Yes, I’m blogging from the road because I still have Zoom conference calls to participate in, so why not blog too? I know you’re probably wondering, “Isn’t he too old to go on vacation?” That’s a good question, and the answer is that I had more fun on vacations twenty years ago than I do today.
Vacations as a grandfather are different in a good way when I bring my grandsons along. They ask what things were like in the olden days. Like before 2010… back in the caveman days when dinosaurs roamed the earth and terydactyls flew in the sky. I explained that dinosaurs tasted a lot like chicken.
Did they have telephones when you were a boy? They were connected to the wall by a cord. You mean a charging cable grandpa? Sigh. I didn’t even get into the concept of a party line with them. They brought their own Starlink antenna to ensure more bandwidth than might otherwise be available.
Bullet Points:
** A dedicated prayer room for Muslims has reportedly been opened inside the 500-year-old Vatican Apostolic Library in Rome after a plea for the separate, carpeted space was made by visiting Islamic scholars.” – Breitbart
** It’s a 10″ footlong hot dog. Somehow, there is a sexual undertone in the deception, but I won’t go there. More on the Dodger Dog.
** My president walked into North Korea by himself and brokered peace in Gaza. Your president fell off his bicycle, eats breastmilk ice cream, and shit himself at the Vatican. They are not the same.
** Liberals can differentiate between 85 different genders but can’t tell the difference between a legal and an illegal immigrant.
** VDH on – Can California thrive again? He’s not optimistic.
** With drug Cartels putting bounties on the heads of federal agents, do you think it’s time for JB Pritzker and other Democrats to tone down their inflammatory rhetoric? Or are they in tacit alliance with the cartels to start an insurrection or civil war? Both benefited from Biden’s open border policies, with cartels making billions from trafficking illegals and Democrats depending on mass (illegal) migration for future election wins. When it comes to protecting the millions they allowed in during the last 4 years, Democrats seem willing to “go to the mattresses” before they let them be deported!
** Was the 2020 Census rigged? Does a bear crap in the woods?
** Has any GOP congressman ever matched the level of incitement reached by Maxine Waters – with that raccoon perched on her head above that terrifying mudslide of a face — yelling that any Dems who see GOP pols in public places should, “Get in their faces, and push back on them, and tell them they’re not welcome there!” ?
** Things are getting sharp in Iraq in the run-up to the 11 November election. Iranian-backed Iraqi fighters likely assassinated Iraqi Sunni Sovereignty Alliance candidate and Baghdad Provincial Council member Safaa al Mashhadani on October 14 with an explosive device in al Dhubat neighborhood, Tarmiyah district, Iraq. Iraq’s state-owned Rafidain Bank closed its office within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) directorate on October 15, likely in reaction to recent US sanctions.
** Financial Times: “Saudi Arabia is discussing a defense deal with the Trump administration similar to a US-Qatar pact last month that pledged to regard any attack on the Gulf state as a threat to American ‘peace and security’. The kingdom hopes a deal can be sealed when its day-to-day leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, visits the White House next month, amid expectations it will be “robust” and include enhanced military and intelligence co-operation, people familiar with the matter said.”
** Chinese Pilot Training – Yes, of course it involves espionage. It’s the only way the Chinese can do anything. (H/T Claudio)
Cartels Strike Back!
“Federal officials say they have uncovered credible intelligence that Mexican criminal organizations are offering cash rewards to anyone who targets U.S. immigration officers, including agents stationed in Chicago. But the announcement comes as at least one federal judge publicly questioned the reliability of the Department of Homeland Security’s version of recent immigration enforcement incidents across the city.
According to a DHS bulletin published Tuesday, cartel-linked networks operating out of Mexico are coordinating with domestic extremists and street gangs to monitor, harass, and attack federal immigration personnel.
The department said gang members in neighborhoods such as Pilsen and Little Village have acted as rooftop “spotters” equipped with radios and firearms to track Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicles during “Operation Midway Blitz.”
(VM Commentary: Some argue that the Trump Administration is looking for an excuse to strike cartels in Mexico who have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations – it’s no longer a DOJ issue, it’s a military issue. Leftists who openly support the cartel are concerned. I say, “Nuke ’em ’till they glow and use their asses for runway lights.”
Mine Warfare – in the First Island Chain
Putin, Xi, and Kim have made significant contributions to spurring Japan to greater heights in defense.
The Joint Staff Office (JSO) of the Japan Self-Defense Forces announced on October 4, 2025, that Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels had conducted various tactical training exercises, including mine-laying operations, in waters to the southwest of Japan.
According to the release, two JMSDF ships participated in the exercise — the destroyer Sawagiri and the minesweeper tender Uraga. The training was conducted in the sea area south of the Sakishima Islands, including Yonaguni Island, Japan’s westernmost territory.
