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steve2470

steve2470's Journal
steve2470's Journal
March 28, 2024

Sergeant Stubby, most decorated American "war dog" of World War One

Sergeant Stubby

Sergeant Stubby (1916 – March 16, 1926) was a dog and the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and was assigned to the 26th (Yankee) Division in World War I. He served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles and four offensives on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and allegedly once caught a German soldier by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him.[2] His actions were well-documented in contemporary American newspapers.[3][4][5]

Stubby has been called the most decorated war dog of the Great War and the only dog to be nominated and promoted to sergeant through combat.[6] Stubby's remains are in the Smithsonian Institution.[3][4][6]

March 27, 2024

If you are a bit sad and want to frown, watch this video from a coffee shop in Kyiv, Ukraine....

https://twitter.com/NatalkaKyiv/status/1772280173905191108

“Everything will be Ukraine. How can we be broken? We just had an attack. We are working and making coffee.”
- A Ukrainian barista keeps on making coffee in a coffee shop near the site of the attack in the Pechersk district of Kyiv.


Yes, it seems (as far as I know) that no one was killed or injured in this particular instance. This young woman's attitude is just inspiring to me (and maybe others), that minutes after an attack on her Kyiv neighborhood, she is back to work with an extraordinarily positive attitude. Talk about fantastic coping.

If you cannot see the video, try refreshing your page.
December 25, 2023

Penguins having fun near Antarctica



Penguins have their own entertainment in Antarctica

Ukrainian polar explorers filmed (https://www.facebook.com/AntarcticCenter/videos/229676926830250/) penguins swinging on a small iceberg. The birds rested a bit, talked among themselves and went on to hunt in the ocean.


from: https://t.me/c/1197363285/121283 (you must have Telegram app to open this)
December 24, 2023

Bild (German media): is this ever a reliable source for international news ?

Why do I ask ?

December 23 report:

European intelligence suggests that Russia may launch an attack on Europe during the winter of 2024-2025 if the United States finds itself "without a leader" following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the German tabloid Bild reported on Dec. 23, citing an anonymous European intelligence source.

The intelligence service source contends that a potential Russian strike on Europe could occur within the presidential transitionary period, contingent on President Joe Biden not securing re-election in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. This transition period spans three months, from the November 2024 U.S. presidential election to the subsequent inauguration in January 2025.

According to the intelligence source, Russia may aim to launch an attack on Europe during this transition, especially if the leading Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, is re-elected. Assistance to European countries is anticipated to follow, albeit with some delay.
Links here: https://news.yahoo.com/bild-russia-may-attempt-attack-020819774.html and https://t.me/BILD_Russian/13712 (in Russian, Google translation here https://shorturl.at/vTV24 )

For the record, I am NOT trying to promote this as truth. Any feedback about Bild ? Aren't they a tabloid in Germany and their reliability is questionable, at best ?
December 22, 2023

Trump recorded pressuring Wayne County canvassers not to certify 2020 vote

Source: Detroit News

Then-President Donald Trump personally pressured two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers not to sign the certification of the 2020 presidential election, according to recordings reviewed by The Detroit News and revealed publicly for the first time.

On a Nov. 17, 2020, phone call, which also involved Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Trump told Monica Palmer and William Hartmann, the two GOP Wayne County canvassers, they'd look "terrible" if they signed the documents after they first voted in opposition and then later in the same meeting voted to approve certification of the county’s election results, according to the recordings.

"We've got to fight for our country," said Trump on the recordings, made by a person who was present for the call with Palmer and Hartmann. "We can't let these people take our country away from us."

McDaniel, a Michigan native and the leader of the Republican Party nationally, said at another point in the call, "If you can go home tonight, do not sign it. ... We will get you attorneys."

Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/12/21/donald-trump-recorded-pressuring-wayne-canvassers-not-to-certify-2020-vote-michigan/72004514007/



Michigan prosecutors and Jack Smith, you seeing this ?
December 21, 2023

Yes, the music AI-pocalypse has arrived: AI can now compose and sing your songs or create from scratch

Exclusive: Gen AI music app Suno comes out of stealth
article link


Suno, a venture-backed AI music company, has come out of stealth with the aim of helping anyone write and create songs as easily as taking photos on a phone.

Why it matters: The race to build consumer AI audio products and platforms is accelerating.

Microsoft announced Tuesday that it has integrated Suno into its AI software platform Copilot.
Facebook and Google have released AI tools that can generate songs and sounds.
Zoom in: Unlike many AI music apps, Suno (pronounced soon-oh and means "listen" in Hindi) is focused on creating original tunes with original vocals — not on cloning or mimicking popular artists' voices or songs.


more at link above

Just for giggles, I told Suno AI application to compose and perform a few songs for me, all from scratch.

Shattered Dreams, a rock song about young male heartbreak

Shattered Dreams, same as above but different

Shattered Dreams, rock song about young female heartbreak

Shattered Dreams, female singer, slightly different

Obviously AI song composing and performing is in its infancy but this is just magical to me. I really hope it never poses a serious threat to human composers and performers.

If you want to play with it too, just go to https://suno.ai
December 20, 2023

Avdiivka Ukraine weather forecast for December 20 ( current Ukraine war hotspot )

Avdiivka

39F to 46F, overcast and light rain, then clearing to partly cloudy

According to this website, it won't stay consistently below freezing from today til the 27th. Hence, both armies have to contend with mud. In January 2024, it may be possible for the ground to freeze consistently.

Longer range possible forecast range data here:

January

December 20, 2023

Last car post: Don't care about the environment ? * I present, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am at $135K **

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1691573/1979-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-se-for-sale-in-miami-florida-33186

* - I had this car back in the 80's. It got about 9 mpg in town, hence the "don't care about the environment".

** - Of course not final sales price and this car, I assume, is in "mint" condition / restored etc



Pontiac Trans Am
December 20, 2023

Are you just dying to purchase a 1971 AMC Gremlin ? Have $33,895 ? *

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1971/amc/gremlin/101849433

* - Of course, this may not be the final sales price

Did anyone love or like this car in 1971, when I was 13 ? Not me but different strokes....



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_Gremlin

The AMC Gremlin (also American Motors Gremlin)[1] is a subcompact automobile introduced in 1970, manufactured and marketed in a single, two-door body style (1970–1978) by American Motors Corporation (AMC), as well as in Mexico (1974–1983) by AMC's Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) subsidiary.



Steve

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