@bachophile said in How Many Countries Recognize Taiwan as a Country?:

@mik I don’t think any administration will go to war over Taiwan. Not after 15 years of Afghanistan.

Which means it’s only a matter of time that China makes a move.

The Chinese are quietly eating up the world (esp Africa) while Americans argue about mask and vaccine mandates in the name of freedom

My only question is will China do it my lifetime or my children’s.

I agree with you, all except what it is we are arguing about that's a problem. Basically, you're saying that it is the issues that involve defending our freedoms and our constitution that is our problem. Well, it's not. The things we are arguing about that is going to be our demise are where do we piss, claiming anyone who doesn't subscribe to leftist views are racist, inventing whole lists of genders, and all the other bull shit being pushed on us by the Marxist Left. I t eresting that you didn't mention that, but instead chose to o after basically the same thing the Marxist Left goes after - the fabric of our nation. Freedom.

I wore a mask. I've been vaccinated 3 times. But not because the government ordered me to do it. I understand those who don't like being ordered around by government. I don't like it either, and had I been ordered to get a vaccine shot I'd have told them to kiss my ass.

I flat refuse to be smeared by Leftist thought. I know where to piss, I know the difference between a man and a woman, and I know what it has taken to build the USA. And, I know what's killing it. It's NOT masks and vaccines.

@bachophile said in Who Dis?:

Too obscure in my option.

Of COURSE it's obscure. I was just amazed that these two actually met.

And not one of you guys commented on my hint:

Link to video

*The loveliest girl in vienna
Was alma, the smartest as well.
Once you picked her up on your antenna,
You'd never be free of her spell.

Her lovers were many and varied,
From the day she began her -- beguine.
There were three famous ones whom she married,
And God knows how many between.

Alma, tell us!
All modern women are jealous.
Which of your magical wands
Got you gustav and walter and franz?

The first one she married was mahler,
Whose buddies all knew him as gustav.
And each time he saw her he'd holler:
"ach, that is the fraulein I moost have!"

Their marriage, however, was murder.
He'd scream to the heavens above,
"i'm writing das lied von der erde,
And she only wants to make love!"

Alma, tell us!
All modern women are jealous.
You should have a statue in bronze
For bagging gustav and walter and franz.

While married to gus, she met gropius,
And soon she was swinging with walter.
Gus died, and her tear drops were copious.
She cried all the way to the altar.

But he would work late at the bauhaus,
And only came home now and then.
She said, "what am I running? a chow house?
It's time to change parters again."

Alma, tell us!
All modern women are jealous.
Though you didn't even use ponds,
You got gustav and walter and franz.

While married to walt she'd met werfel,
And he too was caught in her net.
He married her, but he was carefell,
'cause alma was no bernadette.

And that is the story of alma,
Who knew how to receive and to give.
The body that reached her embalma'
Was one that had known how to live.

Alma, tell us!
How can they help being jealous?
Ducks always envy the swans
Who get gustav and walter,
You never did falter,
With gustav and walter and franz.*

I know. But the Part D savings offset the Part B increase, which is good. Deductible for B is going up $30 too.

The thing is it's all speculative. CMS has not yet determined whether or when they will cover Aduhelm.

The increases in the 2022 Medicare Part B premium and deductible are due to:

Rising prices and utilization across the health care system that drive higher premiums year-over-year alongside anticipated increases in the intensity of care provided.

Congressional action to significantly lower the increase in the 2021 Medicare Part B premium, which resulted in the $3.00 per beneficiary per month increase in the Medicare Part B premium (that would have ended in 2021) being continued through 2025.

Additional contingency reserves due to the uncertainty regarding the potential use of the Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm™, by people with Medicare. In July 2021, CMS began a National Coverage Determination analysis process to determine whether and how Medicare will cover Aduhelm™ and similar drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. As that process is still underway, there is uncertainty regarding the coverage and use of such drugs by Medicare beneficiaries in 2022. While the outcome of the coverage determination is unknown, our projection in no way implies what the coverage determination will be, however, we must plan for the possibility of coverage for this high cost Alzheimer’s drug which could, if covered, result in significantly higher expenditures for the Medicare program.

Can't we all just get along?

@copper said in $59:

Bayonet: Spike Bayonet

In case the ducks attack?

Also known as a cruciform bayonet. Russian SKS rifles have attached bayonets, but most of the Chinese Type 56 has the spike. My personal SKS wears a synthetic aftermarket stock , because the Chinese issued wood stocks have a short length of pull and no bayonet.

The SKS holds 10 rounds in a box magazine and I have used 7 of them at one time. Result was a couple of dead deer (one running). The 7.62x39 is a bit less energy than a 30-30 at the muzzle, but because it uses spitzer bullets, the energy is about the same at 100 yards. It has very little recoil and is more accurate than the AK-47, which uses the same cartridge. I find most will shoot around a two inch group.

Some are collectable. The one you really want is a Vietnam trophy return, with the issued synthetic stock. I think one of those with documentation would bring $5000 or so.

@george-k said in RIP Graeme Edge:

What struck me was how absolutely bored they all looked, LOL. Like "We're playing this shit again??"

That was Steve Miller Band for me. I can honestly say seeing them live was a waste of time.

IMG_0990.jpeg

McCarthy may be right when he says:

Durham appears to be convinced that the Clinton campaign concocted the Trump-Russia narrative and peddled it to an all-too-credulous press and Democratic-controlled government. That has the makings of a damning final special counsel report, but not a large-scale indictment.

But maybe the upshot of this is the Democrats find themselves wandering in the wilderness for 40 years once this story is fully known to the American people.

Virginia was just the start...

Shared with kiddo, and the response was " The beans, the toe beans! I want all those toe beans!"

@mik said in It's a bad day for spills at TNCR:

No, Cats. El Floro No Involvo.

😬

Bwhahahahahahahaha!!!

@taiwan_girl said in Austin, TX doesn't like veterans:

What is the slang definition of "woke".

I have hear that term alot but am not sure exactly what it means.

That makes two of us.

😂

@jolly said in A Great Negro:

@mik said in A Great Negro:

Lock him up!

That's a bit severe. He was trying to heap praise upon African-Americans. It's not like he was being niggardly.

Negro, please……

I don't think Congress can generate any more contempt for Bannon, than I already have for Congress.

What scares me is that that restaurant looks exactly like a Mexican restaurant in the town near me...