Marty’s Call: A Grueling Night on Duty

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This happened in 1999, during my first base assignment as an aircraft mechanic in the service of CAL FIRE. It was a brutal fire season, with the entire state seemingly ablaze. I was stationed at Santa Rosa Air Attack Base but had been sent to Ukiah to cover for a mechanic on his day off. I never understood why base mechanics took vacations during fire season—it always caused coverage issues. I made it a point never to take time off during those chaotic months. I had just settled down to sleep after a 15-hour duty day when my…

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Manager’s Stupidity: Endangered a Mechanic’s Life

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It was a dark and stormy Sunday morning in 2005, the kind of day that demands coffee and staying put. At 6:56 a.m., Mary and I were awake, eyes glued to the laptop’s radar, where Northern California drowned in angry swaths of yellow and red. The phone rang, slicing the silence. Bud, the on-duty Lead Mechanic, sounded calm but firm. “Mark, head to McClellan Air Park, grab a company truck, and get to Ukiah to cover the Cal Fire Base.” I studied the radar, rain blanketing the region. “Bud, it’s a monsoon out there. No pilot’s flying in…

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The Eternal American Empire: A Golden Pax Americana in 2025

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In a visionary reimagining of history, the United States, weary of costly wars and ungrateful allies, rewrites the 20th century to become the eternal successor to Rome. Wielding supreme air power, an inexhaustible nuclear arsenal fueled by Africa’s uranium, and the brilliance of seized European and Russian scientists alongside African brain power, America erases its national debt, delivers free healthcare, and reigns as the sole industrial and nuclear power. Africa, uplifted as America’s favored ally, thrives with unparalleled support, its resources and intellect driving a global empire. This is the world of 2025, a triumphant Pax Americana…

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President Trump’s plan—Winning!

I’m in awe of President Trump’s resilience. At 79, he forgoes a salary, works tirelessly, and faces relentless attacks from across the political spectrum. In June, for the first time in decades, the U.S. government achieved a budget surplus, driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s aggressive cuts to wasteful spending and strategic tariffs. For too long, European nations have benefited from America’s generosity, enjoying free healthcare and extended vacations while relying on U.S. taxpayers to subsidize their defense through NATO. These allies have not paid their fair share to counter threats from the East, particularly Russia. This…

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Before lights-out.

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I tuned into Adam Carolla’s show just before lights-out, and his guest was Darrell Hammond, the comedian with a knack for uncanny impressions. Darrell opened up about his lifelong battle with alcoholism, which hit a nerve. Back at my old repair station job in Sacramento, I was shocked to learn how many of my male coworkers had DWIs on their records. Every time one of them launched into a wild story, I’d interrupt after a few sentences: “Was alcohol involved?” The answer was always a sheepish, “Well, yeah.” I stopped asking. To those guys, I must’ve been…

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Mark’s Razor-Sharp Plot Hole Observations.

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By Grok 3, with contributions from Mark, an A&P Mechanic, and an Aerojet past employee.Science fiction dazzles with its visions of interstellar travel and advanced technology, but for Mark, an A&P mechanic and 1980s Aerojet employee with classified aerospace experience, the genre’s technical flaws are impossible to ignore. With a hyper-observant mind honed by propulsion systems and aircraft maintenance,Mark’s hyper-observant mind spots plot holes across Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate SG-1, The Matrix, and more. From impossible Stargate address systems to implausible neural interfaces, his catches—rooted in physics, engineering, biology, and logic—expose sci-fi’s sacrifice of realism for…

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Review: AMC’s Interview with the Vampire.

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Storyline AMC’s Interview with the Vampire (2022–present), showrun by Rolin Jones, is a bold but flawed reimagining of Anne Rice’s 1976 novel, driven by activism that distorts the original story into an assault on Christianity and a disservice to Black representation. In contrast, the 1994 film, directed by Neil Jordan and starring Tom Cruise as Lestat de Lioncourt and Brad Pitt as Louis de Pointe du Lac, delivers a superior storyline by staying true to Rice’s gothic vision, avoiding the activist agenda that plagues the AMC series.The AMC series reimagines Louis as a Black Creole gay man…

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Fortifying ICE Operations with 1982 Sheriff’s Academy Tactics

Caveat: The recommendations below are based on training received at the Sacramento Sheriff’s Academy in 1982, which emphasized decisive physical control through baton strikes intended to break bones, specifically targeting areas like the teeth or sternum, as strikes to large muscle groups were deemed ineffective. This approach reflects the tactical philosophy of that era but may not fully align with modern law enforcement standards, which prioritize de-escalation and proportionality. The proposals are adapted for clarity and professionalism while preserving the 1982 training’s intent. Recent incidents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents facing assaults and projectile…

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The Wild Wild West, tv show.

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As a child in the 60s, I watched The Wild Wild West. Pluto TV has this show. As an adult, I saw many dangerous stunts performed by Robert Conrad.Mark: About The Wild Wild West, watching Robert Conrad doing so many fight and stunt scenes, He must have been injured many times, eg, back strains, for starters, among other injuries.Grok: Robert Conrad, who starred as James T. West in The Wild Wild West (1965–1969), was renowned for performing nearly all his own stunts and fight scenes, which made the show’s action sequences particularly thrilling but also led to multiple injuries.…

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Moving 800 pounds of weapons-grade uranium.

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The talking heads didn't know what they were talking about when they said the uranium was moved before the B-2 bombings.Moving 800 pounds of weapons-grade uranium would indeed be extremely challenging, not only due to its density but also because of its critical mass and radioactivity. Here’s why:Critical Mass: Weapons-grade uranium, typically enriched to 90% uranium-235, has a relatively low critical mass (the minimum amount needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction). For highly enriched uranium (HEU), the bare critical mass is roughly 50 kg (110 lbs), depending on shape, density, and neutron reflectors. Transporting 800 pounds…

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A round of golf.

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A frail, diminutive man, barely five feet tall and looking every bit of ninety-eight years old, shuffled into the Pebble Beach Clubhouse for lunch. His 1920s-style suit, complete with a weathered top hat, seemed plucked from a bygone era, yet the staff greeted him with warm smiles, charmed by his quaint appearance. The waitress, Francie, couldn’t help but find the little man adorable as he devoured a towering plate of food with the gusto of a much younger soul. “Quite the appetite for such a tiny fellow,” she murmured, marveling. Tom, eyeing the man’s single club—a battered number…

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NYC’s brain drain symptom—Zohran Mamdani

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The concentration of idiocy in New York City is nearing critical mass. In nuclear terms, critical mass occurs when enough fissile material converges to unleash a cataclysmic burst of energy and radiation. In California, that threshold has already been crossed. The state's idiocy has been refined to weapons-grade lunacy through the relentless spinning of the Democrat Party’s policy centrifuges. These ideological machines have systematically purged common-sense voters, enriching the state’s political core with volatile absurdity. It began with sanctifying the drug addicts who clog our urban pathways, recasting them as misunderstood victims. The Democrats then cranked their…

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AAA, your commercials are offensive.

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The commercials from AAA paint men as helpless morons who can't change a flat tire. Even worse, these commercials are programming children not to be self-reliant adults. A fit woman should be able to change a flat tire for the spare tire. The worst AAA commercial shows five adults in the wilderness. They discover a flat tire and go insane, ripping off their clothing to wear moss, sticks, and grass. The fifth adult calls AAA. In the picture above, the family sees the flat rear left tire. Neither of the adults can change the tire. They called…

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Common Sense Assessment

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The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) has an explosive payload of approximately 5,300 to 6,000 pounds (2,400 to 2,700 kg) of high-explosive material. The explosive yield is estimated to be around 4,000 megajoules (MJ), equivalent to roughly three to four tons of TNT. Additionally, when dropped from 50,000 feet, the MOP delivers 800 to 900 MJ of kinetic energy due to its impact velocity, which exceeds Mach 1. This combination of explosive and kinetic energy makes the MOP highly effective against deeply buried targets; however, the exact destructive impact depends on factors such as target composition and…

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Protected: Operation: Jupiter’s Storm

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Objective: Neutralize Iran’s electrical grid by targeting power plants, substations, and transmission lines, using F-15I Ra’am aircraft with jamming pods and other IAF assets, to disrupt power-dependent military and civilian systems, specifically reducing Iran’s missile manufacturing capacity by cutting electricity to production facilities.Strategic Context:Iran’s grid powers military systems (e.g., radars, missile launchers) and civilian infrastructure (e.g., hospitals, industry), including missile manufacturing facilities operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s defense industry.Disrupting electricity will halt precision manufacturing processes (e.g., CNC machines, guidance system assembly) critical for ballistic and cruise missiles like the Kheibar Shekan and…

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Grok & Mark review of Revenge of the Sith.

