Caption: Illegal Aliens, go home.
Bullet Points:
** President Trump is trying to educate the public by urging them to see the world in a new light, experts say, as American influence in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Canada, and Asia has waned under the Biden administration. He sent a message to the Panamanians: Either they eject the Red Chinese military from the Canal Zone, or we will do it with our military and retain control of the Canal Zone. Arguably the worst president in American history (ok, one of the worst), Jimmy Carter gave up the Canal. He’s moldering in the grave now.
** The Charlotte Observer reported, “Polar bears hold the secret to surviving frigid winters—and we can benefit, study says.” Live like polar bears. Add fur and a thousand pounds of weight. Travel at 2 miles per hour and eat nothing but blubber.
** Shakespeare had the same 26 letters in the alphabet that we all do. It’s what you do with them that matters. —Lou Holtz
** California vs. Truckers—Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in September 2020 to phase out the sale of all new gas-powered vehicles in his state by 2035. Since then, the state and several vehicle manufacturers have faced an onslaught of lawsuits related to the latest regulations. Some truck drivers and red states are attempting to thwart the rules, which they allege would slow the supply chain and force the “transition to more expensive and less efficient electric trucks,” according to one trucking group.
** Will Boeing Bounce Back? -Too big to fail? (h/t Claudio)
** The Norks are building an artificial reef.
** CDRSAL reports that gender studies programs win Navy wars. More at his blog.
** (h/t Claudio) The Syrian Military Junta’s shot callers are announced. Clearly, as members of the Religion of Peace and as those with a deep kinship with the Jews, they will usher in a golden age of enlightenment.
** Since around Election Day, Elon Musk has essentially moved to Mar-a-Lago, living in a cottage only a few hundred feet away from the future president, according to The New York Times. To put it another way, he is the president-elect’s tenant. This has allowed him to attend transition meetings and drop in on dinners, such as when Trump dined with Musk’s arch-rival, Jeff Bezos. And Trump only charges $2,000 a day for the cottage. For Musk, that’s not even pocket change.
In the Candu PHWR, fuel bundles are arranged in pressure tubes, which are individually cooled. These pressure tubes contain the heavy water moderator in a large calandria tank. Unlike LWRs, which use low-enriched uranium, PHWRs use natural uranium fuel. (pocket guide to nuclear decay generators) The later generations of generators used for commercial power or specialized propulsion use different moderators. Graphite, liquid sodium, heavy water, light (H2O) water, and other mediums are all functioning options.
One of CANDU reactors’ inherent and proven safety features is their ability to cool the reactor through natural circulation. In CANDU reactors, natural circulation occurs when the pumps pushing the coolant through the heat transport system stop functioning. Flaws were inadvertently built into the CANDU from the start. One problem stems from a decision to fabricate pressure tubes for two of Pickering A’s four reactors from a tin-and-zirconium blend called zircaloy. Zircaloy tubes are prone to corrosion and blistering.
The Westinghouse AP1000® reactor is a two-loop pressurized light water reactor (PWR) that uses a simplified design but requires enriched fuel. Enriched fuel leads to more power output. With a gross power rating of 3,415 megawatts thermal (MWt) and a nominal net electrical output of 1,110 megawatt electric (MWe), the AP1000 reactor has a 157-fuel-assembly core. Several are in operation, and they’ve racked up a good record. In overall design, they’re not different than the Rolls Royce PWRs, but Rolls Royce plans to deliver power at about half the price per MWH in their small modular reactors.
So which is better? PWRs or PHWRs? Heavy water is costly to isolate from ordinary water (often referred to as light water in contrast to heavy water). Its low absorption of neutrons significantly increases the neutron economy of the reactor, avoiding the need for enriched fuel. The high cost of the heavy water is offset by the lowered cost and safety of using natural uranium and/or alternative fuel cycles. As of the beginning of 2001, 31 PHWRs were in operation, having a total capacity of 16.5 GW(e), representing roughly 7.76% by number and 4.7% by generating the capacity of all currently operating reactors. CANDU (Canada) and IPHWR (India) are the most common types of reactors in the PHWR family.
