Strange radio pulses detected coming from ice in Antarctica Penn State University
World faces new nuclear arms race, researchers warn Business Times
Humans Have Now Seen the Dawn of Time from Earth After Breakthrough 404 Media
RECONDUCTORING: BUILDING TOMORROW’S GRID TODAY Hackaday
Climate/Environment
Deadly flash flooding in West Virginia Balanced Weather
How fungi are surviving—and even thriving—in a warming world Food & Environment Reporting Network
Blue Line Medicine Orion
Could this city be the model for how to tackle the housing crisis and climate change? NPR
Pandemics
Covid vaccination protects against severe kidney damage, study suggests NBC News
Amazon’s Return-to-Office Mandate Sparks Disability Complaints Bloomberg
Long COVID is Now the Number One Chronic Illness in Children The Gauntlet
Clean Air for Kids Ltd is finally out in the wilds!
And a registered Company.We need to clean the air our kids are breathing. Especially in schools where they spend the majority of their day.
Let’s just do it! @CleanAir4KidsUK pic.twitter.com/JfVFXMT86d
— Ruth Brooker (@erbrooker) June 13, 2025
China?
US, China leave issue of military-use rare earths, AI chip curbs unresolved in new trade truce FirstPost
($) Oracle Cloud: the Largest “Chinese Cloud” in America? Interconnected
China’s nuclear arsenal surges 20% in one year, reaching over 600 warheads: SIPRI Breaking Defense
India – Pakistan
O Canada
Canada Is Gathering Global Leaders in a Province That Wants Out of the Country WSJ (resilc)
Syraqistan
Sources: US Will Enter Israel’s War With Iran Antiwar
Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran’s supreme leader, US officials say Reuters. Sure.
Scoop: Trump pressed to take hard line with Iran after Israel strikes Axios
Pentagon split over Trump’s Israel policy Semafor
Trump’s Schizophrenic Middle East Policy, Facilitating Disaster Larry Johnson
US backing Israeli attacks, Iran to respond decisively: Pezeshkian Al Mayadeen
We’re about to get dragged into nation-building 2.0
Israel has formally requested a direct US intervention in its war against Iran. The intervention itself will seem easy, relatively speaking. It’s the aftermath you should worry about. What we’re likely looking at is yet another…
— Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari) June 15, 2025
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) June 16, 2025
***
Nuclear Claims Are a Smoke Screen for Hopes of Toppling Iran Foreign Policy
Israel’s attacks on Iran hint at a bigger goal: regime change Dawn
Israel’s Channel 14 – a mouthpiece of Netanyahu – reports that Israel is preparing the “Dahiyeh Doctrine” for Iran.
This entails the destruction of civilian infrastructure on a very large scale – as Israel did in Lebanon.
It has nothing to do with the nuclear program…
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) June 15, 2025
Iran reports 5 car bomb explosions in Tehran by Israel Anadolu Agency
Exiled crown prince says Iranian people have ‘tremendous opportunity’ to topple weakened regime Fox News
***
Pakistan to drop nuclear weapon on Israel if Israel nukes Iran, says Rezaei Türkiye Today
India breaks with China, Russia on Israel-Iran war Asia Times
***
Do the Kurds and Baluch Have a Plan Following Israel’s Blow to Iran’s Regime? Middle East Forum. Wishful thinking from the neocon outfit?
Kurdistan Region Presidency Condemns Israeli Attack on Iran, Urges Swift International Response Kurdistan24
No idea if this particular thing is a psyop or not, but, generally speaking, Iran’s ethnic diversity is a huge weak point and Tehran’s enemies are very good at weaponizing ‘multiculturalism’.
Kurds are heavily pro-Israel and have been for decades. Persian Azeris are fertile… https://t.co/XYSAfqlzBT pic.twitter.com/ePXdeBPblX
— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) June 15, 2025
EU brings Turkiye into its security fold Arab News. Usually a sign that Turkey is “cooperating” elsewhere.
Türkiye denies claims of Mossad infiltration through Iran border Turkiye Today
Azerbaijani FM tells Iranian counterpart it won’t allow Israel to use territory for strikes AFP
Iranian TG channels report the detection of drones near the maritime border with Azerbaijan.
“After detecting several Israeli hostile drones flying toward Bandar-e Anzali from the maritime border of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the defense network took decisive action and… pic.twitter.com/6huxm0fAs0
— Open Source America (@USAopens) June 15, 2025
Opinion: The Engine of Turkic Integration – Why TURKPA Is No Longer “Just Talk” Times of Central Asia
Iran says it foiled attempt to establish land route linking Azerbaijan to Turkey through Armenia Turkish Minute
***
Old Blighty
‘Renewing Britain’ by failing homeless children System Change
New Not-So-Cold War
HOW TO SAY IN RUSSIAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONALD, HAPPY US ARMY AND FLAG DAY John Helmer
Mr. Market’s Stress
Oil prices climb as Israel-Iran conflict heightens supply disruption fears Business Times
The Stress of Wall Street Is Sending Men to Pelvic Floor Therapy Bloomberg
“Liberation Day”
How Tariffs Are Breaking US Trade Apricitas Economics
Imperial Collapse Watch
Industrial Policy and Imperial Realignment Phenomenal World
Petrostate America Foreign Affairs
Somehow even the Mexican puppy K9 unit parade looks fiercer than the U.S. paradepic.twitter.com/snZHl93wVS https://t.co/vkBn2yen2B
— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) June 15, 2025
They really had this man CARRY a drone during the parade yesterday.
FFS.pic.twitter.com/7MV5gkUo3E
— Maine (@TheMaineWonk) June 15, 2025
Was it all just a bribery and money laundering scheme?
“Special thanks to our sponsor: Coinbase” pic.twitter.com/wtcZbHLIt2
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 14, 2025
Trump 2.0
US tycoon pours $100mn into Trump crypto project after SEC reprieve FT
Crypto Bill Chaos: White House Blocks Conflict Clause in Bipartisan CLARITY Act Tron Weekly
Trump’s FAA pick has claimed ‘commercial’ pilot license he doesn’t have Politico
Democrats en déshabillé
Stablecoin bill marks emergence of Sen. Ruben Gallego as crypto power player AZ Central
Teachers union head Randi Weingarten resigns from DNC The Hill
Antitrust
Monopoly Round-Up: The Luxury of War BIG by Matt Stoller
Weimar Republic
Man suspected of shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers caught, AP sources says AP
Suspect in Minnesota Shooting Linked to Security Company, Evangelical Ministry Wired
Minnesota lawmaker shootings underscore frequency of US political violence Semafor
Trump says he ‘may’ call Walz after Minnesota shootings, calls him ‘grossly incompetent’ ABC News
When there’s political violence in western democracies it’s traditionally treated as a somber event for everyone to come together. That’s disappeared. The victims were gunned down just over a day ago and a US Senator is mocking the event and hinting at a deranged conspiracy. https://t.co/EO7pbWI8ng
— Lee Fang (@lhfang) June 15, 2025
Police State Watch
ICE Agent Fled From Angry Residents Outside New York School — and Got in a Car Crash The Intercept
To recap:
– ICE opened the facility without getting any permits from the city or allowing in city inspectors.
– Conditions are reportedly terrible, leading to protests.
– Conditions deteriorate, leading to unrest inside the facility.
