Caption: National Flagship (offer your ID below)
Bullet Points:
** “New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike heaven.” – Macbeth
** (Right) We all know that YOU need a sermonette.
** Antares Nuclear’s Mark‑0 reactor kicked off the sprint, becoming the first to reach criticality at the DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory. Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reactor followed at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Emery County – the first DOE-authorized reactor built outside of a national laboratory. Deployable Energy’s Unity reactor also achieved criticality at Idaho National Laboratory and made the U.S. the first country to achieve criticality across three distinct advanced microreactor designs in a single month. Aalo Atomic’s Aalo-X test reactor rounded out the celebration by reaching criticality on July 4, surpassing expectations for what’s possible when it comes to advancing new nuclear designs.
** A discussion of French DNA and Charlemagne.
** Hey Red China – The test was carried out in the Pacific Ocean on July 29, Japan time, while Chokai was deployed to the United States as part of Japan’s Tomahawk acquisition program, with support from the U.S. Navy. The launch made Japan the third country outside the United States, after Australia and the Netherlands, to fire a Tomahawk from a surface combatant, and the fourth outside the United States overall, following the United Kingdom, which has fired the missile only from submarines. Officials from Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) said the test confirmed that the ship and its crew could successfully carry out the launch sequence, including required crew procedures. They added that the test also verified the missile’s flight to its intended target.
** Name one thing. Ok, one more thing. Where is the best fried chicken?
** What happens when taxpayer funds are no longer laundered through NGOs and USAID to the democrat party? Today, the democratic party and its allies are far behind Republicans when it comes to money. Pres. Trump controls a $400 million super PAC, and the Republican National Committee is sitting on nearly $130 million. Chairman Martin’s DNC is $2 million in debt, feeding on a loan secured by their headquarters building. (graphic h/t WSF)
** Woke Canadian Police – isn’t that special? If they don’t like what you say, they’ll scratch your eyes out.
** And while on the subject of the police, the Seattle mayor fired her (woke, Chicago) Chief following a shooting. I have said this before, and I stand by it. The police tend to reflect the character of the community they serve. If you’re a communist, like the current mayor of Seattle, Katie Wilson, the 58th mayor of the city who took office on January 1, 2026, you will have an affinity to hire DEI people, who, like the failing city of Seattle, will not do a good job. Like the lesbian fire ladies who ran the Los Angeles City Fire Department when Pacific Palisades burned to the ground. It’s all so predictable. Seattle follows San Francisco’s, New York’s, and Portland’s death spirals. It’s a shame; I used to like Seattle. Washington, D.C. was saved (for the time being) by President Trump.
** In Spain – The Spanish seek cultural enrichment. They’ll get what they are looking for. City of Brass.
** Are you ready to be mobilized? (h/t Claudio) Welcome to Russia. From brutal hazing and corruption to FPV drones, artillery, mines, friendly fire, and failed leadership, this video explains why survival in the Russian military can be measured in days or minutes. We follow one mobilized soldier from recruitment to the Ukrainian front and uncover the system designed to break him.
** On this day in 1861, Lt. Col. John R. Baylor proclaimed the Confederate Territory of Arizona, establishing the capital at Mesilla (now part of New Mexico) and naming himself military governor.
** Both the 9th and 7th Circuit Courts of Appeals joined four other appeals courts in ruling against the Trump Administration’s policy of mandatory detention without bond for illegal aliens arrested by ICE in the US. The 5th and 8th Circuit Courts sided with Trump, so the Supreme Court will have to settle this.
Identify the National Flagship
1
2
The national ensigns are a hint. With that kind of hint, you can also provide her nickname
3
From caption
Parting Shot
Why is the rig in the garage with the canoe on top?
Why isn’t the canoe in a lake or a river with me fishing from it?
Answer – Arizona monsoons.
The Sun did not shine; it was too wet to play, so it sat in the house, all that warm, warm wet day. It’s also Sunday, day of rest (See Sermonette) – though I wouldn’t know anything about it – the fish are said to bite on Sunday too.
End
2 is Esmeralda is a steel-hulled barquentine of the Chilean Navy.
Excellent, RCC.
Of Note: On this day in 1876, “Wild Bill” Hickok was murdered in Deadwood, South Dakota, while playing poker. He was holding two pairs, aces and eights, now known as the dead man’s hand.
April 19th, 1945. The last combat loss for my dad’s bomb group. Tail number 42-31188.
