This Chicago Bears Situation

 The Bears said 'enough'....giving notice, and will move across the state line (roughly a 40-minute drive)  to another state.  Four observations:

1.  I don't think the mayor or Governor ever thought this day would come.  They acted 'shocked'....but I would suggest half the population knew it was coming.

2. If you were a fan....you'd probably park your car in the Chicago stadium/parking  lot, and take a party-bus over to Indiana.   So Chicago will still make 'some' money.

3.  Fans flying in?  There's likely to be five or six hotels built around the new park, but how will they make money in the non-NFL season?  This part of the talk...makes no sense.

4.  I  could see five or six other NFL teams doing the same thing....particularly around Seattle, SF, and central  Cal.

Four Observations

1.  I watched a 30-second clip of Governor Newsom explaining something....with at least 12 hand-signals given (like a 3rd base coach).  To be honest....I watch the hand-signals more than paying attention to the words.

2.  Odd page three story I noted this week.....there was this car that rammed into LADWP power substation in Nevada, prompting investigation of a ‘terrorism-related event.’

Rental car....inside....two shotguns, an assault rifle-style pistol, and flamethrowers.  Driver?  Wearing “soft-body armor.” Guy dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound.

I'll guarantee....unresolved and closed case within a week.

3.  Kamala Harris comment this week: "We have so many stars in our party. There are so many stars. And let's not be afraid of them. You talk about Mamdani… Crockett… I mean we have so many stars."

I just can't put either Crockett or Mamdani in a 3-star or 4-star status.

4.  This week, I noted the numbers.....3,920,028 illegals were given Social Security and Medicaid over 4 years.  The chief issue?   If you think about the formula....the low-paying jobs these people will have because of zero professional skills.....most all of them will never get more than $500 a month upon retirement.  The Biden crew created a special category of people....the ultra-poverty status.

Four Humble Observations

 1.  Rumors exist that Kamala Harris intends to run again in 2028.

For the 107 days of the 2024 campaign....she spent $1.5-billion. For a 300-day campaign, with a primary? I'd imagine she'd require $3.5-billion. 

2.  Emmanuel Macron, President of France....gave a talk: "Free speech is a pure bullshit if nobody knows how you are guided through this so-called free speech, especially when it is to be guided from one hated speech to another hated speech."

I had to read over it five times....realizing it was never meant to make sense.

3. Something I learned today.   Erika Kirk (widow of Charlie Kirk)....several years ago....landed a job at the Corcoran Group, the luxury international real estate dealer. 

So here's the curious thing....before that, she had zero background/experience....in real estate.

Who were the Corcoran Group?  Well....they handled Epstein’s properties, and that of Epstein's best buddy....Les Wexner.

4.  Anytime  you have some joker wanting to blab on-and-on about the evil super-rich/ultra-rich....gaze over at their watch. Hint: it won't be a Timex or $99 type.

The Essential Problem

I  contemplated this idea today that some people in the US....perhaps even over the age of sixty....have NO birth certificate (ZERO).

According to a 2024 national survey conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice, VoteRiders, Public Wise, and the University of Maryland's Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement....somewhere around 3.8 million voting-age US citizens have no form of documentary proof of citizenship at all. This means they lack a U.S. birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship. 

Truth to the matter?  No one has ever jumped into this issue. You can't say x-number from this state or that state....have no birth certificate.  You can't say 300,000 Indians exist with no birth certificate.  You can't say 44,000 folks granted citizenship in the 1990s....arrived with no birth certificate, and were given paperwork for citizenship, but lacking the certificate.

Do we even want to open up this discussion?

The solution?  Well.....you'd have to appoint some gov't  folks to make up birth certificates....with minimum data or facts.  I don't see this going well.

Couric Comment

 Katie Couric commentary: "The socio-economic disparities are significant, and class resentment is widespread. Anti-intellectualism and elitism are driving many of these anti-establishment individuals — who are largely Trump voters — so I think that is a huge problem we have to address."

I pondered over the 'lecture'.

To be honest, I haven't really thought much about Couric since the late 1990s.

On the anti-intellectualism BS? What I'd generally say.....a whole lot of people have appeared since the 1990s....claiming to be intellectual, but apparently skipped about half of the classes, and seem to be hooked-up to some type of fake-intellectualism.