This training was unusual in several aspects. – This exercise did not form part of routine training programs. Furthermore, in standard mine warfare training, the stated purpose is usually to “enhance the JMSDF’s mine warfare capabilities.” In contrast, the purpose statement in this press release was notably different: “In light of Japan’s increasingly severe security environment, the Self-Defense Forces conducted tactical training to demonstrate our nation’s strong determination not to allow any unilateral changes to the status quo by force, while aiming to strengthen regional deterrence and to maintain and improve mission execution capabilities.”
Possibility that the exercise conveyed a message about China’s (& Russia’s) maritime advances -There are several routes by which Chinese aircraft and ships can move out into the Pacific. A prominent one is the Miyako Strait, between Okinawa Island and Miyakojima in Japan’s southwestern island chain; Chinese surface combatants, intelligence-collection ships, long-range bombers, and unmanned systems are known to transit that passage regularly. In addition, activity by Chinese forces has also intensified in the waters between Japan’s westernmost Yonaguni Island and Taiwan.
Selling Second Hand Boats – With EdB
Will EdB start selling his used boats to the Venezuelan Cartels to replace losses? Just tell the Venzies that lightning (hardly ever) doesn’t strike the same boat twice.
Identify the Ship
1
Yes, it’s a straightforward ID. They were lightly armed, and the missile rail system worked intermittently, but they were good sub hunters to the extent that any surface ship is. The main battery was the helicopters.
2
I think that this is a difficult ID. A Kamikaze just struck the aircraft carrier.
3
4
5
Parting Shot
In 1492, Christopher Columbus encountered the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
We must never stop mocking her.
End
Did I just read that Japan was out laying mines?
Practicing?
Practicing – laying practice mines. Japan has a lot of naval mines, and they’re building more. They’ll need them. I’m sure there’s a Japanese plan to sew mines at the mouths of all of the relevant Chinese ports. Not just at the chokepoints in the first island chain.
Would not surprise me at all if Japan dropped ‘real’ mines. West Taiwan has been very froggy lately and I can see Japan doing some prepatory mining.
They could drop captor mines and hold off “turning them on” until the time is right.
Yup. Highly suspect that’s what they may have done. Drop mines and then later arming them ‘when the time is right.’
(1) USS Crommelin, OHP class.
(2) HMS Formidable.
(3) TCG Yildirim, Yavuz class.
(4) Nothing yet; working on it.
(5) Hellenic navy DDG Kimon – Charles F. Adams class Ex USS Semmes.
– Kle.
(4) Maybe an Russian Admiral Grigovich? Main gun turret doesn’t look quite right.
– Kle.
So, probably an Indian Talwar frigate.
– Kle.
You’re getting warmer.
Never too old to go on vacation…just different now than ‘back then’…including recovery time.
MrsPaulM and I have spent 25 years working towards building a place where there isn’t a need to go on vacation, often rented something for a few days only to leave early and come back home. Have traveled enough, aren’t touristy types, preferring our own exploration away from the hordes in sandals and pajamas. We don’t (won’t) do cruises, except maybe a small passenger count Viking Cruise Longboat, but Europe is more sketchy these days so that’s out. (Who in their right mind would enjoy a trip with 3-5 thousand strangers, especially these days? Love Boat it ain’t.) Airline travel has gotten massively impersonal and downright offensive, so that’s left mostly for emergencies, driving distance being the norm. And we’ve each been enough places and regularly visited enough family over the years that being homebodies is preferable. It’s a lifestyle choice…and we have learned to not feel guilty saying no to an invite…which usually meant packing up some gear, prepping the place, and going elsewhere. For us the ‘Covid Stay Home PsyOp Overreach without Authority to do so’, saw no change in our day-to-day, we were happy being home.
***
‘No Kings” – More feel-good senseless emotive stupidity. What exactly did that accomplish other than scream therapy for the self-deranged out there? Nothing. Even the signage made no sense. And the costumes…proving those inside are immature brats who need “a good whipping”, as they say down South.
***
EdB- Hmm, one of those new submarine boats on eBay special sale. Pro-Tip, when sinking, go full throttle, won;t have to swim as far to reach shore. But hey, it’ll buff out…just a little water in the transom and boats are made to get wet, right?. Might need a new bilge pump tho, and battery.
Living at the White Wolf Mine (in the area where Arizona vacations) is much like a holiday. But I do enjoy the ocean.
Hence your earlier ‘career’…makes total sense. I was not…as mom put it…a water baby. Can swim and went to the local pool most summers. Went on family vacations to Ocean City, NJ, but I was THAT kid on the beach building huge sand castles, and maybe some body surfing…but nothing too deep. Preferred crabbing in the marshes where I could see the bottom from the skiff. Deep sea fishing had me leaning over the rail once boredom set in.
Enjoy your trip.
We don’t have a shark problem in Michigan. We have lots of lakes.
Good point…we ALL grew up with Jaws…scared the hay outta us mountain folk when heading to ‘the shore’. Altho, Northern Pike can be mean buggers, rising quickly from the deep…especially when swimming with little fishes around.
