“You’ve never lived until you’ve almost died. For those who have fought for it, life has a special flavor that the protected will never know.”
Stolen Purse
Despite having a Secret Service detail and being surrounded by her family at the table, the Secretary of Homeland Security’s purse is stolen from beside her feet. One early version has a diner in the next table snake his foot under her chair and take her purse, then calmly walk out of the restaurant.
This points to a political motivation. Her various security badges, CC cards, and phone were in the purse; all of which could be used by political operatives, including foreign agents.
But the underlying question is: if such a person could get close enough to steal her purse, he was too close. He could have harmed her in various ways. WHERE WERE THOSE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING???
The New Wave of Mineral Production
(IJR) Milloy stated that the U.S. has “got a long way to go” when it comes to expanding domestic mineral mining. He noted that China dominates much of the critical mineral industry and hosts the processing plants necessary for refining these minerals.
“I’d like to see a whole strategy for building facilities to process these things,” Milloy continued. “But again, you’ve got to start someplace.”
He also referenced the National Environmental Policy Act, which “allows for endless challenges,” he said, as it often slows down or extends the permitting process. Several hurdles would need to be cleared to build new refining facilities on U.S. soil, including obtaining air and water permits, Milloy said.
The US (particularly when including Canada and Mexico) has the necessary rare earth resources, but stringent regulations and associated costs have prevented them from being mined. I have a project underway outside of the US. I have no idea if it will reach production, but I’m trying my best. Some of this blog’s readers are aware. It could be done in the US, but at 3X the cost, which makes it cost-prohibitive. It destroys profitability.
A Timely Resignation
(Blaze) A Democrat judge in New Mexico resigned after a suspected member of the violent Tren de Aragua gang was arrested at his residence.
On March 3, Judge Jose “Joel” Cano, magistrate of Doña Ana County, sent a letter to various court staff, including 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Conrad Perea, announcing that he would step down from his seat effective on March 21.
“Working with each of you has been a gratifying experience for which I will remain eternally grateful,” he wrote, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
Just three days before Cano sent the resignation letter, on February 28, ICE agents conducted a search warrant on his home in connection with Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a 23-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela and TDA gangster who lived with him.
Bullet Points:
** Welcome to the Swamp. If they don’t want you around, they smear you. The FBI was the weapon of choice to do that, but I think that whole toolbox is no longer available to the Swampers. They must feel so frustrated these days. Ask Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who’s no longer on the “no-fly list.”
** A belly button is a scar from a knife fight you got in with a masked man after you were evicted from your first place.
** Do robots pick the apples that you eat? Yes, very likely they do.
** Hungary, the European Union, the US, isolation, and obligations (as such) to Ukraine in their ongoing war with Russia.
**Federal taxpayers already cover two-thirds of the $161 billion in Medicaid (called MediCal) expenditures in California. That’s not enough.
** Is Canada a nation of criminals run for the benefit of criminals? If so, how does it differ from Mexico? And is there a way forward?
** Can the Canadian Air Force respond in the event of national emergencies? Sources say “yes.”
** The future mayor of New York City? Andrew Cuomo may not be the guy. House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) on Monday sent a resubmitted criminal referral to Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding the Department of Justice pursue charges against disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for lying under oath during pandemic-era investigations. The letter, addressed directly to Bondi, accuses Cuomo of violating 18 U.S.C. §1001, a federal statute prohibiting false statements to Congress.
** Coming to a theater near you.
** China’s steel industry is based on 90% Australian iron ore. Why don’t the Aussies go into the steel business, cutting out the Chinese? It’s a fair question.
** Camping: Where you spend a fortune to live like a homeless person.
** Breaking News! (London) Downing Street has said that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer no longer believes that so-called “transgender women” are women. That must have been some revelation to a man said to be unable to differentiate “ass from quim.”
** What if Rapunzel were black? Are you paying attention, Disney? Big opportunity here.
** The Island of 3000 mosques. Want to guess which one it is?
Map – in 1860 – The map should note, “European Languages”…
Note – Greenland was considered part of North America at the time.
