Confrontations
Bullet Points:
** (The Economist) “In 2022, the latest year for which data are available, 36% of all Chinese undergraduate entrants—about 1.6 million people—picked an engineering degree, up from 32% in 2010. In Britain and America, which have far fewer students to start with, the proportion hovers around 5%. It is not because Chinese teenagers are especially fond of screwdrivers. Rather, it is because China’s government is strikingly good at getting young people into the high-tech fields, so, so it can dominate.”
To me, it highlights the need for the US to prioritize student loans for STEM students. Successful graduates may be eligible for loan forgiveness, depending on the field and national need. Nothing good comes from indenturing students who major in fields where there is little chance of gainful employment.
** Eat with your right hand, wipe with your left.
** Random factoids. The first U.S. president born in a hospital was Jimmy Carter.
** (h/t Claudio) Can the German Navy modernize? The problem with losing institutional knowledge is that rebuilding that base and then training people to build and crew submarines (it applies to all disciplines) is sometimes an effort that takes too long or governments lose the initiative (again). When the Muslim birthrate exceeds that of the native German birthrate, who will ultimately run that new navy? Likely not Old Europe.
In a stark warning about the effects of migration on Western Europe, it has been revealed that Mohammed was the most popular name given to newborn baby boys in three German states last year. The name, typically given to Muslim boys, was the most popular choice for parents in the states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. May 9, 2025.
** In a recent interview, investor Kyle Bass of Hayman Capital Management sounded the alarm: China is facing its worst economic crisis yet, with no clear path to recovery. He points to a perfect storm of crises—real estate collapse, banking stress, youth unemployment, and a deteriorating current account—while foreign investment fled, amounting to some $500 billion in 2024 alone. Bass also highlights troubling data: a sharp 35% drop in May exports to the U.S., a staggering debt-to-GDP ratio estimated at ~350%, deflationary pressures, and bond market yields that suggest a deep “economic winter.” Under sustained pressure from weak domestic fundamentals and U.S. tariffs, Bass argues China may be unable to break free from this spiral. He also warns that America’s trade leverage could act as a significant deterrent, potentially even against military aggression over Taiwan.
An Announcement from EdB
(Ed posted this on Facebook last night. I don’t think that he’d mind me mentioning it here)
I’m not sure if this is the right way to announce this, but… A few weeks ago, I saw a doctor for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. I suggested a blood workup. She agreed. A couple of weeks ago, she called me while I was on a job in Alabama. She was concerned about my blood counts and told me that if any health concern arose, to head to the ER.
I next went to Port Hope, Ontario, and when I had dinner with the mechanical crew that had been there a couple of weeks, they told me about the respiratory crud they were fighting. Then I got it after a few days. I had night sweats, woke up, and couldn’t talk.
I wrote to the crew that I was driving home to the ER. Six hours later, Scherie checked me into St Joe’s. Covid. But wait. There’s more. Another blood draw. Then a bone marrow biopsy. Then the news.
Leukemia.
So, I’d appreciate any prayers you can spare, please.
Health Insurance
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Page (behind a firewall). A Congressional Budget Office letter this week adds important explanatory details to the claim that 7.8 million more Americans won’t have health insurance in 2034 because of GOP Medicaid changes.
Democrats broadcast this CBO estimate to frighten voters that Republicans are locking vulnerable Americans out of hospitals. But here are the facts CBO offered to the GOP House Budget Committee.
Of that 7.8 million, some 4.8 million are uninsured because they don’t comply with the bill’s part-time work requirement. This is a torpedo in the hull for the Democratic talking point that everyone on Medicaid already works. The bill asks able-bodied, prime-age adults without children to work or volunteer roughly 20 hours a week. The serious academic evidence suggests that perhaps half of the able-bodied population isn’t meeting that basic work standard.
