Caption: Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
What is the Social Cost of Carbon?
I learned what “The social cost of carbon” really was from a leftist friend when we were still on speaking terms. He explained carbon taxes like this: Energy companies make private profits but impose costs in various forms of pollution on society. These costs must be deducted from these profits.
The basic argument for Socialist collectivist regulation and restricting private property and personal liberty is this: No one may do business or exercise a freedom that might harm The Collective. Only credentialed experts know what is suitable for The Collective. Ordinary peons are not competent. Therefore, the credentialed experts protect The Collective from misuse of liberty, property, or technology that might harm The Collective.
These credentialed experts arrogate themselves as the only legitimate agents and representatives of Our Democracy. Carbon taxes are nothing but tools to drive collectivism and suppress individual liberty, property rights, and the exercise of capitalism.
Note: Most credentialed experts revered and celebrated by the Swamp do not know which bathroom to use.
Another Note: Canadians have a love affair with carbon taxes. I frankly don’t care how much carbon tax the Canadians pay. USGOV has been trying to have us pay weather taxes, which is the same thing, which takes us here.
The swamp creatures are unhappy that they’re being fired from their cushy do-nothing government jobs and the rules that fed them are being repealed.
(WSJ) Yesterday was the most consequential day of deregulation in American history. Alongside President Trump, we announced that the Environmental Protection Agency will take 31 actions to advance his day-one executive orders and power the Great American Comeback.
By overhauling massive rules on the endangerment finding, the social cost of carbon and similar issues, we are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age. These actions will roll back trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and hidden taxes. As a result, American families’ living costs will decrease, and essentials such as buying a car, heating your home and operating a business will become more affordable. Our actions will also reignite American manufacturing, spreading economic benefits to communities.
Corruption in the Biden Regime
(link) Lee Zeldin, Trump EPA Administrator: Sees “a deeply entrenched pattern of political favoritism” in Biden grant awards…..
“When the Biden administration announced $27 billion in environmental grants last April, it set the clock ticking on a predicament: how to get the unprecedented sums for its envisioned NetZero future out the door before the fiscal year ended on Sept. 30?
The task was complicated by the fact that most of the money—$20 billion—would go to just eight nonprofits, which, like the Environmental Protection Agency itself, had never handled such gargantuan grants.
In hindsight, it’s easy to suspect that corners were cut, or laws were broken, or, at the very least, extraordinary measures were taken.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is clearly thinking about those possibilities as he tries to unravel what happened to Inflation Reduction Act spending that the Biden White House’s Office of Management and Budget and the EPA decided to expedite before the November election—an effort that included moving the roughly $20 billion to a private institution, Citibank, away from oversight of the Treasury Department.
Bullet Points:
** DOGE said it has found that the Small Business Administration granted nearly 5,600 loans to borrowers who were 11 years old or younger when the loans were taken out, according to a Sunday report from Fox News. That accounted for $312 million.
** The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. – Albert Einstein
** Biden’s Jan. 19, 2025 “pardons” for: Biden Family Members, Anthony Fauci, General Milley, J6 Committee, and Gerald Lundergan all have the same Biden autopen signature. Did old demented Pedo Joe pardon them or did his staff?
** Protecting my children and grandchildren from your Satanic ideology is not hate. It’s my duty.
** As reported by Brazil Defense Brief (BDB) on February 24, 2025, the Brazilian Navy’s Naval Systems Design Center (CPSN) delivered the basic engineering plan for the 500-ton offshore patrol vessel (NPa500MB) to Emgepron, a state-owned company responsible for naval projects, in late January. This step is part of the Patrol Vessel Acquisition Program (PRONAPA), which involves the domestic construction of 11 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) with a high percentage of locally sourced components. These vessels are designed to monitor and protect the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), search and rescue operations, and combat illegal activities such as illegal fishing. International demand remains high for this type of ship to operate for twenty or thirty days in the open ocean, within the ocean boundaries of national interests. I’m sure that they’ll sell dozens of them if they’re marketed properly.