– A riot breaks out and 4 people escape. https://t.co/Y7hUv7WN1t— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) June 13, 2025
CIA Analyst Sentenced To Prison For Releasing Documents On Israel’s Plans To Strike Iran The Dissenter
Immigration
Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, undeterred by protests AP
Reconquista Archedelia
AI
Is AI the Reason for Your Layoff? New York Becomes the First State to Require Companies to Disclose If So. Entrepreneur
The launch of ChatGPT polluted the world forever, like the first atomic weapons tests The Register
Silicon Valley/Venture Capital Pentagon
The U.S. Navy is more aggressively telling startups, ‘We want you’ Tech Crunch
US Army signs up Band of Tech Bros with a suitably nerdy name The Register
A 17-year-old designed a cheaper, more efficient drone. The Department of Defense just awarded him $23,000 for it. Business Insider
Abortion
EXCLUSIVE: Is the ‘tech bro-ification’ of abortion here? Prism
Zeitgeist Watch
Bananas are the worst food on earth Internal Exile
Class Warfare
Workers’ Rights Are Collapsing Globally. Canada Is No Exception The Maple
Pedagogy and Class Power: Reclaiming Freire in an Age of Reaction MR Online
When We Are All Enemies of the State Boston Review
How Exactly Did Hunter-Gatherers Sleep? On Rest and Relaxation in the Prehistoric Era Lit Hub
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
The Grunt Parade
Trump’s Birthday Parade was a humid affair
Too many old tanks and too much of hot air
Those soldiers strolled past like they just didn’t care
‘Yay! A big Grunt Parade for a fat billionaire!’
There was robotic dogs, and machine guns on trucks
Why, I even seen me a pair of Canucks!
A giant white cake with a logo deluxe
For about fifty million of taxpayer bucks
But Trump kept saluting while everyone sat
Blue suit and red tie, no gloves, and no hat
The only clown standing, not much to look at
(I doubt he can pull off his own Koodee Tat)
Two and a half were the miles soldiers trod
Under the gaze of our Emperor Fraud
It was probably this or the firing squad
So they walked for the man who stands right next to God
They barely found people to fill half the bleachers:
Some MAGAT’s who’d been written off by their teachers
Some yellers and yahoos, some cretinous creatures,
Some JD Vance cousins with good ol’ boy features
Though his soldiers seemed lost like some wandering sheep
Though Trump lost his battle to not fall asleep
Trump kept this one promise he swore he would keep
Though like Trump steak and vodka, the whole thing felt cheap
What a show for the world’s greatest military!
Howitzers huger than ordinary!
Trump will honor this day when he builds his Liberry!
We will do this next year, but next time make it Very!
And Bigly! And Beautiful! Make it go faster!
Throw in some Storm Troopers firing their blasters
Some grand local foe like the dread Snallygaster
We must never repeat something like this disaster
Dr Seuss rides again! (The cat in the hat looks pleased.)
A cat in the garden seeks nobody’s pardon . . .
Truth. Permission neither.
“Exiled crown prince says Iranian people have ‘tremendous opportunity’ to topple weakened regime’
‘The Iranian regime is weaker now than ever, and it’s only a “matter of time” before it’s toppled, exiled crown prince HRH Reza Pahlavi said Sunday on Fox News.’
At the end of the interview when asked, he said modestly that he would be willing to serve the people atop the Peacock Throne for the good of the peace and security that he could bring – along with his good friend al-Jolani to act as the King’s Hand.
In such a scenario, I would expect him to have a shorter shelflife than the Austrian archduke who became Maximilian I of Mexico.
Iranian people have tremendous opportunity to get out of the frying pan into the fire.
Shah Shah a Go Go, by the Stranglers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q3erBndoww
No Kings? No Shahs!
Pahlavi does not strike me as somene good at playing chess.
(Wanted) Dead or Alive
https://youtu.be/DhgYuABqZdU?si=GH3sa1YlxT7OMB_1
Rev,
In my sojourn of three score and ten plus in this imperfect, iniquitous and degenerate world, I have met many folks defective in many ways. Some even had the temerity to borrow my tools without leave! However, as of yet, I have come across no cohort I despise more than “traitors to their own”. The zionists, starting with their Liberty caper, rank a very close second.
>Iran
The Gazans are still starving.
I’ve been biting my tongue. Figure they’ve been waiting for enough Palestinian blood to wash up on American shores, that Bibi’s tears can’t launder Israel’s image.
We may not identify with that Arab/Muslim willingness to embrace suffering, but damn is it powerful at scale, and all the more impressive in its selflessness.
Who knew the Jews had that in them too?
Tick-tick goes the clock.
Misery loves company.
Castles made of sand…
Israelis cheer as Iranian missile strikes Palestinian town in country’s north
Israelis broke into singing the anti-Arab song ‘May your village burn’ as an Iranian missile struck Tamra, near Haifa, killing four Palestinian citizens of Israel
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-cheer-iran-missile-strike-arab-town-tamra-palestinian-citizens
I thank you, for providing context, that the reader may observe my wit.
As an aside, the eschatological implications are getting more profound by the hour.
Alice, here’s a new Shahid Bolsen video providing fresh context on Gaza, Iran and the resistance, in particular observations on Iran in the first five minutes that made my head turn. It’s the first I’ve heard anyone spell out Iran’s geopolitical circumstances so plainly, explaining what was obvious to many of us since the first Iranian retaliation, but we were unable to qualify. In short, his perspective is that accession to BRICS demanded Iran forego its non-state military relationships. He claims Iran and Israel are in a symbiotic relationship, and his justifications are interesting.
Iran, Israel and the Theater of War – Middle-Nation/YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TTUpoY-vWA8&pp=ygURbmltYSBwZXBlIGVzY29iYXLSBwkJ3gkBhyohjO8%3D
Pepe on Nima
I do thank whoever sent in that cat picture! It’s great. My cat is a gray and white Turkish van cat. He makes those kinds of faces and has the most comical expressions. Always fitting for what is happening around him. Love this photo.
Agreed. That is a great foto of that cat. After scrolling through the depressing headlines, it was just the thing to bring a bit of cheer back again.
Yes, the cat photo was what we all needed today. Such a grim few days we have had in Trump world. Only other thing that could make my day was the sad photo of a guy in foolish military parade carrying a drone?!? Just sad.
Amen. BLESSED BE BASTET !
Thank you, Conor.
I went hiking with a diplomat friend, not a career diplomat, but a latecomer from the City, on Saturday. She’s based in Africa, but also had some tidbits with regard to the Foreign Office view of Russia and Ukraine:
Britain is at war with Russia. If that means reducing the budget for health and social services, so be it.
Putin is corrupt and has little support outside Moscow and people who depend on the oligarchs that form his inner circle.
Ukrainians and Russians are the same people. Most Russians support Ukraine.
Ukraine will ultimately prevail. Ukraine’s use of technology is keeping at bay Russia’s throwing of bodies at Ukrainian defences. Russia has not changed from its traditional tactics.
Russian casualties are over a million, so will eventually run out of soldiers.
Britain is developing drones that are superior to what even the US has. Once deployed, they will be game changers.
I did not know what to say and drank more than usual at the pub en route.
With regard to Africa, the UK is wooing France’s former colonies, especially Algeria, and offering Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal help with breaking away from the west African Franc. Japan, Turkiye and South Korea have joined the UK and France, the US, Russia, India and China in the African great game.
Starmer is off to Mozambique soon, eyeing deals in the gas fields that stretch from Kenya to Mozambique. Mozambique’s development is being helped by increasing use of English and interaction with anglophone business, unlike Angola, still wedded to Portugal.
Hi Colonel, it cannot have been easy keeping a straight face while upping your beer consumption en route. Her beliefs appear to be the very epitome of groupthink in Whitehall, even if she is based in Africa.
Thank you, John.
We were hiking near Chequers, my native county. The local beer wasn’t good, unfortunately.
I tried hard not to laugh. I also desperately hoped that there are alternative voices at King Charles Street.
