I haven't kept up much with things in the blogosphere, but there has been chatter about an issue that BigCountyExpat needs help with. Click here to read the details, but you better be ready to be pissed off.
That parents could do that to their own barely 2-year-old daughter is just sickening. If you all can, please donate so that Adriana can be back where she will be loved and cared for.
Also, feel free to drop by his blog for updates/
Heard on the news that China is lobbing missiles around Taiwan today. What with the preparations that have been discussed in the media, along with the Chinese losing their shit over Pelosi's visit, and add in this post from DiveMedic, I expected things to get interesting by Labor Day.
Now had just heard from a live TV briefing from the White House, where some stuffed-shirt with the NSC is saying the government is postponing a planned Minuteman III missile test that had been planned this week 'as a demonstration of what a rational nuclear power should do', has made me think of that from two sides.
On one side, I do agree that postponing the test would lessen the likelihood of something even worse happening, as had almost occurred in 1993 when a Norwegian research rocket launch appeared to the Russian air defense as a ballistic missile attack against them, and they almost launched a nuclear attack. Some calm and collective coolness can help to make those in charge think twice.
On the other side, the test delay looks like appeasement to our enemies, and the extreme right-wingers would cry out that we're bowing down to our enemies and adversaries.
It's possible to argue both sides of this, but I'm not gonna try as it will just aggravate me. I just want to lay low, focus on things close to home, and think of boobies 😊
With the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in their decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, there is going to be a crap-ton of excessive emotions coming out over the rest of this year.
I have largely believed that it should have always been the states to decide what restrictions abortion should have within their jurisdictions, and not a federal issue. Just like with other issues in which the overbearence of the Feds has made things worse and not better.
Here in Nevada, they have already made a law to protect abortion rights back in 1990, via public referendum, so that was protected long before this current blow-up. Planned Parenthood, in fact, is preparing for a tidal wave of women coming in from neighboring states where abortion restrictions or outright bans will either take effect immediately after the ruling, or soon after.
Combined with the other things happening so far this year, the run-up to the November elections should be far from boring. I for one already got some popcorn ready...
Popping around through various sources just makes me wonder who is the worst.
No doubt Tsar-to-be Vladimir Putin is not anyone's favorite, but there's been some tidbits am seeing that Ukraine's leaders are not as wholesome as they appear, which means there may be a very thin thread of proof that Russia feels justified in launching this conflict (or expanding it since it's been going on at a lower level since 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea.)
With RT America getting shut down and the parent network pretty much black-listed on most media platforms, been looking at France 24 and Euronews for a different perspective. Times like this is when I wish I still had my Ku-band dish setup so can see the feeds directly.
So when in doubt, keep an open mind.
On the brighter side: no more mask mandates here in Nevada.
Even better on the bright side: was able to go visit my girl up in Canada for couple of weeks (cost me a bunch but it was worth it, considering it has been nearly 2 years since I hugged and kissed her last.
Now for the downers:
We're on the verge of hyper-inflation thanks to Sleepy Joe's energy policies and his lack of economic sense, plus add in the conflict in Ukraine courtesy of future Tsar Vladimir Putin, but from what I am gathering, the origins are not as clear-cut as the mainstream press makes it out to be.
Meanwhile, I just keep plugging away and hoping things get better.
...and this latest from Peter explains why.
I'll stick with Velveeta for store-bought, or just make my own.
I've recently started following Musings of a Bitter Centurion, which is written by a fellow up in Canada, who used to be with the Mounties until he was suspended for choosing not to get the COVID vaccine. He offers a interesting POV of what is happening in the Great White North above the 49th parallel. His latest post about the trucker protests against vaccine mandates makes for some good reading. I look forward to seeing his other posts.
Meanwhile, one of my favorite bloggers, Peter, over at Bayou Renaissance Man, has been keeping us up to speed on what is transpiring, from his writing endeavors (he has over 20+ novels and short stories published over the last 25 years - check out the links in his sidebar), to his own observations from his current domicile in the Lone Star State. He always makes for entertaining reading, and it's worth checking out.
For pure fun, nothing beats the postings at Wirecutter's blog, especially his GIF dump on Mondays. Always good to lift the spirits.
On a technical note, the fine folks at Electrospaces.net have been giving some interesting tidbits about signals intelligence and cybersecurity from a European point of view. They don't update often, but when they do it's usually something to make you go 'hmm'...
There are a few others I do follow, some have gone dark, others are just taking a pause. Sometimes we just need to step away and take a breather for a bit.
On a personal note, heading up to visit my sweetheart in Canada next week, been waiting nearly 2 years to get back up there, just hope I don't freeze my cojones off. ;-)
