Caption: Life’s a Beach – Is it better to blog or cruise? (photo: Oahu, North Shore)
Bullet Points:
** Man does not live by bread alone but by meat, tomato, pickles, condiments, cheese, and onion between the slices. (LL right) (wristwatch: Breitling B-50 Night Mission)
** The opinion of a gun owner.
** Most people don’t change their opinions. (Musk)
** The chances of you being stalked by a rabbit are less than 1%, but never 0%.
** Doctors will no longer ask patients, “Who is the president?” as a measure of mental insight and awareness of place and person because nobody knows. If you answered, “Larry Fink” (the CEO of BlackRock), it wouldn’t be wrong.
** How was Kamals (Ho) Harris able to find a running mate who is dumber than she is? Her handlers must have made a significant effort. Strangely, they didn’t pick Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) or Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI). There will be cabinet positions to fill if they win.
** BREAKING: Bank of America is experiencing nationwide outages, leaving customers with zero balances in their accounts and only their debts visible.
Dragging the Sack
I received this by way of e-mail this morning:
Hi Larry, it’s Jane Fonda. I’ve always said that acting and activism go hand in hand. Acting allowed me to see the world through my characters; activism gave me the voice to put empathy and care into action for people who need it most.
We desperately need a leader in the White House who does the same — who understands and listens to the American people. Someone who believes in science and knows this country is a land of hope, prosperity, and endless possibilities.
That’s why I am proud to endorse Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to be our next President and Vice President of the United States. Not just because Donald Trump and JD Vance would be a total disaster for our democracy and our planet, but because they are the right people for the job.
In what world would I support ANYTHING that the filthy traitor Hanoi Jane supports? She should have been stood up against the pockmarked wall and executed for treason decades ago. Justice delayed is justice denied. True, I wouldn’t give money to the Whore under any circumstances, but they are delusional if they think that having Hanoi Jane drag the sack for contributions will win them friends.
***
Social Media Manipulation and the PRC
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was initially concerned about the rise of social media, considering it a threat to the regime. The CCP has since embraced social media to influence domestic and foreign public opinion in the CCP’s favor. Even as Beijing blocks foreign social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter (now X), from operating in China, it actively seeks to leverage these and other platforms for overt propaganda and covert cyber-enabled influence operations abroad. While the results have been limited so far, the advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) could dramatically improve China’s capabilities moving forward, posing a more significant threat to global democracies.
Most research into Chinese social media manipulation focuses on its outputs to understand what Chinese actors say and do on foreign social media. However, this research can analyze only what has already occurred and has been attributed to Beijing.
Key Findings
- The Chinese military** likely began developing its social media manipulation capabilities by the mid-2010s and almost certainly began employing them by 2018.
- The Chinese military is interested in using AI to manipulate social media, and at least some Chinese military researchers conduct cutting-edge work.
- The Chinese military and broader Party State are likely well-placed to adopt generative AI for social media manipulation, including running social bots for large-scale efforts.
- The Chinese military justifies its social media manipulation efforts based in part on a threat perception that the United States is seeking to undermine the CCP.
Recommendations
- The United States and other global democracies should prepare for AI-driven social media manipulation by adopting risk-reduction measures, including promoting media literacy and government trustworthiness, increasing public reporting, and increasing diplomatic coordination.
- The U.S. government should conduct an independent, comprehensive evaluation of its information efforts and ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs.
- The U.S. government should consider engaging with Beijing to restrict AI-driven influence operations.
- Additional research would benefit the U.S. policy community by better understanding the People’s Republic of China’s whole-of-government cooperation on social media manipulation, the United Front Work Department as a social media manipulation actor, the technical approach of other Party-state actors, and Party-state collaboration with Chinese companies for social media manipulation.
From the Days of Fighting Sail
Up all Hammocks – This order, given as the ship prepared for battle, called for the crew’s tightly rolled hammocks to be placed along the decks as shielding against enemy fire. They were also used to cover bulkheads and cabin walls to prevent splinters caused by cannon fire, which were feared as much as the projectiles themselves.
On warships, sailors heading on deck to relive the watch or turn to the day’s work were required to pass their rolled hammocks through an iron ring suspended from the overhead, which was done to ensure uniformity and compactness. The hoop also happened to be the size of your basic cannonball, meaning if the ship received a shot below the waterline, it could be jammed in the hole as a makeshift plug.
Frocking—An early use of “frock” (15th century) referred to the long habit characteristically worn by monks. Through the centuries, frock has described various loose garments of some length. The “frock coat,” a long-skirted garment coming almost to the knees, became a popular fashion for men in the early 19th century and was quickly adopted for military uniforms. It is feasible that the frock coat was so-called because the length was reminiscent of earlier clothing articles.
