The Morning Rant: Minimalist Edition

What to do when traditional conservative belief that government should not involve itself in markets, runs smack into national security concerns?

Every time the government tries to pick winners and losers, the taxpayer loses. From sports stadium subsidies to redevelopment zones to ridiculous subsidies for favored industries like "Green Energy" and EVs, the only people who come out better off are the politicians who pushed through the cash grabs and the businesses that took the free money. We taxpayers end up footing the bill, and don't get much for it.

And when there is only a single player in the market, like the production of rare earth metals, it gets even worse. Giving cash to the only player in town raises the barriers to entry into the market, and that makes it more difficult for potential competitors to push prices down and supplies up.

Trump mulls using defense powers to fund rare-Earth projects

The Trump administration is developing a plan to use Cold War-era powers to prioritize and fund rare earth projects it deems critical to national security, people familiar with the matter said.
Officials are discussing using the Defense Production Act to tap financing, loans and other means for rare earths element-related projects, including mining, processing and other downstream technologies to bolster the U.S.'s capability to build a domestic supply chain, the people said. A specific course of action or a timeline have yet to be finalized, the people said.
MP Materials Corp., the sole domestic producer of rare earths, would be a prime beneficiary. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg is working to line up funding for the company, people familiar with that matter said. The Nevada-based mineral processor has received millions in funding from the Defense Department. [bolding mine]

But we need these materials to maintain our technological lead in many things, not least of which is our military technology. So a rational conservative will hold his nose and support this sort of economic inefficiency, but only for the short term!

The best action by far would be to decrease the regulatory burden on potential competitors, so they can enter the market without having to spend years navigating the byzantine world of environmental and safety regulations, not to mention the watermelons who emerge from their swamps to contest every single mine and oil well and power plant and any other capital project that would improve our lives and bolster our independence from malign players throughout the world.

[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter] And the Apple and Spotify feeds for CJN's podcast should be working!

Posted by: CBD at 11:10 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Sponge!

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:10 AM (foepz)

2 Maybe first, maybe not.

I'll drop a NOOD in the previous thread anyway, because I'm generous like that.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 19, 2025 11:11 AM (O7YUW)

3 Rd

Posted by: Polka will never die at June 19, 2025 11:11 AM (NZ3mj)

4 Well done Rick. I was typing up a new nickname of "The side of the milk carton" and was going to ask if anyone had seen the punk monkey.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 19, 2025 11:12 AM (O7YUW)

5 th!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at June 19, 2025 11:12 AM (kgE5c)

6 Every time the government tries to pick winners and losers, the taxpayer loses. From sports stadium subsidies to redevelopment zones to ridiculous subsidies for favored industries like "Green Energy" and EVs, the only people who come out better off are the politicians who pushed through the cash grabs and the businesses that took the free money. We taxpayers end up footing the bill, and don't get much for it.

*Solyndra has entered the chat

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:12 AM (foepz)

7 It is certainly an odd time in history where it is accepted the government builds sports stadiums and funds healthcare for invaders but the notion of reserving important rare materials is a bridge too far.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 19, 2025 11:12 AM (t0Rmr)

8 Happy Ride the Lightning Day to all.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:12 AM (jc0TO)

9 Get your fingers out of your mouth, Punk Monkey! That is not hygienic!

Posted by: muldoon at June 19, 2025 11:14 AM (poXs5)

10 MP Materials Corp's stock is up about 80% over the last month

Posted by: 18-1 at June 19, 2025 11:14 AM (t0Rmr)

11 7 It is certainly an odd time in history where it is accepted the government builds sports stadiums and funds healthcare for invaders but the notion of reserving important rare materials is a bridge too far.
Posted by: 18-1 at June 19, 2025 11:12 AM (t0Rmr)

Exactly what I was thinking.

Posted by: polynikes at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (VofaG)

12 This is the kind of issue where there's a whole lot of ceterises that ain't paribus. Applying any economic or ethical theory to an edge case like government procurement of a single source commodity is doomed to confusion and heartburn.

Also, extrapolating from that kind of edge case to economics or ethics at large is also not likely to be much use.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (BcT2b)

13 From sports stadium subsidies to redevelopment zones to ridiculous subsidies for favored industries like "Green Energy" and EVs, the only people who come out better off are the politicians who pushed through the cash grabs and the businesses that took the free money.

-

I'm still trying to figure out why sports teams are legal monopolies, who then subcontract out food and drink to other legalized monopolies on their premises, but the taxpayer is required to pay for the stadiums where these monopolies are practiced.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (lTGtQ)

14 Hmm, China owns 8% of MP Materials Corp's stock and Biden gave them a bunch of money as well

Posted by: 18-1 at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (t0Rmr)

15 I am not an isolationist… but, we have to become as self reliant as possible in manufacturing and production of the raw materials used for manufacturing… the world shows its’ true colors about how it feels about us, daily.

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:16 AM (PCK5/)

16 I'd rather argue about whether the Feds should give their land holdings in the west back to the states or dispose of them at retail itself. All at one or gradually?

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:16 AM (jc0TO)

17 A brilliant argument for celebrating Juneteenth:

Juneteenth: No, America's Wealth Wasn't Built By Slaves - Slavery Held Us Back, by Rod Martin

Substack link: https://is.gd/lkDO6N

"We live in the midst of the plenty that abolition created.

"But that’s the point: abolition created that plenty, not the debilitating slavery that went before, or the demeaning segregation that came after, in the South.

"So Juneteenth should not be a cause for protests, riots, or hate.

"Juneteenth should be a celebration, of the defeat of the Southern Democrat slave empire, of the uplifting and uniting of all races, and of the glory that is our America."

Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at June 19, 2025 11:17 AM (AwlwC)

18 It's interesting that suddenly, when we need various rare earth metals that huge deposits of them are "discovered" right here in the US. When all along we've been buying them from China.

Oh, and this happens when someone who's not beholden to China is in the White House.

And not a vegetable letting unelected pieces of shit run the country.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 19, 2025 11:17 AM (Q4IgG)

19 We should have learned during the COVID shut down exactly what needs to be done to maintain National security of self sufficiency.

It should have also squashed the Just In Time Inventory system but it hasn’t.

Posted by: polynikes at June 19, 2025 11:17 AM (VofaG)

20 How the hell are there only 50 comments at 11:17?

Posted by: Dr. Claw at June 19, 2025 11:17 AM (jbnUc)

21 How the hell are there only 50 comments at 11:17?
Posted by: Dr. Claw at June 19, 2025 11:17 AM

All of America is at the beach celebrating the Teenth.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:18 AM (jc0TO)

22 The best action by far would be to decrease the regulatory burden on potential competitors, so they can enter the market without having to spend years navigating the byzantine world of environmental and safety regulations, not to mention the watermelons who emerge from their swamps to contest every single mine and oil well and power plant and any other capital project that would improve our lives and bolster our independence from malign players throughout the world.

What kind of fascist BS is this? Decrease the regulatory burden... how would I justify my job? -- EPA drone

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 11:19 AM (ExV1e)

23 Thx CBD.
Solyndra and the various EV companies are perfect examples. Politicians get nice kickbacks , whether they taxpayer wins or lises

Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 19, 2025 11:19 AM (U/Wlk)

24 I'd rather argue about whether the Feds should give their land holdings in the west back to the states or dispose of them at retail itself. All at one or gradually?

Posted by: toby928

Logically, the land should be given to the states to dispose of as they wish. A lot of companies who get rock bottom pricing to lease that land right now will scream about it, but they can buy it just like anyone else.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:19 AM (lTGtQ)

25 Decreasing the regulatory burden is literally fascist.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:20 AM (jc0TO)

26 Happy Juneteenth!

You're welcome.

Posted by: Margaret Sanger at June 19, 2025 11:21 AM (73voq)

27 Logically, the land should be given to the states to dispose of as they wish.

Were they every owned by the state and given up, or were they always retained from territorial status and not a part of the state?

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (jc0TO)

28 20 How the hell are there only 50 comments at 11:17?
Posted by: Dr. Claw at June 19, 2025 11:17 AM (jbnUc)

A busty breastfeeding video on ewetub distracted me. Sorry. (Not really)

What are we talking about?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (bss/y)

29 Texas had the advantage of being a country, and therefore becoming a state by treaty, when it came to the feds taking title to undeeded land. The only federal land in Texas was granted by the state, and it is basically two national parks and one wildlife area. I think about three quarters of Nevada is owned by the feds.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (lTGtQ)

30 Right now, right here in the present, we only have one company that can refine these metals proficiently and in relative quantities. Yes, help them along while deregulating the process of opening up new mines by different entities in order to make this a competitive market in the future.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (g8Ew8)

31 I despise the sort of fake crony capitalism that funnels billions of taxpayer dollars to boondoggles like EV scams or scumbag sports teams and their criminal scumbag players.

But I don't think this rare-earths initiative is that. If domestic rare-earths are going to be a real thing, the industry needs to be jump-started somehow. Right now, it's only one player. If we want to open up the market, one way is to give incentives to other potential participants. Yes, I would rather the market sort this out on its own. But it kinda has already, and we got nutten. So incentives may be the only way to go.