The other issue....it's bad enough on 'elitism' now....that you have to use a fake-elite  index....assigning folks a score, and simply admitting that you 'mute' a fair amount of their commentary.

But then I come to the central theme....what the intellectuals need to do....to recapture the bulk of society.  If your 'brand' or message doesn't work....you might want to start learning a new skill or trade.

The Back-Pack Reasoning?

 The Guthrie situation in Tucson presents an odd factor.  I watched the video of 'Hocus-Pocus-Joe' at the door (with mask/gloves on)....and this overly-filled back-pack.  I ran through it a dozen times.

So first, if you were on a kidnapping adventure....why bring a full-up back-pack?  This wasn't a kid's type (small bag).....this was the type you'd use for a full-up day hike....with water, snacks, change of clothing, etc.

Then I wondered....is the back-pack bulked up with newspapers (we used to bring deployment bags to a Air Force 4 AM recall like that)?

Then I got onto this....guy parks the car/van near  the house....why put the back-pack on...if you were grabbing the old gal, and escaping to the car?

Then I thought about....is the idiot bringing something to drop off?

For about two hours this AM.....I've pondered this.  It makes no sense, unless the purpose is to 'trick' you into thinking it was full for some reason.

Abduction Chatter

Today, I viewed an odd map.....where some guy had sat down over decades and added up alien abductions.

Apparently....the state you live in....increases the odds, or lessens the odds. The number on the list? Around 150,000.

The possibility states?  New Hampshire, Idaho, Vermont, Maine, and Oregon.

The marginal states?  New Mexico, Indiana and Nebraska.

Slightly above the marginal states?  Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

I pondered over this.

Personally (from a Ala prospective)....I think Alabama is way over the top, but most guys who've been abducted....haven't said nothing much about the experience. 

We tend to be quiet, reserved, and a bit stoic over the matter....even if it's been eleven  or twelve times that the alien 'lady' has encountered us while hauling hay, returning from the stateline bar, or passed out from the heat.

We don't want to mess around and brag about the experience, or get woeful over the experience.

What isn't in the index?  Was this a friendly abduction, or a crappy abduction?

More guys than women?  That's  not in index, and I wonder about that.

Are A Quarter Of Americans Low-IQish Enough...That They Can't Get A Legit ID?

 I watched a podcast today, which led me around to the suggestion....maybe a quarter of society is ill-equipped to get a ID.

I pondered over this. On my person....I carry a US license, a German license, a German visa-card, and a passport.  The Germans are a bit blunt....no discussion....you will have a visa whenever on the street.

If you ask a German where to get the license or  ID....everyone knows the address.

I would imagine in my home-county of Alabama....if you asked about the license situation....about 99.9-percent of folks know the building and address. State-wise?  If you tested folks....it's probably near 98-percent of folks.

But if this is the case....too low of a IQ....maybe we should hire some folks to lead the low-IQ folks to the right county office. I'm not saying to pay them $18-an-hour....just set up a burger-flipper situation....paying them $12-an-hour and give them a Ford to carry passengers.

I might even make it interesting.....if you got the ID, and used it to vote....we ought to give you a coupon-card for $40 off at the local Piggly Wiggly.  

Micro-School?

 I had to ask Grok/AI.....this AM....what the hell is a micro-school.

So....it's a small personalized learning environment that basically acts like theold 1890ss traditional one-room schoolhouse.....It'd typically serve 12 to 15 students (varying ages).

So it acts like a homeschool and conventional school.  Flexible?  Yeah....they can run with personalized knowledge sets.

Does it have to be in a building?  Well....no.  You could be the instructor, with a 20-pax bus, and have daily trips to parks, museums, historical sites.  

Testing-out?  I would imagine most kids in this situation....could be finished with basic school by age 16, and move onto community college.

State Story

WV Senator Chris Rose has proposed a resolution for certain counties in Virginia to leave & become part of West Virginia.

I pondered over this.

Virginia is trying build districts (for House members) which are pure Dem-voters.

Gazing over the red counties....if  you add up the population...if's around  1-to-1.4 million....probably 80-percent Republican.

Would Virginia allow an 'exit'?  I doubt it.

The problem with this....if you gaze across the US....there's 30 states which would like to re-arrange borders.  
 

Wildest Thing I've Seen From The Epstein Files?

Hillary Clinton email discussing resurrection chamber of the buried Nephilim, and document request related to Gilgamesh’s resurrection chamber (in Iraq).

This BS starts up originally....from a 2003 BBC report suggesting that German archaeologists might have found the tomb of Gilgamesh within the Euphrates riverbed.

After this come out.....no science or discovery reports ever get documented.

However, there are these various idiots connected to Epstein who keep believing that Gilgamesh's 'chamber' is held by the CIA folks.

Part of me wants to believe that the CIA intentionally built this into a fake story....just to pull someone's leg.

So at some point....Hillary is asked to find report and report back.  Did she just make up BS....or pay someone to document fake secret stuff?

The 2027 NFL Super Bowl Half-Time Shows (Plural)

 I'm of the mindset....there will be five options  for the half-time show for 2027.

1.  The NFL 'original'.

2.   The TP-USA 'invention'.

3.  A Nashville country-music show (with five to eight musicians).  On-line and streaming.

4.  A Vegas 1990s/2000s-theme show....built to attract 71,000 fans at their Allegiant Stadium.  Downloadable.

5.  Louisville KFC arena show....22,000 seats.  Downloadable.

My thoughts....the NFL from this point on...will not  be able to attract folks to their show.

Six Thoughts

 1.  The dead gal in Minnesota....just curious....just over 30 days since the shooting, and no one much today remembers her name.  I would imagine fewer than 10-percent.  Interesting how quick folks forget.

2.  I watched about 12 minutes of 'clips' of the Bad Bunny NFL Super Bowl  show, and maybe 8 minutes of the Kid Rock alternate show.

To be honest....it would have been better to turn the TV  off....catch 45 minutes of Fleetwood Mac tunes.

3.  My gut feeling for the NFL and planning the 2027 half-time show....get some demonic people or zombies lined up....if you want to even fewer people watching.

4. Perpetual psychodrama for the past ten years.  Just about all Americans need a rehab of some sort.

5.  Since 1945 and the surrender...Japan has been forced to having a coalition-party gov't.  Well...this past week....one single party (right-wing) won enough to avoid  coalition-building, and will have a re-writing of the Constitution.

6.   Something I started wondering about....people need an ID to obtain SNAP benefits but these same people are too stupid to use voter ID?

'Not Infinitely Accessible' Story

 I watched a podcast piece this AM....a CEO of something called the Institute for Sustainability Leadership.....this gal...Lindsey Hooper, says that water, soil, and oxygen should not be infinitely accessible. 

She wants them all classified as 'limited'. It'd be like a pallet of beer, with it being like a global balance sheet.

I paused over this....stuff you'd expect a 5th-grade kid to utter.

I just can't find the logic where there is ONLY X-amount of dirt, or air....unless you were space-traveling, or locked-up in a cave somewhere.

I would agree....there is limited amount of toilet-paper, whiskey,  aspirin, Snickers, or Ford 150s.

In her mind....only x-number of people could get certain thing, while some fellow managed the spreadsheet. It don't make much sense.

The "Other" Debt

You would think there would be alot more turmoil and protests over the debt games being played out in Washington.  There ought to be protesters....angry mobs hating Republicans....upset conservative folks....etc.  But there aren't.  So why?

Well....because Joe, your neighbor (age 30), owes $80k in college loans and he admits he won't be finished paying this off for another 20-odd years.

Aunt Maude, your beloved aunt, owes near $60k on seven VISA cards that she uses regularly to shop QVC....and will likely never pay off the cards before she passes on.

Charley, your favorite barber, owes $70k on a brand-new car that he bought.  He admits that he has never cleared more than $32k a year on salary but he's willing to take out a eight-year loan to get this sports car of his dreams.

Claude, your cousin?  He bought the $350k house back in 2007, with only $35k in the down-payment.  The house has gone down in value to $200k now and Claude is contemplating just handing the keys to the house over to the bank and declaring bankruptcy.

Karl, who lives down the street....wrapping up divorce number three?  He works sixty hours a week and barely takes home $1400 after paying alimony and child-support to the three ex-wives.  He's 42 and says he might find the right woman next time....if not....he'll be bankrupt by that point.

Sid, who bought property in Vegas as an investment in 2020?  The value just dumped by fifty percent and he's still paying $450 a month for this "investment opportunity".  It may take twenty years for the property to get back up to its original value....and maybe sell.

Tim, your buddy from high school?  He finally found a job after three years of unemployment....but had to move to Fargo, North Dakota to achieve this honor.  He lives out of a RV because his wife won't move to Fargo....and most all his check goes to the wife and kids at the old house.  

Frankly, we have become a huge debt crowd....in a debt nation, with no real grasp of what it was like in the 1970s.  Before the credit cards, QVC, massive college costs, alimony-on-top-of-alimony, and stupid property prices.....we were living a simple life, without much debt.  The same could be said for the nation itself.  We didn't build museum after museum.  We didn't build bridges on a whim.  We didn't hand out cash to research teams to figure out why bears like honey.

So, as you sit back tonight.....counting the few dollars left in your billfold....and watching a bunch of news folks get excited about the evil Republicans, the dimwitted Democrats, or the President's five-star speeches....you kinda wonder why anyone should get excited.  Until you've charged $80k on a couple of VISA cards....you really don't grasp debt or the depth of problems.  Course, the reverse is true too....if you as a nation owed a trillion dollars.....you really don't know debt.

Only in America.

Unemployment Rate for Huntsville, Alabama?

 My German wife....eager to hype the negative nature of unemployment in America....was utterly shocked....December  2025 numbers for Huntsville, Ala...1.9-percent.

What this generally means?

If you run a BK or McDonalds operation...you probably have a full-time HR guy constantly recruiting, and a french-fry guy/burger flipper is probably paid $10/12 an hour starting out, and making $15 an hour within 3 months (to keep them there).

Across the board....you could marginally pass out of high school, and within three years...probably make $17 an hour easily.

Aliens Chatter

 I sat and watched a AM podcast interview with the actor Laurence Fishburne (one of the few Hollywood actors that I truly enjoy watching)....so the topic of aliens/UFOs come up and the podcast gal asks Fishburne...what he thinks: (he says)

“I think they walk among us…I think they’re right here with us and we just don’t know who they are.”

To be honest, it wouldn't shock me some 'truth' were to arrive where we found around 100,000 aliens live among us....paying taxes....flying planes....running bars...repairing transmissions....working as soap-opera stars....wrestling...NCAA football coaching, and even being a President.

Why?  Well....if you were highly advanced....you probably are fairly bored and wish to have some adventure (West-World type).  So some travel agency exists....providing you a year of language training, and some basic trade skill....then whisk you off to Earth with some 10-year adventure.

Are People 'Blessed' With Such A Low IQ....That They Can't Gather-Up An ID Or Present It?

 This AM, I pondered for half-an-hour about presenting an ID to vote, and if the real problem was a quarter of society has a IQ level of 65 to 75....meaning they are destined for food-prep-help, farm-work, assembly jobs, and House-of-Representatives work.

The question is....if you 'herded-up' a thousand of the low-IQ people....could 50-percent of them be unable to prove anything for a ID situation, or that they are even a US citizen?

Then the bigger question comes up....do you want the low-IQ  people voting?  I pondered over this for a while.  I don't mind asking low-IQ guy to flip burgers, haul hay,  or do dimwit-level work for the Senate job...but if they are this stupid....do I want them to have the right to vote?

So I'll just say it....this whole ID talk we are having presently....is a 50-foot deep 'hole' and we might want to have a serious conversation.

Harris Chatter

 I sat this AM...watching a interview of former VP Harris, and the topic of mandating an ID to vote.

For a brief 20 seconds, Harris seemed to have the clarity and competence of a 16-year-old teenage girl....then  she said something to the effect that rural folks didn't have access to a Xerox machine, so they couldn't have copies of documents their American citizenship or residency.  This led me back to her mental side being that of a 8-year old girl.

I grew up in the 'boonies'....at least I considered it boonieish.  Today?  The forty-odd houses on the county road....all have multi-printers with Xerox/fax capability.  McDonalds?  There's one six miles away. The dry-county status dissolved around 15 years ago. Ninety percent of folks have internet capability and cable-TV.   On a boonie-index (1-to-10)....we probably won't get past '2'.

All these Democrat folks who seem passionate about about the rural folks existing along some 1940-timeline?  I think they need to take a month off....just travel around the nation, and talk to people.

My Thoughts On The Washington Post

 There was a time....up through the 1990s....that they had 4-star investigative journalism. I worked with a Air Force officer who'd occasionally bring his Sunday edition into the office and I'd get a chance to read the bulk of it during lunch.

For my 3.5 year period (2010-2013)...in DC.....I was a subscriber for about 9 months.  

I eventually came to a end-point.....mostly over 3 reasons: their analysis often seemed one-sided.....they just would not criticize or comment on the DC city council....and as many sports journalists as they had, they seemed to barely talk sports.

With the laying off this week?  Well...the folks that remain....probably are looking at three years of 'life'....before  the WP goes under.

 

My Humble Thoughs On:

 Voter ID?  Look....I suspect this...if you mandate the ID and force people to re-accomplish registration...across the fifty states....around 50-percent of registered voters will disappear (more so in California than any other state). How would you go and explain this?

People unhinged/upset over use of words?  Look....if you are that childish in nature, then you ought to hook up to some Amazon tribal folks, and just find some group with 1,600 total words.  Live a simple life....boil lizards...and stare at stars an hour every evening.

News content?  If you write mostly BS, or stuff that people aren't accepting....you need to prepare for a 2nd career.

Life skills?  Around the 8th grade....there ought to be two hours a day on cooking, repairing, banking, etc....skills that you need in real life.

Trump giving a UFO's exist speech?  Some people will believe it....some will be on a TDS-frenzy and refuse to believe it.  We will end up with UFO-DS being a new problem.

Addictive Story

 This AM....I read through a research piece briefly....this paper by Milbank Quarterly suggests that soda and sweets are designed to be addictive, in some odd way....copies the tobacco industry tactics.

My wife (the German health nut) has believed this for 30-odd years.

Up until 2010....I was a two-to-three soda a day consumer.  Since then....I might drink a Pepsi or  Coke three times a year....mostly at airports.

On a addictive scale....some are pretty high up, and then you have Tab, Sprite, and 7-Up....which I tend to see as zero on being addictive. 

The 'Other' Joe?

 About three years ago....the Joe-Biden-mask story came up...suggesting that someoe was acting in Joe's 'spot'....with a mask....playing him.

At the time...I laughed. About a year later...I started to give it a 5-percent  being true, mostly he walked in a awkward way from the helicopter to the White House on Sunday evenings....returning after a weekend in Delaware. Added to this....from Monday morning....till Friday evening (another chopper ride)....you'd notice for a whole week....no meetings or photo-ops.

Over the past 6 months....various 2020 to 2024 photos have popped up....where Joe looks like he has a mask on....maybe 50-percent of the time.

This week....a Epstein email popped-up....suggesting Joe was shot dead in 2019, and a sub was placed. Course, Epstein might have simply made up a joke.

Jill all in on this...if true?  How she'd sign up for duty like this?

At this point....I'm at the 20-percent point.

NY City Story

 I sat and watched a 2-minute exchange....journalist....and a supporter of Zoharn Mamdani (NY City's new mayor)....arguing over the idea....businesses shouldn’t be allowed to leave over taxes and that the city should just seize/operate them instead.

The resident didn't really state his work or expertise....just by the way he talked...I assumed he had a degree (or two).

I'll admit....about two minutes were all I could really stand.

In some way....he assumes that the pricing of the business, and profits....will just stay on a path of continuing...without any issues.

A bad example of this idea?  At some point...the NY Yankees will start to have a problem  in signing 5-star players....because of the state/city taxation program.  This is the current problem in  Chicago...with the Bears (serious talk of leaving the state). I expect both the Dodgers and  Giants to have this discussion in a couple of years.

Crazy world we live in.

Four Humble Thoughts

 1.  I watched about 75 minutes of House situation with Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent with House Democrats.

It was a college-professor moment....with 11-year old 'children'.

It was a 5-star disaster for the Democratic 'brand'.  

2.  I read over a summary....parent writing how things went the the day prior at their kid's school.  Kid....I get the impression was probably 12 or13 years old.

So....the politicized 'kids' in the school had a 'walk-out' planned....to dump on 'ICE' as a protest.  School director got word....blocked off the doors, and forbid the exit.

Via phone-chat (I assume)....whoever was directing the school-gang....went to plan 'B'....where kids were to wear anti-ICE labels/pins.   

What the parent indicated....almost no boy in the school got into this pin-business.  It was purely a girl-event with the pins.

It's amazing  times we live in.

3.  The journalists-reporters at the Washington Post....viewed it as their purpose in life....to "spur change".

So as they exit the office (dismissed/let-go)....they should write it on their resume.  Apparently, their brand of change....means non-profit for the newspaper.

4.  The most dangerous man in America today...is not Donald Trump.  It's Joe Rogan....and here's the thing....Joe's going to be around for 20-plus years.

Civilization Doomed

Comparing Minneapolis to Maya City....in terms of a collapse.

The Maya civilization, one of the most advanced pre-Columbian societies in the Americas, experienced a significant decline known as the "Classic Maya collapse."

This occurred between 750 and 950 AD. 

This was NOT a sudden, empire-wide catastrophe.  It started as a gradual process.....where crappy situations occurred over decades or centuries. 

Populations plummeted.  Monumental architecture halted.  Commerce failed. 

The Maya people didn't vanish....they just kinda walked away.

The collapse is often described as a "hell-hole" scenario in the sense that once-prosperous cities became uninhabitable due to intertwined environmental, social, and political crises, leading to mass out-migration. 

I look at Minneapolis and would suggest within a decade....the population of the city will go from 429,000....to around 380,000.

Some will simply leave the city, but stay within the state....finding rural surroundings to be safe.

The population of the Somalis in Minneapolis?  I'll go and suggest that they increase, the household income level of the city (presently at $80k per household)....without federal fraud funding....will slide to $65k.  

Detroit-status?  Yeah....that's the target.

By 2046?  The population is likely to hit near near 250k.  

Like the Mayan civilization...it's doomed. 

Four Realities

 1.  You get in life a few opportunities, and a few consequences. The trick is...maximize every single opportunity,  and minimize every single consequence.  Don't be stupid to show up to a protest, with a loaded gun, and think the police will overlook your stupidity.

2.  After pondering over the Minneapolis spiral....I've come to a odd theory.

When Bush/Clinton/Bush II/Obama kept the door open for legit Somalis to enter with 'papers/visas'....eventually becoming citizens.  I suspect that around 100k to 200k illegal Somalis entered, and took up the papers/visas of those who grew older, and died. 

I suspect the state AG and Governor both are aware of this, and that some of the vast 'new' (alive) illegals....are US citizens, and listed as 90 to 120 years old.....and likely voting in state/national elections.

3.  Maybe just a crazy idea....but I think there are probably 40 'children' of Epstein....all approaching 15 to 35 years old, and on some path to be mayors, governors, etc.

4.  If I were a alien....having traveled 10 years to visit Earth....with all the crap going on...I'd never want to leave.

Spiral of Epstein Stuff Never Ends

 I spent around two hours this past weekend....previewing the Epstein matter, and pictures/documents released. Three observations:

1.  There's one final batch of pictures/video/documents to be reviewed and released.  They aren't saying the timeline...but it won't be in Feb or Mar. Things getting worse?  Maybe.

2.  This  whole discussion on pedophilia?  It's a curious thing....some folks show up and they have a different category which doesn't fit with others.

There are five categories:

Pedophilia: Primary sexual attraction to prepubescent children, typically under 11-13 years old (before puberty). 

Infantophilia (or Nepiophilia): A subtype of pedophilia involving attraction to very young children, usually infants and toddlers under 5-6 years old. 

Hebephilia: Attraction to pubescent children, roughly ages 11-14, during early puberty. This is sometimes proposed as a distinct category or combined with pedophilia as "pedohebephilia." 

Ephebophilia: Attraction to older adolescents, typically 15-16 years old, who are post-pubescent but still minors. 

Pedohebephilia: Category for those attracted to both prepubescent and pubescent children (under 11 and 11-14). 

All of this is flat-out illegal, but if you got dragged in for some situation with a 15/16-year old....probably a quarter of jury members might not condemn too much.

My question....where did Epstein find the hundreds of victims, and keep them under wraps?

3.  There seems to be a number of women who were into this Epstein business, and you have to wonder.....just how deep into perverted  stuff they went. 

AI Chatter

 I noticed this AM....this story:

"Google CEO says that they don’t fully understand their own AI system after it started doing things it wasn’t programmed to do such as teaching itself an entire foreign language it was not asked to do."

I pondered upon this.

Why did the  system just invent a 'learn-details' requirement?  I'm of the mind....once it mandated it...it probably took less than 10 minutes to learn all of the foreign language

If the system mandated that learning the repair instructions of all Ford trucks made since 1936?  It would sequence the situation...find the manuals  on-line, and probably add this capability in an hour (while doing 15,000 other requirements).

So I come to three observations:

1.   Just guessing....as they add more 'cloud-capability' and data-storage...AI is going to take on 50,000 tasks per day, and go way beyond the mandated tasks.  The data-gain in the next five years?  Probably whatever you expected to be done by 2060...will be completed by 2035.

2.  If you cut loose the funds and built a dozen unmanned subs....AI would map out the globe in a matter of five years. 

3.  We might reach a point where AI was a better stock-predictor than some idiot from the Business Channel.

Consequences Commentary

I sat this AM, and noted:  "Target is closing 9 stores in Democrat-run areas like New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland, citing retail theft and organized crime that made stores unsafe and unsustainable."

As someone commented....this is likely phase one, and in 60 days...there's likely to be a phase two with 20 additional stores.  By late summer....a likely phase three with forty more stores.

So I'm making a prediction of consequences:

1.  Survival of most stores like Target will revolve around the idea of you entering one single point of the store....flashing a credit card, and your entry is logged to that card being charged for all items in the cart at the end.  Attempt to skip or not-play?  You get denied entry.

2.  Other stores will go this route by the end of 2026.

3. A majority of voters will wake up and demand real jail-time for theft/shop-lifting....like six months in a county jail.  This will expand construction of warehouse-operations that offer jail-accommodations.

4.  By the end of 2028...within a 20-mile circle of where you live....at least 40-odd empty buildings will stand.  Former Wal-Marts, or Target or Piggly Wiggly shops. All left to decay because of thefft.

Six Humble Thoughts Over Insurgencies

 I spent a fair amount of my 'pondering-time' of the past week...looking over insurgencies in general.  I limited to US events, but came to realize....across the globe...since 2000...there are hundreds of insurgency operations and put-down events.  So six observations:

First, most insurgency operations start off 'small' (limited) and you can easily note that if some official or Governor does not start reacting...it grows over a very quick period of time (say a week).

Second, martyr victims are a key note of the success of any given insurgency.

Third, outside manipulation (planning) since the 1990s....is a key part of insurgency creation and sustainment.

Fourth, in most cases....fed-help was not called upon...until you get to the  past 30-odd years.

Fifth, of the 3 lists I made....insurgencies since 1800....if I had really opened up every  single event within the US....I think I could have noted more than 300 insurgency operations.  It is fairly common.

Sixth and final....just my humble belief...around 80-percent of the start-up's of insurgency...have a legit reason to exist, and the authorities refused to step in and clean  up the mess (early on).

Ten Examples In The US Of Insurgencies Since 2000

I didn't really think I could come up with ten....but at thirty....I just stopped counting.

1. Cincinnati Riots (April 2001, Cincinnati, Ohio): Civil unrest sparked by the police shooting of a unarmed Black teenager Timothy Thomas, leading to widespread protests, looting, and violence over four days. Ohio National Guard was called in to assist local police in restoring order. 

2.  Occupy Wall Street Protests (September–November 2011, New York City and nationwide): Nationwide movement against economic inequality, with encampments leading to clashes with police in multiple cities. Local police departments, including NYPD, handled evictions and arrests; no federal or National Guard involvement. 

