@enhydra lutris
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named the Wheel Bar. Spent many an hour shooting pool
and carousing with the buds. One of the regulars mentioned
something about the patrons being seemingly comatose.
The concept of "Asleep at the Wheel" grew legs from that point on.

Yeah, $20,000 drone downs $35 million gunship. Narrative varies from Iran shot the gunship down to the gunship collided with the drone. Drone is slower and has no offensive weaponry. Whether it was fired at the gunship or this was an accidental collision the gunship arguably should've been able to avoid (or dodge) or shoot down the drone. Was the radar turned off or what?

Arguably time to get it in gear if I want to get anything done today.

be well and have a good one

@soryang
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as being the adult in the room. This makes total sense. The sooner
South Korea shakes off the shackles of the US empire, the more probable
that there will be for a peaceful re-unification. One can hope. I think many
countries are recognizing the albatross around their necks by embracing
empire diktats. One size does not fit all.

...of my dad's 1964 Fairlane station wagon.

We'd been buying dodge caravans since 1991 I think. Lost the last one, a 2019, in the Ian flood. They were very practical. We have a kia van now, it was useful for gardening, we have a tarp on the floor, and keep the 2 back seats, (the third row), always folded down for the extra room to carry things. Came in very handy moving things the last 40 months.

I've been looking for Xi's editorial in the Nodong Sinmun, the North Korean communist newspaper, since I heard about it. I don't go to their home web site, out of fear of hacking or snooping. I checked KCNA Watch, a feature on a US web site called NK News that specializes in following NK events. They carry files of NK articles as they come out. Never saw Xi's editorial.

Today some South Korean analyst prepared graphics of Xi's column said to be the one in question published in the Workers Daily. He obtained it in China where he works. It was written in Korean which makes sense. Because the graphics were in the video, I couldn't cut and paste into the google translator. I'm too lazy to do the laborious translation in writing to English although I did read and understand it. The content was all about being partners through thick and thin, and ups and downs over the decades, seeking sovereignty, stability, security, growth, benefits for the people, equality, prosperity etc. There wasn't anything about the nuclear issue, or anything directed toward military affairs specifically, except the need to rid the international community of hegemons (read US) and increasing militarism (meaning Japan). It was a very subtle, smooth, uplifting type of presentation. There was obviously the socialist ideological orientation to the two countries being flexible, facing the challenges of the future. Xi emphasized a community of nations seeking peace, stability and growth under the UN principles.

The analyst noticed the apparent clash with UN sanctions concerning NK's violations of the non-proliferation treaty, not mentioned at all.

Xi referred to China's four world development programs in the latter part of his essay: Global Development Initiative; Global Security Initiative; Global Civilization Initiative; and Global Governance Initiative.

Xi alluded to increasing interaction with North Korea among government officials, experts, and citizens by increasing their ability to interact with their Chinese peers, and facilitating cross border contacts.

I think it was a very smooth presentation, written by someone very skilled, whether Xi or not. Difficult to get an idea of specifics, creating an idealized, ideological and humanistic vision of their conjoined histories, and future prospects. It appears to bode well for North Korea, if not their neighbors Japan, and South Korea. The analyst who made the video felt such a presentation by Xi, would leave Kim even more confident to simply disregard the US and what it desired, more or less. I actually feel South Korea is obviously placed in the so called South Korea passing mode. So the left of center government there should give up on any South Korean dreams of normalization, reintegration, let alone, unification with North Korea.

I really think that the Lee administration's position on North Korea isn't as affected some analysts suggest. He's looking primarily for stability and peaceful development. Any reduction in tensions and confrontation is welcome. That means keeping a lid on US forces as much as a wary eye on North Korea. I actually think the Chinese emphasis on peaceful development and prosperity is helpful in this respect.

This is the link below. I don't expect anyone to use it but the google translator to English worked fairly well. 이번 북중 정상회담이 한국에게 던진 섬뜩한 메시지 [지구본 뉴스룸]

Thanks for the OT Q!

@on the cusp
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Go out in a flash of glory.

My main vehicle was a pick 'em up truck. I switched to a tiny sports car, but used the truck for travel. Nowadays, leaving the truck to go inside a gas station to buy a coffee, gives a thief enough time to steal anything in the bed. Either pack light or leave someone guarding the truck while the travel companion went inside the gas station. Eventually, we bought an SUV.
My parents would have never purchased a station wagon. They wanted snazzy cars. Even our trucks were fancy. My parents lived to their 90s, but never got old, never stopped attracting attention. They were a flashy couple until they died.