There is an alternative explanation for the term “frock coat.” An ornamental closure called a “frog,” which consisted of a spindle-shaped button passing through a loop of material or braid, was typical on military uniforms at least as early as the mid-18th century. The expression could have evolved from frog coat to frock coat.
We assume that the current usage of “frocking” is in some way related to the officer’s frock coats. The verb form “to frock,” relating initially to the monk’s cloak, meant “to invest with priestly office or privilege.” Perhaps this idea of establishing position by donning a particular garment is resurrected here. Another explanation for the link between the term and the practice is that the early undress uniform for a midshipman was a short coat, whereas a lieutenant’s was a frock coat. When a midshipman was appointed to act in the capacity of a lieutenant, he wore the latter uniform. In this instance, it could be said he was “frocked.”
Regarding the practice of frocking itself, there are various instances in Navy Regulations at least as early as 1802 of personnel assuming the uniform of the next higher rank, not necessarily with higher pay, when appointed by proper authority to assume the duties and responsibilities of that rank before actual promotion. These appointments were sometimes temporary, as when it was necessary rapidly to swell the ranks during wartime. Other instances concerned a commander’s need to fill an unforeseen vacancy for which no one was of equal rank. In this case, a junior who was qualified for promotion would assume the uniform and duties pending approval by the Navy Department.
The practice that we currently refer to as frocking has been commonly used in one form or another throughout the Navy’s history. However, there does not seem to be a definite point at which the practice was first established. The original use of the term “frocking” to describe the current policy is also unclear. Still, it is probably of recent vintage as it does not appear in earlier documents (18th-19th century).
The Job Market & Interest Rates
While hiring increased (figures lie and liars figure), the rate of pay growth took another step down.
The 12-month gain for those staying in their jobs nudged lower to 4.7%, while tumbling to 6.6% for job switchers, down 0.7 percentage point from August. From a size standpoint, the growth came from companies with more than 50 employees. Small firms saw a loss, with those employing fewer than 20 workers down by 13,000.
The ADP count comes two days ahead of the Labor Department’s nonfarm payrolls report, which is expected to show 150,000 growth following August’s disappointing showing of 142,000, of which 118,000 came from private sector hiring. While the ADP report serves as a precursor to the official count, the two can differ, sometimes by wide margins.
Federal Reserve officials closely monitor the jobs numbers as they consider the next move in monetary policy and interest rates. The Fed is expected to follow up its half percentage point rate cut in September with further reductions in November and December.
Identify the Aircraft
1
2
3
Identify the Tank
4
Identify the Feature Film
A
Yes, a big hint
B
For extra credit, name the French Privateer and the English Fifth-Rate ship.
Halloween is Coming
End
(1) Su-22. Vietnamese?
(2) CANT z.506 heron.
(3) It’s like one of our thermal pods, but a very bad design.
(4) Conqueror.
*
-Kle.
A good start!
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Su-22M4 Fitter
2. Cant Z.506
3. Tu-128UT
Identify the Tank:
4. Conqueror
Identify the Feature Film:
A. The Green Berets
B. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Acheron, Surprise.
Yes!
Fighting Sail terms. The hoop.
Passing through so many hoops these days, especially when it relates to any business related to governing authorities.
Another great anecdote on V.M.!
Our construction business here in the people’s Republic of Oregon is presently awaiting the reply to our application for the, wait for it…
” free permit ” and approval for excavation (2 cubic yards or more) at a residence within the limits of our small town, in preparation of pouring a patio slab, which requires no permit.
The size of this hoop is an enigma. Do to staffing, scheduling, and typical snafu procedures, we are stalled on this project.
There is the temptation to proceed without permission, perform what is practical and meets standard building practices. Then ask ask for forgiveness later, if cited, or pay fines.
( usually double the normal permit cost, but in this locale it’s $500. )
The description of a hoop the size of a cannon ball, and it’s purpose brought me great joy and peace today. Thanks Larry!
How’s the J6 Flag working out for you GFW2? I ordered some in the traditional black and white colors to.
-STA Lethal
Mrs W’s approved installation is as follows; it hangs proudly in my shop, located at our Texas winter residence. Awaiting further passage by said authority to be displayed on j6 and other holidays as a patriotic banner on our front porch. Good to know more are still available! May invest in a few more as gifts.
1. Harris campaign ads are ubiquitous on YouTube.
2. Harris ads that don’t feature KH herself either feature subpar people saying “Kamala Harris will fight for us!” or people claiming that they’ve voted twice for Trump but won’t do it a third time.
