news

Not sure how real this is but it's going around some groups. Apparently Chongqing did rain seeding to break a 13 day heatwave. People claim the result was unexpected crazy storms but authorities deny a link between the two.

No idea what the truth of it is but here's an interesting compilation video: https://streamable.com/r4zx2h

Elon absolutely fumbled by going all in on Trump.

Quantum computing is pretty much vaporware at this point, right? Kamala says we need to keep up our investments in QC and AI to beat China, but as far as I know, QC has some serious fundamental barriers that we are not able to overcome right now, which prevents the technology from even being used for the things people want it to be used for. So what are we competing for?

I was reading IBM's roadmap for QC development and it could honestly be the RDI Star Citizen promises with how out of sight and reliant they are on the technology improving at an unrealistic pace.

Maybe I'm cynical and have an outside perspective but quantum computing is starting to look like one of those dead ends that everyone looks back on and feels a little embarrassed by the whole thing.

I'll treat this as news because why not: if you have insurance, first ask how much a procedure will cost out of pocket. Odds are it is somehow more expensive with insurance. Just say you thought your insurance was inactive if they press you, which they shouldn't. (Receptionists are lumpen)

RIP Elias Khoury

Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury who dedicated much of his writings to the Palestinian cause and taught at universities around the world, making him one of Lebanon’s most prominent intellectuals, has died. He was 76.

Has anyone read him? I picked up Gate of the Sun recently but haven't started it yet.

Russia’s Su-57 conducts 40+ strikes on Ukrainian targets

These stealth fighters have become a more frequent tool in Russia’s aerial campaign, with increased missile strikes recorded since late February 2024.

Although Russia had previously deployed the Su-57 sporadically, the intensity and frequency of its use have grown significantly. In January, the UK Ministry of Defense reported that Su-57s had been used in Ukraine since at least June 2022, but their early deployment was limited. Now, these jets are playing a more active role, often launching strikes from Russian airspace over Kursk and Bryansk, as well as from occupied Luhansk.

In the past seven months alone, Russian forces have launched over 30 cruise missiles from Su-57 aircraft. Among these are the Kh-69 stealth cruise missiles, designed to destroy small, well-protected targets at ranges exceeding 180 miles [290km]. One notable strike using the Kh-69 occurred on April 11, 2024, when Ukraine’s Trypillia Thermal Power Plant near Kyiv was destroyed.

So the Su-57's stealth capabilities, along with Russian air defence and cover, allow the Su-57 to fly over Luhansk oblast. It can then launch it's stealth cruise missiles from there, thus extending their effective range when compared to being launched from conventional non stealth aircraft that launch the missiles from within Russia proper. A stealth one two punch that is incredibly difficult to stop, a stealth jet launching a stealth cruise missile. With a conventional aircraft launch, you'd at least know where the missile was launched from, and when, before the missile disappears from radar. No such thing with the Su-57. I predicted such a strategy back in April when the strike on the powerplant was first made public knowledge.

In general this kind of "force multiplication" strategy is seen quite a bit with the Russian Air Force. Another example is the MiG-31K fighter jet as a launch platform for the Kinzhal hypersonic air launched ballistic missile. A fighter jet that can fly at over Mach 3 (with the caveat of excessive engine wear) launching a hypersonic missile that flies at Mach 5+. A speedy one two punch that is also difficult to stop.

The Su-57s are also equipped with the Kh-58USHK anti-radiation missile, capable of targeting radar systems from distances of up to 150 miles [240km], depending on launch conditions.

Reading in between the lines here, it is suggested that this made up the other 10 or so strikes. Anti radiation missiles against air defence radars and platforms. Since the Su-57 has stealth capabilities, this would mean that other aircraft would be required to bait the SAM sites and radars so that the anti radiation missiles can accuire a target. Must be a terrible and thankless job to fly as a wild weasel on SEAD missions involving the Su-57. Baiting the SAM sites and radars, but not being able to fire on them yourself.

I missed the debate. Is it worth watching?

Resistance News Network telegram

🔻 The zionist army admits to the serious wounding of an officer in the central #Gaza Strip after a tunnel collapsed on top of an invading force, according to their report.

Hopium for the day: imagine how much it fucking sucks to run the state of Israel right now. Sure you get to up the body count and get out your rage on women and children, but is it worth it?

Darth Vader dies after Phantom Menace Sith Lord Bern Bern endorses Darth Cheney

China citing the US Social Security age among reasons of raising the retirement age was not on my BINGO card

Edit -

Can we have some sober conversations on the retirement age without accusing each other of racism or chuvanism ? They put this out on their state media - CGTN. That is not a western mouthpiece. China is our peer. They hold over 1.5 billion human lives.

