Phil1111

Add me to the jealous crowd. Surely they have e-mail and internet on your ship so we all expect pictures sooner rather than later. I'm sure sled dogs won't be on the "Shackelton" antarctic menu experience.

Oh Brent, you are really an American.

You may have spent most of your time traveling the world inside the cargo hold of a C-17. But contrary to what you believe most of the rest of the world leaves it up to individuals to determine what they want. Which brings me to Norway. For the historically challenged right wing thinking Americans. Barely three years ago there were these headlines: 'Thanks, but no thanks' - Norwegians reject Trump's immigration offer" Fast forward to today: "9 in 10 cars now being sold in Norway are electric or hybrid" Now anybody with an open mind recognizes that a Norwegian person can buy a F-150. Just as any American can buy an EV. But in Norway there is little moaning and crying about gas prices driving individuals into poverty. Now Norway didn't go to war to protect the oil industry in the middle east, spending over $2 trillion. Furthermore: "Has the Oil Industry Corrupted Norway Like it has the US? In countries where oil has fuelled economic growth, such as several in the Middle East, the commodity has led to high rates of corruption and autocratic rule. But even though Norway enjoys a lucrative oil industry, the country has stayed free of corruption, and justice and equality are safeguarded. Norway’s Gini coefficient was 0.27 in 2018 and at least 90% of citizens expressed satisfaction with public services (police, healthcare, education and judiciary) in 2020. This data, which measures income inequality within a nation, demonstrates a high mutual trust between Norwegian citizens and their government. In other words, any form of corruption and an unfair decision would be revealed, condemned and punished by the public and an effective judicial system. "

As of October 27, 2021, Ford has accepted over 160,000 F-150 Lightning reservations "Ford F-150 Lightning indicates a 472-mile range during a test"

Its a luxury EV version of the MB V-12 S600. Not everyone needs 1100 hp but like anything else technology will trickle down. No pun intended.

Ok this is the story associated with the headline. It outlines how EVs and solar power will save the world. But here is the story that brings it into focus. The Lucid Air Is the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year From the story "Lucid has been touting recently—up to 1,111 horsepower and 1,390 lb-ft of torque in the Air Dream P edition and up to 520 miles of EPA-official range in the Dream R edition" RIP the Chevy 454 and the right wing diesel loving 4x4 truck lovers.

As compared to the media sources you're aft to quote. Why is it that Bigun and Wendy have you pegged?

AstraZeneca says its cocktail of antibodies, AZD7442, has given results deemed positive against Covid-19 during phase III clinical trials. So this new treatment is as effective against covid as many vaccines. Lasts long term and yet isn't a vaccine. Clearly FOX, Joe Rogan and Tucker Calrson will have to come up with a whole new slate of fairy-tales to discourage its use.

Because there are trump supporters that don't own homes. Therefore they have missed out on skyrocketing property values. Although they will complain in the coffee shops about increasing property taxes associated with that. Because there are trump supporters that don't believe in 401k plans so they have missed out on the 33% rise in US equity markets. Instead they "invest" in guns and more ammo. Because they all tend to drive gas guzzling 4x4 trucks, look with scorn on Prius and EV drivers. So a few pennies more per gallon upsets them. Because they have their noses so far up Rupert Murdoch's ass. They can't smell the roses of an American renaissance. I'm sorry to say Brent, but neither can you.

While thats true: "Case counts are starting to rise, fueled largely by deteriorating conditions in the Upper Midwest and persistently high infection rates in the West." Its difficult for rational dialogue, discourse to make inroads into FOX country where anti-vax ideology is strong. President Biden has just ordered a Sh*tload of the new Pfizer pills that should save the lives of the most fervent gun-a-totn anti-vaxer. I'd suggest that the stock markets and consumer spending are the best indicators of the rising confidence of Americans.

Gun Owners of America spent $900k in the 2020 elections. The National Association for Gun Rights" hired its first federal lobbyist in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that occurred in December 2012" According to republicans " NAGR was described as a "fund-raising machine that bullies anyone who compromises Brown's pro-gun, anti-abortion, anti-gay agenda." Former Colorado Republican State Representative B.J. Nikkel said Brown "is a political terrorist and a modern-day charlatan who operates in the shadows and portrays himself as a supposed 'Christian,' but he uses the people naive enough to believe him and financially support him" So its not really a pro 2nd group as much as its 'anti-abortion, anti-gay". Oh well sounds just like another GOP lobby PAC.