—
#2 is particularly strange to me. Generally you either make the ads aspirational (I wanna be like the guy in the ad!) or relatable (I can totally identify with the gal in the ad). Pretty sure no one WANTS to be a homely fat woman with poor fashion sense (for example), so the ad isn’t aspirational. Is the Harris campaign indicating that it sees her likely supporters as losers or weirdos?
—
Well, good luck to China, I guess, but they are DECADES behind on manipulating American media and attitudes.
Ho/Coward should put Hanoi Jane on their posters! Think about it aspirationally – she got away with being a Traitor. The tag line could be: I betrayed my country and got away with it. You can too! That would sell better than an aging overweight woman crowing that she’s going to go with the Ho – to democrat voting demographics.
Mike_C – The People’s Republic of China – also known as The Worker’s Paradise – sends young Chinese to major American universities to learn about America. While here, they only hang with other PRC students (because the spies who watch them encourage that), they eat Chinese food, they speak Chinese primarily, they never leave the enclave and return behind the bamboo curtain filled with an understanding of the United States of America. Then they launch social media propaganda campaigns that look stupid and wonder why they fall flat.
When I worked. at the University of Florida, I called it (not around UF people) the University of Beijing in Gainesville, FL. UBGF.
–
The leaders of UF at the time were trying to divest themselves of all undergraduate degree programs except for whatever would allow athletes to ‘go to class’ and basically only go with graduate studies, mostly composed of CCP students. Did not go well even with a Democrat as governor.
In re dragging the bag for money – the DNC/Harris campaign has flooded the Sacramento/Reno radio station I listen to going to and home from work. Is infuriating. I’ve never yelled at a radio, but with both the quantity (overabundant) and quality (poorly-masked lies), it’s becoming a regular high-volume event. Without passengers, fortunately.
Regarding potential for rabbit attack (Bullet Points) – the Base I work on just this morning sent an all-hands warning (1MC equivalent) of a mountain lion spotted near one of the periphery buildings. The Base locksmith (safe-cracker), who happens to be a wildlife hunter on the side, is probably getting – rather excited- …
Head up, eyes open…
Motorcycling on Oahu…Nice!
***
Rabbits- Dangerous creatures if you ask me, giving a wide berth is necessary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tqoHIzbneY
***
Hanoi Jane- “…because Donald Trump and JD Vance would be a total disaster for our democracy and our planet,…”. What a pile of horsepucky, nothing but manufactured tripe to sway Middle Class white woman-folk walking out of their Yoga or Pilates body/mind/spirit cleansing session wearing Lululemon with a $60 Non-gmo BPA free “Swiftee” sticker adorned water bottle. Why is it these types live so dang long, annoying everyone whenever they pop up from their gopher holes? Her pal, Wooden-Haired Kerry, is still spouting off as if anyone is listening. Evil.
***
LL- Nice watch, I like nice watches…but that one is beyond my price range because they all end up with sawdust and dirt on them. Then again, it would be bargaining power when the Democrat Apocalypse happens…which could be next week with that insane crew. Altho…come to think of it…with DeSantis sticking it to the Joizey Dockside Mafia Boss Thug the strike/supply chain BS has been temporarily averted until after the election. Maybe Daggett got a call.
***
Master and Commander- Needed to check in at 3:00:01am to beat Surly to the answer…a truly upgraded AI Savant.
Sidebar (This stuff just galls me and generates unbelief towards REAL victims): Now after Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have their new “Friends In Low Places Bar” (Prime show is fun) and he just now returned to the Vegas stage, a former makeup artist and hairstylist is charging him with rape, sexual harassment, and years of misconduct…5 YEARS after the alleged incidents (Cali’s SoL is 10 years).
– Uh huh…all three levels of allegation employed to pile on. (me sitting here skeptically cross-eyed)
— Brooks emphatically denies the allegations while saying it’s nothing but a shakedown for millions of dollars.
–WTH is with these woman? Wonder if Brooks will get the same treatment VEEP 1st Man Emhoff’s treatment of sweeping it away.
Rabbits, very dangerous creatures: What can stop them? Night of the Lepus!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA910vCNRe4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDCJsjFR_Gk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_caJjIRC-Q
Looks like you took a nice ride to Sunset Beach? I assume Mrs. LL is taking the picture unless she fell off the back? Haleʻiwa Beach which I’m sure you know is a great little spot. There’s a huge rock/cliff that jets out from the beach that you can either climb up and dive off of or swim under and you’ll find a grotto that most Haole’s dont know about. Bellow’s Beach is always a nice hideaway on the other side of the Island. Sometimes we’d have HOG parties over there. (Not the kind you guys might be thinking of;) Hanoi Jane… isn’t she dead yet! My best to Mrs. LL.