Unfortunately it is probably a false hope, Colonel. The FSO seems to have successfully culled the likes of Craig Murray, Alastair Crooke and Ian Proud. The US flushed them out 25 years ago. Neocon groupthink is a death cult.
Thank you.
Former ambassador Oliver Miles has spoken about the Arabists being forced out of the State Department, first, and, later, the Foreign Office.
During the Blair years and “sofa government”, many civil servants became drinking buddies of ministers and political appointees. There was some in the Thatcher years, but not as much. Blair also brought in many “special advisers” (spads, often fresh from university, like the Miliband brothers or from think tanks and newspapers). The 40 odd under Blair grew to over 100 under Johnson.
One hopes the likes of Anonymous 2 and Aurelien, both retired officials, pipe up.
They say it is a sign of old age when the policemen start getting younger. What is it when it is the heads of MI6…?
The spouse’s direct contemporary at College, Blaise Metreweli, has just been appointed to run MI6! Younger than me: that’s quite a coup of a rôle, under 50. The highest that year has risen so far is Ambassador and Region Head etc.
There’s an amusing LordBebo post that she is really Russian, not even Georgian. She certainly looks like a killer Natasha….
https://nitter.poast.org/MyLordBebo/status/1934692730262741274#m
I have retaliated in the domestic oneupmanship: Kneecap’s lead lawyer on their terrorism charge is Blinne Ní Grálaigh KC from my College, Inn and year of Call.
Marital scissors, paper, stone….
Thank you.
I don’t trust younger GPs. Why? Because I used to teach ’em!
I had repeat bloods done yesterday as part of ongoing Long COVID testing. Only realised when NHS App beeped me that the repeat tests were for full blood count only (normal as before), NOT what the analyst had flagged to the GP last time round as needing follow-up and repeat – neutropenia. So I should have had differential white blood tests done at a minimum, since my immune system is giving up.
I’m seeing a more senior GP Thursday (since something else has also arisen which has made her use the 2-week pathway to be sure about something – some Brits will know what that is) and I’m bringing this up.
I resent doing their homework for them. Basic mistake here.
I’ve spoken at length with a few “liberal” democrats over the past week or so, and OMG… I worked mental health for a bit and know better than to challenge delusions, head-on (it does not lead to positive outcomes). These people are seriously whacko and I really do fear that we are heading for that KoolAid moment.
We’re on the bus too and hopefully can take control of the driver’s seat before it’s too late.
Thank you for that comment, Colonel. I would go so far to suggest that because of those beliefs that your hiking friend has, that they would automatically be accepted into the Foreign Office. If she was a hard-core realist, then she would have never been accepted by them as she was not signed up to the narrative and may possibly be a Putin supporter. These days it is all binary and you are either one or the other.
The Great Game devolved into the used-to-be kinda good game. /s
I literally projected/read into the used car business, lol.
Thank you, all.
The Rev is correct. It extends to economic and social policy.
When you salary depends on knowing nothing…
Thank you.
There are also true believers.
Sara Baras was wonderful a fortnight ago.
This is pretty much my experience too, working in the city when speaking to colleagues (althought at much lower level than Colonel).
It’s extremely difficult to get a different point of view.
Thank you.
Even, with regard to China, Britain’s colonial era companies and oligarchs have struggled to get alternative views across.
“I did not know what to say and drank more than usual at the pub en route.”
Now that sounds familiar in my life. Talking politics and arguing about it is normally what my family calls a good time, but my parents have drunk so much of the Kool-Aid on evil Russia and victim Ukraine that my eyes glaze over as soon as it comes up. There is no hearing that maybe their “facts” are at best ill-informed or ill-sourced. At best now I just bite my tongue and wait for a good moment to change the topic of conversation (or leave the room if it just gets worse).
Talking to my millennial nieces and nephews, and beloved sister, all self-proclaimed progressives, it always starts with “If only someone would kill Putin!”.
I don’t even bother to ask why but immediately point out that their opinions are formed from the very government and press they claim to not trust. I’m starting to get a few converts!
One of my friends is ex state dept (in his younger days. His Statie friends have drunk the same koolaid as the Brits , line for line.
‘SIMPLICIUS Ѱ
@simpatico771
Jun 15
🇨🇳⚔️🇺🇸Chinese vs. US parade….’
Big difference. Here is a video showing the Chinese doing their parades and the last part of it showing the insane levels of preparation for them-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6L9XqXLgsI (6:00 min)
Funny thing is that the US used to be able to do these sorts of parades. I have an autobiography of the late Col. David Hackworth who at the beginning of his career was stationed at Trieste. The old guard made sure that those soldiers were immaculately turned out and took pride in themselves and their uniforms and were like a US Marine drill team in precision. Trump’s parade was just a bunch of guys in fatigues walking in the same direction at the same time.
A friend was stationed in Germany from 1973 to 1977 and related that GI Joes there at the time had a very relaxed uniform protocol in that they left their shirts untucked almost on the verge of sloppy, and keep in mind that morale among the troops was lower than the underside of a snail at the time on account of the Vietnam War, and this was during the transition from a drafted army to all volunteer armed forces.
One fellow in his outfit had longer hair and had a ‘short wig’ of sorts to hide his mane when in an official capacity on duty.
The ‘marching’ at the parade over the weekend was sloppy, no?
Sloppy is being kind. Rag tag comes to mind.
If Trump’s parade was supposed to inspire confidence…
Fail
To put things in proper perspective, compare the Razzle Dazzle marching in Stripes…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKrdnPjKHcc
Or any college football halftime event, heh heh
Buffalo Soldiers….
That´s where I tend to fall into a schizophrenia which is basically: every thing if existing long enough developes its own culture and some way or the other gains legitimacy simply by quantity – even if I personally am against it.
That is to say, all this parading around is a joke and cannot be taken seriously. A total waste of time.
In the same line of thinking I used to go as far as to argue, we don´t need armed forces.
Now if you are member of the “Axis of Evil” which is an Orwellian term as any – you cannot do without armed forces, and not just of any quality, and with that – I assume – all these, in my private view, idiotic minutes – might be necessary for psychological reasons after all?
Unlike doctors soldiers mostly are usefless – unless there is a war. But then how do you keep up quality over the decades of inaction.
I don´t know if there parading around and these ancient forms are truly necessary and helpful.
Is this parading, this concept of total ritualisation truly necessary to have high quality armed forces?
Wasn´t one cause of conflict in the Spanish Republic how to handle this very issue in a nation potentially under attack? Anarchism vs. military logic?
p.s. This ultimately leads to the question of truth: Were I a male Russian citizen with the same view of geopolitics that I have now, were I be willing to go to the front? No, I would not. Is that consequential? No.
I used to defend leftists´ right to sabotage military installations and in general obstruct armed forces.
It was easy to argue this way because those forces were NATO and simple to hate.
But does it make sense to sabotage Russian armed forces if one understands enough of what this war is about?
No.
So what about my principles? They don´t apply any more as far as “principles” ought to be universal.
That´s a new experience. And I don´t really like it.
Russia is the largest country in the world, and I feel confident in claiming that over half of my fellow citizens couldn’t locate it on a map of the world with delineated borders.
It appears to be regrettably true-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRh1zXFKC_o&t=30s (3:44 mins)
But the kids are OK – thank god.
Why on earth Geography is not a required in US high school curriculums is beyond me……
Because smart phones. Who needs to learn anything?
Ask ’em to point north, south, east, or west and it’s probably just as dire.
In California before I left, I encountered one kid who was in his second year at UC’s Stockton campus and literally could not construct a sentence with a clause, either in speech or in written form — no surprise on the latter, as he couldn’t spell either.
How was he getting by? He was sending all his schoolwork back to his mother in Berkeley to do for him (which was how I met him as I was in the same apartment building pre-Covid).
