Best Of
Re: What did you get today?
Lol, I didn't doubt the existence of the Pass, sorry if I gave that impression, just the use of the name.
I went through Washington state with my family when I was young, about 12 years old. I have always meant to get back to it. It reminded me very much of where we'd been living in southern Alaska. I miss that part of the world sometimes.
If what I see on documentaries is realistic I'm afraid that returning will not live up to the memory. This happened to me with Cimarron and Raton pass. After having told my wife of the pristine wonders we headed there, about 25 years after my time there. Not the same experience at all. You can't go back to where you were then, because now is now.
Re: Post Every Boring Aspect Of Your Mundane Life Thread
Hung a new spring on the garage door, a guy doesn't realize how heavy that door is til the spring quits helping.
dirtdude
Re: Whatcha smokin this morning?
Yes, it is a delicate balance between getting stuff done and overdoing it. My doctor has referred me to an endocrinologist. I am hoping he won't want to find something wrong unless it is there. I mistrust specialists somewhat.
Re: Whatcha smokin this morning?
@silvermouse said:
Morning folksfatigue kept me lying down most of the day so I'm finishing yesterday's Viaje this morning.
I kind of worried about that when you mentioned getting in a good days work the other day. I have days like that, when I feel like I did a couple decades ago and get with it all day. Go to bed feeling worthy of a good nights sleep, within the next day or so it's "uh-oh, I think I overdid it".
Re: Coffee
@Yakster said:
I did some measurements when I first got it, it's pretty accurate.
I'm really enjoying the Aiden. How do you brew your coffee, @Olekingcole?
Most mornings I use a French Press. I drink too much to use a pour-over method. If I'm home and have a cup in the afternoon I will use the Hario V-60. If I’m at work I drink whatever swill I can get my hands on.
Re: Whatcha smokin this morning?
Morning folks
fatigue kept me lying down most of the day so I'm finishing yesterday's Viaje this morning.
Re: Whatcha smokin this morning?
@LittleBuddy50 said:
@VegasFrank said:
Putting up Christmas lights God damn it!
how do you like that one? Ive had a few and have 1 left. I dig em
Honestly this one was kind of dead for me. First half was Very very very mellow, which is atypical. Usually it's just very mellow. Overall it was fine though. It started kicking in about halfway through.
Re: GEOPOLITICS (educational purposes only)
Peter Zeihan -
US President Joe Biden has embarked on the first—and only—sub-Saharan African visit of his presidential term.
With President Biden set to leave office in several weeks, the timing might suggest that the visit and associated objectives are low on the totem pole of US national interests. That could not be further from the truth.
Angola is a significant oil producer and exporter, but President Biden’s trip is laser focused not on what minerals Angola has to offer, but rather what Angola grants access to: Congolese cobalt.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the largest global producer of cobalt, a critical component in lithium battery cathodes. Cobalt plays an essential role in preventing thermal runaway—a failure that can lead to batteries overheating or exploding. To over-simplify this, cobalt helps make rechargeable batteries safer and more reliable.
The DRC is wealthy in cobalt and copper and a potential raft of other minerals, but is utterly lacking in meaningful infrastructure. The cobalt deposits in the country’s southern Katanga province are essentially landlocked, but they do border Angola and Zambia. Zambia is landlocked; Angola is not. Furthermore, Angola’s position along the Atlantic coast places future cobalt shipments on an easy route to US and other western consumers.
Biden’s trip is set to lay the groundwork for foreign investment in port and rail infrastructure aimed at providing not only better access and development of the DRC’s cobalt, but a more assertive US foreign policy vis-à-vis securing critical minerals. China has long dominated this arena in respect to many minerals, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. But that was as much a product of a lack of direct US competition, more so than preternatural Chinese skill (or luck—bribes notwithstanding). Even with the upcoming change in administration, we should expect the thrust of US policy toward critical minerals to continue on a similar trajectory.
