Bitchin Dave's Newsletter - March 4



As Delon Trusk continues to assail our public servants, I noticed something and wanted to share.  

Looking at federal employees, 30% of all people in government service are former members of our military. And 70% of all federal jobs are defense and security-related businesses.

By volume of federal workers, here are the biggest departments making up that 70%:
Veterans Affairs ~19%
Army ~12%
Navy ~11%
Homeland Security ~10%
Air Force ~ 8%
Justice ~6%
Defense ~5%

So, in effect, by "trimming the workforce" (and seeing Musk holding a chainsaw is the absolute height of absurdity), they are both adversely impacting veterans AND essentially weakening our defensive capabilities.

And for some retired military personnel, there is a general fear that their pensions or other benefits may wind up being cut or delayed either directly or indirectly because of these cuts.

And that brings me around to doing the work as a "citizen archivist" for the National Archives.  I am helping to transcribe hand-written letters written in cursive, regarding Revolutionary War Veterans.

The thing about the Revolutionary War is that people, ordinary citizens, took up the cause to fight against the British.  They did it because it was right.  But it was understood they would get pensions and land grants for their service.

The war ended, and the new government sought to make good on this, and set up a program to give back to these soldiers.  Except that being newly formed, it was complicated to figure out just how to do that, so it took a few years.  And soon after they started taking applications, there was a fire that destroyed most of the documents.

So the soldiers had to wait longer still.  Then, in 1818 - 35 years after the end of the war - they officially started taking information again, but it was based on testimony of the soldiers, who were still alive, and their families.  Some were paid out, and some had to wait longer still.

The records I'm going through are from shortly before the civil war - in the 1850s, another almost 40 years later - so now these pensions were worth far less, since it was almost 75 years later, and were now going to children and grandchildren.

History repeats itself insomuch as the soldiers we have defending us are not really given their due.  The VA setup we have now is inadequate, and is likely to be cut, and in some ways not so different than it was after the Revolutionary War; soldiers suffered injuries that weren't treated properly and they weren't compensated for their service in a commensurate way.

And yes, I am painting with a fairly broad brush. I just found it interesting that we put so much emphasis on our military, and always have, but the actual people in these jobs are mere commodities that are cast aside once their service is done.

===

Disney's Star Wars Hotel to Become Offices


I mean it only cost a billion dollars and was - by all accounts - a total failure. 

So why not repurpose it into something that doesn't build on your brand at all?  Just make it an office complex and move on!

Remember, though, that it was an immersive experience that was supposed to make you feel like you were in space. So the building has no windows (and if you're thinking about the haunted mansion "it has no windows and no doors!") 

But for the people working there they could sell it as "Every day I arrive for work and sit in a windowless office but can 'stare into space'… And then Darth Maul comes by and asks if my work is done."

Or maybe this could be Disney's next marketing idea. You pay *them* to work there for a day or a week or a month and you can enjoy the perks of being in this office!



Ain't he a peach?


Jamie Dimon channeled his inner villain and acted like a 19th century robber baron.  "Screw what anyone else wants.  F*uck their pentition [to not return to office].  I want everyone IN THE OFFICE AND I WANT PRODUCTIVITY UP 10%"

That pretty much sums up where we are.



Better solar panels


Here's an intriguing article about how black silicone can be used to create a more textured surface than traditional silicone used in solar panel development. 

And that surface can then absorb more radiant energy and be more efficient in a panel, and at a lower cost. 

This could possibly change the market for solar, though we'll see how it goes  

https://www.ecoticias.com/en/black-silicon-is-the-end-solar-panels/10308/


Proving once again that no one has a clue


Of course no one can define woke, but this story about Megyn Kelly, and how she couldn't identify that "Little House on the Prairie" had themes in it that she would consider "woke" is amusing and a little stunning.

I'm glad that Melissa Gilbert - who was in the show - set her straight… though I'm sure Kelly will ignore the comment because it's all about an agenda and she tends to eschew reality. 

https://ew.com/melissa-gilbert-reacts-to-megyn-kelly-little-house-on-the-prairie-woke-comment-8783612

Another competitor in space travel


Introducing Sierra, with its space plane. It looks kinda like the space shuttle, but with different wing surfaces. 

The objective is to be able to ferry people and cargo to the ISS in a slightly different, reusable format. 

Here's to another level of innovation! 

https://www.popsci.com/science/spaceplane-test/


Watch ""Fight Back!" Classics: Sears Trash Can 1500-Foot Drop Test" on YouTube


I love this piece for so many reasons. 

It's educational and informative

It applies a bit of scientific rigor and a healthy amount of curiosity. They even poll the audience, who seem interested. 

It's not sponsored, and is independent for the sake of understanding 

It's good journalism. 

It's consumer oriented, and what do you know? the product they tested was well made.

I know there is some of this type of investigating still available today, and you can find it on the internet, but not enough of it. It's drowned out by vapid themes.

ahhh,  simpler times …




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