The New Coffee Room

I am going to say south Europe.

@jon-nyc said:

It’s short for involuntarily celibate. Dudes who can’t get laid basically.

They probably need to look in the mirror then, to identify where the problem is.

I dont know what it is. LOL

I wish I could hear the Japanese PM when she is finished with the meeting and back in the embassy and to hear the unfiltered response to this.

https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ATA-2026-Unclassified-Report.pdf

(I think this version is readable by everyone.)

Page 22 is in regards to Taiwan and China. Bottom line, they do not think that China will do anything in the next couple of years. (Of course, this was written prior to everything happening in the Middle East.)

In 2026, Beijing probably will continue seeking to set the conditions for eventual unification with Taiwan short of conflict. China, despite its threat to use force to compel unification if necessary and to counter what it sees as a U.S. attempt to use Taiwan to undermine China’s rise, prefers to achieve unification without the use of force, if possible. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) also continues to develop military plans and capabilities for attempting to achieve unification using military force if directed to do so.

The PLA probably is making steady but uneven progress on capabilities that it would use in any attempt to seize Taiwan and deter—and, if necessary, defeat—U.S. military intervention. At times, it has increased the scope, size, and pace of operations around Taiwan.

• The IC assesses that Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027, nor do they have a fixed timeline for achieving unification. However, China publicly insists that unification with Taiwan is required to achieve its goal of “national rejuvenation” by 2049—the 100th year anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Beijing almost certainly will consider a variety of factors in deciding whether and how to pursue military approaches to unification, including PLA readiness, the actions and politics of
Taiwan, and whether or not the U.S. will militarily intervene on Taiwan’s behalf.

• Chinese officials recognize that an amphibious invasion of Taiwan would be extremely challenging and carry a high risk of failure, especially in the event of U.S. intervention.

A conflict between China and Taiwan may disrupt U.S. access to trade and semiconductor technology critical to the global economy. If the U.S. were to intervene, it probably would face significant but recoverable disruptions to its transportation sector from Chinese cyber attacks. Even without Washington’s involvement, U.S. and global economic and security interests would face significant and costly consequences, with tech supply chains disrupted and investor fear across markets. In addition, a protracted war with the U.S. risks unprecedented economic costs to the U.S., Chinese, and global economies.

@89th said:

Apparently he died 20 years ago.

It just took the Grim Reaper that long to build up the courage to tell him.

555

I thought at first you guys were talking about a private mint type of coin, but realize now it is an official coin!!

https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/03/mullin-nomination-hearing-fetterman-rand-paul-congress-federal-government/

Sen. Markwayne Mullin moved a step closer to becoming President Donald Trump's next homeland security secretary after a Senate committee Thursday narrowly advanced his nomination.

The 8-7 vote came after a contentious hearing Wednesday and sent the Cabinet nomination to the full Senate, which could act to confirm the Oklahoma Republican next week.

That vote included a “no” from the Republican chairman, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and a “yes” from a Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. The approval comes as the parties are fighting bitterly over the policies of the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a funding lapse that is now in its 34th day.

Fetterman statement
https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/fetterman-statement-on-mullin-confirmation-vote/

@Renauda said:

Count me in as well, in fact it is inconceivable that under the current circumstances, the Israelis would not have coordinated this particular mission with US CENCOM.

I believe that either PM or Foreign Minister of Isreal at first said that Isreal definitely let the US know what they were doing.

Later, the stepped back on that statement. I wonder if there were some pressure from the US to change their statement.

@jon-nyc said:

Troops to secure the strait?

In addition to the troops from San Diego, I believe that they are also sending some Marine troops from Okinawa base in Japan.

I scratched the side of my car in Ireland (100% my fault but for my defense, the roads there are pretty narrow.). Anyway, it was about $3000 estimate and they did charge me. Fortunately, I had insurance through my credit card, and it was pretty painless to get reimbursed, though of course, I had to pay the charge "up front" and get the money back.

@Klaus said:

Another angle with a stronger hint

Great pics!!

Maybe I should add that statistic to my Trumpenomics scorecard, or at least the rate of increase vs. previous.

Maybe this is just the beginning.

Now, a different robot appears to have gotten carried away while performing a dance routine at a hot pot restaurant in San Jose, California.

A video on social media shows the dancing robot knocking over tableware, smashing plates, and sending chopsticks flying. An orange apron the robot is wearing reads “I’m good” in big letters across the front, perfectly adding to the chaotic scene.

Staffers at the restaurant were forced to intervene. One employee can be seen holding the robot by the scruff of its neck while navigating her phone, presumably searching the bot’s app for controls.

In the end, it took three workers to restrain the robot, who were all forced to duck periodically to avoid being smacked by its waving and sauce-covered hands.

The patient in Room 373 refuses to leave.

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare earlier this month sued the patient, saying she has refused to depart her hospital room since being discharged last October. The hospital also has asked a state judge in Tallahassee for an injunction ordering the patient to vacate the hospital room and authorizing the county sheriff’s office to assist if necessary.

The hospital said that resources have been diverted from helping other patients because of her occupation of the room.

“Defendant’s continued occupancy prevents use of the bed for patients needing acute care,” the hospital said in the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, the woman was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and a formal discharge order was issued Oct. 6 after it was determined that she no longer needed acute care services. The hospital has repeatedly made efforts to coordinate her departure with family members and offered transportation to obtain necessary identification, the lawsuit said.

https://healthexec.com/topics/healthcare-management/legal-news/squatter-patient-refuses-leave-hospital-room-five-months-after-discharge-lawsuit-claims

Looks like a cool place, whereever you are.

Dont know much about him, but the internet took me down a rabbit hole. LOL

Anyways, found this video of his last guest on his show. Pretty (and appropriate) song, I thought.

President Trump yesterday:

They weren't supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East. Those missiles were sent to go after them. They hit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait,

Nobody expected that. We were shocked. You know, they fought back.

He also said something like, "Iran did not have to fight back. They could have yielded."

#faceslap

He must have very incompetent advisors, or he does not listen to them. Probably the last, as I dont think that anybody would have said that Iran would not fight back.

Also, agree with @bachophile that the US had to know that Israel was going to do the bombing they did. 100% Looks like he is starting to throw Isreal "under the bus: