Watch "Chinese factories build fire trucks for $400,000 in six weeks. In the US it's $2 million in 4 years" on YouTube

This is an intriguing look at fire trucks. They're expensive and take a long time to deliver.

Yet in China, that's not the case.

It's the general problem with manufacturing in this country. 

https://youtu.be/78nZ-JJNmzQ?si=rZrgPUD6xZZtzyXd

A continent is splitting in two, the rift is already visible, and a new ocean is set to form.

"The African continent is experiencing a remarkable geological transformation right before our eyes. Scientists have confirmed that East Africa is gradually splitting apart, with visible evidence of this continental fracture already appearing. This extraordinary process could eventually create a new ocean, forever changing the map of Africa as we know it."

https://farmingdale-observer.com/2025/04/24/a-continent-is-splitting-in-two-the-rift-is-already-visible-and-a-new-ocean-is-set-to-form/

Three teens in NY came up with a plastic free packing material

Zhi Han (Anthony) Yao, Flint Mueller, and James Clare created a geometric, cardboard invention they call Kiriboard; it's inspired by Japanese kirigami, which is the art of cutting and folding paper.

Their plan is to sell their products to big retailers like amazon and home depot. 

How very cool!

https://www.businessinsider.com/teens-invent-packaging-plastic-replacement-amazon-fedex-home-depot-2025-4

Gender studies

In the context of my previous post about Mendel's genetics, we should consider that these principles of genetic inheritance and how the human body develops is subject to genetic changes too. 

There's a topic that gets debated a lot: gender. As the attached article points out:

So how sensible is it to determine sex after birth, as is mostly done at the moment, solely on the basis of externally visible sexual characteristics?

We assume there are only two sexes, based on the somewhat obvious difference in the human body. And use the Bible as a sort of proof that this must be right. 

But the genetics suggests otherwise, and these X and Y chromosomes that help us develop are more complicated than it may seem. 

This article is from a German publication (it's in English) and points to some studies that take away a lot of the rhetoric and focus on the science. 

If we as people would just take the time to study and learn, rather than just rallying around some ideal, maybe we could see that there are some variations in our genetics and therefore there are more than two sexes. 

I can accept that not everyone looks like me. Some people are taller. Some have more hair. Some have different colored skin.  I would think they might have different genetic sexes too. 

https://www.dw.com/en/even-the-science-agrees-there-are-more-than-two-genders/a-57062033

Understanding genetics

As you likely learned somewhere along the way, Gregor Mendel wanted to better understand the world around him. So using simple gardening tools, he took somewhere around 28,000 samples of peas and cross bred them. 

He documented his findings, and was the first to understand genetic inheritance. Pea color, shape, size, and so on, were studied and it became a model for genetics. 

That understanding has held up to generations of scrutiny, more sophisticated testing, and has allowed us to really appreciate this evolutionary cycle. And keep in mind he was an Augustinian friar. Which meant that he was religious person who believed in science (though understandably he thought there was a hand of god playing a part in it). 

Researches continue to be fascinated by what he accomplished, and are working toward closing any remaining items in the work that still need to be proved. 

And this group thinks they have completed that proof. It's really cool. 

But the best part of all of it is that one of them showed tremendous humility. A hallmark of great scientists. He said. 

"The most important and beautiful part of this research is the collaboration." 

We can learn a lot from that. 

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01269-8

Students launch a hypersonic rocket 93 miles up

The article is short on details, but 8 students from the US Military Academy's Space Engineering and Applied Research (SPEAR) program created a two-stage rocket that was launched at a speed greater than that of sound, to achieve an objective of reaching the highest point ever from a non-commercial rocket. 

And they successfully recovered it once it returned to earth. Which means that payloads can be sent into high orbits at relatively low cost, and those payloads can be recovered. 

Think of it as any of the commercial ventures, but with other purposes in mind, as it is a military application after all. 

https://www.sustainability-times.com/in-depth/these-american-students-just-rewrote-aerospace-history-this-93-mile-hypersonic-rocket-launch-stunned-nasa-and-the-pentagon/

China invents a nuclear battery

The idea is that by using isotopes from carbon 14, a small battery could be a power source indefinitely. 

These scientists are starting with devices that need occasional battery exchanges, but that require an effort, like pacemakers. 

Love the notion. 

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/nuclear-battery-radioactive-carbon-china

Third bulk cocaine load intercepted near Ambassador Bridge

This is an example of reporting that is misleading. It's on the CBP website, so that's somewhat expected. But it will get picked up on by the mass media outlets who will likely mis-report it, too. 

What's wrong with it?  The headline, the vaguely written details, and the quotes from the port director would make it appear that it was intercepted coming into the US. For example: 

"This is yet another recent example of the commitment our officers have to protecting the American people from the scourge of dangerous drugs."

