I’m not throwing stones at anyone. And I really don’t mind if you sit this one out. Apologies to Ian Anderson and Tull.
Bullet Points:
**Why are YOU FIGHTING? It’s a fair question. What will our legacy be? I’m not sure that I want to know.
** Senior Iranian officials have continued to threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz, likely to try to deter the United States and its allies from enforcing UNSC Resolution 1929 and sanctions on Iranian oil exports. UNSC Resolution 1929 calls on UN member states to “inspect any [Iranian] vessel on their territory suspected of carrying prohibited cargo, including banned conventional arms or sensitive nuclear or missile items.”
** Do you drink non NON-Alcoholic Beer? All the social benefits, along with the same great taste.
** (BBC) The Dutch government has taken control of Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chipmaker based in the Netherlands, in a bid to safeguard the European supply of semiconductors for cars and other electronic goods and protect Europe’s economic security. The Hague said it decided due to “serious governance shortcomings” and to prevent the chips from becoming unavailable in an emergency. Nexperia’s owner, Wingtech, said on Monday that it would take action to protect its rights and would seek government support. The development threatens to raise tensions between the European Union and China, which have increased in recent months over trade and Beijing’s relationship with Russia.
** Condensed Soup…a favorite in Appalachia.
** Naked protesting in Portlandia – a plea from a resident.
** More information about who is funding Antifa. Names are named. What will DOJ do about these creeps who have been unmasked? What will protesters do now that there is a ceasefire in Gaza?
Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent reveals he is rooting out the Antifa terrorist funding network – says some money might be coming from overseas. “We have started to compile lists, put together networks, and there’s a long record here. And we don’t know how much of the support’s coming in from overseas. We don’t know how much being supported by U.S. nonprofits, (c)(3)s that give money to (c)(4)s, but this is mission-critical for us now.”
“When you see these groups where all the signs match, they have hundreds of the same umbrellas that they’re using. After they close the mayhem, they have the same lasers that they’re using to blind our police force. How are they constructed? Because this takes a lot of money. It takes a lot of organization.” “Charlie Kirk’s death has set this off, and we’re determined, we’re determined not only to honor him, but to keep our country safe and to ensure freedom of speech on both sides.”
If anyone is giving aid and comfort to a terrorist organization, they themselves should be treated like terrorists.
** A plea from Barack Obama – he sounds genuinely concerned about Big Mike’s feelings on the matter.
** A CBS Sixty Minutes Piece about Red China attacking the US water supply. It’s a real threat, and it underscores that we must decouple everything between the US and our enemies in Communist China. No more trade with them, or anyone with whom they trade, is a good place to start. Canceling visas of Chinese citizens is a good second move. Examine the green cards that have been issued.
** Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah criticized recent US sanctions targeting Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)-owned commercial entities, Iraqi bank executives, and Kataib Hezbollah officials. Kataib Hezbollah Spokesperson Abu Ali al Askari called the US sanctions “ridiculous” and denied any connection between Kataib Hezbollah and the sanctioned individuals.
CCW
The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA), enacted 20 years ago, exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from local and State prohibitions on the carriage of concealed firearms. This legislation amends existing law to ensure that officers can carry in the same venues as civilian concealed carry permit holders. The bill also extends the exemption to magazine capacity. It would allow active and retired law enforcement officers to access services in U.S. Post Offices, Social Security Administration offices, Veterans Affairs offices, and other Federal facilities without disarming or securing their firearms elsewhere. It would also allow States to decide to extend the period between training certifications for qualified retired law enforcement officers from 12 months to 36 months. H.R. 2243: LEOSA Reform.
More on Chinese Rare Earth
(h/t Claudio & Ken) Bullies act the most confident right before they lose control. Days after Pakistan — yes, China’s so-called “iron brother” — quietly shipped its first batch of rare earth minerals to the United States, Beijing suddenly slammed the door on the world. Pakistan just did the unthinkable. It signed a $500 million partnership with a U.S. company, U.S. Strategic Metals, not through some random firm, but through the Frontier Works Organization, Pakistan’s military-run engineering arm that usually builds roads for China.
Beijing called Islamabad its “brother in arms,” but the brother has been shopping for new friends. Within days of that shipment, China announced sweeping new export controls. Coincidence?
China’s rare-earth monopoly was never about geology — it was about control. Other nations have the minerals. Only China invested in the toxic refining nobody else wanted. But when the U.S. found a partner right next door to China — a nuclear-armed neighbor, Beijing thought it owned — the illusion broke. Because once the U.S. can tap Pakistan, Mongolia, and Australia, China’s dominance becomes a PowerPoint myth.
For the first time, the U.S. isn’t reacting to China — it’s replacing China.
In 2010, China’s export ban terrified Japan and the world. This time, markets shrugged. Investors literally bet against Beijing’s fear — U.S. equities rose for two days straight. Even Pakistan had to reassure Beijing: “Don’t worry, this deal won’t hurt our friendship.” Translation: “Please stop acting like an insecure loser.”
The $500 million deal isn’t just about rocks. It’s a three-phase plan — export minerals, build refining, and scale full-chain production. The U.S. isn’t just buying rare earths — it’s creating an alternative supply chain in China’s backyard. Today, China still refines 80 % of the world’s rare earths. But new projects aim to cut that below 50 % within five years. Rare earths aren’t rare. The rare part was trusting China. China didn’t ban exports from strength. It banned them from fear. And as the world learns to mine, refine, and trade without it, one truth stands out: China’s monopoly didn’t collapse from competition — it collapsed from panic pretending to be power.