-STA Lethal
MRSLL is present. She may allow me to post a picture of her rocking the new wardrobe on the beach as I toil away to earn a crust of bread…but don’t count on it.
” Is it better to blog or cruise? ” – Is this a trick question?
Just don’t do them both at once.
– Kle.
Underway, Kle.
The BOA thing comes at an interesting time – the wannabe overlords are trying to herd everyone into the digital money world. Now a lot of voters are discovering the fun associated with that. Maybe some more events will put the power-monger dreams on hold for a while?
Rabbits – wasn’t a rabbit, but a ground squirrel…probably rabid…tried attacking my dad while he was checking irrigation in a corn field. When it got close a quick stomp ended it.
Hanoi Jane – will the family bury her in a super-secret location, or put up with uric acid overload in the surrounding soil?
I’m willing to void my bladder wherever she is planted and add to the volume.
Nah, I don’t like standing in long lines.
The line (like the Johnson) would be long, but distinguished.
OK, now that’s a mental image I didn’t need.
Eye bleach – stat!
Nice bike. Back when I was happily married I may or may not have occasionally fantasized about a biker sweeping me away from all the exhausting monotony of everyday life as a working wife and mom.
And now (that I actually could get swept away) everyone one that goes by is being ridden by something that appears to be (possibly?) female, or it’s a male, but that bike’s definitely carrying about 300 lbs.
So it goes.
The bike is a Hawaii rental, so much for the outlaw on the chopper thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld1l4Ud7jp8
I was undercover in an outlaw motorcycle gang for nearly two years. I rode an 88 Softail (forfeiture bike). One time at a traffic light with a dozen or so other patched 1%ers, a guy in a passenger car pulled up next to me and said, “Fat Boy?” presumably talking about the Harley I rode. I turned to the guy next to me, idling, waiting for the light to phase and said, “That guy called me fat!” The passenger in the car didn’t quite know what to say but didn’t want to get his butt kicked. It was funny at the time, still funny now. The expression on his face.
“I was undercover in an outlaw motorcycle gang for nearly two years”…
—Why are we readers of the venerable VM not surprised. Boy, have I led a sheltered life…sorta…mostly.
To be fair, everyone, including my chief, thought I’d be murdered, but it didn’t go that way (obv.)
Night before my 21st birthday dad says to me, “You know, a lot of us didn’t think you’d make it this far.” then walked away, laughing. Spent the night waiting for the ceiling to fall in on me.
Buddy of mine did some undercover anti-biker, anti-drugs, anti-other-illegal-stuff when he was much younger. Got pulled from USMC Basic Training. His ride was a suicide clutch H-D. Got shot a few times, finally had to get out. Was accused of taking drugs for fun, not to prove that he wasn’t a TLA agent.
Some of the Hessians had day jobs that drug-tested and they avoided them for that reason. One of the guys set up displays at a convention center, others were bike shops who didn’t want the wrenches screwing up expensive rides. Things like that. I claimed asthma – so couldn’t smoke, etc. It worked. I was mean enough that it compensated for my lack of interest in substance. Maybe 3 or 4 of 100 at that time had fatals, drugs/alcohol and even though that would usually not have a sobering effect – it seemed to. There were different factions in the Hessians (Mother Chapter – SoCal) was more moderate (killed people was moderate in those days), Vegas was insane, RivCo were just filthy even for bikers. Showed up with barf on their colors, things like that, barfed all over each other – disrespected the franchise and branding. We had a few Nomads (No chapter affiliation) who moved to Northern California and had an unofficial chapter of Nomads.
ATF guy tried to get in. I knew him but he didn’t know me. Leadership didn’t trust him (with cause, neither did I) They let him guard the bikes. He did that ok, but never got a patch, just a bottom rocker – rode prospect. Then ATF guy got into trouble with the police on a separate gig. I worked for the District Attorney. They asked me what they should do. I said, “Prosecute him.” So they did – not to maintain cover, because he was a turd and did criminal stuff.
Guy I knew rode with the Highwaymen. If a brother need a scoot, he rode bitch, they pulled along a citizen, knocked him off his scoot with a chain and rode away.
I hear ya. But sometimes the road not taken is just as well.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NfbBw-YMBeQ&pp=ygUWcm9sbCBtZSBhd2F5IGJvYiBzZWdlcg%3D%3D
—
I’ve always liked Bob Seger, but am appreciating his songs even more as I collect my fair share of dings and dents. Have a whole different appreciation for “Hollywood Nights” now, for example. What I can say is that the Midwestern boy in the song is lucky the girl (yes, THE girl, she was never HIS girl, it was just his turn) “with soft eyes so innocent and blue” just disappeared on him one night. It could be worse. Ahem.