Personally, I'm not sure domestic rare-earths is a good idea. It's very messy, destructive, and expensive. Not to mention subject to the whims of political parties. It's a very easy target for econuts. You've seen the pics from China and Burma of insanely massive mining operations that look like we're terraforming a colony planet, right? That's what it looks like. Do we really think something like that can be successful in the USA?

Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (iFTx/)

32 Conservative Beliefs And Government.

Hahahaha...That's gold, Jerry! Gold!

You should get a USAID grant for that.

Posted by: Rolling Downhill Like A Snowball Headed For Hell at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (R/m4+)

33 I'm still trying to figure out why sports teams are legal monopolies, who then subcontract out food and drink to other legalized monopolies on their premises, but the taxpayer is required to pay for the stadiums where these monopolies are practiced.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (lTGtQ)

Well, son, it's like this... I'm rich and I want you to pay for my shit. I can give your politicians freebies, so they like me. The only thing you can do is replace them but I'll just give freebies to the next guy. Sure, some people could call it corruption but I've convinced my politicians to have their secret police arrest anyone who does. -- sports owner

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 11:23 AM (ExV1e)

34 I'm still trying to figure out why sports teams are legal monopolies, who then subcontract out food and drink to other legalized monopolies on their premises, but the taxpayer is required to pay for the stadiums where these monopolies are practiced.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (lTGtQ)

To be fair most of these bonds are voted on . The pro stadium arguments are always the same. It will bring in more revenue than the cost.

I always vote against them. I don’t like it either but I’d rather the money be used to entice legit manufacturing businesses to locate to the area. Let the billionaire owners fund the stadiums. They can reap the promised rewards.

Posted by: polynikes at June 19, 2025 11:23 AM (VofaG)

35 I'd rather argue about whether the Feds should give their land holdings in the west back to the states or dispose of them at retail itself. All at one or gradually?
Posted by: toby928

Where is the federal land in, say, Wyoming, situated?

In Wyoming. It's Wyoming's land. The feral government was never set up to own anything.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:23 AM (foepz)

36 20 How the hell are there only 50 comments at 11:17?
Posted by: Dr. Claw
----------
Trolls are on paid holiday today.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:23 AM (ctrM5)

37 Juneteenth… my ancestors shed blood on both sides of that war that made Juneteenth possible…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:24 AM (PCK5/)

38 I seem to recall that every state west of the Mississippi except Texas and Hawaii were required as a condition of statehood to turn over all untitled land.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:24 AM (lTGtQ)

39 Early in Obozo administration, our money was handed out in "loans" to all kinds of greenie new deal companies. The only company to pay back loans was Tesla, all the others took the cash and went out of business. Solyndra was not even the worst example.

Posted by: Proterra School Bus Graveyard at June 19, 2025 11:24 AM (G5+As)

40 37 Juneteenth… my ancestors shed blood on both sides of that war that made Juneteenth possible…
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:24 AM (PCK5/)

In Texas?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:24 AM (bss/y)

41 21
‘All of America is at the beach celebrating the Teenth.’

I’m eating lunch at work celebrating not being part of a bogus holiday.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at June 19, 2025 11:25 AM (jbnUc)

42 Traffic was pretty light into work today. It's almost worth it to give the gummint seat moisteners a mall day.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 19, 2025 11:25 AM (73voq)

43 I’m eating lunch at work celebrating not being part of a bogus holiday.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at June 19, 2025 11:25 AM (jbnUc)

I am going to be going to work here later and getting paid double time.

Thanks, Juneteenth!

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:25 AM (bss/y)

44 Sorry, Aetius… I was referring to the overall Unpleasantness that made freed slaves possible in the first place.

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:26 AM (PCK5/)

45 I seem to recall that every state west of the Mississippi except Texas and Hawaii were required as a condition of statehood to turn over all untitled land.
Posted by: Thomas Paine

Which is bs because the feral government was never set up to own anything. That wasn't their job.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:26 AM (foepz)

46 "Lakers being sold in $10 billion NBA bombshell"

---

On Juneteenth.

Whichever one of you did it should be ashamed of yourself!

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:26 AM (tJD8X)

47 Well, at least Trump doesn't have to pander to blacks to get a 3rd term, so I don't see anymore made up holidays for the remainder of the term.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 19, 2025 11:26 AM (73voq)

48 Multi-billions shoveled to billionaire owners to build football stadiums that are used 8 days a year seems completely legit to me.

Posted by: Easily Led at June 19, 2025 11:27 AM (G5+As)

49 When I was a wee Duke growing up in Texas, we learned about Juneteenth. It was not presented as something to be proud of. Yay, we're last!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at June 19, 2025 11:27 AM (2UnvF)

50 34 I'm still trying to figure out why sports teams are legal monopolies, who then subcontract out food and drink to other legalized monopolies on their premises, but the taxpayer is required to pay for the stadiums where these monopolies are practiced.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (lTGtQ)

To be fair most of these bonds are voted on . The pro stadium arguments are always the same. It will bring in more revenue than the cost.

I always vote against them. I don’t like it either but I’d rather the money be used to entice legit manufacturing businesses to locate to the area. Let the billionaire owners fund the stadiums. They can reap the promised rewards.
Posted by: polynikes
--------
Most of the supposed revenue projections used to support bond issues for sportsball arenas are bullshit. Essentially money spent on sportsball is not spent on other forms of entertainment and recreation except the benefits are concentrated on franchise owners and costs apportioned to the general public. Sort of like the old stupid Keynesian argument of digging a ditch and filling it up again constitutes a benefit via the magic multiplier effect (which cannot be empirically shown).

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:27 AM (ctrM5)

51 That's what it looks like. Do we really think something like that can be successful in the USA?
Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (iFTx/)

I'd like the capability to do so as a nation just so we don't get our asses in a sling, but in terms of the day to day, I'm far happier buying the shit from China. There's the mess of it all you talk about. But also, we get a non-renewable strategic resource and they lose it, and they get Uncle Sam Fun Buxx for their trouble. That's never not going to be a great trade.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 11:27 AM (BcT2b)

52 I,of course, desperate for any method that can gain acceptance prefer a lottery distribution to the state's residents. Buy the votes for 160 acres.
However, if an understanding of the value of land ownership fails then those that will buy is acceptable.

Posted by: yoeman at June 19, 2025 11:27 AM (Td03B)

53 "the world shows its’ true colors about how it feels about us, daily"

Reminds me of Last of the Legions
tinyurl.com/LastLegions

It's probably naive but I try to see it from their perspective - if we were dependent upon Canada for our survival I might grow to resent it, as deflection for the shame of being so impotent.

Posted by: Fenrisulven at June 19, 2025 11:27 AM (ciYHQ)

54 44 Sorry, Aetius… I was referring to the overall Unpleasantness that made freed slaves possible in the first place.
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:26 AM (PCK5/)

I was just making a joke that we made an obscure, regional holiday into a vast empowerment bribe to black people. Seems very patronizing.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:28 AM (bss/y)

55 54 44 Sorry, Aetius… I was referring to the overall Unpleasantness that made freed slaves possible in the first place.
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:26 AM (PCK5/)

I was just making a joke that we made an obscure, regional holiday into a vast empowerment bribe to black people. Seems very patronizing.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:28 AM (bss/y)

You are absolutely right… DC can pander better than anyone…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:29 AM (PCK5/)

56 "... improve our lives and bolster our independence from malign players throughout the world ..." until Chelsea Clinton is anointed and she allows enemies of the U.S. to buy, then close said supplier.

Posted by: Marooned at June 19, 2025 11:29 AM (kt8QE)

57 The people said.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 19, 2025 11:30 AM (63Dwl)

58 Most of the supposed revenue projections used to support bond issues for sportsball arenas are bullshit. Essentially money spent on sportsball is not spent on other forms of entertainment and recreation except the benefits are concentrated on franchise owners and costs apportioned to the general public. Sort of like the old stupid Keynesian argument of digging a ditch and filling it up again constitutes a benefit via the magic multiplier effect (which cannot be empirically shown).
Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:27 AM (ctrM5

Agree 100% . Only time a city sees any benefit is when they host a Super Bowl. And it has its own drawbacks.

Posted by: polynikes at June 19, 2025 11:30 AM (VofaG)

59 I'm still trying to figure out why sports teams are legal monopolies, who then subcontract out food and drink to other legalized monopolies on their premises, but the taxpayer is required to pay for the stadiums where these monopolies are practiced.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:15 AM (lTGtQ)
_____

The simple answer is: because they can. Nobody can or will stop them. It's a perfect bukkake storm of corruption, economic extortion, and fierce loyalties to sports teams. Woe be the politician who lets a sports team slip away to a rival city. The fans will be livid, and they don't care that they are also taxpayers getting bent over and fisted in the ass.

Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:30 AM (iFTx/)

60 Saw a five dollar bill where someone wrote under Lincoln "I freed the WHAT?".

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at June 19, 2025 11:31 AM (/pv9Q)

61 Do we really think something like that can be successful in the USA?
Posted by: Elric Blade
--------
In a word yes. 'Rare' earth minerals are not that 'rare' but just problematic as in processing. But, depending on who you believe, it is also possible that many of these are readily accessible via already existing (and often toxic) mine tailings from coal or other existing mining operations.

Lithium mining is no picnic either as to generating environmental effects but seems to be promoted almost everywhere due to greenie religion. Ditto for EV cars, busses, etc.

