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Sunday, July 20, 2025

Arabic techno/dance/trance - Andalusian

Mahmut Orhan - Andalusian feat. Ribale Wehbe [Ultra Records]



Nauru inhabitants acclimatized milkfish (Chanos chanos) to freshwater

From the wiki article on Nauru:


***
Inhabitants practised aquaculture: they caught juvenile milkfish (known as ibija in Nauruan), acclimatised them to freshwater, and raised them in Buada Lagoon, providing a reliable food source. 
***

It seems any marine species found near estuaries is potentially euryhaline.

The key is to capture fry. It seems the juveniles adjust more easily. It most cases, it is best to gradually reduce the salinity though I doubt the Nauruans did that. 





Bluefin Tuna and Alaska King Crab would be good candidates for experiments in euryhaline aquaculture. Angula eels (Anguilla anguilla) would also be worth studying given they are second most expensive seafood.  

I'm not sure how to get juveniles of any of those species, though baby Angula are commonly caught near Spain. 

Perhaps I should try my luck with clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), oysters (Crassostrea virginica), or lobsters. 




My favorite Werner Herzog moments - nihilist penguin and murder jungle

He has a real flair for narrating nature scenes.

Nihilist Penguin (Werner Herzog)







Every Israeli prime minister changed their surname to make themselves sound more Jewish and Middle Eastern

Why All Israeli Prime Ministers Have Fake Names! w/ George Galloway



Saturday, July 19, 2025

playing dress up

Kurt Vonnegut says we are what we pretend to be.













I share my name with a bar in Tralee, Ireland

Someday, I will have a beer there. 



Another Irish Drinking Song






Predictions for Israel and Palestine

Here are the important trends and facts:

-The population of Israel and Palestine will continue to increase
-The Palestinians will eventually outnumber the Israelis
-20% of Israeli residents/citizens are Arabs
-Israel continues to seize land for settlements
-Ultra-Orthodox Jews will become the largest subgroup in Israel
-The Ultra-Orthodox generally do not serve in the IDF
-The only reason why Israel has population growth is because of Ultra-Orthodox fertility
-Hamas has proven itself resilient to the IDF
-Hamas has various local allies (Iran, Houthis, Hezbollah) willing to fight Israel 
-The US will continue to support Israel 
-World opinion will continue to turn against Israel
-Hamas has proven it is a match for the IDF in conventional war despite Israeli air supremacy

Putting this all together, Israel will increasingly become a besieged state. It's shaping up to be another Siege of Ceuta on a grander scale. 


If nothing changes, Israel is doomed. The only stable equilibrium might be "mowing the lawn", as Martin Van Creveld put it.


***
In a TV interview in 2002, he expressed doubts as to the ability of the Israeli army to defeat the Palestinians during the Second Intifada:

They [Israeli soldiers] are very brave people... they are idealists... they want to serve their country and they want to prove themselves. The problem is that you cannot prove yourself against someone who is much weaker than yourself. They are in a lose-lose situation. If you are strong and fighting the weak, then if you kill your opponent then you are a scoundrel... if you let him kill you, then you are an idiot. So here is a dilemma which others have suffered before us, and for which as far as I can see there is simply no escape. Now the Israeli army has not by any means been the worst of the lot. It has not done what for instance the Americans did in Vietnam... it did not use napalm, it did not kill millions of people. So everything is relative, but by definition, to return to what I said earlier if you are strong and you are fighting the weak, then anything you do is criminal.[14]
***




Soviet and Eastern Bloc animation medley

Ivan Maximov - Fru 89 From left to right















Classic Dinosaur Films

The Lost World (1925) [Silent Movie] [Adventure]











The Best of PBS Eons and PaleoWorld

Why Do Things Keep Evolving Into Crabs?






Speaking of dino sex, 










Paleoart masters - Charles Knight, Rudolph Zallinger, and Phil Tippets

Charles R. Knight, Paleoartist





The original design of Godzilla was based of Zallinger's depiction of T. Rex in the mural.



related: PaleoWorld theme song and a claymation dinosaur special










Friday, July 18, 2025

US soldier punished for waterboarding POW during Vietnam War


 

The faint smiles you see on the soldiers on the left and right tell me this was an act of sadism. After this picture was published on the front page of the Washington Post, one of the soldiers involved was court-martialed and discharged. I couldn't find his name. The soldier in the middle has a 1st Cavalry Division patch. 

Keep in mind that Japanese soldiers who waterboarded US POWs during WW2 were prosecuted in war crimes trials.

Torture can get people to talk, but it is worthless for getting useful information. People lie and fabricate to make it stop. John McCain said that's what he did when he was tortured by the North Vietnamese.

Keeping the moral high ground is more important than any info that could be gained from torture. 

Somehow, there was an about face on torture after 9/11. John Kiriakou, a CIA whistleblower, was harassed and imprisoned for exposing the agency's use of waterboarding. 


In a similar way, the soldier who exposed the Abu Ghraib abuses was also punished and ostracized. 