In Ukraine
NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s April 20 proposal for a temporary moratorium on long-range strikes against civilian infrastructure, declined Zelensky’s offer to extend Putin’s own 30-hour Easter truce, and attempted to justify recent Russian strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine.
Other Key Takeaways:
Putin reiterated his rejection of the full ceasefire that Zelensky and the US have offered.
Russian state media amplified Kherson Oblast occupation head Vladimir Saldo’s calls for additional territorial concessions from Ukraine in areas to which Russia has not yet laid formal claim.
Saldo’s call for additional Russian territorial claims along the Dnipro River is consistent with other Kremlin official statements, as Russia continues to make extensive territorial demands of Ukraine while offering no concessions of its own.
Russian forces recently advanced near Lyman and Toretsk.
The situation in Europe is interesting. They are all for the US paying for the Ukraine war and sending troops to prosecute the war with Russia. When it comes down to THEM sending troops, their ardor for combat is not nearly as great. They’re more comfortable with other people’s lives and money laid on the altar of Ukraine’s freedom. A friend of mine from Europe (who remains a friend) continually writes of how Pres. Trump and Pres. Putin are best friends because the US is no longer interested in prolonging the war. The money laundering that enriched the corrupt democrat party in the US has stopped.
Student Loans
President Donald Trump’s Department of Education announced on Monday that it will soon end the free ride for student loan borrowers in default established by the former Biden administration. The ED’s Office of Federal Student Aid will restart collections on May 5 for more than five million borrowers who have not made a payment for at least 360 days. Another four million borrowers, who have not yet been considered in default, have not made payments in 91 to 180 days. “As a result, there could be almost 10 million borrowers in default in a few months. When this happens, almost 25 percent of the federal student loan portfolio will be in default,” read a press release from the ED.
According to the department, 42.7 million student loan borrowers owe over $1.6 trillion. It noted that most borrowers are either delinquent or in an interest-free forbearance or deferment period.
“Only 38 percent of borrowers are in repayment and current on their student loans,” it said. “Resuming collections protects taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans that borrowers willingly undertook to finance their postsecondary education.”
ED Secretary Linda McMahon said, “American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies.”
“The Biden Administration misled borrowers: the executive branch does not have the constitutional authority to wipe debt away, nor do the loan balances simply disappear,” she continued. “Hundreds of billions have already been transferred to taxpayers. In the future, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of the Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment—both for the sake of their financial health and our nation’s economic outlook.”
Identify the Aircraft
1
2
Only one was built. The engines did not meet their designed thrust ratings, and their fuel consumption was higher than planned. These problems meant that the aircraft could not reach its required performance, and it was cancelled on 22 September 1947. Not a bad hint considering that it was a rare aircraft.
3
End
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Grumman A-6 Intruder
2. Ilyushin Il-22
3. Ilyushin Il-20RT
Yes!
Steel making –
The Labour Party government in the late 1980’s to the early 1990’s seemed to go out of its way to kill Australian industrial production. I assume paid by their Chinese masters. We do make about 450 million tons a year now down from a high of 850 million tons and at one point a low of 230 million in 1998.
It would be good if Australia made more. I realize that would mean competing with the communists. We’re all in the same boat.
IDA:
1.) Grumman EA-6B Prowler
2.) Ilyushin Il-22 The first Soviet jet bomber.
3.) Ilyushin Il-20M “Coot-A”, a Soviet-era electronic intelligence (ELINT) and reconnaissance aircraft.
From the cockpit, #1 looks like an A-6. What makes you think that it’s an EA-6B?
The number of communications and jamming equipment inside the cockpit. It’s difficult to say though.
It’s a two-seat cockpit. You can tell by the shape of the canopy. Definitely not a Prowler.
It’s definitely an A-6 Intruder based on the tapering of the cockpit towards the rear, along with the clear canopy. The EA-6B’s front cockpit had no taper to the rear as it had to accommodate two backseaters. It also had gold-tinted canopies tto reflect radar energy from the powerful jammers under the wings away from the crew. Also, you can see the air intakes ahead of the crew, which makes it an A-6. The EA-6B was stretched to accommodate the extra crew and the intakes are slightly ahead of the backseaters, but behind the two in front. Also, it looks like you can see the collapsiberubber hood for the B/N’s radar display in the photo above. Views of of EA-6B Prowler cockpit from above here.