NIMBY is not really sustainable as a basis for making policy going forward due to strategic and economic reasons.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:32 AM (ctrM5)

62 To be fair most of these bonds are voted on . The pro stadium arguments are always the same. It will bring in more revenue than the cost.

I always vote against them. I don’t like it either but I’d rather the money be used to entice legit manufacturing businesses to locate to the area. Let the billionaire owners fund the stadiums. They can reap the promised rewards.
------------
As just one example of how perverted the stadium funding game has become, the Oklahoma City Thunder are three-quarters of the way to winning an NBA title and play in a very nice arena...that has already been doomed to be scuttled and replaced. In the last year I've been to Thunder games and concerts at the current arena and its quite nice--there's no real reason to scrub this venue. BUT somebody somewhere is going to make a killing on the construction of the NEW building so here we go--all voted on and approved by the guillable.

Posted by: Crusader at June 19, 2025 11:32 AM (TN0g+)

63 45 I seem to recall that every state west of the Mississippi except Texas and Hawaii were required as a condition of statehood to turn over all untitled land.
Posted by: Thomas Paine

Which is bs because the feral government was never set up to own anything. That wasn't their job.
Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:26 AM (foepz)

Actually you've got it a bit backwards. When those areas were US Territories, 100% of the land (except that which was sold off to private interests, such as the railroads) was Federal Land, as in the Federal Government held title to it and could convey it to whomever it chose. They got most of it from the Mexican Govm't, at the end of the Mexican War. (this btw was the basis of the Homestead act, which conveyed land to many small farmers across the west)
When the western states such as Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, etc. were created, they only obtained title to whatever lands the Fed Government chose to give them at statehood, and in many cases, it wasn't much.
There is very little Federal Land in Texas because Texas was it's own nation first, so all otherwise untitled land was held in the name of the Republic of Texas.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (uWKK8)

64 I was just making a joke that we made an obscure, regional holiday into a vast empowerment bribe to black people. Seems very patronizing.

Posted by: Aetius451AD

The leftists took a fun Texas holiday and turned it into a racially charged national one.

And I am convinced that the tactics they used to do so were based on an intent to downplay July 4 and elevate this one.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (lTGtQ)

65 Saw a five dollar bill where someone wrote under Lincoln "I freed the WHAT?".
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats

Saw a rubber stamp that said "Trump Lives Here" for stamping the backs of $20 bills.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (foepz)

66 The simple answer is: because they can. Nobody can or will stop them. It's a perfect bukkake storm of corruption, economic extortion, and fierce loyalties to sports teams. Woe be the politician who lets a sports team slip away to a rival city. The fans will be livid, and they don't care that they are also taxpayers getting bent over and fisted in the ass.
Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:30 AM (iFTx/)

Louisville built the YUM! center in 2010 in order to lure a big league team.

Guess how that went.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (bss/y)

67 A mine in the US is bound to look far less horrible than a mine in the PRC does.

Hell, most of their food processing facilities would make a buzzard queasy.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 11:34 AM (BcT2b)

68 Personally, I'm not sure domestic rare-earths is a good idea. It's very messy, destructive, and expensive. Not to mention subject to the whims of political parties. It's a very easy target for econuts.

Everything you say is true, but what's also true is that a modern economy requires them, and not to have the capability to produce your own is handing potential enemies a knife with which to cut your throat. Sometimes, exceptions must be made.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 11:35 AM (s8j++)

69 67 A mine in the US is bound to look far less horrible than a mine in the PRC does.

Hell, most of their food processing facilities would make a buzzard queasy.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 11:34 AM (BcT2b)

Eat no food made in China… health tip of the day.

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:35 AM (PCK5/)

70

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM

Thanks, that makes more sense, as the states didn't have much in the way of government when they formed.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:35 AM (lTGtQ)

71 I’m thinking the American haters will target July 4th. Leftists and Muslims like to pick anniversary dates for their attacks.

Posted by: polynikes at June 19, 2025 11:36 AM (VofaG)

72 NIMBY is not really sustainable as a basis for making policy going forward due to strategic and economic reasons.
Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:32 AM (ctrM5)

I'm not sure how the math works out, but it seems to me going to war in a foreign land, spending bazillions of dollars funding it, killing off most of the male poopulation, and then maybe getting a deal so America's oligarchs can get rich mining the "rare earth" minerals of said land, isn't really a bargain economically either.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:37 AM (tJD8X)

73 Personally, I'm not sure domestic rare-earths is a good idea. It's very messy, destructive, and expensive. Not to mention subject to the whims of political parties. It's a very easy target for econuts.

Everything you say is true, but what's also true is that a modern economy requires them, and not to have the capability to produce your own is handing potential enemies a knife with which to cut your throat. Sometimes, exceptions must be made.

This is especially true when your primary enemy has already done dress rehearsals of a cutoff.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 11:39 AM (s8j++)

74 The problem is China subsidizes raw materials so that its uneconomical for the USA to make products...

Its a very thorny issue.

Posted by: Harun at June 19, 2025 11:39 AM (IuIym)

75 Agree 100% . Only time a city sees any benefit is when they host a Super Bowl. And it has its own drawbacks.
Posted by: polynikes
=======
Small is beautiful as to sports.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:39 AM (ctrM5)

76 59
‘It's a perfect bukkake storm of corruption, economic extortion, and fierce loyalties to sports teams’

Hint! Hint! Sportsball watchers. You’re propping this up.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at June 19, 2025 11:39 AM (jbnUc)

77 Eat no food made in China… health tip of the day.
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:35 AM (PCK5/)

What am I supposed to do with all these cans of LaChoy chop suey?

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:39 AM (ciDfw)

78 Eat no food made in China… health tip of the day.

But Chinese medicines...they're okay, right?

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 11:39 AM (s8j++)

79 Most of the supposed revenue projections used to support bond issues for sportsball arenas are bullshit.

Can we risk falling behind other cities? If we don't tax ourselves for a billion-dollar (!) empty box- I mean basketball arena- the Sixers might leave and not hold us hostage anymore.

Posted by: t-bird at June 19, 2025 11:40 AM (EnnqV)

80 China … Fentanyl… Chinese medicine??

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:41 AM (PCK5/)

81 And I am convinced that the tactics they used to do so were based on an intent to downplay July 4 and elevate this one.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (lTGtQ)

You are correct, sir. It's the same reason for kwanza around Christmas. It's to divide this country into smaller and smaller groups of people.

The left really really wants a race war. And I thank God the majority of people are finally waking up to this.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at June 19, 2025 11:41 AM (g8Ew8)

82 I'm not sure how the math works out, but it seems to me going to war in a foreign land, spending bazillions of dollars funding it, killing off most of the male poopulation, and then maybe getting a deal so America's oligarchs can get rich mining the "rare earth" minerals of said land, isn't really a bargain economically either.
Posted by: BurtTC
========
We have to be preparing for when the US is no longer the reserve currency. That means imposed autarky and the less we are able to produce domestically at that time means the worse off we will be when it happens.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:41 AM (ctrM5)

83 monorail ... Monorail ... MONORAIL

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:41 AM (jc0TO)

84 We have a strategic oil reserve for a reason. I don’t think a rare earth reserve we be a bad idea.

Posted by: polynikes at June 19, 2025 11:41 AM (VofaG)

85 But Chinese medicines...they're okay, right?
Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 11:39 AM (s8j++)

Wait you mean like knock off sildenafil? Or powdered platypus grundle extract?

You know what, either way.... No thanks.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 11:41 AM (BcT2b)

86 Is there a new podcast?

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:42 AM (0FEUr)

87 The HQ is ghost town adjacent today… I suspect many offices are closed for business…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:42 AM (PCK5/)

88 Great topic, CBD.

Democrats and republicans would steer taxpayer monies towards monopolies. Trump will deregulate as he did in his first term.

Businessmen vs failed lawyers going into politics on behalf of lobbyists.

Posted by: Danimal28 at June 19, 2025 11:42 AM (1E4GV)

89 Do we really think something like that can be successful in the USA?
Posted by: Elric Blade
--------
In a word yes. 'Rare' earth minerals are not that 'rare' but just problematic as in processing. But, depending on who you believe, it is also possible that many of these are readily accessible via already existing (and often toxic) mine tailings from coal or other existing mining operations.

Lithium mining is no picnic either as to generating environmental effects but seems to be promoted almost everywhere due to greenie religion. Ditto for EV cars, busses, etc.

NIMBY is not really sustainable as a basis for making policy going forward due to strategic and economic reasons.
Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:32 AM (ctrM5)
_____

"Depending on who you believe" is doing a lot of work there. If rare-earths could be mined successfully from existing mining operations, I think they already would be, at least in other countries. As far as I'm aware, they are not. Rare-earths is mostly if not exclusively purpose-built mining operations. So messy that even China mostly farms it out to countries like Burma.

Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:42 AM (iFTx/)

90 Louisville built the YUM! center in 2010 in order to lure a big league team.

Guess how that went.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (bss/y)

That's the people who make Kentucky Fried Buzzard, right?

Last I heard they skeedaddled out of Ken Tuck Eee, for Texas and/or Californica.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:42 AM (ciDfw)

91 "I might grow to resent it, as deflection for the shame of being so impotent."

