The floor is yours. Pick your topic. Exorcize your vexed and pent-up angst.
Bai Lan
I’ve been aware of much of it as it moved forward. It’s a real thing.
Bullet Points:
** What do you think about the Great Silence?
** Where does the US stand compared to the rest of the world? I’m sure that you’ve asked the question. The number is a bit low here, but Arizona, Texas, Wyoming, and Georgia more than makes up for wimpy woke states. In California, it sometimes makes the news that the police hit a home with a search warrant, and during the execution, they find four firearms. In Arizona, they’d find that many in each restroom. A guy I know here in AZ’s mother recently passed away. She was blind and lived alone for much of the last few years. They found thirty-one loaded handguns scattered around the home. She didn’t want to sit somewhere and be unable to return fire.
** WSF, the younger years.
** There are some insane conspiracy theories out there today suggesting that Pedo Joe Biden is still alive (not a zombie).
** TSA Training.
** LSP reports that the Church of England is dropping the word “Church,” as noted here. How woke is THAT? The _____ of England or the Anglican ______. I don’t think that distancing yourself from Christ will work out in the end, Archbishop. It might mean that the FBI won’t target you, though. That could be a plus.
Moving on with more from LSP, I have never been asked if I’m pregnant before being x-rayed. What’s wrong with American doctors?
*****
USS Princeton
Just because
Identify the Armor
1
Identify the Aircraft
2
Different graphics to help you. A tilt-rotor but NOT an Osprey…
3
4
Can you read the sign?
5
Note the inverted gull wings – 2 were built in this configuration, and 28 were built as single-seaters (with a different designation to the one pictured below, begging for an ID).
Dive Brakes Deployed-
End
USA has 120 firearms per 100 people. Australia officially has about 20 firearms per 100 people. Every so often they find someone with a 100 plus that were never registered in the 1996 gun grab.
I could probably arm a squad except for a full auto. Some friends have way more but then I don’t live in the city and still actively hunt etc. My only problem on range days is how many to take plus time to reload for the 4 calibers I mostly use.
As I mentioned, 120 firearms per 100 people may be a general number, but areas vary here as they do Down Under. Reloading time is sort of a musical escape from the phone and people, particularly if I’m being creative.
Do the figures represent military arms also?
No
Identify the Armor:
1. Textron Ripsaw M5
Identify the Aircraft:
2. has aspects of the Focke-Achgelis Fa 269. Require coffee to ID.
3. Beriev Be-1
4. Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-150-1
5. Photo: Douglas XSB2D-1
The single seater: Douglas BTD Destroyer
It’s too early for coffee isn’t it?
2. Zhuchenko Vertoplan
Right!
I don’t know if “Open Forum” is the same as “Off Topic” or “Try to Color Within the Lines” or “No Holds Barred” but I hope LL will shut me down if I’ve mis-read the purpose of “Open Forum”
I don’t watch much TV. but the wifely unit watches a bit more than is probably good for her (not CNN, TG)
I sat down to take a break and watch (for the 30th time) a section of “Blue Bloods”
* important point* we pay (for many years now) for a subscription to Amazon Prime
and all of a sudden the program is being broken up with advertisements (never happened before – the only reason for the subscription); I shut it down after 15 minutes
One good thing: I’ll make sure never to purchase any of the goods/services that appeared on the screen to break up the thread of the program
I think the bean-counters have made an error.
The bean counters only count beans…and pass gass. Yes, there is no off-topic on an open forum – and rarely anytime at all on VM.
I’ve only seen an ad before whatever I’m watching starts.
I don’t expect it to get better.
But that’s inflation for you.
Ads or pay extra for ad free vs raising the annual fee for everyone.
And that, the commercials, is why my wife and I are building our library by buying DVDs of everything we like. Including “Blue Bloods.” A show about how NYFC police should act.
The DNC convention starts today; dollars to doughnuts it’s going to be LIT!
They were paying decent money + expenses for liberal bloggers to show up. The democrats operate on skim and always seem to be able to operate on the principle of hirelings over volunteers.
I’ve just finished reading Roger Kimball’s essay “What the Right Gets Wrong About Art” referenced/linked by another blogger I read daily.
Perusing (an interesting word with, in current usage, two contradictory meanings) this attempt to describe the interest/feelings of a group to which I don’t think he belongs/understands, I pulled out of it a short portion of one particularly lengthy sentence that appears to exemplify LL’s current forays: “…without an allegiance to beauty, art degenerates into a caricature of itself; it is beauty that animates aesthetic experience…” I can’t disagree.