The reason this suprised me was because when Bernie 2016 campaign was going on there was a LOT of discussion on Social Security. Expanding it, lowering the age. Medicare in particular and the phasing it to lower the age of eligibility until we were all covered.

While doing research I found some pretty sobering numbers.

If you look at the social security ages of death from birth stats Approximately 1 in 5 do not make it to 60. Approximately 1 in 4 do not make it to 65. That is the human factor in raising the pension age.

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/NOTES/as120/LifeTables_Body.html

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html

Seems like the Brazilian Supreme Court has seized basically all of Elon Musk's stuff in Brazil to pay for the debt he has with the Brazilian goverment that refused to pay.

Russias Kursk Counter ?Counter? offensive is progressing well , apperently they are currently pushing into this river sourrounded in the Centre very succesfully.

shower thought: wot if trumpo said cheney mailed the anthrax letters according to his classified briefings, and kamala knows this.

With his bullshit approach he can say absolutely wild shit about classified info, no one can fact check him

Israeli special forces 'raid missile site in Syria' - BBC

Related: Iran denies claims its advisors injured, abducted in Syria's Masyaf - Al Mayadeen English

I don't know which to believe.

the last couple days there's been a vid of putin talking about potential Russian escalation in response to US authorization of long range missile strikes against Russia, with putin's rationale being that this type of missile is different than previous munitions in that they require active NATO servicemen involvement in the launch, as well as guidance from NATO ISR capacity (e.g. satellites). (see discussion on latest MoA and simplicius). I don't understand how this is different than use of storm shadow missiles/ATACMS - both of those require active NATO servicemen to do the launch as well as NATO ISR capacity (which has been provided for all kinds of things, not just missiles anyway). It seems bizarre to lay out a red line that's already been crossed. I don't know if I'm misunderstanding something or if the russian doomers are correct about how much their state loves to allow their red lines to be crossed.

nice , god finally started to drown europe.

Trump shooter was shooting an AK with a rifle grip? Was he a Commiefornia Liberul?!

EDIT: He's a Ukraine/NAFO poster lmao

Kursk salient is getting absolutely fucked: https://x.com/Kalibrated_Maps/status/1833856455264403519

Russia didn't take the bait and pull troops from the Donbas, just took a few weeks to organise troops from other places and form an orderly counteroffensive.

Trump better capitalise on this attempt because he will actually die if there's a third one.

Here's a clip of the portuguese communist party's Avante Festival that took place over the weekend.

And some photos

How far Hexbear has fallen with all the 9/11 meme posts and not a single post is about the real tragedy of 9.11

Smaller good news from one european city Antwerp

The communist party (PVDA-PTB) is polling at second place with 24.7% of the votes after the conservatives (N-VA) at 28.3% during 2018 the communists got 8.7% so this is actually huge, don't know too much about Belgian politics but maybe we got someone around for it.

Indicated changes from this polls

Communist +16% Conservatives -7% Greens -5.4% Far Right +6.6% SocDems -3.2% Christian Dems -3.8% Market Liberals -2.9%

I.e. center collapsing with communist making huge gains as well as the far right.

Russian neoliberalism on display

https://www.science.org/content/article/russia-set-cut-research-spending-25

Funding for applied research, which receives roughly two-thirds of Russia’s federal research spending, will be hit hardest by the cuts, dropping from 458 billion rubles ($4.9 billion) this year to 362 billion in 2025 and 260 billion in 2026, according to a recent analysis by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge of the Russian Higher School of Economics. Spending on basic research will remain essentially flat, falling slightly from 261 billion rubles to 235 billion in 2025, then increasing to 276 billion in 2026.

Winning a war has other costs it seems

Russia has captured all 3 coal mines around Vuhledar, in rapid succession.

It's only a matter of days until Vuhledar itself falls now.

In Kursk news, several mappers are reporting that Russia's 155th Marine infantry division are now pushing Ukraine back significantly, having recaptured about 10% of the incursion in a single day.

Last fall Norwegian police had a "preventative conversation" with Marius Borg Høiby, the 27 year old cocaine-loving stepson of the aging king's hand-picked successor, crown prince Haakon. So reports Norwegian government broadcaster NRK.

Norwegian police uses conversations like these as a preventative measure against individuals who are at risk of ending in crime. The conversations are meant to convince individuals to change their ways before it is too late.

The conversation doesn't seem to have helped in Høiby's case. The popularity of Norway's monarchy has taken a skydive recently, in large part due to the Høiby's behaviour. Last month Høiby was arrested by Norwegian police and he has now been charged with assault, vandalism, theft and stalking following a cocaine and booze-fueled rampage in a woman's apartment. He has since received a restraining order against the woman. Two other ex-partners of Høiby has since come forward and reported abusive behaviour to the police.