Scanning the headlines early, world events bear a striking resemblance to the splines of the power takeoff shaft on my old Kubota.  Or, perhaps, the stick of wood in an ancient movie that stops a bascule bridge gearing from squishing the damsel in distress as the bridge comes down.

We hold that “people think in pictures and analogies.”

Try as I have, there are a times that no matter how much effort is expended, you absolutely can not get a power-take-off shaft to mate with the tractor.  Until suddenly something moves just right. Then, almost effortlessly, the connection is made and field work may proceed.

This is the Syria situation in a nutshell.  Things have been lined-up for a collapse. But it wasn’t until the beginning of Mercury Retrograde these past few days, that the “great work” of civil war made to proceed.

“Mercury retrograde ends on December 15, 2024, when Mercury turns direct and moves forward. However, there is a post-retrograde shadow phase that can continue until January 3, 2024, which can cause last-minute glitches.”

Vedic astrology had been pointing at December 7th-8th as a time the “world would remember.”  But one famous face on YouTube was expecting personal aspects for Chinese president Xi along with China (the nation itself).  Near as we can figure, it’s a clean miss.  But only so far and barely.  I’ll get there in a sec.

Meantime, the U.S. has to “get right with China” at some point. If for no other reason than their recent advances in weaponry: Exclusive : China Unveils Metal Storm Mobile Electromagnetic Gun System as Defense Solution Against Aerial Threats.

To be sure, China has a key (though muted) role in current events in Syria. Even as Trump calls on China to help end ‘madness’ between Russia and Ukraine: ‘World is waiting’.  Assad is reported in Moscow and civil war is game on. The shaft of historical-level change is back to turning, again.

But keep an eye on two breaking stories out of Taiwan today – which the MSM is a bit lame on tracking.  China has begun a “soft blockade” of Taiwan-adjacent airspace.  See Map shows China’s 7 reserved air zones.

And might this be a prelude to invasion of Taiwan?  What, you mean with stories like China deploys nearly 90 naval ships, with some near Taiwan? We can never be sure, until we are, but 90 ships is a modest load-out for a first wave. If we see a following wave form, then there could be financial follow-on.

The problems of the WestPac and Syria being tied was hinted-at in a note from our consigliere Sunday.  After some perfunctory remarks about the nastiness of civil wars, he made this observation:

“It is going to be interesting to see if the US now holds Israel to the same standard as to Territorial Acquisition that they have been holding Russia to wrt the Russian speaking people of Ukraine as Israel moves to take over more of Syria.  I say they won’t … ANYBODY want to take the other side of the bet?   I will put $1000 real dollars on the table right now in fact.

What I am doing with the above paragraph is pointing out EXACTLY what Xi complained about in his comments to Joe Biden last month …. The US speaks out of both sides of it’s mouth and consistently LIES both when it talks AND when it makes Representations in WRITING.  The US is NOT honest and is NOT an honest broker when it comes to ANYTHING on the international stage is the best way to sum up Xi’s comments.”

Just be aware the consigliere has already won the proffered bet: U.S., Israel Conduct Dozens Of Strikes, Hit Over 75 Targets In Wake Of Syria’s Regime Collapse. Double-standards, why in America of all places! Who would have thought?  No war declaration; just alphabets and neocons, all with plausible whatsits.

This really us focuses on Xi’s “Trump problem.”  You see, he knows (because of a 2017 dinner and launching of cruise missiles) that Trump is a resolute fellow perfectly capable of unleashing the dogs of war.

Thus, if China is to take Taiwan with minimal impact, doing so on Biden’s watch, or better the unelectable VP’s, would minimize economic risk to China and make events hard for Trump to unwind coming into office.

Ticktock, so to speak.

Meanwhile, the Plate Turns

Another “grand turning” which is back in motion is the Pacific Plate.  In a long view of the world, the outline of potential dangers is clear; amplified by multiple quakes in the Aleutians overnight:

The blue (OK, aquamarine, if you insist) was magnitude 6.3 Sunday.

Old “newsroom trauma” keeps us looking at this area, because it’s about 110 miles from Amchitka Island where the U.S. set off several large nuclear tests, back in the day. It was the Cannikin 5 mt test in 1971.

Meanwhile, a 30 day global view of “significant quakes” – while not looking like tractor PTO splines around the shaft yet – is rounding a bit.

The yellow Cape Mendocino quake (the 7.0 last week) may be trying to start something. But, we hope not.

For now, we’re looking at a radiation monitor under the house as a sole lookahead for geologic activities in East Texas. Based on two things: InTech-Radon_as_earthquake_precursor.pdf. While our secondary agenda is A Uranium-Mining Boom Is Sweeping Through Texas | WIRED.

