Attitude Adjuster

You will continue to suffer if YOU have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True POWER is sitting back and observing everything with logic. If words control you, then everyone else can control you. ~ Bruce Lee

Bullet Points:

** “The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the United States reached its lowest fertility rate in history in 2024: Every American woman is now estimated to have 1.6 children during their lifetime, much lower than the 2.1 rate needed to keep the population at its current level without immigration.

** Financial Times: “US shale producers are idling drilling rigs and holding back spending as they shelter from an Opec-induced price slump that is likely to send American output sharply lower. The number of crews fracking shale oil and gas wells — a crucial barometer of the industry’s activity levels — hit a four-year low last week, and producers have wiped about $1.8bn from capital spending plans over two quarters. This week, the Federal Energy Information Administration predicted US oil output would fall next year, as crude prices drop to $47.77 a barrel, almost $20 below shale drillers’ break-even price.”

** (h/t Claudio) – Strategy Page – How Russia Fights – I recall studying Soviet military doctrine and analyzing it, and much of it is encapsulated in this article. “Russia’s military leaders came to understand that the key problem was the lack of adequate troop supervision. In other words, Russia lacked sufficient NCOS and had too few qualified ones. This was because during the 1921-91 Soviet Union period, the communists gave NCO responsibilities and duties to junior officers. The communists considered these men more trustworthy. There was one major flaw in that plan. Without NCOs, no one was maintaining order and discipline in the barracks. The young lieutenants commonly assigned to run a platoon had no experience handling troops and were often intimidated by bullies in the ranks. There were not enough experienced, but higher-ranking, officers to come and support the lieutenants. While the threat of arrest and imprisonment in labor camps prevented mutiny or complete anarchy, serious problems persisted. The stronger troops picked on the weaker ones, making military service highly unpopular for all the wrong reasons. The conscripts didn’t mind serving their country, but they did not like being bullied and exploited by gangs of young soldiers. For over a decade, the generals have tried to break this cycle of hazing. Taking advice from their Western counterparts, they sought to develop NCOs who could take charge of the barracks. They discovered that building an effective NCO corps from scratch is a challenging task.”

The culture of hazing is tough to extinguish. Many of the first professional Russian NCOs left the military. Facing down the gangs of bullies was more trouble than it was worth. (more at the link)

** In Russia, questions are raised about the wisdom of continuing the war with less effective forces. It may not be wise, but it’s what leader Vladimir Putin wants, and so far, there is no one to stop him from continuing the war. The Putin solution has been to offer prospective recruits more money to join and their families’ large payments (large for Russia) after their sons are killed in action. This currently accounts for about ten percent of the government budget. (note: As with many – possibly most – wars historically, the weather, malnutrition in the Russian Army, and other non-kinetic factors, which include US-directed/targeted strikes on logistics hubs, account for more casualties than kinetic wounds and KIA)

** The Trump administration opened the largest immigrant detention facility in U.S. history at Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas. The new facility, known as Camp East Montana, commenced operations on August 17, 2025. Initially, the center holds 1,000 detainees, with plans to expand capacity to 5,000 over the next two years. This move is part of a broader initiative to nearly double the nation’s immigrant detention capacity to more than 100,000 beds as illegal aliens are processed out of the United States and deported to their countries of origin. Democrats, who counted on illegal aliens voting illegally to keep them in power, are opposing this.

** Arizona has seen its second straight year of a drop in marijuana sales.

In London

In “London is in trouble—and there’s no point denying it” Brendan O’Neill argues that the city isn’t collapsing but is undeniably fraying.

He critiques two extremes: elites who insist “London is fine” while sipping wine in affluent enclaves, and online voices painting it as a lawless hellscape.

Both, he suggests, miss the lived reality of ordinary Londoners who face rising shoplifting, public disorder, and a loss of social cohesion. London remains a remarkable city, but its growing strains—ignored or downplayed by elites—demand serious political attention.

Smaller Payroll

The U.S. government is projected to reduce its federal workforce by approximately 300,000 employees in 2025, representing a 12.5% decrease from January levels. Scott Kupor, newly confirmed as director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), attributed this mainly to the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and other voluntary exit programs, which comprise about 80% of the departures. In comparison, approximately 20% are expected to be involuntary.

This downsizing nearly doubles the 154,000 employees who had already taken buyouts earlier in the year.

Mike Rowe says the nation needs 500,000 welders.

The Houthis

(ZeroHedge) The Israeli navy launched strikes on a key power plant near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Sunday. The Israeli military claimed Houthi forces were using the facility.

The assault comes in the wake of the latest Houthi ballistic missile attack, which targeted Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, but which was reportedly intercepted and caused no damage or casualties.

Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV said the new Israeli assault caused damage to generators at the Hezyaz power station and triggered a fire, which was soon after successfully contained.

***

Another Article on Ukraine

(WSJ – There’s a pay wall so I posted a summary. The article outlines two primary possible outcomes for the conflict—both involving a partition of Ukraine:

1: Partition with Protection

Ukraine retains its sovereignty, albeit over a reduced territory (roughly 20% currently occupied by Russia). It remains aligned with the West and potentially secures security guarantees—possibly including deployments by coalition forces from the UK, France, and the United States. This scenario draws parallels with the post‑Korean War division and, despite territorial loss, would represent a strategic setback (not success) for Russia.

2: Partition with Subordination

In this more dire outcome, Ukraine would lose both land and political independence—effectively becoming a subordinate or protectorate under Russian influence. This scenario would see severe restrictions on Ukraine’s military, curtailment of ties with the West, and diminished internal autonomy—realized over time through continued military pressure.

The conflict endures in a stalemate: Russia has failed to capture Kyiv, and Ukraine is unable to reclaim all its lands, leading to a prolonged, grinding war with no clear resolution in sight.

Identify the Aircraft

1

2

That is NOT an F-80.

3

Identify the Ships

4

Not an A.I. doctored photo – they’re on their way to do something specific. Do you know what that is?

End