One night, I watched from a balcony as the mother herself got strapped down on a gurney, thrown in an ambulance waiting on the street outside, and driven away to the Napa asylum, raving all the while, for a stay of a few days before she was released with a diagnosis of incurable narcissism and still with her fentanyl problem. And these were borderline middle-class folks, as the then-husband — soon not to be — was hanging on to a job at Apple by the skin of his teeth through this.
Meanwhile, I kept seeing ever-more homeless people living near the Bayshore. Ah America, the Exceptional Country, Shining City On a Hill™, and Envy of the World.
Not intended cynical but that kid and that mother doing his homework and the Dad with, er, Apple (the one suffering most in a meaningless but well enough paid job at least for the kid to attend UC) and then you – a Bill Murray/Clint Eastwood 😉 – finding out about this by accident just because living next door – that´s a Sundance indie movie. Possible contender for Audience Award.
Crazy anecdote. Not antidote for sure.
Music for opening credits of movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xag5RKD0VHk/
Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair (Official Audio)
RIP
Nomination for 2025 US word of the year, “homeless”.
So, if you were Russian, you would avoid mobilization by escaping to Gemany. :)
re:”I don´t know if there parading around and these ancient forms are truly necessary and helpful. Is this parading, this concept of total ritualisation truly necessary to have high quality armed forces?”
AG,
The short answer is “YES”. It has ever been so.
For chapter and verse ask any drill sergeant (ret.) over 60.
“Nine to the front and six to the rear, that’s the way we do it here.”*
Having been one of “Those Guys” marching in “That Formation” I will have to agree that the clip does look fairly sloppy compared to the 80s. That said, once you were out of Basic/AIT or OSUT, there wasn’t all that much marching to be done, other than ambling down to, say, the motor pool.
But the Soviets and Chinese always did have better looking and more synchronized formations.** THAT said, pretty soldiers marching don’t win wars. Unfortunately, the US is also not noted for having much in the way of the skills that DO win wars.
*a reference to how far hands were supposed to swing when marching in formation – something quite lacking in the videos
**though “Double to the left flank, double to the right flank, double to the rear with a slight hesitation,” when properly executed, looks pretty darned kewl!
I had to do a double take after seeing that video. At first I thought it was a company of recruits during their first week of basic training.
In my active duty AF days I was occasionally detailed to march in a local Armed Forces/Veterans/Memorial Day parade. We did one or two rehearsals to refresh our close order drill training.* On parade day we formed in Class A uniform (we didn’t even have cammo uniforms back then) and had an open ranks inspection. Anyone who got gigged for “personal appearance” would meet with the commander on the next duty day.
* That included nine-to-the-front, six-to-the-rear.
I would like to think the sloppy display last Saturday wasn’t a subtle middle finger to the commander-in-chief.
The parade certainly was ragtag. The question is why? Is it a sign of incompetence or of low morale or of defiance? And if the later, was it defiance by the troops, the officers, or both?
Now to be fair to the US Army and its sibling branches, they know how to perform a proper marching ceremony. If you’ve ever been to the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery you know that to be true. That said, we don’t have a standing Regiment of trained and practiced parade marching soldiers. I bet those Chinese army parade marchers have ongoing marching training/practicing; just like our very limited number of ceremonial officers and soldiers.
Trump hasn’t been in office 6 full months yet so getting 6,000 soldiers and equipment to DC and ready to participate in a parade is a huge logistical effort alone without making them truly high-quality parade participants. And where are these soldiers coming from? Is the Army Officer core really working to divert soldier time to practice for this parade? No.
This is the result of a narcissist who took advantage of the fact that the 250th “birthday” of the US Army coincided with his own. There are no other planned parades for the other branches of the armed services. So, we ended up with a community style “Memorial Day Parade” on steroids. And I it will never be recruitment grade viewing material. It was a total waste of time and resources.
It is heartening to see US having problems moving troops within US, which means moving troops around the world, in quantity would be a far greater challenge…
Comparing China and US military parades is silly. The US has hundreds of thousands of troops forward deployed. China has none to speak of so their best soldiers are available for parades and have plenty of time to practice their routines. US troops are busy terrorizing others, so little time to perfect the parade ground arts.
Marching is not rocket science. You don’t need best soldiers, nor plenty of time to practice “their routines”. Been there, done that. The really silly stuff are the excuses that people would come up when failinig to perform basic things. Here’s more appropriate tune for the vanity parade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI5IA8assfk
Dude, I was in cadets at school and we, as a bunch of brainless 13-18 year olds, could march better than that. It was pretty woeful.
Caitlin:
If It’s To Be War With Iran, Let It Be The War That Nobody Comes To
Taco will need to let illegals stay in the country as long as they enlist to fight Iran.
I am Sam
Uncle Sam I am
That Sam-I-am!
That Sam-I-am!
I do not like that Sam-I-am!
Do you like
China and Iran?
I do not like them, Sam-I-am
I do not like
China and Iran
Would you like them
here or there?
I would not like them
here or there
I would not like them anywhere
I do not like
China and Iran
I do not like them, Sam-I-am
Would you like them in a house?
Would you like them with a mouse?
I do not like them
in a house
I do not like them
with a mouse
I do not like them
here or there
I do not like them
anywhere
I do not like
China and Iran
I do not like them
Uncle Sam-I-am
But,
Would you like them in a box?
Would you like them with some lox?
Somehow I doubt the plan is to fight them to the last Israeli.
I would love to hear what people in Taiwan are thinking right now.
I would love to see the Israelis being rounded up like the Ukies are… See how that goes down in New Jersey with uncle Avi…
“Strange radio pulses detected coming from ice in Antarctica”
Umm, maybe it is a good idea to just let it be. You know. Walk away. Pretend you never heard it…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFRj_Z5uTMY (3:57 mins)
Perhaps it’s a signal from our interstellar overlords that their experiment has failed and it’s time to terminate. If so, I’m not sure I’d blame them. Maybe they’ll get it right next Yuga.
Good morning, KSIL listeners and welcome to the Best In Silurian Music!
Coming in at Number 10 on the charts, “Let Me Be Your Thunder Lizard!” by Al O. Saur!
Hackaday gets it wrong.
Reconductoring is significantly less expensive than installing new towers and way faster.
One of the reasons for the ACCR is the composit core is both lighter and stronger allowing for more aluminum to transport more electrons for the same weight on the towers and because of less sagging due to heat.
As to the aluminum strands having to do custom work to shape to them vs being round, that is already done with most all aluminum wire you buy in the larger sizes.
But I’m not sure that’s an advantage as in the higher voltages diameter of the wire is actually more important due to the corona effect.
Here is a link from 3M showing round conductors.
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b00014620/
The article made the point you make that reconductoring is faster. It was ambivalent about cheaper but it was comparing it to an illusory new tower greenfield build. It is certainly cheaper than the reality.
Ann posted this yesterday but it is worth a repeat, in the video Kristi Noem says they are going to liberate us from the socialists (as if that is in her remit):
Why is Kristi Noem’s bone-chilling pledge of a “regime change” in Calif not getting media coverage?!
So do I, actually, the same as with the Reptiles.
Freedom from the commies? Talk in’ bout yer freedom here, Power in the Darkness, Tom Robbins Band, 1978.
“Liberate us from the Liberals.”
There. Fixed it for her!
Socialists is coded for Liberals. It is all gibberish.
The Liberals are Neo-Liberals as are many of the Conservatives.
There might be a few socialists in the bushes, but none anywhere near governance.
The many are so propagandized and befuddled that they hear fascist and communist in the same description of an individual or institution and just nod their heads.
‘Trita Parsi
@tparsi
Israel’s Channel 14 – a mouthpiece of Netanyahu – reports that Israel is preparing the “Dahiyeh Doctrine” for Iran.