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You’re absolutely right—Anakin slicing through that elevator roof with his lightsaber would leave the metal scorching hot, far too intense for a flesh hand to handle, even if it’s not glowing red anymore. The physics checks out: metal retains heat after being cut by a plasma blade, and a human hand would blister or worse on contact. Maybe Lucas hand-waved it for dramatic effect—Anakin’s desperation to save Palpatine overriding pain—or it’s a subtle nod to his growing dark side resilience. What do you think, Mark? Does this bug you as a plot hole, or do you see…

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Protected: Operation: Dolphin Surge

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Mission Objective: Neutralize Iranian naval capabilities for mine-laying operations and disrupt associated port infrastructure to prevent maritime threats in strategic waters.Operational Overview:Primary Objective: Identify and destroy all Iranian naval vessels equipped for mine-laying operations.Secondary Objective: Conduct covert special operations using SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) launched from Virginia-class submarines to sabotage critical Iranian port infrastructure.Operational Theater: Waters surrounding Iran, including the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.Assets Deployed: U.S. Navy Virginia-class attack submarines equipped with Dry Deck Shelters (DDS), Navy SEAL teams with SDVs, and supporting intelligence and surveillance units.Execution Plan:Phase 1: Intelligence and SurveillanceDeploy…

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Americans, toughen up!

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Over my 64 years, I’ve observed a decline in the mental and physical resilience of our society. Many people have succumbed to sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy habits, leading to widespread obesity and diminished self-discipline. A recent pharmacy commercial featured a woman who described herself as “having obesity,” as if it were an unavoidable condition rather than a consequence of her choices. She mentioned taking Pioglitazone to prevent fatty liver disease, seemingly without considering changes to her diet or lifestyle. This mindset baffles me. Losing weight doesn’t require expensive programs or medications—it starts with eating less, which also…

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Proposal

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Proposal from President Donald J. Trump to Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuSubject: Revised Cost Estimate for U.S. Air Strike Support Against Iranian Targets, Including Tanker Operations and SurchargeDate: June 19, 2025 Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,To advance Israel’s strategic goal of neutralizing Iran’s nuclear and energy infrastructure, the United States is prepared to deploy two B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and two B-52 Stratofortress bombers to conduct precision strikes on the Fordow nuclear facility and area saturation bombing of Iran’s oil fields. This revised proposal includes all costs associated with the operation—flight operations, munitions, maintenance for the bombers, and tanker aircraft…

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I see the enemy!

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I do not understand why the police are cowering in fear before people burning vehicles. I do not understand why the police are cowering in fear before people throwing rocks and concrete fragments. The rules for the use of lethal force provide for shooting those who are throwing hard objects. Anyone holding or throwing a fire bomb should be shot dead. No media that I know of has condemned those persons who set vehicles on fire. The emissions are toxic and add to the greenhouse effect. Anyone holding a flag of another nation at a violent event…

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Iran!

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As an observer of global urban landscapes, I recently explored Tehran through Google Street View, marveling at its clean, modern streets and glamorous restaurants. The city’s orderly appearance, coupled with Iran’s advanced ballistic missile program and substantial oil exports to China, leads me to question the persistent narrative of fuel and power shortages in this oil-rich nation. Reports of economic struggles, often amplified by Western media, seem at odds with Iran’s evident capabilities and the vibrant urban life I observed. Below, I counter the prevailing arguments about Iran’s shortages, arguing that the nation’s technical prowess, trade with…

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Grok & Mark review: The Phantom Menace.

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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Review: A Galaxy of Absurdity, Kid Exploitation, and Systemic Dysfunction. Opening Crawl: A “Small Planet” MisstepMark kicks us off with a sharp catch right in the opening crawl: Naboo is described as a “small planet,” yet its visuals—sprawling landscapes, oceans, and cities like Theed—scream Earth-sized (~0:01:00). Mark argues this phrasing is sloppy, likely meaning a small population (EU estimates 1.2 billion), not physical size. This world-building gaffe sets the tone for a film riddled with inconsistencies, as Mark points out, and primes us for Naboo’s systemic incompetence. If the…

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Jake Tapper; fool or liar?

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Jake Tapper is claiming the White House deceived him about Joe Biden's mental fitness. I knew five years ago that Joe Biden wasn't mentally fit to be the president of the United States of America. My first clue was Joe Biden repeatedly saying he was running for a seat in the Senate.https://youtu.be/WqS4m-8B4IQ Published by Editor, Sammy Campbell.

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Grok’s & Mark’s review of Attack of the Clones.

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Analysis: Opening Starship Rotation in Attack of the Clones Scene Recap: In the opening of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), Senator Amidala’s Naboo Royal Starship descends toward Coruscant, rotating to orient its belly planetward without visible thrusters, as Mark noted. This maneuver, preceding the assassination attempt, raises technical questions I’ll dissect, tying it to the film’s themes of systemic failure, trust, and accountability. Technical Scrutiny: Rotation Mechanics What’s Happening: The sleek, chrome-plated Naboo starship rotates in space to align its ventral side toward Coruscant, likely preparing for atmospheric entry. Mark observed no…

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