Israel's F-15 "Baz" fleet is specially modified and appears to fly with an eclectic mix of air-to-air weaponry while patrolling the homeland. //

The story of Israel's F-15A-D Eagles is a very different one than that of their American counterparts. Early on, the IAF adapted their most capable air superiority fighter into a long-range strike platform. Since then, the service has continued to morph the Baz fleet into something that's all its own. Today, these are truly multi-role aircraft and they are treated as prizes by the IAF even many decades after the type first entered service. You can read all about the Baz fleet's fascinating past in this previous feature of mine. In fact, the IAF continues to get second-hand, well-used examples from the United States and carefully rebuilds them and deeply upgrades them into indispensable national assets, some of which get loaded with the best networking capabilities the force has to offer.

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-amazing-saga-of-how-israel-turned-its-f-15s-into-mu-1701606283

Manyin Li, a freelance writer and author of the forthcoming book, “Bearing Witness: Coming of Age in Mao’s China,” has translated excerpts of several speeches given by “high-profile Chinese scholar serving the Party” Jin Canrong, who is a professor at the Chinese People’s University in Beijing. Jin is considered an expert on the U.S. and is an adviser to the CCP’s Organization Department and United Front Department, Manyin says. His visa was suspended by the Trump administration’s State Department in January 2020. //

she lays out six “rhapsodies” that make up Jin’s basic belief about how China views the U.S. in both the short and long term. These “rhapsodies” involve everything from “enmeshing” the two countries so that the U.S. is powerless to disconnect itself from China; playing coy and waiting for the U.S. to involve itself in meaningless wars in the Middle East as a distraction while China builds its military; ingratiating itself to other nations to isolate the U.S.; and using the U.S. system of Democracy and its free press against it.

The entire piece is an absolute must-read

https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/03/what-china-really-wants-a-new-world-order/

The investment conditions in the U.S. are more open and with larger volume than that of Japan and Europe. Laws in the U.S. are transparent, predictable, and protective.

Our government hopes that eventually China will have investments in each and every congressional district in the U.S., making it possible for China to control thousands of votes to influence congressional members’ stance toward China. In fact, the U.S. representatives can be controlled. The U.S. has 312 millions of people, who elect 435 representatives. That means 750,000 people in each district on average. The normal turnout rate is 30 percent, about 200,000 voters who determine who gets elected. Generally, the two contenders have about the same number of supporters, separated by only 10,000 votes or fewer. Therefore, if you control a few thousand votes, you would be his/her dad. China, if playing well, will be able to buy out the U.S., making the U.S. Congress the second Standing Committee of our People’s National Representatives. //

The CCP’s model includes a police state, high-tech surveillance, censorship of media and the Internet, speech restrictions, lifelong privileges for ruling-party officials, wealth concentrated in a small group of CCP officials’ clans, stark inequality, oppression of the religious, the Sinicization of all ethnic minorities with coercive measures, etc. (And let’s not forget that this system originated COVID-19 in the first place!) Would any people in the world like to live in such conditions? The answer is absolutely “No.” This kind of regime cannot even go on forever in China. Nevertheless, it could last for a while. Americans must be ready to face the reality with patience and wisdom.

It’s a sobering read for anyone wondering how a Biden Administration might be inclined to deal with an ambitious Chinese Communist Party. But a necessary one.

Sandy 〽️
@RightGlockMom
This is awesome - lol
Rush Limbaugh's Death Certificate Says 'Greatest Radio Host of All Time'

Just days after SN10 completed the first – albeit hard – Starship prototype landing, SN11 is set to rollout to the launch site for its own attempt. Incremental progress is being made with the test flights, with another tweak to the landing sequence set to be implemented, based on data gained from SN10. Meanwhile, the first Super Heavy prototype continues stacking operations while parts for up to Starship SN20 are being staged at the Production Site.

These future vehicles are set to take up residence at a launch site SpaceX plans to expand, per updated documentation.

Trump and his new campaign team are also cracking down on the use of the president’s name for fundraising — a huge draw attracting small-dollar donors. Three sources told us that Trump, who made his fortune licensing his name, has felt burned and “abused” by the GOP bandying about his name to haul in money.

His team has conveyed that any Republican or GOP committee seeking to use it needs explicit approval, according to five sources familiar with the situation. One Trump adviser said they’ve been sending out cease-and-desists to faux PACs using Trump’s name to fundraise, among other demands to knock it off.

Camp Ozone is nestled in the small community of Ozone, TN, on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau. With 320 acres of wooded land, and a 10 acre lake, we are a quiet getaway from the busy cities, yet we are within a 2 hour drive of Knoxville, Nashville, and Chattanooga. Ozone Falls, a 110 Ft. waterfall, is within walking distance of the camp property.

Scenes from the crash site. Starship SN10 landed, but shortly after experienced a RUD. This is the aftermath of that rapid unscheduled disassembly. Check out the mangled Raptor Engine in the 4th pic!

Starships - three unique side-by-side cool clips from Mary, syncing the moment of Raptors' ignition prior to landing.
@NASASpaceflight

@SpaceX

@BocaChicaGal
https://youtube.com/watch?v=sDTZa-tm3A8