** You engage in street violence, arson, rioting, mob action against your political enemies – EXACTLY what the Fascistas and Nazis did before they took over the weak governments in Italy and Germany – and now you are going to cry?
** The corporate jet business. China vs USA
** So who is pro-smuggling and pro-narco? It shouldn’t surprise you. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) cast the only no vote on a bill requiring an annual report to Congress on cross-border cartel smuggling tunnels. The bill, H.R. 495, passed the House Monday on a vote of 402-1.
** Freedom of Speech? Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) has insight. He says, “Without freedom of speech, how do you know who the idiots are?”
Greenland Politics
Dramatic and unexpected election results in Greenland saw long-governing legacy parties kicked out of power and more right-wing, pro-American politicians set to dominate parliament for the first time. The provisional results for the Greenlandic elections held on Tuesday show a historic result not forecast by pollsters, with the longstanding political establishment parties punished and relegated to third and fourth positions, respectively. Will Greenland become an American Territory? Maybe. MGGA
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Sen. Kelly (age 61) – looks a lot older. He’s been sparring with Elon Musk and others over political issues. One of the main reasons he engaged in a war of words with Musk, who branded him a traitor, is that he’s running for office in the next cycle and needs to raise money. To be fair, Kelly has solid patriotic credentials as a US Naval Aviator who flew combat missions and as a Space Shuttle Astronaut. I don’t intend to bad-mouth him on this blog. He’s on the extreme left of democrat politics and was elected when Biden was in an election that many in Arizona believe was rigged. He was a down-ticket recipient of that election. Was he legitimately elected? You be the judge – I don’t know one way or the other with any degree of certainty. His wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ) was shot in the head by one of her supporters – a democrat – and she survived. Giffords was politically left enough to have joined the Squad. She continues to suffer from the gunshot wound.
Why do I mention this leftist senator representing my state on Virtual Mirage? For this reason alone. Sen. Kelly and many others were swept into office in an election that history has shown to have been of questionable veracity – and we’re stuck with them like we were with Pedo Joe/Ho. In a way it’s unfair to Kelly. Was he active in the suspected election fraud? Who knows? Is he a US Senator – yeah, and he votes with the lunatic fringe – he loves the swamp.
A Peasant General
His name was Ivaylo the Cabbage. Ivaylo’s background is mostly unknown, but historical sources describe him as a swineherd from Bulgaria’s northeastern region. He emerged in 1277, leading a peasant revolt against Tsar Konstantin Tih, the ruler of the Second Bulgarian Empire. At the time, Bulgaria struggled with constant Mongol raids, economic hardship, and discontent among the lower classes. Ivaylo, frustrated with the chaos and the ruling class’s failure to defend the land, rallied a peasant army and began fighting back.
At first, his forces defeated Mongol raiders in open battles, earning him the support of commoners and minor nobles. His victories increased his influence, and soon he turned his army against the Bulgarian tsar himself. 1277 Ivaylo’s peasant army defeated the royal troops, and Tsar Konstantin Tih was killed in battle. After the tsar’s death, Ivaylo marched on Tarnovo, the Bulgarian capital, and claimed the throne.
Despite his lack of noble lineage, he married Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene, the widow of Konstantin Tih and the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. His rule was immediately challenged by both Mongol forces and rival claimants backed by the Byzantine Empire. In 1278, the Mongols invaded again, forcing Ivaylo into a siege at Drastar (modern Silistra). He held off Mongol attacks for three months before breaking out and winning another victory.
While Ivaylo was dealing with the Mongols, Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII tried to install his candidate on the Bulgarian throne—Ivan Asen III, a member of Bulgaria’s old ruling dynasty. The Byzantines sent an army to support Ivan Asen III, but Ivaylo’s forces defeated them three times in battle, securing his hold on Bulgaria.