3.  Bundy Ranch Standoff (April 2014, Bunkerville, Nevada): Armed confrontation between rancher Cliven Bundy, supporters, and federal Bureau of Land Management agents over grazing fees. Federal agents stood down to avoid violence; FBI later conducted arrests without major deployment. 

4.  Ferguson Unrest (August 2014–August 2015, Ferguson, Missouri): Protests and riots following the police shooting of Michael Brown, escalating into national Black Lives Matter movement. Missouri National Guard was deployed to support local police. 

5.  Baltimore Riots (April 2015, Baltimore, Maryland): Uprising after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, involving looting and arson. Maryland National Guard was activated to quell the violence. 

6.  Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Occupation (January–February 2016, Harney County, Oregon): Armed takeover by militia groups protesting federal land policies. FBI and Oregon State Police conducted a siege, leading to arrests and one death. 

7.  Standing Rock Protests (April 2016–February 2017, Cannon Ball, North Dakota): Occupation against the Dakota Access Pipeline by Native American tribes and allies, with clashes over environmental and treaty rights. North Dakota National Guard and multi-state law enforcement were deployed to clear the camps. 

8.  Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally (August 2017, Charlottesville, Virginia): Violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters, resulting in one death. Virginia National Guard was placed on standby and assisted local police. 

9.  George Floyd Protests (May–June 2020, nationwide, focused on Minneapolis, Minnesota): Massive uprising against police brutality after George Floyd's murder, with riots in multiple cities. Minnesota National Guard and federal agents were deployed in various locations. 

10.  United States Capitol Attack (January 6, 2021, Washington, D.C.): Insurrection by supporters of President Trump attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. U.S. Capitol Police, D.C. National Guard, and FBI responded to regain control. 

Ten Examples of Insurgencies Within The US (1900 to 2000)

1. Liberty County Riot (August 18, 1900, Liberty County, Georgia): Racial violence and uprising among Black residents against oppression. Georgia state troops were called in to settle the problem. 

2.  Colorado Labor Wars (1903–1904, Colorado): Armed conflict between striking coal miners and mine owners/strikebreakers, involving bombings and guerrilla tactics. Federal troops and state militia were deployed to suppress the unrest. 

3.  Green Corn Rebellion (August 3, 1917, Central Oklahoma): Uprising by rural poor and farmers against World War I conscription, involving plans to march on Washington. Oklahoma National Guard was called in to quell the rebellion. 

4.  Battle of Blair Mountain (August–September 1921, Logan County, West Virginia): Largest labor uprising in U.S. history, where armed coal miners fought against coal operators and private detectives over union rights. Federal troops and state militia were sent to end the conflict. 

5.  Rosewood Massacre (January 1–7, 1923, Rosewood, Florida): Racial insurrection where white mobs attacked and destroyed a Black town in response to alleged crimes. Florida National Guard was called in to restore order. 

6.  Bonus Army March (Spring/Summer 1932, Washington, D.C.): World War I veterans occupied the capital demanding early payment of bonuses amid the Great Depression, leading to clashes. U.S. Army under President Hoover was deployed to clear the encampment. (oddly, the gov't had the money....the Germans in 1925 had already paid reparations)

7.  Battle of Athens (August 1–2, 1946, McMinn County, Tennessee): Armed revolt by World War II veterans and citizens against a corrupt local government involved in election fraud. Local and state authorities, including the National Guard, were involved in settling the issue. 

8.  Puerto Rican Nationalist Revolts (October 30, 1950, various locations in Puerto Rico): Series of uprisings by nationalists against U.S. rule, including armed attacks on government buildings and attempts on officials' lives. U.S. military and federal forces were called in to suppress the insurgencies. 

9.  Attica Prison Uprising (September 9–13, 1971, Attica, New York): Inmates rebelled and took hostages demanding better prison conditions and rights. New York State LE and National Guard were called in, resulting in a violent retaking of the prison. 

10.  Wounded Knee Incident (February 27–May 8, 1973, Wounded Knee, South Dakota): Armed occupation by Oglala Sioux and American Indian Movement activists protesting treaty violations and tribal corruption. Eventually....the FBI and U.S. Marshals were deployed to resolve the siege.