That’s the one thing I find about LL’s header pics: their inherent beauty – seriously.
Not that I’d ever spend the money to purchase one, but, then again, I’m known to be cheap.
It was said that if you bought Hunter Biden’s art, you’d make back 100-fold in government contracts (less 10% to the Big Guy).
Speaking of the now invisible man, will Kamala’s price gouging efforts lower the cost of art? Will politicians only be able to get 9%for “the big guy” (whomever his replacement may be)?
The Zombie may have been at Bernie’s last weekend…
Was Princeton what they called a “Jeep Carrier” in WWII?
Yes. They were useful protecting convoys against U-Boats in the Atlantic and in the Pacific, it was more power projection against Japanese Fleet movements and supporting landings on various rocks. The United States Navy had 112 aircraft carriers in service at the end of World War II in September 1945, but 11 of them were lost during the war. 64 of them were smaller escort carriers. When you consider that the US started WW2 with seven aircraft carriers, it was a remarkable construction effort.
Jeep carriers were also used for transporting land-based fighters from one AO to another. Hoisted aboard, flown off. It was the only situation where it was okay for # of takeoffs to exceed # of landings.
X2
Princeton was NOT a “Jeep Carrier”.
*
Those were CVEs, built on merchant hulls (or some as ground-up, to merchant standards). They were good for
less than 20 kts, and I’m pretty sure could only operate Wildcats, not the later fighters. Also flew Avengers,
very low wing loading. Smaller airgroup, too.
*
Princeton was a Light Fleet Carrier (CVL), built on a Cleveland-class light cruiser hull. Capable of 35kts.
My dad flew Avengers off Princeton’s sisters Bataan and (mostly) Cowpens.
*
– Kle.
Princeton was built on a Cleveland class light cruiser hull. With a top speed of 31 knots, she could operate with the fleet and was classified a small aircraft carrier (CVL). Definitely was not a Jeep (escort) carrier (CVE).
True, Surly. The CVL was designed to keep up with the fast fleet, and the CVE, with less propulsion, was not. Launching and recovering aircraft in the days before the angle deck and catapult required engines to accelerate the ship without the hope of turning into the wind (which you usually do when launching and recovering anyway). You, in effect, could make your wind without a stiff breeze. The theory was sound. However, even today, nobody wants to land on a pitching deck with a 30-knot gusting cross-wind. Absent exigency, they still turn into the wind to launch and recover.
You can tell the difference right away between a CVL and a CVE by looking at its fighter complement. CVLs were fast enough and big enough to handle the F6F. While CVEs were not able to, for the most part, handle the heavier R-2800 powered fighters like the F6F and the Corsair. They flew F4Fs to the end of the war.
–
One of the reasons for the development of the F8F Bearcat was to provide a more ‘modern’ fighter for smaller carriers like the CVEs.
–
Curious semi-parallel developments in both classes. Both the CVLs and CVEs served vital needs during the war. Very useful.
When I was in junior college, I discovered a book about jeep carriers. It was the first I had heard of them. There was a photo taken on the flight deck looking forward. The seas were obviously rolling. The caption explained that plane launches were being timed so that the plane left the deck as the bow crested an oncoming wave. IIRC, jeep carriers were also use to re-supply fleet carriers with aircraft. One story related how a pilot making one of these transfer flights, when given landing clearance by radio, quipped back, “Which runway?”.
—-
An excellent read is Admiral Daniel Gallery, USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60), and the capture of the U-505.
Regarding U-505,
I was just listening to this interview on Veterans Radio this Sunday: https://veteransradio.org/august-18-2024-codename-nemo-the-wounded-warrior-project/
Any good Chicago boy knows of the Jeep Carriers if they’ve ever been to the Museum of Science and Industry.
The U505 was captured and boarded by Admiral Gallery while he was on the Guadalcanal.
Great story actually and interesting in that leading up to the capture, there were mistakes made by both him and the German captian
WSF – the early years
To be accurate, the video needs to show young WSF lifting the miniskirt for an underwear check.
China
Any thoughts on the disconnect from the rural (farmer) population and the city population? It seems China doesn’t have enough arable land to feed it’s population. What happens if the farmers revolt? Likewise, if China’s economy implodes, how will China pay for the imported food needed to survive?
When is the last time (historically) that Chinese peasants actually revolted with any degree of success? Mao was a peasant. But I don’t see that happening now.