Rip N. Reed: 42 to 20

(Some old-school radio news/journalism, huh?)

Trump HR moves continue with 42 days to his second Ovalation: Trump names Alina Habba as counselor to the president | Fox News. But the left keeps up their attacks. In stories like Yale Professor Compares ‘Loyalist’ Trump Picks To ‘Mafia’.  This is what sore losers, out of touch with America are expected to do…

Being White continues to sunset: Thierry Baudet on the Africanization of The Netherlands.

More and more headlines point to Diddy as a kind of Epstein II case: Yikes. “This could be WORSE than Jeffrey Epstein. Every room in Diddy’s mansions were wired with cameras…and this was used for blackmail material…”  Seems to us such stress could lead to a, um, shortened lifespan.

Children’s television is alive and well: CNN Panel Erupts Over Biden’s Pardon of Hunter Biden. Oh, look! Another democrat spews apologies: Bill Clinton Pushes Back, Says Hunter Biden Pardon ‘Not Comparable’ to His Decision to Pardon Half-Brother Roger. Yes, democrats are special.  Just ask one. But there is hope: The Bell Finally Tolls for the FBI video is worth listening to.

Useful Health note: Can HIIT benefits last? insights for diabetes management.  Also read on the 14 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Coconut Oil.

At the Ranch: A Gifting Problem

It’s the time of year when the biggest problem around here becomes “gifting.”

In years past, the National Bank of Dad has simply done a check run and that was that.  However we have decided to cut that off – with the exception of grand children.  This is a task that is easily assigned to the Supply Chain Grandma.

But Elaine and I are “the gifting problems.”

First, because we don’t wait for Christmas.  We figure when you’re over 70, if something “catches your eye”  you just go buy it and enjoy.  Waiting for another Christmas to roll around…which the world might not see (or you be in it to see) seems like pointless self-denial.

Also, our activities have changed.  For example, since we are unvaxxed, going on a trip for some extended period (long cruise, for example) doesn’t seem especially wise.  Someone has to babysit the ranch, after all.  And then there’s passports and…naw…Aging is “when what used to be fun is now work.”

Besides, I lived on a sailboat for 10+ years.  If there was anywhere I was really compelled to go, I’d have followed reader Stiks and been down in the Tuamotus or something.

I’ve written about my tool slut tendencies, often enough in our ShopTalk Sunday rambles. Nothing I need at any of the workstations, either. Except more time, of course.

Elaine’s workstation (a Toshiba l/t with external monitor) is one of the few useful ideas I’ve had in a while.  By next weekend, she will be ported over onto a single larger monitor (this one, 34″ curved and 1 ms response time). At the same time, one of those under $200 class mini computers with Win11 Pro and 16 gigs will be mounted on the back, which will really be a nice change for her.

The other part of the gift is I spent most of Sunday working on consolidation of our digital footprints.

We have been out here in the woods writing for almost 25-years now, and we’ve been through a dozen computers, or more, between us.  Finally (you know you’re getting old when…) I started to consolidate all the old hard drives onto a single 4TB USB.

All the while I was pondering “Is this what Life is?  Work your ass off to get ahead so that when you finally get everything you ever wanted you can get rid of it?”

See, there are two general classes of people when comes to aging.  One group says, in effect, “The one who dies with the most toys wins!”  The other says “Best to have nothing, so no work needed at the End.”

Truth?  Likely somewhere in between.  Sure, we could all live lives without the sailboats, airplanes, Porsche’s and ex Playboy club darlings. But would that “monastic hermit-like life” provide as many replayable scenes in the Afterlife?  No chance.

Still, there’s a balance and at some point, 20-some HF ham stations will distill down to a handful. Elaine’s coming to the realization that her “Disco Diva” collection of $600 shoes may not be as practical as once-upon-a-time, either.

Somewhere in Life, the tide changes.  What once was “coming in” has turned and is “going out.” Not too fast, we hope.

A favorite uncle of mine reached what I considered his marital zenith when he bought his wife a huge (as in many) karats diamond ring.  “That’s her Lexus on the finger,” he explained. Not a 3-series, either.

The boat and Beechcraft were probably our “couple highlights”.  But, if there’s a good ponder while working out in the shop today, it’s trying to identify a new way to “One-Up” ourselves.

Downsize now, or support the Estate Sale industry? Net to heirs won’t be too much different, either way, I figure.  Don’t have a “right” answer, yet, sorry.

Write when you get rich,

[email protected]