Slow it Down

 

The System

 

Greatest Boxer Ever

 

Domestic Spying

The US government, with assistance from major telecommunications carriers including AT&T, has engaged in massive, illegal dragnet surveillance of the domestic communications and communications records of millions of ordinary Americans since at least 2001. Since this was first reported on by the press and discovered by the public in late 2005, EFF has been at the forefront of the effort to stop it and bring government surveillance programs back within the law and the Constitution.

News reports in December 2005 first revealed that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been intercepting Americans’ phone calls and Internet communications. Those news reports, combined with a USA Today story in May 2006 and the statements of several members of Congress, revealed that the NSA is also receiving wholesale copies of American's telephone and other communications records. All of these surveillance activities are in violation of the privacy safeguards established by Congress and the US Constitution.

In early 2006, EFF obtained whistleblower evidence (.pdf) from former AT&T technician Mark Klein showing that AT&T is cooperating with the illegal surveillance. The undisputed documents show that AT&T installed a fiberoptic splitter at its facility at 611 Folsom Street in San Francisco that makes copies of all emails web browsing and other Internet traffic to and from AT&T customers and provides those copies to the NSA. This copying includes both domestic and international Internet activities of AT&T customers. As one expert observed, “this isn’t a wiretap, it’s a country-tap.”

Secret government documents, published by the media in 2013, confirm the NSA obtains full copies of everything that is carried along major domestic fiber optic cable networks. In June 2013, the media, led by the Guardian and Washington Post started publishing a series of articles, along with full government documents, that have confirmed much of what was reported in 2005 and 2006 and then some. 

The reports showed-and the government later admitted—that the government is mass collecting phone metadata of all US customers under the guise of the Patriot Act. Moreover, the media reports confirm that the government is collecting and analyzing the content of communications of foreigners talking to persons inside the United States, as well as collecting much more, without a probable cause warrant. Finally, the media reports confirm the “upstream” collection off of the fiberoptic cables that Mr. Klein first revealed in 2006.  READ MORE...

Hydrogen Airplanes

 

Advice From The Frog

 Jeremiah was a bullfrog 

Was a good friend of mine

I never understood a single word he said

But I helped him a drink his wine

And he always had some mighty fine wine...

Advice From The Frog

If you have not noticed by now, the Democratic Party likes to spend your money...  And, they are spending your money on programs that you think you want in order to get you to vote for them again in 2024...

Their reckless spending has caused:

• INFLATION
• An economy that has slowed down
• Supply chain problems
• A weak military
• Public censorship of conservative views
• Increased racism
• Equity whether they deserve it or not
• A war on petroleum crude oil

What they do not realize...  and, I am not sure why they don't understand this...  BUT, China and Russia have no plans at all to go GREEN and end petroleum crude oil.  As our economy flounders, their economies will grow...  How stupid is that?

Let's go green when we are ready to go green and not go there prematurely...   This seems like the only logical and sensible way to act...

Did you know our military is WEAK and many strategists say that we cannot win a war against China unless it is a NUCLEAR WAR...  A war of that magnitude will KILL EVERYONE...  except those selected by our government to live underground until the fallout dissipates...  But, once it does, there will be nothing above ground that works... and no money to pay anyone for their work.

THAT WILL NOT BE A GOOD LIFE FOR THEM...

It's Just East TN

Half of the month of February has passed and for us here in the valley of East TN, this usually means that winter will, for all intents and purposes, will be over in 4 weeks...  or by the middle of March...  with that said, March can bring cold weather but will not last 2 days...  

Most of March will be warm and flowers will start to grow...  even though the buds on trees will not appear for another several weeks...

For me, that means I will be walking outside instead of the Community Center, my pool will be opened soon and the deck furniture out, and after a few more weeks, we will vacation at Myrtle Beach, and will be mowing the yard and weedeating weekly.

More time outside in the yard, soaking up the sunshine rather than staying inside.

While I have mentioned this several times, East TN is a great place to live because of the mild winter and because all other bad weather is blocked by the Smoky Mtns and the Cumberland Plateau.  In addition to this damn near perfect weather, the cost of living is less that most every other place in the USA.

Younger souls miss the night life of Atlanta, Chicago, and NYC but us older souls no longer are bound by those desires and East TN is a perfect place to retire, especially if you are on a fixed income.  There is no state income tax but a higher sales tax.

Our parks and recreation offerings are better than most because of TVA and all the lakes they created.  We are also only an hour away from Gatlinburg and back in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains which is the #1 tourist attraction for Americans for the last several years.

• Cherokee Gambling is 2 hours away
• Atlanta is 4 hours away
• Myrtle Beach is 6 hours away
• Nashville is 2 hours away
• Bristol Speedway (NASCAR) is 60 minutes away
• Asheville, NC is 2 hours away
• Knoxville Airport is 45 minutes away

Come and visit us...  and, see for yourself...  but, don't move here and spoil it for us...