Bulgaria’s boyars (nobles) remained hostile to Ivaylo despite his battlefield success. In 1279, with Byzantine backing, Ivan Asen III seized Tarnovo. Ivaylo, struggling to rally his remaining forces, sought alliance with the Mongols, specifically with the mighty Nogai Khan. However, instead of supporting him, Nogai had Ivaylo killed in 1280, likely as part of a deal with the Byzantines or rival Bulgarian factions.
Ivaylo’s rise from a peasant swineherd to tsar was almost unheard of in medieval Europe. His ability to defeat Mongols, Byzantines, and Bulgarian nobles showed that his leadership was more than just luck—he had real military skill and the ability to command an army of commoners. His reign, however, was doomed by political realities—Bulgaria’s nobility refused to accept a ruler from outside their class, and Byzantine interference ensured that he never secured lasting control.
Identify the Armor
1
2
3
***
Parting Shot
End
Parting shot; Seeing “Z”s holy pockets on the tieless suit and wanting wings may cause some to reminisce. When Icarus ignored Daedalus’s instructions not to fly too close to the sun, a body can see the consequence of excessive ambition. Did Mr T. forewarn J.D. “this shyster wants more “cake” but according to DOGE protocols we’re ordering pizza? “
😄
John Kennedy once again shucking the corn clear to the cob. One wonders why he is not the majority leader in the senate. The only reason I can come up with is he is too smart to get tangled up that mess. Once again he is a national treasure, I always stop what I am doing to hear him out, something I do for hardly anyone else.
X2 We need more ” Big Red” Cornhuskers like Mr Kennedy. He never ceases to amaze me.
To date myself, Gov. Jim Pillen was a Senor running 4 point something 40’s when I was starting qb as a freshman.
NE has a split electoral vote. Would States like Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and Peoples Republic of what was Oregon be able to turn from purple to “red” legislating the same to out vote the metroplexes? I have the same concern for the Republica of TX where I’m currently casting in my cowboy hat.
X3…Southern-grade brilliance on display every time he says something. Slow to talk does not mean stupid.
Will Rogersish.,
I’m not sure rashida tlaib is pro-smuggling and pro-narco. I think it more likely, being paleistinian, she’s just pro-tunnels. There will probably be a lot of hamas consultiong jobs lost becaise of that bill. Or it’s that she doesn’t just look like a mole rat, but identifies as one too. Thank the Lord it’s not a naked mole rat.
You may be onto something with the consulting biz. I’ve spent time in Mexico and never heard of a Palestinian tunnel consultant, though. I was in a position to have picked that up if it had been the case. The narcos have dug thousands of tunnels under the border and there are businesses that do that continually. As far as I know, it’s all Mexican engineering.
X2…You know, when trying to keep rabbits or voles out of the garden first this you do is put fencing down 2 feet then install the upper fence…works like a charm. One way to eliminate existing tunnels would be to bury directed charges where suspected then light them off….problem solved. (see, engineer-types can be helpful once in a while)
Or flood ’em with propane and toss in a match….
#3 Oshgosh L- LTV a.k.a. m1278?
L = land of the mine, W WOLF? Now on order for L.L. and grandson ( recreational, ” on road use only” ?
Ok, enough Jabberwokey. I’ll stand down. Let my elders have the Mike.
LL needs VM merch…that’d be good on a decent tactical-style shirt.
Geez, I wasn’t even close. Are the Serbs using a Chinese knockoff Cummins? The 24 valve is $3,500 new on Alibaba. Any one know of somebody ordering from the chicoms, good or bad? I’ve got a sanction on my wife to not order anything that takes 4-6 weeks from over the pond. No recourse on returns or refunds. I’m not even looking at even anything that is advertised on Temu when the ad pops up. ” to good to be true” ?
I know several people that got burned buying things on TEMU. Either got the wrong item, a poor “facsimile” of what they wanted, or the quality was beyond bad.
Identify the Armor:
1. Valentine III
2. BMD-4M
3. BOV M16 Miloš
Well done!
What if Putin agrees to pull out of the Ukraine, and Trump agrees to pull out of NATO?
In that case, I expect both nations will honor their treaties in the
manner traditional to them.