I believe the other question about the USSS coverage is “which agents were in on the job”.
The SS no longer has a stellar reputation does it? “Which agents” is a reasonable question, sadly.
USSS draws from other elements of the Department of Homeland Security, which are brigaded into USSS ranks for the purpose of protection. I think that’s what happened in Butler, PA.
I was thinking the reputation of the SS wasn’t good to begin with, and really went into the toilet mid-1940’s, a tailspin from which it’s never recovered. Snappy uniforms though.
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Huh? What?
Oh.
Never mind.
Guessing EA6B , looks like a nickel and dime stenciled below the cockpit , could be a clue to someone who knew squadrons and mottos(not me) …. Discussing the purse snatching w/ my wife , never knew when she has to put her purse on the floor while seated she loops the strap around her leg , or chair leg or arm , she had other means to secure her purse too , I never noticed . I try not to, but when I have to get into her purse I am amazed at the shit she has on hand in there .
“while seated she loops the strap around her leg , or chair leg or arm”
Yeah, exactly. I do the same with my bag (or today, backpack). But back to Kristi Noem: thank goodness it was a white man who stole her purse.
Was the N95 mask he wore made in China? Not that it’s relevant – me stirring the pot. In the old days, a protection agent (USSS, State Dept DSS, or whomever) would stand behind the seated protectee and watch the crowd. I don’t know why that didn’t happen here. Maybe the protectee canceled the post.
Correct protection detail procedure would be to have the protectee seated facing the door with nobody behind him or her. Thus the protection detail can flank the subject and face outward to look for any threat.
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The protectee be seated in the middle of the room or with people behind him or her? Nope. No way. That’s how you get your protectee killed, or in this case robbed.
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This is basic procedure.
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How do I know? One of my ex-bosses wrote a very good manual on ‘how to’ do the protective detail thingy, with numbers of protectors going from 1 to 5+. Things like ‘How to enter a building’ and ‘how to exit a building’ and even ‘how to enter/exit an elevator (if the detail is large enough some agents should go ahead and secure the arriving floor.) And, yes, how to sit the protectee in a restaurant or other open place.
Oh, yeah, forgot to say that I was the one that typed and formatted the book for his protection detail class. So I had questions and he answered them.
I would sooner take a whuppin’ from some of those big ol’ boys L-L knows than get in my wife’s purse. I won’t do it. “There be dragons.”
MrsPaulM has the tiniest of purses, not one of those mondo ones you could store a ladder and a full set of tools with room for the hairdrier, makeup kit, and a MyPatriot 3-Day emergency supply tub. Thing is it hangs by the front door, almost never takes it…instead has a phone case “purse” for a few cards and such. Cowgirls hate purses.
Sec. Noem likely had a STU-3 with the NSA module clipped to the back of the Iridium unit in her purse. The other stuff and cash had value, but the STU with the keying material was worth much more.
Cool…except for the “stolen” part. My guess is a 3AM raid without CNN on this guy’s home will happen. Oh, and anyone check Sam Brinton for the steal?
Is Canada run for the benefit of criminals?
I don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me if so. That said, I’m more concerned about whether US economic, industrial, and military/foreign policy is run to benefit a small group of narcissistic psychopaths who view the rest of us as subhuman chattel. (I don’t care if they genuinely think they’re being benevolent to their inferiors — for example I doubt Gates rubs his hands in glee thinking of who to screw next; he probably thinks of himself as a good person — it doesnt matter. It still needs to stop.)
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Engineering professors on the plane. Dunno about that, but I did happen to be on a flight WAS — BOS when a bunch of Wang Computers execs were headed home after securing some federal loan to keep them alive for a while. Those sods got stinking drunk and formed a literal (awkward and uncoordinated) conga line in the aisle. This being Southwest, the FAs cheered them on. Instead of hitting them upside their damn fool heads and making them siddown and STFU like any proper airline would do. Still not a fan of SWA. That said, Delta’s leaning VERY heavily into the DEI stuff lately. New ad featuring middle aged lesbians doing the long-distance relationship thing. Inflight safety video that had my queerdar alerting off the scale. And so forth.
