I appreciate this blog’s loyal readership. Without you, it wouldn’t be worth the effort to produce this. Over the next couple of weeks, I have a demanding schedule, and the blogging might be spotty. I won’t have a clear view of my travel schedule through July until this weekend. Hang in there, and there is always the open microphone to discuss matters of importance with fellow bloggers on this canvas. In the game of life, we’re all in the same boat, trying to make it as we look forward with corrective lenses and backward with 20-20 clarity.
While I write of clarity, the people who opposed Operation Epic Fury suddenly want to be arbiters of its goals. How special (as in short bus) of them. The blissfully unaware ignore the regime change began in Tehran at 0815 local time on 28 February when Israel dropped a Blue Swallow missile on Ayatollah Khamenei’s head while he was eating breakfast. The missile killed him, his top aides, and the shot callers in the government. Another missile elsewhere in Tehran allowed many top generals to meet Allah in person. I’ll bet they were surprised by the sudden surge in heat they felt upon their arrival in their new paradise and the absence of virgins to greet them.
The missiles triggered a leadership battle that is ramping up. Just who is in charge now is anyone’s guess because they all claim to speak for the ayatollah. The government needs money, and one way to use it wisely is to stop spreading it to terrorist groups and to focus on Iran First. Iran’s supreme leader says he initially disagreed with the recently signed memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington but ultimately approved it after receiving assurances from Iran’s leadership that the country’s interests would be protected. The internal feud has made negotiating with the Iranians is very challenging.
In a written statement carried by Iranian state media on Thursday, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said he had “a different opinion” on the agreement but granted permission after President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials pledged to safeguard “the rights of the Iranian nation and the resistance front” and accepted responsibility for the deal.
The Ayatollah Jr. has yet to show his face in public. His father apparently remains unburied—well, unburied, provided that they recovered his carcass from his home after the missile hit.
President Trump knew what he was doing when he greenlighted Operation Epic Fury. The ayatollah was already in trouble. Having to kill 42,000 protesters to quell an uprising shows he was losing control. President Trump is staying out of taking sides because of the fictitious Pottery Barn rule—“You break it, you own it.” Trump saw what happened in Iraq. That is why he kept Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the acting president of Venezuela after the U.S. military escorted Nicolás Maduro to New York to face narco-terrorist-related charges.
Absolute Resolve was a total military victory, as was Epic Fury in Iran. But the spin is that somehow we surrendered.
Poland, Ukraine and the EU
(h/t Claudio & Oleksii Fokardi) Ukraine is not happy with Poland, and the Poles are concerned about the Ukes. Let’s take a look at the situation. Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was often viewed as a peripheral neighbor. After the war, Ukraine has the potential to become a major player in agriculture, logistics, and defense. This is quietly discussed in Polish political circles. For Polish farmers, Ukrainian agricultural products mean competition. For Polish transportation companies—competition. For Polish business—competition.
The Poles are vocal about why they, specifically, should play the largest role in Ukraine’s reconstruction. If you can’t prevent something, try to control it. For decades, Poland has cultivated an image as the leading representative of Central and Eastern Europe in the EU and NATO. For a growing portion of the Polish political class, this creates the impression that international attention, which previously focused on Poland as the “eastern outpost,” has now largely shifted to Ukraine—with all the financial consequences. If, in a few years, Ukraine becomes a successful state and an equal partner, the narrative will gradually shift from “Poland saved Ukraine” to “Poland and Ukraine are two important states in the region.”
For decades, Poland has been one of the largest recipients of European funds. If (big IF) Ukraine joins the EU, part of those funds will be reallocated to support Ukrainian infrastructure, agriculture, and regional development. Many Polish politicians openly speak of this as a potential problem.
Bullet Points:
** The higher the radioactivity, the shorter the half-life is. That means the most dangerous (and also the most useful in some situations) elements decay the fastest.
** (ammo.com) Gun violence isn’t a narrative, but facts and figures regarding the topic are often presented to support one. We recently updated our annual gun violence report with the latest data to cut through the bias. Gun violence death rates vary depending on the year and state. If you’re in a hurry, here are our key findings: (1) In 2024, the gun violence rate in the U.S. was 4.7 per 100,000 people, a decline from the 2021 peak of 6.5 per 100,000. (2) There were 1,399 deaths and 2,184 injuries related to mass shootings between 1966 and May 2026. (3) Compared to the same time period in 2024, gun violence in the U.S. declined by 15% in the first half of 2025.
** Jules mingles with the common folk in Norfolk amid a heat wave. 100 (F) is a heat wave in Old Blighty. In Arizona, people are still wearing coats and ski caps at 100 (F)…different places, different situations.
** CDRSAL wants you to look at the correct map.
** Our $39 trillion national debt isn’t the amount they squandered. It’s just the portion of what they squandered that we didn’t have and had to put on America’s credit card.
** China’s real estate death spiral will continue to leverage downward – there is no bottom to the size of the hole that the CCP created in real estate and massive overinvestment in trains and bridges to nowhere to fake GDP for over 30 years – they did it to themselves and could never stop feeding the flames. This real estate bubble, when it bursts, will be nothing remotely like Japan of 1992.
** One of my grandsons, age 11, recently pointed out to me that being at the White Wolf Mine is like being on vacation every day. He fishes, he shoots, he drives around on an ATV, he drives my Toyota FJ in the “off-pavement” environment, he floats down the Salt River on an inner tube, and has “downstairs” – which includes 3 bedrooms and a separate great room, restroom, etc., all to himself. There are the mandatory chores, but he views those as fun, not as “chores.” And there are elk, big horn sheep, deer, bears, etc., literally outside at arm’s reach (though he doesn’t get THAT close). Yeah. Vacation. That’s how he rolls.
** Last week, the European Parliament voted 418-218 to pass the Return of Migrants, a major overhaul of EU migration policy aimed at streamlining and increasing the deportation of undocumented migrants and failed asylum seekers. The legislation is designed to standardize return processes across all 27 member states. Under the new law, EU countries can enter into bilateral agreements to send migrants to detention centers in non-EU countries while they await repatriation.
** There is no such thing as Utopia. It just looks like Utopia until you experience it.
** The UAE — where TikTok accounts outnumber people — is joining a rising tide of countries worldwide that are banning social media for teens, and is the first to take the leap in the Middle East. Under new proposals, children aged 14 or younger will be banned from having accounts on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, and 15- and 16-year-olds will only have access with parental controls. So-called surveillance advertising, which places ads based on individual online behavior, will also be banned from targeting children. The policy will take effect within a year.
** The UK is poorer on a per-capita GDP basis than the poorest U.S. state. The Lion still roars, but they need to do some serious soul searching. I want them to do well. I’m an anglophile by nature. They can fix it – but not by bringing in poor Muslims who don’t plan to work – ever.
Identify the Aircraft
1
2
3
4
Identify the Animal
5
A common sight in the more open land around the White Wolf Mine.
Parting Shot
End
Identify the Aircraft
1 – Boeing C-32
2 – Beechcraft C-12 Huron
3 – Gulfstream C-37
4 – North American YAT-28E
Identify the Animal
5 – Pronghorn Antelope
Nailed them all.
Pronghorn antelope ie speed goats. Safe travels
Perhaps speed Giraffes would be more accurate.
They are almost as common as cottontail wabbits inside the city limits of Casper, Wyoming. So common in that area a buddy of mine got tired of hunting them and quit it.
“Just because you want a steak doesn’t mean that you want to meet the cow.” – I have found that to be the case where I live, more with deer and elk than with antelope. You get to know them because of their personalities, and it ruins the hunting experience. I’ve raced antelope over somewhat unimproved roads in my neighborhood in my rigs with modified suspension systems. They have no problem with 50 mph.
Just because your children bottle fed a club footed calf, and along with your Grandmother named the calf “Billy Joe”, you don’t ever mention anything about that animal when it’s cooked and sitting on their plates.
I know. I’ve been through that.
There are hazards to giving future dinner a name:
https://mostlycajun.com/wordpress/?p=1375
Best to name the critter “Lunch”.
I was in Beijing, maybe twenty years ago now, walking around in the morning as is my habit. A little girl wearing a school uniform approached me and I wished her a good morning. She held a rabbit in her arms. I asked her what the rabbit’s name was. She said, “Delicious Meal.”
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Boeing C-32
2. Beechcraft C-12 Huron
3. Gulfstream C-37B
4. North American YAT-28E
Identify the Animal:
5. Nary a clue.
Very good, Surly.
.
#5 You need to get out west more often.
Delays or breaks in blogging?
That’s when you hit the randomly generated archive for your daily dose of VM.
Safe travels.
There will be a few breaks and delays, but I’m committed to keeping the blog going.
Echoing yesterday (because I’m my 10 yo self this morning): We appreciate your commitment because one must commit to their commitment in order to be committed. (as I should be for saying it)
We’ll still be here, brakes, delays, and all!
Safe Travels Mr. Lambert
No moss under your feet…even EdB’s program crammed between travel and business, then the blog…do what needs to be done, hopefully with enough time to decompress at the WWM, which is the point of living where you do (plus, of course, readiness when the Zombie Apocalypse happens and you can see them coming from a ways off…but that’s another topic for another day).
***
Is there still ‘a war’ going on in Ukraine? What happened to all the Lefty/Democrat Pin-Wearers keeping us up to date on a daily basis, with the manufactured concept that if you didn’t buy into their brand of fawning over the Diminutive Thespian’s Plight (aka money laundering for both parties) then you were considered a heartless American. Seems the Reflecting Pool Algae Bloom (caused by others) is now their distractive shiny-object du jour.
***
Parting Shot: Reminded me of the Johnson Smith Co. ad in the back of Boys Life magazine…tape a bunch of dimes to a card and send it in for your very own pair of Xray Glasses. Heh. (Yup, did that)
The whole monkey sold separately thing would seem to defeat the purpose unless you could load the cannon with grapeshot or cannister.
Well, it is a flying monkey sort of day, certainly in a few cities whose populace enjoy furthering their soft tyranny captivity by electing America-hater Socialists. Unreal…yet these same types – who can’t see six inches past their collective noses – went for ‘free’ buses in NYC only to have Madmommie reinstate bus fares in order to…wait for it…pay for the free buses because ‘nothing in life is free, someone pays the fare’ is a concept their Socialist brains can’t seem to grasp on the simplest of terms.
Or a nautilus Submarine.
Did you ever read the Bill Whittle’s Eject Eject Eject blog essay “Seeing the Unseen”?
I haven’t, but it up on a new tab for tonights reading.
LL … first, safety in your travels.
*
Based on the description from your grandson it sounds like you have a business opportunity. “Larry’s Vacation Adventure Camp”. You could do a week a month, say three kids, premium experience. Charge maximum prices.
*
Pronghorn… that critter that runs in front of me when I’m doing a bit over the speed limit.
3 would be better when it comes to chores around the Mine.
If you’re coming to the UK on holiday, don’t forget your bikini because it’s boiling. And the humidity is vile. Try and find some manner of air-conditioning, at the moment people here are tying frozen bottles of water to the back of their fans. Some people have died. Perhaps they’ll make it to the Darwin awards.
I don’t think I’d look good in one of those low-rise bikini bottoms that are referred to as “banana hammocks,” Jules. Then again, it’s important for men to make a good first impression.
Ukraine and Poland – they are also historical enemies (or at least rivals) , who consider
each others’ territory their own.
*
Jules – she should switch for Norfolk, Virginia. They know how to handle ordinary
Summer temperatures, there, and a fleet still lives in that location. Lots of cool
(okay, cool for a geek like me) museums and historical sites there too.
*
Cdr. Sal – I very much like that floor-tiling idea!
*
Iran War – Yeah, the local US Commies just spew lies, in hopes that repetition will suffice.
I do wish we had beaten the tar out of them longer and more thoroughly, but to paraphrase
one of the few Bill Clinton statements I approve of; “we can always kill them (more) tomorrow”.
– Kle.
My Grandfather’s 1920 census entry shows him having come from Kiev, Poland.
The Ukraine map may be incorrect or out of scale: Kharkiv and Dnipro are within Ukraine.
The Iran update is very useful, as the MSM points you in very different directions.
That’s one happy grandson…
Safe travels!
The EU adopted an Italian law. The Meloni government caught hell over this from Italian opposition parties and the EU, but the law was proven effective.
150 anniversary Little Big Horn today and tomorrow.
*
While LL Is out of town it’s a perfect opportunity to do sone quality reading. I’d suggest the LL book series that includes Custer as a character. Start with the “The Confederate Cypher”. Then move on to the other books in the series. It’s a good read.
Yep.
The CDR Sal piece reminds me of the famous Athelstan Spilhaus quote about having studied meteorology so he could look into a girl’s eyes and tell whether….
Ukraine is not happy with Poland, and the Poles are concerned about the Ukes.
History shows few of the European tribes can get along without going to war every other generation or so. Isn’t the purpose of NATO to break the cycle and provide new avenues for hustlers to make money? Sorry, my cynicism is strong today.
Back at the soon-to-be-old home in Signal Mountain. Now comes the packing and figuring out what to load things into. Looking at pods as a possibility.
Poland – if they manage to keep corruption levels lower than Ukraine they should be able to come out on top after all the dust clears.
UHaul Boxes are excellent, they bring them out, 2 per trailer…about $50/month if you need them to store inside, plus [reasonable] destination hauling cost and insurance, but a terrific option if you pack your own. BUT, get the new ones not the older plywood ones with the cover, new ones are way better to load and keep your gear dry and dust free. 2k #’s per so you can fit a lot in one if you pack like my dad could with the Impala ‘5 body capacity’ trunk, ger for six of us for two weeks at the shore all over the driveway and magically it was in the trunk.
Thanks for the info.
Note to BRM if he’s checking this site: I-24 West out of Chattanooga is backed up for what looked like several miles. A road construction project has closed one westbound lane. If you plan on taking I-24 W plan accordingly. When we went to Missouri, I-24 W was one construction zone after another until a bit before Paducah.
Banning social media for teens. Understandable. Lord of the Flies, at the speed of the internet.