This entails the destruction of civilian infrastructure on a very large scale – as Israel did in Lebanon.
It has nothing to do with the nuclear program…’
So if they go after high rise buildings as part of a terror campaign, what if Iran drops a few skyscrapers in Tel Aviv to return the complement? That would do the Israeli economy a world of good-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Tel_Aviv
Would you believe that Oz’s Foreign Minister actually said that Israel has a right to defend themselves? Seriously, WTF.
Why wait?
Canadian FM is no better: https://archive.ph/b29Sr
Would you believe that Oz’s Foreign Minister actually said that Israel has a right to defend themselves?
Both the Canadian PM and Foreign Minister said the same.
Disgusting. The new PM should have known better. The FM, I’m not sure.
Why does the tweet from this guy Sohrab Ahmari about nation building in Iran remind me of the “world building” narrative of a science fiction novel?
“How Exactly Did Hunter-Gatherers Sleep? On Rest and Relaxation in the Prehistoric Era”
I think that there is something missing in that article. I can hardly see a prehistoric encampment or ones in a cave all nodding off to sleep at the same time. Mega fauna was still a thing back then so you would expect there to be a standard watch. Maybe women took part too but you would have to have at least one tribesman awake and keeping watch on everybody or maybe two so that you did not have somebody nodding off to sleep while on watch. And that might suggest that tribesman would be used to being woken to take their turn and keep the fires stoked before being relieved. I would further guess that watching the movements of the stars would tell them when their “shift” was at an end.
Weren’t dogs domesticated in part to act as camp watchdogs?
I would expect that. If the mongooses do that, with the punishment for lack of discipline being even death, prehistoric humans, or apes must have done it as well.
Due Dissidence guys, utube, ~30+ minutes.
How Israel INSTALLED TRUMP To Start a WAR WITH IRAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrPFQkuJBx0
James Bamford has previously alluded to DJT collusion with the ZE in 2016.
Just watching now and yes, they do mention Bamford.
Greenwald on Thursday on his show dedicated to Iran (but finished just before the attack) opined that if the ZE did attack but DJT didn’t join in, he would be impeached. Probably the only thing a prez could be impeached for.
Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran’s supreme leader, US officials say – Reuters
Not comforting at all after seeing how Trump likes to play deniability.
They probably got him in their deepest mountain bunker as they know that the Israelis are crazy enough to think that killing him will win them the war. This whole story, come to think of it, might be a Trump ploy to flush the old boy out. After the past few months, who has any trust in Trump at all anymore? He still has three and a half years of his Presidency but no nation has any trust in him to keep his word or honour any agreement or literally anything. Internationally, the Trump brand is trash. That is why there has been no more news of any more trade agreements with Trump after the UK signed. With Trump it is always a zero-sum game.
Which implies that all of the other assassinations had Trump’s sign off on them. As far as deniability goes, that PR ploy may not ultimately be as effective as they thought it was.
Well he signed onto the thousands of assassinations in Gaza. Just reading Ian Welsh saying that
Khameini is cautious, even timid. He has underplayed his hand ever single time during this crisis, most importantly when not sending ground troops to stop the fall of Assad. This caused great problems with the younger members of the Revolutionary Guard, who are hardliners almost to a man. The elimination of senior members of defense and government is not strengthening moderates, it is strengthening hardliners.
Israel has said that Khameini is not off-limits for murder. If they do so, it will be a huge mistake. It will end the non-nuclear fatwa (though the Iraniams will lie about that) and put hardliners in charge. Ironically, the best thing Khameini could do for Iran right now is be Martyred.
https://www.ianwelsh.net/
Spielberg even made a movie called Munich about the misguided Israeli assassination mania as it took place after the Olympics massacre. As Larry Johnson says this only works if you are fighting one man.
Professor Marandi on Judge Nap today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GUN3Kukb9Q
He’s underground on his cell phone because he’s been told that he is a target, so he has separated himself from his family in order to do as many interviews as he can. His descriptions of the damage are credible. He says the Iranians have not used their best weapons, instead using 20-25 year old missiles plus modern drones.
He says Iran has a large trove of documents on the Israeli nuclear weapons. He also says the Iranian people are united as never before.
The comments under the video are from all over the world, wishing him well and praying for his safety. I hope he can be protected.
Workers’ Rights Are Collapsing Globally. Canada Is No Exception – The Maple
The globalist dream: most labor being some kind of easily controlled migrant labor.
>HOW TO SAY IN RUSSIAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONALD, HAPPY US ARMY AND FLAG DAY
If both Moscow and Tehran expect Iran to be defeated, then Iran could collapse as quickly as Syria did.
I think that there might be a tone of panic and pessimism in that article. Iran is fighting back and holding their own. They spent eight years in a war against a western-backed Iraq and lost 500,000 people people but still survived. Yeah, Israel packs a punch but it is only a fraction of the size of Iran and they are not going to let themselves be turned into the next Syria. I have read that the US will supply it with military equipment until the cows come home but how realistic is this? The weapons stocks of the US military have been drained the past three years in the Ukraine and the needs of the Gaza genocide. To help out Israel, they even had to strip the Ukraine of air-defenses so that it could be sent to Israel. Sorry, Big Z. I would suggest that Russia and China are seeing if the Iranians will not fold or crumple. And if they do not, then that is when the big equipment goes in. But as it stands, do we even know which countries are sending supplies to Iran and in what quantities? That is something that Iran will not publish.
Helmer’s hate for Putin gets him, periodically, onto one of the predictable waves of Russian pessimism.
While is points all have a superficial truth, one must assume there are better, less public channels of communication between Moscow, Tehran, & Beijing, and circumstantial evidence points to those channels being active at the moment.
Mirandi was good with Dima this morning on the death cult Israel has become, it dovetails nicely now with the Western capitalist death cult, though they’re each based on different Old Testament Gods, so no real reason for optimism all around.
Politicians are going to politic.
I don’t get “hate” for Putin from Helmer nor “Russian pessimism”.
Situations aren’t as good vs evil as some would like.
(Aside from something like a real-time genocide being clearly evil and yet…)
Putin was apparently pretty brutal in Chechnya and I read some Helmer pieces 6-8 years ago IIRC that were pretty brutal toward the “statesman” Putin had nominally become.
That said, one doesn’t get to where Putin is without brutal capabilities. If you compare Marandi’s and Freeman’s take on the same information set re official Kremlin communications, you’ll see the basis of my “Russian pessimism” comment.
I have to admit, I was with you until “and yet…” but perhaps I’m missing your meaning!
And yet it’s still being tolerated by leaders.
It’s bad. Ultimately, not a good situation for anyone in the world.
Thank you. An ill wind is blowing.
If you want to find yourself ending up in a deal with a devil, so to speak, then get into politics.
OK, but the “devil” is a bunch of our fellow human beings, who may never agree with us on what the “truth” is, but with whom we must co-exist, somehow. The alternative to politics isn’t truth, but a shootout.
Politics is a shootout with extra steps.
The functioning state is nothing more than a monopoly on violence.
Trump said today that it was a mistake to kick Russia out of the G8. Connected to the weekend calls between Putin and Trump referenced in the Helmer piece?
His cunning plan was to impose all the sactions on Russia, and fire all the missiles into it by proxy, but keep it in G8. That Trump’s gambit would be so cunning, you could put a tail on it and call it a fox.
The Russians have already said that the G-7 is pointless so why go back in. It is like an international version of a very expensive country club – but does anyway what their biggest member wants.
Cracks me up that Trump would have better poll numbers today if he just spent every day since 31 Jan on the golf course.