Arizona has charted a slightly different course. The Palo Verde Generating Station in the Arizona desert is the only large nuclear power plant in the world that is not near a large body of water. The power plant cools and condenses the steam produced using treated sewage water from nearby cities. It is the largest power plant by net generation as of 2021. Palo Verde has the third-highest rated capacity of any U.S. power plant.
Identify the Vehicle
1
2
In the current Ukrainian service – 120 built
3
Not a BRDM-2, not exactly
4
There is a big hint in the photo. The name means Hedgehog, which is for domestic use but also exported—sold cheaply.
I’m not calling it rolling scrap metal, but it is.
Identify the Aircraft
5
Have a splendid 2025
2 could be T84
3 looks like Hungarian D-442 FUG or the later 944 update
4 is Turkish BMC Kirpi
# 2 – think NATO
# 4 – yes
Lovely USAF flash mob video. Thank you for finding it.
It’s my favorite
IDA-
1. Fennek armored reconnaissance vehicle
2. Swedish Strv 122 Tank
3. 9P133 Malyutka ATGM launcher
4. Kirpi II Mine-Resistant Vehicles
5. VVA-14
The Shakespeare comment reminded me of an old Monty Python routine. In it a Shakespearian actor comments(to the best of my recollection), “Knowing all the words is good, but getting them in the right order is just as important.”
Happy New Year to all here.
Not quite the same:
“Until 1835, the English Alphabet consisted of 27 letters: right after “Z” the 27th letter of the alphabet was ampersand (&). The English Alphabet (or Modern English Alphabet) today consists of 26 letters: 23 from Old English and 3 added later.”
And of course S’s that looked like F’s, etc.
Thinking we’re the last group to have been taught Palmer cursive writing, where S’s and F’s, P’s, etc…had loops and flares. How many even write things out anymore?
There was a time back in the summer of ’76 – I received a call from a pharmacist: “Uh! Just what is it you’re prescribing, Doc? Looks like it’s possibly an antibiotic, but I just can’t decipher it, fer sure.”
Not that I ever received an A in Handwriting in grade school (or even a C, not even if the teacher was being kind – almost failed Third grade on that alone), but after that phone call, I just gave up on cursive – not that my scripts were all that much easier to read after that.
Palmer! Ugh. What a hideous mess. The lowercase letters are mostly unobjectionable, but what was done to the capitals is an aesthetic crime.
Capital A, M and N are basically the lowercase writ large. This is ugly and unnatural, like the larval form of an animal pretending to be the adult form. (Yes, I know that axolotls can breed even in their larval stage, but do we really want to model ourselves after a creepy-looking salamanderish thing?)
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Capltal A, M and N need to have their angular parts. Fie on the Palmer versions with their rounded corners, like some sort of safety version for the clumsy and the stupid. The Palmer-style capital A is particularly objectionable because it’s just the lowercase “a” writ extra large, as if it had a pituitary tumor pumping out supraphysiologic amounts of growth hormone. Capital G is also hideous: Why is there this weird loop on the upper left? Huh? And as far as Palmer capital “I” goes — what the hell is even that? That was rhetorical. Capital Palmer “I” is an abomination.
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I’d add that capital letters should NOT have descenders that go beneath the line. Looking at you, capital “Y”!
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Not that I have strong feelings about this or anything.
PS
I didn’t even touch on the unnecessary fat loops on the uprights of capital P and R. Those are also aesthetic crimes, but misdemeanors compared with the felonies of capital G and I.