– Kle.
That bad, huh?
I don’t see the US pulling out of NATO, but I see a less uneven relationship in the future. Ultimately that will be a much stronger alliance.
I’m not certain that I can grasp the benefits of our continuing membership in NATO; if we leave, will Hungary and Slovakia depart as well? anyone else shown similar tendencies?
As I’ve said before, I will say again.
*
US membership in NATO is the only thing that has prevented WW3 so far.
*
We cannot trust the Europeans to defend themselves from Russia, or anyone else, really.
We also cannot trust them to not immediately turn on each other again, like they constantly
have for the last 1000 years, at least.
*
Either of these events generally leads to the US getting drawn in to break up the fight.
This time, in a very likely general nuclear war.
*
It’s worth a few bucks to avoid.
*
– Kle.
P.S. – if we’d had 3 or 4 Heavy divisions in Poland and the Baltics and Germany,
with 500 frontline aircraft, and kept them active, do any of you think that the
Ukraine shit would be going on?
*
THAT’s what US in NATO gets us.
– Kle.
Things are getting jiggy in DC as the rats scurry in all directions unsure of what to do with the Trump Firehose Effect. Good, these bums need a reality check that WTP have had it with their greedy and hameful shenanigans.
Schumer – or as PDJT called him, “a newly affiliated Palestinian”…was apparently bloviating, as he is wont to do…is reversing his reversed reversal Democrat CR stance (guess he needed to recharge his dwindling MSM cred). Typical spouter without substance; all show and no go, as we used to say when an Imron painted jacked-up ’69 Chevelle’s hood was popped only to reveal a straight six.
Like Trump v. Biden/Obama, it’s easier to start off with a 350 V8 than try to retrofit from a wimpy six, too many weak links to fix with the latter.
*
Re: Above comment – Seems Sheridan installed a few plot lines in 1923 mirroring the above mentality of “our betters” (they are not, not even close). I was commenting (ok…yelling) at the screen (MrsPaulM is away) on occasion when Ma or Pa Dutton would suggest something on “progress overreach” by these same types forcing new laws and regulations with the desired result being the individual land owner is turned into state sanctioned renters without the ability for redress, then criminalizing them when pushback occurs. Sounds a lot like today..only worse now.
***
WWM – Still a very cool moniker…and your header photo subject looks the part while mirroring your persona (quiet on the outside but …skilz). Now, as mentioned above, time for some merch…ight as [quietly] monetize the cool-ness.
>Schumer – or as PDJT called him, “a newly affiliated Palestinian”
—
Cripes! Did Trump really say that? That’s a pretty nasty thing to say.
Haven’t the Palestinians suffered enough already? Smearing them with a Schumer affiliation seems kind of harsh.
Even Levin thought is was funny, for once not blowing a gasket over someone’s severely ignorant assertion (because it WAS hilariously delivered..perfect timing as it were). But you are correct, The P’s have significantly suffered at their own hand [tiniest of violins playing], and becauseI’m in a charitable mood I’m kicking in a C-note to send Chucky Boy straight to ’em, on a Ukrainian freighter shoveling coal into the boilers to warm him up to what awaits his sorry flip-flopping-flipped self.
(Being Friday before St. Patty’s Day I’ll be in my room listening to Irish Pub Radio hoping for some Flogging Molly.)
Cryin’ Chuck (or UpChuck if you prefer) could go to Gaza and be installed as their leader.
I wonder what a few MOAB’S would do to those tunnels? Asking for a friend….
They’d take out a big chunk of San Diego and Imperial County along with the tunnel.
Depends on lots of factors.
–
Depth below surface.
Materials constructed from.
Openings to air.
Stability of the ground.
–
Deeper tunnels, are, of course, harder to destroy from above. Which is why bunker busters and earth penetrators were invented for. Gotta punch into the ground, possibly deep into the ground, before going boom.