I say that because I'm trying two help two friends get off fentanyl. It's a very stupid drug. But I've noticed an undercurrent of resentment that rises with how much I help them. It's not fun being dependent on someone else's good will, and I'm being uncool about. If anything I've been too lenient. They're living in the guest room now, which is an inconvenience but they would be on street instead and one is a girl.

I bet you some of you have had similar experiences and can tell me how its going to wrong

Posted by: Fenrisulven at June 19, 2025 11:43 AM (ciYHQ)

92 "Every time the government tries to pick winners and losers, the taxpayer loses."

Everybody loses, not just taxpayers. Markets know infinitely better than government commissars.

I wish "conservative" government would get its nose out of everybody's f'n business. Wasted a wish.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:43 AM (t9lPv)

93 The HQ is ghost town adjacent today… I suspect many offices are closed for business…
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:42 AM

Are you suggesting that the average Moron has been cheating his employer?

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:43 AM (jc0TO)

94 Holiday festivities

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:43 AM (0FEUr)

95 The fans will be livid, and they don't care that they are also taxpayers getting bent over and fisted in the ass.
Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:30 AM (iFTx/)

Oh my!

Posted by: Lindsey Graham, Closeted Homosexual at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM (R/m4+)

96 Mornin', All. Back from my annual checkup.

Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM (77rzZ)

97 The simple answer is: because they can. Nobody can or will stop them. It's a perfect bukkake storm of corruption, economic extortion, and fierce loyalties to sports teams. Woe be the politician who lets a sports team slip away to a rival city. The fans will be livid, and they don't care that they are also taxpayers getting bent over and fisted in the ass.
Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:30 AM (iFTx/)

Louisville built the YUM! center in 2010 in order to lure a big league team.

Guess how that went.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (bss/y)
_______

"Swimmingly!"

-- Contractors, politicians, vendors, and hordes of other grifters

Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM (iFTx/)

98 We have to be preparing for when the US is no longer the reserve currency. That means imposed autarky and the less we are able to produce domestically at that time means the worse off we will be when it happens.
Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:41 AM (ctrM5)

So you're saying we killed all those Ukrainians for nothing??

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM (ciDfw)

99 93 The HQ is ghost town adjacent today… I suspect many offices are closed for business…
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:42 AM

Are you suggesting that the average Moron has been cheating his employer?
Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:43 AM (jc0TO)

Nay… we are all choir boys and girls here… honest as the day is long…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (PCK5/)

100 Mornin', All. Back from my annual checkup.
Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM

Will you live?

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (jc0TO)

101 You should push the podcast.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (0FEUr)

102 DON'T CLICK ON THIS!!!

A guy in Britain was arrested for posting it.

https://is.gd/B0vexI

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (L/fGl)

103 Are you suggesting that the average Moron has been cheating his employer?
Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:43 AM (jc0TO)

It's in my contract to have fed holidays off.

So I'm sitting here watching my cats celebrate Juneteenth.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (ciDfw)

104 102 DON'T CLICK ON THIS!!!

A guy in Britain was arrested for posting it.

https://is.gd/B0vexI
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (L/fGl)

Ackbar??

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:46 AM (PCK5/)

105 "Depending on who you believe" is doing a lot of work there. If rare-earths could be mined successfully from existing mining operations, I think they already would be, at least in other countries. As far as I'm aware, they are not. Rare-earths is mostly if not exclusively purpose-built mining operations. So messy that even China mostly farms it out to countries like Burma.
Posted by: Elric Blade

Not really, alternatives exist such as mining tailings but due to Chinese purposefully underpricing their rare earth minerals, most of the domestic and other production abroad has been thwarted. There are are even substantial deposits (along with other minerals) in nodules under the sea requiring minimal processing and tailing usage is another source. But due to US regulatory and initial capital requirements, no one is going to produce them at a loss when the Chicoms purposefully undercut the market via massive subsidies. They do it for strategic stranglehold reasons which is the same reason they look longingly at Taiwan and its massive semiconductor industry. Chokeholds on the West is why.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:46 AM (ctrM5)

106 Will you live?
Posted by: toby928

Yep. Until climate change kills me, of course.

Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:46 AM (77rzZ)

107 "Mornin', All. Back from my annual checkup.
Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM

Will you live?"

Did he make you drop your drawers?

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:46 AM (t9lPv)

108 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (L/fGl)

I don’t get it?

Posted by: polynikes at June 19, 2025 11:47 AM (VofaG)

109 MP Materials Corp's stock is up about 80% over the last month
Posted by: 18-1 at June 19, 2025 11:14 AM (t0Rmr)

And I invested in Molycorp years ago, and it went to shit. Terrible timing and Administrations

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 19, 2025 11:47 AM (sRoQh)

110 I wish "conservative" government would get its nose out of everybody's f'n business. Wasted a wish.
Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:43 AM (t9lPv)

Now you're talkin' my language.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:47 AM (ciDfw)

111 To be fair most of these bonds are voted on .

And both sides are fleeced for "Support/Reject Proposition X!". Meanwhile, only one side has the means and motivation to pay the vote-counters.

Posted by: t-bird at June 19, 2025 11:47 AM (fL/bX)

112 So you're saying we killed all those Ukrainians for nothing??
Posted by: BurtTC
========
That is sort of a joint blame between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is killing Ukrainians for strategic space and the West was funding Ukrainians for the same reason. Neither side are particularly virtuous in that situation. Including many of the Ukrainians.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:48 AM (ctrM5)

113 Did he make you drop your drawers?
Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss

Yeah. But he admits that he doesn't like doing prostate exams any more than I like undergoing them.

Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:49 AM (77rzZ)

114 DON'T CLICK ON THIS!!!

A guy in Britain was arrested for posting it.

https://is.gd/B0vexI
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (L/fGl)

Triggered my epilepsy.

And now I want to invade the Sudetenland.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:49 AM (k+bsZ)

115 JD Vance gets suspended from X competitor Bluesky – just 12 minutes after first post

Posted by: SMOD at June 19, 2025 11:49 AM (RHGPo)

116 CJN Podcast Yesterday.

https://is.gd/CH8UYx

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:49 AM (0FEUr)

117 "he admits that he doesn't like doing prostate exams"

And this man calls himself a physician?!

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:50 AM (t9lPv)

118 Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate" rocked. In 1971. The aging process.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at June 19, 2025 11:50 AM (gm9Sb)

119 "Depending on who you believe" is doing a lot of work there.
Posted by: Elric Blade

Not really, alternatives exist such as mining tailings but due to Chinese purposefully underpricing their rare earth minerals, most of the domestic and other production abroad has been thwarted. There are are even substantial deposits (along with other minerals) in nodules under the sea requiring minimal processing and tailing usage is another source. But due to US regulatory and initial capital requirements, no one is going to produce them at a loss when the Chicoms purposefully undercut the market via massive subsidies. They do it for strategic stranglehold reasons which is the same reason they look longingly at Taiwan and its massive semiconductor industry. Chokeholds on the West is why.
Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:46 AM (ctrM5)
_____

Meh. I'd rather focus on our very successful -- and proven -- oil, coal, and gas industries. I don't see a significant rare-earths industry in the domestic united states. Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see.

Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:51 AM (iFTx/)

120 Hunh hunh, he said vibrant member.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:51 AM (0FEUr)

121 I have had the exams from both male and female docs… one was more embarassing than the other..

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:51 AM (PCK5/)

122 One time during a hernia check i turned my head and sneezed instead. Not on purpose, just a regular honest sneeze.

Doctor laughed and said "good enough".

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (BcT2b)

123 tubal

Show Me shout out.

Hawley & Schmitt are quite an upgrade. McCaskill is all OVER MSNBC now. They treat as if she were a much loved Dowager Empress.

Posted by: mnw at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (kd60y)

124 Hawaii is releasing millions of genetically-modified mosquitoes into the wild and what could possibly go wrong?

-
OMG! Zombie vampire mosquitoes!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (L/fGl)

125 Yeah. But he admits that he doesn't like doing prostate exams any more than I like undergoing them.
Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:49 AM (77rzZ)

That's exactly what Dick Blumenthal told me!

Posted by: Linday Graham at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (OqgaI)

126 I think I have recognized a change in the commentariat here. AoSHQ used to be BoomerCon Central, dark humored but ultimately Boomer Optimist (as my boy puts it). The ration of black-pilled ... pessimists (?), realists (?), I don't know exactly what to call them, is increasing, or at least getting more vocal. I guess this is inevitable as we boomers pass on out, but it is noticeable. Is it worth of discussion? I have no idea. It just might be me shaking my fist at the kids on my lawn.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (jc0TO)

127 JD Vance gets suspended from X competitor Bluesky – just 12 minutes after first post
Posted by: SMOD at June 19, 2025 11:49 AM

12 minutes? He needs to try harder.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (9g2io)

128 "I have had the exams from both male and female docs"

Simultaneously? That sucks.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (t9lPv)

129 Mornin', All. Back from my annual checkup.
Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM

Will you live?"

Did he make you drop your drawers?
Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:46 AM (t9lPv)

Did he fondle your genitals and stick his finger up your ass?

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at June 19, 2025 11:53 AM (g8Ew8)

130 121 I've been told that once you reach a certain age the digital exam isn't needed as long as the PSA blood work is good or even so so.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at June 19, 2025 11:53 AM (gm9Sb)

131 100 Mornin', All. Back from my annual checkup.
Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM

Me too. Plus CT skull scan. Found Nothing.

