Category: Uncategorized

Confidential, To John Hinderaker — Nativists Kill Far More — In Belfast, And US

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His racism is… endless.

He refers to crime in Belfast as… “Immigration… Comes To Belfast“.

Damn. Nope, John — that would be street crime — and it happens far more often at the hands of native sons of Ireland (and Minnesota, you idiot).

John makes no innocent mistake here; he simply wishes to link crime to skin color.

This is naked racism.

And he well knows the same nakedly racist rants are offered by his friends and followers about US crime.

But as we all know, numerically — it is far more common to be the victim of a crime committed by a white person already a citizen of the United States in America (and most certainly also in Belfast at the hands of a native Irishman)… that in any other way. Even though Trump has tried to suppress uniform crime statistic reporting — here’s the proof for the point I make, for the United States (2019 data — but the whyte crimes trend has remained solid for 200 years, here).

Sit down and shut up, John.

You’re a bitter codger and life long racist pig.

As We Earlier Strongly Suspected — NASA Has Officially Declared Maven “End of Mission” — Around Mars, As Of Last Week.

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The review board will release a root cause analysis later in 2026, but there is unlikely to be a definitive answer as to what precisely caused the high spin rate and loss of signal.

In the mean time, we can bid this speed merchant only clear skies and free. . . space, somewhere out past Barsoom:

…The first mission devoted to observing the Martian atmosphere and its evolution, NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution), has ended after more than 11 years in orbit at Mars and a decade beyond its primary, one-year mission. The spacecraft was heard last on Dec. 6, when it experienced an unexpected loss of signal after it passed behind the Red Planet….

The agency convened an anomaly review board in February to evaluate recovery efforts and assess the spacecraft’s probable current state. The review board has determined that the MAVEN spacecraft is not recoverable, and it is no longer capable of performing its science and data relay mission, which is consistent with the mission team’s findings.

Telemetry from MAVEN prior to the spacecraft’s passage behind Mars in December showed all subsystems working normally. After the spacecraft emerged, NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) did not observe a signal. A brief fragment of telemetry data from analysis of radio signals recorded by the DSN’s open-loop receivers indicated the spacecraft was in safe mode and rotating at an unusually high rate when it emerged from behind Mars, indicating a disruption in MAVEN’s orbit trajectory. The review board concluded that due to this rotation, the batteries on the spacecraft had drained, causing the communications system to lose power and rendering MAVEN in an unrecoverable state….

Onward — she sailed fast and far, and almost always… flawlessly — and that is, in the end, all we might have expected of her. Smile.

नमस्ते

Update — On The Russian Gangway Oxygen Leak At The International Space Station: Stable For Now…

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While we were off-grid, it turned out that, last Friday, the Russian team was considering removing panels in the affected gangway. After much back and forth, the decision was to apply additional patching material inside the gangway, and see how that holds up — before removing a panel (which might expose a much larger crack / O2 leak — and risk).

Here’s the latest — from NASA’s press release — from that Friday afternoon:

…The week of June 1, during Progress 95 spacecraft cargo operations, Roscosmos noted an increase of the previous leak rate to two pounds per day and identified new suspected leak areas in the PrK. Following this observation, Roscosmos made the decision to begin work toward a more extensive inspection and structural repair effort Friday morning. This revised approach involved cutting a bracket to better access an area identified as a possible leak source for further inspection, using a method that could have resulted in elevated risk to the structure in the area. In response, NASA directed the four SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who flew to station aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, to take a heightened safety posture, known as a safe haven, inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft during the procedure.

Later Friday morning, Roscosmos paused and did not perform the structural repair work in favor of conducting additional measurements and data assessments, which included inspection of suspected areas of interest and review of areas where sealant was previously applied. NASA strongly supported that decision, and as a result, following that decision, Crew-12 and Williams ended their safe haven activities and returned to normal operations aboard the orbiting laboratory….

NASA will continue to work with our Russian counterparts, along with the rest of the international partners that support the space station, to assess and ensure a resolution to this matter….

[And at immediate right is a short gif-movie — of the prior Russian coolant-leak — in the Soyuz MS-22 Module / Capsule, at the ISS — about three and a half years ago.]

Onward, resolutely — into a steaming, sunny June day in the steel and glass canyons. Smile.

नमस्ते

Here’s A Reasonably Serviceable Comparison / Analysis — Of Merck’s Vs. Pfizer’s Three Year Ahead Prospects [If Held In a Tax-Deferred Account].

