Use the comments section to talk about anything you want... including this TOP 1% sunrise that happened this morning.২৪ আগস্ট, ২০২৫
Sunrise — 5:52, 6:10, 6:11, 6:14, 6:16, 6:17.
Use the comments section to talk about anything you want... including this TOP 1% sunrise that happened this morning.
পোস্টগুলি
৫৬টি মন্তব্য:
Sunrises don't get much better than that.
Big (for me) if true: "An Alignment Of Earth, Mars, Venus, Saturn And Jupiter (From Africa)"
Da-yum.
Planet Althouse.
Lee Zeldin says the EPA gave away 20 billion in grants to NGOs between the election and inauguration. That seems like a lot of money. Is it a lot in DC terms?
One of the NGO beneficiaries had former child star Liesl Pritzker on the board. She told us in the 1990s that all little girls were princesses. I suppose it doesn't hurt if their last name is "Pritzker." Stacy Abrams was another beneficiary. Zeldin is trying to claw some of the money back. Democrat judges are pushing back.
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I am now drunk watching "We Live in Time," a British film, and its special features. I type into google an obscene inquiry about Florence Pugh and her nose ring and find out that she fainted when her septum was pierced, something that less hardy or less foolhardy souls might have taken as an indication that a mistake had been made. Andrew Garfield tells us that he has lived much and loved much. Good for you, Andrew.
There are way that governments get the population to go along with a war. Usually people don't want to send their children to die in a foreign war, especially not based on some abstract theory about what *might* happen if the wrong guy ever got in charge in some other country, so governments engage in the propaganda of "threat inflation," they create a frightening boogy man with evil intentions out of the leaders of rival powers, and people go along.
This technique has now been applied to domestic politics, and the left is. using the same threat inflation technique to rally people against Trump, becuase nobody would go along with the stuff that the Democrats have done just because the Democrats are not controlling the spending instead of the Republicans. No! It has to be the conflict of good vs evil! So therefore Trump must be painted as evil. Of course the Democrats have the billionaires on board, and the billionaires own the press. Democrats have media superiority, to the point where many otherwise intelligent people think that any other side to these issues can not exist. Therefore "Trump is evil"
Just like they brought the color revolutions home, the Democrats have brought "threat inflation" home.
Now the Philippines is looking to buy ballistic missiles.
https://idrw.org/philippine-armed-forces-eye-indias-pralay-tactical-ballistic-missile-to-bolster-defense-following-brahmos-acquisition/
Im guessing these may be intended to shoot at those Chinese island bases in the Spratleys. The capped range of 290 km would preclude their use against Chinese airbases in South China, which given actual Chinese threats would be very useful.
Note: This is the traditionally pacifistic Philippines doing this, its an enormous change in outlook. Part of this is I think a loss of confidence in the US alliance founded on the 2014 bases agreement. Also a growing East Asian alliance independent of tbe US.
Move over, Meryl. Sidney Sweeney has arrived.
Just saw “Eden” with Sidney and Jude Law; Directed by Ron Howard.
Sidney has two scenes that are great. She even does a German accent.
It’s Survivor meets Neitsche meets Utopia.
I give it 9 stars. Almost as good as, “Frankenstein, Part II.”
Do not miss it.
"Part of this is I think a loss of confidence in the US alliance founded on the 2014 bases agreement."
Weren't we kicked out of bases?
YouTube: "The reason why you self-deluded is so that you can be truthful and deceive your opponent"
More from that Tucker podcast with the Cornell professor.
That was mostly the volcano, Pinatubo. The US could probably have held on to them if it really wanted to, especially as most of the Filipino population was in favor. But between the volcano damage, Filipino senators and the "Peace dividend" of 1991-92 there wasnt much point. The 2014 treaty is a different kettle of fish. The Philippines is a bad place for giant logistics bases anymore. Its well in range of Chinese IRBMs and fighterbombers now. The 2014 treaty anticipates using the whole country as a series of "fighting bases", the model is Henderson Field ("Cactus"), 1942-43.
Once NYC gets into the grocery store business, how much do you think they'll allow people to steal before doing anything about it?
The SpaceX Starship launch was scrubbed, TBD for the next launch schedule. SpaceX being extra careful I guess. The success of "Starship" is btw a huge deal for the US on many levels. A lot is riding on this, economically and strategically. Its not about Muskian bragging rights to Mars.
buwaya said...
Note: This is the traditionally pacifistic Philippines doing this, its an enormous change in outlook. Part of this is I think a loss of confidence in the US alliance founded on the 2014 bases agreement. Also a growing East Asian alliance independent of tbe US.
Good. They should get nukes next.
Wretchard published an article from 2021 when the Philippine Prime Minister used some less than prime language regarding China's occupation of the Spratleys.