"Rest assured that we'll continue to leverage all available resources to disrupt the transnational drug trade and those seeking to exploit our Michigan ports of entry."

The truth about this story (and the other two in the aforementioned "third load") is that the drugs were being driven INTO Canada, FROM the US. 

Yes, they were intercepted on the US side of the bridge, but this more about protecting the Canadian population from the scourge of dangerous drugs. 

But hey, in an effort to "stem the flow of drugs from Canada" this makes a good story.  Don't bother with the truth. 

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/third-bulk-cocaine-load-intercepted-near-ambassador-bridge

On mass deportation to the senate

These mass deportations and the rush to forcibly remove people from this country without due process must stop.

We hear stories every day about US citizens being detained for extended periods, about people being stopped randomly while crossing into another state and being asked to prove that they are a citizen, and on and on.

And worse are the specific deplorable stories like the two year old US citizen being deported with his mother, while his father (also a citizen) was powerless to help him. About someone being taken to an unknown location in spite of providing a valid birth certificate as a US citizen (and a judge reviewed it and agreed it was valid). About a judge who was arrested for obstruction - while simply running a court proceeding as set forth in our constitution

This simply can not be allowed to continue and you, as a senator, need to be the one to lead that charge

Loyalty: a letter to senators

I would simply like to remind you that your loyalty to Mr Trump is one sided.

Last week, Sarah huckabee sanders asked for government help after a natural disaster, and Mr Trump said no. Never mind that she was loyal to him and had worked in his previous administration.

He wanted nothing to do with helping her or the people of Alabama.

Whether we agree with the principle of sending public funds is irrelevant. He showed none of the same loyalty he expects from others.

That should serve as a reminder that blind loyalty gets us nowhere

Bridge the Gap Campaign - Feeding South Florida

As many of you know, I volunteer fairly regularly at the local food bank. 

When I volunteered last week, the coordinator made a point of telling us that the donations are trending downward, while the need continues to rise. 

She noted that the current political climate just exacerbates the situation. She reminded us that there are only about 200 major food banks across the country, which puts a lot of pressure on these banks. 

And then over the weekend, I got a plea for a financial contribution. I'm more than happy to promote this cause. It's a really good one!

---------- Forwarded message ---------

I hope this note finds you well!

 

Many of our Feeding South Florida partners and friends have been asking how we're doing in the midst of so much uncertainty and challenges in our government. The truth is, we're feeling the strain and experiencing unexpected gaps, and so are the individuals and families we serve. We've already absorbed serious setbacks:

 

• More than $800,000 in grant funding has been canceled or frozen
• A government program that provided $15 million in fresh produce from local farmers to our South Florida community has been impacted
• Several of our trusted community partners have shut down, cutting off critical support services
• And requests for emergency food assistance have jumped by 20%

 

Across South Florida, the challenges are mounting. Families are being hit from every angle—rising costs, unexpected layoffs, and shrinking safety nets. Parents who were working just weeks ago are now struggling to put food on the table. Seniors on fixed incomes are choosing between groceries and medicine. And children are feeling it in ways they shouldn't have to.

 

All while the government resources that once helped sustain our hunger relief efforts are caught in a web of delays, cuts, and shifting priorities. We're doing everything we can to bridge the gap, but we cannot do it alone. Your support right now means the difference between food on the table or going without. It keeps our trucks on the road, our shelves stocked, and our response strong—even when the systems designed to help fall short. Help us Bridge the Gap with a special gift:

 

• $1,000 provides 4,000 meals
• $2,500 provides 10,000 meals
• $5,000 provides 20,000 meals
• $10,000 provides 40,000 meals

 

Please give what you can—because families are counting on us now more than ever. Make your contribution here: feedingsouthflorida.org/donate. If you'd like to make your contribution through another source (donor advised funds, check, credit card, etc.), please let me know. Thank you .

 

Sincerely,

 

 

ALLYSON VAULX
AVP of Philanthropy

O: 954.518.1818 x1852

C: 219.746.3309

Main Warehouse
2501 SW 32 Terrace, Pembroke Park, FL 33023
Feeding Palm Beach County
4925 Park Ridge Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33426

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Finding space objects

The headline is a little misleading. The story is that this high schooler did some summer work at cal tech. He saw a database full of information and wrote some fairly simple code to parse through it based on what we know. 

He used the notion that many objects will have a heat signature that would have been captured along the way and be in that database. 

The code picked out those objects and found literally millions of objects that would have been otherwise missed in that data.  

It's very, very cool. And yes there is an element of "machine learning" because the code adapted a bit as it found objects and information that would be valuable. 

https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/04/i-mapped-the-invisible-an-american-high-school-student-turns-astronomy-on-its-head-with-his-ai-that-reveals-1-5-million-forgotten-space-object/

An alternative to traditional air conditioning.

A team of scientists in Hong Kong have come up with a heat exchange system that can be used in place of a traditional air conditioner. It's more energy conscious, is less costly, and doesn't use any chemicals (like Freon or Freon alternatives) to function. 

It's fairly simple in that it just removes the heat through a series of tubes and replaces that with cooler air. 

Its a nice leap forward. 

https://tech.yahoo.com/articles/scientists-unveil-next-gen-technology-111518663.html

Wireless electricity

This is a broad overview of wireless electricity, its development, and some practical real-world applications. 

The article also notes that Nikola Tesla proposed this idea in the early 1900s and had been toying with it a bit. But the technology wasn't quite there, and the transmission of power was a huge business, so companies didn't want this. 

Sadly, it was mostly shelved. But he was definitely on to something. 

https://www.sustainability-times.com/low-carbon-energy/tesla-laughed-at-us-from-the-grave-wireless-electricity-finally-powers-entire-homes-after-124-years-of-scientific-struggle/

As a professional engineer this pisses me off

The state of Florida wants to abolish the board of professional engineers and roll its function under the department of professional regulation - where they have no understanding of engineering. 

We are in the public trust and have to hold to a standard. They want to eliminate that standard. 

And why might they be doing this? At least in part as a favor to the insurance industry. PEs are often utilized in legal actions involving them - and they always contradict it with their own experts. With no regulatory board, the insurance company gets a big advantage. 

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2025/04/21/820374.htm

Canadian MP Charlie Angus on T-rump

Oh yeah, he calls out the orange menace for being the absolute fool he is, and how Canadian citizens have come together.

https://youtu.be/s3nYUeLEtGo?si=r-BCUfctQd994WzQ

U.S. attorney demands scientific journal explain how it ensures 'viewpoint diversity'

Let me state this simply so even this asshat can understand. Science is fact based not opinion based. 

There are no varying viewpoints. 

I hate what we're becoming. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/us-attorney-demands-scientific-journal-explain-ensures-viewpoint-diver-rcna201929

Japan calls out US trade policy as extortion.

Japanese opposition lawmaker Shinji Oguma from the Constitutional Democratic Party sharply criticised US President Donald Trump's tariff policies

https://youtu.be/othWe_iWrzA?si=yv2Ec5NsvfxfhqeN

Shape recovering liquid

Science yo! 

https://youtu.be/qMj7YdCfYos?si=op5LRRCg0L5J33w3

The particles created magnetic dipoles, a phenomenon where their magnetic poles attract each other, creating a field of "chains" on the liquid's surface. This interaction interferes with how the emulsion separates.

https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/student-accidentally-creates-shape-recovering-liquid-thats-an-exception-to-the-laws-of-thermodynamics

Salt powered refrigerator

A group of teens in India decided to try and create a refrigerator that didn't need electricity - so that vaccines could be transported to remote locations. 

After much trial and error, they found that using ammonium hydroxide as their salt component met their need and could keep a temperature just above freezing. 

And then they added some additional salts and were able to get below freezing and remain that way for some time. 

There's a cool (ha!) bit of physics involved her where ions are released when the salt is added to water and the net result is an endothermic reaction. 

https://www.businessinsider.com/teens-win-earth-prize-built-salt-powered-refrigerator-2025-4

US Born citizen detained…

This is where we're at. 

A judge ruled his birth certificate is legit.  And yet he remains in custody. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/us-born-citizen-detained-ice-immigration-florida-rcna201800

Da Foq?

the House of Representatives passed legislation to sweep away even that check on his power by stripping federal judges of the ability to halt his most flagrantly illegal actions with nationwide injunctions.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republican-led-us-house-votes-limit-judges-power-block-trumps-agenda-2025-04-10/

At least someone gets it.

Another mass shooting at another school. This time a short distance from the Capitol. 

… while they work on rolling back legislation and putting guns in more hands. 

Desantis is involved in underhanded dealings?

Say it isn't so!

Essentially the HOPE foundation, which is run by his wife, became a political tool. It used donation money to give to a PAC that he controlled in order to achieve some objectives. 

And several of his cronies were in on it too. 

He's outlived his usefulness, and now the Republican Party has decided to no longer support him. 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article304020886.html

The myth of neutral reporting

This is a short summary of why neutral reporting doesn't actually exist. 

journalism is built on judgment calls. Reporters constantly make choices that reflect their personal and institutional values. Pretending otherwise only feeds distrust.

https://blog.medium.com/the-myth-of-neutral-reporting-39f16871c99b

What manner of silliness is this?

Blue Origin has been running a space tourism program for several years now. While it's not, precisely, necessary, Jeff Bezos saw an opportunity to sort of crowd fund his test launches, bring attention to himself, and offer some celebrities a chance to have a few minutes of weightlessness. 