Alewives….
Oh, no! Alewives! Those things got so thick on the Illinois side of Lake Michigan, the ChiTown had to bring in heavy equipment to scrape them up. Talk about PUTRID!
1 – US Navy USS Stark
2 – Royal Navy HMS Formidable
3 – Turkish Navy TCG Yıldırım
4 – Indian Navy Yavuz-class frigate Teg
5 – Hellenic navy Nearchos -Formerly USS Waddell- Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer
Excellent
Klebert L. Hall got this and I missed
1 is USS Crommelin Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigate
That’s okay, I read the pennant wrong and misidentified which Hellenic CF Adams it is.
– Kle.
I wonder what will happen when Pritzker, Schumer, Jeffries, and other Democrats start getting bounties put on them? Miyako Strait is just ‘one’ of the areas that have been ‘mapped’ and cataloged going back to the 70s. The Chinese were not the ‘only’ ones using those areas.
The democrats would howl if there were bounties and people were collecting on them. It wouldn’t take long to thin that herd if the Patriots were somehow motivated to become more active. It’s always been that way, though. Patriots, while capable are not bloodthirsty the way that the trannies and freaks seem to be.
mock pocahontas, and never forget “back in nam” blumenthal. they should shame him every time he opens his mouth. and he still dares to call people liar in committee hearings. its a waste of time and energy on them, they know no shame. ..enjoyed the clown show saturday. all the film of the events that i saw were shot from ground level, to make it look like there were more clowns.
This is a pretty funny answer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7uGKtihX1U4
😁
Inches. Compare the width of your TP roll with the width of a holder from back then.
When I look back, the wax papery toilet paper in the UK – single ply wax paper roll very thin sheets – lasted forever. It lasted longer than a Monkey Ward’s Catalog in the outhouse. It was called “medicated” toilet paper and had a green cross on the outside. I don’t know what it was medicated with, but it didn’t help clean the area as well as the Monkey Ward or the Daily News.
Snow works pretty good…in a pinch..and no waxy feel. (Survivalist ProTip when out and about away from the nearest Charmin roll)
Ps. Waddya mean ‘lasted forever’…how would you know? Was this tested for some reason? (Unless UK Wax Paper sheets are like those kiddie wipes moms flush down the terlit, clogging up everything in their 50 year half-life path.)
PS. Life is waaay too short for single ply toilet paper.
The roll kept unspooling with still more waxy, flimsey toilet paper. It was an eight mile roll. I looked it up. You can google it. It was called Izal medicated toilet paper. It’s no longer sold.
Hahah…I see, a super thin paper in an 8Mile length roll “lasts forever”.
2-ply Charmin…still the best..and with so few simple luxuries, life is too short to compromise on certain items.
Don’t squeeze it, PaulM. Just don’t. You’ll unleash a genie from the bottle if you do that. Imagine a young Barbara Eden in a slave outfit giving you a big smooch in the TP aisle with MRSPAULM rounding the corner pushing the cart.
OK, OK. If I don’t, somebody else will. John Wayne brand–It’s rough and it’s tough, and it don’t take crap offa nobody.
I thought that was the Chuck Norris brand.
No Kings – Save our Democracy. Translation: Preserve Democrat Party hegemony. Keep shouting until most people forget we are a Constitutional Republic, not that many understand what that means.
Reinstate democrat money laundering! They’re broke and are not happy with the lack of graft.
Zoom. I hate Zoom and avoid it.
I miss Skype.
Just want to let you know I’m still reading
Regarding second-hand ships, not a lot of press on it but Japan is handing over a lot of their ‘retiring’ and moth-ball fleet over to the Philippines for very little money, basically the Philippines will pay for bringing them up to snuff, or the Philippine Navy will take care of it.
–
Six Abukuma class destroyer/destroyer escorts, armed with a 76mm gun and much more armament than a US LCS, along with some patrol boats/corvettes and some older patrol aircraft.
–
Get that? China’s screwed up so badly the Japanese and Philippines are getting together.
–
Still hoping the Philippines gets an old oil platform, arms it and uses it to replace the Sierra Madre in the Spratley Islands.
An oil platform could form the nexus for their own artificial island in the Spratleys.
They need to do something, the Philippines that is, to replace the rusted hulk that’s basically a prison hulk for the crew serving on it.
–
If they do an oil platform, they need to protect the helo pad when they’re not using it. Nets and cables should stop ChiCom birds.
As to the asshats in the Vatican, they fail to realize that any place that muzzies take or are ‘given’ to pray in on a semi-permanent or permanent basis is considered by muzzies to be Dar al-Islam, the land of Islam, forever and ever even if the muzzies are kicked out.
–
And, yes, that means Spain, all of it, Portugal and a portion of France are all considered, still, by muzzies to be part of the lands of Islam.
–
How hard is it for ‘our betters’ to understand the truths about Islam?