 

Building a Robot Army

 

Strictly Political

 

The Spying Game

The latest controversy to swirl around the Chinese telecoms company Huawei has shone a spotlight on the murky world of Chinese espionage, agent-recruitment and an ambitious programme of extending its influence across the globe.

So how extensive is it, how does it work and who runs it?

A dossier reportedly compiled with the help of a former MI6 spy has accused China of trying to manipulate key UK figures, including politicians, to back the telecom giant's business in Britain.

Every major Chinese enterprise anywhere in the world allegedly has an internal "cell" answerable to the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to drive the political agenda and ensure that the company is compliant with political directives.

This is why China experts assert that the CCP does operate here in Britain, often under the natural cover of business. "The Party machine is everywhere", says one, adding: "For China, business is inseparable from politics."

The CCP has 93 million members, with many of them placed or hidden in organisations abroad. This allows them to be tasked with gathering secrets, especially in the technology sphere, including telecoms.

Experts say these "agents", as well as targeted individuals in important positions in foreign companies, can be recruited or persuaded using a number of different methods.

Setting honeytraps
The first approach is usually what is known as "a positive incentive", especially if the targeted individual is a non-Chinese national.

In the West this can take the form of a tempting invitation to an important business meeting in China, an offer of financial help for a company facing difficulties, or the offer of a (sometimes meaningless) seat on a board as a non-executive director or even in some cases a life-changing sum of money.

In the last 10 to 15 years there has been an increasing readiness to target well-placed foreigners with positive incentives.  READ MORE...

Art of Surrender

 

Self Exploration

 

Power

 

USA Demographics

ACCORDING TO 2020 DATA:

57.8%    non hispanic whites

18.7%    hispanic/Latino

12.1%    blacks

5.9%      asian

5.5%      other

100%

1776-1865  (89 years)  USA endorsed slavery

1865-2023  (158 years) since slavery ended

80.7% of the National Basketball League are BLACK

70% of the National Football League are BLACK

17%-1991  7%-2022  Major League Baseball are BLACK

QUESTION:  If blacks make up 12% of the american population, then why should there be more than 12% of blacks working?

QUESTION:  Why are whites not bitching about equity and equality in professional football and basketball since more blacks are hired than whites?

What I don't understand is why BLACKS want to have more than they are entitled to just because they are blacks.

Until the birth rate changes, there will always be 5 times more whites than BLACKS...  that's just the way it is...  Consequently, there will always be 5 times more white employed than BLACKS.

As you can see above, there is already more BLACKS in professional football and basketball but you don't don't see/hear whites bitching about that...  and, I would be willing bet that there were more whites at the SUPERBOWL this year than BLACKS even though there are more black players.

I think we have had enough of this WOKE Garbage...   don't you?

The System

 

Mastering

 

Go Back

 

Spy Balloons

WHAT ARE SPY BALLOONS?

Surveillance balloons are like blimps with sensors, cameras, or communication devices to monitor and gather intelligence. They can either float at a high altitude or are tethered to the ground, allowing the spy balloons to capture a wide view of the surrounding area. The captured data can be used for security and surveillance, environmental monitoring, weather forecasting, and disaster response.

WHY USE SURVEILLANCE BALLOONS INSTEAD OF SATELLITES?

Surveillance balloons are cost-effective and versatile compared to satellites. They can be deployed quickly from the ground and don’t require a launch vehicle. They can also be positioned at lower altitudes compared to satellites, allowing for closer and more detailed observations. Surveillance balloons are also easier to maintain - they can be retrieved, repaired, and relaunched relatively easily compared to satellites.

‍‍
‍HOW DO SPIES USE BALLOON SURVEILLANCE?
Spies use balloon surveillance technology for a range of purposes, including:

Signal intelligence (SIGINT): Balloons equipped with specialized sensors and equipment can be used to gather signals intelligence, allowing the intelligence community to intercept and analyze communication signals, such as voice and data transmissions, to gather information on foreign governments, military forces, and other organizations.

Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT): Balloons can also be used to gather geospatial intelligence to produce high-resolution images and maps of the ground and monitor changes over time.

Human intelligence (HUMINT): Balloons can be used to gather human intelligence to monitor individuals, organizations, and activities on the ground.

Electronic intelligence (ELINT): Balloons allow the intelligence community to intercept and analyze signals from foreign military and other electronic systems to gain insights into their capabilities and intentions.

According to the US Naval Institute, the crew of USS New York spotted a sphere that they thought might be a Japanese balloon weapon in 1945. The captain ordered it shot down but none of the guns could score a hit. Finally, a navigator realized they were attacking Venus.  READ MORE...

Artificial Intellligence

 

Realistic Robots - Two

 

Tech Companies Laying Off Workers

The job cuts in tech land are piling up, as companies that led the 10-year bull market adapt to a new reality.


