Little Drummers

 

Is Hunter Biden a Security Threat?

 

Deploying Discriminating Radar

The US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is winding up tests of its new Long-Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) as part of a significant defense upgrade against inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) to fend off a potential nuclear attack on mainland US from North Korea.

Brig. Gen. Joey Lestorti, head of the US Northern Command’s Operations Directorate/J3, said that the LRDR will be operational within months, reported Breaking Defense.

“We are literally months away from being able to plug in the Long Range Discrimination Radar, LRDR, in the missile defense operational architecture.

From the testing so far, we are seeing positive results for what this radar can do for us, discriminating threats to the continental US to make ground-based interceptor engagements more lethal,” Lestorti told the annual Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Ala., on August 10.  READ MORE...

Classic Sunday Morning Newspaper Cartoons

 

"Angry Kitten" System to be Used in Combat

South of Death Valley this spring, the Air Force experimented with electronic warfare. In tests that took place in April at China Lake, California, fighter jets flew 30 training missions, testing the efficacy of an electronic warfare training device called “Angry Kitten.” In an August 3 announcement, the Air Force recommended using Angry Kitten for actual combat.

“Given the success of the pod in training and demonstrated ability to be reprogrammed, Air Combat Command recommended four pods be converted into combat pods to provide attack capabilities against enemy radio frequency threat systems, instead of simulating them,” reads the announcement.

Electronic warfare is a crucial part of modern armed conflict. It involves, broadly, the transmission and obstruction of signals along the electromagnetic spectrum, primarily but not exclusively in the domain of radio waves. These signals are used for communication between pilots; with radar to perceive the location of enemies beyond visual sight; and for weapons guidance. If one side can block the signals of the other side, it can potentially prevent their pilots from communicating, their radar from perceiving, and their weapons from following radar guidance.

The Angry Kitten was developed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute to simulate the electronic warfare devices of other country’s aircraft, the kind that the Air Force might encounter in the sky. It is a system that incorporates a software-defined radio, meaning its signal and frequencies can be changed by code. This is in contrast to traditional hardware-defined radio, which is limited by what frequencies the physical components can produce and receive.  READ MORE...

Just in Time

 

Pigs to The Rescue

In the land down under, one ecological nightmare is helping crocodiles fill their bellies.

The saltwater crocodile has been prowling Australia’s waterways for millions of years, eating whichever animal was unfortunate enough to fall in its jaws. Still, despite their fearsome nature, this species came to the brink of extinction in the 1970s. But now, they are recovering while also performing a hugely important ecological service: the species is growing fat by eating the invasive, habitat-destroying feral pig.

Researchers say this interplay between the native saltwater croc and feral pigs, the descendants of animals brought to Australia by European colonists, could be the first sign that the invasive species has finally met with a predator that can help keep its population in check. At the same time, it gives real grounds for hope that the crocs themselves may recover, now that they have access to a steady and convenient source of food.


“Crocodiles eat whatever is easiest, and feral pigs are the perfect size,” said Mariana Campbell, a researcher at Charles Darwin University in Australia who studies saltwater crocodiles in the country’s north. “They’re pretty lazy hunters. If you’re a crocodile, what is easiest? You stay near the bank and wait a few hours for a pig? Or do you go and hunt for a shark, an animal that can swim five times faster than you?”

Since first arriving in Australia in the late 18th century, feral pigs — the wild, descendants of escaped domestic pigs — have spread over almost 40% of the continent. They are one of the most successful invasive species plaguing Australia today, and are held responsible for widespread habitat loss and as important contributors to Australia’s rate of mammal extinctions, which is the highest in the world.  READ MORE...

Bear in Snow

 

Saturday Afternoon Encounters

As part of my back surgery recovery, I need to walk each day...  actually I need to walk twice each day...  and both those walks should be at least one mile...  doing it once a day is all my body will allow, so my recovery will take a little longer than expected...  which is longer than normal because of my age...  double wammy.

So, this morning around 9:30 am  I walked my route of 1.2 miles and it took me  right at 38 minutes (without stopping) according to the walking app I have on my phone.  38 minutes is high but right now that is the best that I can do.

After tending to my blogs, I prepared my version of loaded WONTON SOUP which included 10 purchased wontons, organic chicken broth, 2 green peppers from our garden, 8 green onions, a handfull of mushrooms, a heaping spoon of diced garlic from a jar, a teaspoon of soy sauce, pepper and salt.  It cooked over slow heat for about 90 minutes, cooled, put into 3 plastic containers and into the frig for later consumption.  Each container has 3 wontons.

Yesterday after my bursitis therapy, I stopped at Weigel's to get gas and was charged $3.51/gallon which is down about 50 cents/gallon.  I am thankful that people have decided not to drive much  otherwise the price would have remained right at $4 and increasing...  but, people got smart and if the gas prices goes up, we don't drive much...  and that decision helps people like me out.  So, please continue to cut back on  your driving.

I've got a couple of easy chores to do around the house that will take me less than an hour to complete, so basically I have a complete weekend to myself...  now, I have to decide how to fill that time...  do I watch some stupid shit on HULU or even stupider shit on Netflix or do I spend time hunting for something that is going to keep my attention on Prime?  None of those are good choices for me.

I could take a nap or I could write a little on my novel but I am not really motivated to do either of those either...

Perhaps a few minutes in the hottub now that I have been cleared by my surgeon...  even though it is humid but not that hot, the hottub is obviously heated otherwise what would be the point of having one (?) but that heat does not bother me...  which is strange.

If the title of this piece bothers you...  my encounters are with my own thoughts...  in case you were wondering or spending time trying to figure that shit out.

I believe the hottub won the argument...

Having Enough Time

One of the main complaints that I hear from the OLD FOLKS is that they never had enough time to do what it is that they wanted to do...

Another major complaint is that they wished that they had taken more risks...

The final complaint is that they did not do what they really had wanted to do...

So...  you ask yourself why did these things happen?

The comment about time revolves around the fact that these people did not do a very good job of planning out their day...  typically, it is called TIME MANAGEMENT.

I remember one of the first things that I learned in Graduate School was that if I did not plan out my day, evenings, and weekends, I simply did not have enough time to get things done.

I would make a list of everything that needed to get done, and then I would estimate how much time it would take me on each of these tasks always adding in a little extra time just in case.

I still do that now that I am retired and especially when I have to go to a doctor's appointment.  

• When do I want to get there?
• How long is the drive?
• Add extra time for traffic delays...
• When do I need to leave home?
• How long will it take me to shower and dress?
• When do I need to set the alarm clock?

I am never late for an appointment...

The second issue about taking more risks is interesting because if they had to do all over again, they still would not have taken those risks...  Each of us has our own Risk Aversion Personality and for the most part that will never change unless you try to force a change and that is not always a good thing to do, especially if you don't manage your stress very well.

You will always do what you did because that is who you are...  so, saying you wish you took more risks is rather foolish.

And finally, wishing you had taken another path is also an irrelevant exercise because you did or became exactly what you should have done or should have become...

This part about time is not that easy to understand so suffice it to say that your life has already unfolded in the bigger picture before it actually unfolds here on earth.  Therefore, you do or did exactly what you were supposed to have done or did...

Time is relative...  the past, present, and future all happen at the same time...  which is exactly why you cannot look back and see what you did even if it is a nanosecond ago as it has already disappeared...  all you have is the present and the present does not last very long...

• Learn to live your life without regrets.  
• Learn to accept who you are and who you are supposed to be.
• Learn to accept you limitations.
• Learn to appreciate your gifts.
• Learn to be grateful for the life you have been given.

If you will do this there will be no need to ever look back and wish and wonder...

 

Who Am I

As a man, I used to think I was pretty much just a regular person, but I was born white, into a two-parent household which now, whether I like it or not, makes me “privileged”, and a white supremacist & responsible for slavery.

I am a fiscal and moral conservative, which by today’s standards, makes me a fascist because I plan, budget and support myself.


I went to high school, and have always held a job. But I now find out that I am not here because I earned it, but because I was “advantaged”.


I am heterosexual, which according to wokes, now makes me a homophobe.


I am not a Muslim, which now labels me an infidel.


I believe in the 2nd Amendment, which makes me a de facto member of the “vast NRA gun lobby”.


I am older than 70, making me a useless eater who doesn’t understand Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat.


I think and I reason, and I doubt some of what the media tells me, which makes me a "Right-wing conspiracy nut”.


I am proud of my heritage and our inclusive American culture, making me a xenophobe.


I believe in hard work, fair play, & fair compensation according to each individual’s merits, which today makes me an anti-socialist.


I believe our system guarantees freedom of effort and opportunity - not freedom of outcome or subsidies, which must make me a borderline sociopath.


I believe in the defense & protection of America for and by all citizens, which now making me a militant.


I am proud of our flag, what it stands for and the many who died to let it fly, so I stand hand over heart during our National Anthem - so I must be a racist.


Please help me come to terms with the new me because I'm just not sure who I am anymore! Funny - it all took place over the last 7 or 8 years!


If all this wasn't enough to deal with, now I don't even know which restroom to use… and I gotta go more FREQUENTLY.

What Would You Do?

 

Let's suppose that you own a business that employs 1,500 and you pay above average wages to your employees of $20/hour with health insurance, 10 days sick leave and 10 days annual leave that increases to 15 after 10 years of employment and to 20 days after 15 years of employment.  Each employee also gets their birthday off but if it lands on a weekend, they can chose Friday or Monday as their day.

The product that you sell is in high demand by the customer which is why you operate three shifts but all the data shows that if you raise the price too much higher that a majority of your customers will start looking for substitutes.  Your company currently operates on a 20% profit margin and is planning to expand the product line this year as well as open several franchise operations, and explore selling the products in Europe.

The Federal Government has increased the tax rate for you company which is going to put you in a situation where you will be paying anywhere from $500,000 to a $1,000,000 more in taxes.

What would you do?

1. Layoff workers to compensate for the increase in taxes?
2. Increase the price of your products?
3. Use your profits to pay for increase in taxes and not change a thing?
4. Not expand your product line?
5. Not open franchises?
6. Close the door to Europe?
7. Do nothing?

Most business owners would layoff workers as the primary goal/objective is not just to make a profit from year to year but to be able to continue to play the game...  and yes, business is a game...  which is why they teach business game theory in business schools.

If your business was publically traded, then you would have another dimension to your decision making and that would be SHAREHOLDERS or STOCKHOLDERS...  and most business decisions revolve around stockholders than employees or even what may be in the best interest of the company.

My guess is that your company would lay off workers and raise the price of your products just to that point where your customers do not look elsewhere...

If your customer is paying $5 but will not pay $8...

• would they pay $6?
• would they pay $7?
• would they pay $7.95?

The very last thing that you would want to do is not have franchises, not have new products, and not open in Europe...  all of those possibilities come with risks...  that is true, but they also come with increase revenue that may or may not offset the risks...

This is the risk you have to take...  this is the game that you must play.

You Got It

COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America

ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It's 5.6%.

COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?

ABBOTT: No, that's 23%.

COSTELLO: You just said 5.6%.

ABBOTT: 5.6% Unemployed.

COSTELLO: Right 5.6% out of work.

ABBOTT: No, that's 23%.

COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 23% unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, that's 5.6%.

COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 5.6% or 23%?

ABBOTT: 5.6% are unemployed. 23% are out of work.

COSTELLO: If you are out of work you are unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, Biden said you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed.

You have to look for work to be unemployed.

COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!

ABBOTT: No, you miss his point.

COSTELLO: What point?

ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work can't be counted

with those who look for work. It wouldn't be fair.

COSTELLO: To whom?

ABBOTT: The unemployed.

COSTELLO: But ALL of them are out of work.

ABBOTT:No, the unemployed are actively looking for work.  Those who are out of work gave up looking and if you give up, you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment roles that would count as less unemployment?

ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!

COSTELLO:The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?

ABBOTT:Absolutely it goes down. That's how it gets to 5.6%. Otherwise it would be 23%.

COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means there are two ways

to bring down the unemployment number?

ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.

COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?

ABBOTT: Correct.

COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?

ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to have people stop looking for work.

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like a Democrat.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what the hell I just said!

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like Biden.

Horse Likes the Water

 

Dark Plasma Eruptions

A NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory image shows Sunday's coronal mass ejection (CME) erupting 

from an active region of the sun seen just right of center, August 14, 2022. CMEs can cause 

disruptions on Earth called geomagnetic storms.NASA/SDO/AIA

Acloud of "dark plasma" erupted from the sun on Sunday and is predicted to make contact with Earth on Wednesday, giving rise to the possibility of a minor geomagnetic storm.

The eruption of material is known as a coronal mass ejection (CME)—a cloud of charged solar gas and magnetic fields. It was launched toward Earth on August 14 from a region of the sun known as AR3076.

Observations from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), seen above, show the moment the CME was launched from the sun's surface, appearing as a brief dark cloud towards the end of the clip at around 11:30 UT.

Solar activity news site spaceweather.com stated on Monday morning that the "plume of dark plasma" was traveling at over 1.3 million miles per hour. At that speed, it's expected to take a few days to travel the distance from the sun to the Earth.

CMEs are launched from areas of the sun known as sunspots, which appear to be dark patches on the sun's surface—though certain NASA footage may also make them appear bright.  READ MORE...

Car Flipping

 

Self Sustaining Nuclear Fusion

Scientists have confirmed that last year, for the first time in the lab, they achieved a fusion reaction that self-perpetuates (instead of fizzling out) – bringing us closer to replicating the chemical reaction that powers the Sun.

However, they aren't exactly sure how to recreate the experiment.

Nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms combine to create a heavier atom, releasing a huge burst of energy in the process.

It's a process often found in nature, but it's very difficult to replicate in the lab because it needs a high-energy environment to keep the reaction going.

The Sun generates energy using nuclear fusion – by smashing hydrogen atoms together to create helium.

Supernovae – exploding suns – also leverage nuclear fusion for their cosmic firework displays. The power of these reactions is what creates heavier molecules like iron.

In artificial settings here on Earth, however, heat and energy tend to escape through cooling mechanisms such as x-ray radiation and heat conduction.

To make nuclear fusion a viable energy source for humans, scientists first have to achieve something called 'ignition', where the self-heating mechanisms overpower all the energy loss.

Once ignition is achieved, the fusion reaction powers itself.

In 1955, physicist John Lawson created the set of criteria, now known as the 'Lawson-like ignition criteria', to help recognize when this ignition took place.  READ MORE...

Good Morning

 

Native American Mound Builders

NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES IN THE REGION OF THE GREAT LAKES, THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY, AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY, CONSTRUCTED LARGE CHARACTERISTIC MOUND EARTHWORKS OVER A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 5,000 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES.

19th century academics theorised that the Native Americans were too primitive to be associated with the mounds, instead, implying that they belonged to a lost culture that disappeared before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.

One of the earliest theories suggested that the mound builders were Norse in origin, who settled in the Americas and migrated south to become the Toltecs in Tula, Mexico. Later theories have connected them with descendants of the Israelites, the Ancient Egyptians, Welsh, Irish, Polynesians, Greeks, Chinese, Phoenicians, and even crossing into the realm of pseudo-science by implying an association with the lost continent of Atlantis.

Proper academic studies have shown that the mounds were built by Native American cultures over a period that spanned from around 3500 BC to the 16th century AD, that includes part of the Archaic Period (8000 to 1000 BC), Woodland Period (1000 BC to AD 1000) and the Mississippian Period (800 AD to 1600 AD).

One of the earliest mound complexes was built at Watson Brake in Louisiana around 3500 BC during the Archaic Period. The site was developed over centuries by a pre-agricultural, pre-ceramic, hunter-gatherer society, who occupied the site on a seasonal basis. The builders constructed an arrangement of eleven earthwork mounds around 7.6 metres in height, connected by ridges to form an oval shaped complex.  READ MORE...

Watermellon Dog