TL;DR: Which war will pop first? We update the betting line. In the Caribbean, Jamaica’s Blue Hills are in trouble at Melissa (5) slams in. At the ranch? A return to “traditional timekeeping.”
War Pops
We keep a list, check it twice, but we have an idea who’s naughty – not nice.
South America is being treated to U.S. Monroe-Doctrine replay as Venezuela claims capture of CIA group, accuses US of plotting ‘false-flag’ attack. Maduro, meantime is playing hardball with neighbors who open ports to the USN: Venezuela Denounces the U.S. for Docking Warship in Trinidad and Tobago.
For now, no sign of progress toward defusing this one.
Trump’s Upcoming Xi meeting – likely to focus on the trade of rare earths and Taiwan for access to the American consumer market – is rolling along as expected. Reader Ray spotted a good overview of what’s working in While you watched TikTok, the United States just executed the greatest economic coup in human history. China controls 80% of rare earth processing—the neurons of every weapon system, smartphone, and AI server on planet Earth. But we’re struggling back.
Clocks are ticking down for Iran. Yet, the local media is claiming Iran Establishes Itself As A Missile Superpower Through Advanced Precision And Hypersonic Technology.
Israel isn’t trusting Turkey. As Israel blocks Turkish role in force overseeing Gaza ceasefire. Which makes total sense in the “Turkey “plays nice” to pre-position forces for later use against Israel” way.
Carrot and stick for Russia. Trump has dialed down the rhetoric – managing to insult Ukrainians in the process. Trump says Tomahawks are “too complex” for Ukraine, rules out US training for the advanced missiles. Like western biolabs were too complicated for ’em, too? On the other hand, Russia accused of violating NATO country’s airspace, causing jets to scramble. Let me see: Spanish jets, protect NATO, for an 18-second incursion over Lithuania while Poland is the next likely front… got it!
Keep an eye on the internet – that is the soft underbelly for WW3. There was a little-played story last week (Royal Navy destroyer shadows Russian warship in ‘historic first’ under Nato command) which we think means Russia may have sub-launched drones that could attack undersea data lines. No internet? No civilization. Got plans?
Dear Worrywart
We have you covered.
Someone is changing his tune? Bill Gates Says Climate Change ‘Will Not Lead to Humanity’s Demise’ – The New York Times, Ah, but now the difficult ponder: Do you trust the NYT or Gates?
Change your passwords! Millions of Gmail passwords stolen in massive data breach. Welcome to the 2-factor world, kiddies.
Russian undersea drones likely, massive data hacks? Why, it’s almost like our “how to prep for the end of the internet” is going mainstream, huh? Oh look! Could the internet go offline? Inside the fragile system holding the modern world together.
And look down – deep – and tell us what you see: UFO tracker shows thousands of eerie underwater objects lurking along US coasts. From here? Off planet? China? Place your bets… (check ’em for cookbooks – an old Twilight Zone reference…)
Jamaican Blow
Every picture tells a story, don’t it? (You do remember, right?)
For now, Melissa is the only thing on tracking, but it’s that time of the year…
Here in East Texas, we had some pretty good rains in the past week. We had about 7-inches here and up the road in Tyler, 5.44 inches since the 23rd,. With semi-officially over 51-inches for the year (and we run about 10% high than elsewhere) not much chance of drought for a while. Burn bans came off first thing Monday, too…
Looking Ahead
Fed meeting starts today. That means a rate decision (lowering a quarter is widely expected) will pop tomorrow afternoon.
Market delirium continues, too: Early futures point to the Dow climbing 200 at the open. Gold (last week’s darling) has been slammed under the $4,000 level and silver is trying to hold above $6 – a far cry from last week at this time. Bitcoin has been around $114,340.
The real question? When will GovDown end? We have had a small wager on the first of November – because the pressure is starting to build on the Party That Can’t Think Straight (dems). Government shutdown live updates as Vance set to meet with Senate Republicans -but don’t hold your breath waitin for progress. Dems wont pass a “clean continuation” because misery is their stock & trade. In Washington? The House remains eerily silent as the shutdown drags on. Not that they get much done, either.
Ever wonder why bars don’t open earlier?
Around the Ranch: Chrono-Fence & Sidereal Stump
We have some pretty neat conversations. Every afternoon, 4 PM, it’s “wine time” in the 180 (degree view) room.
Monday we were chilling – after our Monday call with the Major and his Mrs.
Elaine looks at me and asks, “What time do you think it is?”
I told her – then checked with Alexa – I was two minutes off.
“How did you do that?”
“You mean tell the time within a couple of minutes? Allow me to explain…”
I then launched into a perfectly useful discussion of how to tell time using “natural means.”
There’s a shaft of light that comes through the tall pines and casts a shadow on a particular part of the old cedar fence that marks the edge of a power line right of way. I noted the time once and ever since, adjusting for changes in day length, I’ve been using that as my visual clock reference. Moves a couple of minutes a day, depending on time of year. That’s the “Chrono-Fence.”
The other? Well, remember a while back I cut down a big elm (or was it larch?) that was in the middle of the front yard and working its root system out toward the septic? Well, it had to go.
The remaining stump, about 2-feet worth, has been spared so far because somewhere in my head, there’s a mnodel being built of a sidereal time piece. The Sixdereal Stump.
Some people – looking out the window – will just enjoy the view, watch the deer wander through, the remaining cats frolic and hunt. But me? Always data collecting.
Maybe it was that old Chicago song from the 1970s – Does anybody really know what time it is?”
The answer since sailing days has been simple.
Yes.
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