***
The disclosure was not received well by the community in which Darby and his wife, Bernadette, were living in Maryland.[3] They have been shunned by friends and neighbors, their property has been vandalized, and they now reside in protective military custody at an undisclosed location. Bernadette said, "We did not receive the response I thought we would. People were, they were mean, saying he was a walking dead man, he was walking around with a bull's-eye on his head. It was scary."[6]

On the other hand, CBS reports that former neighbors from one of his childhood homes in Pennsylvania were proud of him.[7] Darby has also said that soldiers in his unit shook his hand afterward.[8]
***


Whistleblowers are seldom celebrated and often face retaliation. 

Snowden said that when it's a crime to expose a crime, criminals are in charge. 

today's techno trance

 Trance - Like I Love You







Captain Planet, environmentalist propaganda, and hypocrisy

Below are two clips from the show encouraging zero population growth:





Ted Turner, the producer of the show, is an outspoken environmentalist. He also has five kids.

Al Gore, another famous environmentalist, has four kids.

There's a joke about this. A person who wants to live in a cabin in the woods is a naturalist, but a person who wants to build a cabin in the woods is a developer. 

I doubt alcohol prohibition would have lasted long if prominent supporters turned out to be heavy drinkers. Likewise, the abolition movement would have been hindered if its leaders turned out to be slave owners. People who don't practice what they preach should not expect to be taken seriously. 

The stance the show takes was likely inspired by the scaremongering in Ehrlich's book The Population Bomb. It made many incorrect predictions.


Micheal Crichton wrote an excellent article about how environmentalism is essentially a religion for secular, urban, Western adults. Oddly enough, these are the people who have the least contact with the natural world. 







Wednesday, July 16, 2025

US Army basic training vs IDF

This IDF clip speaks for itself. 



It's good they train in full combat gear, but the course is far too short and easy. IDF does not have the luxury of manpower, so they can't set their standards too high.

In contrast, there are multiple events in Army basic training that take longer and are far harder than the IDF obstacle course. Below is a clip of climbing and rappelling Treadwell Tower at Fort Sill, where I completed basic training in 2016.





The courses for Army Rangers (elite airborne infantry) and Special Forces are even harder. In some cases, I think the difficulty is excessive. 





Obstacle courses became a standard part of military training worldwide in the 20th century because of the work of a French policeman named George Herbert who noticed that activities such as climbing, jumping, and crawling improved fitness and courage. 


Good training is relevant and realistic. It should neither be too easy to boost graduates nor too hard just so the graduates can have bragging rights.

Training in combat gear is good and so are challenging obstacles. I think there's a happy medium to be found. 

If you want to find brave people, have them go skydiving or bull riding. Few soldiers will ever need to traverse strange obstacles in combat. Filtering out the unhealthy and weak is easy enough through running or swimming. 

If it were up to me, qualifying to join the Army would merely require swimming 100 yards and completing a skydive. This would also be a good way to weed out the mentally and psychologically unfit. I'm fine with Army basic training as it is, though I think more tracers should be used during the night infiltration course. It emphasizes the fact the recruits are really getting shot at, and it's fun to watch. 

I write these things in the hope that the US does not lose another war, and also because I don't want Israel to lose one either. In fact, I hope neither country ever has to fight another war. 

My autobiography Story of My Life and my novella I, Soldier can be read in full on this blog.


Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Greetings to my readers in my home country, the good ol' USA

A musical medley for y'all




Army Strong METAL!



If you turn up the play back speed, you get the Army Strong nightcore version.

May the Flying Spaghetti Monster bless America from sea to shining sea. 

Colonel Sanders talks about getting fired from his first job

The First Job I Ever Had



The Taliban react to Hitler

The Taliban React to Adolf Hitler



hippo attack compilation

15 Brutal Hippo Attacks Caught on Camera



The most conformist woman in the world

The Most Conformist Woman in the World (Dos Equis AI Commercial)



Great white shark chases man using live bait to fish from kayak

MASSIVE GREAT WHITE SHARK HUNTS MY KAYAK! ( Terrifying SOLO Encounter )



Chaos at the Russian tank olympics

Tanks get lost and smash into each other: Russia hosts chaotic International Army Games



Florida officials release snakes to eat other snakes

Florida officials release dozens of snakes to eat invasive snakes



How not to defend atheism

YouTube made it hard to find this video. 





great moments in unintended consequences by Reason.com

Great Moments in Unintended Consequences (Vol. 1)




Man survives 76 days adrift - the tale of Steve Callahan

Man Survives 76 Days Adrift | S4 E6 | Full Episode | I Shouldn't Be Alive



Victorian dinosaur art cartoon - Antediluvian

ANTEDILUVIAN - Animation Short Film



real cloaking device made from mirrors

This Cloaking Device Actually Works!



more random jokes

Never tell an anorexic to lighten up. 

Captain Hook went to a secondhand store. He didn't find what he was looking for.

I lost my mood ring, and I don't know how to feel about it.

I saw a documentary about wounded dolphins. They struggled to eke out a living. 

