Sandbox - 25feb25

["OpenAI announced a partnership with Estonia to roll out ChatGPT Edu in all secondary schools, starting with 10th and 11th graders by September 2025, as part of the country’s AI Leap 2025 initiative to provide free AI tools and teacher training." (more here)  And now for a bit of levity, enjoy this.  gjr]

Comments

[Gregory]

Whee! Fresh litter, no chunks. Called them "kitty crunchies" when a cat and a dog lived here.

Herrin Docktor isn't around here anymore... a shame. I was hoping for some first person reports of the Frankfurt School...

[scenes]

"Herrin Docktor isn't around here anymore... a shame."

It's not so bad to have pearl clutching that doesn't involve Arnold Palmer, and I'd love to hear more about Trump's rape felony and fascist doings.

re: ChatGPT.

What I'm dearly waiting for is the replacement of 95% of GP doctoring with an LLM and a nurse to provide hands. The bar is low enough that only fear of hallucinations (plus the AMA) would keep that from happening soon I think.

One thing I'd love to try is Tesla FSD, but it's darned pricey given that you need kinda latest/greatest hardware to run the good stuff. I always assumed that was going to happen as the train just keeps on keepin' on. I sure hope that scammers like that Altman guy don't convince the government to spend huge money on a facility when both algorithms and hardware are in flux.

[Paul Emery]

Here's the skinny on Musks dependency on the US Taxpayers for is business success.

From the Washington Post:

"Elon Musk and his cost-cutting U.S. DOGE Service team have been on a mission to trim government largesse. Yet Musk is one of the greatest beneficiaries of the taxpayers’ coffers.

Over the years, Musk and his businesses have received at least $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits, often at critical moments, a Washington Post analysis has found, helping seed the growth that has made him the world’s richest person.

The payments stretch back more than 20 years. Shortly after becoming CEO of a cash-strapped Tesla in 2008, Musk fought hard to secure a low-interest loan from the Energy Department, according to two people directly involved with the process, holding daily briefings with company executives about the paperwork and spending hours with a government loan officer.

When Tesla soon after realized it was missing a crucial Environmental Protection Agency certification it needed to qualify for the loan days before Christmas, Musk went straight to the top, urging then-EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to intervene, according to one of the people. Both people spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.
Story continues below advertisement

Nearly two-thirds of the $38 billion in funds have been promised to Musk’s businesses in the past five years.

In 2024 alone, federal and local governments committed at least $6.3 billion to Musk’s companies, the highest total to date.

[Paul Emery]

Link:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2025/elon-musk-business-government-contracts-funding/?itid=sf_latest%20headlines_top-table_p001_f002

[fish]

Posted by: Paul Raymond Emery | 26 February 2025 at 12:45 PM

You're right Paul Raymond .....those subsidies shouldn't be available to Tesla......or anybody else! Of course most of the subsidies went to automakers whose employees were UAW members so your Man of Integrity was again using taxpayer money to buy votes.

You're a busker, he's a grifter....really not so different after all.

Here's a link! Feel free to ignore it.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/business/elon-musk-vs-joe-biden/index.html

[Gregory]

Punchy, what are you trying to say? Spit it out!

[scenes]

Just one of many many DOGE entries:

"A former ICE employee and Biden transition team member joined Family Endeavors in early 2021 and helped secure a sole-source HHS contract for overflow housing from licensed care facilities.

As a result, Family Endeavors’ cash and portfolio of investments grew from $8.3M in 2020 to $520.4M in 2023.

Since March 2024, HHS has paid ~$18M/month to keep the Pecos facility open despite sitting empty.

With national licensed facility occupancy now below 20%, HHS was able to terminate this contract, saving taxpayers over $215M annually."

Sometimes you have to admire the avarice of Team Blue. There's a certain purity to it.

[scenes]

seen on X:

"#BREAKING: FEMA has officially removed the following words from ALL official documents at the agency:

- Gender identity
- Marginalized
- Social justice
- Equity
- Diversity
- Disadvantaged
- Underserved
- Equal opportunity
- Cultural competence
- Intersectionality
- Arnold Palmer's Dick
"

Wait, strike that last one. It's still important in at least one place.

[Gregory]

So, Punch... Trump will be in orifice for another 47 months... why keep this up? Relax. Take it easy. Ignore politics for awhile.

At least until 2028. Can you do that for me?

[Scott O]

Poor Paul Emery - he tries to do money stuff, but being affected with Loser Derangement Syndrome, he can only scout out some left wing anti-Musk junk-articles and do his "resistance" cut-and-paste.
The article rolled-in non-fed money which is outside of DOGE's purview. The subsidies to Tesla were all left-wing Dem ideas. The loans were paid back with interest. Tesla is a successful company with a substantial payroll. Maybe Paul can cite the taxes on payroll from Tesla or the taxes Tesla pays?
Of course he can't. Nothing Tesla got was hidden from the taxpayers.

"DOGE Service team have been on a mission to trim government largesse."

No - they are rooting out fraud, waste and theft.
And Paul is upset by that.
Tells you all you need to know.

[Paul Emery]

Gregory

To answer you're question

NO

[Paul Emery]

The Repubs are indeed on a dark path'. Check this out:

This recent national survey shows that voters overwhelmingly disapprove of
Congress giving more tax cuts to wealthy individuals (76% of voters disapprove)
and large corporations (70% of voters disapprove)

https://cdn.sanity.io/files/ifn0l6bs/production/b96354633faa9ada2105ad41622a741805db193a.pdf

[Gregory]

Punch, 525p

Please, with sugar on top. Stop the fucking nonsense.

And the word you intended to use was your, not you're.

[fish]

Gregory

To answer you're question

Paul Raymond….you went to public schools before their enshitiffication by progressive democrats. Do you mean to tell me that after all these years you still can’t figure out when to use “you’re”, the contraction of “you are” as opposed to the possessive “your”?

[scenes]

Seen on X:

NEW — AG Pam Bondi Says the Epstein Files Will Start to Be Released Tomorrow

“Tomorrow is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information … It's pretty sick what that man did”

Cool.

[Scott O]

"The Repubs are indeed on a dark path'(sic)"

Yeah - must be why they won.

[fish]

” It's true. Elon's sense of humor is exceptionally juvenile. It's right in line with the coderboi culture he grew up in.

Elon also does nine impossible things before breakfast. He's got a paralytic operating a computer with his mind. His rocket launches cost 10% of what other rockets cost. He catches boosters with chopsticks. He started a car company and a rocket company, two endeavors that shouldn't have worked at all.

He's exposing the dark money machinations that have been going on in government for decades, and cutting their frivolous waste, all by returning to first principles, which is his superpower.

So he posts dank memes. So what?

I'll take Elon over our "sophisticated betters" posting fetish obsessions in their chat rooms.

All day, every day.”

[Paul Emery]

No comment from Gregory or fish on Trumps pathetic poll numbers. He's you're guy Gregory and you don't care.

Once again:

This recent national survey shows that voters overwhelmingly disapprove of
Congress giving more tax cuts to wealthy individuals (76% of voters disapprove)
and large corporations (70% of voters disapprove)

https://cdn.sanity.io/files/ifn0l6bs/production/b96354633faa9ada2105ad41622a741805db193a.pdf

[Don Bessee]

What a maroon @846 ROFLOL!! Those are not the prez poll numbers or his issues. PUSH POLL it be.

;-)

[Scott O]

"...Trumps pathetic poll numbers."

And yet -

He's still POTUS for 4 years!

[fish]

Posted by: Paul Raymond Emery, Nevada City, California | 26 February 2025 at 08:46 PM

No comment from Gregory or fish on Trumps pathetic poll numbers.

Well it's not like he's running for re-election Paul Raymond....

He's you're guy Gregory and you don't care.

....sad.

[fish]

Godspeed Jimmy Doyle!

[scenes]

"Trumps pathetic poll numbers."

Make your own decision.

https://harvardharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/HHP_Feb2025_vFinal.pdf

...although I hear that Arnold Palmer's Dick is up with a bullet.

[scenes]

Part 1: https://redstate.com/streiff/2025/02/10/secdef-hegseth-orders-and-end-to-enlisting-transgenders-n2185428

Part 2: https://redstate.com/streiff/2025/02/27/pentagon-orders-discharge-of-transgenders-n2186073

Thank God.

Seriously, we skirted national disaster with this last election.

[scenes]

Pretty clever idea in a soft civil war.

Step 1: Mainstream identifies targets:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/02/27/us/politics/doge-staff-list.html

Step 2: Paramilitary arms of Team Blue do their thing.

What should Step 3 be? I don't really know.

[scenes]

Not only do liberals think this is a good idea, but that this is a 'woman'.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-caught-plant-explosive-devices-tesla-dealership/story?id=119244251

[fish]

Fed up: 2 in 5 Americans say living in U.S. no longer enjoyable.

17% want to leave

Nothing stopping you......! Give all those Hollywood Stars my best when you see them in your new country.

https://studyfinds.org/living-in-america-not-enjoyable/

[Scott O]

scenes 7:37 - "...but that this is a 'woman'.

Here's another fun thing lefties believe:

"So CNN’s Jake Tapper and co-author Alex Thompson of Axios and CNN have announced May 20 as the publication date for their book Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and his Disastrous Choice to Run Again."

Jake wants you to know he just found out about a sinister plot to cover up Biden's senility and other really bad stuff!

This - after being part of the plot to cover up Biden's senility and other bad stuff.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/02/tapped-out-tapper.php

Paul and Hillbilly will want to pre-order the book fer sure!

[fish]

Posted by: Scott O | 27 February 2025 at 10:56 AM

Jake wants you to know he just found out about a sinister plot to cover up Biden's senility and other really bad stuff!

This - after being part of the plot to cover up Biden's senility and other bad stuff.

Poor Jake....credibility gone forever! I thought he would have learned from OJ's promise to hunt down Nicole's killer!

[scenes]

Man oh man, clawing back control from The State is a tiring business.

"BREAKING: The FBI NY appears to have GONE ROGUE

AG Letter says FBI NY Is WITHHOLDING Critical Epstein Documents

This after reports that the FBI was secretly destroying Epstein documents

WTF IS HAPPENING"

https://x.com/Timcast/status/1895196506497654913

I expect they'll have to send non-FBI federal law enforcement down (up?) there.

I have to say that I admire the crookedness of Democrats, especially the large city variety. You'll never be surprised if you expect the worst.

I've got no clue how they'll clean any of this up without essentially replacing some of these organizations.

[fish]

Posted by: scenes | 27 February 2025 at 11:54 AM

This after reports that the FBI was secretly destroying Epstein documents

WTF IS HAPPENING"

Right now in an infrequently used corner office .....a small team of rogue FBI agents are crafting communiques deriding Trumps poll numbers in an attempt to steer "people" away from more incriminating matters.

[scenes]

".a small team of rogue FBI agents are crafting communiques"

Head Agent In Chart (HAIC) Arnold 'Dick' Palmer is chuckling uneasily as shredding machines grind up disk drives in the parking lot.

Meanwhile, Special Subagent Punchy has been sent new directives.

OPERATION MAJESTIC-420. AGENT PUNCH. IMMEDIATELY BEGIN RELEASE OF ELBONIAN TRUMP POLL. CLAIM THAT PUTIN DESIRES INVASION ELBONIA. MOST URGENT.

[fish]

The naïveté is mind boggling....

From your local....no pun intended....fish wrap -

I grew up in the ‘50s. I knew our country, the USA, as the country that twice came to the rescue of our European allies against the countries that decided they had the right to take away the territories of other countries. We were against countries where the leader made all the rules and murdered anyone who opposed them. You know, the bad guys. As I grew older we were not only the most powerful country on the planet, we continued to support those countries who were striving to become free people protected by law with the rule of the people, for the people, and by the people, like us. This week we learned that we’re not that country anymore. When did we become the bad guys? January 20, 2025.

Rick Paulson, Grass Valley

A man simply too dim to know when his pocket is being picked!

"If God didn't want them shorn, he wouldn't have made them sheep"

Noted moral philosopher Eli Wallach

[scenes]

You know, there's a lot to be said for having the party who doesn't run the bureaucracy take over the bureaucracy every now and again.

"The FBI is reportedly beginning an investigation into allegations that the agency, when headed by then-Director James Comey, launched a "honeypot" operation to infiltrate the 2016 Trump campaign with two female agents."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-investigating-claims-comey-era-honeypot-operation-against-trump-2016-campaign-report

[Gregory]

"You know, there's a lot to be said for having the party who doesn't run the bureaucracy take over the bureaucracy every now and again."

Damn straight, especially that the Dems had recently convinced themselves they had a permanent majority.

[scenes]

re: Gregory@5:18PM

It's like making accountants go on vacation now and again.

re: Epstein.

Lotsa factoids and opinionoids there: https://x.com/JayShams/status/1895144219771060566

My gut feeling is that the whole deal won't be as satisfying as people hope. Kind of a shame as it makes great drama.

[scenes]

worth a glance.

https://www.tabletmag.com/feature/rapid-onset-political-enlightenment

[The Estonian Fox]

scenes @07:30 PM.

A glance? - it's a lo-o-o-ng read. You still have to wonder why Jews support ($$ and votes) Democrats, if Obama's plan was to have Iran (philosophically, if not militarily) overrun Israel.

Netanyahu has stopped his annihilation of regional terror - he should be continuing.

[fish]

About that constitutional crisis….

For 4 years the office of the President of the United States was controlled by unelected aides and political activists who were hiding an incapacitated president.

THAT was a constitutional crisis.

Cutting off taxpayer funding of trans surgeries in South America is not.

https://x.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1895466733991010402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1895466733991010402%7Ctwgr%5E56ae658ece058c2ba640fa103c96cf97a064edae%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Finstapundit.com%2F705421%2F

[scenes]

EF@3:28AM

Oh well, I didn't put up a link to The Pilgrim's Progress and admit that the screen is not good for text material beyond a page or two. Cell phones multiply this effect. The book has yet to be surpassed as a mechanism for long-form, I think even magazines lack that goodness (and are dead anyway).

While the article was mostly timeline, my typical objection to most current political theories of everything is that they explain mass behavior in terms of individual behavior using the same terms and stick to a Great Generals view of history. Swish in a bunch of analogies combined with political theorists that practitioners have never read and Bob's Yer Uncle, understanding without really understanding. People want stories and they want heroes and villains.

Maybe what's needed is Grok 7 musing about the human ant farm. We won't share in the understanding, but it'll look like '42'.

[fish]

I like it when Michael Moore is in the news! Every photo posted chronicles his passage through menopause!

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2025/02/28/white-house-responds-to-michael-moore-n2652961

[The Estonian Fox]

For a chaotic compilation of the world associated with that Jeff Epstein guy, see Jeff Childers' site-

https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/non-disclosure-friday-february-28

He ties strings, some thin indeed, some not, between Keir Starmer, James Comey's daughter (ass't atty for FBI's Southern District NY), Prince Andrew, Steele dossier out of the Brit MI6, and more.
Use this as background for future revelations. Or revenantations. Maybe there will be prosecutions.

[scenes]

Of course, they'll totally get away with this.

"Biden aide admits administration was ‘gaslighting’ Americans by covering up alarm at his age and health"

https://nypost.com/2025/02/28/us-news/biden-administration-was-gaslighting-americans-over-his-health-concerns-ex-aide/

Local Libruls will swing between

1. HE WAS COMPETENT AND HONORABLE.
2. EVERYONE KNEW HE HAD DEMENTIA.
3. THAT'S OLD NEWS
4. ARNOLD PALMER'S DICK

wash rinse repeat.