America rising again. -trump is gone. - America is looking at a bipartisan infrastructure bill. One that trump promised but that republicans never even brought to a vote. -the pandemic is finally looking like its over. The CDC speaks the truth again absent political interference. -unemployment 4.6% with consumer spending at record levels.As more and more people can finally enjoy life. -trump says stock markets will crash if he loses election. Instead the market jumped 500 points the day he was defeated. Roll forward to today and the markets are up 33% from the day the scourge of trumpism was ended. -President Biden is far more popular than trump at the same time of their respective offices."The national poll, conducted Nov. 9-10, found that 46% of U.S. adults approved of Biden’s performance in office, while 49% disapproved and the rest were not sure. Biden’s approval numbers have hovered below 50% since August. At the same point in Donald Trump’s presidency, about 37% of Americans approved of his performance in office, while 58% disapproved."

I agree. I was a NRA member about 30 years ago.

Speaking of the second amendment. There is a new book out about what was the biggest lobby group in US history and how it misfired. Its entitled "Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA" It outlines the corruption, bankruptcy in January and current litigation to dissolve it. This summer a major gunmaker Remington(in bankruptcy) offered $33 million to settle Sandy Hook legal claims. Then this week one of the rights conspiracy gun nuts Alex Jones. Lost by Default in Remaining Sandy Hook Defamation Suits 'A Connecticut judge’s ruling against the Infowars host combines with decisions in Texas to grant a clean sweep for the families of 10 shooting victims." Two judges in two jurisdictions. During the last midterms the NRA spent 11 million(2018) and $54 million to elect trump(2016). Now they spend more on legal fees than they take in. Spending $40 million in 2020 on lawyers. They are on pace to spend more on lawyers this year. This while membership has been falling 20% or more per year since 2018. Gun maker after gun maker called on the NRA to cancel the annual conference in Houston Texas scheduled for October. The NRA refused because its a huge fundraising and networking event for them. Attendance regularly runs over 70,000. Then barely three weeks before the event they cancelled it.

President Biden asks the F.T.C. to investigate ‘illegal conduct.’ President Biden has ordered an investigation into domestic gasoline price fixing by the oil industry. I expect better from President Biden. Pandering fishing expeditions to deflect criticism should be below him.

The current average price in the US is now 99 cents per liter. In Canada $1.31 per liter, Norway and the Netherlands its $2.20 per liter. Canada is a net exporter of 3 million barrels per day. Two point eight of which go to the US.

Well to look at America one way it's seven positions above Spain. But 14 below Hong Kong. Which for the geographically and politically challenged. Is a communist state.

Well if you and other free spending Americans thought this whole inflation B.S. thing was significant. You'd all just stop buying. Instead "Retail sales surged 1.7% last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Data for September was revised higher to show retail sales increasing 0.8% instead of 0.7% as previously reported. Sales have now risen for three straight months." Clearly there are just too many Pinot lovers. have you thought about switching to Two Buck Chuck instead. Over a billion buyers can't be that wrong.

Agree but IMO a better description would be a corrupted democracy. Unrestricted lobbying, unrestricted cash for votes, gerrymandering and tribalism all work to defeat the best interests of the electorate majority. Two year election cycles and the impatience of the electorate compounds the problem. In other democracies with four year election cycles. The madness of false promises, expensive carrots thrown out to entice votes, etc. Is only a half as bad. Under the trump administration the US dropped from 17th to 25th on the corruption perception index on several ranking systems.

The GOP faithful look in envy at what President Xi just achieved with his new lifetime presidential appointment. They have started their efforts to dispense with voting in the US. So unnecessary, so wasteful. "Republicans Gain Heavy House Edge in 2022 as Gerrymandered Maps Emerge"

Excellent info as usual.

Well currently there is nothing in new spending bills for the HLS. NASA asked for $5.4 billion for a second HLS provider. Mr. Nelson the NASA administrator believes that in a midterm(election) year there will be money for more HLS spending.He proposed $15.7 billion in the infrastructure bills. Proposed is $750 million to repair or modernize NASA facilities $140 million for climate change research and development $85 million for R&D-related activities $30 million for associated data management and processing $25 million for R&D to support wildfire fighting operations $225 million for R&D on sustainable aviation Perhaps they should take up Bezos on his offer: Just one week after riding to the edge of space, Jeff Bezos wants to build a lunar lander—and he’s willing to bankroll NASA $2 billion for the rights. Just kidding. "The offer comes nearly four months after SpaceX received a $2.89 billion contract to build a crewed lunar lander." From above quotation.

Living in a lava tube would need too much A/C. IMO

NASA should have had some sort of engineering epiphany subsequent SpaceX. Obviously that never occurred, just look at their $1 billion spacesuit program. There are currently many stories about why NASA should cancel the SLS program. As both budgets and launch dates slip and slip again. Obviously Mr. Musk doesn't need any blank cheques. But his solutions to servicing the current manned space program have shamed NASA engineers and management. Not that the ESA has been a shining star in space flight.

The cold sweat you feel is knowing how close you came and yet knowing you avoided the mental hell.