The Wizard of Oz is just the story of three women fighting over a pair of shoes.


humpback whales lunge feed

SURPRISING HUMPBACK WHALE LUNGE FEEDING IN FRONT OF WHALE WATCH BOAT



all the odd Wikipedia articles

Wikipedia:Unusual articles - Wikipedia

samples

***
The potato paradox is a mathematical calculation that has a result which seems counter-intuitive to many people. The Universal Book of Mathematics states the problem as such:[1]

Fred brings home 100 kg of potatoes, which (being purely mathematical potatoes) consist of 99% water. He then leaves them outside overnight so that they consist of 98% water. What is their new weight? The surprising answer is 50 kg.[2]
***

***
PZL M-15 Belphegor A Soviet attempt at a turbofan-powered crop duster. It is the slowest jet aircraft to enter production as well as the only jet biplane or jet crop duster to exist.
***


Black Physicists Discover Smallest Particle of Black Lives Matter

OAKLAND - "We are now one step closer to completing Grand Funk Unified Theory, also known as The Notorious GUT" said project director Dr. Marijuana Pepsi. The particle has been named the garyon in honor of Gary Coleman, the late actor famous for his role on Diff'rent Strokes. "This discovery could also be the key to converting Black Lives Matter into Black Lives Energy, but not before we determine the garyon's charge, spin, and pronouns", she added. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Joanna Gambolputty has been researching Ultraviolet Privilege, a non-ionizing form of prejudice emitted from golf paraphernalia. "We're not sure whether it flows from the person to the object or vice-versa. It's possible that the mechanism is similar to the way the dipole of a pimp's cane becomes aligned with its owner's field, for a pimp's field is very different from that of a square." 

Elsewhere, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Particles has hailed the discovery of the garyon and demanded that at least three of the Standard Model's 17 particles be derived from Black Lives Matter. "It's high time we have a conceptual framework of the universe that looks like America" said NAACP spokesman and nudism advocate Oliver Klozoff. "The garyon is funkymental to our understanding of nature. Uhuru!"

***

not satire: the real Dr. Marijuana Pepsi


amazing Japanese fireworks

 Amazing Japan hanabi Japanese fireworks



Monday, July 14, 2025

A debate between 2 ex-CIA spies

 Why John Kiriakou Chose to Work for Russian Media



How Israel Censors the Internet

How Israel Censors the Internet



Gen. Wesley Clark reveals 2001 plan to attack Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran

Gen. Wesley Clark reveals 2001 plan to attack Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran



clever metal working and carpentry trick uses geometry

The overlap of two quarter circles with the same radius whose arcs pass through each other's centers makes an equilateral triangle.




random wise quotes

Never set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm.

Tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of fire.

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. 

brilliant Red Hot Chili Peppers parody song

 What Red Hot Chili Peppers sound like to people who don't like Red Hot Chili Peppers



moonwalking orca swims backwards

 Orca caught 'moonwalking' in West Vancouver



100 Things You're Not Supposed to Know

The full table of contents can be found here:

My favorites:

2. One of the popes wrote an erotic book

14. Winston Churchill believed in a worldwide Jewish conspiracy

23. The police aren't legally obligated to protect you

55. The world's museums contain innumerable fakes

65. James Audobon killed all the birds he painted

67. Freud failed to help any of his patients


Walrus Tango and Song

fun fact: walrus is garbled Norse for whale-horse. 

Tango with Silvia





This next one is a bit of a downer:

Walruses Falling From Cliff




War of the Boorish Boer and the Poor Moor

A boorish Boer lived on a moor
His neighbor was a poor Moor
The poor Moor and the boorish Boer
fought over who could bore more

To settle the score 
the poor Moor schemed to lure
the boorish Boer with roar
at his door on the moor

At the stroke of four on the moor
the poor Moor let out a roar
at the door of the boorish Boer
who fell with fright to the floor

Feeling sore, the boorish Boer
tore open a drawer, took out a
sword, and stormed off to gore
the poor Moor 

The poor Moor had a store 
near a sewer on the moor
it had been built not long before
thus it was a newer sewer on the moor

The boorish Boer was sure at his core
that the poor Moor had roared at his door
and using lore of the thunder god Thor
took his sword and beheaded the poor Moor.

And so ended the war of the Moor and Boer
This all happened in the days of yore
when soft rains poured on the moor

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Satan Considers Selling His Soul to Trump

HELL - Sources close to the Prince of Darkness report that he has been pondering selling his immortal soul to President Trump, whom the fallen angel considers to be the best chance for obtaining everlasting power over the earth. In a phone interview, the timeless representative of evil incarnate admitted that even he failed to stop Trump from defeating Clinton, who had offered to make the Devil Secretary of Education in exchange for support. Satan admitted that the soul market was heading toward recession. Soul prices have tumbled as more and more people, including most of California's adult population, have sold their souls to the Devil in exchange for preventing Trump s re-election. "So my thinking is", explained the dark lord, "the greatest act of evil I could commit would be to get all these liberal losers to sell their souls to me, then turn them into Trump's eternal property by selling my soul to him. Diabolical, isn't it?"  The beast then tented his fingers and laughed maniacally.





Saturday, July 12, 2025

On battle cries and dying screams

Fear causes voice pitch to rise. 