The cost to the US is loss of control. The more players are in the mix the higher the likelihood the US will get dragged into something ugly due to some third parties decision. And the US cannot avoid these risks, its too big and so too much of a threat to China. The US cannot think like Costa Rica.
Once NYC gets into the grocery store business, how much do you think they'll allow people to steal before doing anything about it?
Easy I suspect. I’ve always assumed they’re another transfer payment scheme like the NGOs and never can we audit. They know US Congress believes spending is a bipartisan perk and since money is fungible…
"The SpaceX Starship launch was scrubbed, "
Watched the (non) launch.
It's important they get this one right.
Rotten Tomatoes hates it so it must be good…
The slogan- deceptive. Madison is a seat of government with all the associated blue place problems. Sure the weather is Hoth bit other than that…
"I’ve always assumed they’re another transfer payment scheme like the NGOs and never can we audit."
If they're going to allow people to steal from the government grocery, there'll be no need for food stamps, then.
Right?
…just back from dinner with Boston in the knows. Wgbh who produces much of your pbs programming plans to cut all lean and keep the propaganda. American Experience et al get tje axe. frontline descendants get the rest of the money. Some layoffs kinda sorta. I looked at NPR homepage on the plane- one or two non Trump stories out of ten..:
The US COULD think like Costa Rica, if it wants to go down that road. It will need to cultivate weakness though. I'd say it would have to split into 8-10 fully sovereign nations, get rid of all foreign bases, get rid of the bulk of the USN and USAF, all nukes and all foreign alliances. It may have to give Hawaii Guam and Samoa to someone, maybe also Puerto Rico. Unthreatening and irrelevant is the key, plus of course two convenient oceans and weak neighbors. For a while, anyway, it (its various parts rather) could then glory in splendid isolation.
Passed a MULX train car today. They always have graffiti on them but this one had a chimp’s face covering half the car. It was good but the rendering of cumulus clouds was brilliant…
Although I could imagine some people will still need those food stamps to sell so they have money to buy cigs and beer.
Once NYC gets into the grocery store business, how much do you think they'll allow people to steal before doing anything about it?
If Mamdani institutes Sharia law, the theft problem should go away, chop-chop.
I see Mamdani and his followers were thrilled with his bench press effort of 135#’s. Except when I watched it his spotter was helping with the lift. Typical Commie.
REPORTER: Will you take part in the FIFA events?
TRUMP: "I may PLAY. I see the money these players make. I am a very good athlete...I may put on shorts. I look EXTREMELY good in shorts."
https://x.com/i/status/1958946393864675608
James Woods @RealJamesWoods
Which state has the highest unemployment rate, highest gas prices, most homeless, largest budget deficit, highest income tax and who is the governor?
Based on August 2025 data:
* Highest unemployment: California (5.5%)
* Highest gas prices: California ($4.49/gal)
* Most homeless: California (~187,000)
* Largest budget deficit: California ($12,000,000,000)
*Highest Income tax: California (13.3%)
Governor: Gavin Newsom
Mandani’s lift was appropriate for a communist. Show a minimal result with others doing the work for you. Not that I need to point out how lame a 135 bench is, but I’m 63 and throwing well over 200, 5 sets of 8 at least twice a week.
To each mook according to his abilities…
I warm up to lift with more than 135, this is normally a Dukakis in a tank helmet moment, but most of his voters couldn’t bench 100, so maybe not.
Almost as good as, “Frankenstein, Part II.”
OK. That made me laugh.
Ummmm, don't look now but the Cubs are within 5 games of the Brew Crew.
Andrew Garfield tells us that he has lived much and loved much. Good for you, Andrew.
I like that kid. He's made two religious movies, Hacksaw Ridge (Gibson) and Silence (Scorsese). I was impressed that he was willing to forgive Gibson and work with him. That movie's amazing. Scorsese's movie is a lot more depressing -- about Christian missionaries getting murdered in Japan -- but of course it's a beautiful film, too. And he was the darkest of all the Spider-Man actors, which made him the most interesting.
Dave Begley - Sydney not Sidney. Please get the name of the current Queen of 4Chan /pol/ correct.
Buwaya: "This is the traditionally pacifistic Philippines doing this, its an enormous change in outlook. Part of this is I think a loss of confidence in the US alliance founded on the 2014 bases agreement."
You're the Philippines expert, so I defer to you, but what do you think of this alternate explanation: they actually have more confidence in the US, and less feeling that China is inevitable, because of Trump 47. But they realize Trump wants allies to make their own contributions. So they're doing it.