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If, as a retiree, you have a tax-deferred account in which to hold stocks, you are likely often looking for at least some fat dividend stocks. But most of all, you look for reliable pay-outs — from long term, sustainable cash flow.

It is clear that this “article/analysis” was likely mostly generated by an AI agent. It is not… wrong (if you simply want to invest today, and reap high — but double taxed, dividends in cash every year — outside your tax deferred account).

But most people would rather solve for taxes, and look at either stock (or both) being held in a 401(k) or an IRA — and take the dividends as reinvestments in the stock (no immediate cash). That is so, at least until well-after they retire, and then perhaps switch over to cash dividend payouts, for boosted quarterly retirement cash (no need to sell the underlying stock). You will pay taxes on the withdrawn amounts though.

[About 15 to 20 years ago, for five years, we used to an annual comparison of PFE v. MRK. So, consider this as a lazy / potential “slop” update, to those. Heh.]

But the central point we make here today, is sound. PFE yields a higher dividend RATE — because its NYSE price has not appreciated as much as Merck’s on a percentage basis, over the past five years. Both are excellent for your 401(k), or IRA — as those dividends get reinvested in the stock currently tax deferred. But yes, a 6+% annual dividend payout is sweet (since PFE’s stock price is lower, relatively speaking, you can buy in, and get more — more easily, at present).

Even so, though I would argue that Merck’s might be hiked — as we reach the 2030s, and its next gen immuno-oncology offerings come to the fore. If you are like me, you can wait. And I will, in my tax deferred accounts.

But that is just me. Here’s the “bot-written piece” — and a legacy graphic — sorta’ updated:

…Pfizer is now a 6.58% yielder, distributing $9.8 billion in 2025 dividends at $1.72 per share. That payout sits on a $3.22 adjusted EPS base, so coverage looks comfortable even with COVID revenue fading. Non-COVID growth told the real story: Abrysvo jumped 136%, Eliquis added 10%, and oncology biosimilars surged 77%.

Merck pays a smaller yield of 2.74% on a $3.28 annual dividend, but the underlying business is growing faster. KEYTRUDA delivered $8.03 billion in Q1 2026, up 12%, while WINREVAIR rocketed 88% to $525 million. Animal Health added a steady 13%. The recent quarterly dividend bump from $0.81 to $0.85 signals confidence….

But if you just want to harvest cash (and pay the double taxation!) Merck drops more coin in your pocket, quarter by quarter, compared to Pfizer. [Seriously, who writes these pieces?]

Onward, boarding — with a layover in the Rockies — then on, home over Lake Michigan.

नमस्ते

After A Weekend Of Olympic Tri- Cheering, We Are Back At It — From An Airport — DRC’s Ebola Situation Has Grown Much Worse, In Just A Week.

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While I was off-grid last week, most Western journalists reduced the count of Ebola cases — and deaths, in Africa. They did so, because WHO is now only counting cases confirmed by Western-style diagnostic testing.

But several hundreds were buried, without any intervention — before the outbreak was declared — and so no testing will ever occur, on those — as “Great Death has made them his, forevermore1“. These long-departed are almost certainly Ebola victims. [Thus our graphic this morning, cobbled together by phone, from the airport — attempts to true the results up.]

Even so, the official count of cases is now 515.

Before I left, the very reasonably suspected cases stood at over 1,100 — mostly in the gold mining (and strife torn) districts in remote eastern Ituri province — Democratic Republic of the Congo. Today it is certainly much higher.

And so — to be clear — for our part, our graphics will include the suspected cases — so we now show over 1,615. Because that is the most likely truth — and deaths are at over 310, based on similar logic.

This is likely to end as the second worst outbreak in recorded history for ebola — with only the 2012 to 2014 one recording more cases and deaths. [Thanks, Elon and Donald!] Here is Reuters, reporting on the latest, overnight:

…Democratic Republic of ‌Congo said on Sunday that the number of ⁠confirmed Ebola cases had increased to 515 after 27 new samples ‌tested ⁠positive in the previous 24 hours.

The confirmed ⁠cases include 91 deaths, ⁠government data showed….

Obviously, DRC officials are now likely willing to under-report, so as not to kill their inter-country economies. [Afterall, nothing more may be done — for what Charles Hamilton Sorley called “the mouthless dead“.] But the truth is — and will be — far worse. Trust that.

