Note the difference in the two funded amounts:

Took a month off from reading but finally started “Bombing to Win”. This stack will keep me occupied for a while, methinks.

Retired federal LEO here. If this is true it’s entirely unacceptable: “Lewandowski made it known to top ICE officials that he wanted to be issued a law-enforcement badge and a federally issued gun….” “Lewandowski eventually persuaded other lawyers to sign off.” www.mediaite.com/media/news/t...

Time now.

It’s actually my favorite day.

So, a thought occurred to me. I think the Epstein Files are now the new national debt issue in politics: each side will scream about it when in the minority yet do nothing substantive about it when in the majority.

Today’s plan: same as yesterday’s.

I test drove a car today and without my bringing up the topic of financing the dealer mentioned they have 12 and 15 year car loans. Something tells me I should be very worried for our economy.

Today’s thought: ‘I've been swimming in a sea of anarchy. I've been living on (caffeine) and nicotine.’ -Sheryl Crow

I might characterize this as a displacement of virtue by “wellness.”

Methinks it’s time for a Douglas Adams reference.

New spirit animal: Mustela nivalis (least weasel, who also happens to be a redhead):

Pro: no more gray in my beard. Though, really, who cares? Con: this is now my closest celebrity lookalike. Perhaps though this is actually a “Pro”.

So, in cutting back to only three Monsters per day to get my caffeine under control I now fully appreciate what Clausewitz meant by “moving through a resistance element” such as water. I feel like I’m stuck in slow-motion today.

Hope everybody’s staying safe and warm tonight.

When she’s the same model year you are so you bring her home. Bumps, scrapes, a few dents, creaks, has paint flaws? Yes. Not just old but a classic? Also yes. The car’s pretty nice, too, haha.

Went to the Megadeth release launch and history of the band movie. Looking forward to seeing them live again this summer.

“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” he continued, adding later in the day that “the military is not on the table.” How… rational? thehill.com/homenews/adm...

Besides the threat of holding an impeachment vote in the US House over Greenland, has any US Senator stated they would vote for conviction and removal if we invade one of our NATO allies?

Found this on IG. Thought it was poignant.

HHE arrived today. Been trying to get it for a couple of months. Now, the unpacking begins. The good news (great, really) is I’ll never have to PCS again so this is very nice.

“The lawmakers have said they filmed the video in response to some of the Trump administration’s legally controversial uses of the military….” Is “legally controversial” the same as “illegal”? www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

I find “rapid onset complex disaster” to be my new favorite term. Need to work this into my vernacular, methinks.

“Denmark was one of the very first allies to advocate for the first – and only – invocation of the Article 5 “attack on one is an attack on all” clause of the NATO Treaty immediately after September 11, 2001.”

Thinking of shaving but concerned I might end up looking like this:

So, it’s officially an antique. 200,000 miles and going strong. Hell, it even survived Yemen. Still my favorite vehicle, ever. #4Runner

His “allies” compare him to Himmler? ‘Even his allies find Miller to be something of an “acquired taste,”.… Another quipped that he has the bedside manner of Heinrich Himmler, one of Adolf Hitler’s earliest followers and a key architect of the Holocaust.’ www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Manifest Destiny v2.0? www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/u...

Bluesky friends, anyone know anything about audiobooks for On War? They have the same versions (three of which look promising) for both Apple Audiobooks and Amazon Audible (I’m not a member and would just buy the book) at about the same prices for each system. Thoughts?

In case you’re following along at home, sportsball fans, Greenland is part of Denmark. Denmark is indeed still listed as a member (and ally) on the NATO webpage: www.nato.int/en/about-us/...

In case you’re following along at home, sportsball fans, Colombia is indeed still listed as an MNNA on the Dep’t of State webpage: www.state.gov/major-non-na.... www.the-express.com/news/world-n...

This. Exactly this.

Today’s theme song: youtu.be/rwvoHP7bUAw?...

Current foreign policy vibes:

This quote comes to mind today:

“Realism, properly applied, demands we see the world as it is rather than as we’d like it to be.” I agree, and agree with this article that most “realists” have lost their way. thehill.com/opinion/inte...

Everything Just Got Better — New Year’s Day Edition.

Started off the New Year by taking an alignment test. This seems overly harsh, but…. So be it. The die is cast. Bwuhaha.

An observation: At one time I investigated passport and visa fraud in Minneapolis. Did I do investigations in the Somali community? Yes. Was the only indictment I ever got (rock-solid case, too) for a white American who’d assumed a dead American’s identity? Also yes. Make of this what you will.

“Still, even by the standards of its own time, Cartledge argued, Sparta was notorious for its brutality. “Sparta is not a role model,” he told me. “It’s a slave state, and it’s extremely unpleasant to its unfree population.” Great piece, @washingtonpost.com. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Yay sportsball.

Starting this today:

Burning the Yule log, er, cigar. Happy Holidays.

Everything just got better.

Everything just got better.

Today’s thought:

‘Tis the season.

Went to Waffle House with a friend today. My check was $18 so I gave her $40 and asked for $4 back. She got confused and asked about it. I said, “An $18 tip on an $18 bill; it’s 100%.” She was shocked and REALLY thanked me. I said, “It’s Christmas and you earned it.” Best gift I’ll give this year.

‘Tis the solstice.