China has invested over $65 billion in Pakistani infrastructure projects, primarily through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This amount, initially valued at $46 billion, has been revised upward and includes a wide range of projects such as highways, power plants, and the development of the Gwadar port as part of its One Road Program. Now it’s learning that the road it built runs in two directions. How disappointing for Xi. What a massive loss of face.
Identify the Aircraft
1
Identify the Ship
2
3
4
5
Parting Shot
Technicals Matter
End
Identify the Aircraft:
1. CANT Z.511
Identify the Ship:
2. Nanuchka 1-class corvette
3. Italian submarine Squalo
4. North Korean Najin-class frigate
5. INS Rajput
Excellent – you beat ML Thomas to the punch by 4 minutes.
1 – Italian CANT Z.511
2 – Soviet Nanuchka Class Zyb’
3 – Italian submarine Squalo
4 – North Korean Najin-class frigate
5 – Indian Navy Rajput
Aid & Comfort – Concur. I would further suggest that people supporting
terrorists should be treated as we, here, would treat terrorists as opposed
to the way that the modern governments of the West treat terrorists.
– Kle.
I think that the pendulum is swinging in that direction. Think Venezuela.
“For the first time, the U.S. isn’t reacting to China — it’s replacing China.”
Another positive result of last Novembers election – The Trump Doctrine
Trump talks nice of and to Xi but his administration has a plan to reduce China’s influence at the same time China’s economy is faltering. This does not get discussed much, but I think they have a plan, and it will be interesting to watch this play out,
China has a plan but it isn’t working the way they hoped. You make a good point in that they still have cards to play – but the cause and effect is not as predictable as the Chinese would like it to be.
A plan – reminded of a cartoon showing two prisoners suspended against a prison wall by chains. One is saying “Here’s my plan”.
So, The Magic Kenyan’s husband doesn’t like to be called Big Mike? Do tell.
.
Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, Big Mike, and of course, the ever popular Big Mike.
Barack’s husband has been referred to as “BIG MIKE” on this blog for years. It’s finally catching on.
From the lyrics of Jethro to God’s ear… “And your wise men don’t know how it feels to be thick as a brick, yeah” Will boy Robin and Hussein pull of thier masks and come clean out of the closet? Now with a Clark Kent admnistration the “testament” of these “super crooks” should be EXTRA, EXTRA headlines! Continued on page 5, “No graffic descriptions displayed in the never finished Library.” If stones are to be thrown for public eviseration, Mommy and Grandpa should be in the line. ( Barry’s nickname came from the latter. )
I’m getting a bit hard of hearing (and seeing) but was that “Big Mike” or “Big Dyke”?
I
LEOSA I am a retired Border Patrol Agent. I qualify annually to satisfy the LEOSA requirements. Noting that not only I, but most retired law enforcement are pretty much not motivated to do much in the way of keeping up our proficiency; the suggestion to extend the qualification requirement to 3 years is most definitely a bad idea.
On duty we qualified 4 times a year. So, once a year is not an infringement on our time.
I agree. If you want the certification to remain in effect, once a year isn’t a big ask.
I’m a retired BPA too. See my comments below! I see it every time I qualify a retired BPA. Proficiency with firearms is a perishable skill. Practice! Practice! Practice!
164th CAO, BLV, TUS
Regarding LEOSA, I’m following it closely because I’m a LEOSA Instructor here in AZ.
A few weeks ago I talked to Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska. He authored the LEOSA Reform Act H.R. 2243 that passed out of the House in May. The Senate version S.679 is sponsored by Senator Kennedy of Louisiana.
I asked Congressman Bacon if he had any info on the Senate bill. He said Senate Majority Leader Thune of South Dakota is trying to move it but there are other issues ahead of it.
An interesting rumor about the Act is that a “3 letter agency” was pushing for the changes. They wanted to still be able to carry concealed in the cabin of a commercial aircraft as a retiree! It’s not in either version of the Act. They did get the change of allowing a federal agency to qualify their own retirees instead of having the state of residence run the qualification. The section about “every 3 years between qualifications?” Yikes, I’m going to need a ballistic shield to hide behind when running qualifications!
I like the idea of LEO’s carrying after the fact, it is not only earned it is necessary (altho James and her Bragg pal would still say the former officer was a terrorist for saving people). Once a year to re-certify is not too much to ask, especially when most likely regularly go to the range.
***
“Today, China still refines 80 % of the world’s rare earths.”: Maybe that’ll change under the new and much improved “EPA” director, unshackling our resources that have been held hostage under all manner of symbolic bravo sierra by previous Administrations. A number of years back, under PDJT’s first term, I sat in a conference opening session, in Denver of course (hi-yellow alert at all times), and they had a “Native-American” speaker (she is a well known activist shrill). Started off okay but less than three minutes in she starts railing on how PDJT was going to ruin their sacred Tribal lands somewhere out in Utah (name escapes me) with BLM mining leases. This had nothing to do with the meeting content, but this one took it upon herself to go full lunatic with a captured audience…many who cheered her asinine remarks. I left after 10 minutes, told my associates I can’t listen to lying activism run amok. My first up close foray into Lefty Emotive Lunacy.
***
Portland-ickybikeseatstan Plea: “Lumberjack maintenance”. hahaha…and the Joizee accent is priceless in her ‘what real woman DON’T want’ advice.
I’ve been getting a chance to watch hospital dynamics ciose at hand this week since Monday; there have been better weeks and it’s still far from over.
Sorry, buddy. Better to see hospitals from a distance.
Lightbringer + Big Mike
Aint’t AI wonderful?
A.I.??? What AI?
Grumble… LEOSA was supposed to be accompanied by a national CCW reciprocity for us peons. LEOSA got through, but CCW reciprocity was deemed ‘too dangerous’…
Ah, Tull.
An old pal once said, “Music for farmers.” What’s wrong with that?