[scenes]

re: Epstein

I doubt the truth ever comes out, although I see plenty of theories from aficionados. At some point it all sounds like UFO research.

My guess is that the best place for information is one you'll never see, which is foreign intelligence files. Fer sure someone like the FSB has got a lot of goods on everyone with little reason for inaccuracy. Maybe the archives will be available in 100 years or so.

Until someone like the Clintons really comes under the hammer, not just for Epstein but the sheer magnitude of their scammery, it's pretty obvious that the fix is in.

[fish]

The Clintons were smart to purchase their "insurance" early on! I suspect knowledge of their crimes dies with them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_FBI_files_controversy

[fish]

They should get the mineral concession and then stiff Tiny Grifter anyway.....

"Make A Deal Or We Are Out": Trump And Vance Unload Both Barrels On Zelensky During Explosive White House Exchange

As an "Eastern European" he'd respect them more.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-meets-zelensky-says-minerals-deal-be-signed-today-will-use-ukraine-rare-earths

[fish]

Oooh....looks like Tiny Grifter thought he was still dealing with President Stem.

Sorry Tiny, might be time to take your winnings....and they are pretty impressive I understand ....and leave the Casino!

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/rcna194118

[The Estonian Fox]

This just in - email from Kim Jong Un to President Trump-
"We friends again?"

[scenes]

re: Zelensky

"The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, had already begun probing potential problems with large sums of U.S. economic and security assistance provided to Ukraine, but those efforts would now be sped up."

https://www.reuters.com/world/zelenskiy-trump-clash-will-accelerate-us-probe-fraud-ukraine-aide-senior-2025-02-28/

Whoops.

[scenes]

"ZELENSKY CALLED JD VANCE A BITCH!

The mic caught it!

He literally called JD Vance a BITCH. WOW"

https://x.com/ElizabethPDove/status/1895561697433436202

Good times.

[The Estonian Fox]

scenes @ 12:42 PM

And the 2nd word (блять = blyat') is the f word.

[scenes]

EF@1:53PM

This might all be a blessing in disguise, an opportunity to do something different while avoiding political embarrassment (Lindsey Graham as an example)

It's pretty obvious where the borders will end up, that Ukraine won't be part of NATO or the EU, maybe a few tripwire foreign militaries thrown in (all 15 members of Denmark's Army?)...so it's a bummer that the grind continues. The Ukrainian nomenklatura can hie thee off to Switzerland to spend some of their vast wad of stolen cash on coke and whores.

Naturally, as long as it all continues, the more opportunities for really big nastiness.

[George Rebane]

Administrivia - If it concerns the Russia/Ukraine peace negotiations, comment under my latest post on the subject which was posted today (28feb25). Thanks.

[Scott O]

This article is from the WSJ:

"They Crashed the Economy in 2008. Now They’re Back and Bigger Than Ever."

"They" being the banks and Wall Street. Some how, in the entire article, the fed govt is left completely out of the picture other than how it had to "save" the big banks (other than Lehman Bros - I guess they didn't grease the correct palms).
We can only learn from history when history is told honestly and completely. The Big Finance guys made plenty of mistakes last time but it was all set up by the fed govt. And let us not forget the role an ignorant and greedy John Q Public played in the whole mess.
Make no mistake - the commercial real estate scene is ripe for a collapse. I think most of the BS flying around about how "safe" the investments are is because they always expect Uncle Sugar to bail them out.
Can't believe the editors at WSJ let this run. Shameful.
Pick it up as a link from Drudge to get past the pay-wall.
https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/abs-crashed-the-economy-in-2008-now-theyre-back-and-bigger-than-ever-973d5d24

[fish]

I remember when progressives thought that insurrection was a bad thing!

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/secretive-movement-known-altgov-openly-rebelling-against-trump-and-musk-inside-our

[scenes]

Thought I'd share this just because I think the theory is interesting.

"While Silicon Valley obsesses over AI, a weight-loss drug is quietly becoming the biggest economic disruptor since the internet. Here's why your job, investments, and future depend on understanding it"
https://wildfirelabs.substack.com/p/the-100-trillion-disruption-the-unforeseen

[fish]

Posted by: scenes | 01 March 2025 at 12:40 PM

Probably "a thing" as you suggest but we're still in the early stages of cataloguing the health issues associated with taking these drugs. All those "Wellness Centers" that the casinos and the NFL are thinking about.....they might need them for repairing the damage caused by the drugs themselves!

I guess we'll see!

[fish]

Take a break now from the travails of Tiny Grifter and his journeys through DC Land and watch the coolest thing you're likely to see today!

A privately built spacecraft has successfully landed on the moon

The robotic lander, dubbed Blue Ghost, touched down on the lunar surface early Sunday. It’s a feat that only one other private company has ever accomplished.

Blue Ghost.....? Pac Man reference?

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/rcna193468

[scenes]

re: fish@10:20

Very cool, I was just reading about that a few days ago and forgot to check in on the thing.

Prediction (if it hasn't already happened). There'll be pearl-clutching and whatnot at some point by science NGOs, UN science committees, big schools, about how the hoi polloi can't send things to the moon as it's the Property of the People (ie. quasi-government gatekeepers).

God knows what's required just for the launch.

[scenes]

Thank goodness for Grok, infinitely preferable to Google search.

I found out what the deal was with Blue Ghost, basically a NASA-funded thing although maybe there's some accounting difference.

Strictly speaking, I suppose that all US lunar landings were done by private companies. Hughes and Grumman come to mind.

I wonder if SpaceX has any plans for landing on the moon purely for their own purposes, that would be a cool thing indeed.

[Don Bessee]

That did not take long-

https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2025/02/27/panama-ag-hong-kong-company-granted-unconstitutional-canal-contract/

;-)

[The Estonian Fox]

scenes @ 12:04 PM

Jim Rogers (hedge fund manager who retired in 1980 with > $100M net worth) wrote a book "Adventure Capitalist" in 2002. In it, he relates a conversation in Africa he had with an American official of an NGO. She was pissed because he had obtained a visa to a country that she thought was only available to U.S. govt. officials. Because govt officials are special, and ordinary citizens are not.

He couldn't stand any NGOs.

[fish]

Sure....now they care that the President is fucking off at work!

President slammed for golfing while South Carolina burning...

Progressive America didn't care when former President Brainstem was lounging on the beach in Delaware 20 days out of 30 every month!

Of course President Stem wasn't really running anything..... so I guess they were right not to care!

https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/south-carolina-declares-state-emergency-34781628

[The Estonian Fox]

For those of you planning on serious grilling during the upcoming summer season - better buy your faux-burgers soon.

Beyond Meat shares are down by 2/3 in the last year; down by 96% in the last 5-years. Looks like enthusiasm has declined for this 'perfect' food. Although since Trump has decided to add faux-meat to the critical reserves of this country, along with bitcoin, there may be a spike in demand.

U.S. dollar is down by 96% since the Federal Reserve was chartered in 1913. Is enthusiasm declining for this perfect reservoir of financial security?

[fish]

Posted by: The Estonian Fox | 03 March 2025 at 08:47 AM

Is enthusiasm declining for this perfect reservoir of financial security?

Enthusiasm is declining for a whole range of bad ideas from the 20th century.....

[fish]

Well this is a bad look.....

Bondi says she was misled on Epstein documents

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5172660-attorney-general-pam-bondi-epstein-files/

[fish]

Really? Just noticing it now that them democraps are out of power......

WHITE: The Constitution has already collapsed, and we are to blame...

....sigh! What are you going to do.....it's the house organ for government (well....one of far too many!).

https://thehill.com/opinion/education/5169276-constitution-collapse-donald-trump/

[Scott O]

fish 11:43 - Reading the hair-on-fire diatribe, we see he actually puts most of the blame on congress and the lack of education of school children regarding civics. And the time frame for this is long before Trump ever entered politics.
Nowhere does he admit that Trump is targeting waste, fraud and abuse of funds.
I'm all for a heavy dose of civics throughout all grades in govt schools - our national govt was set up by a bunch of dead white men who nowadays would be considered anywhere from right-wing to far right-wing right through to violent Christian Nationalist and even libertarian.
Make the citizens read about the warnings from the founders about the evils of govt debt and the danger of debasement of our currency.
Probably too late, now. But at least Trump is willing to go down swinging.
The best we can hope for is that the populace wakes up to the fact that our fed govt was long ago set on an auto-pilot course headed for a crash landing and the 2 major parties have only fought over the air speed.
Well - the ticket was mighty expensive and the view was fantastic but our nation isn't going to be walking away from this landing.

[scenes]

On a different matter, I heard this on local radio (KNCO) and after I stopped laughing, got to thinking about how screwed we are.

"An update on what’s considered a first-of-its-kind five-year Arts and Culture Action Plan was presented at the recent Nevada City City Council meeting. It’s part of ongoing efforts to perk up in-person attendance and participation, through the two local Cultural Districts funded by the state for Grass Valley and Nevada City, along with Truckee. Nevada County Arts Council Executive Director, Eliza Tudor, told the Council that “Culture Forward”, which kicked off in June of last year, has deliverable goals of identifying avenues of funding and partnership opportunities, to help economically stabilize the sector…"

"Tudor also mentioned that a recent state tour of the arts and culture scene in the area, which included a member of the Assembly, inspired new legislation. She said it would authorize municipalities to ensure that a certain percentage of residential development be designated as affordable housing for artists who live within half-a-mile of a cultural district…"

Is it these people?

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/270314493

Holy cats, look at the new money! Where did that come from? Gotta look.

[fish]

Posted by: Scott O | 04 March 2025 at 07:34 AM

I'm all for a heavy dose of civics throughout all grades in govt schools

Regrettably they are now wholly incapable of teaching "civics". What you term civics they would teach as some watered down (or maybe not) 1619 Project grievance studies seminar.

Actually this is a spin on why I laugh when progressives whine about potentially teaching religion (Christianity) in the public schools. There's no better way to make sure something is not learned than by teaching it in today's modern public schools.

[scenes]

I'd probably just leave 'civics' to a quick history of the country's founding and the set of basic rules laid down.

It'll be as interesting as trigonometry to the average student.

Get a load of this, it's worth scanning the whole thing:

https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/social-studies/HS_course_outline_in_civics_or_government.pdf

[fish]

Posted by: scenes | 04 March 2025 at 09:27 AM

I made it as far as the Foreword......

Maybe our 2023 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Sarah Kopplin said it best in her speech
at the 2022 State of Education Ceremony:

“Civic learning for our kids is not just about the ability to discern fact from opinion,
or to learn content about the founding fathers and our constitution, or know where
to vote. Civic learning is also about examining multiple perspectives on historical
and contemporary issues. It is about taking responsibility for words and actions. It
is about respecting individual worth and human dignity. It’s about children seeing
themselves as important members of their community. It is also every child
learning that they have a voice, and about getting opportunities to use that voice
to shape their future. If we mean to preserve a government that is of, by, and for
the people, we must allow our children to experience this type of learning so that
they are able to preserve those tenants.

Public education is about creating a future for all of us in this ever-changing world. Thank
goodness we have our public schools where we teach students how to make sense of
that change, how to harness it, and how to use these lessons to make their lives – and
our state, nation, and world – a better place. We must prepare them well. We must
prepare them with civic learning because that is how we ensure the strength of our
democracy and our collective future.

Jill K. Underly, PhD
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Tenants.....?

[Gregory]

There are folk who have never heard the word 'tenets' yet use it often.

I had a boss once that would lecture all of us on the "tenents of software engineering" despite not having any formal training in the subject... one of the last things I did at that company is set her straight on that.

She also chain smoked unfiltered Camels; she ate only organic food and drink to make up for that nasty habit.

[Scott O]

The ball's in Patel's court.

"FBI Refuses To Produce Evidence On Seth Rich Laptop"

"In response to the order, the FBI filed and(sic) appeal that requested the records be sealed for 66 years in the interest of national security."

Seth Rich was an employee of the DNC and had no govt clearance (that we know of).
The Blob is still running things and you are never going to know what the hell is actually going on.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2025-03-03/fbi-refuses-produce-evidence-seth-rich-laptop

[fish]

Posted by: Gregory | 04 March 2025 at 10:29 AM

There are folk who have never heard the word 'tenets' yet use it often.

She has a PhD....it must be okay then.....

[scenes]

"Jill K. Underly, PhD"

I'm afraid that there are a lot of Dr. Jills in the gynarchy.

Although it's an impossibly large task, that strikes me as the real strength of DOGE & Co.

If you defund all the bullshit, most of the crazy people go away, although finding enough laundress gigs could be a problem. It's a definable goal with real value in it's war with the Iron Rice Bowl and griftery generally.
...
All the kewl kids say 'tenent'.

[scenes]

Meanwhile, in the Balkans.

https://x.com/UpdateNews724/status/1896901165058756970

World is fulla glue-sniffing civet cats.

[fish]

Posted by: scenes | 04 March 2025 at 11:34 AM

World is fulla glue-sniffing civet cats.

Now THAT is governance.....

PS: the gauntlet has been thrown down on the "Pissing Match" thread. Do you stand ready to accept the challenge?

[scenes]

is he pretending to have a WSJ account? or that he read the article? If he were smart he'd bet $52 and then buy a free account.

What psul really needs is a Grok 3 account. Not only is it way more informative, but you can argue with it.

[fish]

Posted by: scenes | 04 March 2025 at 12:03 PM

What psul really needs is a Grok 3 account. Not only is it way more informative, but you can argue with it.

What fish really needs is a Grok account.....thanks for the heads up.

[fish]

While I hope it doesn't encourage "them" to any great degree it is an impressive (as the author puts it...revolutionary) capability!

SPEAKING OF ROD MARTIN: Given his Silicon Valley background, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but he’s the first social media influencer I’ve seen to point out this hugely significant implication of Elon Musk’s retrievable Starship:

“There’s no need for rockets to go to space. Now that rockets can land, they can just as easily take off from one place and land at another. Airplanes do this. ICBMs do too, albeit one-way.

“What SpaceX is building is more than just a rocket. Starship is a strategic weapon, not as a one-off but as a fleet. A fully reusable heavy-lift system capable of hauling 200 tons per launch per rocket is not just an engineering marvel: it’s a military revolution.

“Why? Because a fleet of Starships could land an entire armored division anywhere on Earth in under an hour and keep it supplied in the field. Just as the speed of tanks revolutionized warfare between the World Wars, this development changes everything. Forget C-17s and cargo ships: you might as well use horses and wagons.

“A fleet of Starships is not just an incremental improvement in logistics: it’s a fundamental shift in the nature of warfare. The ability to almost instantaneously create and reinforce a whole combat theater anywhere on Earth will give the United States overwhelming power, unlike anything heretofore seen outside of science fiction.”

Plus it will work the usual suspects into a further lather over Musk.....that by itself makes it worth doing!

https://www.rodmartin.org/p/military-starship-how-spacex-is-about?r=faen9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&triedRedirect=true

[scenes]

So, I asked Grok about the armored division idea. Many pardons for the length.
------------------

The idea of moving a fully equipped U.S. armored division using SpaceX Starship rockets is an ambitious concept that hinges on several technical, logistical, and operational factors. Let’s break it down to assess its practicality as of March 04, 2025, based on current capabilities, limitations, and reasonable projections.

What is a U.S. Armored Division?
A modern U.S. Army armored division, such as the 1st Armored Division, typically consists of:

Personnel: Around 15,000–20,000 soldiers.
Equipment: Approximately 200–300 main battle tanks (e.g., M1 Abrams, ~70 tons each), 300–400 infantry fighting vehicles (e.g., M2 Bradleys, ~30 tons each), 100+ artillery pieces (e.g., M109 Paladins, ~28 tons each), plus numerous support vehicles (trucks, Humvees, etc.), fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and supplies.
Total Weight: Estimates vary, but historical data (e.g., moving the 1st Armored Division in 2003) suggest equipment alone could weigh 100,000–150,000 tons, with additional sustainment supplies (food, water, fuel, ammo) adding tens of thousands more tons for initial deployment and ongoing operations.
For this analysis, let’s assume a minimal deployment weight of 120,000 tons for equipment, with personnel and initial supplies adding another 10,000–20,000 tons, totaling ~130,000–140,000 tons.

Starship Capabilities
SpaceX’s Starship is designed as a fully reusable, super heavy-lift launch vehicle:

Payload Capacity: Currently advertised at 150 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) in its reusable configuration, with aspirations for 250 tons in an expendable mode (though expendable use is not the primary goal). Elon Musk has suggested future iterations (e.g., Starship Version 3) could reach 200+ tons reusable, but this is speculative as of now.
Dimensions: The cargo bay is 9 meters wide and ~50 meters long, offering ~1,000 cubic meters of volume, though military equipment may not stack efficiently due to shape and weight distribution.
Turnaround Time: SpaceX aims for rapid reuse, with demonstrations like Booster 9 being repaired and restacked in under 24 hours (seen in 2023). However, this is for test flights, not cargo operations with complex loading/unloading.
Launch Infrastructure: Requires a robust launch pad (e.g., Starbase in Texas) and, ideally, a recovery site with a tower for booster catch and reuse.
Theoretical Deployment
To move 140,000 tons:

Number of Launches: At 150 tons per flight, it would take ~933 launches. At 200 tons (future potential), ~700 launches. This assumes perfect packing efficiency, which is unlikely given the irregular shapes of tanks and vehicles.
Timeframe: If SpaceX achieves a launch cadence of one Starship every 24 hours from a single pad, it would take 933 days (~2.5 years). With multiple pads (say, 10) and a hypothetical 6-hour turnaround (refueling, loading, launch), it could drop to ~4–5 days. However, such a cadence is unproven and optimistic.
Distance: Starship’s point-to-point Earth transport could deliver cargo anywhere in ~30–60 minutes, a massive advantage over traditional airlift (e.g., C-17s taking 12+ hours) or sealift (weeks).
Practical Challenges
Loading and Unloading:
Infrastructure: Starship lands vertically, requiring a stable surface. Unprepared fields lack cranes, ramps, and roads to offload heavy tanks. Prepositioning such equipment defeats the rapid-deployment advantage.
Volume Constraints: An M1 Abrams (70 tons) fits within Starship’s 150-ton limit, but its dimensions (~3.7m wide, 9.8m long, 2.4m high) mean only 2–3 might fit per flight, reducing effective payload to ~140 tons max per trip.
Launch and Landing Sites:
Departure: Multiple U.S. launch sites (e.g., Starbase, Cape Canaveral) could handle launches, but scaling to hundreds of flights requires massive expansion.
Arrival: Landing zones need preparation. Without a tower, Starship can’t reuse its booster, and rough terrain risks tipping or damage. Posts on X have noted this issue: if Starships deliver to an unprepared site, they’re stranded without a return mechanism.
Sustainment:
An armored division consumes ~5,000 tons of supplies daily (fuel, ammo, food). Supporting it “entirely from home” via Starship requires 33+ launches per day at 150 tons each, an unfeasible rate with current technology.
Cost:
SpaceX claims Starship could cost $2–10 million per launch. At 933 launches, that’s $1.9–$9.3 billion, compared to ~$300,000 for a C-17 flight or millions for sealift. Cost-effectiveness is questionable unless urgency outweighs expense.
Reliability and Scale:
Starship’s test flights (e.g., 2023 failures, 2024 successes) show progress, but moving an armored division requires hundreds of consecutive successful launches. A single failure could disrupt the chain.
Production of Starships (dozens are in progress) and Raptor engines must scale massively.
Comparison to Current Methods
Airlift: A C-17 carries ~85 tons and takes 12 hours for long hauls. Moving 140,000 tons requires ~1,647 flights, taking weeks with limited aircraft (~223 C-17s in U.S. inventory).
Sealift: Nine ships moved the 1st Armored Division’s gear in 2003 over weeks. Starship’s speed advantage is clear, but sealift handles bulk better.
Military Context
The U.S. Transportation Command has explored “rocket cargo” since 2020, eyeing Starship for rapid delivery of ~100-ton payloads. Gen. Stephen Lyons highlighted its potential for “tyranny of distance” scenarios (e.g., Okinawa under blockade). However, this envisions supplementing airlift for urgent needs, not replacing sealift for entire divisions.

Conclusion
As of March 04, 2025, moving a fully equipped U.S. armored division with Starship rockets is theoretically possible but impractical with current technology:

Feasible for Small Loads: Deploying a brigade (~4,000 troops, 20,000 tons) in ~133 launches over days could work with prepared sites.
Impractical for Full Division: The scale (700–900+ launches), unprepared landing challenges, and sustainment demands exceed Starship’s realistic capacity and infrastructure.
Future Potential: With Version 3 (200+ tons), multiple launch sites, and rapid turnaround proven, it could become more viable in 5–10 years, but it’s not a near-term solution.
Starship excels at speed and strategic surprise, but traditional airlift and sealift remain more practical for sheer volume. The concept is better suited to rapid, targeted deployments than wholesale division moves.

[fish]

Posted by: scenes | 04 March 2025 at 01:21 PM

Yeah.....but what did it say about upsetting the local Musk obsessives?

[Gregory]

Democrats are not happy...

[Gregory]

Drill, baby, Drill!

[Resurrected Hillbilly]

Thanks Grok,

Why are MAGAs so stupid?

I assume you're referring to supporters of the "Make America Great Again" movement. It's tough to generalize about any group—people’s beliefs and actions stem from a mix of experiences, information, and reasoning, even if it doesn’t always align with what others see as logical. Some might argue MAGA folks lean into oversimplified solutions or distrust of institutions because they feel burned by elites or left behind by change. Others might say it’s just tribal loyalty, not stupidity—humans are wired to double down when their team’s under fire.

If you’re looking for data, X posts from MAGA accounts often highlight grievances like economic stagnation or cultural shifts, which they pin on specific policies or "the left." Whether that holds up under scrutiny varies—sometimes it’s more vibe than evidence. Want me to dig into specific examples or profiles to break it down further?

[Scott O]

Resurfaced Hillbilly -
"...or distrust of institutions because they feel burned by elites"

Not Hillbilly! He still thinks Biden is sharp as a tack!

Hilarious!

[fish]

Remember....the sort of person that would do this to 9 kids on a beach trip is exactly who Menopausal Michael Moore thinks we need to let into the country so they can cure cancer.

HORROR: Nine students who vanished on Mexico holiday found dismembered with 'bag of hands'...

Flabby douchebag!

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nine-students-who-vanished-mexico-34797512

[George Boardman]

It looks like Bessee is emulating his favorite president:

https://www.theunion.com/news/community/ideas-opinions-gaylene-tompkins-time-for-bessee-to-go/article_93394cc2-f92f-11ef-8b22-672e72ac1576.html

[fish]

Posted by: George Boardman | 05 March 2025 at 10:21 AM

Cut and paste George....cut and paste......there are people who won't dignify your local fishwrap (pun intended) with even an email address.

[scenes]

Those gotcha videos crack me up.
--

"BREAKING: OMG: State Farm VP Attacks LA Fire Victims for Their “Egos Building in a F*cking Desert” – Admits State Farm is Excluding Whites From Employment (VIDEO)"

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/breaking-omg-state-farm-vp-attacks-la-fire/

[scenes]

The criminality of Democrats knows no bounds.

"This is disturbing – Biden and Obama Democrats created a new beast, the “popup nonprofit shell” they suddenly launch to take in your taxpayer money supposedly for things like climate change and illegal immigration. Major front for taxpayer abuse with accusations of grift growing by the hour. Never saw it like this in decades covering IRS/taxes....
...
"
-Elizabeth MacDonald on X

https://x.com/LizMacDonaldFOX/status/1897358225650991288

[Resurrected Hillbilly]

Lol! Drunk with power,

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/05/mike-johnsons-chief-of-staff-arrested-dui-charge/81658341007/

[Don Bessee]

Could indictments be coming soon -

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/05/john-podestas-slush-fund-gave-billions-to-climate-charities-founded-only-months-ago/

;-)

[scenes]

MAGA News from somebody on X:

"The CIA is about to be hit with a wave of layoffs.
The first wave of layoffs are expected to include recent hires and probationary employees.

CIA officers hired within the last two years are being summoned to off-site locations, fired and forced to surrender their badges to security personnel, according to the New York Times. The reduction in staff comes after a judge gave Director John Ratcliffe approval to fire employees at will. The lawsuit was filed by CIA officers assigned to the diversity and recruiting efforts under the Biden regime."

Team Blue News from somebody on RR:

Republican Congressional staffer gets DUI.
-----
and that's the way of the world folks.

[Resurrected Hillbilly]

Between the weed and Ketamine and who knows what else, sounds like Elon is ready for The Black Rock Fest.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/03/ketamine-effects-elon-musk/681911/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-atlantic-am&utm_term=The+Atlantic+AM

[Resurrected Hillbilly]

Sweet!

https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-death-penalty-south-carolina-sigmon-05000e874b12bb67c00832c2230f42c8

[scenes]

In the meantime, a totally organic spur of the moment thing happens. lol. These people crack me up.
==

"You cannot make this up. Democrats just started singing "We Shall Overcome" in the House chamber during the vote to censure @RepAlGreen for disrupting Trump's address to congress 🤣🤣"

Jaimee Michell on X

https://x.com/thegaywhostrayd/status/1897672718549393827

[scenes]

firing squads sound like a good idea to me. The other choices tends towards possible torture (hanging) or play out like some big super-creepy medical experiment gone wrong.

It should probably be more public though.