A recent report from the American Enterprise Institute is sobering: “For Medicaid recipients who do not report working, the most common activity after sleeping is watching television and playing video games. They spend 4.2 hours per day watching television and playing video games, or 125 hours during a 30-day month.”
In a healthier political culture, even Democrats would agree that men who decline to work shouldn’t get free health insurance to check out of life. The real “Call of Duty” is getting a job.”
History
In June 1868, veteran cattleman Oliver Loving and trail scout “One Arm” Bill Wilson made a fateful decision that would seal Loving’s legacy in the annals of the Old West. Riding ahead of the Goodnight-Loving cattle drive along the Pecos River, the pair ignored Charles Goodnight’s warning not to travel by day in open country, where Comanche warriors often patrolled. Driven by urgency to secure contracts and prepare the route for the rest of the herd, they pressed forward—exposing themselves on a vulnerable stretch of land near a bluff. It was there, under the harsh New Mexico sun, that they were ambushed.
Caught in a hail of gunfire, Loving was severely wounded, likely struck in the arm or side during the sudden attack. With their horses lost and death closing in, Wilson—despite his handicap—managed to help Loving escape into a nearby arroyo. For days, they hid among the brush and shadows, evading capture and surviving with little food or water. Eventually, Wilson slipped away under the cover of darkness to find help. Loving, clinging to life with a mix of grit and sheer will, he was rescued and taken to Fort Sumner. There, doctors amputated his infected arm, but the infection had already spread. Before he died, Loving made one request: that Goodnight ensure his body was returned to Texas.
True to his word, Charles Goodnight fulfilled his friend’s final wish, transporting Loving’s embalmed body over 600 rugged miles to Weatherford, Texas. The journey was arduous, but the act became legendary—a symbol of unbreakable loyalty on the trail. The phrase “Two Rode Together” echoes the brotherhood and sacrifice that defined the frontier. Loving’s death wasn’t just a personal loss for Goodnight—it marked the high cost of building the cattle empire. And though the man perished, his name lives on in the Goodnight-Loving Trail, in counties and towns across Texas and New Mexico, and in every Western story where friendship rides taller than fear.
Larry McMurtry played on that theme in his wonderful book and later film series, Lonesome Dove.
Equal Pay for Equal Performance?
Don’t get me wrong. As the father of four athletic girls and the grandfather of three athletic granddaughters, I feel that women’s sports are important. Maybe a better term is ‘vital’ to the health of ladies. Exercise, teamwork, and the spirit that results from working together for competitive results are part of a healthy life, in my opinion. However, you cannot conflate what women can do in most sports with what men can do. It’s an unequal outcome. Allow them to be wonderful separately.
In The Post
A New York Post opinion piece highlighted a “stunning post-election analysis” via the Pew Research Institute’s Validated Voter Survey showing significant trouble for Democrats after Donald Trump’s 2024 victory.
It reveals a historic shift: Republicans and GOP-leaning voters now outnumber Democrats in the electorate for the first time since at least 1932, growing from 47% in 2020 to 51% in 2024, while Biden’s coalition slipped from 50% to 48%
Trump also made surprising inroads with non-white male voters—plus 21 points among Black men and a 20‑point swing with Hispanic men—marking a major demographic realignment.
The piece warns Democrats that their increasingly progressive direction—like Zohran Mamdani’s rise—risks alienating key constituencies, and that without recalibrating toward race-neutral, economically-focused policies, their future looks bleak unless Republicans stumble early in Trump’s new term.
Identify the Aircraft
1
It didn’t make the grade. Only four were built.
2
3
It featured the Wright R-3350 engines already in use with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, which had priority. Thus, production was delayed, and the war ended.
4
Not made in the USA…definitely a copied design. Six built to date.
Parting Shot
“War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― 1984
End
My prayers go to EdB.
A lot of the Western world’s issues would be cured if more people cared enough to work. We can tackle the working poor next.
x2
– Kle.
