Monthly Archives: September 2019

Air Superiority in 3, 2, 12, uh … 19…

17 Tuesday Sep 2019

Posted by in News and Notes

≈ Comments Off on Air Superiority in 3, 2, 12, uh … 19…

Tags

, , , , ,

We’re only five years away from a new, totally awesome, very real, and not a complete crock of kleptocratic hot air, sixth-generation starfighter with laser cannons, proton torpedos, USB chargers, and live Twitter-streaming AI. So, says the Air Force!

The U.S. Air Force is preparing to radically alter the acquisition strategy for its next generation of fighter jets, with a new plan that could require industry to design, develop and produce a new fighter in five years or less.

On Oct. 1, the service will officially reshape its next-generation fighter program, known as Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, Will Roper, the Air Force’s acquisition executive, said during an exclusive interview with Defense News.

Under a new office headed by a yet-unnamed program manager, the NGAD program will adopt a rapid approach to developing small batches of fighters with multiple companies, much like the Century Series of aircraft built in the 1950s, Roper said.

“Based on what industry thinks they can do and what my team will tell me, we will need to set a cadence of how fast we think we build a new airplane from scratch. Right now, my estimate is five years. I may be wrong,” he said. “I’m hoping we can get faster than that — I think that will be insufficient in the long term [to meet future threats] — but five years is so much better than where we are now with normal acquisition.”

Now, don’t go and remind them that they announced this back in 2008, putting them over six years behind schedule already. And, best not to mention that some things have changed (just a little) in ‘Murica since the 1950s.

I’m sure it will be just fine. After so many years and hundreds of billion$, they’ll launch something that can fly for ten or twelve miles, very slowly, at an altitude of 10 or 12 feet, only on a clear Thursday in February, before crashing into an apartment complex. My biggest worry is that I may bump into one while cruising chicks in my flying car! That, I still expect to have by 2021 2033, 2055 never.

In echelon we carry on…

Just Say, “That Crook”

16 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in Legal/Political Columns

≈ Comments Off on Just Say, “That Crook”

Tags

, ,

You’ll be close enough. More Americans than ever cannot identify “their” elected officials. In times gone by, this might have been a point of shame. Now, I’d say it’s just as well if nothing else.

According to a StudyFinds survey of 346 adults from across the nation, only about two in five (42%) say they know the name of at least one local member of Congress. And while most Americans (71%) can thankfully name the governor of their state, just 45% would actually recognize him or her if they saw their governor in person.

On the other hand, as Greenday said, you “gotta know the enemy.” Rah eh?

Yeah, Marginalize Her

16 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in Legal/Political Columns

≈ Comments Off on Yeah, Marginalize Her

Tags

, , , , , ,

It’s a good thing that the wise leaders of the DNC decided to kill Tulsi Gabbard’s chances for getting the Democratic nomination. In addition to putting the other sad party candidates in their places, the little lady has no problem hitting Trump with the hard truth.

The latest round of Trump tweets threatening military action in response to attacks on Saudi Arabia prompted a fiery response from a Democratic presidential contender.

Replying directly to Trump on Twitter, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) slammed the president for, in her view, seeking marching orders with regard to a potential strike against Iran following the attack on a Saudi oil plant.

“Trump awaits instructions from his Saudi masters,” Gabbard wrote. “Having our country act as Saudi Arabia’s bitch is not ‘America First.’”

Woah! Talk about Ron Paul-ing herself! The DNC mantra is “Trump Bad!,” but only as to things that don’t really exist. The deep state does not like attention called to its real operations. Doesn’t she know the value of false flag hysteria? Next, this nut will be calling for auditing or abolishing the Fed. Crazy. Good job, Hillary! Locked and loaded.

4G Warfare = More Laws!

16 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in News and Notes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

In addition to driving up oil prices and pushing closer to another idiotic war, the cruise missile drone attacks on the Suadi oil facility may be just the scare tactic/false flag the FAA needs to drop more regulatory BS on you.

The risk is hardly new, though, for law enforcement and homeland security officials. FBI Director Christopher Wray in October warned a Senate committee that civilian drones pose a “steadily escalating threat.” The devices are likely to be used by terrorists, criminal groups or drug cartels to carry out attacks in the U.S., he said.

Dozens of incidents in recent years have hinted at the risks, from the mysterious drone flying at London’s Gatwick Airport in December that disrupted operations for days, to recent assassination attempts using the devices in Yemen and Venezuela.

But even as the threat is well documented and understood, the counter-measures necessary to prevent or repel an attack are far murkier.

There is currently no requirement on how to track the millions of civilian drones plying the U.S. skies. The Federal Aviation Administration has spent the past two years crafting regulations requiring small civilian drones to install radio-identification technology after the FBI and Department of Homeland Security objected to widening public use of the devices. A proposed regulation is expected later this year, but may not be completed for a year or more.

Drugs. Terrorists. Oil. 9/11. Pearl Harbor. Some of the people, all of the time.

We Might Like Boris When He’s Angry

15 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in Legal/Political Columns

≈ Comments Off on We Might Like Boris When He’s Angry

Tags

, ,

BREXIT by 10/31, he says!