RR
JSM
PS: I found out in my latest Ancestry.com results that I am part Basque! On my father's side, which I already knew included Breton migrants to the Canadian Maritimes. So the Basque story fits right in with those seafaring adventurers. - jsm
Lem: "Big (for me) if true: "An Alignment Of Earth, Mars, Venus, Saturn And Jupiter (From Africa)""
The thing to really worry about is if they start telling you about the perfect alignment of Uranus.
RR
JSM
Line of about 40 people waiting for appointments at the Columbian Embassy this morning all with envelopes. Still letting them in legally I guess…
So you're a bit Basque too John?
This is from the French Basque country, Dax (Landes), the closing of the Basque games, so they would be Basques from all over, but mostly your people.
A good idea of the appearance that part of your gene pool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_G6OH1y_9E
The tune is traditional, and nobody needs to say the words, as they are the familiar Basque greeting/farewell.
Agur Jaunak (hail/farewell, sirs/madames -Basque is genderless)
Jaunak Agur
Agur t'erdi (hail/farewell and a half)
etc., the lyrics vary.
It ends in
Hemen Gire - we are here, which like most Basque things is ambiguous, literally "we are here", which can mean "we're at your service" or "we're not leaving".
Great photos - make great screen savers too.
Photos 2 and 3 are beautiful.
@Iman: "Which state has the highest unemployment rate, highest gas prices, most homeless, largest budget deficit, highest income tax and who is the governor?"
Ever since the state became a state following the Gold Rush of 1849, California has attracted do-or-die get-rich-quick investment dreamers. See Silicon Valley today.
Ever since Hollywood was developed by NYC/New Jersey film studios way back 100 years ago, California has attracted dreamers and utopians.
Ever since WW2, California has attracted utopia-seeking bohemians and gays.
Ever since the 1960s, California has attracted hippies, granolas, and other environmental dreamers and utopians.
Heaven on earth: Californians want it and kick the can down the road as they deny reality. It's what they do. Cheating and self-delusions to enter heaven right now: It's what they do.
You left out foreign invaders from Mexico.
I walked into that one.
buwaya said...
The cost to the US is loss of control. The more players are in the mix the higher the likelihood the US will get dragged into something ugly due to some third parties decision. And the US cannot avoid these risks, its too big and so too much of a threat to China. The US cannot think like Costa Rica.
If the US controls a bunch of weak countries and provides them all security guarantees then that insures we fight all other strong nations until we are bled dry. We shouldn't be trying to control weak countries anyways. We also shouldn't be trying to be the world police or the dominator.
Weak nations who invest nothing into and take no responsibility for their own defense are going to act like children on the national stage. Just look at Europe.
I would rather be allies with a coalition of nations that had national pride and a sense of their own independent value.
The tighter you squeeze your fist the more sand will fall from your grasp. Trump is showing the way to peace in the world. He is doing the right thing by telling other countries to grow up.
@Achilles: "You left out foreign invaders from Mexico."
Me? Not really. The wealthier people in California wanted low-cost servants for farms, food prep, construction, yard maintenance, hotels, and cleaning toilets so they eagerly brought in the foreigners. It wasn't an invasion per se, just a bunch of corrupt deals between insider and outsider greedy people. The foreign workers came to the US to get-richer-than-they-were at home, thus mirroring the white European immigrants' arrival in Mexican California (and Texas) during the Gold Rush era.
Legality? Hmmm. Every state from Florida to Texas to California flipped between Spanish/Mexican colonial control to the US over time. Today, US retirees head to Central America and the Caribbean too. Borders naturally involve lots of crossovers, legal or not. This is yet another example of global border economics, and it doesn't surprise me. Biden and team turned it into an absurd mess, yes.
Life sucks. If you win big and become strong you automatically become the enemy of all the ambitious assholes that also want to call the shots. If you want strong friends you have to worry that they will do things that will get you into a general war.
The reason the US and the USSR managed to survive the Cold War was precisely because Washington and Moscow dominated, could control crises, and could keep their allies in line. Washington for instance reined London and Paris in at Suez.
It has costs, but its worked since 1945. Its better than inviting back the chaos of the Great Powers of 1914.
There is no ideal state.
buwaya said…"That was mostly the volcano, Pinatubo. The US could probably have held on to them if it really wanted to…"
I'll take that as a 'yes'.
Its a "maybe". The US didnt try to win the predictable negotiation/argument because the Pentagon didnt want to be there anymore. The Philippine Senate got nationalist brownie points (yay, it pleased some randos at the University of the Philippines). Everybody "won".
8/25/25, 12:43 AM
Wilbur said...
"Ummmm, don't look now but the Cubs are within 5 games of the Brew Crew."
The Cubs will choke. They always do.
"The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden" was a documentary about the real-life people and events that inspired Eden. I saw it years back and can't remember anything about it, other than thinking that the Galapagos were more for turtles than for humans.
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