–
An unshored up dirt tunnel is dangerous no matter how deep the tunnel is constructed. Conversely, a tunnel made of reinforced concrete is a stone-cold beyach to penetrate and collapse. In between are, of course, wood shored tunnels.
–
Ventilation and personnel/material openings are the weak points of any underground structure. Which is what MOABs, nuclear air bursts and other thermobaric/fuel-air explosives work on. Side note: I’ve seen photos of some poor schlub Iraqi who basically got sucked out of his bunker through the vent pipe from the vacuum from a MOAB. Ugly. Basically all the respiratory system and whatever was attached to it that would fit through the 6″ pipe was stretched out from the pipe opening. Real protective bunkers/underground/hardened surface structures have blast valves for this very reason.
–
And, of course, is the tunnel in loose dirt? Packed dirt? Clay? Gravel? Stone (from sandstone to granite?) A mix? The more stable the ground matrix is, the more stable the walls of the tunnel are before one shores up or concretes in place.
–
All of these factors work to either protect or defeat the diggings. Most of the Cartel tunnels are unsophisticated dirt-walled and poorly shored up tunnels, though they’ve gotten more hardened due to techniques learned from Hamas (no, not kidding, and also aid from China, no, not kidding.)
–
MOABs are great for surface and non-hardened bunkers/tunnels. To a certain point. Much better to set up ground listening and seismic sensors and attack the areas the tunnels are being built in. Heck, I’d find the tunnels, fill them (on their side) with AMFO, plug this side with cement, and blow up their side. Heck, I’d use detection intel to figure out where the tunnel originates from and JDAM that area, maybe with some warning.
My wife has been saying what Senator Kennedy is saying for over 45 years. She said in the days of the Tee shirts that said, “Gas, grass or ass, everyone pays for a ride” she started thinking that. Don’t ban the tee-shirts – they’re useful.
What is the Social Cost of Carbon?
That is one of the best things I’ve read on the subject. Thank you.
That bad, huh?
Oops. I don’t know why that went there.
Dagger hell, I want to take a broadsword to that crap! They ride around in private jets, yachts, and live in mega mansions and ‘buy’ credits to ‘offset’ their ‘necessary’ travel and lifestyle. Yeah, right!
Their version of indulgences. Now it is time for our version of the Reformation.
“the Environmental Protection Agency will take 31 actions”
Does that mean we’ll get showers, toilets, and gas cans back?
Don’t forget washing machines and dishwashers….they forgot it actually takes a good amount of water to properly wash things…but, but…”we’re saving the planet”. Hooey.
“takes a good amount of water to properly wash things”
New campaign: Use disposable plastic plates and cutlery to save the environment!
—
Similarly stupid things seen in real life:
1. Paper straws sealed “for your protection” in plastic sleeves. To top that off, they give you two or three of the damn things because the straws get soggy and collapse when you try to drink through them.
2. Guy brings his official “re-useable mug” to Starbucks. The barista uses a paper cup to measure out the correct quantity of burnt swill, pours it into the mug, then tosses the paper cup.
3. The booze store hereabouts used to give you these thick plastic bags. Your bottles would sort of nestle at the bottom when you picked the bag up by the handles. Very secure, bottles didn’t knock against each other. And the bags were nice and tough. Excellent for grocery shopping and could be re-used multiple times. But town by town, Massholistan banned plastic bags. So then the booze store would double bag with brown paper bags, then crumple up a few more to use as padding between the bottles. Instead of one plastic bag used at least a dozen times, you had five or six paper bags used exactly once, because the damn things would tear anyway despite double bagging.
Very woke!
And refrigerators and AC systems. Regarding the AC systems, EPA has now banned Freon’s replacement and the new coolant is explosively flammable. Gee, can’t see any issues from that.
And heat. EPA restrictions on how hot commercial wash facilities can heat their wash-water are the major reason for the continued infestation of bed bugs in the hotel industry.
I can only hope.
This is a little late regarding Mark “Space Monkey” Kelley but here’s a little history about him…
https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/26/politics/mark-kelly-ar-15/index.html