PPS
It may be that Palmer had ergonomic advantages when writing with quill or fountain pens. I don’t know, and I don’t care. We don’t write with fountain pens any longer. (Yes, I have a few friends who make a fetish of the fountain pen thing, and good for them, but that’s a deliberate aesthetic choice (I am politely NOT calling it a willful eccentricity because that’d be impolite). Any road, the rest of the world should not be laboring under legacy constraints.)
PPPS
If anyone is wondering, if I’m writing longhand like a big boy (all by myself!) my lowercase is mostly Palmer, but I use block caps, albeit slanted to match the pitch of the lowercase letters. And I like a rollerball pen. Nothing fancy (because I’m always losing the damn things). Not a fan of ballpoints in general because most of them are “lumpy” and not smooth. (Back when drug companies gave doctors “free” pens I used to be amused because they’d generally give out crappy ballpoints. Why on earth would you put your logo on a frustrating piece of crap? Is it good conditioning to make me associate Merck (or Pfizer, whatever) with frustration and annoyance?) As with Louis Litt, I like Uniball pens, though I’m using some Sharpie branded rollerballs right now.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGn7GFjVHCo
Zebra F301. People constantly try to walk away with them.
Gotta have a good pen, mine is the Precise V5 or V7 for EDC. Zebras are nice, Uniball pens also good…haven’t tried the Sharpie pen yet.
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Mom had beautiful penmanship, learned the Palmer method, me as well…mostly I print in a few styles.
Palmer was designed to minimize having to lift the pen while writing a specific word, thus speeding up the process of writing. And was perfect for the newly created fountain pens that started appearing in the 17th Century, though easy to do with dip pens, too, several short words or one long word per dip, so to speak.
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Before cursive were the various ‘calligraphy’ styles which mostly were individual letters of varying fancifulness.
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Want to bitch about Palmer? Gah, try Gothic Fracture or some of the 1300’s styles that were more ‘art’ than usefulness.
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What killed cursive writing was…. THE BALLPOINT PEN. Which sucks at doing cursive. The lowly pencil does a better job of flowing through cursive than the ballpoint, which really sucks due to the roughness of the ball required to transfer ink from the cartridge. A pencil led ‘sheds’ its lead in a flowing manner, much like ink from a fountain or dip pen tip. A nice rounded 2B pencil is great for cursive, so is a softer lead.
How much has the ball-point contributed to carpal tunnel with the stress it takes to press?
Probably a lot. And modern paper is partially at fault, too.
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Pre-1920s paper, even the cheap writing stuff, is smooth and the nib pens just glide over the surface.
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Modern paper is designed to be cheaply made, with a rough surface to grab the ink and hold it, not requiring blotting or drying like earlier papers.
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Add to that the cheap non-ergonomic form of the standard ball-point pen in comparison to nib pens of the dip or fountain variety and you get a recipe for disaster.
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What really accelerated Carpal Tunnel was the increase of keyboards, both on typewriters and on computers. Totally different hand position and possibly the worse hand position possible.
One of my favorite skits too – comparing various roles by their relative number of words: “But it’s not just the number of words, the order is also important.”
My 18th Great-grandfather was a contemporary of Shakespeare, lived in London at the same time, and was a well-known publisher and historian. I like to think that he attended his plays and perhaps actually knew him.
number one vehicle is the rare idkbiwo-2 ( i don’t know but i want one or two). happy new year. enjoy it while you can.
Agree with Kim DuToit, New Years starts January 21st.
***
Wonder how many in High School even know who Shakespeare is or his writings, a lot of public schools, colleges included, have eliminated him from any curriculum due to [soon to be dead and buried] DEI/Hate the white man garbage?
***
EV Trucks- I say go for it…with all the extra per semi weight maybe California will finally crack off the continent and float out to sea. Government needs to have their hubris brought down about 100 notches and leave We The People’s supply/demand markets to ourselves, the constant meddling is not only getting annoying, it’s getting unsustainable. Just read Colorado (and a handful of other states) taxes SSA payments…monies forcibly stole from my paycheck gets taxed again…until June of Last Year (happy to be able to say that)…over 65 and the new law removes this statehouse theft. About time. Now onto eliminating property taxes for retirees.