Google announced plans to lay off 12,000 people from its workforce Friday, while Microsoft said Wednesday that it’s letting go of 10,000 employees. Amazon also began a fresh round of job cuts that are expected to eliminate more than 18,000 employees and become the largest workforce reduction in the e-retailer’s 28-year history.

The layoffs come in a period of slowing growth, higher interest rates to battle inflation, and fears of a possible recession next year.

Here are some of the major cuts in the tech industry so far. All numbers are approximations based on filings, public statements and media reports:

Alphabet: 12,000 jobs cut

Google, owned by parent company Alphabet, said Friday it will lay off 12,000 people from its workforce.

Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, said in an email sent to the company’s staff that the firm will begin making layoffs in the U.S. immediately. In other countries, the process “will take longer due to local laws and practices,” he said. CNBC reported in November that Google employees had been fearing layoffs as its counterparts made cuts and as employees saw changes to the company’s performance ratings system.

Alphabet had largely avoided layoffs until January, when it cut about 240 employees from Verily, its health sciences division.

Microsoft: 10,000 jobs cut

Microsoft is reducing 10,000 workers through March 31 as the software maker braces for slower revenue growth. The company also is taking a $1.2 billion charge.

“I’m confident that Microsoft will emerge from this stronger and more competitive,” CEO Satya Nadella announced in a memo to employees that was posted on the company website Wednesday. Some employees will find out this week if they’re losing their jobs, he wrote.

Amazon: 18,000 jobs cut

Earlier this month, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company was planning to lay off more than 18,000 employees, primarily in its human resources and stores divisions. It came after Amazon said in November it was looking to cut staff, including in its devices and recruiting organizations. CNBC reported at the time that the company was looking to lay off about 10,000 employees.

Amazon went on a hiring spree during the Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s global workforce swelled to more than 1.6 million by the end of 2021, up from 798,000 in the fourth quarter of 2019.   READ MORE...

Vegan?

 

Fact Checking

 

To Yourself

 

Economic Impact of Payroll

We live in a wonderous country and we have been given advantages that no other country gives its residents and citizens...   A POWERFUL ECONOMY...

And...  from that powerful economy, we are able to provide:

• the most powerful military in the world
• the most powerful economy in the world
• the best education in the world
• the best healthcare in the world
• the best entertainment in the world
• the best recreation in the world
• the best retirement in the world

However... the reason why we are able to do all these things is not just because the government collects taxes from us but because of the economic impact of payroll which can be seen as paying $1 into to marketplace to purchase goods and services.

This $1 generates $8-$10 in what is called economic impact...  or about 10 million dollars for every million dollars spent.

For example, I earn a dollar and use that dollar to buy gasoline.  The gas station owner uses that dollar to pay their employees.  Their employees must put their children in day care.  The day care worker uses that dollar to buy groceries and the store that sells the groceries must buy them from farmers who in turn buy supplies for their farm...  etc., etc., etc.

It is all rather amazing when one thinks about it...

So, what happens when employees are laid off from work?

Those dollars are not spent in the economy so the economic impact reduces, tax collection reduces, the purchase of supplies reduces...  and the economy stagnants, does not grow, and maybe declines as well as more and more layoffs are necessary.  Business does not want to spend more money than it has to spend to stay in business.

So, when businesses are faced with higher prices, as a result of inflation for instance, they either raise their prices and lose customers, or layoff workers...  It is all just that simple.

 

Self Awareness

 

Hiding

 

Objective Value

 

Yahoo To Lay Off Workers

Yahoo plans to lay off more than 20% of its total 8,600 workforce as part of a major restructuring.  The veteran tech company is reorganising its advertising unit, which will lose more than half of the department by the end of the year.  Nearly 1,000 employees will be affected by the cuts by the end of the week.

Yahoo is the latest tech firm to announce job losses as firms struggle with a downturn in demand, high inflation and rising interest rates.  "These decisions are never easy, but we believe these changes will simplify and strengthen our advertising business for the long run, while enabling Yahoo to deliver better value to our customers and partners," a spokesperson told the BBC.

Yahoo, which has been owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management since a $5bn buyout in 2021, added that the move would enable the company to narrow its focus and investment on its flagship ad business called DSP, or demand-side platform.

Advertising changes
The layoffs are part of a broader effort by the company to streamline operations in Yahoo's advertising unit.  It comes as many advertisers have pared back their marketing budgets in response to record-high inflation rates and continued uncertainty about a recession.  The re-focus signals an intention by the firm to stop competing directly against the likes of Google and Facebook's Meta for digital advertising dominance.

The Yahoo spokesperson added: "The new division will be called - simply - Yahoo Advertising.  "In redoubling our efforts on the DSP on an omni-channel basis, we will prioritise support for our top global customers and re-launch dedicated ad sales teams towards Yahoo's owned and operated properties - including Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News, Yahoo Sports and more."  READ MORE...

Reaalistic Robots - One