Posted by: Non Compos Mentis at June 19, 2025 11:53 AM (G5+As)

132 123 tubal

Show Me shout out.

Hawley & Schmitt are quite an upgrade. McCaskill is all OVER MSNBC now. They treat as if she were a much loved Dowager Empress.

Posted by: mnw at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (kd60y)

Hey mnw!!! Yeah we have a couple of keepers, and Kehoe seems okay up till now anyway.. hunker down, the heat is on here in Misery!!!

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:54 AM (PCK5/)

133 111 To be fair most of these bonds are voted on .

And both sides are fleeced for "Support/Reject Proposition X!". Meanwhile, only one side has the means and motivation to pay the vote-counters.
Posted by: t-bird
=======
Yep. Plus bond issues are generally held during low turnout municipal or primary elections. Even special elections. Turnout for these type of elections are usually less than 10 percent of registered voters. Not really representative elections and low turnout elections always favor organized interests versus those of the 'people'.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 11:54 AM (ctrM5)

134 I've been told that once you reach a certain age the digital exam isn't needed as long as the PSA blood work is good or even so so.
Posted by: bill in arkansas

My doc does both.

Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:54 AM (77rzZ)

135 Meh. I'd rather focus on our very successful -- and proven -- oil, coal, and gas industries. I don't see a significant rare-earths industry in the domestic united states. Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see.
Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:51 AM (iFTx/)

It's probably a great example of an inelastic good. Or elastic. Whichever, one of those, i get them confused which is which.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 11:54 AM (BcT2b)

136 Meh. I'd rather focus on our very successful -- and proven -- oil, coal, and gas industries. I don't see a significant rare-earths industry in the domestic united states. Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see.
Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 11:51 AM (iFTx/)

Or we could start building nukular power plants.

MANA!

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:54 AM (OqgaI)

137 128 "I have had the exams from both male and female docs"

Simultaneously? That sucks.
Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (t9lPv)

Lol.. a menage a trois… romance in the exam room…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:55 AM (PCK5/)

138 Always get a doctor with small hands, Carney hands.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:55 AM (jc0TO)

139 The HQ is ghost town adjacent today… I suspect many offices are closed for business…
Posted by: tubal

Are you suggesting that the average Moron has been cheating his employer?
Posted by: toby928

Suggesting? No.
Definitively stating as fact? Yes.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:55 AM (foepz)

140 "The best action by far would be to decrease the regulatory burden on potential competitors, so they can enter the market without having to spend years navigating the byzantine world of environmental and safety regulations, not to mention the watermelons who emerge from their swamps to contest every single mine and oil well and power plant and any other capital project that would improve our lives and bolster our independence from malign players throughout the world."
---

1. I agree.

2. That is one hell of a sentence!

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at June 19, 2025 11:55 AM (17s+e)

141 Galen didn't invent the prostate exam, BTW. It was taught to him by ancient aliens, masters of probing the fundament.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:55 AM (t9lPv)

142 Sorry to ramble. I've had a rough night over these accusations of stolen valor. Just want to talk about something else for a bit, and I know enough about rare earth minerals to know I don't know what I'm talking about LOL so I'm going to step out for a smoke.

It's this one, right? Says "warning, alarm will sound" ?

Posted by: Fenrisulven at June 19, 2025 11:56 AM (ciYHQ)

143 There are jobs where you can fuck off all day on blogs?

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:56 AM (0FEUr)

144 "I have had the exams from both male and female docs"
----------
Simultaneously? That sucks.
Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:52 AM (t9lPv)

I think I saw that movie.

The sucking didn't start until they invited the nurses into the room.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (OqgaI)

145 "Lol.. a menage a trois… romance in the exam room…"

Clamp down hard and the sawbones will be trapped as if in chinese handcuffs, and then at my mercy.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (t9lPv)

146 141 Galen didn't invent the prostate exam, BTW. It was taught to him by ancient aliens, masters of probing the fundament.
Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:55 AM (t9lPv)

You have given new meaning to the word “ fundamental”..

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (PCK5/)

147 I think we should all celebrate Juneteenth by sharing old news, in case someone hasn't heard it yet.

I'll start: The Winter Soldier is Cap's old buddy Bucky Barnes

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (e7kz6)

148 There are jobs where you can fuck off all day on blogs?
Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:56 AM

That was mine at the end.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (jc0TO)

149 Louisville built the YUM! center in 2010 in order to lure a big league team.

Guess how that went.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 19, 2025 11:33 AM (bss/y)

The Oregon legislators just voted to pony up $800 million to try and lure a MLB team to downtown Portland, at the same time a number of large local businesses are moving headquarters and even whole business out of Oregon due to democrat policies. Genius.

Posted by: Beartooth at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (dLmtu)

150 It's simple, if critical items and components are not manufactured within your country, then you are ultimately a hostage to the country making your sh*t.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (XV/Pl)

151 Mornin', All. Back from my annual checkup.
Posted by: Bulg at June 19, 2025 11:44 AM

Will you live?"

Did he make you drop your drawers?
Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:46 AM (t9lPv)

Did he fondle your genitals and stick his finger up your ass?

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at June 19, 2025 11:53 AM (g8Ew

It was an financial health checkup. Geez.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 19, 2025 11:58 AM (SELXV)

152 "I have had the exams from both male and female docs"

Unless your female doctor's name is Beulah Balbricker, her fingers should be more slender than a male doctor's fingers.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 11:58 AM (foepz)

153 The sucking didn't start until they invited the nurses into the room.

Could be worse. They could've brought in lawn chairs and travel mugs to watch the proceedings.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 11:58 AM (s8j++)

154 I think we should all celebrate Juneteenth by sharing old news, in case someone hasn't heard it yet.

I'll start: The Winter Soldier is Cap's old buddy Bucky Barnes
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (e7kz6)
-----------
Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 19, 2025 11:58 AM (6YdsJ)

155 At the end of a salaryman career, one is often paid not for what they do, but for what they CAN do that other's cannot.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:59 AM (jc0TO)

156 Study says conservatives are happier than liberals in EVERY category across the board. Check out these wild stats.

https://is.gd/WaHLhG

-
It's quite simple. Low taxes = happiness.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 11:59 AM (L/fGl)

157 143 There are jobs where you can fuck off all day on blogs?
Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:56 AM (0FEUr)

Oh HELL yeas, but they require college degrees, mostly…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:59 AM (PCK5/)

158 I had the Weebles Camper.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 11:59 AM (0FEUr)

159 I think we should all celebrate Juneteenth by sharing old news, in case someone hasn't heard it yet.

I'll start: The Winter Soldier is Cap's old buddy Bucky Barnes
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (e7kz6)
-----------
Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down.

The end of the Crying Game is...disturbing.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 11:59 AM (s8j++)

160 My doctor tried to use an 'anoscope' on me once. The thing is like three inches in diameter. He gave up after I clawed a dozen tiles off the wall.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 11:59 AM (t9lPv)

161 It's simple, if critical items and components are not manufactured within your country, then you are ultimately a hostage to the country making your sh*t.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (XV/Pl)

That sounds xenophobic, mister. Why do you hate Chinese people? Why shouldn't we depend on a demonstrably hostile country for critical materials? -- average View audience member

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:00 PM (ExV1e)

162 Assume the position.

Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 12:00 PM (jc0TO)

163 I have had the exams from both male and female docs… one was more embarassing than the other..

Posted by: tubal

There is nothing that requires more focus and concentration than getting an extensive testicular exam from a young and attractive female doctor.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:00 PM (lTGtQ)

164 Hochul in NY is making a pretty penny on the new Bills Stadium. She was Erie Co clerk and her husband is working for one of the developers. The billionaire owner threatened to move the team so it was a fleece - fleece for the owner and the pols

Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 19, 2025 12:00 PM (U/Wlk)

165 163 I have had the exams from both male and female docs… one was more embarassing than the other..

Posted by: tubal

There is nothing that requires more focus and concentration than getting an extensive testicular exam from a young and attractive female doctor.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:00 PM (lTGtQ)

Oh Lord… I would be in trouble…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 12:01 PM (PCK5/)

166 150 It's simple, if critical items and components are not manufactured within your country, then you are ultimately a hostage to the country making your sh*t.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (XV/Pl)

Not exactly.

If we *can* spin up production of a critical thing if necessary, we just don't because there's no profit in it, then forcing the industry to exist anyway would be a wasteful misallocation of energy and a huge invitation for yet for grift, graft, and general thievery.

Give the enemy some funny money and take theirs, instead. Then we'll have it and they won't.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 12:01 PM (BcT2b)

167 I think we should all celebrate Juneteenth by sharing old news, in case someone hasn't heard it yet.

I'll start: The Winter Soldier is Cap's old buddy Bucky Barnes
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (e7kz6)

Moses dropped a tablet. I saw a documentary about it.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:01 PM (ExV1e)

168 At the end of a salaryman career, one is often paid not for what they do, but for what they CAN do that other's cannot.
Posted by: toby928

At the end of a salaryman career, one is often paid like a hooker.

"You been heah 30 years. You go now!"