Looks like Steve Bannon rrally was the intellectual framework that kept Trump from indulging in his worst impulses
The Netanyahu photo with the maps and the discussion of trade routes from yesterday (?). Gives rise to the question of the recent attacks in Kashmir that led to the hostilities between India and Pakistan. One wonders if these attacks were a false flag intended to break India apart from BRICS. Same with SCO events of late.
From air force movements it is looking like the usa will enter the war in full, beyond the usual supplier of proxies.
One wonders if Russia and China will stand by and watch while Iran is vaporized? I doubt it.
Did they defend Iraq or Syria?
I seem to recall Putin was hoodwinked over the destruction of Libya, which he later regretted.
Well, as they say. “you got to pick your battles”. My guess is they will pick this one. Mercouris the other day mentioned how after the 6 day war, the Russians came to the aid of Egypt. It took a while, but Israel backed off. Of course Wankapedia mentions that it was the Egyptians that broke the cease fire. Who writes for W’pedia? Of course we all know it’s filtered for “truth”. I’m putting my money on Mercouris because when he makes errors, he admits it.
Iraq 2003 and Russia/China 2003 (vs now).
Syria entirely hollowed out after 10+ years of sanctions and occupation with military leadership bought vs Iran now having hypersonic missiles that just shut down Haifa refinery and electrical power…
IIRC he was PM not President at the time. Dmitry Medvedev was the president whom the West conned.
Ukraine provides a precedent for friends of a nation at war providing air defenses. RF and China MIC assuredly have much greater capacity to build air defense systems and consumables than the West has.
It’s hard for me to believe that RF could as tranquilly contemplate regime change in Iran as it seems to have done in Syria.
Iran is the size of Western Europe. That will take a lot of vaporizing. Don’t believe all the Israeli propaganda. It could go a lot worse for them than you think….even with the US or especially with the US if a debacle results.
Patrick Lawrence today.
https://scheerpost.com/2025/06/16/patrick-lawrence-the-worlds-most-dangerous-man-and-his-enabler/
An excellent commentary by the always good Patrick Lawrence. Thanks.
or if the eastern end of Iran = DC, the western end of Iran would stop at around Mt. Rushmore
“US, China leave issue of military-use rare earths, AI chip curbs unresolved in new trade truce”
Now what could Trump possibly tell Xi to make him change his mind and to selll him military-use rare earths?
‘Now look, Xi. We need that stuff. How are we supposed to make all our weapons if you don’t sell it to us? You own us. Don’t make me sanction you again. What? What’s that? Who would we be using those weapons against? Not you, Xi, not you. I promise (snigger). Oh, you heard that. Never mind.’
One way to resolve the problem is to remove trump from office. I have already suggested here that the u.s. military might forcibly remove trump- the immediate problem- from office. A compelling reason would be for national security interests, to prevent one man from starting a possibly catastrophic war. The constitution calls on congress to declare war, and trump has already acted in a capricious and arbitrary manner, delegating to himself powers that are denied him by the constitution. But it would remain unknown if congress would vote for war on Iran; more likely, the zionist entity’s concerns would be probably be addressed ,and not the wishes of a majority of american citizens. The american congress has been bought by the zionists, and I would hope that the military, if it recognizes the fearful consequences of such an invasion, might hold onto the reins of power a little longer, until members of congress might be made to see reason and represent their constituents, and not the settler colonists of the entity..this might take a little time, but there exist a number of ways to bring them to their senses.
“One way to resolve the problem is to remove trump from office…”
Perhaps I’m too dense, but I don’t see how removing Trump from office resolves any of our major problems. First, Trump is not the *cause* of any of them. He’s simply the current (figure)head of our Executive branch that is just continuing our long-standing policies. The idea that this “one man” is the one “starting a possibly catastrophic war” is misleading at many levels. Second, as a number of commenters asked the other day, replace Trump *with whom*? I don’t know who in the “US military” is responsible or desirable enough to lead such a coup. As you say, Congress is bought and paid for, but I would trust our military leadership about as much as I’d trust the board of Raytheon. This is not to defend Trump at all, especially given everything he has done since taking office the second time. But he is just one element of a much bigger set of problems.
If we were going to violate the Constitution so blatantly then I’d start by identifying every neocon agent in government and the media and throwing them in a Supermax prison and take it from there…
Where were you when Biden authorized the use of long-range missiles into Russia? I do not seem to remember there being an act of Congress authorizing that act of war….
Senator Tim Kaine just asked for a War Powers resolution on the matter. Apparently Trump could still veto such a resolution but it would put politicians on the record for future defenestration.
Perhaps more to the point if Trump acts immediately it would now be in defiance of some Senators objecting. One also suspects Trump might welcome an excuse to not get involved given the huge risks.
Alastair Crooke and Judge Nap with some thoughts on current events.
https://conflictsforum.substack.com/p/war-on-iran-israel-is-to-blame-but
The Crooke is only 1/2 hr and very much worth a watch. He says the Israelis and Trump thought it would all be over on day one and the Israelis are now panicking about the payback. There’s now a complete Israeli lock down on the results of the Iranian attacks which is one reason for the news scarcity. In the end they play a clip where Trump is said to have boasted to CNN about the death of the man negotiating with Witkof. Conclusion: Trump is despicable. And Crooke says the other conclusion is that nobody will trust Trump on any negotiation.
If they ever did. His character flaws have always been pretty obvious.
It would be hilarious if Iran declares its war aims as demilitarization and denaxification of Israel–and it’d be fitting, too!
I think the easiest out from this turning into a World War III high risk situation is if Netanyahu/Mileikowsky bites the dust, either by natural causes, accident, Hamas, an Iranian missile, or courtesy of his own security staff. Because the war, like the genocide, is mostly part of his scheme to avoid jail. And he was the guy who, way back, commissioned the Project for a New American Century’s white paper on “securing the realm” by getting the US government to bomb and/or invade all of Israel’s supposed enemies. Which was the blueprint for the neocons to highjack US foreign policy. Remove him, and Iran can immediately state their willingness for a cease fire if Israel will stop their attacks and hold elections. Then the usual CYA efforts by the rest of Israel’s politicians can keep them busy, and Trump and Putin can cry crocodile tears for their deceased friend.
But it would remain unknown if congress would vote for war on Iran
Is it though? Is it really unknown?
US tycoon pours $100mn into Trump crypto project after SEC reprieve
Scammer Singularity really is a thing.
Secret US agenda behind India-Pakistan ceasefire – Asia Times
Pakistan to drop nuclear weapon on Israel if Israel nukes Iran, says Rezaei – Türkiye Today
Easy to get a headache trying to make heads or tails of this mess.
It says a lot when a US Senator from Utah can’t even spell Walz’s name correctly on a misguided online dismissal.
Suspect in Minnesota Shooting Linked to Security Company, Evangelical Ministry Wired
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yet another odious evang in our midst, apparently only charged with second degree murder for a couple of cold blooded murders~
…why are these clowns so protected?
It’s a club and you aren’t in it.
Elements of first degree murder:
1. Defendant
2. Engaged in conduct or an omission that
3. Caused the death
4. Of another
5. With premeditation
6. And intent
Second degree murder does not include premeditation. Usually there is some element of provocation or passion in a 2nd degree murder charge.
These are the elements that the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to convict for murder, not withstanding any defenses.
It is next to impossible to see how premeditation wasn’t involved here. They found a hit list. They found a manifesto. The prosecutor said that he went to Hoffman’s home with the intention to kill. Therefore this is an open and shut case from the prosecution’s standpoint of 1st degree murder.
They may elevate the charge at any time – it is possible that they only charged 2nd degree murder to obtain a search warrant, though that doesn’t make sense to me as probable cause would have been established by a wide margin.