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https://447bg.com/fortresses-of-the-447th/42-31188/
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My dad flew his final mission the day prior in a ship named “Royal Flush”. A few days later, the 8th Air Force stood down. There were no more targets.
Identify the National Flagship
1 – Brazilian Navy NAM Atlântico – Former HMS Ocean
2 – Chilean Navy barquentine Esmeralda
3 – Republic of China Navy Pan Shi
Outstanding
Identify the National Flagship:
1. NAM Atlântico, ex-HMS Ocean
2. Chilean barquentine Esmeralda
3. ROCS Pan Shi
Excellent
USAID – Somebody in Trump’s circle followed the money and it led through the Dem party to USAID. One of Trump’s better domestic wins. Thanks Trump Musk & DOGE!
Absolutely. It wasn’t just USAID; it was the whole foreign aid program, wherein NGOs were expected to kick back 10-20% to the Democratic Party if they wanted “pay to play.” It was not a closely guarded secret.
We hear of billionaires giving huge sums to political action committees. Are these tax deductible? If so, a change in tax laws is needed, IMO.
Most PACs are not tax-deductible. They change the amount you can contribute legally.
There goes my plan to start a PAC, no tax break.
You’ll do better starting a mega church if you’re looking for a tax haven.
Pleased to note that VM readers are astute enough to recognize that it’s not the Texas Flag flying from the steel-hulled barquentine.
There is Chili in Texas, though – green chili, red chili, chili con carne, red-eye chil, canned dog food that passes itself off as chili, etc. Not unlike Turkey.
not that I’m against travel (for enriching the mind), but why go as far as Spain; you can find it right here at home – any major city will do
Not really. Equating Mexico with Spain (other than the language – sorta) is nothing they would claim.
I’d been thinking of the sharply increased Ethiopian population in the D.C. metro area, the sharply increased Ghanaian and Nigerian populations in the Bronx (NYC), and the sharply increased Somali population in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, not the (for the most part, very hard-working) river swimmers, most of whom (that I know) are trying to adapt to our culture, though more resistant to employ English as their everyday language.
Speaking of my own ancestors – it took a generation for them to adapt to the American culture from Switzerland. The PREJUDICE I have is not so much racial as it is bringing in people who inevitably take jobs that Americans would take or those who are endemically criminal (Somalis are an example). For example, if there is a national shortage of doctors, why do we import them? Why don’t we expand training here in the USA (irrespective of race, etc.) if they’re bright and motivated?
re “a national shortage of doctors” – again, just my opinion.
At least three of the physicians not born nor educated in this country (to whom I attribute my reaching the age of 85 in moderately decent health) told me that they came to this country for pretty much the same reasons:
1. the money earned (and retained) is far greater here,
2, up until fairly recently, there was no need (or requirement) to become involved in medical politics here,
3. the degree of respect in which they were held by the surrounding community was much higher here.
I believe there is another reason to which we might attribute “a national shortage of doctors”:
there may be a number of young women who enter the field of medicine, begin practice, become pregnant, and then withdraw (or practice only part-time) to raise their children (though personally I am related to one female physician who took off only two weeks for each of her two children returning to practice almost immediately post-partum).
Women in the ’50s through the ’70s remained under 10% of the total number of physicians in the US whereas today they number over 400k, ~38% of the total.
I posit (I have no evidence for the statement) that they work fewer hours than their male counterparts devoting a greater part of their time to their families.
I’m sure that’s part of it.
It appears the Spaniards think their hair is getting too straight and their skin is getting too light since the last time the muslims invaded.
A little touch of the tar brush might do them some good. If I write more, I might be considered to be a racist. They admire the Africans enough to welcome a hundred thousand military age males through the gates.
Since this is Sunday, the Christian Sabbath, I’d like to take the opportunity to present a “religious Chicken or Egg” question.:
Which came first:
Did the recent increase in anti-Semitism arise as a result of the establishment and continually increasing welfare of the people of the State of Israel or
did anti-Zionism arise as a result of the centuries-old hatred of Jews (in Europe) and the fact that this sliver of land was no longer under the “Dominion of Allah” (under the thumb of either England or France)?
I don’t want to bring the Democrat party (and one of their sources of funding) into this discussion.
that’s always assuming that you do not disagree that there is a rise in either anti-.
It came to mind as a result of Mayor Mamdani’s exhortations to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Is there a difference between being anti-Israel and anti-Jewish (in the general sense)?
.
And when I write that, there is a lot of bias against different groups based on a host of variables. I won’t list them all here because I’ll get writer’s cramp.
Precisely the point I am hoping to discuss.
Anti-Zionism didn’t/couldn’t begin until the very latter part of the 19 Century with Theodor Herzl, whereas anti-Semitism began in Europe within five centuries after the execution of Jesus with/(as a result of) the Church emphasizing Jews as the murderers of Christ (speaking of sermonettes).
Opposition to Zionism (Agudath Israel and its branches), I believe, began with the traditionalist, ultra-Orthodox rabbis in the Pale of Settlement who were opposed to establishing a “Land of Israel” prior to the messianic age: IOW: anti-Zionism opposition (to the establishmentof) the State of Israel was initiated by (a segment of) the Jews themselves.
I wonder how much of the Antisemitism of the middle ages was motivated by confiscation of wealth. Nonetheless, I believe there is a demonic component to it. A spiritual motivation of behavior.
Looting European Jews became the sport of kings.
Fried chicken. I’m still laughing. Sue me. If your ever in Arlington and jonesing, we recommend Babe’s–
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https://babeschicken.com/locations/arlington/
*You’re.
I’ll invite you to join me at Babes the next time I’m in Arlington TX
Nuns Weekly: Laughed at the ‘how many whacks?’…As a youngster, up until the Second grade before moving to my more rural neighborhood, went down the street to the Catholic Church. Apparently, as a pre-Ritalin’d mommy run culture for ‘boys being boys’ as God designed us – I got a ‘D’ on my report card’s ‘Self Control’ line item (apparently they graded on such disciplines)…only ‘D’ in my life (well, as a grade that is). I recall getting the metal edged wood ruler whacks only once (musta blocked out the other times 🤔)…was not as harsh as when pulled out ‘The Belt’ for those [very] rare times I needed a little wake up call. But I never broke under torture.
You’ll do fine in SERE School. You’ve been prepped.
Luckily I was never held up to a mirror by mom or dad and told how perfect I was, they were old school. And that little Catholic School stint set me straight…never mess with a nun. 🤣
You can still read inch marks across my knuckles….
🤣
Scarred for life Ed, and hear I thought you were such a good boy.
EdB is a bad to the bone. Bbbbbad.
😁
Just don’t let him take you out on the boat…too many…uhh…mishaps.
Many firearms lost in the depths…
The nuns that taught me used the brass edge of the ruler….
Did you respond to the wooden edge?
There is a process called “Broasted Chicken”.
My fave wherever it’s done/
I haven’t eaten broasted chicken for decades. It use to be popular but as with other restaurant trends, it faded.
On another blog where Israel came up,I mentioned that they were not our friends, that countries don’t have friends they have mutual interest on occasion. I suggested that Israel had free health care and college so maybe we should not give them so much money. I was called Nazi and worse , as if I was packing the boxcars. This was a conservative blog ,except where money for Israel was concerned. One individual literally spent pages on why Israel is our greatest ally and we get a greater return on our gifts than anything else we spend money on ,,AND it’s really not that much money.
I mentioned Pollard and the Liberty and the crap hit the fan,,another 15 pages explaining all that away with support from many other posters ,,that I was obviously a Nazi anti semite Jew Hater,, finally the blogatris stepped in and said I was being ugly and my comments would be blocked. I had commented there for years ,but I violated the orthodoxy ,,very surprising and enlightening. Lots of neocon Israel firsters lurking on the right. Sad.
Won’t get abused that way here for speaking the truth. -And I have a job offer on the table from Raphael. I don’t know if I’ll take it, but to call Israel self-interested is to call any successful nation self-interested. I get along well with the Israeli people I’ve worked with over the years.
my own thoughts:
1. anyone who wants to give my Fed tax money away anywhere but in support of our Armed Services is no conservative
2. we, our government, give plenty of money away to various countries worldwide (some highly visible, some not so much), as well as (G-d help me) the UN and NATO. please take into account the $ (in military equipment, +++) we left in Afghanistan when Ole Joe decided we should skedaddle .
3. personally I’d sooner give $ to a querulous ally than trying to buy the friendship (Turkey; could name a few others as well) of a country whose leader (and majority of people) despises us, people who’d rather kill us, enslave us or convert us .