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 12:01 PM (foepz)

169 Meh. I'd rather focus on our very successful -- and proven -- oil, coal, and gas industries. I don't see a significant rare-earths industry in the domestic united states. Maybe I'm wrong. We'll see.
Posted by: Elric Blade
=======
Such information is in specialized trade magazines rather than the decrepit general press (including the business press).

Occasionally one or the other tech news sites might mention it but simply put, most mining markets and costs are simply not readily available to the general public including knowledge of current mining technology.

Economics dictates that basically a lot of things become possible if the price obtained for the product versus cost of production yields a profit. China has tried to ensure that no other competitors can make a profit on rare earth minerals as to a) ensure a strategic stranglehold on these minerals (something similar in both solar and EV production as well) and b) be able to claim a competitive advantage for their manufacturers using these materials at cut rate pricing.

Globalism promoted this idea by arguing lowest cost producer in the short run is best over long run considerations including nat sec and economy.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 12:02 PM (ctrM5)

170 My doctor tried to use an 'anoscope' on me once. The thing is like three inches in diameter. He gave up after I clawed a dozen tiles off the wall.

I had a bit of blood in my urine after a recent surgery, so they decided to put a scope up there to look for things that shouldn't be there. One would assume one would be completely numbitized, but one would be wrong. I asked the doc how they did it before fiber optics, and he said they used a solid glass rod, and held a candle to one end. I said that sounds very unpleasant. He agreed.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:02 PM (s8j++)

171 Happy Juneteenth! Donald Trump won reelection to the presidency

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:02 PM (e7kz6)

172 Could be worse. They could've brought in lawn chairs and travel mugs to watch the proceedings.
Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 11:58 AM (s8j++)

I think I saw that movie too.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 12:02 PM (OqgaI)

173 Moses dropped a tablet. I saw a documentary about it.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

I have 15 *crash* 10. 10 Commandments!

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 12:02 PM (foepz)

174 Moses dropped a tablet. I saw a documentary about it.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:01 PM (ExV1e)
------------
"I bring you these fifteen..."

*crash*

"Ten! Ten commandments!"

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 19, 2025 12:02 PM (6YdsJ)

175 Oh Lord… I would be in trouble…

Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 12:01 PM (PCK5/)

Let it fly, lest she think your the ghey.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 19, 2025 12:03 PM (SELXV)

176 I think we should all celebrate Juneteenth by sharing old news, in case someone hasn't heard it yet.

I'll start: The Winter Soldier is Cap's old buddy Bucky Barnes
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (e7kz6)

Moses dropped a tablet. I saw a documentary about it.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:01 PM (ExV1e)
________

It won't make you go blind

Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 12:03 PM (iFTx/)

177 The countries that lost WW2 are still big steel producers.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:03 PM (0FEUr)

178 Charlie the poodle had a prostate exam a few days ago. He didn't like it.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 12:03 PM (L/fGl)

179 MP Materials Corp is backed by significant Chinese ownership. All production from the Mountain Pass mine is shipped to China for processing. Then the finished products--those rare earth metals we hear so much about--are sold back to the USA and others.

Posted by: rocdoctom at June 19, 2025 12:03 PM (Tkd53)

180 Not the digital prostate exam but similar. At the AFEES getting our pre boot camp physical, we were subjected to the old "OK, bend over and spread 'em". Poor bastard medical corpsman was going down the line and we heard him say "Jesus, man, don't you ever bathe?".

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at June 19, 2025 12:03 PM (gm9Sb)

181 Darth Vader is Luke's father.

Posted by: Spoiler at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (jc0TO)

182 Happy Juneteenth! Darth Vader is Luke's father

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (e7kz6)

183 It's simple, if critical items and components are not manufactured within your country, then you are ultimately a hostage to the country making your sh*t.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 19, 2025 11:57 AM (XV/Pl)

Not exactly.

If we *can* spin up production of a critical thing if necessary, we just don't because there's no profit in it, then forcing the industry to exist anyway would be a wasteful misallocation of energy and a huge invitation for yet for grift, graft, and general thievery.

Give the enemy some funny money and take theirs, instead. Then we'll have it and they won't.

That's a good theory, but totally impractical in the real world. One does not just "start up" RE production. It takes years; years you don't have when you're in a war.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (s8j++)

184 I think we should all celebrate Juneteenth by sharing old news, in case someone hasn't heard it yet.

-
Lee surrendered!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (L/fGl)

185 Bruce Willis has been a ghost the whole time.

Posted by: Spoiler at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (jc0TO)

186 There is nothing that requires more focus and concentration than getting an extensive testicular exam from a young and attractive female doctor.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:00 PM (lTGtQ)

Oh Lord… I would be in trouble…

Posted by: tubal

She told me I was in great shape. I assume she meant that in reference to the whole body.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (lTGtQ)

187 prostate digital exams:

After what happened with Biden, I intend to request one every time I get a physical. I'm about Biden's age, & my doctor has been relying on a PSA test alone.

Biden's doctor must've been a born-again quack. Letting that sneak up on him? Incredible.

Usually you only see undetected, metastasizing prostate cancer in patients who haven't had a physical in over 10 years.

Posted by: mnw at June 19, 2025 12:05 PM (kd60y)

188 173 Moses dropped a tablet. I saw a documentary about it.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

I have 15 *crash* 10. 10 Commandments!
Posted by: rickb223

174 Moses dropped a tablet. I saw a documentary about it.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

------------

"I bring you these fifteen..."

*crash*

"Ten! Ten commandments!"
Posted by: Captain Obvious

That was a popular documentary.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 12:05 PM (foepz)

189 Marihoochie is bad for you. Happy Juneteenth.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:05 PM (0FEUr)

190 163 I have had the exams from both male and female docs… one was more embarassing than the other..

Posted by: tubal

There is nothing that requires more focus and concentration than getting an extensive testicular exam from a young and attractive female doctor.
Posted by: Thomas Paine
=======
Not really. Had a pretty nurse have to teach me how to self catherize myself. Painful exams do nothing to promote a gallant response.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 12:06 PM (ctrM5)

191 What do you mean that the taxpayers always lose in these government financed deals? We lose too. All the time. You can bet on it.

Posted by: The Sacramento Kings at June 19, 2025 12:06 PM (ztrXb)

192 The countries that lost WW2 are still big steel producers.

Posted by: Boss Moss

We helped them rebuild with the latest techonology, while ours were too busy selling steel to the world to upgrade.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:06 PM (lTGtQ)

193 There is nothing that requires more focus and concentration than getting an extensive testicular exam from a young and attractive female doctor.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:00 PM (lTGtQ)

True story, I had to get an ultrasound of my jewels. The tech who did it was VERY good looking.

No matter what else I was thinking that day, I was not even remotely concerned about getting stiff.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 12:07 PM (OqgaI)

194 I made war on coal.

Posted by: Obama at June 19, 2025 12:07 PM (ztrXb)

195 The Titanic sinks at the end.

Posted by: Spoiler at June 19, 2025 12:07 PM (jc0TO)

196
Willowed:

So is Juneteenth a day for celebrating an end to chattel slavery in the U.S. a hundred and sixty some years ago(something we all should celebrate) or is it a day of grievance for just a particular subset of the population?

Beause that would seem to be divisive.
Posted by: muldoon at June 19, 2025 11:00 AM (poXs5)

___________

In the Church of Woke, which demands submission more extreme than the myths of the Inquisition, there is no forgiveness. No penance is sufficiently severe. Your sins, no matter how distant, can always be dragged out time and again to flay you.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 19, 2025 12:07 PM (BYfAP)

197 I made war on coal.

Posted by: Obama

You certainly made boom boom in the White House, I'll give you that.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:08 PM (s8j++)

198 Old news? sqrt(2) is irrational.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:08 PM (t9lPv)

199 Burning coal produces electricity. We need that.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:08 PM (0FEUr)

200 Old news? Gilgamesh and Enkidu were besties.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:08 PM (t9lPv)

201 Orangeman Bad!

Posted by: NPC_11001101 at June 19, 2025 12:09 PM (PQclV)

202 The Titanic sinks at the end.

Posted by: Spoiler

Unless you are an illiterate just arrived from Burkina Faso, that isn't really a spoiler.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:09 PM (lTGtQ)

203 When I worked at an endoscope design firm we called that the "Rear Endoscope." IIRC it could articulate.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable a Clear and Present Danger at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (17s+e)

204 Happy Mayhems birthday federal holiday!

Hubbymayhem is making a red velvet cake from scratch for my birthday. Mamamayhem used to make it for me and I haven't had one since she passed in 2009. So the wonderful Hubbymayhem is using her recipe to make the greatest birthday cake of all.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (2J/Lj)

205 I like movies where DiCrapio dies.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (0FEUr)

206 It was Earth all along.

Posted by: Spoiler at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (jc0TO)

207 That's a good theory, but totally impractical in the real world. One does not just "start up" RE production. It takes years; years you don't have when you're in a war.
Posted by: Archimedes

Absolutely correct.
Modern economics emphasizes the search of the lowest cost inputs. That same idiocy is also applied to labor and other inputs in the name of sacred short term profits. Not sustainable in the long run.

Trader and financialist mentality.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (ctrM5)

208 Old news? FIRE HOT! FIRE BURN!!

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (t9lPv)

209 That's a good theory, but totally impractical in the real world. One does not just "start up" RE production. It takes years; years you don't have when you're in a war.
Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (s8j++)

Good argument for a strategic reserve. Wouldn't even need much space for it.