Update: per CNN
I am not sure what the present procedure is, but when I used to practice law in Minnesota, only a grand jury could return a charge of first degree murder. The most that a prosecutor could charge in a complaint would be second degree murder. In fact, I recall some instances where a defense attorney would plead (or attempt to) to the second degree murder charge at the arraignment on the complaint in order to avoid the risk of facing a first degree murder charge.
The charge sheet includes not premeditated. How can that be when he had a list of targets? Will he be Epsteined?
Interested in everyone’s take on zei_squirrel’s last few tweet threads on Iran/Israel and the sort off tsunami of responses they have generated.
https://x.com/zei_squirrel/status/1934427605178204296
I don’t have a twitter account so I can’t read the responses. I’d be interested in a summation of them, because for myself I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that some form of this scenario is the neocon/Israeli plan. It has been all along. Whether it is carried out or not depends on whether there are any sane individuals left in our military/intelligence establishment with any power to derail such an agenda.
Here:
https://xcancel.com/zei_squirrel/status/1934427605178204296
mcsnoot and pjay:
Hmmm. Zei Squirrel gets some basic facts wrong. In fact, there would be a successor to Khamenei in the wings — more than one. Iran has a set of committees of clerics (I’m not sure how else to describe them) who vet candidates, elect the Supreme Guide, and who check laws. So there are plenty of clerics around to find a new chief of state.
Second, the Russians with Attitudes map of Iran and its ethnic groups and the similar assertions among Zei Squirrel’s twiXts. If you look at Persian history, you see that the Persians merged with the Medes, many years ago. Likewise, some of the groups on the map are thoroughly Persianized — they speak languages that are closely related to Persian. Their religious history is the same. This would go for the Gilaks, Lurs, and Mazari / Mazandarani shown on the map.
Maybe the Kurds are restive — I have read some detailed accounts of tensions and violence between Kurdistan and Tehran. But that doesn’t mean that a landlocked Kurdistan smashed between Persia and Turkiye is viable as as state. The Kurds are pretty savvy about their precarious position.
And where does that small Arabic minority of 2 million go? To Iraq? From the relative stability and prosperity of Iran to Iraq? Oh.
Having been through cognitive behavior therapy, after a bout of depression, I recognize the tell-tale signs of “catastrophizing” in that guy’s post.
+ Instantly going to the worst case scenario
+ Failing to consider counter-arguments
+ Failing to be objective.
He takes neocon’s theory of everything and tries to apply it on them, but he too doesn’t anticipate that opponent may not be deterred by mere show of strength. It’s not like Hamas or Putin didn’t take the initiative, but if they thought it will induce the West to compromise, they thought wrong. The West in both cases doubled down to the point of doing self-destructive things. Does anybody really believes that if Iran were to block Strait of Hornuz and perhaps sink tanker or two, the Zionist would be suddenly willing to sign some sort of agreement?
People often repeat that if you stand up to bully, he will back down. But anyone who was ever confronted with bully should know they don’t back down just because you show mere willingness to fight. You have to actually defeat them, or at least appear to be able to do so (i.e. be bigger that them).
Is AI the reason for your layoff – not sure where to put this comment, but this is an odd trend in my way of thinking – AI won’t rent an apartment, go on a vacation at an AirBnB, buy a Tesla, shop at Whole Foods, order socks from Amazon, use PayPal, order from Door Dash, use apps or watch streaming video. Not sure what these people are thinking with the move to AI. No business.
I know I’m odd, so have my priors, but it all seems quite detached from life on the earth.
And it’s minor compared to the wars and genocide and ecocide. Strange species, we are.
southern appalachian: Not sure what these people are thinking with the move to AI.
They’re thinking UBI — universal basic income. I know that because I talk to some of them. (The Silicon Valley ones.)
Let me qualify that a little, the ‘relatively sane’ ones are thinking that. With ‘relatively sane’ defined as people who, when asked by what conceivable process a ‘society’ like America would ever get to a UBI, can only mumble lamely, “Well, it has to happen, there’s no alternative.”
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face” – Mike Tyson
UBI seems likely to play out as following:
99% of the country gets UBI = poverty level income, just barely enough to scrape by in a subsidized roach motel apartment, with a few blocks of government cheese to eat.
1% get everything else.
Most of the impetus for AI now is the virtual elimination of manual labor and the sacking of a lot of desk jockeys including techies; even some highly paid professionals. No more middle class.
So how will these tech companies make any money, after spending trillions on data centers, without consumers?
Is this a business plan?
Can we talk about how they have people in other countries playing along with the clown world ideas?
It seems like the business plan is to pump the stonks through absurd hype about some new AI service (“we will have full AGI in six months!!”), then sell them to soon-to-be bag holders.
After that… they will lounge at poolside, order cool refreshing drinks, and as for the rest of the world.. que sera sera.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/klarna-slashed-40-its-staff-ai-now-theyre-scrambling-rehire-humans-after-customer-backlash-1734771/
Klarna Slashed 40% of its Staff for AI — Now They’re Scrambling to Rehire Humans After Customer Backlash
“Swedish fintech giant Klarna’s dramatic reversal from AI back to human employees exposes the harsh reality that artificial intelligence cannot match human capability in customer-facing roles, despite corporate promises of efficiency and cost savings.”
Just seeing that the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa has been shut down as a result of the Iranian missile strikes.
The company made a statement to the Tel Aviv stock exchange. I saw it first on Al Jazeera live page but there is plenty of other corroboration. Trading in their shares is suspended.
Bazan oil refinery’s facilities shut down following Iran missile strike
Al jazeera link
and ynetnews
and https://www.egyptindependent.com/in-blow-to-israels-energy-lifeline-iranian-missile-strikes-key-israeli-refinery/
Coincidence or not but the bbc coverage on the home page has been decidedly “lighter” of coverage than the first few days.
I am struggling to find the actual statement from the company though
Cant find the company statement but this is the suspension of shares on the tel aviv stock exchange.
TASE suspension notice
It is extremely terse:
Israel national news are linking it to an Iranian hypersonic
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410133
and stating “Investigators believe the victims were in the most fortified internal room on-site when the missile hit.”
I dont know how significant this is? Isnt this the largest refinery?
the company’s statement, via Bebo :-
https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1934709326960021762?t=nWXR4L4LDR23YH0c7Sm0QA&s=19
President Bone Spurs has on several occasions referred to members of the American armed forces as “Suckers and Losers”, including those who have died in that service.
He also cut 83,000 jobs at the already understaffed VA.
20,000 of those were Veterans.
There is also the ongoing scandal of unpaid re enlistment bonuses that affected thousands of service members.
They re upped, served the new term of enlistment and re entered the civilian world and have yet to recieve the promised payments.
Sometimes years after completing their service.
Trump has nothing but contempt for the Men and Women he is asking to kill and die for the greater glory of the Zionists and he has made that crystal clear.
Suckers and Losers sounds about right. No one press-ganged them into service (for the greater glory of the Zionists), and they haven’t won a “war” since Grenada excursion. I mean, having to act as a birthday clown posse for the Orange Man entertainment (sponsored by Coinbase), is enough for the “Suckers and Losers” title by itself.
I read the article re the kidney study with interest; I saw it elsewhere but this was a better summary. My 82 y.o. mother has developed kidney problems since the pandemic began. She has had four covid vaccine shots total, and has caught covid twice, so I really don’t know what to say to her about further shots, and she is not willing to wear an N95. Because of her kidney condition she can’t take claritin or use preventative nasal sprays. She uses the AirTamer I sent, but not reliably.
Her GP assumed that her kidney function decline was just the sort of thing elderly people experience, and he told her all she needed to do was to drink more water. However, I read a few intro books and went to reddit, and then looked at her medical chart as well as I could (I could only go back two years). I thought it might be an autoimmune thing and so I insisted that she see a nephrologist, and last week she did.