In almost every sense, it's the same as SpaceX offering space tourism to people as a lark (and one of these tourists is now the head of nasa, go figure!) 

For the most part, these "missions" have attracted some attention, but mostly flown under the radar. Sure, there are people who call it wasteful and stupid, but generally no one cared. 

And then Bezos decided to make history and create an all female crew. 

And that's when the outrage started. It came from everywhere. Everyone had a take. Every angle was covered. 

And I just have to ask… why?

Previous missions had similarly unqualified people who said similar things upon returning. 

Why did this one garner so much negative attention?

And by the way, one of these astronauts was 

Amanda Nguyen, who was in the nasa space flight program, and was going to be an astronaut at some point. But she gave up the dream to instead focus on her story and be an advocate for rape victims and work on civil rights. A short synopsis can be found here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIRI5BrxJY_/?igsh=MWl5c3lqNGFxeGxjeA==

But that doesn't even register among all the noise we're hearing. 

IMHO that should be the lead. It shouldn't be about how dumb this flight was - they are all dumb. Some attention should go to her finally fulfilling on her dream. 

Man are we just idiots. 

Surely we’re close to treason

As defined in the constitution:

Treason is the betrayal of one's own country by attempting to overthrow the government through waging war against the State or materially aiding its enemies.

And surely T-rump has been working to overthrow the government, has he not?

Cement that can generate electricity?!

Scientists have added layers of a polyvinyl gel to concrete, in order to increase the ability of concrete to store electrical energy.  And because the concrete absorbs heat from the sun, it actually is generating electricity that can be harnessed.

"The biomimetic structure and interfacial selective immobilization mechanism may pave the way for the design and fabrication of high-performance ionic thermoelectric materials." 

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nature-inspired-cement-generates-electricity

Sign of the day

Insider trading?

T-rump is accused of manipulating the stock market - via the tariffs - for his own gain. That should alarm us all. I think it's right to at least see if there's  "anything there."  We deserve to know. 

Richard Nixon famously talked about never profiting from his public service and welcomed an investigation. And here 52 years later, all the mouthpieces for el donaldo simply say it's a witch hunt. 

I assume they don't want to be reminded that the guy they prop up IS a crook. Because then they'd have to do something. It's easier to just let it bet. 

That's just dumb. 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/10/donald-trump-ignites-insider-trading-accusations-after-global-tariffs-u-turn

Nixons famous line: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/5hdhORnAXQQ?si=V80B_pexqBx0DRS3

And by the way, isn't it interesting that GOP members of Congress may have likewise been complicit.  

It's likely there is something to all of this. 

Snowball the giant cat

In 2000 Cordell Hauglie played with photoshop and … well … the results went viral. 

There was some amount of (tongue-in-cheek) reporting that blamed atomic radiation. It was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Good Morning America. 

He said later: 
"My daughter wanted to send an electronic photo of her cat to her friend. I got a little carried away.

"[that's the] the dangers of email … if some dumb guy and his dumb cat can go around the world, you've got to be careful".

Photographer Ken Light had a helpful suggestion when you see a photo doesn't feel right.  

"Trust the photographer, know the source. Look closely – if photos seem too fantastic, they probably are."

A redux of something I posted in 2016

I firmly believe that it's time to Make America Smart Again.  That is, it's time for us, as individuals and groups living in his great nation, to do everything we can to use reason, to think, and to cut though the noise that exists in our lives. 

I will be embracing the idea in my corner of the world, and I encourage you to do the same. 

Here is my mantra, the five things I will be doing to make myself better.  I admit that some of these are affirmations of things I already do, but I wanted to share them and clarify my position.   

1. First up: TV.  I will not watch reality shows, or any network news. On the former, it's dullness offends the senses and encourages one not to think.  And likewise, I won't be following the lives of any celebrity and their absurd behavior.  It serves no purpose. Regarding the latter, it is clear that 24 hour news outlets are motivated by profit and are not in the "news" business; they are businesses that are in it for money - and ratings are directly tied to that revenue. It's as pointless as reality tv.

There are still things to watch: educational programming, some sports, and the occasional movie or tv series are reasonable choices that educate and entertain.

2. Before repeating anything, I will seek to learn if it is true. I will not regurgitate any talking points, or mis-represent facts. In short, I will not accept lies, half-truths, or spout any nonsense. It's counter-productive and shows a lack of intelligence to do otherwise. I won't speculate wildly about anything, either, because the truth matters. If you say something to me, I will ask for your sources and will reject what you are saying if you give me the "inflammatory headline" that isn't supported.

3. I pledge to read more.  My goal is a minimum of 6 novels, or "good books" a year. There can be fiction and non-fiction among the works I'll read, and I will get to the actual library regularly because it's a tremendous resource we have available.  I won't, however, let any one book (however good I think it is) dictate how I think or live; the most it can be is a component of enriching myself.