Back in the Chi-, by tonight… and — a few thumbnails of the weekend’s shenanigans.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. “When You See Millions of the Mouthless Dead” Charles Hamilton Sorley (1915)

नमस्ते

Hinderaker & Daughter: An Insipid Show/Lie-Fest — On The Law.

~ condor ~ 2 Comments

Again — because his daughter is shilling for (and apparently, from time to time, hosting) this goofy hard right “supposed law” podcast, John Hinderaker offers us ever-more dishonest analysis of an interview Tangerine 2.0 did this morning on network television…

In his post, and his daughter’s podcast, he tries to make the case that the $1.8 billion slush fund — to benefit violent and convicted criminals… is no different than civil settlements the DoJ has paid out under prior administrations to victims of governmental race and gender discrimination.

Preposterous.

To start, neither Bush nor Clinton nor Obama directly benefitted from the arms-length settling race and gender discrimination suits. In contrast, Trump would here be directly paying HIS violent “shock troops” — which stormed the Capitol on J6, at his urging. Essentially his campaign workers, who also happen to now be convicted felons (ones he pardoned).

Second, in Bivens-type actions, it is usually FBI or DHS or ICE agents that are beating and shooting law-abiding residents. Those are the prior settled cases he claims are the same as his slush payouts.

Ridiculous.

Finally, it is reasonably likely that some Trump political operative(s) will be collecting various kick-backs, from every potential payout before any cash is turned over to the supposed settling J6 violent felon(s), for beating DC cops.

But through it all, John would tell us that this is just standard procedure — when blue forces are in control of DC. Anyone with a working brain knows that is a lie.

The good news here is that this corrupt nonsense idea is already DOA.

Here endeth the sermon.

In The Specious Reparations Challenge, Evanston Will Prove The Fitton-Shills Blew The Statute Of Limitations.

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This will all be rather droll.

The Fitton shills filed their purported federal suit over a year too late, it seems — in addition to having apparently never lived or owned property or paid taxes in Evanston — during the relevant time period.

We will keep you apprised; trust that. One of many of my prior backgrounders is here.

Onward — now mid-air, to Eugene (finally!) — after various weather delays in the central mountains. Early water start in the morning, in tie dyed tees! Woot!

नमस्ते

So… Let Me Get This Straight…

~ condor ~ 1 Comment

John Hinderaker devotes his precious blog space this afternoon to this completely lawless notion, that Tangerine 2.0 would put out a $250 bill reportedly with his face on it.

As a topper, the sitting United States Secretary of Treasury (Scott Bessent), made a mock up of the lawless reserve note — using Trump‘s mug shot from his 32 felony counts.

Charming.

This is how these idiots spend our taxpayer dollars and time, all the while that in Iran are troops are in harms way and throughout the Middle East. Everyone is less safe. Including Israel. Trump has put that nation deeply at risk.

He is doing essentially nothing to solve the war of choice he caused. And nothing about the economic pain he has inflicted on his fellow Americans.

And these guys, John included, think that they should take Friday afternoons to crack jokes about erszats currency, which specifically prohibited by a Civil War era statue. He needs an act of Congress to even consider this.

And John thinks of it as all a great troll while Rome burns.

To these jamokes, trolling matters more than governing. Yikes.

What a sad putz.

Here, Tangerine 2.0 Tries To Pretend That Admin. Law Judges May Rule Over Art. III Federal Court Judges. Nope.

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I won’t quote any of it, but yesterday, DHS and ICE lawyers filed some nonsense — to stave off the inevitable, in USDC Judge Xinis’ courtroom in Maryland.

This 28 pager claims that an administrative law judge friendly to Tangerine 2.0, who rewrote a 2019 final order of NON-removability, into a 2026 order of purported “immediate” removal — only after Abrego had won his freedom — controls, over both USDC Judge Crenshaw in Nashville and Judge Xinis’ contrary orders. [And by implication,the prior US Supreme Court order of last summer.]

That is. . . simply silly.

But the government takes 28 pages to argue about how many lawyers might stand on the head of a pin — trying to avoid producing the documents that prove Todd Blanche himself was acting with improper (racist) motives, in trying to keep Abrego Garcia locked up, and/or deported to Sudan, or Liberia — after kidnapping him to an El Salvador torture prison.

This unhinged idiocy will fail. Trust that. Abrego will be able to prove his case of boxcar damages — from these documents. Trust that, as well.

Onward — to more mountain fun with my 92 year old mom.

नमस्ते