In China
Almost everything in China is driven by hyper competition, copying, and overcapacity. This is facilitated by bribes and corruption that have become normalized in business and societal culture, including the use of red envelope handshakes.
Adulteration of goods and services ensures continual sliding in prices and quality. Examples are alarming, portraying a desperate society with no restraint and a moral breakdown. Even Chinese poultry farmers run away to Africa to eke out a living. Doctors in China often accept “red packets” to ensure favorable outcomes and preferential treatments for patients. Cooking oil is commonly transported in unsanitized gasoline trucks, among other things. (Sanitizing them in between uses costs money they don’t want to spend)
The whole society is hell-bent on making money at all costs: survival of the fittest—a hunger game. Chinese compete with themselves after they have outmaneuvered foreign competitors through state subsidies and IP theft.
Bullet Points:
** Zoltan hates the police. (NY Post) NYC, The Big Apple, is already a dystopian hellhole. If Zoltan becomes mayor, he’ll promote even more blue flight, and nobody will pin on a badge and stand between humans and zombies. Capital flight will follow as whoever is remaining relocates. At least they’ll still have the UN.
** (right) Hakeem Trump – the name has a certain ring to it. I own the same tie as is shown in the picture of Hakeem. I used to like it. Now I need to toss it.
** Can you ask a stupid question?
** The next-generation jet engine. Pratt & Whitney is accelerating development of its XA103 engine for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) programme by using advanced digital design packages, according to the company. The RTX subsidiary stated that the approach enhances collaboration with suppliers and internal teams by facilitating rapid design iterations, expedited validation, and improved forecasting for manufacturing. The goal is to reduce costs and shorten timelines for the XA103, which will power future air dominance aircraft.
** Victor Davis Hanson argues that while recent federal indictments against former FBI Director James Comey may attract considerable attention, they represent only a fraction of the alleged wrongdoing attributed to him. Many of Comey’s more controversial actions—such as leaks to the media, misleading congressional testimony, mismanagement of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, and use of questionable intelligence sources—have never been fully adjudicated, the piece contends. The article presents his indictment as symbolic, suggesting it leaves unaddressed the deeper, systemic abuses tied to his tenure in the FBI.
Yes, this article was referenced before on VM, but I still want to boost the signal.
** Why are non-Amish English?
** Famous tennis player Serena Williams was forced to flee a carnival yesterday after being triggered as children chased her with sticks topped with cotton candy. It’s seen as a clear indication that rampant racism still exists among American youth, who were later seen eating the cotton candy.
** Illegal Alien poster child.
** Wall Street Journal: “The U.S. will provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, American officials said, as the Trump administration weighs sending Kyiv powerful weapons that could put in range more targets within Russia. President Trump recently signed off on allowing intelligence agencies and the Pentagon to aid Kyiv with the strikes.
** There is no government shutdown as long as taxes are still being withdrawn from paychecks.
** One Trillion sold – that’s a lot.
** He is the most Muslim man in the world.
** Des Moines Public Schools will file a lawsuit against JG Consulting. This firm led the search for former Superintendent Ian Roberts, the career criminal, illegal alien, who resigned after being arrested by ICE. He had no education, a lengthy criminal history, and had a removal order issued by an immigration judge, but JG Consulting recommended hiring him.
** Yesterday, the US Supreme Court approved the removal of 300,000 Venezuelan illegal aliens brought in by the Biden Regime. “Although the posture of the case has changed, the parties’ legal arguments and relative harms generally have not,” the court wrote.
What does ObamaCare Cost?
In the Reason article, “Democrats Shut Down the Government to Obscure Obamacare’s Failures” Christian Britschgi argues that the recent government shutdown was driven mainly by Democratic efforts to force a more permanent extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies enacted during the COVID-19 era.
The expanded subsidies, intended initially as a temporary relief measure, are costly and politically expedient, according to the author—they help mask the deeper structural problems of Obamacare, such as rising premiums and the increased regulatory burden on insurers.
Britschgi suggests that rather than confronting the underlying adverse effects of ACA mandates, Democrats are leveraging the subsidy extension to hide the law’s growing costs from public scrutiny.
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Book Recommendation
(2011) Robert Kaplan –
We live in dangerous times, when a new kind of leadership is required. Visionary and ruthlessly strategic, Warrior Politics distills the wisdom of the ages for modern leaders who face the complex life-and-death challenges of today’s world—and are determined to win.
Sun-Tzu urges leaders to “plan and calculate like a hungry man.” Machiavelli defines a policy not by its excellence but by its outcome. Churchill derives his greatness from his imagination of history. Livy shows that the vigor to face down adversaries must ultimately come from pride in our own past achievements. “Never mind if they call your caution timidity, your wisdom sloth, your generosity weakness,” he writes. “It is better that a wise enemy should fear you than that foolish friends should praise.”
“Men often oppose a thing merely because they have no agency in planning it,” Alexander Hamilton says, “or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.”
Replete with maxims, warnings, historical examples, and shrewd recommendations, Warrior Politics draws lessons from the past to arm us for the present. It offers an invaluable template for any decision-maker, in foreign policy or business, faced with high stakes and inadequate knowledge of a complex and uncertain terrain. As we gear ourselves up for a new kind of war, no book is more prescient, more shrewd, or more essential.
Bye Bye Bad Bunny
SUPER BOWL ERUPTION: In an unprecedented move, NFL officials CANCEL Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show after days of fierce backlash and political pressure — and in a stunning twist, Jeanine Pirro storms into the spotlight, delivering a scathing statement that not only defends the decision but warns of “greater consequences” if boundaries continue to be crossed.
VM Commentary: Bad Bunny, a homosexual, transgender drag show, was scheduled for the NFL halftime. Why the NFL commissioned a drag show as the centerpiece of halftime entertainment at the Super Bowl is anyone’s guess. No doubt they drink Bud Light. Bad Bunny, who is virulently queer and aggressively anti-American, hardly fits the profile of the average NFL viewer/enthusiast. If you want to watch a drag show daily, walk around the streets in San Francisco on any day of the week (watch out for the scat) or tune into Big Mike Obama’s podcast. But don’t ruin the Super Bowl.
Identify the AFV
1
Identify the Aircraft
2
Accurately ID the variant
3
It doesn’t stack up against an F-15, but it is very maneuverable.
Identify the Ship
4
5
You may need a hint. Built by Armstrong Whitworth in Elswick, England. She was one of two sister ships. During her service, she had only one captain. Don’t confuse this ship with the later British Pearl-class, which carried a larger number of smaller guns. This was because the medium-caliber quick-firing gun had not yet been introduced; thus, a warship’s firepower at the time was primarily determined by the weight of individual shells rather than the volume of fire.
She was 268 feet (82 metres) long overall. She had a beam of 38 ft (12 m) and a draught of 15 ft (4.6 m), displacing 2,300 long tons, and carried a crew of 204–260 officers and enlisted men. She was equipped with an internal protective armored deck, which was 4 inches (10 centimeters) thick on the slopes and 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) on the flat.
The superstructure was divided into watertight compartments, and had a raised forecastle and poop, a single funnel, and two masts. She was powered by a compound-expansion steam engine with four boilers, driving two screws. This provided 6,850 indicated horsepower (5,110 kW) for a top speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph). The ship was equipped with electrics and hydraulics throughout, which included the movement of the shot from the ammunition lockers to the guns.
The main armament consisted of three breech-loading 8 in (203mm) Krupp guns, two paired on a hydraulically powered rotating platform in front of the ship and a single gun mounted on a manually rotating platform in the stern. This was still a powerful armament for a cruiser of her size. Both mounts were protected by 2 inches (51 mm) thick gun shields. The secondary armament consisted of two 6 in (152mm) Armstrong guns mounted on sponsons on either side of the deck, compared to the four limited-traverse 4.7-inch breech-loading guns. The ship also had eight QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns on Vavasseur mountings, two QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, and eight 1-pounder guns to supplement her main guns in attack or for close-range torpedo defence.
Parting Shot
Boat Salvage, above the water line, with EdB
Coming in hot…having polished off that second sixer by yourself.
That should buff out, Ed…
End
The Diminution/Rape of the Dollar AKA (mistakenly as) Inflation)
Absolutely amazing: by market’s close yesterday, I hit send button on a screed to my son using the price of the plain McDonald’s burger (though I too usually had the cheeseburger whenever I was on the road for an extended period) in the year of his birth ( a half century) vs. today for illustration: extending it to gold and gasoline for comparison (employing info garnered from Grok).
I, of course, like most people I know, have absolutely zero understanding of economics, but will go on at length having not a leg to stand on other than reading a few books by Thomas Sowell and that very intriguing one by Allison Schrager.
McDonald’s makes for an excellent illustrative example of “the rising cost of things.’
My personal solution to the decline of the dollar has been to earn more dollars. Yes, its a sisyphus move but I don’t know how one person can operate differently. The same is true of interest. I resolve not to by things using interest. Of course it all impacts me, but my options have limits.
I would argue most strenuously: it’s hardly (if I may use the word) sisyphean (futile): far to the contrary; it’s the only reasonably fiscal action in the current economy, (brought about, IMHO, since the advent of the peanut president.
OTOH, what does one do when one can no longer work (and wishes to) in his field of expertise? wish that he had chosen another?
I’m on my fifth or sixth career now. I think I’ve lost track of the exact number. One door closes and another opens.
One door closes and another opens.
Isn’t that Boeing’s motto?
Ed
You’re cold today.
1 – Argentine Panhard AML-90
2 – Japanese Kawasaki C-2
3 – Malaysia SU-30MKM Flanker
4 – USS Bainbridge
5 – Chinese cruiser Zhiyuan
Very good – #2 was the C-2 ELINT model.
I think the school district needs to recover the money spent on the consultant firm. It won’t change the fact they have a feckless school board, but it will recover some of the tax money pissed off by those that can’t at least do a background check on those they anticipate hiring; especially for an important position. That, and find out who on the school board was getting a kick-back for hiring the firm.
Is the school board comprised of inner city people, or are they woke? Or both?
From looking at their website, the board is a diverse homogenous group of liberal dweebs. Plenty of opinions based on an unrealistic view of reality. They are suing the consultant, which will enrich lawyer friends, push the goal further away, and guarantee nothing will ever really be done to stop the madness of modern public education. Home schooling (Kinda. There’s too much government involvement) will get a boost, and tax revenue continuing to be abused by progressive administrators. From what I see, De Moines is just another large city with all the problems associated with government.
X2
X3
heck, they’re still calling him “doctor” even now that they know he’s a fraud.
I don’t think that the fraud has a GED. When I’m on my canoe, paddle in hand, I guess you could call me “captain”.
The school board was the group that forced the hiring. They’re blaming the consulting company, but the fault lies completely on said board.
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It’s like if I got drunk and blamed the alcohol on the accident I caused while drunk. No. The fault lies with me.
Serena – meme out there showing her wanting to take Tylenol to show opposition to Trump, but she can’t get past the cotton ball at the top of the bottle.
The jokes write themselves.
Bad bunny … I read in USA Today he’s back on again for Super B. Somehow I see a future Disney movie, tv show, and action figures about this to further stir the pot.
*
Frank don’t be surprised when Tylenol deletes the cotton ball and makes a big public announcement over it.
*
Astronaut graphic at top was very good today.
I doubt that bad rabbit will make it to the Super Bowl. The world has changed since President Trump was elected. The NFL-watching public doesn’t think that drag shows are cute anymore.
USA; not today but in the near future…
Can I nominate bbb bad boy Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio as a candidate for the caption art? Movie poster of his crash landing on planet #4,645… number of residents that didn’t survive the Puerto Rico Hurricane 8 yrs ago. His tour theme song was, ” “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” (“I Don’t Want to Leave Here”). Can the symphony version w/o lyrics be adapted?
Meltdowns over ICE; Yesterday I picked up a drive home drink after work. At Dutch Bro’s y’all can get 39 flavors of Caffeine with ” Happy, Happy,Happy” slogans – dichos. I usually only order a hot americano. IF ever cold, I go light on the ice, or none at all. To prevent further meltdowns I’ll respond to the VM protocol of all the ICE allowed for this next trip through the SW. Headed south of the border for a family visit and A/C repair on a newly acquired camping/ work rig. Is this implying there is possible reforms for Hee Haw’s braying with the right ” tools”?
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Yesterday’s drink was a first, due to indigestion from to many BBQ pork ribs. Straight up carbonated water with sugar free coconut, and a single shot. 25% ICE. Yes, I tipped the Barrista team for the medium of refreshment. Only $6.75 including the tip! @ $4.65 per gallon for diesel here on the Left Coast it’s all relative and about attitude. Heck, who will join me in paying whatever is fair for an extra large cup of ICE for the next 30 days…tributes to VM arts and humor.
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Reality check: ICE facility in the city of Rose’s. Kotek needs a new poster child. I like to put a face to a name. ” Kristina
I will take up the ice challenge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog8ou-ZepE
Oof.. sorry big thumbs. …Kristina Narayan, arrested in 2020 for aggression to L.E.O. on the East side, 3 miles away from the ” other” fed building under seige back then. Kotek, not Tampon Tim, but may be related, defends her poster child, ” Kristina’s experience is simular to what other Portlanders have experienced over the last few months.” What the hay is the script you’re supposed to be following Tina? Anarchy and violence to require fed intervention because of your parental delinquency? BTW Narayan is Kotek’s protégé staffer.
MadMommie: The problem is those NYC people, who embraced the Mask/6ft/etc PsyOp with fervor, enjoying their open cell door captivity…then looking around after voting for the smarmy Communist wondering “Whaaat haaaapennned”?
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My favorite Mickey-D’s is (aka used to be) the 2 Cheeseburger meal, large fry and Dr. Pepper…except the current burgers are nothing like the current ones, less taste, more fillers, and no beef tallow (same with the fries that have been re-food-engineered to be ‘less than’ their former selves)…so I’m not buying. Besides, why do any MD’s meals sit like a lead balloon? Has my cast-iron stomach morphed, or is it the garbage they have been slowly morphing product into the culprit?
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Parting Shot: Couple that one with the ICE Rapper Dude’s tour bus being attacked by the [Rent a Crowd…like U-Haul only in reverse] Lunatic Fringe Rabid Anarchists in Portland. Can’t fix self-delusion. [See MadMommie above, same deal, different group]
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EdB’s FarmFix: Ahh, easy-peasy…pound down the sticking out parts, cover in duct tape (or more better, Gorilla tape), then add a few coats of “close enough Krylon color or whatever can is the fullest, runs are little consequence as you – the operator – can’t see the repair. [ProTip: GO LEFT when approaching the dock]
Every time I’ve eaten at McDonald’s in the past couple of years (I can count on one hand), I regretted the decision. I was driving somewhere, felt hunger pangs, drove through, and counted the minutes until it all cycled.
With no distinct sermonette today, please elaborate on food and drinks that do settle nicely.
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H/T for everything else included on here.
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My go to teas on hand are; Ginger Green, Tetley black ( round bags), Earl Grey, and Jasmine. Did have a line on bulk Matte yrs ago. Mrs W. specializes in wildcrafting and all the varieties of herbal.
During my rambling Midwest tour I ran across a lemon ginger tea combination that I liked. Made by Stash.
On a down note: used to eat Nature Valley granola bars when nothing else was available. The box now says it has Bioengineered Food in it. Scratch that one from the list.
I avoid all of the factory granola. I do roast and assemble it myself and eat it. Some of it is made in China. No, not ever.
Exactly…the ‘post eat-age non-stomach grumbling’ 70’s grade burgers were superior in every way over the current “crop” of nutritional PhD’s and accounts having gotten involved, “If it works…DON’T fix it” is lost on meddlers.
but “works” isn’t high profit.
Ed’s boat buffing skills; I’ve got a few tools and a little experience if your interested in some help someday Ed.
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78′ rewind of a cassette i owned; “Hard-headed man lookin’ for a heart start
Handheld man lookin’ to make a stand
There’s always been the light in our eyes
Rising slowly to meet the waterline.
Max Webster
https://youtu.be/wM95v6hIYQ0?si=zu-aJFNS80R6JkKR
I saw Max Webster open for Rush on more than one occasion back in the late 70s…
The XA103 engine could produce some awesome aircraft and fighter drones. Imagine a drone that supported a GAU-8/A Avenger gun.
Wow, that would be something.
I tried reading that CA103 piece and I thought all I was getting was a bunch of double speak.
I’ll read that book, and I enjoyed the photo of a downed space warrior on Lake Whitney. Thus perish all enemies of the DLC.