Month: December 2021

New Year’s Eve

Nan Fun , , ,

new-year-fireworks

No plans for New Year’s Eve? Staying at home because of the virus? No worries. Grab a glass of champagne and spend a little time at these websites … 🍾🥂🎉

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Image by nck_gsl from Pixabay

Money Well Spent?

Nan Government , , , , , ,

stockvault-stealth-bomber202914StockVault.net image

I just finished reading an online Popular Science article about the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber that can “sneak past enemy air defenses with the same radar signature as a small bird.” The article was about being able to “see” the bomber using Google Earth, but I was more interested in some of the information about the bomber itself and how it was recently used.

For those unfamiliar — this stealth bomber was designed during the Cold War (it would cost nearly $2 billion in today’s dollars), and is capable of deploying both conventional and thermonuclear weapons. As one person put it, “It is made to defeat the world’s most advanced air-defense systems.”

What most interested me in the Popular Science article, was their reference to a 2018 article for The Atlantic, in which the writer pointed out that the bomber was used to bomb no more than 100 men camped in the desert in a country that does not even have air defenses (my emphasis). He noted the following:

Bombing ignorant gunmen camped out in a desert of a non-country is a far cry from launching an attack against a modern military adversary. But the high cost of the mission was perhaps an attraction by bureaucratic if not military logic—you may lose money if you don’t spend it—or the B-2s might have just needed some work to do.

(Like preparing for a possible war with China or Russia?)

He goes on to say that it costs $44.27 million per year to maintain the bomber (2018 figures), making it the most expensive aircraft to maintain in the Air Force inventory.

He then notes that the Air Force is now considering the development of the B-21 Raider — “a new flying wing strategic stealth bomber that closely resembles the B-2 and is designed to replace the older aircraft” — for a an estimated cost of $203 billion. According to Air Force sources, the B-21 Raider is “designed to operate in tomorrow’s high-end threat environment” … and will “play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability.”

All this information was particularly interesting to me based on a recently expressed “need” by certain members of Congress to increase the Military Budget — yet those same individuals seem unable to justify the (considerably less) expenses connected with the Build Back Better plan.

Of course there is no argument that the defense of the United States against pernicious foreign powers is vital. Yet denying the people of this country the (minimal by comparison) funds they need to simply survive and/or live meaningful lives is, IMO, without excuse.

“And Then It Is Winter”

Nan Life , ,

oldhands

Found on Facebook … unknown author.
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You know … time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is … the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But here it is … my friends are retired and getting grey. They move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me, but I see the great change. Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore … it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will, I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

But at least I know that though the winter has come (and I’m not sure how long it will last), this I know — that when it’s over on this earth, it’s NOT over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done … things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.So, if you’re not in your winter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don’t put things off too long! Life goes by quickly. So do what you can today as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life, so live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember … and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!

“Life” is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

REMEMBER … “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

LIVE HAPPY IN THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR!

Lastly, consider the following:

Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, yet the youngest you’ll ever be so … ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

  • Your kids are becoming you.
  • Going out is good .. Coming home is better!
  • You forget names … but it’s OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!
  • You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything.
  • The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don’t  care to do them anymore.
  • You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep”.
  • You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “OFF” switch.
  • You tend to use more 4 letter words … “what?”…”when?”… “what?”
  • Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it’s not safe to wear it anywhere.
  • You notice everything they sell in stores is “sleeveless”?!!!
  • What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
  • Everybody whispers.
  • You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet … 2 of which you will never wear.
  • But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

Stay well, “OLD FRIEND!”

Send this on to other “Old Friends!” and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!!

It’s Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
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Image by Sabine van Erp from Pixabay