Although, really, it ain't like any war effort will get stymied in its infancy because no one can get their hands on a chunk of cobalt in week seven. The raw mats are wayyyyyy down the chain. We need the stuff that's made from the stuff that's made from the raw materials. So have a stockpile of that stuff, instead. Which we ought to, anyway.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (BcT2b)

210 When I worked at an endoscope design firm we called that the "Rear Endoscope." IIRC it could articulate.

You mean like this?

The Endoscope: Why God? Why did you make me for this?

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (s8j++)

211

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:11 PM (s8j++)

212 Hubbymayhem is making a red velvet cake from scratch for my birthday. Mamamayhem used to make it for me and I haven't had one since she passed in 2009. So the wonderful Hubbymayhem is using her recipe to make the greatest birthday cake of all.
Posted by: Madamemayhem

Happy birthday!

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 12:12 PM (foepz)

213 Good argument for a strategic reserve. Wouldn't even need much space for it.

I suspect that China would cut them off completely as soon as they heard of a strategic reserve.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:12 PM (s8j++)

214 "I worked at an endoscope design firm"

It must have been difficult to pick one from so many to choose.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:12 PM (t9lPv)

215 205 I like movies where DiCrapio dies.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (0FEUr)

Same for Matt Damon. That made Interstellar.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 19, 2025 12:12 PM (SELXV)

216 "The best action by far would be to decrease the regulatory burden on potential competitors, so they can enter the market without having to spend years navigating the byzantine world of environmental and safety regulations, not to mention the watermelons who emerge from their swamps to contest every single mine and oil well and power plant and any other capital project that would improve our lives and bolster our independence from malign players throughout the world."

As a person who was involved for a number of years in the mineral exploration game, this is exactly right. As a principle of law, mineral explorers should be deemed to be acting in good faith vis-a-vis environmental laws unless proven otherwise. Permits should be on a "shall issue" basis, especially for grass-roots level exploration up to and including diamond drilling and the necessary access roads to enable the drills to be brought in. You ask for a permit, you get it. Full stop.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 19, 2025 12:12 PM (TbkBj)

217 When I worked at an endoscope design firm we called that the "Rear Endoscope." IIRC it could articulate.

You mean like this?

The Endoscope: Why God? Why did you make me for this?
Posted by: Archimedes

"No! Please don't send me up there again!"

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 12:13 PM (foepz)

218 Best course of government action on MP materials would be to get the fuck out of their way.

Posted by: Reforger at June 19, 2025 12:13 PM (LgDgc)

219 If the left seriously believed that coal and oil were harming the earth, they would be demanding nuclear power plants be built as fast as possible.

The only way this country and planet can produce enough reliable energy in the very long term is nuclear. The backup and ramp power is from natural gas, and to the dustbin of history go windmills and solar panels.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:13 PM (lTGtQ)

220 Maybe it’s stupid of me but I refuse to get a colonoscopy. I don’t want anything shoved up there…. At my last annual physical my very smart doc told me that studies now show that the digital rectal exam is essentially worthless. He did a non-invasive ultrasound to see that I don’t have any masses on my prostate. Plus a PSA blood test. I’m not gonna change my mind

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (ZtAny)

221 After what happened with Biden, I intend to request one every time I get a physical. I'm about Biden's age, & my doctor has been relying on a PSA test alone.

Biden's doctor must've been a born-again quack. Letting that sneak up on him? Incredible.

Usually you only see undetected, metastasizing prostate cancer in patients who haven't had a physical in over 10 years.
Posted by: mnw
====
Better response is that they lied. Joe probably had prostate cancer way back before 2016 but as it is slow growing, they simply ignored it. Ditto for dementia. Std. medical practice no longer emphasizes digital exams as modern techniques have superceded the use of such.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (ctrM5)

222 217 Gerbils with tiny cameras and hard hats.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (gm9Sb)

223 BREAKING!

Despite Americans’ Weariness of Endless War, Lindsey Graham Wants to Send Troops to Iran

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (L/fGl)

224 Happy Juneteenth! The Giants won the pennant in 1951

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (e7kz6)

225 Was the Endoscope designed by Italics?

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (0FEUr)

226 Hubbymayhem is making a red velvet cake from scratch for my birthday. Mamamayhem used to make it for me and I haven't had one since she passed in 2009. So the wonderful Hubbymayhem is using her recipe to make the greatest birthday cake of all.
Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (2J/Lj)

=====

Hey, I had red velvet cake for my birthday too! Store bought, though. Happy birthday!

Posted by: Jordan61 at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (q8Jo4)

227
Luckily, the two times I got a colonoscopy, the sedative knocked me completely out.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 19, 2025 12:15 PM (BYfAP)

228 220 Maybe it’s stupid of me but I refuse to get a colonoscopy. I don’t want anything shoved up there…. At my last annual physical my very smart doc told me that studies now show that the digital rectal exam is essentially worthless. He did a non-invasive ultrasound to see that I don’t have any masses on my prostate. Plus a PSA blood test. I’m not gonna change my mind

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at June 19, 2025 12:14 PM (ZtAny)

It is stupid. Colon cancer is a hell of a death, and far more indignant than the prep and actual colonoscopy. But if you aren't going to change your mind, it is absolutely your choice. Godspeed.

Posted by: moki at June 19, 2025 12:15 PM (wLjpr)

229 Gerbils with tiny cameras and hard hats.
Posted by: bill in arkansas

The pick axes ⛏️ hurt.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 19, 2025 12:15 PM (foepz)

230 Maybe it’s stupid of me but I refuse to get a colonoscopy. I don’t want anything shoved up there…. At my last annual physical my very smart doc told me that studies now show that the digital rectal exam is essentially worthless. He did a non-invasive ultrasound to see that I don’t have any masses on my prostate. Plus a PSA blood test. I’m not gonna change my mind

My GP says the same thing about digital exams, but that's not what a colonoscopy is about. They're looking for precancerous polyps in the colon and intestine.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 19, 2025 12:15 PM (s8j++)

231 Grok sez "The global rare earth elements market was valued at $3.95 billion in 2024, with projections to reach $4.15 billion in 2025."

That's spit compared to our GDP. We can easily afford to pay more for RE domestic production and refining.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:16 PM (t9lPv)

232 While I am adamantly against gov't funding of private projects - yay! you socialized the risk but privatized the profit! - I worry that a totally free and open opportunity to buy and develop the rare-earth deposits would result in someone like BlackRock buying the whole chunk and then leaving it in the ground. Because, Gaia.

Posted by: bittergeek at June 19, 2025 12:16 PM (NFXcl)

233 She told me I was in great shape. I assume she meant that in reference to the whole body.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (lTGtQ)

I had a doctor tell me that once... of course they also said that they were a fan of modern art.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:16 PM (ExV1e)

234
Munkey

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 19, 2025 12:17 PM (y9nCu)

235 Happy Juneteenth! Thunderbolts failed to earn any money for its studio.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:17 PM (e7kz6)

236 Every time the government tries to pick winners and losers, the taxpayer loses.

You have to admit, we have an amazing track record!

Posted by: Government at June 19, 2025 12:17 PM (4/l8P)

237 Pickaxe Emoji? ⛏️

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (0FEUr)

238 Moses dropped a tablet. I saw a documentary about it.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

I have 15 *crash* 10. 10 Commandments!
---------

You'd have thought someone would have noticed that the first tablet said "I of III" and the second tablet said "II of III" but there wasn't a "III of III".

Posted by: Crusader at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (TN0g+)

239 Seizing Russian reserve currency for settling international trade and removing them from SWIFT certainly has its fallout.

China fully understands that as soon as the United States decides to turn their eye on Beijing, the central bankers will seize their assets as well.

Wanna break the international trade system? Act like a pirate and your sure to get the results you seek.

Posted by: Odd Couple at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (+H+LQ)

240 The Titanic sinks at the end.
Posted by: Spoiler at June 19, 2025 12:07 PM (jc0TO)

The door was big enough for two.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (ExV1e)

241 We need the stuff that's made from the stuff that's made from the raw materials. So have a stockpile of that stuff, instead. Which we ought to, anyway.
Posted by: Warai-otoko
====
Not really practical in the case of rare earth minerals. For example, rare earths are used often in motor production due to increasing the power of magnets. A strategic reserve of magnets might be sub optimal as the demand for any particular motor and the precise application of rare earths to increase their potency might change depending on the economy.

Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (ctrM5)

242
"Hey, guys! Take a look at this."

"Holy smokes, how did he get that up therd?"

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (QnmlO)

243 Heh post 223 is about Miss Lindsey. Post 222 talks about gerbils w/hardhats. Interesting combo

Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (U/Wlk)

244 > Every time the government tries to pick winners and losers, the taxpayer loses.
--------
They win.

We lose.

Every time.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 19, 2025 12:19 PM (Q4IgG)

245 She told me I was in great shape. I assume she meant that in reference to the whole body.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at June 19, 2025 12:04 PM (lTGtQ)

I had a doctor tell me that once... of course they also said that they were a fan of modern art.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:16 PM (ExV1e)

Sam Malone, in an episode of Cheers, lied about where he’d been. He lied that he’d been to his annual physical. When they asked him what the doc said he replied: “Oh the same thing he says every year… Wow!”