“What do you think about the Great Silence?”
The leading inference, that we are “insignificant” biases the story.
If we were placed here and we are the only ones, then that is of great significance.
It begs the question, why?
Yes, it does. I’d argue that the Earth was engineered to support corporeal life, and you could argue that it’s all circumstantial. We’re listening but there doesn’t seem to be much chatter out there if the galaxy is flooded with intelligent life. You could argue that REALLY intelligent life wouldn’t care about us. It’s possible to argue about everything given how little we actually know. But we’re here. There’s no arguing that.
When you look at all the requirements to meet a planet to create ‘life as we know it,’ planet size, planet makeup (all the materials, both size and makeup affect gravity which is very important to life on Earth,) position from sun, the right type of sun, having 1 large satellite to slow the spin of the planet and provide tides and weather (rather very important,) a molten-iron core (keeps temps just right and provides magnetic protection,) having Jovians start in the inner orbits and gravitate out to the mid to outer orbits (cleans up a lot of space trash,) getting hit by just the right amount and type of said space trash, well, the odds are not in other planets’ favor.
–
We can create proto-life chemicals. We can find proto-live chemicals ‘out there.’ What we haven’t created nor found is the ‘spark’ that takes proto-chemicals from ‘proto’ to actual life.
The size and placement of the Moon (interesting eclipse) to keep tidal oceans moving and to keep the tidal core of the Earth liquid, allowing for shifting tectonic plates that float on the liquid interior, subducting carbon and dealing with runaway carbon (Venus) situations. As you point out. It’s all very fortuitous and we’re here, so you can’t argue with that.
I’m about 60% through the China video, and my main takeaway so far is: Not much different from the US, then. The degree of frustration/withdrawal from society, and the percentage of young people so affected may be higher than in the US right now, but they are only a few years ahead. What were the highlights? One: Inability to even think of buying a home due to insane mismatch between income and rapidly rising house (or apartment/condo) prices. Two: lack of good jobs/job security (with emphasis on governmental edict taking jobs away). Those sound EXACTLY like the problems facing young people in the US.
—
House (condo, etc) prices have increased dramatically in the US. All over, not just major urban centers or “cool” towns. Everywhere. Increases in income over the same period are nowhere near comparable. It seems only large institutional concerns (e.g. Blackrock) can now buy houses.
—
In China the CCP destroys your job (category). In the US, DEI (e.g. Blackrock) takes away your (individual) job [1]. “Environmental” and “safety” regulations (that neither promote safety nor protect the environment) take away your job (category). I don’t see much difference, except for the Blackrock (and others very much like them) part.
—
So China has the “let it rot” and the “lay flat” movements. (A far better translation for the latter would be “prostrate” and not “flat”. Flat is a neutral descriptor, prostrate implies weakness and distress.) Withdrawal from the “American dream” game is happening in the US as well. The difference I see in the US is that we also have the racial angle thing, and the victimhood/reparations thing. (This is NOT a point in favor of the US.) So far as I know, China has few underachieving minority groups [2] and the few it does have, the Han purely do not give two hoots. And so far as I know, China does not have any nominal “client” states that in reality lead them by the nose. There is no political Ophiocordyceps that has hijacked the nervous system of the body politic, dragging them into pointless wars and making blood enemies of those who need not be enemies. So yay for China on those points. (But the Chinese are perfectly capable of getting into pointless wars and making enemies on their own, thank you very much.)
—
[1] I am (pleasantly) surprised by recent noticing about DEI (not Noticing, that’s still Hate Think), though it may well be too little, too late. The other day I was sitting with a group of people. A couple of Germans (as in from Germany, not some guy named Schmidt whose great grandfather settled in Michigan) were asking about discrimination in the US. I stated that the least protected group in the US were straight, white, Christian males. The Germans were surprised. The thing that surprised ME was that an Indian (dot) woman sitting next to me nodded along, and when they looked at her, she said, “It’s all true.” And she was clearly not happy about it; the situation, not me saying it out loud. That was heartening.
[2] I originally wrote “stupid” but that would be mean. True, but mean. Being a warm, fuzzy and obviously conflict-averse type, I changed it to “underachieving”. You’re welcome.
—
On a pointless kvetchy editorial note, the narrator of the China video had a terrible accent in Mandarin. Could NOT get even close to the tones. Which is fine (can’t expect someone to sound right in what is not their native language), but I got the feeling he was trying to “pronounce it Chinesely” when saying words such as Shanghai. Just say it Murrican, FFS.