I will also read more science journals and articles, and will post a link to at least one interesting article a week. On this point, science is the one thing we can look to for meaningful, observable behavior.  It has no agenda, it is the absolute truth and it doesn't care if you believe in it or not.

4. Stop the insanity! Social media is out of control.  It's a part of the bigger problem. I will use it to let you know about things that are going on at Disney, and to occasionally pass on interesting facts.  But I won't be using social media to engage in meaningless banter, or to simply pass judgement.  I also can not accept memes as a way of exchanging information.  It dumbs us all down, and you won't see them from me. And where it's appropriate I'll reject what you are saying here too.

5.  And finally, I will continue to exercise my mind through various activities.  Personally, I will look at new entrepreneurial ideas, app development on a more regular basis, and explore my roots as an engineer to remind myself why I got this education. You may have some other things that you are good at and passionate about - I encourage you to pursue them.

Doing these things will make me a better person, and helps me stay sharp and smart. I hope some of you will take a similar view and help to do your part. 

Do what you can to use your mind. Make yourself smart, continue your education if that's on your list, and share what you learn.  Only then, can we Make America Smart Again.

Plant based waterproof materials

Here's a product that is being developed which is based on cellulose and will break down naturally (and relatively quickly) which could upend the single use plastic industry. 

As one researcher points out, this is a positive step but changing behaviors away from single use materials should be the ultimate goal. 

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2475826-plant-based-waterproof-material-could-replace-single-use-plastics/

Coca Cola and disinformation

Here's a review of a book that paints the Coca Cola company in a maybe not so great light. 

In short: The company worked hard to make their products look somewhat healthy and blamed other factors for people having medical issues or obesity. 

Which is … what?

Another lesson in how companies are innit for their own benefit! So we always have to be on guard and look to actual science for guidance on what should be easily understood as reality. 

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/coca-cola-disinformation-soda-drink-company/

From plastic to electricity?

This sounds ridiculous. And the fact that there isn't much more than his own assertions posted on his website and then parroted through interviews and carried to other posts, suggests that this may be hokum. 

But I'd be interested to see if there's anything to the idea that you can somehow use plastic to create electricity. The theory sounds plausible. It's the execution that I question.  

https://www.carismatictechnologies.com/faq

https://www.karmactive.com/how-a-76-year-olds-invention-could-transform-billions-of-tonnes-of-plastic-into-clean-electricity/

What I love about science

There's a theory of evolution. And some associated theories about who lived in various places, who they interacted with, when they migrated, and so on. 

And then, we learn something new. And each of these theories is tested and some get updated. Maybe this group migrated from a different place than expected and didn't interact with the other dwellers in the region. 

It's fascinating to learn more and start to understand how the populace lived. 

Plus, we also learn more about the earth itself, and how it has evolved and adapted. 

I'd also like to point out that while there ahas always been some amount of climate change in the millions of years the earth has existed, the current conversation is more focused on man-made climate change. And how these changing climates are impacting our lives - and what we can do to help mitigate it. 

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a64383417/saharan-mummies-dna/

Another example of how climate change is impacting us

But by all means, Florida, focus on ensuring we call it "the gulf of murica" and trynna make sure everyone has access to guns. 

Who cares if what was traditionally the biggest industry in Florida ceases to exist.

https://www.thecooldown.com/sustainable-food/florida-citrus-industry-orange-juice-cost/

This is just sad

Cuts to aid and climate change will cause food scarcity issues in other parts of the world….which undoubtedly will cause a ripple effect to us as well.

But the harm that we're doing to other humans is just plain sad. 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/in-ethiopia-the-margins-between-starvation-and-survival-narrow-as-food-aid-becomes-scarce

A reminder about "fake news"

Back in 2016, NPR posted this information for how to spot fake news in order to protect yourself. 

Its still useful today, so I thought I'd share.

https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/12/05/503581220/fake-or-real-how-to-self-check-the-news-and-get-the-facts

And because Pubic Radio is in the cross-hairs as somehow being biased, might I suggest a donation to keep public radio operational?

North Korea infiltrates Fortune 500 companies...

... in a most unexpected way.  They have agents/spies creating fake profiles and submitting applications for jobs.  And at least a few times (that we know of), a person has slipped through and gotten hired. 

Heck, even one of the leading IT security firms got duped - but recognized their mistake before the person ever got access to any information.

But one HR person came up with a very, very simple way to determine if the person is working for North Korea: 

"He now screens candidates with an unusual test that few North Koreans will pass—he asks them to criticise Kim Jong Un during the interview. A move that has caused applicants to panic or disappear."

Genius!

https://www.hrgrapevine.com/us/content/article/2025-04-08-kim-jong-uns-it-spies-infiltrate-fortune-500-firms

Cuba's immigration crisis

This is an interesting take on how the policy toward Cuban immigrants is changing - and gets into some detail about how Cubans became such staunch republicans (think Kennedy/Bay of Pigs), and how the republicans are now turning their backs on them.

 

https://www.governing.com/policy/floridas-cubans-once-a-protected-class-face-new-immigration-threats

Olympic champion banned for failing a gender test

This happened over 60 years ago. A polish sprinter was deemed to be a man and stripped of her medals. 

And yet she went on to have children. 

The thing is that the "test" included a humiliating ritual. The kind of thing that's being bandied around now. 

Whats old is new again!

https://notesfrompoland.com/2024/08/12/the-olympic-champion-wrongly-banned-for-failing-a-gender-test-60-years-ago/

Talk about out of touch

In Florida, we have Senator Rick Scott who has been associated with a sort of continental Congress that wants to rewrite the constitution to be some weird GOP vision of the world. He also put in his bid to be the senate majority leader. And he totally holds trumps bag. 

He's not in it for Floridians. He's in it for himself. 

And until recently we had lil Marco, when he placed his head firmly into T-rumps bulbous arse. He was (and is) a special kind of tool since he embodies what T-rump is chasing down in his vision of Murica. But he is totally into the GOP because of Cuba and the bay of pigs. So there's no way out for him. 

Anyway, he gets promoted and that leaves his seat empty. Under Florida law, the governor got to appoint someone who was like minded, to serve out the remainder of rubios term. 

He selected his own AG, Ashley Moody. Shocking. I know. 

Even though I know that they simply DO NOT CARE about the people they "represent"  I feel the need to correspond with them. 

Of course, I wound up on senator moodys mailing list.

It's absurdly self serving, talks a lot about trumps agenda, how bad the Dems are, the fentanyl crisis, and on and on.

And she even has a section in the recent newsletter about transgender athletes!

Glad she's focused on important stuff.

Because everything else is just noise AmIRight?

She makes a good point…

Abigail Disney says any billionaire who can't manage to share their wealth is 'kind of a sociopath'

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/disney-heiress-says-billionaire-t-173348468.html

Another downside to these ill-conceived tariffs

Oh look, China is cutting off some supplies that the US doesn't have access to. Things critical to national defense. 

But does anyone care?

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/05/china-just-turned-off-u-s-supplies-of-minerals-critical-for-defense-cleantech/

The Big Secret About Medicaid: It’s a Middle-Class Benefit

Here's a tale about Medicaid. And just how harmful it's removal would be. 

NYTimes: The Big Secret About Medicaid: It's a Middle-Class Benefit

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/your-money/medicaid-trump-long-term-care.html

On tariffs.

Holy guacamole. I wouldn't put it past this group of idiots to do just this…

Did team T-rump use Chat GPT to decide on tariffs?

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-tariffs-chatgpt-2055203

A sphincter says what?

Asshats were clamoring to ensure that they could have free-dumb from doing business with people they didn't like. You may recall the nonsense about bakers not wanting to make a wedding cake for a gay wedding because it went against their beliefs. 

And they won to a large degree. They can discriminate if it violates something about their religious freedoms. 

The ruling was pretty vague, with language that made pretty much any objection on questionable religious grounds acceptable. 

I said at the time that the religion of Dave, which I founded at that moment, would allow me to overtly discriminate against stupid people. Especially those wearing red hats. 

Apparently (and obviously) I'm not the only one, and you're seeing the maga tears flowing. This was supposed to be about THEM discriminating against anyone they didn't like. But people are taking a stand and refusing business from these idiots. 

And the red hat wearers are quite laughably saying it's not fair. 

Is this really what Jesus would do?

I'm not religious. But I (mostly these days) *had* friends and relatives who were (and presumably are still) varying degrees of Christians and very aligned with maga. 

I know one of these pastor-types who was saying it was that god answered prayers in getting T-rump elected. 

But here's the thing. Now that we're seeing people being deported, literally taken from their homes and put into detention with no ability to contact family or friends - or a lawyer. Then being sent to a for-profit prison that arguably treats them inhumanely, and ultimately being sent to somewhere (maybe another country, maybe the country they came from) where they are treated worse…

How can any of them support *that*?  I'm sure Republican Jesus (tm) would say it's okay because they're not white. 

Quick aside: I don't recall any specific verses from the Bible. But I do recall that there was a lot in there about the poor. About immigrants. And even about the wealthy needing to share with the poor. If I can remember that, then certainly people who read it all the time must realize that they're hypocrites. 

Anyway, in the case of the pastor guy, his family is from one of the countries to where people are being deported. 

So not only is in contrary to what the Jesus who is portrayed in the Bible would do… now it's that you're essentially condoning what's happening to YOUR FAMILY. 

I say to all of you who are accepting this. Especially the ones who are supremely religious. Take a look in the mirror. You're a racist hiding behind religion. 

Suck it Rafael

Sounds right

That’s on brand.

Help this make sense

Maybe it's just me. But.

5 or so years ago we were talking about the orange menace and his fitness to serve. There was some (mostly idle) talk about removing him using the 25th amendment because there was a sense that maybe he didn't have the mental acumen to be president.

And here we are today .. and it's all this talk about how crazy his policies are and how much harm he's doing.

But where did we lose the focus on his mental abilities? He's 5 years older. It's not like there's some magical cure. And that he somehow "got better" and whatever mental issues he had went away.

It's just weird how the conversation changed from HIM not being fit, to HIS POLICIES being ridiculous.

How is no one reporting on the actual problem: his declining mental abilities?

Why are we not talking about him having whatever issues he has - and that's the reason he's acting this way? 

SuperSonic flight

This is cool. 

Chinese researchers have unveiled a supersonic aircraft so quiet that it can zip passengers at 1.6 times the speed of sound and still be as quiet as a hairdryer

https://luxurylaunches.com/travel/china-whisper-quiet-supersonic-airliner-04012025.php

Senators: uphold and defend the constitution

I remind you, again, that there are three branches of government. 

The executive is acting like a dilettante as it relates to being in a a position of power. The judicial is holding the executive branch accountable as is prescribed in the constitution. But the executive is literally thumbing his nose at judicial and ignoring them. 

That leaves the 3rd branch, the legislative, in which is not doing much, and tacitly approving of the executive doing whatever he wants, and undermining the constitution. And worse, some members have openly discussed removing justices who stand in the way of the executive branch, which is subverting the constitution. 

Do your job Senator. Uphold, protect and defend the constitution. The three branches are equal in power. Don't let one branch simply take over and become a dictatorship. 

To our senators on tariffs and the economy

Mr Trump continues to run roughshod over the economy. His tariffs and related uncertainty about his policies are having a damaging effect on everyday Americans.  And tariffs on uninhabited islands show what utter nonsense this all is. 

Prices for nearly everything are on the rise. It would appear as though we are headed quickly toward a recession. Consumer confidence is at a low point. And the stock market is tumbling in a way we haven't seen in our lifetime. 

There is no reasons for this to be happening. The economy was in a good place, and there was no need for tariffs like these. Especially only a few months after he took office. 

It's your job to represent Floridians, and really all Americans, in ensuring that he doesn't destroy the economy. 

He himself said years ago that any president who oversees a Dow drop of *a lesser magnitude* should be impeached. That's his own standard, and yet you aren't even willing to have a meaningful moment of standing up to him for his actions. Or even of taking back control over tariffs. 

Seniors in our state are struggling. Workers are seeing their retirement saving investments being wiped out. And it's expensive to put food on the table. 

I can only imagine the uproar you would be in if, say, Kamala had won and was doing something like this. 

Don't put politics ahead of everything else and let our country be financially ruined and perhaps scarred forever. 

A lesson in why it’s hard for companies to adapt quickly

Here's a (not so well written) story about how India changed its laws so that beverage giants have to use recycled materials in their plastic bottles. 

They must be 30% recycled material this year, ramping up to 60% in three years. 

But there are only a few companies that can make recycled bottles at scale - and not enough to meet the demands of the likes of coke and Pepsi. 

One executive notes that:

"We are investing in capacity, but capacity increases are two-three years away."

And so in India, the beverage companies want to take legal action because they know they can't meet the need. 

Which leads us back home. T-rump has imposed tariffs to encourage growth of American made products. He's been in office for about 3 months and expects there to be some "pain" while this gets sorted out. 

If we use the situation in India as sort of a guide, we should realize that it will take *years* for companies to figure it out and be able to make products at scale. And that is if they can do it all. 

These tariffs, then, hurt everyone. The company, the consumer, shippers, the places from whence products come. For a very long time. 

It's insanity. 

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/recycled-plastic-mandate-india-beverage-giants/

Thanks obi wan. 

Another Japanese breakthrough.

Scientists in Japan have been discussing the possibility of using a material called perovskite for solar panels as opposed to the traditional silicon-based cells.

And now they have had their first trials and seen the results. The panels are cheaper, more lightweight, and bendable so they can go on more surfaces. 

Plus, they have a max output 1.5 times traditional silicone collar cells. 

https://www.ecoticias.com/en/japan-super-solar-panel/12474/

Retrieving lithium from used batteries

Taking the materials out of batteries is a tricky proposition and no one has yet mastered it. 

But here's a team that is using cooking oil and water to break down the materials and allow for the removal of lithium in a simple, environmentally friendly, quick, and easy way at room temperature.  

