re right, Boron.
USCG – yes, and they should be better armed and equipped, too.
It’s criminal that they have no flying boats nor amphibious helos any more, and that’s
just the SAR side. I strongly believe that we should give them any of the LCS that can
be made to function, and let the Coasties play Miami Vice running down the drug and
other smugglers and killing (yes killing, not arresting or any other imbecilic BS) them.
*
Hooded Box Drill – I’m aware of my limitations, and that crap exceeded them by orders
of magnitude on the best day of my youth.
*
Russian psychology. – Yeah, the Russians are as obsessed with their own victimhood
almost as much as US college kids and Hollywood pukes. Not one of their more
attractive nor sympathetic attributes, IMO.
– Kle.
It’s interesting to note that Greece freed itself from the Ottoman empire with the help of the French and British fleets together despite their governments not wanting them to go against the Ottomans.
They came to the assistance of Demetrius Ypsilanti, the George Washington of Greece.
Thus the city in Michigan?
Yes.
Old Russian stuff and old memories. Back in the computer dark ages, there was a popular scrolling play game, “Command and Conquer”. As the game progressed, one of the Russian weapons you could build was blimp that dropped bombs. As each one was completed, the game would announce, with a Russian accent, “Kirov reporting”.
I had to consider for quite a while before I wanted comment on either of these two articles:
** healthcare: I’m 84 and my health, while approximating Alpine skiing for the past 6 years, is being carefully watched over by a top-notch GP + his co-conspirators in the varied, specialities. I’m taking enough pills daily to support a good-sized pharmacy (and refuse to take any vaccines other than the one COVID shot, but that’s a whole ‘nuther story).
At my best (~ 25) I weighed 155 @ 6’1″, could run up 10 flights (industrial height ceilings >15’) carrying a 50# weight in one hand without pausing to catch my breath and do a large multitude of Marine double-claps without stopping (with witnesses): all the while smoking 2-4 packs a day (as has been said, those were the days).
Question: should I have been given a “healthcare wallet) at 25 to use over the years as I deemed best (run on a SS basis, of course); when I ran out of healthcare dollars, I would have a choice of using my own money or taking advantage of a “human reclamation/recycling” program.
** U.S. Steel/Nippon Steel
my only concern is that if we don’t allow the Japanese to buy into U.S. Steel, the (already compromised) Congressmen will find a way to allow the CCP to buy in
Question: which country is currently our ally/likely to be our ally for the next 20-50 years? with which country would the we prefer to be allied?
i.e., who do we prefer to be in the tent pissing out, rather than outside the tent shooting in.