***
Hopeful for 2025…praying God wins the day and once again reemerges as the paramount focus for America, we’ve witnessed what it looks like without Him.
Amen.
there are still some good people in CA, some even conservative, some even as far right as I, who find themselves in a position where they’re unable to escape – have pity on those poor souls.
I’m trying to think of a (hopefully non-violent, heh!)way to enable (gosh! I hate using that word) the “Revolution of the Right People” (or is it supposed to be the –People of the Right”?)
I know, I do…our hosts girls and their families to name a few. Living on a fault line tho brings about the sentiment, what wacko idea that starts there invades the rest of the country…so maybe get rid of the leadership.
The repeal of the ‘we won’t prosecute theft’ law seems to be a radical right shift by the common people of California. Now that they know they can make changes for the positive, mayhaps the next round of voting will bring further levels of common sense back to California. As long as no state judge decides to invalidate the citizens’ votes like one judge did over gay marriage, which the citizenry firmly did not want, but had forced down their throats. Said citizenry should have risen up at that point and gone all ‘pitchforks and torches’ on said judge’s arse.
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Sadly, in California, it’s the three big city-states, Greater Los Angeles Area, San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento that have enough votes just by themselves to swing pert near any election any way said city-states wish. The take-back on theft prosecution was a shocking moment for the feudalists in the city-states.
Happy and Blessed New Year everyone!
Boeing: They are too big to fail. They’re the only US company left that builds large aircraft, but they seem to have lost their mojo. Problems with high-profile programs such as Starliner, KC-46, and 737 MAX contrast with legacy aircraft like the B-52 and KC-135, the last of which was built over 60 years ago. With things about to change in DC and the Pentagon (we hope) how long before they say ‘enough!’ and award a contract to AIRBUS?
Most of the upgrade programs for the B-52 are not being done by Boeing at all. L-3 Harris is redoing the cockpits and electronics. Rolls-Royce North America is doing the engine building and installs. The updated radar is also not being installed by Boeing. The planes are being moved from one location to another to get this part and that part installed rather than one central facility with all the vendors doing the work at one place. So what is left for Boeing to do? Paint?
What’s your reaction? Great developments! New acronyms for SNR’s and SMR’s? Or a whole different breed of cat? Will private industry be allowed to operate these in the USA, or only over the budget construction of .gov?
BREAKING: New Orleans “massacre” last night/early morning hours, “vehicle and weapons came from Mexico and traveled into the USA through Eagle Pass, TX…two days ago”.
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This was a terrorist attack. Likely more to come. Brother says: “Kash Patel can’t be appointed fast enough!” I’d add, Tom Homan is champing at the bit to get rolling on this created mess, clear out illegals brought in by the current Administration…minimally it’d be cheaper for We The People, let alone less dangerous.
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Biden, his Handlers, et al should be tried for treason.
That vehicle was used as a weapon. They need to be registered and there has to be compulsory licensing to operate them!
They have already started playing games by hiding the ISIS flag on the back of his truck in the photos.
Yup…42 yo ex military. Texas born. Rented a pickup. DEI hired FBI woman sent out to cover up and immediately goes to “not a terrorist act”. Unreal.
“Biden, his Handlers, et al should be tried for treason.”
Biden, his Handlers, et al must/have to be be tried for treason.
but then it occurs to me that we’re going to start looking like some third-world fundī, executing every prior administration for “treason”
but if we don’t…
Oh! I’ve got an idea. put our battalions of IRS agents (those that can add and subtract et errorem) to work reviewing Joe’s accounts – and those of his family and friends, and donors, and “administrators”
No punishment, no jail time- just print the results in the old grey lady et al
Yeah, my brand of incendiary bloviation, but the sentiment still holds…frosts my shorts the level of criminality unleashed on America by a pile of self-appointed elites who forgot they work for We The People. Good people have died because of their incompetence, negligence, and downright intentionality.