We could go further with electric if we didn't have to worry about the environmental impacts of disposed batteries. 

https://tech.yahoo.com/articles/scientists-revolutionary-breakthrough-cooking-oil-111535092.html

Transparent solar cells

A group of researchers in Japan have come up with a means to create small, lightweight, and clear(!) solar cells that can be adapted for most situations - including putting them on homes or cars, while not changing the aesthetic or the ability to see through a windshield. 

"Our approach improved the power conversion efficiency over 1,000 times compared to devices using standard ITO electrodes," 

Now that's something that could revolutionize the solar industry. 

https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/transparent-solar-cells-generate-power-1000x-more-efficiently-than-traditional-panels-2/

American culture and return to office

There have been many, many, many articles about forcing workers to return to offices, chiding them for not putting in "enough" time, of companies and ceos being bullies because they can. 

They say things like "We are more productive" or "we can collaborate" when what they mean is that they can control everyone who works for them. 

And now we're seeing articles about how it's impacting these companies. More pushback. More incivility. 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/workplace-incivility-spiraling-companies-rile-161658844.html

And meanwhile in Europe, they're taking a different approach. Here's one outcome in Germany that suggests treating employees well pays off. 

https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/04/73-of-german-companies-tried-four-day-workweek-now-theyre-not-going-back/

But we'll never get there. Instead we will all become a kind of indentured servant to the large corporations. 

Rocket radar?

DARPA's AtmoSense program seeks to use Earth's atmosphere as a global sensor by measuring acoustic and electromagnetic waves propagating through the atmosphere, and attempting to trace them back to a specific disturbance event that took place on Earth. In doing so, DARPA hopes to be able to trace underground explosions or other national security threats using the signals detected from the atmosphere.

https://gizmodo.com/darpa-unintentionally-invents-new-rocket-radar-thanks-to-spacex-2000584008

Watch "Propellantless Propulsion Device | Charles Buhler" on YouTube

Dr Buhler thinks he has found a new force that allows for a a drive system that has no propellant. 

 

"Essentially, what we've discovered is that systems that contain an asymmetry in either electrostatic pressure or some kind of electrostatic divergent field can give a system of a center of mass a non-zero force component.

 "So, what that basically means is that there's some underlying physics that can essentially place force on an object should those two constraints be met."

Which is somewhere between an interesting theory and just using jargon to obfuscate. 

Personally, I'm learning toward this being hokum. But I am willing to keep an open mind and see if there's any merit to what he's saying. 

https://youtu.be/WhsKMWOYuYo?si=Cot8r7DYD7tHk_HO

Innovative new design in wind energy production

Spanish company, Vortex Bladeless Ltd., has designed turbines that are entirely without blades. They generate electricity by jiggling.

The structure of these bladeless turbines works by attracting whirlwinds. Depending on the speed and direction of the wind, these whirlwinds develop at certain frequencies. At the base of the bladeless turbine are two rings of repelling magnets. When the wind pulls the turbine in one direction, the magnets pull it in another, causing the tube to wiggle.

Energy reaches a peak when the frequency of the vortex or whirlwind coincides with the frequency of the turbine. This peak is established due to the aeroelastic coupling that arises at this point. It is at this moment that the energy is absorbed and converted from kinetic energy into electrical energy.

To simplify, the whirlwinds produced by the wind cause the turbine to vibrate. This kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and used to power our homes.

https://www.ecoticias.com/en/say-goodbye-wind-power-unlimited-energy/12905/

Simple question

What is wrong with us?

An anonymous social media post tells a made up story about some college girl and it goes viral; the story even appeared on a national show. 

And then her life gets upended. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/university-mississippi-student-speaks-about-viral-rumor-rcna199330

Rice and food scarcity

Here's another example of how the food supply is being disrupted by climate change. 

This is going to become the norm. 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/officials-sound-alarm-major-staple-111500167.html

Elon 🖕🏼

You tried to buy an election, presumably for your own personal gain. 

But Wisconsiners? Wisconsinites? Aren't having it. 

Suck it. 

Here's to hoping they come after you for breaking the law, ya blatherskite 

April Fools

 

I was admittedly a bit of a prankster in college.  I perpetrated several different elaborate pranks just because, and on April Fools I tried to think "bigger."  

For several years running on April Fools, I would look for a free-standing newspaper machine (like the one pictured here).  I would switch 10 copies of the paper - 9 from the stack, and the one that was facing the world in the window - with ones from the previous year.  (this prank took some serious planning!).

I would then take the 10 current ones, and return home with them, and save them for the following year.

And for the record, since this was a prank, not a theft, I also carefully considered how to ensure everyone came out "even" on the deal.  I paid for the newspapers! (they only cost $.25 a the time, so I didn't see it as a big deal for a fun prank)