I would like to see (and these programs may already exist) a partnership between tech industries , and promising young students . The selection process should begin in junior and senior year in High School . In exchange for paid tuition and a stipend , students upon reaching age 18 having shown academic prowess and intelligence , would sign a covenant with companies for training and education to commit to working for the companies for an agreed upon term , something very much like enlisting in the military .
This type of program should also be available for two year training schools in the “hands on ” trades . Because , we need to face the fact that good tradesmen are becoming a scarce commodity , and not everyone , although very intelligent , is interested in attending a four year academic institution . I know some younger guys in their late twenties and early thirties , who went through apprenticeships , that have done work out my house who are knocking it out of the park in wages , but it is hard work , in less than desirable conditions . I stayed at a hotel in rural Oklahoma where most of the rooms were being used by a company building a pipeline nearby . These young men were coming and going all night long with a rotating 24 hours a day working project . I talked to few of them and an older foreman . These young men in their late twenties were making about 90k + after working a couple of years to a journeyman or equivalent level . They were working like 3 weeks on and 2 weeks off . I was impressed.
A local 4 year State college near me is in financial troubles . They insist on staying a four year traditional college . This college has large parcels of land holdings , partly due to a successful Ag program . To me it seems like a no brainer to put up some Morgan buildings , with gravel lots and put in some shop equipment and offer some two year degrees . This college has declined to the point where they are closing dorms , due to lack of students . They could get out of state students in two year programs and house them . At least if these young persons , took out a loan , or entered into a financial arrangement within a sponsoring industry , would have a job to make a living upon graduation . Two towns over , a smaller community college , has gone the two year trades route and has a much finer campus , and veru nice training facilities , and very good free will grants from local industries . Their graduation rates are high and their attrition rates low .
My neighbors kid , I watched him grow up , great young man , chose to be a lineman . It is a tough job, but he is knocking down the bucks . My son joined the Navy and completed the Nuke School in Goose Creek , and went to prototype in Balston Spa , did a sea tour on the sub Jacksonville , a shore tour in San Diego and now works on the chilled water cooling system at a big ol Data Center , he makes a decent living , wife, house, a kid , new truck . livin the dream man .
You know Trump wants to bring industries back to America , me too , but are we putting the cart before the horse as it seems we are woefully undermanned with an aging workforce without enough younger players waiting on the bench to step up , I don’t know . We have kids entering college spending their Freshmen year doing remedial math and english , shit they should know already , and taking out a student loan to just catch up . Done . Good Morning , fourth of July coming up , gonna be hot , play safe and have fun !!
Kettering University is a private university in Flint, Michigan, known for its focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields and its unique 50/50 Co-op program. This program alternates between academic terms and paid work experiences with industry partners. Kettering offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning.
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Ketterring is named after Charles Kettering the founder of Delco and the pioneer of the electric starter and leaded gasoline.
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Kettering University was formerly GMI, General Motors Institute. It was structured similar to a military academy. It was owned by GM.
That’s very cool . The hands on experience would probably help in the classroom portion and the company gets a worker win-win .
Kettering, like Hillsdale, will survive what I hope is the failing of many major universities and colleges that embrace the Lefty Loon ‘symbolism over substance’ (h/t Rush) idiocy…at a premium price because the Federal “Student Aid” program operators got in bed with Wall Street Grifters back in the 80’s, causing students to see every semester cost rise exponentially, especially out of state students. [Personal: Penn State was a trimester program. I started in 1982 – when Happy Valley was tiny – attended a local campus so I could work at my tech job in the afternoons. Tuition started at $370 per trimester, 2 years later it was over $780…for school only as I was at home (Bucks County Community College was excellent and a lot less expensive…but…that was then, meant going to a “known” “accredited” college (which has turned into a self-pocket lining scam as Liberals can’t help but muck up the system). Only later when I saw a full “scam” report on what happened for tuition to be so expensive for a ‘Regular Joe’ college (wish I could find it, but think “The Big Short/Margin Call only with so-called low cost student loans), and why my prof’s were sporting nicer vehicles while books went from $70 a pop to $225, did I realize what happened. Since, students come out with a massive mortgage to pay back with their first real (lower paying) industry job, which is as bad as a loan shark would do, especially engineering and medical.]
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STEM and Trades…it is what America needs, not more “Woman’s Study’s” or other such nonsense.
Locally, low cost Washtenaw Community College actually serves as a low cost feeder into nearby Eastern Michigan. All credits transferable.
But it’s where I took all my apprenticeship courses and beyond.
Twice I was offered a chance to go to GMI.
Like a dummy, I declined…..
I know the feeling.
I have found that the local community college actually gives better education than the local university. At the local CC, now a 4 year college because UofF sucks donkey balls, there were history professors who really taught history and not activism, and the science and math departments had some serious brains who didn’t want to play UF’s leftist games (this is before DeSantis put his foot up UF’s regents asses and has gotten that commie college squared away.) Like a PhD in Math from Moskva U. (the one in Russia) and others like that.
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Piper PA-48 Enforcer
2. Piper L-4B Grasshopper
3. Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly
4. Xi’an KJ-600
Well done.
As far as equal pay for women in pro sports goes where do they think the money will come from? They simply don’t generate the same and or enough revenue to make that happen. Empty seats = small paychecks.
The media audiences are likewise small, with poor viewership, and sponsors don’t want to peddle their wares to small audiences in demographics that don’t buy their stuff.
Guessing the Swiss Miss’s got their one point once U-15 put the 3rd String on the field to gain some playing time experience.
May He watch over and give a long life to EdB.
*
our children, from the age of 5 upwards, moreso the males, have been subverted by video games.
there are many ramifications to this problem; a paranoid would almost believe it to be deliberate
It’s deliberate.
And no woman offered them the game console.
X1000…for EdB. Nice thing about prayers, they don’t run out.
Thanks guys.
Since I have an infinite supply of prayers, “spare” ones don’t exist.
Be strong, Ed. We’re all pulling for you.
X2
The dead man in the old photo was Tulsa Jack Blake, a member of the Doolin-Dalton gang in the 1890s and took part in the infamous shootout in Ingalls Oklahoma. The above photo was taken after a posse finally caught up with him.
I saw Ed’s post on Facebook, and he has my prayers for a speedy recovery.
I don’t know that I’d want to be laid out as a trophy like an elk. But when you think about it, he put the posse through a lot of effort to bring him to heel.
Pretty common thing back then. After the botched bank job in Coffeyville Kansas, the members of the Dalton gang were similarly photographed. Emmett Dalton was the only survivor on the outlaw side though he was seriously injured. After a stay at the Lansing penitentiary re was well behaved the rest of his life.
https://spartacus-educational.com/00DaltonGang.jpg
I don’t think that they drank from their enemy’s skulls or things like that, so it’s a step up.
This was typical in the 1870s/80s. These pictures got published in the local news to show the town had done ‘something’ to take care of the problems in the area.
Angela Merkel’s children won’t fix the Kreigsmarine? I wonder why….
Merkel might have labored under the fantasy that the military age males from savage lands would develop a love for Germany….yeah. Like the Mexicans who riot and wave Mex flags in the US.
X2!
Ed … prayers.
Thanks.
Praying for you, Ed. You gonna make it, buddy.
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Bose Ikard (Deets in the McMurtry fantasy) and Oliver Loving are both buried in the same cemetery (Greenwood) and worth a stop if you’re anywhere close to Weatherford. Charles Goodnight paid for a special memorial stone for Ikard that is instructive. Goodnight himself is buried in the Goodnight Cemetery in the mostly gone town of Goodnight not far east of Amarillo; his house and a small museum is also in Goodnight and both are well worth the time. There is a chain link fence around the Goodnight family plot, with a monument to Goodnight AND his wife erected by the people of the Panhandle, and Cowfolk honor their memory by tying bandanas and gimme caps into the links. It is not a bad way to be remembered, when you think about it.
