Somewhat Political

 

Stopping Energy Loss

Preventing tungsten atoms from entering the plasma is one of the biggest challenges of modern nuclear fusion reactors, and researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) may have found a solution to fix it.

The discovery, which uses boron powder to shield tokamak walls from the extreme heat of fusion, presents a solid strategy for achieving sustainable fusion energy, per a PPPL, U.S. Department of Energy, press release published on Monday.

“We’ve developed a new way to understand how injected boron material behaves in a fusion plasma and how it interacts with the walls of fusion reactors to keep them in good condition while they are operating,” Florian Effenberg, a staff research physicist at PPPL, said in the press release.      READ MORE...

The Doors - Riders On The Storm* (orginal)

The USA in Transition

 

The United States of America is the greatest country in the world and has been since 1945.  The USA has had global dominance for 80 years, just two decades shy of a century.

That's quite an accomplishment for a country that is about only 250 years old.

HOWEVER...  the elite status of the USA is about to change and is already in the process of that transition.

First Transition - our freedoms have put us into a position where the people are demanding more and more of the government.  The more the government provides to the public, the more socialistic the government becomes.  Our current national debt is an example of how we have already given too much, and it is going to be very difficult for our government to STOP THE GIVING.

Second Transition - during the last four years, our government has allowed illegal immigrants to enter this country in unprecedented numbers.  It does not matter what the purpose is behind this decision, but what does matter is that these illegal immigrants bring NO SKILLS therefore all they will serve to do is INCREASE the POOR CLASS.  Increasing the poor class will not strengthen the USA, it will weaken it because the poor class TAKES more than it GIVES.

Third Transition - the USA has an infrastructure problem in that its roads, highways, bridges, and tunnels NEED REFURBISHING because they are getting old and will start to have ongoing repair issues.  Not only is our infrastructure need refurbishing but our military needs this as well.  Does the government spend money on social programs, social security, infrastructure, or the military?

Fourth Transition - the USA, for a variety of reasons, has become divided.  While we have two political parties in this country, the political party that is not in power REFUSES to support the political party that is in power.  To make matter worse, that division is an amazing 50%.  Now, it might be 49%/51% so that one side wins, but that is the same as 50/50.  NOTHING WILL EVER GET DONE, especially if a house of Congress is controlled by the other party.

Fifth Transition - this one is twofold and perhaps the most dangerous as it is in the first stages of development.  I am talking about TECHNOLOGY and our SPACE PROGRAM.  Fortunately, and unfortunately, these two programs will not be controlled by the government due to LACK OF MONEY.  Technology is developing faster than it can be controlled or regulated by Congress and AI Humanoid Robots will replace jobs quicker than we can mentally imagine and when that happens it will be too late to act.  When we begin to serious develop outer space (around 2030), private companies will no longer see the need to SAVE EARTH from all that plagues it.

Sixth Transition - this one revolves around climate change and what some have convinced others is our most serious threat.  It will take a GOOD DECADE to fully transition into a 100% global green energy environment, if that is even possible.  IF depends quite honestly on the rest of the world's participation.  China, Russia, India, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America, DON'T HAVE THE MONEY to make that transition.  China, Russia, India refuses to spend the money because it will weaken their economies.  The more the USA moves into that direction, the more the POOR PEOPLE will resist because they do not have the money.  Illegal Immigration makes the problem worse.

Seventh Transition - China has declared to the rest of the world that they want to take the global leadership role away from the USA.  They want to do this both economically and militarily and educationally and scientifically which includes technology.  The USA does not see CHINA as a THREAT.

The Democratic Party sees POWER and CONTROL over the citizens of the USA more important than protecting the USA from CHINA...

This position is a dangerous one to have...

Trump's FAULT

 

Baby Girl

Environment

 

Israel

 

President

Music

 

Capitalism

 

Businessmen/women, owners of companies/entrepreneurs, plant managers, and other bosses hire people (salaried-hourly) on the PERCEIVED VALUE that they can add to the company, to productivity, and to increasing annual revenues.