Aliens Invade Earth; Women and Minorities Hardest Hit

LOS ANGELES - "While it appears that this is an extermination campaign, it has largely spared rural America which skews older, whiter, and more Republican," explained associate professor of political science Susan McGee-Maus from the ruins of UCLA. Meanwhile, many experts have blamed Trump for the botched response. "We've known for decades that the universe contains countless planets, so it's just ridiculous for Trump to claim that no one could have predicted this," said Joy Behar, noted astronomer and host of The View. 

Although Trump mentioned reports from Wyoming and West Virginia that concentrated small arms fire can repel and even disable the enemy war machines, this remains unconfirmed. In response, the CDC reiterated that a gun in the home is far more likely to harm an innocent than a hostile extraterrestrial. Elsewhere, a Black Lives Matter protest against the aliens was incinerated by heat rays. "Unfortunately, it appears these murderous intergalactic beasts are immune to accusations of racism, and efforts to shame them on Twitter have had no effect. I call on our nation's finest minds to find another way to guilt trip them," said black leader Jesse Jackson. 

Environmentalists and feminists have also reacted. The Sierra Club has stated that the devastation presents an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and overpopulation. The National Organization for Women has called for stronger efforts to prevent abduction, unless the aliens turn out to be sexy. "If they're tall and make a decent amount of whatever it is they use for money, I'd be willing to wear a Princess Leia bikini for them," said Gloria Steinem. While Trump has authorized the military to counterattack with whatever means available, mobilization has been hindered as commanders struggle to create a cool name for the operation. Experts say it will likely be a present participle followed by an animal. 





Nation's College Deans Move Back With Their Parents

HARVARD - "I never thought it would happen to me" said Joanna Gambolputty, Dean of Gender Studies at Harvard University. "My parents told me it's time to get a real job and I already signed up to train as a diversity advisor. It's not as prestigious, but I need to be practical." Although the dean workforce has taken a hit, administrative staff have largely been spared the pinch. "The enrollment slump has forced our hand financially" said Colin Kantser, Harvard's CFO. "It turns out that deans mainly go to lunch with other deans and wealthy donors. All that's gone up in smoke since social distancing started." 

Meanwhile, Harvard's outreach department has struggled to convince prospective students that it is worth it to spend $200,000 for four years of Zoom classes. "We've offered students the chance to send life-size cardboard cut-outs of themselves to campus instead. The cut-outs have smart phones attached to the face and they are wheeled about by rejected Harvard applicants in exchange for 5 credit hours per semester and a budget meal plan" added Kantser. Elsewhere, Ivy League fraternities have been adjusting to the new normal. "There's no sugar-coating it: our ceremonies are a lot more impressive in person" said a Skull and Bones member who wished to remain anonymous. "I mean, how can we pretend to be a super cool secret society when any moderately clever yahoo from 4chan can Zoom bomb us?" 

The member added that the Skull and Bones has recently added Captcha and two-factor verification to keep out would-be interlopers. In contrast, host of Dirty Jobs Mike Rowe repeated his call to consider skilled trades rather than college. "The average US welder is 50 years old. There is an enormous demand for these and other truly essential workers. There is no modern society without electricians, plumbers, mechanics, carpenters, HVAC, and other tradesmen. Not everyone is cut out to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, and it is a great tragedy for so many young people to waste years and rack up tons of debt for worthless degrees" said Rowe as he used a backhoe to dig up a malfunctioning septic tank. "A wise man once said that opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work. It's true. A lot of the really useful work is boring and dirty, but someone's got to do it." Rowe then inadvertently ripped the septic tank out of the ground and sprayed the camera crew and himself with raw sewage.  

KKK, Antifa Merge to Form Klantifa

PORTLAND - "We've decided to join forces to achieve our common goals", said Imperial Cyclops Leroy Jenkins. "Our message is clear: white men, white women: the swastika and/or the anarchist A is calling you. At long last, you have a movement where your voice will be heard." His Antifa counterpart, Joanna Gambolputty of the Portland Genderqueer Nazi Punchers Collective added "this movement will bridge the divide between frustrated, working-class, busybody whites and frustrated, middle-class, busybody whites. Harmony will reign with the ruthless suppression of all dissent." 

Jenkins elaborated that their shared interests include keeping blacks poor and powerless, a ruling class dominated by white Anglo-Saxon Protestant men, the use of mob violence to help Democrats win, and a relentless propaganda campaign aimed at recruiting the young and alienated. Reactions to the merger were mixed, with the ACLU, the SPLC, and the NAACP both praising and condemning different halves the group.

One of the newest Klantifa members is Oswald Bates, an aspiring painter who works part time as a bartender. "I was rejected by my father and then from art school. So began my struggle. But I feel a great sense of hope for this lost nation; that it will emerge from darkness and free itself from the shackles of international capitalism. Soon, we will march in the streets with our flag held high. Our lost comrades will be with us in spirit. We will have our space to live even if we must spill blood on the ground. Onward to Victory!" When asked if Klantifa would be merging with the Illinois Nazis, Jenkins said "No. We hate those guys. Splitters!"
 