It’s not a bad way to be remembered at all.
We can all hope to be remembered at all. And gotta love this sort of history. Thanks WWW.
Ed, I’m so very sorry to hear this. You and Scherie are in my prayers. If there’s ANYTHING I can do to help… I’m only about 2.5 hours away.
:(
Thanks Freddie!
“June Ends”…and for once in 5 years we go into Independence Day excited and winning like mad because the Adults are running things well can’t be bought. Yes, a lot of work to be done, but brats and burgers with one’s beverage of choice will be tastier this year, and more affordable. Thank you PDJT…and moreso…God for protecting this man, who was publicly “anointed” in Butler PA last year with His saving grace…grace in healing we all wish for EdB to receive in spades. God Bless America! [me waving ‘her’ flag with enthusiasm]
PS. “Strength & Honor!”…the only way to live well and intentionally.
❤
Equal Pay for Equal Performance?
Paid means you are performers. What is the market for your performance?
——–
Title IX
All for it. A great niece was able to attend higher education on a soccer scholarship.
Circa 1950-1960s in the small enrollment schools I attended there was no organized sports for girls unless you count cheerleaders.
Ed – prayers on the way.
Equal pay question – will the adult gals be willing to accept pay equal to what the boys are getting?
Prayers for you and yours Ed.
Kick its ass and get well soon!
“their future looks bleak unless Republicans stumble early in Trump’s new term”
I have faith in the Republicans’ ability to do just that
Ed: Sorry to hear about that. Best wishes. Serious disease is not fun but can be survived; I’ve survived/recovered Stage 4 20+ years
Universities: Time to dump the professional sports money sucking. Have the sports teams have their own college-equivalent set-up and let the universities go back to education … with sports – if any – delegated to amateur “I’m not really an athlete but I enjoy the game” club status.
Prayers up for Ed to beat Leukemia.
Re the SCS, that damned nine dash line has been the ‘bane’ of our dealings with China for a LONG time. And the Philippine Navy is doing the best they can. Remember the Spratleys and Second Thomas Shoal? The Philippine Marines are on a grounded BRP (Sierra Madre) and Philippine Navy resupplies and rotates them every month, I believe, in spite of the routine Chinese harassment.
Indications that President Xi will be replaced in August, with significant evidence that will occur. There is no word on who will replace him or what they’ll do.
Yep, hearing those ‘rumors’, so much for President for life, eh?
Earnest prayers for Mr. EdB, his family, and all those associated with his care.
Not meaning any disrespect, what becomes of your online endeavour sir?
Ph vs pooh man- Old+Nfo is right. Additionaly, from what I read ( local national newspaper), they are stuck on a WW2 era that is in an advanced state of decay and portions quarantined & off limits ship, that was intentionally grounded on a reef for a permanent presence of ownership rights. They subsist on monthly supplies including potable water. No comfort station, etc. The previous el presidente ( now being detained in the Hague awaiting trial for various charges while he was leader) made an agreement with mr pooh man to stop sending repair materials and allow it to rust away into oblivion. New leader’s main strategy in response is- we are a friend to all, and an enemy to none.
Sounds like a mighty warrior to me.
fwiw
as to any material Martial assistance from these guys, I suspect ( have’t delved into it) that they taught the French how to surrender “with dignity”.
😉
I just hope DOD has accurate assessment of the situation and don’t expect too much.
🙏🏻
Juan
I’m figuring out what to do about the radio show. It costs money.
EdB
Understood.
I wondered if a stand in as David Knight is doing, perhaps.
No doubt, this chapter of your life will be quite costly as well as demanding.
Wednesday is prayers up at our church. I will request their prayers for you as well.
🙏🏻🫡
Juan