If they used any other criteria, then they are just plain stupid.

If the company is large enough to have gone public and is selling stock, then whoever is running that company be it the CEO, President, or Board of Directors or a combination of the three, THEN and ONLY THEN will the company take orders from the majority stockholders to increase the Earnings Per Share and/or increase the quarterly DIVIDENDS...  regardless of the impact on the longevity of the company.

This may sound rather crude, but it is just business.

Banks, Investment Brokers, Insurance Companies, Trust Funds, Retirement Funds all have their monies invested in the STOCK MARKET for one reason and one reason only...  TO MAKE FRIGGING MORE MONEY THAN THEY INVESTED.

• Companies don't care about the customers
• Companies don't care about the vendors/suppliers
• Companies don't care about the employees
• Companies don't care about the community

Companies SOLE PURPOSE is to MAKE MONEY and increase SHAREHOLDER VALUE.

IF and WHEN taxes increase, Companies will do:

1.  lay off workers

2.  increase prices

3.  reduce supply to the marketplace to support #2

4.  cut back on expansion expenses and/or R&D

COMPANIES by default must put themselves in a positive position to make money BY HIRING THE BEST (most talented and gifted).  This means if an international potential employee offers more than an American potential employee, they will hire the international applicant.

This also means, that GRADES in College mean NOTHING...  what matters is the knowledge you RETAINED and your ability/skills to use that knowledge.

Additionally, if American materials are more expensive than foreign materials (given the same quality), they will buy the foreign material to use in the building of their products.

While a car labeled as "American" is assembled in the United States, a significant portion of its parts often come from other countries, with Mexico being the primary source for imported car parts used in American cars, followed by Canada, China, and other Asian nations; meaning that even a car assembled in the US may have a large percentage of parts manufactured overseas.  SOURCE:  Chicago Fed

Think about that the next time you say you want to support AMERICA buy buying an American Car...

Ain't it fun to be ignorant and stupid???

Somewhat Political

 

Dark Oxygen Under the Sea

In a revolutionary study, researchers have found that oxygen may be generated in the deep ocean, challenging prolonged theories regarding its beginnings. This surprising fact, labelled dark oxygen, challenges traditional knowledge as well as raises substantial worries regarding the future of deep ocean environments as mining businesses observe the floor of the ocean for beneficial resources.

Ocean researcher finds oxygen generation in deep ocean mystery
Ocean scientist Andrew Sweetman, in 2013, initially noted a perplexing occurrence whilst carrying out a study in the isolated Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an extensive section of the Pacific Ocean. Sweetman’s sensors signaled that the generation of oxygen was occurring at a depth of approximately 4,000 m, where there is no penetration of sunlight.

Primarily, he thought that his gear was defective, as it was extensively understood that the generation of oxygen was completely the realm of photosynthetic organisms which depend on sunlight. But, after frequent analyses as well as authentication of his gear, Sweetman arrived at an astounding understanding.  READ MORE...

Crosby Stills and Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Live 2012

In The NEWS

Cuba plunges into darkness after island's power grid fails.

A power plant failure in Cuba has led to a nationwide blackout affecting roughly 10 million residents. The Antonio Guiteras power plant, which is the country's largest and provides about 20% of Cuba's electricity, went offline due to technical issues. The shutdown comes as the country already faces a fragile energy infrastructure coupled with fuel and food shortages. Residents and businesses have been experiencing rolling blackouts for months. See an overview of Cuba's crisis here.



CVS shares close down 5% after CEO is abruptly replaced.

The healthcare giant's chief executive officer, Karen Lynch, stepped down Friday after nearly four years at the helm. She will be replaced by David Joyner, an executive vice president at CVS who has led its pharmacy-benefit manager, CVS Caremark. CVS also announced its Q3 earnings would miss expectations for a third consecutive quarter. The company's shares have fallen roughly 25% this year.



Regulators open new probe into Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system.

The US auto safety regulator is investigating Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" software in 2.4 million vehicles after reports of four crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian. The probe will assess the software's ability to detect and respond to reduced roadway visibility and examine any system updates that may have affected its performance in these conditions. The investigation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Tesla's autonomous driving technology.



Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett retires.

Bennett, 55, announced his immediate retirement as head coach of the University of Virginia men's basketball team after 15 seasons. Bennett led the Cavaliers to a national championship in 2019 and became the program's winningest coach with a record of 364-136. His departure comes just weeks before the 2024-25 season, despite signing a contract extension in June that would have kept him at Virginia until at least 2030.



Former Olympic snowboarder wanted for running drug cartel.

Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is accused of leading a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico, the US, and Canada. The FBI is offering a $50K reward for information leading to his capture. Wedding faces multiple felony charges, including murder and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, as part of a broader indictment involving 16 individuals in the alleged criminal network.



North Korea reportedly sending troops to help Russia.

South Korean intelligence reports North Korea has sent at least 1,500 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. If confirmed, the development would mark North Korea's first major participation in a foreign conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War. Analysts, however, question the effectiveness of North Korean troops due to outdated equipment and a lack of combat experience.

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Not of This World

 

Extraterrestrial Life means life coming from or existing outside the earth or its atmosphere.

Jesus said:  "MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD..."

So...  by definition, we now know that Jesus was an extraterrestrial...  Mary gave virgin birth to Jesus who was not really human, per se, based upon his comment to Pontius Pilate.

Jesus also said:  

"In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 

So, what does this quote mean?

A house that is big enough to contain mansions.

Maybe the house is actually:

• a universe
• a solar system
• a galaxy

"And if I go...  I will come again..."

The key word here is IF...

If means the person talking is not really sure if he is going or not otherwise, he would have said WHEN...

"And where I go you know and the way you know..."

Again, the person speaking makes the assumption that whoever he is talking to actually knows not only where he is going but also knows the way there.

So, where he is going is his father's house and the way there, he says later is through him...  that is to say, through a belief in him.

If you have such a belief, then you are going to his father's home as well...

His father's home is not of this world.

Interestingly enough, nothing is actually stated as to one's human form after death

This is the mystery.

One's body is dead and depending how long dead, the actual body will be deteriorated.

More than likely, we are talking about a spirit or the essence of who you are in an invisible gaseous state of existence...  

• somewhat like a cloud
• a puff of smoke
• a visible breath on a cold day

But, even after all of this is mentally dealt with and somewhat understood, how do you fit mansions into a house.

Therefore, from the getgo, we are confronted with an interpretation conundrum where the original language of THE BIBLE was translated into English.

If this interpretation presents a problem of CLARITY, then how many other instances might there be in this book?

This then creates UNCERTAINTY unless you simply believe without TRUE UNDERSTANDING...  and, when you do that, how accurate do you think your beliefs might be?

Somewhat Political

 

Using Nuclear Rockets to get to MARS

Scientists have long proposed nuclear fission-fueled rockets to get to Mars fast — but one is warning that making it happen will be an uphill battle.

In an explainer for The Conversation, nuclear engineering expert Dan Kotlyar noted that fueling rockets with nuclear fission, which results from the energy emanated from splitting atoms, will indeed cut the years-long journey to and from Mars by a wide margin.

One of the chemical compounds that goes into the production of nuclear fuel, however, makes those dreams difficult to achieve.

Kotlyar, a nuclear and radiological engineering assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, pointed out that the United States government and major companies like General Electric funded development into nuclear thermal propulsion technology.   READ MORE...

Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends (Live)

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Netflix adds 5 million subscribers in Q3, bringing its total global subscriber base to 283 million (More) | Universal Orlando's fourth theme park, Epic Universe, to open May 2025 (More)

> Mitzi Gaynor, actress and singer best known for starring role in "South Pacific" film, dies at age 93 (More)

> Stage musical adaptation of "Dirty Dancing" set for late 2025 Broadway opening (More) | Famed music festival the Warped Tour returning to three cities in 2025 after a five-year hiatus (More)


Science & Technology
> Astronomers detect 13-billion-year-old quasars—extremely bright galactic cores powered by supermassive black holes—floating in relatively empty space; discovery challenges current theory about quasar formation (More)

> AI-powered model reveals how sperm cells stick to eggs across a range of vertebrate species; findings may help develop new fertility treatments in humans (More)

> Researchers develop "smart" insulin, which can turn itself on or off in response to varying blood sugar levels; therapy may eventually replace injections for diabetics (More) | Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes (More, w/video)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 -0.0%, Dow +0.4%, Nasdaq +0.0%); Nvidia shares close at new record (More) | TSMC shares close up 10% after chipmaker reports strong Q3 earnings (More, free w/email) | Lucid shares close down 18% after EV maker announces public stock offering to raise $1.67B (More)

> European Central Bank cuts interest rates for the third time in four months, lowering key rate by a quarter point to 3.25%; inflation rate in September slowed to 1.7%, falling below the 2% annual target for first time in three years (More)

> FBI arrest Alabama man in connection to January hacking of the US Securities and Exchange Commission's X account and a fake post that led to a spike in the value of Bitcoin (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Independent panel investigating July assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump recommends Secret Service to undergo overhaul in findings released yesterday (More) | Read the report (More)

> Grand jury indicts father, son for September mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, which killed four people (More) | Archdiocese of Los Angeles agrees to pay $880M to settle sex abuse claims; settlement is the largest single payout by an archdiocese (More)

> Biden administration forgives $4.5B in federal student debt for 60,000 public service workers under fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Japanese Quality

 

On a recent trip to Nashville, my Toyota Venza (2015) is not a small vehicle nor is it a large SUV, but still large enough to feel comfortable and protected.  I get about 25/26 miles per gallon which is fine but not as good as the 33/34 miles per gallon I got with my Toyota Camry.

I switched from American made vehicles to Japanese made vehicles in the mid 1980s when I discovered that Japanese vehicles were BETTER MADE.  Simply stated, Japanese vehicles are made based upon 103 out-of-spec parts per million manufactured as opposed to American made vehicles based upon 2600 out-of-spec parts per million manufactured.

NOW...  I am confident (hopefully?) that American vehicles have improved since the 1980s but I, personally, do not want to take the chance or spend MY MONEY on vehicles that MIGHT BE BETTER today.

How do I know this?

In the 1980s, I was trained by the same man (Dr. Edwards W. Deming) who trained the Japanese after WWII as to how to manufacture quality products.  Deming offered his services to American manufacturers, and they DECLINED HIS OFFER because they were too busy supplying the rest of the world with products.

The concept is simple...  You reduce the variation systematically in the process so that you have an ever-increasing quality product.  Variation in ALL PROCESSES comes from:

1. Manpower
2. Methods - how we do things
3. Machines
4. Raw Materials
5. Environment - too hot or too cold and/or morale

You remove the variation by scientifically collecting data and statistically analyzing that data so that the process can be changed to eliminate that variation from happening again.

This reduction of variation process takes time and some money on the front end, but you save five times (or more) that amount of money on the back end.

American Leaders did not trust that to be true and avoided becoming involved.  Japanese leaders had been defeated and had no choice but to listen to what America wanted them to do.

It was an easy decision for me to make, especially since I was spending my money on a vehicle.  Once I switched to Toyota, I never switched back and I have never been disappointed.

Somewhat Political

 

Quantum AI Reshaping our World

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, a new frontier is emerging that promises to reshape our world in ways we can scarcely imagine. This frontier is Quantum AI, the powerful fusion of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. 