That’s pretty bad…BUT had two sitche-ashions WORSE!:
1) First time flying SAS to Denmark with the Mrs and her parents. Big plane but were in the middle regular seats (which would be 1st Class size in today’s cattle car cramped seating design). Anywho, in flight beverage service had a bunch of “little bottles”…thought…Hey! no wonder Scandinavians are the happiest.” Behind us were a bunch of….SWEDES. These guys were OBNOXIOUS…before the beverage cart arrived, which only got worse afterward. Yup, what I learned from my Danish viff about Swedes…was true. Loud, in the aisle having their own party while others were trying to sleep, banging on the seat backs, sticking “themselves” into everyone’s face…etc…not reading the room. I finally got up (all 6’2″ 200#’s of me) – and know I hate confrontation until the fuse gets lit – then “informed” them to “knock it off or this Polish/German/Czech/Hungarian/Scots-Irish AMERICAN FROM PHILLY would help them sit down and shut up.” The scowl on my face might have done more to dissuade these morons. The rest of the flight was quiet…and I enjoyed my adult beverage and snacks in peace.
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2) Plane had a delay at the gate…some gauge thing or something (designed by an engineering student for sure)…gonna be 2 hours (which is actually 4 hours in passenger time). People squirmed in their seats. THEN…like clockwork…some “large” woman stands up (yes, a white suburban Karen type proudly wearing her Talbots capris and scarf) and starts telling everyone some manner of instructions on how “we” were going to enjoy the delay…with games…BECAUSE…I kid you not…she “was a teacher and knows such things”. This went on for 15 minutes…almost went ballistic on her (politely, of course…not). When she realized that no one paid any attention to her she made some ‘under her breath’ comment about our apathy then sat down.
I’m more concerned about whether US economic, industrial, and military/foreign policy is run to benefit a small group of narcissistic psychopaths who view the rest of us as subhuman chattel. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but the rest of us are overawed by our betters in DC and BlackRock…
Canada run by corruption like Mexico?
Looking at what’s being dragged into the sunlight (mostly on X (twitter) as most of the media is owned by the cabal) here in the US, and the legal fighting to stop showing us what HAS BEEN GOING ON says the that corruption might be the actual thing all of north America has in common.
Trillions of dollars in corruption!
The corruption runs clear to the backbone and the bone itself is rotting. That they’d allow a plebe like Elon take an axe to much of it can only mean that they were growing concerned about the situation.
I shouldn’t be surprised if this whole Russo/Ukraine thing doesn’t end until Vladimir Vladimirovich doesn’t wind up (in the long run) holding the territory (oblasts) surrounding the Black Sea up to and possibly incuding Moldova – just a thought.
Vlad offered to stop where he was and keep the turf he occupied yesterday. I don’t know if it’s a serious offer, but I’m persuaded that it might be. He has other conditions, as we’d expect.
As much as that sounds good, how well can we trust Putin (or the ChiComs, or well, anyone) to actually keep their word?
Well, I’ve got to admit that our own Department of State is the gold standard for keeping its word and never abandoning or betraying an ally. Why, just look the the distinguished list of trustworthy, honorable, and heck just plain decent men and women who have held that august office in recent years!
Henry Kissinger
Madeleine Albright
Colin Powell
Hillary Clinton
John Kerry
Mike Pompeo
Tony Blinken
Not a backstabber, double-dealer, liar, unrepentant genocidal maniac (O! the irony of that one), or narcissistic psychopath on that list. Not a single one!
The State Department should have been shut down in the 1940’s when it was discovered, through internal investigations, way too many employees were working for the USSR.
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These investigations were the basis of Joe McCarthy’s evil ‘witch hunt.’ Which, come to think of it, was totally correct, as the USSR controlled Hollyweird and the university system.
With that important of a position, she should carry a very small purse that doesn’t require regretting setting it on the floor like a 21 year old’s first night at a bar. I question the motives of all in this situation. If she’s that unaware, she might be in a position without the right qualifications.
Student loans violated all the business practices of sound banking. Without anything but wage garnishment instead of collateral, it takes a long, long time to recover the money from someone with a degree that only allows a job at minimum wage. To make things worse, universities abused the program, ignored the burden their actions placed on taxpayers, and like someone selling water in the desert, operated their business model on raising the price to what anyone would consider an unacceptable level. The demand of a cosigner might have made parents less willing to shove their children toward a college education. That, and a demand for accountability by universities. If they can push for useless degrees, then they can reimburse the parents for failing to live up to the bargain when the education doesn’t yield a better economic situation.
X2. Yup.
It depends on how much of her own gear she wants to carry. An aid should carry her version of “the football” and we don’t know that the aid didn’t have it.
“WHERE WERE THOSE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING???” – Sensing a bit of frosty-ness here. But yeah, was her protection detail simply do the FBI thing, “watching” but not moving, or were they having their fried Calamari appetizer so got distracted? This will change pretty quick…Bongino will have no patience with incompetence. Curious tho, did the cameras catch the perp? Pretty easy these days to look at inside and outside cams to get the scumbag and his or her vehicle…in HD digital so excellent quality.
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Student Loans- Fed’s need to get out of this Ponzi-Takings scheme, shut it down…nothing but a grift that jacks up cost to the student who thereafter is saddled with basically a mansions-ized mortgage before earning anything at their ‘double-wide’ salary. And don’t get me started on the professors profiting from the “revenue stream”. They are all in on it. Wanna go to college, pay ‘X’, otherwise learn a trade that pays more and costs little to apprentice (another program that needs to be reintroduced, for many trades OTJ training by a master is best anyway).
***
England is done, hence why Denmark (love em or not) got this one right when the locusts descended for the “free” social support systems, shut down immigration. But England’s situation is similar to The Dems (aka DeMS-13 – brilliant) have done with their flood the country with all manner of reprobates thru the southern border. As for England…what say Jules on the subject (she does have two wolves, which helps keep the invaders at bay from Marmalade Cottage). Let’s see if this comes up on Clarkson Farm S4.
Student loans should be made by private universities with their massive endowments. State universities can turn to banks to take the risk if the bank thinks that the student’s potential is worth the risk. Or students can work their way through school, or if they served in the military, use the GI Bill.
Exactly…breeds contempt otherwise. Haavaahd is suing the Trump Administration for their entitled grant cash to be restarted while they have…what…$50B in the coffers. Hubris of the highest order. Need to go bankrupt.
Sidebar: In the event you “miss” Earth Day, head over to Kim du Toit’s: https://www.kimdutoit.com/2025/04/23/missed-it-sorry/
My sentiment as well. (Was forced to pick up trash along the school roadside as a class project in 6th Grade, hated it, thought it was stupid…but the Lefty teacher-type switchover started then so we got wrangled into it “to save the Earth”…from us. These Prog’s started the guilt early…maybe didn’t know their Einhorn hero was a murderer. Now look, you can cut off your parts without telling mommy or daddy, just your little secret with the pedo sexualizer…err…teacher.)
The Secret Service agents were in the same place they were for Trump’s rally.
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IDK about Canada, but Rhode Island sure as hell is.
– Kle.
I was watching ‘The Bridge’ again and picked up a line from the El Paso cop “there is the same level of corruption in the US as Mexico. We are transparent about ours, you just hide yours.” It is a good cop show one tier below Bosch. Tom
Yes, it’s a good show. The corruption in Mexico has traditionally been different. You pay for services personally as you go (often as bribes) in Mexico where in the US you pay taxes. Regionally – the Eastern US is more corrupt than the West. They’re becoming more equal as time goes on.
Re the ‘stolen’ purse, yes, ‘that’ was my question, too! Talk about dropping the ball! Sigh…
When the education secretary said that line about the president can’t cancel debt, they just moved it to be paid by taxes, was anyone surprised by that?
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I can imagine people who got their student loans charged to people who didn’t go to college might have told themselves something like “it’s all make-believe anyway” because they want it to be true. Plus, since the people with the highest debt are from graduate school programs – like lawyers, doctors and such – maybe they said, “pay me now or pay me later.”
Outstanding archive header photo. Nice.