China’s communist promise is being rejected by the young. They’re not enthusiastic or optimistic. You can argue the same thing about the US, but the Chinese are more concerned because they do not fervently embrace the totalitarian promise. They prefer the way it was before the Bamboo Wall was re-erected.
China also has Tofu Dreg projects so lots of ‘habitable’ buildings are not, in fact, habitable, being downright hazardous to be near as they fall apart.
In some cases bamboo was used as rebar.
I love the videos that show the construction workers removing even bamboo let alone actual rebar after they pour cement.
The loss of the word Church is interesting.
When I was first converted, it was pointed out to me that the word Church probably came from pagan origins.
The original Greek is Ecclesia, an assembly of the called out ones. We get Ecclesiastes (the Preacher) from this word, the preacher of course doing the calling.
So I belong to a denomination that has assemblies, yet we still talk about going to church :) .
Jettisoning the word is just another attempt to be relevant (like the Seeker Friendly movement), to appeal to people who don’t want to go to “church”.
Frankly, if you want to fill the churches, which are going empty, perhaps preaching the Word, instead of the world, would attract those seeking the Truth.
The Anglicans have gone full homo woke (not LSP, but Big C of E has). The few people who attend church are old, and you could say they’re studying for the final exams… In some cases, churches have transformed into mosques. In Scotland, they’re hoping to attract homos and trannys by C of S becoming a homosexual-centered congregation. That’s their assembly. I frankly don’t care what they do. It’s not someplace I’d frequent, but I don’t want to bugger anyone or get buggered.
**
I haven’t associated with many genuine Satanists beyond the few I arrested for violations of the penal code years ago. Still, those I’ve spoken to said that they were tired of sacrificing chickens and cats and smearing their blood on themselves while they had sexual orgies. Maybe I didn’t encounter the ardent Satanists? That likewise holds no appeal for me. Nor does drinking menstrual blood mixed with somebody’s semen.
I thought the China video was going to be about the recent / annual rumors of a coup against Xi. Prefaced with LL saying “It’s a real thing.”. Blood pressure dropped a little bit.
Admiral Daniel Gallery, the jeep carriers, the Princeton(CVL23) being an honorary member and all their crews brought eternal honor to their names and service.
Xi has had to negotiate with the People’s Liberation Army to stay in power, which means that it’s a sharing arrangement. Not that it wasn’t always shared power, but it’s a little more overt today.
“This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can.” With these words, Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland addressed the crew of the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts on the morning of October 25, 1944, off the Philippine Island of Samar. On the horizon loomed the mightiest ships of the Japanese navy, a massive fleet that represented the last hope of a staggering empire. All that stood between it and Douglas MacArthur’ s vulnerable invasion force were the Roberts and the other small ships of a tiny American flotilla poised to charge into history. (Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors) – ADM Halsey left his vulnerable CVE’s to the mercy of the Japanese Fleet – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Samar
The Japanese thought they were engaging fleet carriers and light cruisers instead of Fletcher Class Destroyers and some CVE’s
That’s because the audacious little ships were punching like Tyson and the planes buzzing like hornets were creating all the confusion they could.. What Men! Every school child should know those names and there isn’t even a decent movie or mini series about them.
Maybe just as well. If there were a movie made these days, we’d learn that the tactical leadership was provided by three sassy black women (yazz, slay Kween!). And that LCDR Copeland was an obese lesbian. Or the Hollywood [pause, direct look directly into camera] writers would invent (“reimagine”) one of their own and make that a key figure.
DEI: the new MS Teams email system they introduced at work just before I retired requires you enter your pronouns when you set it up. I asked my replacement about it and told him my pronouns are ass and hole. I refused to set it up.
Thee and Thou.
Where does the US stand compared to the rest of the world?
Good question.
We don’t have a free press, freedom of religion, thought or even, at this point, manufacturing, it’s been offshored. So where do we stand? Somewhere in advance of Soviet Russia on the culturally Marxist scale. And it should embarrass us that even Hungary threw off the Bolshevik yoke as we embrace it.
USS Princeton is an interesting case. She was originally commissioned as a light cruiser, converted to a CVL. She was NOT a Kaiser build. Lost at Leyte Gulf, probably due to the location of the avgas storage under the hangar deck due to the ‘odd’ configuration, 118 lost, over 1600 saved thanks to the ships that came close aboard to help! USS Birmingham actually took more losses due to one of the explosions, but they did what they could. Kudos to them.