Meanwhile, prominent Democrats voiced both criticism and support for the new movement. "Some of them, I assume are good people, very fine people even", said Joe Biden."But the rest are a bunch of lying, dog-faced pony soldiers! I'd bet a silver dollar against a wooden nickel none of those chumps and clowns could do even a single push-up. Folks, when I was a kid, I remember seeing FDR on the TV, walking tall and telling everybody things would be alright. And you know what? Even though the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, we still beat Ho Chi Minh and his dreaded King Kong 20-0 in that hockey game. I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that's the America millions of Americans believe in. That's the America I love. Don't stop believing!"

Connect 4, what did we win?







***
A report from the Costs of War project at Brown University revealed that 20 years of post-9/11 wars have cost the U.S. an estimated $8 trillion and have killed more than 900,000 people.
***

connect the dots

Mark Essex - Wikipedia

He joined the Navy but deserted and was discharged after experiencing constant mistreatment. Later, he went on a killing spree. 

***
Essex exclaimed: "What else is there? They take everything from you. Your dignity, your pride. What can you do but hate them?"
***





Thursday, July 10, 2025

retrieved from the memory hole

 Andrew Klavan: Liberal Fantasies vs. Reality, Can you Spot the Difference?



more compare and contrast

NY Library Brings Drag Queens to Kids Story Hour






Trump starts the Space Force and bans transgenders. By an extraordinary coincidence, a transgender is put in charge of it by unknown generals/bureaucrats.




 

Army Unveils New 'Peaceful Protester' Attack Helicopter

FORT RUCKER - "This magnificent machine represents a new era in aerial warfare: the marriage of state-of-the-art firepower with the principles of dignity, respect, and social justice", said Major General Joanna Gambolputty during the unveiling. "Let our enemies fear and tremble before the awesome might of our PP: the Peaceful Protester", she added. The helicopter's armament includes eight "Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho" (formerly "Hellfire") anti-tank missiles, 38 "Imagine" (formerly "Hydra") rockets, and 1,200 rounds for its 30 mm "We Shall Overcome" autocannon. Fighter ace Senator Dick Blumnethal was in the pilot seat for its maiden flight. "She's a real humdinger. It takes me back to my days of dodging flak and the Red Baron in the skies of Korea during Vietnam" said Blumenthal. "That was a war, you know. A war with fighting, that I fought in", added Blumenthal as he put a cigarette in his lips and lit the filter tip. 

In the wake of the George Floyd protests for racial justice, the Army has faced increasing pressure to change problematic names. Fort Lee, named after Confederate general Robert E Lee is at the top the list. "Even though there are nine other Army bases named after Confederate generals, the only one most people have heard of is Lee, so now we only need to change one name", said Gambolputty. "The easiest solution would be to simply say it is named in honor of Bruce Lee. Everybody likes kung fu, so that was that. What's Bruce Lee's favorite drink? Wah-taaaaah! That's my kids' favorite joke", added Gambolputty who was promoted to her current rank as a reward for solving the conundrum. 

Critics have pointed out that the PP's biodegradable ammo is vulnerable to spoiling and that the aircraft lacks a wheelchair access ramp. In lieu of traditional camouflage, the PP will be painted rainbow colors to show LGBT inclusion. The front sides of the chopper will be painted to resemble the face of a snarling unicorn, though test pilots have complained that the horn obstructs visibility. Other Army helicopters named after Native Americans are also up for name changes, including the Blackhawk and the Chinook. "Nothing is set in stone yet, but re-naming the UH-60 Blackhawk as Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak is the obvious choice" said Gambolputty, "It just rolls off the tongue." 

Trump on Dead Soldiers: They Probably Vote Democrat Anyway

WASHINGTON DC - At a press conference today, a reporter confronted Trump on his alleged disparaging remarks about fallen US soldiers buried in France. "Mr. President, why did you call fallen US soldiers suckers and losers? Do you hate America or just its military?" Trump responded by saying: "First, let me thank you for that very, very smart question. I can tell you're great reporter for asking such a tremendous question. I never said that, but even if I did, dead soldiers probably vote Democrat anyway, so why should I care?" Trump then shrugged and sipped from a can of Diet Coke. Trump's remarks stand in stark contrast to Democratic military heroes such as distinguished tank commander Michael Dukakis and amphibious warfare pioneer John Kerry.

The press conference room erupted, but Trump angrily shouted over the reporters. "OK, geniuses, it's my turn to talk now", said Trump as he crushed the Diet Coke can on his forehead. "Let's talk Pelosi. I hate the military and she likes it? OK, then she should get her next haircut from the Army then. I hear they do haircuts really quickly and cheaply." Meanwhile, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced her plan to overhaul the military to make it more sensitive and fair. "We must rebuild our military in order to fight against real threats like climate change, sexism, intolerance, and wealth inequality", she said as she read off her neon pink Barbie smartphone. 

Some of the changes to basic training include replacing outdated and notoriously problematic events like rifle marksmanship and obstacle courses. Instead, the soldiers will hold hands, sing Kumbayah, and share poems about their feelings. Ocasio-Cortez even offered a preview of a new recruiting commercial created by her and her staff. In it, young women with multi-colored hair and stylish nose rings order young men to march around in high heels while they berate them for their toxic masculinity. "The 21st century will bring new challenges to America", said defense analyst Joanna Gambolputty. "How will the US dominate battlefields of the future without the unique contributions of gender studies majors or diversity experts? It is vital to make the military more attractive to these quality candidates. My message to Trump is clear: Mr. President, we cannot allow a social justice gap!"