The hydraulic bollards designed to stop this type of action were ‘down for maintenance.’ WTF? What is it with New Orleans and corruption involving critical infrastructure? This is the terrorist-attack version of the lack of maintenance with the levees.
Back from Sandy Diego; Happy New Year, everyone!
*
CdrSal should not be surprised that the War College has become a Marxist encampment;
it’s in Rhode Island, after all.
*
– Kle.
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Let us hope the Trump Administration finds a way to gut this organization. Their actions cost all of the country. Why are they allowed to hamper Interstate commerce?
Several independent owner/operators are acquaintances and/or relatives. They will not accept loads for California at any price. For other reasons, mainly predatory taxes, fees, tolls and revenue collectors disguised as law enforcement officers, they refuse loads to Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.
There are two Americas – it’s not healthy.
can/should we give it back to Mexico?
Hell no. The assholes that have wrecked California ought to be [redacted]. Barring that, let’s give THEM to Mexico. We’re keeping California. There’s nothing wrong with the actual property, it’s a great place. We just have an infestation at the top.
For the New Year:
I hate to keep harping (no I don’t, not really) but we’re still employing 18th Century technology to produce electric power: generating steam (or its equivalent) to turn a rotor.
How ’bout if someone comes up with an alternate way to generate electricity or make “life’s little conveniences” run on something other than …
“How ’bout if someone comes up with an alternate way to generate electricity”
Already exists. Called solar cells. Works well for small applications; expensive, not very efficient (25% or so at best), not well-suited for large-scale applications. Limited operational capabilities (say, night-time).
Expansion power of water to steam (1700x) turning rotors is good. Works with magnetic fields (low friction) and well proven. Steam recycled back to water; process repeats.
We argue over the type of fire to heat the plentiful, recyclable water.
could come up with a multitude of reasons why I dislike solar cells:
1. first and foremost: take up good farmland
2. produce DC power and most household appliances utilize AC, though introducing new DC lightbulbs and other objects …
3. thus far, as you point out, efficiency is very poor
4. have a major problem producing power after sunset – yes, there are several means of storage but usage is always greater than production
I don’t disagree but you asked for an alternative; solar is an alternative.
1) Yep. Or even good desert land (Ivanpah)
2) I see your point but DC good for nearby applications. DC lightbulbs no problem – see automobiles for one. Lightbulbs (incandescent) are AC/DC anyway. LEDs are DC
3) and 25% is laboratory efficiency. Bird poop and dust lower that
4) Spain solved that some years ago by having diesel generators drive high-intensity lights to shine on the solar panels
5) Don’t forget cost
The Norwegians laugh at our paltry 26 letters:
https://youtu.be/f488uJAQgmw?si=qQzkgKkefxEZ2g2X&t=35
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Iceland (at 32 letters) laughs.
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Brought to you by the number 7 and the letters ð and þ.
😂
X2 to Ed’s hilarity emoji
Boeing as done itself major damage.
They have separated themselves from much of their institutional memory
And divested the employee goodwill and pride that remained.
Much seppuku is required to show a change in leadership.
Die Boeing, DIE! May its parts and people be scattered with the wind. May its lobbyists live in cardboard boxes on the streets of Chicago in winter. May its factories and facilities become such to make the worst of Detroit look like paradise. May its multitude of CEOs and corporate officers be condemned to a 10th level of hell that even Virgil fears to tread.
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest their pubic areas and multiply twice daily!
Does that mean I should sell?
😂
Some are skeptical, but I like the Musk thing. Twitter’s way better, for a start. And he wants to overthrow Two-Tier Kier. Tick.
I gave up writing and typing after I retired. My mom was left handed as was her cursive. She also taught me to hang shirts left handed which drives my wife crazy.