—
Ego check story. So one day I was pseudo-socializing with a bunch of recent med school grads from the Subcontinent (trying to get a US residency). Because the Pretty Korean Girl was sort of in charge of them and they therefore sort of sucked up to her, and they cornered us at this work ice-cream-social thing. Anyway, the topic of conversation turned to “what do you listen to?” When they got to me, PKG rolled her eyes. “Oh, he listens to Country and you wouldn’t recognize any names. It’s not even current Country.”
PKG was right. Not a one had heard of even Johnny Cash, nor EmmyLou, nor George Strait, much less say Mark Chestnut. I tried switching to Rock. No hits there either, until “Bob Seger”. One girl’s eyes lit. “Oooh! I know who that is!”
“You like Bob Seger?”
“Oh, no, not me! But my dad loves him. Plays that old stuff all day in his cath lab. Makes the nurses crazy, but he says it reminds him of his training days at the Cleveland Clinic!” Big smile at me. The others: “But Deepika, isn’t your dad OLD?” Then it got quiet and everyone looked nervously at me. Except PKG who I thought was going to wet herself. Hahaha! It’s good to know how people see you.
We’re not getting any younger Mike_C. Last night I re-watched “Can’t You See” on YT, still great. How many of those newbies have heard of Marshall Tucker…heck…or Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, The Allman Brothers? George Strait in the dustbin??? Say it ain’t so (Amarillo By Morning!)…guessing they’d say Chris LeDoux is a purse designer from Canada. BUT…likely know who the new kids on the gravel road are, generated by the Nashville Production machine where so-called country/western crooners wear ballcaps, sneakers, and skinny jeans. No thanks.
[Bob Seger was told by his High School music teacher he had no talent for singing. Never listen to the naysayers.]
You’re a relic of a by-gone era, Mike_C, but you have lots of company. My youngest daughter asked me something about i-tunes and I explained that I fleshed out my playlist LONG ago. I have difficulty generating an interest in contemporary music. Sometimes a song comes along, but it’s rare. I have plenty of music, it’s just – out of date even for elevator music.
Old is not a bad thing.
That’s how I see it these days…
As you know, we grew up with Seger around here.
I was gonna say that’s NOT your normal ride! And I’m still rocking my 40+ year old Rolex. Thankfully never had to use it to exfil…LOL
Hanoi Jane can…well, go away.
Yes, the gold Rolex with the heavy band and removable gold links. I don’t want to get rolled for it, but at times it’s appropriate to wear if you think that you’ll need to buy your freedom. That and the one ounce Krugerrands
Ahh ‘Frocking” the double-dare of USN enlisted advancement! Still being used to meet ‘fighting sail’ personnel requirements in the age of Nuclear power. The annual selection board/semiannual fleetwide examination to fill future loses in a “no body-no replacement” system in the fleet/shore balancing act. It is even carried-out to the award formation order that the selectees are handed their new rank and authorizing paperwork, so that seniority is established by the minute/hour for future purposes! (command, berthing, mess area, peer associations) The biggest immediate visual change is from E6 (Petty Officer 1st class) to E7 (Chief Petty Officer) requiring an entire different uniform AND emphasis on the title of the Selectee (i.e. ” GunnersMate PO1″ to “CHIEF Gunnersmate” OR just “CHIEF”).
BUT if you get in trouble, you LOSE an automatic Two Rungs on the ladder!!!
I took my early 80s vintage Tag Hoyer black coral dive watch in for service . The young lady said oh wow I love these vintage watches where did you find this ? I said “ bought it new a long time ago , still works, I wear it when I need a watch.”
Service now cost almost as much as the watch did in 81.
She did see the world through her characters, and activism gave her the voice to put empathy and care into action. It’s just not rational and doesn’t work.
.
I’m having trouble seeing how whatever an actress did in her 20’s, is worse than what a Supreme Court justice does in their 40’s after having every means and opportunity to know better. Is the objection tribal? We boo the visiting team harder because simply they’re the visitors?
You want to beware Killer Rabbits.
This is not the one Jimmy Carter faced in the wilds…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaCJtXX87aU
Need some beat up black leather boots with that bike! Maybe a bit tad longer denim. Where’s the tats?
Rolex- maybe the links are like a BACHT chain!? Use for barter and $$ in some parts of the world. Good to have on hand either way. Still a classy look.
1980s Tag Hoyer black coral dive watch may be harder to bargain with but worth the fix!