I always thought that was funny

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at June 19, 2025 12:19 PM (OW907)

246 Gerbils with tiny cameras and hard hats.
Posted by: bill in arkansas

Is Lemminks looking for work?

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 19, 2025 12:19 PM (SELXV)

247 27 Logically, the land should be given to the states to dispose of as they wish.

Were they every owned by the state and given up, or were they always retained from territorial status and not a part of the state?
Posted by: toby928 at June 19, 2025 11:22 AM (jc0TO)

The better question is why do states formed before the civil war retain most of their land or have it in private hands vs. states formed after the civil war where, typically, the federal government has title to so much land in each state? A tentative answer is the feds got greedy, but the problem is federally controlled land is undevelopable. Federal ownership of so much land in western states is holding back the country’s economic development!

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at June 19, 2025 12:19 PM (qgNn3)

248 227 Don't ever get the alternative to the colonoscopy that's used if you are on blood thinners. Involves being fully awake and air pressure injected along with the white stuff. And then, if they find something they could have nipped in the bud, they have to go in again. And when I was subjected to this torture, the tech positioned two mop buckets between the table and rest room, just in case.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at June 19, 2025 12:19 PM (gm9Sb)

249 Happy Juneteenth! Thunderbolts failed to earn any money for its studio.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:17 PM (e7kz6)
________

I still have no idea what or who a "Thunderbolt" is

Posted by: Elric Blade at June 19, 2025 12:19 PM (iFTx/)

250 "You'd have thought someone would have noticed that the first tablet said "I of III" and the second tablet said "II of III" but there wasn't a "III of III"."

'This tablet intentionally blank.'

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:19 PM (t9lPv)

251 Posted by: moki at June 19, 2025 12:15 PM (wLjpr)

Inspector's mom died of colon cancer, after surviving breast cancer, when he was 16. He was the one who did a lot of the work of taking care of her as she was dying. Let's just say that my forgoing screenings isn't up for discussion.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at June 19, 2025 12:20 PM (lFFaq)

252 Algernon.

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:20 PM (0FEUr)

253 Grok sez "The global rare earth elements market was valued at $3.95 billion in 2024, with projections to reach $4.15 billion in 2025."

Nation's futures must really depend on the stuff.

Posted by: t-bird at June 19, 2025 12:20 PM (g8z90)

254 Happy Juneteenth! Bashar Assad was deposed from ruling Syria!

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:22 PM (e7kz6)

255 A guy in Britain was arrested for posting it.

https://is.gd/B0vexI
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 11:45 AM (L/fGl)

Heh! Brilliant, and oh so true.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 19, 2025 12:22 PM (TbkBj)

256 I am not an isolationist… but, we have to become as self reliant as possible in manufacturing and production of the raw materials used for manufacturing… the world shows its’ true colors about how it feels about us, daily.
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:16 AM (PCK5/)
----

This. I've never understood why we have bought materials and equipment from potential enemies.

Posted by: Darth Randall at June 19, 2025 12:23 PM (idqcf)

257
Inspector's mom died of colon cancer, after surviving breast cancer, when he was 16. He was the one who did a lot of the work of taking care of her as she was dying. Let's just say that my forgoing screenings isn't up for discussion.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at June 19, 2025 12:20 PM (lFFaq)

God bless him and you, Polli! My uncle died from it, my sister in law had it but survived. It's been a heckuva survival, that is all I can say about it. We don't miss colonoscopies either.

Posted by: moki at June 19, 2025 12:23 PM (wLjpr)

258 Happy Juneteenth! Bashar Assad was deposed from ruling Syria!
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:22 PM (e7kz6)
---------
The British are coming! The British are coming!

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 19, 2025 12:23 PM (6YdsJ)

259 "Rare earths? Duck Dodgers to the rescue!!!! Come eager young space cadet."

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 19, 2025 12:23 PM (4dV5R)

260 A strategic reserve of magnets might be sub optimal as the demand for any particular motor and the precise application of rare earths to increase their potency might change depending on the economy.
Posted by: whig at June 19, 2025 12:18 PM (ctrM5)

It's mostly cases just like that which would be a concern, where it's tiny amounts of dopants that are needed. We wouldn't need freight cars worth of the stuff. I'm basing this on a WAG but we probably already have all the reagents we'd need to see us through the next two world wars just lying around university stockrooms right now as we speak.

My argument isn't against the necessity of the material itself, it's against an unnecessary state run industry propped up to supply it (and the inevitable boondoggle it would become)

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 19, 2025 12:23 PM (BcT2b)

261 Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at June 19, 2025 12:10 PM (2J/Lj)

Happy Birthday !

Posted by: It's me donna at June 19, 2025 12:23 PM (VE6XX)

262 At my last annual physical my very smart doc told me that studies now show that the digital rectal exam is essentially worthless. He did a non-invasive ultrasound to see that I don’t have any masses on my prostate. Plus a PSA blood test.

My PSA is super-duper high. Went to see a urologist. Finger in the ass... nothing. MRI... nothing. Urologist wants to do a biopsy. I say, of what? Urologist says "we'll just do a random sample". I decline. Urologist wouldn't see me again the next year.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 19, 2025 12:24 PM (ExV1e)

263 I would also like to advocate for a review of every settled lawsuit against the EPA. Sue and settle is a huge anchor around the neck of themining industry. MSHA is somehow "self supporting" which means they extract enough money out of legitimate mining buisness' to fund their phony ballogna jobs.. and retirements and overhead and vehicles and...

Posted by: Reforger at June 19, 2025 12:25 PM (LgDgc)

264 "We wouldn't need freight cars worth of the stuff."

RE global consumption annually 8800T according to Grok. That's not a lot.

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:25 PM (t9lPv)

265 The lawsuits from the watermelons should be fast tracked. They get submitted, goes before a judge in less than 12 hours and is thrown out in 2 minutes.

Posted by: NR Pax at June 19, 2025 12:26 PM (7xrfc)

266 257
‘My uncle died from it, my sister in law had it but survived. It's been a heckuva survival, that is all I can say about it. We don't miss colonoscopies either.’

My dad died from it. I have one every 5-7 years.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at June 19, 2025 12:26 PM (jbnUc)

267 Why do the other tests if you're going to do the biopsy anyway?

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 19, 2025 12:26 PM (0FEUr)

268 At my last annual physical my very smart doc told me that studies now show that the digital rectal exam is essentially worthless.

Yeah they finally have figured out that they can do tests and get better results without ramming a finger up the dirt chute. I think doctors just liked doing it, is why it kept being used way past its reasonable application.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 19, 2025 12:26 PM (e7kz6)

269 v kj674-=777

----

That's what my newest cat just typed. I'm not sure what it means, but he's smarter than me, so I figured I'd leave it up there.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 12:27 PM (zsFYN)

270 nood

Posted by: Knock gp A Kiss at June 19, 2025 12:27 PM (t9lPv)

271 Noodcoop.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 19, 2025 12:27 PM (6YdsJ)

272 I have been listening to the outraged cries on X about selling public lands. I point out how much of the Westen states are run by the Feds (I think Nevada is 80%). And that a lot of this land is grazing. Still, they think evil people will put it to use and build houses for the rich. I have suggested they start locking up land on the East Coast but they seem opposed to that. They always think the government does a good job of managing the land.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at June 19, 2025 12:28 PM (AcTAo)

273 This. I've never understood why we have bought materials and equipment from potential enemies.
Posted by: Darth Randall at June 19, 2025 12:23 PM (idqcf)

Begs the question though, doesn't it? If your government floods the marketplace with goods from Chi Nah, and borrows gazillions of dollars from them as well... who is really their enemy?

The CCP or the American taxpayer?

Posted by: BurtTC at June 19, 2025 12:30 PM (zsFYN)

274 Juneteenth… my ancestors shed blood on both sides of that war that made Juneteenth possible…
Posted by: tubal at June 19, 2025 11:24 AM (PCK5/)

My ancestors were still over in Eastern Europe, grandparents not born yet. Working the land. Would be another 35 years before they finally struggled to come here. The men worked in clay mining, brick factories, copper refineries, the women worked in the cigar factories and clothing sweatshops. I don't think they ever saw a black person before they arrived here.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at June 19, 2025 12:32 PM (5xuJ/)

275 Inspector's mom died of colon cancer, after surviving breast cancer, when he was 16. He was the one who did a lot of the work of taking care of her as she was dying. Let's just say that my forgoing screenings isn't up for discussion.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at June 19, 2025 12:20 PM (lFFaq)

God bless him and you, Polli! My uncle died from it, my sister in law had it but survived. It's been a heckuva survival, that is all I can say about it. We don't miss colonoscopies either.

Posted by: moki

I can imagine. (Though being in the hot seat myself puts a twist on things from my perspective.)

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at June 19, 2025 12:33 PM (OUMaO)

276 The Titanic sinks at the end.
Posted by: Spoiler

Enough with the colonoscopy stories!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, And You're Not at June 19, 2025 12:35 PM (L/fGl)

277 We should have stockpiled rare earths years ago.

We should have completed our own supply BEFORE doing a tariff war.

(note, Trump wasn't president for 4 years, so its not a shot at him, per se)

Posted by: Harun at June 19, 2025 12:53 PM (IuIym)

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