The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Johnson said he would find a way to circumvent a recent parliament vote ordering him to delay Brexit rather than take Britain out of the EU without a transition deal to ease the economic shock.

“The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets,” Johnson was quoted as saying. “Hulk always escaped, no matter how tightly bound in he seemed to be – and that is the case for this country. We will come out on October 31.”

Okay. Then, on Nov. 1, he can start the emergency repatriations. Deport the Remainers as well, as a showing of good faith. There still might always be an England.

Let Me Write the Word: Meaningful

15 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in Legal/Political Columns

≈ Comments Off on Let Me Write the Word: Meaningful

Tags

, , , ,

There, I did my part for the entanglement with Israel. Oops… wrong story (but, y’all go vote on Tuesday, anyway!). Meaningful! M-E-A-N-I-N-G-F-U-L. Gun control.

The Trump administration is expected to announce its proposal to curb gun violence as soon as next week. But after the Democrats’ fiery debate on gun control, what President Trump will support is far from clear.

The White House has been talking to a trio of lawmakers: Democrats Chris Murphy and Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey. They all support tougher background checks.

After the recent mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, Mr. Trump called for gun control legislation.

“I’m talking about meaningful, write that word, meaningful, meaningful background checks,” Mr. Trump said on August 9.

Maybe he’ll propose repealing FOPA? Or the horror of 65? We’ll find out soon! However it happens, I bet that treaty will pass the Senate 100-0!

2,721, by my last count…

14 Saturday Sep 2019

Posted by in News and Notes

≈ Comments Off on 2,721, by my last count…

Tags

, ,

The BBC, that British bastion of the purveyors of prevarication, the ones who called the collapse of WTC7 in advance, have finally fallen behind.

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) tells primary schoolchildren that there are over 100 genders as part of its “Teach” video series, which has some concerned parents and observers up in arms.

“You know, there are so many gender identities,” declares the head teacher in response to child’s question. “We know that we have got male and female, but there are over 100, if not more, gender identities now.”

The video for schoolchildren aged 9-12 is part of nine new BBC Teach films produced as support material for the personal, social, and health education (PSHE) curriculum in UK schools.

Get with the mentally ill program! There must be thousands (if not millions) of gender identities, you British bigots. This is healthy. This is normal. This happens at the very end of every single great society and civilization.

PS: Post-reset, we’ll be back to just the two…

How to Write a Novel

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Other Columns

≈ Comments Off on How to Write a Novel

Tags

, , , ,

Hey! Finally, an “original” article that doesn’t involve me merely adding sarcastic comments to a news story! This one’s about fiction.

Yes, friends, it’s been a little over a year since I first delved into the genre with a few discombobulated short stories. Now, we’re getting VERY CLOSE to my first novel, The Substitute. I trust you’re debit and credit cards are charged and ready.

It’s kind of funny. The book originally started out as a non-fiction work about how bad the schools are – because we just can’t have enough of those, right? But then, along came Mr. Tom Ironsides and literally hijacked my idea. It morphed into a dramatization overnight. Honestly, it has been a little more than I thought I was ready for. But, then again, it seems there is no perfect time to do these things. The reader may find the final product, while I hope entertaining, a little amateurish? Your judgment.

My saving grace was the guidance of Thomas Moore, author of A Fatal Mercy, etc. He said kind things like: “You’ve got a great voice. And, a good ear.” I said, “YEAH!” – like I knew (know) exactly what those terms mean…

I read several books on how to write a novel and I consulted some of the copious (dubious) material all over these internets. In the end, I’m amazed at how close my work is coming (unintentionally) to following the conventional format.

The outline and all the notes were originally geared towards a factual expose. A few short stories emerged, became chapters, and Ironsides took the thing and ran with it. Yet and still, it has three acts. There’s a hook in the first chapter. Those turns, challenges, and critical events magically showed up on their own. Climaxes – plural – fell into place without my realizing. Towards the end, there is a resolution of a kind. It’s not total. In fact, it can’t be, given the subject matter. Yet, I think it works and well.

So, when writing a novel, or anything really – do it. That’s about the best I can offer. My Afterword includes an appropriate quote from Clausewitz. That, and the rest will be along before long.

And, I have some more books in various states of preparation. If I discover anything worthwhile as those grow, I shall report it.

Okay, The Substitute: I’m thinking maybe $7-8 for Kindle and $16-18 for a high-grade paperback. In the event of decent interest, a hardcover isn’t out of the question ($35?).

Soon.

Live, from the Graveyard

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Legal/Political Columns, News and Notes

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , ,

$900 Billion wasted. 147,000 dead. And, nothing to show. As I mentioned in my TPC column this week, the Taliban is winning, bigly.

Yet 18 years later, after the U.S. spent nearly $900 billion and more than 147,000 people died, the Taliban are growing more confident of returning to power. The militant group controls or contests half of the country, more territory than any time since they were toppled in 2001. And they’ve come close to a deal with the U.S. that could give them even more power, even after President Donald Trump abruptly put the talks on hold.

Well, thank God we have no domestic problems.