It's a field that's generating immense excitement and speculation across industries, from finance to healthcare, and it's not hard to see why. Quantum AI has the potential to solve complex problems at speeds that would make even our most advanced classical computers look like abacuses in comparison.


Demystifying Quantum AI: The Power Of Qubits And AI
But what exactly is Quantum AI, and why should you care? At its core, Quantum AI leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways that classical computers simply can't. 

While traditional computers use bits that can be either 0 or 1, quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously thanks to a phenomenon called superposition. This allows quantum computers to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than classical computers.     READ MORE...

Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin

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History

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Liam Payne, member of boy band One Direction, dies at age 31 after three-story fall from hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina (More)

> New women's 3-on-3 basketball league Unrivaled signs TV rights deal with TNT; the 30-player league launches January 2025 (More) | Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson highlight All-WNBA team (More)

> NFL owners unanimously approve NFL legend Tom Brady's bid to buy minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders (More)


Science & Technology
> STAT releases annual Wunderkind list, spotlighting the top early-career researchers in the biomedical and health sciences (More)

> Mosquitoes have taste preferences, with some compounds either promoting or inhibiting biting and egg-laying behaviors; findings may lead to new methods to reduce insect-borne diseases (More)

> Researchers find 70% of the meteorites found on Earth to date can be traced back to just three separate collisions in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.5%, Dow +0.8%, Nasdaq +0.3%); Dow reaches record close (More)

> United Airlines shares close up 12% to prepandemic high after company reports better-than-expected Q3 earnings (More) | Morgan Stanley shares close up 6% after firm tops Q3 earnings and revenue estimates (More)

> Defense contractor Raytheon agrees to pay $950M to settle federal charges, including defrauding US Department of Defense and bribing a Qatari official (More) | Federal Trade Commission finalizes rules requiring companies to make it easier for consumers to cancel unwanted subscriptions (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Israel strikes in and near Beirut, including killing a city mayor and 15 others at a council meeting after most residents evacuated; Israel says it is striking Hezbollah targets, including an underground weapons cache (More) | See war updates (More)

> Italy passes law barring citizens from pursuing surrogacy abroad, with violations punishable by up to $1M in fines and two years in prison; around 250 Italian couples—90% of them heterosexual—pursue surrogacy each year, per legal experts (More)

> Las-Vegas-area county official Robert Telles (D) sentenced to life in prison for the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German, with the possibility of parole after 28 years (More) | See previous write-up (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Built In Obsolescence

 

A Whirlpool technician, working for Best Buy where we purchased our appliances came out to the house today to troubleshoot our stove since the oven was not heating properly.

As with all technicians, my wife and I strike up a conversation, to pass the time but also because if you get to know worker, perhaps better service will be offered...  of course, conversations are no guarantee of that happening.

This technician told us that the manufacturers engineer into their appliances the problem so that they can sell a $10 part for $180 down the road.  He said they call it, built in obsolescence and some manufacturers are better at it than others.

For example, LG and GE stoves have gas leaks because they use cheap valves and washers.  Whirlpool does not have gas leaks but typically has igniter problems because of cheap materials.

Also, if a new igniter is touched by human hands (without gloves) then that igniter will need to be replaced in a couple of months.  Some techs know this, others don't while other don't care.

Another fact our tech shared with us is that GE is no longer owned by an American company, a Chinese company owns GE and most of the parts inside are cheap.  

Replacement parts and Warranties are where these manufacturers really make their money...  second to having to replace the unit in 3-5 years because it simply does not work any longer.   This is BUILT IN OBSOLESCENCE...

When my parents purchased their appliances, they would last for 20-30 years, sometimes longer.  Greedy manufacturers decided to build their appliances so that they would need to be replaced every 3-5 years.  This was specifically designed to increase their long-term revenues.

If anything, built in obsolescence is the DOWNSIDE of capitalism and the GREED that seems to be possessing ALL AMERICANS.