***

Below: not satire




random military thought

US soldiers do not practice hit and run attacks, at least most don't. There is a bias against retreat. I remember being trained in room clearing and assaulting an objective. The US military’s basic philosophy since 1917 has been “surround and pound”. When you encounter the enemy, take cover and shoot back to pin them down. Then, if possible, call up artillery and airstrikes. Otherwise, wait for reinforcements, if needed, and execute battle drill 1A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFCDkhj2wg4




Get the fireteam/squad/platoon online. For every 2 guys who shoot, one other guy flanks to either the right or left, whichever is easier. Presto, instant L-shaped ambush.

Easier said, than done. A bad plan is better than no plan.

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing."

-Theodore Roosevelt

compare & contrast

Army Drill and Ceremony BLC






 

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Hero and Angel - a fairy tale for grown ups

warning: contains adult themes 

Once upon a time, when the stars were young and the earth was new, the world was filled with monsters and magic. One day, young Everyman met with Wise Mentor, the old man of the village. Wise Mentor told Everyman that he was really Hero, who was destined to perform many great and valorous deeds. So Hero ventured forth, cruel dragons he slew two by two, awful tyrants he deposed, and won many epic battles. Unbeknownst to Hero, many of his feats were made possible by a clever and kind young woman who had admired Hero from afar for many years. Because she helped those in danger, she was called Angel. 

Satisfied with his many conquests, Hero returned to his village to meet once more with Wise Mentor, who told him that there was still one feat Hero had yet to accomplish. "Go deep into the mountains" said Wise Mentor "and there you will meet the most awful and terrible foe there is. Be warned. No Hero has fought with it and lived." Hero laughed and said he was not afraid and boldly strode deep into the mountains while Angel followed, stayed out of sight, and kept careful watch of him. At last, Hero reached a giant cave filled with a low and awful roar. 

He strode into the cave and announced that he was Hero, and that he was ready to face whatever beast lurked within. An evil laugh came from the shadows and filled Hero with dread for the first time in his life. A massive creature loomed over Hero and hissed "I am Evil Lord Death the Unconquerable. Gilgamesh, Achilles, David, King Arthur - I killed them all and I will kill you too!" At this, Hero shook with fear and ran for his life. In deep despair, Hero wept. Angel came and asked what was the matter. 

Hero said that Old Mentor lied to him. Angel said no, Old Mentor had only said what Hero needed to hear to complete his journey. Then she urged him to return to the cave an avenge himself of Evil Lord Death's insult. In a white-hot fury, mighty Hero drew his sword and charged into the cave with a heart-stopping battle-cry. For three days and nights, Hero and Death battled across the heavens and earth. Mountains crumbled, oceans boiled, and stars were knocked from the sky. 

Then when Death was losing by about twenty to nothing on points, he shouted at Hero to stop, for Death had Angel in his awful clutches. "Let me win or I kill Angel!" hissed the awful fiend. Hero dropped his sword and Death took him. Death released Angel who rushed to Hero's lifeless body and began to sob. "Silly girl" said Death, "when you get tired of crying, drink this poison and I will make you my bride." 

When Death turned his back to leave, Angel threw the poison bottle at his head, and Death, wounded and annoyed, grumbled and limped away. The people buried Hero in a magnificent tomb and Angel kept a lonely vigil there for many days. When he last ember of hope began to fade, she uncorked the poison bottle. There was a beautiful full moon that night, which she gazed on in wonder. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Hero, now ablaze in glory. "How did you survive?" she asked in shock. "I didn't" said Hero, "but heroes never really die, and angels sometimes walk, and every night when the moon is full, you can meet me here until the first ray of dawn." And so for the rest of her days, Angel spent every full moon with Hero until she awoke in the next world.

THE END  

visual aids:



A monolingual Irish speaker tells a story;





A popular song translated to Irish:



Greetings to my readers in India

In college, I was friends with a guy from India named Chandar. We played chess sometimes. I remember asking him "how does Hinduism deal with atheists?" He said "easy, we accept them." I liked that answer. 

Perhaps someday I will travel to India and get the King's Treatment that Chandar talked about. I'd like to visit the forts and temples.



***
The great Maratha warrior Chatrapati Shivaji who used ‘ghorpad’ (monitor lizard) to scale the huge wall of the Sinhagad Fort. According to Maratha legends and folklore, a monitor lizard was used to scale to fortify walls of Sinhagad fort during a decisive battle. Shivaji’s trusted commander, Tanaji Malusare used these lizards in the Battle of Sinhagad in 1679. This battle is one of the important chapters of Maratha history.

Legends say that Tanaji used Shivaji’s pet monitor lizard Yashwanti to climb the fort wall. He tied a rope to the back of the lizard which scaled a sheer cliff face beneath an unguarded section of the fort, secured itself in a crevice, and allowed Tanaji to climb up behind. Though the assault was successful, Tanaji died in the battle.
****

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

The only ways to topple a nation's government

1. Invade, occupy the country, imprison or kill the enemy leader - example: Iraq in 2003.

2. Take advantage of a civil war to kill, imprison, or force the enemy leader to flee - examples: Syria in 2025, Libya in 2011, Afghanistan in 2021.

3. Use a guerilla movement to weaken a country so that an invasion can succeed - example: South Vietnam in 1975.

4. Use a guerilla movement in a civil war to force the existing government to surrender or flee - example: Nepal in 2008.

5. Use nationwide strikes and protests to force the leader to step down or flee - examples: Romania in 1989 and Serbia in 2000. 

6. Use a war and/or a rigged election to install a puppet government - examples: Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, East Germany, Albania and Bulgaria between 1945 and 1950.  

7. Stage a military coup - this is most common and successful means of toppling a government. examples: there have been successful coups in Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Thailand, Ethiopia, Gabon, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad, Mali, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, and Yemen since 2010. There have been attempted coups in many other countries during the same period.

One of the advantages of a strong military is that it will try to overthrow a government it sees as weak. That is unlikely to happen in the US given the federal government's paramilitary forces and the fact that a large percentage of Americans have their own weapons. A large guerilla movement could topple the US government or at least carve out free areas of de facto sovereignty. The novel Neither Predator Nor Prey by Mark Spungin gives a realistic depiction of such a resistance movement. 



Bottom line, overthrowing a government requires money, guns, and men in great quantities. 

At any given time, people from about 40 countries are reading my blog

Screenshot from my stats page a few minutes ago:


I expect this will keep NSA (my former employer) and any other part of the US government from antagonizing me. 


Culture can be a prison - "afraid of mud, escape to thorns"

Jiggers (Tunga penetrans) are parasitic fleas that are native to Central and South America. They were inadvertently introduced to Africa centuries ago by European traders. In many parts of Africa, there is a tradition of going barefoot, which unfortunately can lead to jigger infestations of the feet. The only solution is to cut the fleas out with a knife. It's a slow, messy, and painful process. 

Simon's Jigger Removal - Jiggers Dug Out!


I lived in a jigger endemic area in Africa for a few years. It is easy enough to avoid infection by wearing cheap flipflops. The same is true of avoiding hookworm which is found in North America and many other places. Something like half a billion people may be infected with hookworm, and it could all be stopped through proper sanitation and not going barefoot.

Going barefoot has also been common in parts of Indonesia. An Indonesian proverb is quoted in the title of this post. It's equivalent to the English saying "out of the frying pan and into the fire". 

Oddly enough, there are Americans who are so obsessed with shoes, they riot over them:



Alcoholism in Ireland has been bad enough that scientists wondered if those of Irish ancestry have a genetic predisposition for it.

In China, the preference for sons is such that there are tens of millions more men than women.  

In these and other cases, people do themselves and others needless harm out of beliefs which do not hold up under scrutiny. 

Many times, people put up with things because they see no alternative or believe that life cannot change. In Japanese, that fatalism is found in the saying shikata ga nai, which means "it can't be helped" or "there's nothing that can be done". In English, we sometimes say "it is what it is". 

This fatalism is wrongheaded. Things can always change, at least on the individual level or at a small scale. You don't have to always do, say, or believe as others. You might pay a price, but it will be small compared to the freedom and happiness you gain. 


Feminists Slam Jeopardy! For Promoting Unrealistic Intelligence Standards

CLEVELAND – “First off, it’s a GIRL-cott, not a boycott, and the difference is very important”, said Joanna Gambolputty, Associate Professor of Women Studies at Oberlin College. Ms. Gambolputty is also an activist in the ignorance positivity movement, which seeks to break down the stigma associated with the differently-informed. “At a time when more girls than ever are struggling in school, it’s high time we speak out against Jeopardy! for its rampant sexism. Only 40% of the contestants are women and men are 70% of the winners. Seven of the nine writers are male, as are four of the five researchers. These are the sad facts of the Trivia Gap.”

Ms. Gambolputty advocates an aggressive set of changes to the show’s format. “Far too many clues are about dead white males like Shakespeare. It’s insane to expect the average woman to be able to relate to such an obscure writer. Women need topics they can relate too, like shoes, soap operas, and the latest pop songs. This is the sensible way to promote gender equity in trivia games.” Meanwhile, another group of activists called Smart At Any IQ advocates a quota program so that the least intelligent get a guaranteed portion of space in newspapers and scientific journals. Paris Hilton, the unofficial spokeswoman of the group, is leading the way with her article in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics. The paper, entitled “Bedazzling Navier-Stokes” features a bold retake of the classic equations. Written in hot pink with a stylish cursive font, the differentials come to life and seem to dance with the festive glitter lightly sprinkled throughout.

“I’m proud to be a role model for stupid people everywhere,” said Ms. Hilton. “If I can get just one girl interested in makeup and expensive purses, it will all be worth it.”

Bernie Sanders Says There Were “Very Fine People on Both Sides of the Iron Curtain”

MIAMI – Controversy erupted as Democratic presidential hopeful Sanders seemingly praised murderous communist dictatorships. This was an especially inflammatory statement as Florida is home to a large number of Cubans who fled Castro’s communism. Sanders later doubled down on his remarks, saying “certainly it wasn’t perfect, but literacy is a good thing and inequality plummeted under Castro’s leadership”. 

He added “look, the truth is that there were very fine people on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Now I have heard, most likely exaggerated things, by the way, about there being some hunger and even a few executions. Nobody’s perfect and certainly not this country where there are 23 kinds of deodorant and children go hungry.” 

On the topic of a controversial statue of Lenin in Portland, Sanders said “it’s beautiful work of art and a part of history. We can’t just start tearing down statues because a few ignorant people complain about them. People like Lenin and Castro and Ortega fought to help the poor people who were rising up against rather ugly rich people. And besides, what about Trump, a hatemonger who refuses to condemn the KKK? The hysteria about socialism has to stop. Democratic socialism means that in a democratic, civilized society the wealthiest people and the largest corporations must pay their fair share of taxes. And yes, I know went on my honeymoon in the USSR and displayed a Soviet flag in my office in the 1980s, but that was a different time when I was not running for national office.” 

Sanders then posed for a selfie with a man wearing a Che shirt and a hammer and sickle face bandana.

China Denies Weaponizing Virus No One Has Heard Of

BEIJING – A spokesman from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned rumors that the Chinese military weaponized Mongolian Yak Herpes, a disease unknown to science until this morning. The spokesman elaborated that the virus most certainly was not deliberately created at the Sum Ting Wong Disease Research Center in Wuhan. The spokesman then ran in circles around the podium with the other four spokesmen, sat down, and was replaced by another spokesman. 

In any case, according to the 2nd spokesman, it was all a long time ago and it never happened anyway. Besides, continued the 3rd spokesman, what about the appalling rates of obesity in the US, especially amongst impoverished Negroes residing in so-called food deserts? Such a thing could never happen under the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. The 4th spokesman then ripped up a Tibetan flag and kowtowed to a giant portrait of Xi Jinping. 

In response, the NBA now requires all players to carry a copy of Mao’s Little Red Book at all times, and all future games will begin with a playing of the March of the Volunteers. Some experts have speculated that such a disease could have originated from an incident when Genghis Khan had sex with a herd of yaks to win a bet. This is why the banner of his horde had nine bands of yak hair, one for each yak. Chinese officials have repeatedly stressed that even if someone is infected with Mongolian Yak Herpes, they will be healthy again an hour later.

Hail to the Grand Helmsman Mao and His Glorious Successor Xi!
Wan Sui! Wan Sui! Wan Sui!
And hail to the Great Chinese 5G Cellphone Corporation Huawei!
Huawei! Huawei! Huawei!

Government Over-reacting to Virus, Says Traveler Being Frisked by TSA

CHICAGO – “The government is really being absurd about this pandemic” said Hugh Jass as a TSA agent patted him down for hidden weapons before Jass boarded a flight to Phoenix. “I mean, if you look at the numbers, the risk is really minuscule, and the cost of the precautions is outrageous. And even despite the extreme measures, if anything, the situation has gotten worse” said Jass as he recovered his shoes and belt from the x-ray machine while holding up his pants with one hand.

But according to leading infectious disease expert Dr. Joanna Gambolputty, there could be dire consequences if Americans let their guard down. “If you see something, say something. And pay attention to the color-coded alert system.” Jass remains skeptical, however, adding that “if you look at it on the basis of cost vs benefit, there’s no rational justification for it. It’s just feels over reals. It really seems like there are people profiting off this fear and have every incentive to keep it going as long as possible rather than actually deal with the problem in a sensible way.” Jass then recovered his TSA-approved travel-size liquids stored in a clear baggie.

But according to Dr. Gambolputty “our heroes on the frontlines need our support. If we fight among ourselves, the terrorists, ah I mean the virus, will win.” Elsewhere, The Office President Elect Joe Biden proposed a new Virus Defense Agency to ensure that a similar pandemic never strikes the US again. “This new VDA would also stimulate a flagging economy as the unemployed are hired as Public Health Guardian Angels, who will enforce proper mask wear and social distancing.” Critics warn that a new agency would simply add confusion to the already bloated public health sector. “We spend more on public health than several of the next highest spending countries combined”, continued Jass, ”and as far as I can tell, we aren’t any healthier.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert addressed the issue from his ultra-secure National Virus Response Command Post located deep the isolated, rugged terrain of Hawaii. “The price of freedom, I mean health, is eternal vigilance” said Fauci as he scanned the horizon through binoculars. “It’s a bit tricky, you know. It turns out the big side faces away from your eyes” said Fauci of the binoculars. “I guess I’m so used to putting my eye on the big side what from all the time I spent using a microscope.” Dr. Fauci, whose new call-sign is Ghost Viper 007, is head of the elite Alpha Strike Force, consisting of the nation’s top men except President Trump. “What a bunch of losers. Sad!” said Trump of the task force in a tweet. Twitter has flagged the tweet as containing misinformation.