28 October - Cryptogon

FBI Releases Heavily Redacted Document About the “Finders” Child Abuse Network

Via: FBI:
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested the FBI conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations made by [redacted] concerning child sexual abuse by a group known as the “Finders,” and what role, if any, was played by the United States Intelligence Community.

Los Angeles Fire: Southbound 405 Closed Between Sunset and the 101

CBS Live
Also, California state-wide emergency declared as wildfire forces 200,000 to flee and leaves millions without power.

Trump On Taking Syria’s Oil and, “You Know, the Airport Is Right Nearby”

October 27th, 2019

“A very big, very monstrous, very powerful airport, and very expensive airport that was built years ago.”
Ahh, Ye’ Olde Superbase? Is that you?
This is fromthe old and forgotten depths of Cryptogon’s archives:

What part of Superbase don’t you understand? That’s what people in the business of exploitation and death call a “geostrategic asset.” States don’t give up control of geostrategic assets because a lot of people wear Lick Bush t-shirts and write letters to the editor.

But who knows which superbase? Turns out, the U.S. built multiple superbases in Iraq.

Here’s a helpful search phrase to complete the setting for this Syrian oil heist:CIA created ISIS

Secretive Military Spaceplane Lands in Florida After Record-Long Orbital Flight

New Zealand Herald’s Mass Lobotomy Media Operation

October 27th, 2019
Presenting the most important news in New Zealand, according to this useless rag. Not Photoshopped. Not satire.
The top story, complete with breaking news alert crawler, which interrupted the endless deluge of sportsball top stories: “Outrage after woman seen driving in Auckland with toddler on lap.”

Primitive Technology: A Survivalist’s Guide to Building Tools, Shelters, and More in the Wild

October 27th, 2019

My children and I have been watchingJohn’s Primitive Technology channelfor years. Highly recommended.
Here’s his new book:Primitive Technology: A Survivalist’s Guide to Building Tools, Shelters, and More in the Wild Hardcover by John Plant.

Putting Federal Debt In Perspective Against Those Responsible In The Future

October 27th, 2019

Via: Economica:
Since 2007, US federal debt has risen 150% while annual US births (legal and otherwise) have fallen almost 14%. Said otherwise, over the dozen years since 2007, federal debt has increased by $13.8 trillion while 5.2 million fewer births have occurred over the same period than the Census projected. This is probably worth a little closer look.
…

The then present generation (baby boomers) made a deal with the past generation to sell out the future generation (Millennials). This can be seen in the chart below, showing the debt each child is born shackled with. From $100 thousand in 1970, to $300 thousand in 1980, to $800 thousand in 1990, $2.1 million in 2007…and as of 2019, every child born a citizen of the US (regardless their parents status) is liable for a ludicrous $6.2 million in federal debt. And this is just a fraction of the actual liability that is owed, if even faster rising unfunded liabilities were included.

Skylon’s SABRE Engine Precooler Passes a Big Test

October 27th, 2019

Via: Universe Today:
Recently, Reaction Engines passed a major milestone with the development of their SABRE engine. As the company announced earlier this week (on Tues. Oct. 22nd), their engineers conducted a successful test of a vital component – the engine’s heat exchange element (aka. precooler). What’s more, the test involved airflow temperatures equivalent to speeds of Mach 5, which is in the hypersonic range. 

Tesla Summon: “A Tragedy Waiting to Happen”

October 27th, 2019

The “Summon” feature is cringe inducing. Fully autonomous robotaxis in a year or two?
No way.
Via: ZeroHedge:
Seemingly undeterred by disturbing video on social media and a regulator inquiry into the company, Tesla continues to forge forward blindly and recklessly into the realm of autonomy. Most recently, Tesla said on its conference call Wednesday that it is planning a software update to improve its “Smart” Summon feature, according to Consumer Reports.

The update is supposed to go live next week, and it follows our story that the NHTSA was finally investigating the feature. As we noted earlier this month, the NHTSA can exercise its recall authority if it finds an “unreasonable safety risk”.

As Secret Pentagon Spending Rises, Defense Firms Cash in

October 27th, 2019

Via: Defense One:
The share of Pentagon spending hidden from public view is rising, as are defense contractors’ revenues from it.

The U.S. Defense Department’s overall budget request increased nearly 5 percent from 2019 to 2020, but classified spending rose 6 percent, according to the consulting firm Avascent. It accounts for about $76 billion, or almost 11%, of the $718 billion requested for the current fiscal year.