The nephrologist actually looked at her medical history. Over the past three years, she’s developed pancreatic insufficiency (which doesn’t run in my family), mild Parkinson’s (which doesn’t run in my family)(diagnosed by a movement expert), an aortic aneurysm (which doesn’t run in my family; she had surgery to fix that), pretty bad psoriasis (which she’d never had before), and dry mouth (also new).
According to the nephrologist, ALL of these may be caused by IgG4 disease (even the aortic aneurysm!!)(and the “Parkinson”s” may not actually be Parkinson’s), and he thinks she may have that; she will be having a kidney biopsy in a couple of weeks to see. I really hope that that is what it is since it is very treatable, either with steroids or with biologicals if steroids are not well tolerated.
IgG4 disease is considered to be a rare disease, but it seems to be getting less rare. I am seeing that it can be caused by covid; it may also be caused by the covid vaccine (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10258086/).
Note: if anyone is looking for a nephrologist in southern New England, let me know. There are apparently a lot of really indifferent nephrologists, but this guy is smart and extremely competent.
re: German economy vs. meritocracy
Under the recent NC item about Ursula von der Leyen I think I mentioned German sociologist Michael Hartmann who has been studying German elites for decades and how stable they are.
His most recent findings will soon be published. They address the fact that the German economy has been controlled by almost the same group of people in the past 150 years.
Below a machine-translation from a piece by Süddeutsche Zeitung daily that is pre-publishing a review:
(…)“
A new study demonstrates how the same elites have been controlling the German economy for more than 100 years – despite three complete system changes.
Sociological research (…) repeatedly demonstrates how much higher education and successful careers depend on one’s family background. The wealthier and more academic, the better the chances, is the simplified formula.
(…)
But has it always been this way?
(…)
a study by the German sociologist Michael Hartmann shows how things have developed in this country from the German Empire to the present day, i.e., over approximately 150 years. The study, titled “More Continuity than Change – The German Elites from the Empire to Today,” will be published in mid-June in the Berliner Journal für Soziologie (Berlin Journal of Sociology).
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The economy is particularly impermeable And the result is surprising: Despite all the social progress over more than 150 years, comparatively little has changed in the social groups from which the elites are recruited.
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In Germany, this is an exclusive group of people, representing approximately three to four percent of the population depending on the time period. The study divides these elites into four groups: nobility, heirs, other upper middle classes, and the bourgeoisie. The rest, and thus the majority of the population, is divided into the working-class and middle-class groups.
For his study, Hartmann examined the origins of a total of 2,400 individuals in politics, the judiciary, administration, and business. For the latter area, he researched, among other things, the origins of the general directors and CEOs of the 100 largest German companies. Only those whose origins could be clearly determined were considered, i.e., on average, about 80 percent of top business leaders.
The study covered four points in time, from the German Empire (1907) through the Weimar Republic (1927), the Nazi era (1938), and the Federal Republic during the division of Germany (1970), up to the year 2020.
The results show: Essentially, it is people from the same social groups who hold these top positions in the economy. The proportion of social climbers
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has increased by only five percentage points over the more than 100 years from 1907 to the present.
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It is also striking that the economy has been far less influenced by the major political upheavals in German history than other sectors. The fact that the economic foundation has withstood several wars, crises, and system changes has ensured “great stability and a consistently high degree of social exclusivity” at the top of German companies. While the Nazi era marked a major disruption in politics, the same people who had been at the forefront at the end of World War II remained at the helm of leading industrial corporations. Something did, however, change
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There were also significant fluctuations among heirs: From 1927 to 1938, this group’s share of top positions fell from 46.2 to 18.3 percent. This can be explained, among other things, by the fact that Jewish heirs were persecuted by the Nazis and pushed out of companies. In the later Federal Republic of Germany, the share of heirs increased again – quite significantly from 11.9 percent in 1970 to 20.5 percent in 2020. According to Hartmann, this is due, among other things, to the fact that in 1970 many large German companies such as Grundig, Neckermann, Otto or Quelle were still managed by their founders and the positive economic development of the Federal Republic over several decades subsequently ensured that more
companies could be passed on to the next generation.
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Although the proportion of the middle classes in the population has grown massively over the 150-year period under review, hardly any representatives of this group have made it to the top of Germany’s largest companies. If change is seen, it is happening very, very slowly. Origin from the top three to four percent of the population is crucial; anyone who wants an elite position should come from the elite. Or, as Hartmann puts it: “Origin beats performance, today as in the past.” : “The meritocracy is a lie”
(…)”
Re bananas are the worst food
The Guardian essay was ridiculous. MrBeast is lowest common denominator and any one of the millions of kids who wanted to be him could have been him. Its just luck of the draw. Once you are number 1 the morons watch you cos your number 1. I also cant believe that neither article mentions Orwell and ‘Feelies’. His audience are obviously idiots and I would certainly say that the guardian writer is one of them, with a pseudo intellectual veneer. He wrote about MrBeast positively because he ascertained MrBeast is popular and thus generate clicks for his ‘work’.
I was reading looking for the discussion about bananas; was disappointed. I was promised bananas.
I wanted bananas too!
I keep going to the MSM to get updates on the Israel-U.S.-Iran war, and I am getting no real details at all. Just over and over again the lady broadcaster clip. It is really annoying, and I can only think that whatever is happening is something the media doesn’t want to cover.
Agreed. It’s like so far away, or maybe not happening at all. Bizarre.
I’m old enough to remember watching operation Desert Storm on tv.
The Associated Press’s live feed is pretty good as far as USA MSM sites go.
Lots of scary stuff happening tonight. :(
When I was a mold maker I had an empty coffee can where I kept stones in stoning fluid. I was fond of it because it said Chock Full O Nuts on the side. This site reminds me of that can. It is pretty loose and you need a thick skin to read it. A lot of silly fighting between the commenters but there are interesting links to news and rumors / fake videos(?) that those of you staying up late may appreciate. This is a link to the current Iran / Israel war discussion.
They are up to 880 comments now, probably a thousand by midnight but I’m calling it a night and will go shopping to stock up on dry goods tomorrow.
My plan too. And pet food. Not liking the feel right now.
Probably not a bad idea to top off the gas tank as well.
https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/israel-iran-conflict/
“Al Jazeera is reporting from Jordan because it has been banned from Israel and the occupied West Bank.”
So riddle me this; Israel has been losing its sh1t about Iran getting a nuclear weapon for, wowzers, an overwhelming amount of my lifetime. 30 years now?
So what is it exactly they think is going to happen? Immediately the nukes rain down on Israel?
None of this ever made any sense.
So after 30 years, Israel finally launches a preemptive strike, a blatant act of war, with weapons systems that can’t credibly stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but has invited a retaliation that Israel cannot prevent.
This is a stupid timeline.
Here’s a thought. Things are not going well for Israel. Turns out, Iran can take them out with conventional weapons, lol the irony. Hence Trump’s quick exit from the G-7 and ensuing tweet advising Iran to evacuate Tehran. This of course from the bottom of my whisky glass…
hell is covered in ice.
i agree wholeheartedly with maggi taylor-green.
we gon spend money and lives on this?!?!
and yet i cant get dentures?
https://verse.press/poem/the-descent-of-dullness-23126
i sent the very same to herself
more accurate version:
https://www.simple-poetry.com/poems/the-descent-of-dullness-18833453423
I gave it an up like on X ….
I do like the cold, lol.
How about that
Israel says Iran was racing toward a bomb. US intelligence says it was years away
I hope there is some cosmic accounting for this. There are people that should stand judgement.